Tangy Pasta Salad

I don't know about you but I need a meat break. I'm taking this opportunity in between Christmas and New Years Eve to come up for air. If you're wondering where I've been swimming, it's in a sea of the most amazing Christmas food: chocolate oranges, pigs, cows and turkey's galore, topped with all the trimmings. Even brussels sprouts. Especially bacon.

Salted Caramel and Chocolate Cupcakes

I love cupcakes and I love a bit of icing, but I can't be dealing with those cupcakes where half of the whole thing is icing. Too much. So, if you are an icing lover, you may look at my delicate little flowers and spit in their tiny pretty faces with disgust, yelling "I can see the actual cupcake sponge! What is this madness? This is not allowed! MORE ICING! I IMPLORE YOU!" In which case, please be my guest, pile it on. I, however, shall maintain my tiny flower faces and will love them unconditionally. And drizzle them with salted caramel.

Parmesan Shortbread & Bacon Jam

'Tis the season to eat bacon jam. Actually there isn't a season when you shouldn't eat bacon jam. It should be eaten in every season and that's one of the many reasons why we love it so. The term 'jam' here should be taken with a large pinch of salt. Think part chutney, part relish, part jam. 

Wintry Chicken Soup

So it's that time of year when everyone is the picture of health and public transport is a minefield of sneezes. Along with all the usual anti-illness tactics (such as warmth and medication) we have chicken soup.