How to Create a Traditional Children’s Party
By Seren Charrington Hollins Children’s parties should be all about simple, unadulterated fun. The best memories of childhood parties tend to be of simple... Read more.
Pantry Essentials: Chutney
By Seren Charrington Hollins Nothing prepares you for the night’s drawing in and the cold chill of winter in the air quite like a pantry well stocked with home-made... Read more.
Looking for a Great British Getaway? Maybe it’s Time to Consider an Alternative to a Hotel
By Seren Charrington Hollis These days, hotel stays are considered a little passé and a trend has emerged for staying in establishments termed “restaurant with... Read more.
The Story of Cakes – it’s as much about memories as recipes
By Seren Charrington Hollins Cakes are one of the most familiar and extraordinary objects of the Western world. There is nothing quite like cake – indeed no wedding... Read more.
Spookily Good Halloween Cocktails – because Halloween isn’t just for kids!
By Seren Charrington Hollins I love Halloween and apart from carving pumpkins and baking spooky treats. I love to decorate my home with Halloween decorations... Read more.
Spookily Good Cocktails for the Witching Hour
By Seren Charrington Hollins It is the time of year when pumpkin spice is the flavour of the month and witch and scary costumes are just the ticket, that’s... Read more.
In a Pickle
By Seren Charrington Hollins The nights are most definitely drawing in and there is a cold chill in the air. It seems that Christmas decorations are now... Read more.
Sprouts – the Little Cabbage of Love
By Seren Charrington Hollins The Brussels Sprout are one of those foods that aren’t exactly classed as glamorous and whether you love or hate them they are... Read more.
The Perfect Coffee and Walnut Cake
By Seren Charrington Hollins In recent months I’ve really fancied a nice slice of coffee and walnut cake and so when enjoying a nice break from the writing... Read more.
Exploring the Work and Inspiration of Laura Ashley and a Visit to her Former Country Home: Llangoed Hall
By Seren Charrington Hollins Llangoed Hall, in Powys, is a Wye Valley hotel that combines country house charm with, exceptional dining and beautiful gardens and... Read more.
Old-Fashioned Cherry Cake
By Seren Charrington Hollins When you think of a traditional slice of cake and a nice cup of tea in a china cup, it is hard not to imagine that…... Read more.
Natural Cleaning Recipes
The world we live in is full of man-made chemicals and the biggest organ of our bodies, the skin, is often subjected to contact with chemicals every day, whether... Read more.
Lemon Curd – it’s a great recipe for loving your leftovers.
By Seren Charrington Hollins When it comes to using up a glut of eggs there is more that can be done than simply making an omelette. How about luscious lemon…... Read more.
Love your leftovers: Celery
By Seren Charrington Hollins As the cold chill leaves the air and the skies hold the promise of balmier days we tend to pack away the slow cooker and…... Read more.
Comfort Food Chocolate and Orange Soufflé
By Seren Charrington Hollins I can think of nothing better than a nice rich, chocolate soufflé and with my recipe you can prepare it an hour in advance, which makes…... Read more.
The Trend for Flavoured Gin Continues to Grow – Tips for DIY Infused Gin
By Seren Charrington Hollins Flavoured gin, commonly referred to as infused gin, has a rich and illustrious history that dates back several centuries. While traditional... Read more.
Good Clean Fun: Natural Cleaning Solutions
Leafing through my 1861 copy of ‘Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management’, it becomes apparent that during the Victorian age the chore of household cleaning... Read more.
Six Decades of Changing Taste & Mayonnaise Cake Recipe
By Seren Charrington Hollins Today I am experimenting with a recipe for chocolate mayonnaise cake and I can’t help wondering what my granny would have made of... Read more.
For the Love of Gingerbread and Bundt Cakes
Gingerbread has a long and fascinating history with its origins lying with the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. In its earliest form it was baked to be firm so that... Read more.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Afternoon Tea
By Seren Charrington Hollins. Afternoon tea is very much in vogue and indeed save for complaining about the weather and going out in the midday sun there are very... Read more.
For the Love of Gingerbread and Bundt Cakes
Gingerbread has a long and fascinating history with its origins lying with the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. In its earliest form it was baked to be firm so that... Read more.
The History of the Bakewell Tart – do you know your tart from your pudding
By Seren Charrington Hollins The Bakewell Tart is a true food legend and the ultimate tea-time treat, but when looking at the history of this regional delicacy... Read more.
Soap Opera – the drama of soap making
By Seren Charrington Hollins Soap has gone very artisan in recent years and is a far cry from the artificial smelling, aqua-marine soap that filled the bathroom... Read more.
Welsh Witterings: Superfoods that Deserve the Title
By Seren Charrington Hollins It seems like every few months there is a new food that runs into the nutrition arena in its super hero cape and claims its title…... Read more.
The British Love of Sausages
By Seren Charrington Hollins There is little debate that Britain is a nation of sausage lovers. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner you can always rely on... Read more.
Fondant Memories: making old fashioned sweets at home
By Seren Charrington Hollins Making sweets at home is a cheap and rewarding process that means you get ultimate control over the ingredients used. The best advice... Read more.
Good Old Fashioned Comfort Food – Cheese and Potato Pie
By Seren Charrington Hollins Seldom things are as simple or comforting as a cheese and potato pie. Cheap and easy to prepare this meal is great for busy families... Read more.
Total Bliss – Teetotal Tipples
By Seren Charrington Hollins More and more people, both young and old have fallen out of love with alcohol and are opting for a lifestyle that shuns alcoholic beverages.... Read more.
Love your Leftovers – Blue Cheese
By Seren Charrington-Hollins Tangy, ripe and deeply savoury there is no doubt that it is an acquired taste, but there is no denying its ability to pep up... Read more.
Top Vegetarian Toastie Recipes to Tickle your Taste buds
By Seren Charrington Hollins When it comes to lunch at home it is very often a sandwich affair, but the problem with sandwiches is that they can become repetitive. ... Read more.
Seren on Saturdays A short History of the Chocolate Eclair
By Seren Charrington Hollins A good chocolate eclair is nothing short of spectacular and is something worthy of praise. Light, yet crisp choux pastry filled with... Read more.
Seren on Saturdays. Cheesecake – food of the Gods
By Seren Charrington Hollins Around the world cheesecake is championed as a delicious and indulgent treat and indeed one that conjures up thoughts of American bakeries,... Read more.
Seren on Saturdays. The Making of the Great British Pie What Pie shall I choose?…A Noble Affair too
By Seren Charrington Hollins For the past week pies have been on my mind, it’s not some sort of new diet fad or even a craving, instead my obsession with…... Read more.
Golden Age of Cocktails: drink like it’s the 1920s
by Seren Hollins, food & drink historian Pull on a flapper dress, bring out the *bathtub gin and strike up some big band jazz music, as we mix up some…... Read more.
Seren on Saturdays: Retro Dinner Party Revival
By Seren Charrington Hollins Food had been all about frugality and functionality for the best part of the 1940’s and 1950’s and whilst the food had been wholesome... Read more.
Seren on Saturday: In a Medieval Style Pickle
Preserving food by means of pickling is an ancient tradition and by the Middle Ages it was a well-established practice with medieval households being keenly aware... Read more.
Seren on Saturdays The Foods of Love and Romance – not just for Valentine’s Day
By Seren Charrington Hollins It’s that time of year when you seemingly can’t escape from hearts, flowers and bottles of fizz, yes it’s Valentines... Read more.
Seren on Saturdays. Apple Jam and Custard Tart
I love a nice home-cooked custard tart, but this simple dish is transformed to a dish worthy of great merit and praise when coupled with the tang of Bramley apple…... Read more.
Seren on Saturdays. Cocktails and Cake
By Seren Charrington Hollins The Piña Colada is an iconic cocktail from the 1950’s and it is the ultimate summer escape cocktail. Whenever I think of the drink... Read more.