This year, the plentiful rain and hot sun have resulted in an early, bumper crop of apples. Britain’s favourite cooking apple is the Bramley, a variety that’s now over 200 years old, and the earliest records in 1862 record the first ever commercial transaction –  a sale of “three Bramley…

Ice lollies aren’t just for children. We’ve put together five of our favourite iced treats, from alcoholic to healthy, to help you stay cool this summer. Whatever recipe you use, a set of proper ice lolly moulds and some wooden sticks will make life a bit easier. Try serving a…

The first Victoria plums are making an appearance in our shops. Victorias have been Britain’s most popular plum almost since they were discovered in the early 19th century, as they’re sweet, juicy and equally good for cooking or eating. Best of all, we love to eat them fresh with may be…

On a hot summer’s day there is nothing better than sitting in a café eating a fancy ice cream – a Knickerbocker Glory or a Banana Split. But often they are over priced and making the equivalent at home can be much cheaper and more satisfying. Make your own ice…

If you’re feeling inspired by our post on the top 10 preserving products, then why not try making your own jam? There’s nothing more satisfying than making your own jam. For full brownie points, it should be made from your own homegrown fruit, but as this isn’t an option for…

With soft fruit such as gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries and currants just starting to come into season, we’ve picked out our top ten favourite preserving products to get your jam-making off to a flying start. 1. Worktop saver, Laura Ashley We do love making jam – but everything from preparing the…