13th February 2018
I’ve recently been sans oven, and it’s been a bit of a trial. My old faithful has a dodgy knob that I can no longer turn to ignite the gas. I’ve been trying to get someone to come over and have it seen to, but it’s an exercise fraught with uncertainty because one of two things typically happens: the service…
12th December 2017
I remember making a version of this apple cake back when I lived in Positano, under the guidance (and occasional eagle eye) of my late fiance’s mother. I had a notebook filled with her recipes, but what with the multiple moves over the past four years I’ve mislaid it. I can only hope it’s in storage somewhere because those recipes…
29th March 2013
I know I told you this before, and I’m sure you’ll get sick of hearing about it over the next few months, but – summer’s here. However, I can’t say I’m pleased about the arrival of summer. Summer in Chennai is a long drawn out tortuous affair during which time everything gets progressively hotter and hotter, and you whimper in…
25th March 2013
“I’m going down to get more jam”, said my boyfriend’s voice, suddenly, breaking into my thoughts. As some of you may know, I’ve been working rather hard recently writing my book, and it’s hard to switch gears when someone talks to you suddenly; your mind is far away in the world you created. “Mm”, I said. Then I realised…
21st October 2012
There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. — Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady Anna, Duchess of Bedford, was the wife of the seventh Duke of Bedford, and is widely credited with the very civilised custom of taking afternoon tea. During Anna’s time (1788-1861) it was customary for…
15th October 2012
I’ve been talking about this for weeks, but I’ve finally completely revamped Sybaritic Pleasures! Personally, I’m loving the blog’s new look and feel, but I’d love to hear what you think. Do you love it as much as I do? I hope so! I took one look at the blog the other day (as it was all coming together) and…
13th September 2012
So, I have a confession to make. It’s about coconut. I _adore_ it. It may not come as a complete surprise to those of you who have been faithfully reading my posts (just in case you missed the confession that I adore Bounty, here’s a link), but I just can’t have _enough_ coconut. That warm beautiful nut with its coarse…
5th September 2012
You may have just done a double take. Beetroot PUDDING, I hear you ask, with horror in your voice? Yes, indeedy. You see, beetroots have a higher sugar content in them than most vegetables. They’re already partial to dessert; they take to extra sugar and ghee and milk like I take to wine. (Really.) Somebody recently told me that beetroots…
25th August 2012
Recently my new foodie friend Martyna posted her recipe for delicious homemade cherry ripe bites which arrived promptly in my inbox. I read through it and wanted it instantly; although I’ve never eaten Cherry Ripe before, it sounds like the sort of chocolate I’d love. Besides, her other favourite chocolate bar is Bounty, which is also one of my favourite…
22nd August 2012
I don’t care who knows it, but I am an absolute _citrus fanatic_. I love _anything_ citrus; I mean, my favourite perfume is described as ‘woody, with notes of orange and grapefruit lending it a touch of spring’. I mean it. I adore everything to do with citrus. A friend had a birthday recently and I was asked to ‘rustle…