This is a rare selfie in which I have managed both to wash my hair, and put some make up on. Look how pleased with myself I am. Miraculous.

A Bit About Me…

Nice to meet you, and thank you for dropping by, welcome…

I’m a middle aged mum of two kids, living in rural Somerset in the South West of the UK. It’s a magical spot, and a great place to get out and stomp across the fields with my lovely husband and our two crazy Springer Spaniels. I am spectacularly ordinary - did ok at school, married with two kids, moderately successful in my career, blessed with family and friends that I have gathered through a generally happy life spent around the UK, and a bit in America. I work full time. As well as food, I love reading, watching films and tv, and running (slowly) - which I do need to get back into but right now I can’t be a*sed.

One day I will write a book, but I haven’t got round to that yet.

My Love of Food…

My family used to laugh at me (a lot) for my truly terrible cooking failures as a youngster…I could burn a cake or curdle a sauce just by looking at it. Yet from these less than inspiring beginnings, I’ve since spent a lifetime loving food around the world, and building my skills in cooking. And eating.

Whether it’s a tv dinner for one, or a fancy menu for a party - food just makes the world a happier and better place, so I’m here to share my thoughts, experiences and to inspire you about all things food!

My friends and family like the pictures of my dinner on my socials and many of them keep telling me to “write a blog or something”. One of my very good friends finally persuaded me to get my shit together and start out on Substack.

What you’ll get…

Mostly you’ll get meal inspiration for the weekend/week ahead. It might be a warming lamb tagine, a refreshing Thai salad or the best looking fish finger sarnie you’ve ever seen. Whatever it is, it will taste delicious and it will look bloody lovely. The pictures are actual food that I have cooked myself, in my normal home kitchen. It will be served on very average crockery - no fancy boards, spades, miniature buckets or other presentational frivolities around here.

Occasionally it might be a breakfast dish, a dessert, or a simple lunch. I might feature a cook at home restaurant box. It could be a focus on an interesting new ingredient I’ve found, or a review of an independent supplier or producer.

EDIT. Actually it might not always look lovely or be on a plate, as I do have the occasional #EpicFail with my culinary efforts that ends up on the floor or in the bin. I’ll post the odd one of these too to give you all a laugh!

I’m a committed omnivore, so my stack will contain all forms of meat and fish - including some raw and rare. I also like a nice glass of wine with my food. If any of that’s not your thing, that’s cool.

I believe in shopping local where possible not for any ideological reasons but just because food tastes better the fresher and closer to home it is. If I could be arsed/had enough space/any talent I would grow my own veg and rear my own meat. Maybe one day.

I don’t give a rats ass about counting calories. I don’t obsess about vitamins or nutritional elements. I don’t measure stuff accurately - which is why I cook a lot but bake a lot less. So don’t expect much (any) of this.

I do occasionally swear. You have been warned.

When…

I’m just starting out, so it’ll be one post a week mid-morning on a Friday so you can read over a cuppa and have time to try my ideas over the weekend or the following week. But I’m really open to feedback so if my community wants more or different then that might also be possible - let’s see how it goes.

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Real food. Real photos. Real life. Inspiring you to cook simple, beautiful food at home.

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Busy working mum of two. Lover of food, wine, dogs, books and handbags. Interested in many topics including writing, cooking, spaniels, feminism, mental health, societal power, whistleblowing, comedy.