Apple & Cinnamon Bran Muffins

These are the easiest and most versatile muffins you can make. No need for any scrabbling around in the back of your cupboard looking for that elusive beater for your electric mixer...no, no. These beautiful muffins require the absolute basic kitchen equipment.  

Apples & Plums - 4 Recipes

So you have a glut of home grown fruit, you've added them to crumbles, pies and passed them out to any willing neighbour or stranger who'll take them! But alas the boughs are still weighed down with ripe fruit and you need some inspiration! 

Where here are four recipes that might help use up those last few kilos. 

Homemade Thieves Oil (Chemical Free Cleaner)

This homemade chemical free cleaner has the most wonderful Christmassy smell! Not alone does it have that alluring yuletide fragrance but it also is a wonderful cleaner. I discovered this recipe during the summer months, since then I haven't bother to buy my usual branded chemical concoction. 

Cinnamon and Date Buttermilk Scones

It was on a day out with my children at a lakeside café that I came across these scones. It is a strange thing when something as harmonious as dates and cinnamon are combined, it takes you by surprise...now why didn't I think of that - it's so obvious! 

Ina Garten's Sticky Holiday Buns

  

I watched Ina bake these last year on the Food Network, in a episode called Barefoot in London, ever since I've been waiting for my chance to share the recipe with you. Ina and her husband were filming their tour of  Borough Market in London, when she came across a selection of Chelsea buns. This was all the inspiration she needed to come up with these sticky, cinnamon buns. I think that a batch of these on a cold winters day with a steaming mug of hot chocolate would melt even the most Grinch like of hearts!!