Purple Beans

 Everyone knows green beans are good for you - but at Standen in a pretty part of Sussex, I discovered purple beans growing in the kitchen garden. We chatted to the gardener - seen here about them them. Unusual looking but very similar in taste and composition to normal beans - when you cook them they go green. We bought some, cooked and ate them. Lovely - but take a bit longer than green ones to cook. The purple bean.

Australian Women's Weekly Cookbooks

It was a dull and downtrodden day in the office yesterday until amazon.co.uk delivered my newest edition: Australian Women's Weekly 100 Classic Cakes. It lifted my mood, a smile came over my face and all seemed much better. An institution in my life and indeed in Australia. The Australian Women's Weekly produces the very best cook books and I have grown up with them, cooked with them and will wax lyrical about their benefits and greatness to anyone who will listen. So out of the grey mood I thought, "I will cook!" Look out for the soon to be baked Banana Caramel Layer Cake and the Strawberry Jelly Cakes.

I do like to be beside the seaside

Brighton offers many things, clubs, bars, (often dodgy) fish and chips, a huge Primark and Bills! For the uninitiated, Bill's is a Sydney style cafe/restuarant. Big food, fabulously presented and tasting even better. A trip to the Sussex coast should not ignore this foodie heaven. They serve good coffee, bloody good Bloody Marys and there's a whole host of unique grocery lines for the budding home chef. We picked up sweet paprika (hard to get in the supermarket), Irish oatmeal and Chilli Jelly. Check it out at: www.billsproducestore.co.uk. I went with Karl, Miss Melody, Faymonde and Shawditch. This was of course followed by donuts on the pier and a ride on the merry go round. Here's the pics of a great day at Bill's. The only question - who the hell is Bill?

Chinese preparation

Getting ready for my china trip I headed out for Chilli Crab with friends to Fung Shing in Lisle Street, Chinatown. Great crab (worth the shell cracking) and finger licking good. Really fresh meat, but I could have done with a touch more spice - it took me back to Singapore last year - THE BEST Chilli Crab ever. Fung Shing also does great crispy duck pancakes and chicken done two ways. Lots of food and great tips on bartering in Beijing from Josephine. If they say 100 offer them 25, then walk away. They will call come back if they want a sale! Look out Beijing.

The Big Lunch - Norbury style

Yesterday was the Big Lunch, a national event to bring communities together over lunch. Think street parties and you are almost there. About a million people took part last year - everyone brings a plate of food to share. It was a modest gathering of about 40 odd people, but we had a good time. The Zucchini Slice was a winner as were the lamingtons and Feta, rosemary and potato bread - all courtesy of Smith's Kitchen. Karl's bunting was popular and our local councillors came too. Long live the big lunch.

Fabulous bakers in Wapping

A trip to see the Fashion Editor of The Times today took me past P J Bakers of 93 Wapping Lane. THE best hot cross buns I have tasted in many years, great freshly baked bread and lots of tasty treats including a bagel for me and Stef for lunch. It's out of the way, but if you're ever in Wapping, you won't be disappointed.

Just the beginning

Today's the first day of my blog. Last night I lovingly prepared a Chocolate cola cake for Jo's birthday today. It's one of the best chocolate cake recipes I've found and I return to it time and again. She will love it. It contains cola in the cake recipe melted with a block of butter as well as 3 tablespoons in the icing with butter and cocoa. Delicious. It's being transported on the back of my bike to be delivered for morning tea today.