‘Other’ articles
Ok, so it’s mostly recipes, but there are plenty of other craft, lifestyle, mindfulness/mental health, kitchen science and kitchen skills posts to explore…
Last 30 ‘other’ posts
Daily sketch booking for positive mental health
A look at how to start keeping a daily activity to fill a sketchbook and how that can help your positive mental health
Drying hydrangeas
It’s so easy to dry hydrangea flower heads. They’re a beautiful, long lasting addition to home decorations.
Eat positive: happy hormones and a fig focaccia recipe
A look into how the four ‘happy hormones” can be positively affected by what and how you eat – and a gorgeous fig focaccia recipe using many of these great foods #realbread #mentalhealth #healthyfoods
Colouring and hobby art resources
Adult colouring printable – I’ve drawn a unique printable of Modern Alice and her friends taking a selfie. Download and print out the A4 pdf file free from inksugarspice
Using analogue, creative hobbies for mental wellbeing – and a HUGE list of hobby ideas
From previous posts in here or comments on my Instagram or Twitter feed you may have come across me owning up (occasionally and discretely) to having been diagnosed with both anxiety and panic disorder. I am also, in general, an advocate for looking after positive mental health and I am a trained mental health first…
Make your own bread bag – an upcycle project
how to upcycle a shopping tote to make your own bread bag
Using a flower press 🌸
How to use a flower press, which materials for blotting, how to select and place plants and ideas on crafts using your dried flowers, petals, leaves and herbs
Make a flower and herb press
How to make an effective, cheap and easy flower press yourself, just using two old placemats, some cardboard and a little ironmongery – you can have a working press within an afternoon
Covering a sketchbook or journal
How to cover a sketchbook, journal or diary in your favourite paper or fabric, to create something unique or repair a much loved item
Easy dove grey crochet throw
A soft and easy peasy crochet throw. Uses a soft half shell pattern in larger, chunky weight yarn. Includes stitch instructions and a short video guide.
Stencilled beer cob
Stencilled cob loaf – a recipe for a beer bread cob loaf, plus how to stencil bread and a free medieval sun face stencil to create a gorgeous loaf
Lavender and Lovage – book review 📖
Lavender and Lovage – cookbook review 📖 “By interleaving smaller stories and anecdotes between the recipes, Karen’s woven a holistic, beautiful book, where the recipes only make full sense with the voice, and vice versa”
The student kitchen
The student kitchen – advice for University freshers on packing kitchen kit, a basic pantry, hints & tips for cheap eating, shopping and storage. Good luck to all new students (include my twins going to Sheffield & Nottingham)
Inspiration and relaxation
A ramble through some inspiration and ideas to get your creative juices flowing and to chill out a little. Some ideas to find inspiration for food and art in my new post
Fizz & Sizzle with Filippo Berio
Fizzing and sizzling – a review at La Cucina Caldesi with Filippo Berio
Hanging herb planter
How to make your own hanging herb planter – a crafty and quick DIY project for garden or kitchen
Organising storage in a small kitchen (and a Joseph Joseph Nest product review)
How I cope with keeping organised in a small kitchen: ingredients and cookware, including a Joseph Joseph nest review
Testing hotspots in your oven – using kitchen science
How to test your oven and check its hot and cold spots, using kitchen cabinet science! Knowing the temperature zones in your oven will help you ensure your food comes out perfectly.
Chemical leaveners / raising agents
My findings on chemical leaveners and what’s going on inside my cake (or other bake) to make it rise. Is there anything we can do to get the best results using raising agents? Plus make your own baking powder and self raising flour!
James Herbert was almost right: he who controls the spice controls NottinghamÂ
He who controls the spice controls Nottingham: my night at Memsaab to celebrate their Best Indian Restaurant coup in the Nottingham Food and Drink Awards
Eating the East End
Well, I did say in January that one of my resolutions was to open the blog up further than my recipes and the occasional instructions and tips. I also wished to get one of my recipes into print somewhere, and I’ve been totally amazed to already have had my spring onion bhajis appear in The…
Sourdough for starters (or grow your own pet yeast)
My experience on how to ferment and keep a wild yeast starter for sourdough baking
Why your oven temperature conversion charts could be wrong – and does it matter?
Ever used an old recipe book and had to work out the temperature for your oven? The original values in these old books might be off-kilter…
Gingerbread foxes plus make your own cutter
A recipe for the perfect gingerbread biscuits and instructions on how to ice and to make your own cookie cutter
Naked wedding cake
Three tier naked wedding cake. Also includes tips on constructing the cake and making mini bunting to top it all off beautifully
Herb sprigs for the kitchen
Such a great way to use any herbs you have growing profusely in the garden at this time of year. They make a pretty, alternative tiny bouquet (especially if you use thyme or lavender when in flower – a bit early for my lavender yet). Also, as they hang in your kitchen, the heat from…
Science of bread making – how yeast works
So, being nosey as usual, after making a batch of spelt walnut loaf I thought I ought to learn a bit more about yeast and the bread fermentation process. I remembered some stuff about yeast from A-Level biology (yeast is one of the most researched and written about organisms going) and I’ve had a batch…
The science of meringue making
What happens inside a meringue? It will help your baking to know the chemistry behind your meringues – plus some surprising tips and myths to help you produce the perfect fluffy white morsel every time
French meringue recipe and ‘meringue 101’
My best and most trusted French meringue recipe, together with hints and tips on meringues problems – or a ‘meringue 101’
Ink Sugar Spice ~ Lynn Clark 