Entertaining

Duncan Ackery chats food at the V&A Lindsay (honorary Keston Kid) and I recently went to hear Duncan Ackery, chef and restauranteur, chat at the V&A Reading Rooms. They mentioned that space would be tight, and it was. There was just enough room for approximately twenty girls plus one token man cram in and listen to Duncan talk about cooking and entertaining. Not only was he talking but he was cutting things up, mixing ingredients, salting...

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Chocolate Guinness Cake

This very indulgent cake has been made a few times in the Keston Kitchen to mark special occasions and I have intended to post the recipe for ages. It being St Patrick's day and the key ingredient being Guinness, I thought it was appropriate that I finally got round to writing about it today.We have tried out other Guinness cake recipes which have also worked well but this Nigella version is the easiest (and definitely the naughtiest - the amount...

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Fresh Berry Tarts

Last month the Keston Kitchen had its first catering engagement - Charlotte's Dad was getting married and we were delighted to be asked to help prepare the afternoon tea for the reception. With over 100 guests attending it was a daunting prospect but with the bride (Jackie) and her sisters and friends involved in the baking and taking care of all the decoration, we were confident that we were up to the challenge!Charlotte made biscotti and beautiful...

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Welsh Cakes

Welsh Cakes - for St David's Day (or ANY other day of the year)by Charlotte, fan of the biscuit houseTwo things happened last week; I realised it was St. David's Day (1st March), and I got given an unexpected gift - a small china cottage to keep biscuits in. The said biscuit house has caused a divide as two members of the kitchen (they shall remain nameless) do not like it. So, Welsh cakes were made and the biscuit house was filled much to the delight...

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Goats cheese, tomato, olive and ROCKET tart.

Tart: EasyShhhhhh. Don't tell Rachael - this recipe involves ready-made pastry. Looking at the delicious recipes on the blog, you could be forgiven for thinking that elaborate cooking is a constant in the Keston Kitchen, but let me reassure you, this doesn't happen every night. Cheating can occur; sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day.....My birthday party was one such occasion. There were two criteria for the starter for my birthday...

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