Tara's Busy Kitchen (and other stories)

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My Week In Pictures Lockdown 3 Week 10

My Week In Pictures Lockdown 3 Week 10

23rd March 202123rd March 2021 - tara Leave a comment

Sunday lunching had become a bit of a thing of late and pasta has been playing a huge part in that. A few weeks ago I discovered La Tua. An authentic Italian pasta home delivery service that deliver nationwide. I have ordered twice now and can’t fault the ease of purchase from start to finish.Read more

My Week In Pictures Lockdown 3 Week 9

My Week In Pictures Lockdown 3 Week 9

15th March 202115th March 2021 - tara 2 Comments

This week must have been the wettest in history! Every time I ventured out of the house I was either hailed on, rained on or almost blown away. I don’t mean to start my blog post talking about the weather as there has been other stuff way more interesting going on but I did feelRead more

My Week In Pictures Lockdown 3.0 Week 8

My Week In Pictures Lockdown 3.0 Week 8

7th March 2021 - tara Leave a comment

Welcome to week 8 of the third lockdown in the United Kingdom. There is light at the end of the tunnel though. From tomorrow lockdown rules begin to ease meaning that schools can go back and a few weeks after that we can meet up with more than one person socially outdoors. Then in stagesRead more

A Day in the Life

My Week In Picture Lockdown 3.0 Week 7

28th February 20211st March 2021 - tara Leave a comment

What a difference a week can make. The weather here in Devon has been dreamy and it well and truly feels like spring is around the corner. I have been noticing lighter mornings as well as lighter evenings. It is only a few more weeks until the clocks change and then the winter will feelRead more

Tara Makes - No Churn Ice Cream Sandwiches

Tara Makes – No Churn Ice Cream Sandwiches

27th February 2021 - tara Leave a comment

The sun has finally come back out after a long and dreary winter. Yes, it may still only be the end of February but spring really does feel like it’s on the way. There is actual warmth in the sun when you dodge the shadows and the days are beginning to draw out. So, thisRead more

My Week In Pictures - Lockdown 3.0 Week 6

My Week In Pictures – Lockdown 3.0 Week 6

21st February 202128th February 2021 - tara Leave a comment

Happy Sunday friends. Can you believe another week had gone by? It’s been half term for me from most of my ballet classes and normally I would have gone away somewhere but obviously not this year! Last year Steve and I went on a rather soggy break to Falmouth for a few days and discoveredRead more

Snowy Walks & Hot Chocolate

My Week In Pictures – Lockdown 3.0 Week 5

15th February 202115th February 2021 - tara Leave a comment

Happy New Week! Firstly, let me apologise for not posting “My Week In Pictures” last week. Literally, nothing of note happened apart from my recipe for Rose & Chocolate Macaroons. I guess that’s going to be the case in a global pandemic. This week however I have done stuff! Yey! It’s all been in a CovidRead more

Tara Makes - Beetroot Borscht

Tara Makes – Beetroot Borscht

13th February 202113th February 2021 - tara Leave a comment

Happy Saturday friends. I thought I would share with you my version of Beetroot Borscht that I made for my bubble lunch date last Sunday. For those of you that have never heard of borscht before, think of it as an Eastern European minestrone. A hearty soup that uses odds and ends of vegetables inRead more

Tara Makes - Rose & Pistachio No Churn Ice Cream

Tara Makes – Rose & Pistachio No Churn Ice Cream

9th February 202113th February 2021 - tara 1 Comment

I know it’s probably the coldest week of the year so far but that doesn’t stop me wanting ice cream for dessert. Plus, it’s the prettiest pud and might be an ideal Valentine’s Day sweet treat this weekend. You could whip up a batch on Saturday evening for it to be ready in time forRead more

My Week In Pictures - Lockdown 3.0 Week 4

Rose & Chocolate Macaroons

5th February 20215th February 2021 - tara 1 Comment

This recipe has been on the cards at Tara’s Busy Kitchen HQ for a while in all honesty. I purchased the desiccated coconut long before Christmas but just didn’t have the time to make a batch what with everything else going on. I suppose on top of that our house was already full of festiveRead more

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Cheers to the weekend! It’s definitely wine o’ Cheers to the weekend! It’s definitely wine o’clock.🥂
Today wasn’t the best day so I’ve decided to p Today wasn’t the best day so I’ve decided to post some pics from Easter weekend that have lifted my mood no end🐣So thankful for the glorious weather that enabled us to enjoy our outdoor festivities.
Happy Easter. How lucky have we been with the weat Happy Easter. How lucky have we been with the weather? I don’t think we could have wished for better, particularly as all socialising has to remain outside for now. Steve and I have managed to sit outside everyday this week for either lunch or dinner (sometimes both) and it’s been great. Today I invited the family over to join us and it couldn’t have been a nicer day. I hope you have all managed to spend a bit of time with your nearest and dearest this Easter weekend. Here are a few snapshots of the Easter lunch I prepared for the fam all recipes from @skyemcalpine book A Table For Friends. The star of the show had to be the Torta Pasqualina. A beautiful pie filled with spinach, ricotta and eggs. Definitely something I shall add to my permanent repertoire.
Being able to socialise outdoors with friends and Being able to socialise outdoors with friends and family is totally ace. Here’s a pic of my risotto primavera and some pretty epic vino from @pullo.shop - Happy Easter all. 🐣
(AD) I have been a regular purchaser and eater of (AD) I have been a regular purchaser and eater of @latuapasta after discovering them via Instagram a couple of months ago. Being a lover of all things Italian and anything made with truffle I was instantly drawn to their filled pastas. This family business pre-pandemic hand made and hand folded pasta for the hospitality industry supplying some of the top restaurants in the UK. Since March 2020, like many businesses, they have diversified and now deliver nationwide to your homes. I think I am on my third delivery now and can safely say I am hooked. Every order has been sent swiftly in eco-friendly packaging and delivered to my door in a matter of days. The pastas can be stored in the fridge or to prolong their life can be frozen. Ideal if you take advantage of their free delivery option when you spend £30. If you want a few recommendations can I suggest you try the beetroot and goats cheese ravioli with walnut pesto and the black truffle tortelloni with truffle butter to start with.. I have literally tried every truffle option, the beetroot gnocchi with sage butter and the tortelloni filled with lobster and crab doused with lemon butter. 🤤 Listen, it’s all good so whatever you order I think you will be pleased. 
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Yesterday’s lunch was kindly gifted by @latuapasta - I sampled their Buona Pasqua Easter Feast with a couple of vegetarian alternatives. 💚
A moment of reflection on this fine Saturday.🪟 A moment of reflection on this fine Saturday.🪟 Spring seems to have made a return as I gaze out of my window this morning. I am more than happy about that.🌷
Yesterday felt like spring as I tiptoed through th Yesterday felt like spring as I tiptoed through the tulips. Today, not so much! ☔️
This photo taken a year ago to the day marks the f This photo taken a year ago to the day marks the first anniversary of the start of the first UK lockdown. The first of my daily lockdown walks, the fear of the unknown and that point truly believing that in 3 weeks it would all be over. How naive was I, were we? I want to take a moment today to remember all the people who didn’t make it through and think about the families that have been left heartbroken. I will think about how different life is now. A lot has happened this year that has been incredibly positive too. Things that most probably might not have happened without that first lockdown. Steve and I discovered our new home on one of our daily lockdown walks in an area of Exeter that we would never have known existed without being spurred on to exercise outdoors. I started my online ballet fitness business @myballetfit (pretty much to the day in fact) and have managed to create a wonderful online community with a whole bunch of people all over the world. The fear I felt before taking my first Zoom class and the euphoria I felt when it was over will be memories I will never forget. Turning a negative into a positive has become my motivation in life. That first class was the making of me and I am so glad I took that initial leap. Whatever memories you have from this past year, both good and bad, take a moment to pause and reflect today. 🤍
Time. Such a funny thing. Does anyone else feel th Time. Such a funny thing. Does anyone else feel that time is moving so fast but so slow at the same time? The days, weeks and months are dissolving in front of our eyes but last week seems an eternity ago. Don’t even get me started on how far away in the future next weekend feels! 
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This week marks the anniversary of the first UK lockdown and the anniversary of my very first Zoom ballet fitness class when I was scared to death about the future of my career. (So glad I took that leap though because @myballetfit was born!) This weekend also marks the first weekend of spring and next weekend the clocks change. Lighter evenings & longer days are just around the corner and I am so pleased about that.
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I just wanted to share with you this little video I made for my friend @mooreting and her illustration business. Georgina is based in Exeter and has a lovely Etsy business selling calendars, greetings cards and bespoke portraits and illustrations. If you get a moment pop on over to her account and give this local business a follow. The link to Georgina’s Etsy shop is in her bio too if you fancy taking a look.🪴
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© Tara Smith 2020