Chef and cookbook author Julie Jones has always baked. It was the thing she did with her mum, standing on a stool at her side, and it was the thing that helped her manage her days and emotions when her mum was diagnosed with dementia, and then later taken into care. This deeply personal journey touched others when she began to document it and share what she was going through and what she was baking. She is eloquent on the therapeutic space baking gave her:
Read MoreThe festivities are over, and if you are in the Northern hemisphere there is a long stretch of winter still ahead. Wherever you are, the sparkles of Christmas and New Year are put away now. This is the perfect time to revel in a period of retreat, in taking care of yourself, in repair and restoration. And of course, food is a precious and wonderful part of that. Key are comfort and healing.
Read MoreWhat is better than a delicious home-cooked feast? All that wonderful food, when you haven’t only just finished slaving for hours creating it. Leftovers are the cook’s joy, a day-after-the-party treat. So, enjoy, and with a little extra love—no more slaving, we promise—you can make even more of them.
Read MoreAs you limber up for the big day, and anticipation mounts for that all-important Christmas lunch, here is a little extra inspiration and guidance to ensure that festive feast is all you want it to be.
Read MoreWe are halfway to Christmas Eve—how did that happen? It is time to plan the food shopping, and what to make when, and while we can’t do your shopping or organise your diary for you, we can certainly make sure that you have all the ideas, recipes, and ingredient lists you could possibly need. Christmas ckbk-style is a tempting proposition!
Read MoreBorn near Frankfurt in Germany, Heidrun Metzler’s childhood was gloriously flavored by the delicious baking of her mother, aunt and grandmother. Traditional German baking, recipes handed down through generations, and with a careful balance of sweetness, of nuts and dried fruits and buttery goodness, were a constant and a joy. After she moved to the US in 1978, and began her journey to becoming a food writer and educator, recreating those bakes, and helping others to understand and achieve fine results with her recipes, became central to her work
Read MoreFor those of us longing to be festive, we officially announce that Christmas prep is on! In Great Britain the last Sunday before advent is Stir Up Sunday—November 24 this year. A Victorian tradition, this is the day to make those Christmas treats that need to be made well ahead—such as Christmas pudding, fruitcake, and the mincemeat for mince pies. Several weeks of maturing and being ‘fed’ regularly with spirits ensures they are at their tip top best when the time to serve them comes around.
Read MoreEverybody loves chocolate – we couldn’t agree more! In her new book Everybody Loves Chocolate: Delicious Recipes from Around the World, Australia-born food writer Jennifer Donovan takes an enthusiastic journey through Europe, Asia Pacific, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, gathering chocolate goodness along the way. There is a chocolate recipe here for every person and every mood.
Read MoreAfter a decade at the forefront of the Edinburgh dining scene working under Tom Kitchin, Roberta Hall-McCarron and husband Shaun opened their first venue together.
Now, with flagship The Little Chartroom, sister restaurant Eleanore, and wine bar Ardfern, they run a culinary mini-empire in the Scottish capital’s quiet outpost of Leith.
You may also know Roberta and her exceptional food from her two appearances on Great British Menu. We are extremely pleased to bring you The Changing Tides, Roberta’s first cookbook, on publication day.
Read MoreThose of us in the Northern hemisphere are starting to feel the cold, and yearn for warming stews, and hearty suppers. But depending on where you are in the world, cooking for the coming season could mean a very different thing indeed. Perhaps you are just venturing outside, for grills and fresh sunshine-soaked days. Wherever you are, our trio of new books have something for you.
Read MoreThis week we have an embarrassment of riches, an opportunity to share a treasure trove of recipes that add up to an Indian feast – with books from four chefs each with a different take on the rich diversity of food both from India, and influenced by it, and the food they love outside of that tradition.
Read MoreRamona Andrews speaks to JBF and IACP award-winning chef John Ash about his most recent book on seafood, and his passion for cooking with top-quality locally source ingredients. Plus, when it comes to curry, ckbk offers a breathtaking international selection. Celebrate National Curry Week with one of almost 5000 curry recipes on ckbk...
Read MoreThis month's #ckbkclub book is Let’s Cook Japanese Food!: Everyday Recipes for Authentic Dishes by Amy Kaneko. It's a book packed with tempting approachable Japanese recipes. Over in the group we have a bonus okonomiyaki recipe from Amy Kaneko, featuring a surprising ingredient.
Read More“My starting-point was an investigation into the culinary legacy of nearly 800 years of Muslim Al-Andalus, therefore historical; secondly I wanted to reflect contemporary Andalucian cooking in typical restaurants; thirdly I wanted to interweave travelogue to give a sense of a personal journey across this magical, diverse land, and fourthly I needed to introduce my own story. Because why should I, an Englishwoman, be writing about Andalucia?”
Read MoreMid-September is a time of change. Summer is still vivid in our memories. Some days still hold its warmth, the farm and garden are still bountiful. And yet winter is now on the horizon. How do we make the most of autumnal plenty, eating well for the season, and preserving some of that bounty for the sparser months to come? Focus on the current harvests, and brush up on your jam-making and pickling skills.
Read More“When previous generations of my family moved from Mexico into Texas they had to cook with American ingredients, however, they continued to use their Mexican culinary knowledge and techniques. This organic fusion of cooking, which is unique to the border region of Texas, is a cuisine in and of itself.” Yvette Zuniga Jemison
Read MoreSourdough September is an annual initiative from the Real Bread Campaign, who work year-round to encourage the making, buying and eating of real, good, bread, and in September give sourdough its important place in the sun.
Read MoreWhether you are celebrating Labor Day, or the last days of summer, cooking and eating outside is one of the great joys of the season. So, while the days are still long, and holidays allow for relaxed gatherings, let’s plan a cookout.
Read MoreAs August nods towards September, the US looks towards the Labor Day weekend, the UK prepares for a Bank Holiday, and summer holidays draw to a close. A time for eking the most from those remaining days of leisure, and hopefully of sunshine. We want good things to eat, that don’t take too much effort, and that make the most of the late summer harvest.
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