Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary
cooking up a storm at the edge of the world
Huffsie (or hufsi) is a traditional Shetland tea loaf that originated on the island of Whalsay. The recipe I use is made with tea-soaked dried mixed fruit, brown sugar, and treacle, but there are many variations. Served ‘klined’ (Shetland dialect for ‘spread’) with butter, it’s a delicious teatime treat whether on land or at sea. …
These blueberry muesli muffins are super simple to make, and they’re a great way to use up that box of old muesli hiding in the back of your cupboard. It’s a perfect recipe for lazy Sunday morning baking. Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Difficulty: Easy Blueberry muesli muffins… lazy Sunday morning baking …
Baked doughnuts are super simple to make with a non-stick mini ring doughnut muffin pan. In this yeast-free recipe, lemon zest, lemon extract and lavender flowers are combined to make delicious, fluffy, moist, perfectly baked doughnuts with a fragrant lavender icing sugar glaze. Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 12 minutes Difficulty: Easy A floral …
These crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside oatmeal raisin cookies are reminiscent of childhood. Delicately spiced with cinnamon, they get even better the next day. These cookies are one of my absolute favourite cookie recipes. The recipe is slightly adapted (and UK-ified) from one that I used to make in my …
Fresh strawberries and balsamic vinegar are a match made in heaven. These quick and easy strawberry shortcakes take no time to whip up and they taste utterly amazing! Perfect for a summer picnic! “Mum, do you know what I really, really want?” our youngest son (aged 8 and 1/4) asked recently. “What’s that?” I enquired. …
This traditional Cape Breton Island fruit scone recipe tastes delicious warm with butter and honey or jam. A perfect afternoon ‘down east’ tea time treat. Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 36 hours Difficulty: Easy A childhood in Canada I am the daughter of an army brat. Although I was born on a military base …
Savour the essence of autumn with our mini pumpkin spice muffins, topped with a sweet maple syrup drizzle. Picture the blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves mixing with pumpkin puree and vanilla, creating a warm, inviting aroma. These golden muffins are perfectly spiced and finished with a glossy maple syrup touch, making each bite a …
Unleash your creativity with this versatile ultimate cupcake recipe! Start with a basic batter and transform each cupcake into a unique flavour sensation. Each cupcake is a delightful surprise, from zesty lemon to gin and tonic to rich chocolate. Perfect for parties or just because you deserve a treat! Decorating Time: 1 hour Cooking Time: …
You’ll never need another banana bread recipe after trying this one! Every family has their own favourite banana bread recipe, right? This one is ours.
This courgette and poppy seed muffin recipe is not too sweet and almost savoury. It’s made with grated courgette, lemon-infused olive oil, and poppy seeds. It’s ideal with a morning coffee! Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Difficulty: Easy Courgettes are reproducing at pace in my vegetable crisper. Seriously. Every year, the same …
These generous-sized banana blueberry streusel muffins (we all like a big breakfast muffin, right?) are incredibly soft and moist, with little bursts of blueberry throughout. The cinnamon-scented streusel topping adds a lovely crunch texture and appetite-stimulating aroma to the muffin. It’s a delicious way to use those over-ripe bananas; perfect for breakfast with a coffee! …
A cinnamon-scented breakfast muffin recipe packed full of carrots, apples and dates. Carrot cake for breakfast! Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 35 minutes Difficulty: Easy It’s become a yearly tradition now, with my birthday at the start of December, for my Canadian grandmother to send me a cookery book and a pair of earrings …
This lemon and lavender bundt cake is a moist, tender delight. It combines tangy lemon zest and subtle floral lavender notes, creating a refreshing and unique flavour profile. Topped with a lemon glaze and sprinkled with dried lavender, it tastes heavenly and makes for a visually stunning centrepiece. Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 50 …
I miss trees. Where I grew up in rural Cape Breton, on the east coast of Canada, we had more trees than you could imagine. Most of my childhood was spent in them, falling out of them, getting lost in them, and on many an occasion, eating from them. There were so many wild apple …
This light and fluffy gluten-free Tunisian orange cake is soaked in citrus syrup for a fragrant, incredibly delicious bake perfect with a cup of tea. Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 50 minutes Difficulty: Easy Day’s off spent baking I had a proper day off yesterday. I woke early with no imminent deadlines to worry …
This deliciously crunchy, buttery oatcakes recipe is made in true Cape Breton style. Serve with plenty of butter, cheese, or jam and a cup of hot tea to dunk! Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Difficulty: Easy Traditional Cape Breton recipes ‘The Scots’, observed G. Bisset-Smith in 1907, ‘are a notoriously migratory people’. …
In collaboration with Dr. Oetker Baking. I absolutely love organizing and throwing birthday parties for my children. It’s one of those things I can get completely immersed in what with all the planning and creativity. I also might be overcompensating for the fact I’ve never had a birthday party of my own! They don’t get …
This half batch of deliciously spiced blueberry muffins is made with leftover Weetabix and other store-cupboard ingredients; perfect for a weekend brunch or after-school snack. Prep Time: 25 minutes Cooking Time: 35 minutes Difficulty: Easy The pre-recipe blurb no one actually reads I really don’t like Weetabix* I’m all for the low-sugar, high-fibre thing they’re …
Because sometimes chocolate chunk cookies are required. I’ve made cookies! Regular readers will be aware that it’s been ages since I’ve posted anything even remotely sweet and indulgent like a cookie or cake recipe. That’s because I’ve not been making such treats, or anything even hinting at calorific as I attempt to lose the extra …
For a leisurely late morning breakfast. Nothing beats a leisurely late morning breakfast when you’ve got all the time in the world to enjoy it. Good coffee, home bakes, quality preserves and a cheeky glass of… Prosecco?! This is what my husband and I indulged in the other day.
