What a wonderful carb load of gooeyness this is! I think I skimped a bit on the cheese so I'd definitely put more in next time to ensure it oozes out when cut. It's named after the volcano in Italy. Thank you Gino D'Acampo in Italian Home Baking (Kyle Books, 2011).

350g flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried yeast

1/2 tsp caster sugar

200ml warm water

olive oil

1 tbsp rosemary leaves

Filling:

2 chopped mozzarella balls or 1 1/2 c grated mozzarella

1 c grated parmesan

3 tbsp chopped basil leaves

1 tsp black pepper

1...

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It's the world's first Easter Friday in lockdown. I admire all the bakeries who are continuing to safely deliver hot cross buns to eager breadaholics at this time. But if there's no service near you, why not try to bake your own treats? This is my kind of Easter baking. I much prefer apricots to raisins so have used these in my cinnamon swirl loaf. You can replace with any dried fruit you like.

3 c flour

3 tbsp granulated sugar

2 1/4 tsp dried yeast

1 1/4 tsp salt

1 c milk

4 tbsp salted

1 1/2 tsp va...

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I love a quality savoury crunch, and these spicy cheese grissini are just what my tastebuds ordered. 

Makes about 40

2 1/2 c flour

2 1/4 tsp dried yeast

1 1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (or more for super spicy)

1 c lukewarm water (between 45-52C)

1/4 c olive oil

1/2 c ground or grated Parmesan

Put all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Pour in the warm water and oil and mix until a dough forms. Knead dough on a clean surface for about 10 min until elastic and smooth. Oil the bowl and ...

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These lil checkerboard cookies are quite fun to make and are fun to eat too. You get a hint of chocolate and a hint of coconut in every bite. The aim is to get a crisp biscuit that does not spread. You can also freeze the dough for baking at a later date. This is from The Everyday Baker by Abigail Johnson Dodge (The Taunton Press, 2015).

Makes 50-60 cookies
2 1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
170g butter, softened
2/3 c sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c desiccated coconut
1/2 tsp...
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These are very fragile cookies! But lovely for a dainty afternoon tea. Drizzling with chocolate is completely optional; I think they are tasty without.

Makes about 20 cookies

1/2 c rolled oats

1/4 c almonds

90g butter or non-dairy spread

1/3 c crystallised sugar

1/3 c brown sugar

1 tbsp rice flour/tapioca/cornflour/arrowroot

2 tsp orange zest

1 tsp vanilla extract

pinch sea salt

100g melted chocolate, if desired

Preheat oven to 180C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

In a food processor or coffee gri...

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I'm rationing my flour supplies in Covid-19 lockdown so trying out some gluten-free recipes. This is a super easy one-pot, one-spoon wonder - you'll be munching in less than 30 minutes.

Makes about 20 cookies

1 c almond butter

3/4 c brown sugar or coconut sugar

1/3 c crystallised ginger, finely chopped

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp vanilla extract

pinch sea salt

1 egg

Preheat oven to 165C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well with a wooden s...

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This is a decadent way to elevate your average vanilla sponge. It's from How to Hygge by Signe Johansen (Bluebird, 2016). She was inspired by the Scandinavian classics of dream cake topped with coconut caramel and toscakake (cake topped with almond caramel). The dark chocolate topping is a dramatic, and tasty, contrast to the light sponge.

3 eggs

175g golden caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

100g butter, melted

100ml buttermilk (or normal milk mixed with 1 tsp lemon juice)

200g spelt flour

1 tsp ba...

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We are day 2 of Covid-19 lockdown in New Zealand but the baking doesn't stop. Our daughter chose these for me to make - and I happily obliged. We had all the ingredients in the pantry waiting to be used. It's from Gluten-Free Baking by Kristine Kidd (Weldon Owen, 2014).

Makes about 20 meringues

100g dark chocolate
2 egg whites
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch sea salt
3/4 c toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped
1/3 c crystallised ginger, roughly chopped

Preheat ovent o 165...
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I knew my birthday today wasn't going to be about me. These are unprecedented times. Time to think about the future of humankind. But, determined to keep calm and carry on baking, I made this healthy chocolate cake and lavished it with Italian meringue buttercream, to celebrate my day of birth. I've always wanted to make a 3-tiered cake with this kind of buttercream. Novices take note, don't take your eyes off your sugar syrup! I burnt my first lot but tried again.

For the chocolate cake:
3 egg...
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