Welcome to my blog all about the things I love to grow and cook. You'll find a collection of seasonal gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan-friendly recipe posts, as well as a round up of my gardening throughout the year. I wish you good reading, happy cooking and perfect planting!
A very belated happy new year to you. The first month of 2026 has flown by. I hope you had a good festive break and I send you my best wishes for the year ahead.
We’ve had a mixed bag of weather since Christmas. A few cold, dry and bright days alongside some very wet and grey ones. Only a light dusting of snow mid month, although I’m sure there will be more to come.
There are quite a few signs of the garden emerging from hibernation. Lots of bulb foliage poking through the soil as well as some nice surprises like the primrose and periwinkle.
Early January primrose. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
January blues. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
And now the snowdrops are up and just about to bloom, it feels like there is a definite hint of spring in the air – fingers crossed. Until next time, thanks for stopping by 🙂
Hello again. Easter is finally upon us. It feels like it’s been a long wait this year. We have had a long spell of warm, dry and sunny weather here in the UK which has brought with it a glorious Spring, full of flowers and blossoms. The daffodils are going over now but they have put on a great show this year, but it is the primroses that have really stolen the show. The dry weather has meant that there have been fewer beasties around to dine out on their delicious petals.
Daffodil assortment. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
April primroses. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
To celebrate the season, I have been baking. A twist on the yeasted fruit and spice buns which are traditional at this time of year, these muffins are easy to make and delicious served warm or cold. They freeze fine as well. I use a gluten-free bread flour which has xanthan gum added to it. Use a plain version if you prefer for a softer and more crumbly muffin.
Freshly baked and ready to serve. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Easter on a plate. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
I made my own cases. If you fancy having a go yourself, you will need 10 x 12-13cm squares baking paper and a bottle or jar that fits snuggly into a muffin tin. Line up the paper square over the muffin tin and push it in place using the end of the bottle. You may have to pleat and model the paper a little to make it fit the tin more neatly, but the weight of the cake mixture will hold it in place.
Homemade muffin cases. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Makes 10:
Ingredients
1tbsp ground linseeds (flaxseeds)
225g gluten free bread flour
2tsp gluten free baking powder
1tso ground mixed spice
115g light soft brown sugar
175g currants or other chopped dried fruit
50g plant-based butter, melted
175ml plant-based milk (I used oat milk)
2tbsp carob or maple syrup
100g natural marzipan
1. Preheat the oven to 190°C, 170°C fan oven, Gas 5. Line 10 muffin tins with paper cases. Mix the linseeds with 3tbsp cold water and leave for 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
2. Sift the flour, baking powder and spice into a bowl and stir in the brown sugar and currants. Make a well in the centre.
3. Pour in the melted butter, milk and linseed mixture, then mix everything together to make a thick batter.
4. Divide between the cases, smooth the tops and bake for 30-35 minutes until risen and lightly golden. Transfer to a cooling rack and brush the tops with the syrup. Leave to cool for 15 minutes.
Easter muffin making. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
5. Meanwhile, lightly dust the work top with icing sugar and roll out the marzipan to a rectangle approx. 7 x 20xm. Cut into 20 thin strips.
6. Arrange the strips on top of each warm bun to form crosses. Serve the buns warm or leave to cool completely if preferred. Best eaten within 2 days of baking. Store in an airtight container or freeze when cold.
Marzipan crosses. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Too good to resist. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Whatever you are doing this coming Easter weekend, I hope you have a lovely time. Until next month, I’ll leave you with this image of the first bluebells to open up in the garden. The sunshine has encouraged them to flower a few days earlier than usual. Happy Easter everyone 🙂
Hello again. This was the scene here at the beginning of the week. A bit of an unexpected start to the new month. I’m happy to report that the snow was quickly washed away by rain and none of the spring flowers appear to have been damaged by this wintry blast. You can just make out the pale pink Rhododendron behind the seat in the picture above, and below is the same plant taken yesterday, alongside a pinker variety from the front garden 🙂
Rhododendrons in the pink. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
April and May are two of the most colourful months in the garden, and I never tire of the different flowers around at this time of the year. From the golden yellow Daffodils, Forsythias and Primroses, to the cool blue Muscari and Chionodoxa, with plenty of shades in between.
Delightful Daffodils. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Golden Forsythia. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
New season garden primroses. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Spring blues. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
One of my all time Spring favourites is the exotic looking Snakeshead Fritillary. There are a few dotted around the garden, and this is the first one to “hatch” its wonderous mottled petals.
My Spring favourite. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The Camellia bushes don’t usually produce that many flowers and often get affected by the weather. I managed to capture these blooms before anything happens to them. I love their waxy-looking petals, and I hope they stay around for a while longer.
There are two plants in the garden that have the most delicious aromas at this time of the year. The first is Skimmia Japonica with its spicy, floral scent, and the other is Ribes Sanguineum which has a fruity and peppery fragrance. It is a real pleasure to work in the parts of the garden where these two grow.
Skimmia Japonica with its very fragrant flowers. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
More fragrant flowers in bloom. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
To round off my post this week, the first signs of garden produce are on the horizon with the bursting of a few buds from the Morello Cherry tree. I can see lots of buds on the pear and plum trees as well, so it looks like the bees will have plenty more pollen to collect very soon.
The first cherry blossoms. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
I’ll be back in the kitchen at the end of the month, so I look forward to seeing you again in a couple of weeks. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Hello again. It’s good to see that the garden and surrounding countryside are slowly coming to life here in central Scotland after some wild and wintry weather these past few weeks. I took a short trip out to my favourite local spot in search of snowdrops on one of the brighter days this month and am happy to report that there is an abundance of these pretty little white flowers all along the roadside and verges, a little earlier than recent years.
Roadside snowdrops. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
In the garden as well, right on cue, on the first day of the month, the first snowdrops opened up in the weak, wintry sunshine.
The first of this year’s garden snowdrops. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
We’ve had some heavy frosts, a little snow and plenty of wind and rain since then, and subsequently some of the other flowers in the garden have become a bit bedraggled.
Light dust of early February snow. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Rain-soaked February flowers. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
I took this photo of the glorious red Rhododendron in the garden when it first opened at the beginning of the month. Sadly it looks a bit less radiant now it has been rained on and frosted all over.
Red Beauty. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
There have been survivors of all this bad weather I’m pleased to say. The first Hellebore is up and open, and this little Periwinkle was a surprising find last week. The rhubarb is looking healthy as well.
The first flowerings. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
This year’s rhubarb is on its way. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
To brighten up this gloomy month, I recently acquired a new houseplant, a Mimosa, and in the last week it has opened up it’s tiny tight buds into fluffy, bright yellow balls of sunshine. I have everything crossed that it is hardy enough to survive until the temperature and sunshine levels increase later in the year.
Indoor sunshine. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
I’ll see you again at the end of the month when I will be back in the kitchen. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Spring flowers galore, West Dean gardens, West Sussex. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Hello again. What a lovely time of year it is for flowers and foliage. I thought I would reflect on the month just gone by and post some images of things I have seen when I have been out and about these past few weeks.
Over Easter, I travelled down to England to visit my family in West Sussex. One of our favourite places to visit is West Dean gardens near Chichester. Until this year, I have only visited in mid to late Summer to see the wide variety of fruit and vegetables that are grown there. In early April, the grounds were covered in wild spring flowers and it made for a very pretty scene indeed.
Back in the garden at home, there are primroses galore, and the grass verges and local woodlands are also decorated with these pretty yellow blooms. My favourite spring flowers, Snakeshead Fritillary, are also out in bloom in the garden, along with lots of Muscari and the first of the new season Bluebells.
Out on a walk last weekend, just a few miles from where I live, there were plenty of primroses growing on the grassy banks of the loch. The golden clumps certainly helped liven up a dull-weather afternoon. The trees are just coming to life now, although I’m not sure how much longer some of them will stay upright given the activity of the local beaver population!
April garden tasks: Hydrangea pruning. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The things-to-do-in-the garden list is beginning to lengthen now that the plants (and weeds!) are growing again. Just as I pruned the old heads off this aged Hydrangea bush there was an overnight frost, but fortunately no damage was done. I managed to cover the fruit trees with fleece before the frost descended. Lots of lovely blossom again this year which I hope means plenty of fruit if the bees and insects get busy.
April morning blue sky. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Cherry and pear blossom. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
I’ll leave you where I began, with one more image of Fritillaria, captured in West Dean gardens on Easter Saturday. Until next time, thanks for stopping by. See you again soon 🙂
Hello again. Thank you for stopping by. So, here we are at the end of another month. A chance for me to take a look back on what’s been happening out of doors since my last post.
Garden snowdrops, February 2023. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
It’s been a bumper year for snowdrops here in central Scotland. Along the roadside verges, riverbanks and country walkways, the tiny white bulbs are flowering prolifically. And, in my own garden, there are green and white clumps of the delicate little flowers in the beds, borders and paths all over the place.
New season Scottish garden Hellebores. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
February crocus and primroses. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Other spring classics are opening up in the garden as well. In the shady borders, the Hellebores are unfurling, as are the primroses. In the sunshine, the crocus are flowering and giving bold, bright, blasts of colour all over the garden.
Pale pink Rhododendrons, February 2023. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The delicate pink Rhododendrons are blossoming in the back and front garden. Fingers crossed that the frost keeps at bay.
Early spring heather, February 2023. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
More hardy are the spring heathers. I haven’t seen many bees yet, but there are some tempting blooms out there in wait for our important little pollen collectors.
Garden rhubarb and rabbits. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Very happy to see the first of the garden produce beginning to grow. Looking forward to my first harvest of fresh pink stems in a few weeks time.
My final image this week is of a glorious winter sunset I captured at the beginning of the month, and it was a real beauty.
Early February sunset. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
That’s me for this month. I will be back with a recipe post very soon. Until then, have a good few days and enjoy the unfurling of spring.
Hello again. What a glorious time of the year it is in the garden. Some of my favourite plants and flowers are at their best right now, and this year so many spring flowers seems to be blooming better than ever.
The primroses started flowering in March, but the clumps of flowers are just getting bigger and bigger. They grow at their best in the dampest, shadiest part of the garden, and they really bring these borders to life. The Hellebores are beginning to go over now having been flowering for several weeks. They become more upright the longer they have been blooming which makes them so much easier to photograph.
The new kids on the block are the bluebells. We’ve had a few chilly, grey days here, but now things are brightening up again, the pretty blue flower heads are opening up all over the garden.
First of the bluebells. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Another spring favourite of mine are the unusual looking Snakeshead Fritillary. Alongside the well known pink variety with it’s petals patterned like snake’s skin, a white variety has also become established.
White and pink Snakeshead Fritillary. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The Chionodoxa that runs wild all over the paths and flowerbeds from late February into March has been replaced by tiny violets. They have a delicate delicious sweet fragrance as well as looking so pretty.
Garden violets. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
I am very happy to see all the small fruit trees in full blossom now. I am looking forward to a good crop of Morello cherries again (fingers crossed). There seem to be lots of bees around so hopefully they are doing a good job of helping to set the fruit. Only the miniature apple tree is in blossom at the moment, but I can see quite a lot of flower buds on the large tree so with a few warm days, I think they will open up.
Late April fruit blossom – Morello cherry, Conference pear and Victoria plum. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
First of the apple blossom. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
One of my favourite annual tasks in the garden is dead-heading the Hydrangeas. I can stay upright for this job, little bending or kneeling is required, unlike most of the gardening chores.
Hydrangea haircut – before and after. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
I hope you have enjoyed my pictures of spring. May is just around the corner which means even more colour in the garden. Looking forward to the warmer, even longer days, so until next time, enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of this special time of the year. Thanks for stopping by and take care.
Happy Easter everyone. I hope you have a good Easter holiday. I’ve had a busy few weeks so Easter has crept up on me and caught me ill-prepared this year. Even though I am having a quiet one at home, I still wanted to do something to mark the occasion. Having no time to bake afresh, I set to this afternoon and transformed my stored and completely forgotten Christmas cake into a Simnel cake, ready to serve this weekend. And very successful it was to.
Last minute Easter cake. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
If you fancy having a go yourself, this is what I did.
Transforming Christmas into Easter. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Slice a 20cm gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan fruit cake in half and brush both sides with a little apricot jam. Roll out 200g marzipan to fit the cake and place on one half.
Sandwich together with the other piece of cake. Turn the cake upside down and brush with more jam. Roll out a further 200g marzipan to fit the top. I embossed the top using an engraved rolling pin before laying on top of the cake.
Roll 11 x 15g marzipan balls for the top of the cake and either brown lightly under the grill or with a kitchen blow torch. Arrange on top of the cake and serve decorated with mini eggs and fresh primroses.
My Cheat’s Simnel cake close-up. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Easter in a slice. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Until next time, enjoy the colours and flavours of this wonderful season. See you again soon 🙂
Easter primroses from my garden. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Spring blue carpet of Scilla Chionodoxa. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Hello again everyone. Here we are almost at the end of another month. There has been a big transformation in the garden since my last out-of-doors update at the beginning of the month. We had a lovely spell of warm, sunny weather last week and as a consequence there are flowers and plants in bloom everywhere. This time of year certainly lifts the spirits as everything comes to life with such vibrancy and splendor.
Scilla Scilla everywhere, and busy bees as well. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The beds, paths and borders are once again covered in a blue carpet of tiny Chionodoxa. I did a bit of reading on the species and their common name is Glory of the Snow. We had a lot of the white stuff lying in February so I am wondering whether this has had something to do with the fact that there are so many this year.
Muscari enjoying some spring sunshine. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Whilst the Chionodoxa have done very well this year, I have lost a lot of Muscari (grape hyacinth). No idea why. This is the only patch left in the garden now. I will try to remember to plant more in the Autumn.
The last of the crocus. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
This is the last clump of crocus for another year. The bees were very busy making the most of the pollen-rich stamens before the petals curl up completely.
And now it’s time for my annual Hellebore fest. Just a couple of images this time. The reddish-burgundy varieties are looking exceptionally dramatic and bold this year. I couldn’t resist capturing them again.
March Hellebores. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
From the bold and dynamic to the tiny and delicate, this little wood anemone appears in a crack on the stone steps leading up to the top garden every year. It blooms for a very few days and then disappears without trace.
Lone purple wood anemone. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
More delicate petals, this time in the shadiest part of the garden, where the primroses grow. There are two new plants to add to the mix this year. This seems to be a good spot for the other primroses to multiply so hopefully the new plants will thrive in the same way.
Primroses, established and new. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The pink “candy-floss” rhododendron is just going over now and beginning to lose petals, but it has put on a good show this year and has had no frost to nip the blossoms.
Candy-floss pink rhododendron in full flower. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
My final image this week is set against a glorious blue-sky canvas from last week. The bell-shaped flowers of the Pieris are a sight to behold on a clear and sunny day as they sway gently in the breeze.
Blue sky and Pieris. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
In a few days it will be Easter, so I am back in the kitchen again for my next post. Until then, enjoy the spring flowers and sunshine (if you have it), and see you again soon. Take care and best wishes 🙂
Hello again. What a difference a couple of weeks has made to the weather here in central Scotland. February started off with snow and ice, and more followed. The temperatures plummeted. But as the month drew to a close, the skies cleared, the sun came out and at last the spring flowers have started to bloom.
Icy windows in early February. Images: Kathryn HawkinsMid February snowfall. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
This past week, the air temperature has increased by several degrees and there have been several “blue-sky” days. Great news for the spring flowers, the warmth and sunshine has brought a few into flower at long last. Looking back over past Februarys, I think the cold spell this year has put the garden back at least a couple of weeks. The snowdrops and Hellebores in particular seem late to open up this year.
Scottish snowdrops. Images: Kathryn HawkinsThe first of the Hellebores. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
In the sunshine, the crocuses are opening up and attracting bees which is good to see, and in the shady borders, there are primroses, one of my favourite spring flowers.
Yellow crocus and primroses. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The pink Rhododendron is gradually opening up. I love the colour of this variety, the blooms look like tufts of candyfloss.
Pink Rhododendron. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
I was given 3 Hyacinth bulbs by a gardener friends for Christmas and as I type this post, I can smell their perfume wafting around the house. They are are tallest, most flowery Hyacinths I have ever seen, and the colours in the petals ranges from deep, vibrant blue, through to lilac with hints of pink. The perfume is intensely spicy and fragrant.
Delft blue Hyacinths. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
To round off my post this week, another indoor image I captured at the weekend when the sun was shining into the conservatory. The rays hit one of my hanging crystals just at the right point and cast a rainbow on the wall. A very cheery sight.
Spring sunshine rainbow. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Until next time, I hope you are able to get outdoors and enjoy some spring sunshine and the very special flowers around at this time of year. Take care and keep safe 🙂
My Virtually Free-from Kitchen 