Hello dear friends. Thanks to all of you who have emailed me to ask where on earth I am these days and why so quiet. Thanks as well to those of you reading anyway, despite my prolonged absence(s) this year.

I made some dietary changes towards the end of this year that meant I had to spend a lot of mental energy thinking about food. So much so, that I wasn’t really baking or cooking new dishes. Instead I was just focusing hard on what I could (and couldn’t) eat. All that mental energy didn’t leave me with much desire to create new things here. Oh, I also went to England for a little bit recently, which is where I ate the sausage and mash you see at the top there. It was easily one of the tastiest things I ate all year long.

I’ve been baking a lot of cookies over the holidays (Nigella’s Christmas Chocolate biscuits and these Ottolenghi Cranberry and White Chocolate biscuits to be precise) and it’s been a lovely reminder of how much I enjoy baking. I’ve missed it, actually.

I’m a nostalgic soul and love to reminiscence, especially at the end of the year when there’s so much to look forward to but also a lot of good stuff to remember fondly. Here are the 12 most popular recipes from this site in 2012.

For whatever reason you got here, I’m glad you came and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about or making some of these recipes this year. Cheers to a wonderful year ahead!

12. Meyer Lemon Cake

11. No-Churn Coffee Ice Cream

10. Savoury Cheddar-Chive Waffles

9. Meyer Lemon Curd

8. Earl Grey Chocolate Cake

7. Buckwheat Pancakes

6. Roasted Winter Vegetable Salad

5. Salted Chocolate Nutella Cookies

4. Warm Spiced Breakfast Quinoa

3. Victoria Sponge Cake with Lemon Curd

2. Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam

1. Steak and Ale Pie

We’re hosting Thanksgiving this year for the first time. It was decided just a few days ago and I’m so excited! (Here’s why Thanksgiving is one of my favourite holidays, even as a Brit.) I thought I’d share what we’re thinking of serving. Please share in the comments what you’re making – or looking forward to eating – so we can all be inspired and share ideas!

Turkey
Cranberry sauce with orange zest and fresh nutmeg
Classic stuffing (though this cornbread sausage stuffing looks delicious)
Gravy
Perfect roast potatoes
Mashed maple sweet potatoes
Roasted carrots
Green beans with almonds and thyme
Warm bread rolls

Pumpkin pie
Fruit cobbler
Chocolate pecan pie

P.S. My First Thanksgiving and other thanksgiving side dish ideas.

Top image by Katie Quinn Davies / What Katie Ate
Bottom image by Erin Jang / The Indigo Bunting

This dish is a weeknight dream. Cut a spaghetti squash in half and whack it in the oven. Scrape out it’s crazy spaghetti-like strands. Saute some sausage. Throw the lot together with a huge handful of freshly grated Parmesan and some herbs. Boom.

Certainly I encourage noone to think of spaghetti squash as a substitute for pasta – you’ll only find it disappointing if you do – rather, enjoy it for what it is and enjoy the fact that it’s more compatible with things like sausage and tomato sauce than any of its squash cousins.

And please forgive the propensity of weeknight iPhone pictures of late – I’d rather share a good recipe with you than not, just because the photos aren’t up to scratch. I hope you agree!

Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Sausage
from White on Rice Couple

Ingredients

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F/190C. Grease a baking sheet with one tbsp olive oil.
2. Slice spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and strands, then place cut side down on the prepared sheet pan.
3. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the squash flesh separates easily into strands with a fork. Remove from the oven and finish loosening and removing the “spaghetti” from the squash shells and set aside.
4. Heat a large pan over medium heat. Heat remaining olive oil in pan, then add shallots and garlic. Cook until soft, stirring every 30 seconds, then add sausage. Cook without stirring until the bottom side of the sausage starts to brown, then stir. Continue cooking and stirring occasionally until the sausage is cooked through, 2-3 minutes.
5. Add spaghetti squash strands to the sausage and continue cooking until heated, less than a minute.
6. Remove from heat. Toss in Parmesan and oregano. Season with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper. Serves 3-4.

Seasons are funny things food-wise. Every time summer rolls around I am beside myself with the opportunity and abundance and yet it’s the season during which I create the least in my kitchen. I just end up eating simply, trying to keep cool, and not wanting the bother of turning on the oven, or even a burner.

Then along comes autumn and seems to pull me out of any heat-induced funk, just like that. The spices of autumn are one thing: cinnamon, nutmeg, all-spice, and ginger all beg to be baked into something warm and comforting.

And then there is what I think of as the back bone of autumnal fare: the mighty squash in all its forms. Even though squash is a stubborn, heavy, awkward vegetable to prepare; even though peeling and slicing it feels much like trying to violently kill something with a blunt instrument; even though my hands turn yellow and dry after handling one: I find it wholly worth it.

In making this dish I discovered something heretofore unknown to me: you don’t have to peel butternut squash. (!) No, in fact leaving the skin on and simply scooping out the seeds and dicing it before roasting yields caramelised, chewy edges that add a welcome dimension to the texture of sometimes too-soft squash. It’s a revelation, friends.

I think we can all agree that this dish has Thanksgiving written all over it. It would be great as a side dish there, sure, but it’s also a very filling and satisfying dinner unto itself. I enjoyed it cold from the fridge, standing in my kitchen, fork and tupperware in hand, thick socks in full force. I recommend you do the same.

Butternut Squash with Pecans and Blue Cheese
from Nigella Lawson

Ingredients

• One butternut squash (about 2 kilograms)
• 1.5oz/ 45 ml olive oil
• ½ tsp dried thyme (or 6 stalks fresh thyme)
• 3.5oz/ 100 g pecans
• 4.4oz 125g blue cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425F/220C.
2. Halve the squash, leaving the skin on, and scoop out the seeds, then cut into small cubes; you don’t need to be precise, just keep the pieces uniformly small.
3. Put the squash into a roasting tin with the oil. Strip the leaves from 4 stalks of thyme, and sprinkle over the butternut squash. (If you can’t get fresh thyme, use dried.) Roast in the oven for about 30-45 minutes or until tender.
4. Once out of the oven, remove the squash to a bowl and scatter the pecans and crumble the cheese over it, then toss everything together gently.
5. Check seasoning and add the last of the thyme, torn into small sprigs to garnish. Serves 6-8 as a side dish.

A little breakfast treat for you this morning, friends. I made this seeded granola from Good to the Grain, Kim Boyce’s excellent book about baking with whole grains, as part of a mass Sunday afternoon prep-for-the-week cooking extravaganza last weekend.

I’m trying to get good at walking the walk, and actually making big batches of stuff to get me through five lunches at work and frantic I’m-so-hungry moments. I’ve been making simple quinoa salads on Sundays like it’s my job, and it really does make a difference to have a healthy lunch ready everyday.

This granola doesn’t really fall into the “healthy” category but it is easy to grab and super delicious. It’s less clumpy than normal granola (boo), probably because it’s made from seeds and oats and lacks bigger flakes, but it’s super tasty and full of brown sugar, butter, and a kick of cayenne powder that pretty much makes me want to marry it.

Seeded Maple Granola
adapted from Good to the Grain by Kim Boyce

Ingredients

Dry mix:

• 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 2 cups whole rolled oats
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/8 cup flax seeds
• 1.5 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds
• 1/4 tsp cayenne powder

Syrup:

• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1.5 oz unsalted butter
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325F/165C. Toast the pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet for about 15 minutes then remove and set aside.
2. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl, including the pumpkin seeds, mixing thoroughly with your hands.
3. Make the syrup: combine the butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, and salt in a thick-bottomed saucepan. Place on the stove top over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil, bubbling all over.
4. Remove from the heat and immediately stir into the dry ingredients, using a rubber spatula to completely cover and coat. Spread the mixture onto a Silpat-lined (or buttered) baking sheet in one uneven layer and bake for 30 minutes, removing to stir and turn every ten minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and let rest for a decent amount of time on the baking sheets so that those glorious clumps of granola form. Stores in an airtight container for about a week.

Our last CSA box of the season came a couple of weeks ago and with it two lovely winter squash. We made a squash curry one night with carrots, coconut milk, and all kinds of spices, and as I was telling the lovely lady who cuts my hair about this plan (yes, really) she suggested taking the same idea but making a soup. Did I mention I love her?

It’s simple as can be, really. Just throw some root vegetables in the oven with olive oil and all those warm spices, roast-roast-roast til they’re tender, then throw it all in a blender with some coconut milk and broth and you’re golden.

Roasted Winter Squash Soup

Ingredients

• 1 medium sized winter squash, peeled and cubed
• 4 carrots, peeled, chopped into the same size as squash cubes
• salt and pepper
• olive oil
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander
• 1 small can coconut milk
• 1.5 cups/ 355 ml chicken broth or water
• garnish: roasted and salted pumpkin seeds (optional) or serve with crispy-fried bits of bacon

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425F/220C. Combine squash and carrots with oil and spices. Roast in single layer on a parchment paper covered baking sheet for about 40 minutes or until tender.
2. In a blender combine the roasted vegetables, 3/4 of the coconut milk, and half the chicken broth. Puree till smooth. Taste and add more coconut milk or chicken stock as necessary.
3. Reheat the soup slowly in a heavy bottomed pot or dutch oven. Test and adjust the seasoning as needed and serve in bowls garnished with roasted, salty pumpkin seeds. Serve with bread and salted butter or salty crackers.

Downton Abbey marathons | Chilly-sunny walks | New desk chair | Red leaves | Yellow leaves | Really dark chocolate | Amazing books | Spiced ginger cake.

All good things which have been happening in these parts recently. (Pretty wild, aren’t I?)

This cake was my first foray into baking with almond flour and I have to say, I might be smitten.

The result is a more dense cake which means a little slice goes a long way. It’s super filling and when you think about the natural fat and caloric values of almonds compared to flour that makes sense but don’t be put off by that – it’s good, cholesterol-reducing fat, as opposed to the empty calories of white flour.

The hint of almond flavour goes wonderfully with all the warm spices in this cake: nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and of course ginger. I can think of no better way to spend a blustery weekend afternoon than baking {and eating} it. Enjoy!

Spiced Ginger Cake
adapted from Roost

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 4 tsp ground ginger
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and lightly whisk together. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Using a rubber spatula mix wet and dry ingredients until combined.
2. Pour into a greased 9×5″ loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. If the top begins to get too brown lay a sheet of foil on top to prevent burning (I did this at about 30 mins in). Allow to cool for a whole hour before removing from the pan.

One day, if I’m lucky, I am going to have children – a fact that I find terrifying and exhilarating in almost equal proportions. Sometimes, when I’m not distracted by the terror or exhilaration, I like to think about the nice mundane, including imagining what dinner time will be like. I like to cook, especially when it’s not just me eating and Dan loves to cook. I’m pretty sure we’ll attempt to involve our kids with food and cooking and all the fun of it as much as humanly possible.

They’ll need to know how to make cookies obviously and learn that old bananas = banana bread. I hope they’ll grow to love some of my favourites (though they’ll probably hate them, right? Isn’t that how it works?) like spaghetti bolognese and bangers and mash.

One way or another I suspect they will eat this soup mainly because of the AWESOME TOPPINGS. Toppings are fun, even when you’re 28 years old and so I imagine toppings are incredibly full of win for a four or five year old. Get the basic soup made and then let people add toppings to their heart’s content.

The “bones” of this soup are amazing too of course – rich tomato and chicken stock and salty-smoky chicken – but the toppings take things up a significant notch. Don’t forgo the cilantro or sour cream and by all means add shredded cheese, diced red onion, and avocado if that’s your thing. It’s all good.

And while this makes a really fun dinner it also makes delicious leftovers reheated the next day after all the flavours have had a chance to hang out and get acquainted.

Chicken Tortilla Soup
adapted from The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 10 oz. can chopped tomatoes
• 2 tbsp canned green chilies
• 32 oz chicken stock
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 4 cups hot water
• 3 Tablespoons cornmeal
• 5 whole corn tortillas, sliced into 2 inch strips

To garnish

• Sour cream
• Avocado
• Diced red onion
• Salsa
• Grated Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
• Cilantro

Directions

Well, it happened. Autumn came and with it some beautiful sunny, warm days full of orange, yellow, and bright red leaves. And then all of a sudden it was too cold for my thin trench and a scarf was appreciated. The radiators came on at home and I started wearing thick socks around the house (not long til this).

And just like that, I was ready to get back in the kitchen, ready to feel the heat from the oven and to pad around in those thick socks waiting for something sweet to have with a cup of tea.

The texture of these cookies is light as a feather – almost papery – but the flavour is all cookie. Deep almond, richly dark sugar, a hint of vanilla, and chunks of intense cocoa-y chocolate.

Certainly you shouldn’t really think of them as cookies, at least not if you’re used to the floury kind. They’re incredibly delicate – beware of heavy, grabby hands – and yes, crumbly, but their rich, deep taste pays off in spades. They’re quite addictive, in fact.

Almond Butter Cookies
adapted from Nicole Spiridakis and inspired by London Bakes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup organic dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 small egg
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• Small pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup whole almonds, roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F/150C.
2. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat (or grease) and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, stir the almond butter, dark brown sugar, and white sugar together until well combined.
4. Add egg, baking soda, maple syrup, vanilla and salt and mix well. Stir in the chopped almonds and chocolate chips/chunks.
5. Using a teaspoon, scoop out small, walnut-sized amounts of dough and roll them in your hands to form a ball. Place on the cookie sheet about an inch apart. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes about a dozen cookies.

We decided this year that we would sign up for a CSA with Waxwing Farm in Webster, MN. For the uninitiated, “CSA” stands for “Community Supported Agriculture” and is a way to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer, with no middle man involved. Farms offer a certain number of “shares” which usually consists of a box of vegetables, delivered weekly or bi-weekly. Many farms also offer dairy, meat, and flowers in their shares as well, if they’re available.

It’s an amazing way to learn about what’s really in season at what point in the year, and to eat incredibly fresh food. One of my favourite things has been getting exposed to new vegetables and therefore new ways of cooking because of an item popping up in our box that I’ve never used before. This happened with kohlrabi and tomatillos this season.

The other great thing about a CSA is that you develop a relationship with the farmer who grows your food and learn a TON about how it’s grown. Anna and Pete, who run Waxwing, kept us in the loop throughout the season with news on what was growing, what was struggling and everything in between.

We had to witness them and their crops suffer devastating floods in June which affected our boxes later in the summer. Understanding what weather patterns were contributing to the contents of our box, really helped me to appreciate the food we were eating.

And finally, the ultimate bonus was getting to visit the farm this weekend for a harvest party and potluck. Meeting and chatting with Anna and Pete in person, walking through their fields, and being invited into their home really made the whole the experience of being part of a CSA share feel special.

There was a warm feeling of community between all the CSA share-owners and that was deepened by us sharing food we’d made for each other to enjoy.

If you’re interested, you can check out Waxwing Farm’s share options here. Needless to say, I highly recommend their CSA!

Have you done a CSA share before? I’d love to hear about your experiences!