Category Archives: Patricia Wells
the importance of buying Basil
I’m just mad about Basil, but Basil’s not mad about me…..which is disappointing. It may be that I’m too demanding; too in Basil’s face. I want him with me all the time, and Jenny’s OK with that, by the way, … Continue reading
What about us grils?
I love grils don’t you mean girls what about us grils….. …this piece of remembered wisdom, scratched and biroed onto the lavatory wall of a Covent Garden bar, achieved a new and apposite meaning in our kitchen last night. Welsh … Continue reading
une belle horizontale….
Of the phrases that exemplify the quality of French as a diplomatic language few can compare with “belle horizontale” as a well turned euphemism for an “expensive tart” and there is no doubt that the eponymous Tarte au Citron Cartet, … Continue reading
giving up giving up……
There are so many things that I should have given up for Lent. I should have given up turning on the radio, reading newspapers, believing politicians, thinking that the daft cunts were politicians in the first place, having faith in … Continue reading
Shell shock…..
During my lifetime the word “simple”, or should I say its inference, has become the antithesis of that which I originally understood. My schooldays were passed in those halcyon days before society had become so cowed by the pinched face … Continue reading
fly poster….
I foolishly forgot to include a recipe for the this wonderful pear cake in my last post so here it is. The recipe comes from Patricia Wells’ “The Provence Cookbook” which is among my favourite books of recipes. There is … Continue reading
What first attracted me to the millionaire potato cake…
On a recent evening, when I was cooking for one, I came across this very simple recipe, whose heritage I was blissfully unaware. I have always advocated simplicity in cooking which does not in any way imply thoughtlessness or carelessness in the … Continue reading
the 3 R’s..
Resolve, recant, regret….and the greatest of these three is regret…. but only until the second mouthful if the cake is good enough. We of the human race are generally rubbish (the forgotten R) at keeping our promises to which a quick glance at divorce … Continue reading
one can never be too thin or too chocolatey….
Cooking with chocolate demands judgement and judgement demands evidence. My lips were smeared with compelling evidence as I marveled at the simplicity of this glossy tart. The first cut had no need to be the deepest as no tart before had adhered … Continue reading
the miller’s wife’s tale…
The red herring has not been seen on the perambulating hors d’oeuvre trolley since the early days of Mao’s influence, when all things red were de rigueur. And there it is; my fallacy is neatly laid in your path to divert your attention from … Continue reading