Tara's Busy Kitchen (and other stories)

Food, recipes and my life

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Hutong Cafe, Plymouth

22nd July 2018 1080 × 1350 Hutong Cafe – Plymouth

Hutong Cafe, Plymouth

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taraskitchen75

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NYC ready.. 🗽
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#newyork #newyorkcity #arlohotelsoho #vintage #secondhandfirst #vacation #holiday #thanksgiving #pineapplethief #progrock #vacay #momentsofmine #firstday #excited #soho #exploring #nyc

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I made it through my last full day in Blighty, just!! A retail shift this morning followed by 5 hours of teaching may have almost broken me physically but it’s ok. Tomorrow after my early morning ballet fitness class at the Uni I head off to NYC on a whirlwind trip with my sister and stepdad. I get to see my friend (numerous times 🙌🏻) who I haven’t seen in just about a year, watch Steve play @sonyhall with The pineapple Thief, listen to jazz at one of the oldest venues in New York, eat all the scrummy food and a whole ton of other things that I don’t have the energy to type. Wish me luck.. tomorrow is going to be epic! New York here I come...🗽A huge big thank you to @serenaf66 for holding the fort and looking after my fur babies. I couldn’t go without you.😘
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#onemoresleep #newyork #newyorkcity #newyorkcityfood #livemusic #sonyhall #thepineapplethief #progrock #familytime #friends #friendship #ballet #balletteacher #fitness #portrait #grafitti #usa #travel #vacation #whirlwind

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Rock buns, Rock cakes, whatever you want to call them are a classic. Made by my gorgeous Nanny all through my childhood as a teatime treat and something that will always remind me of her now that she is no longer with us. A photograph from a year ago popped up in my Instagram stories at the beginning of the week and reminded me how things can quickly change. One minute you think the one and only constant in your life is going to be with you forever and then in a flash she’s gone. Today would have been my Nanny’s 95th birthday and to celebrate I made one of her specialties. I think Rock cakes are due a resurgence. They are simple to make, kid friendly, tasty and require few ingredients. In fact they were promoted by the Ministry of Food during extreme rationing during the Second World War as a great alternative to a regular cake mix due to the fact that the recipe contains fewer eggs and less sugar. I hadn’t made them in years until this week and thought “why the hell not”? Sometimes simple is good; It doesn’t always have to be a fancy pants three tier number with sprinkles. Head on over to the link in my bio to find the recipe. If you feel inspired enough to give them a bake please do share your photographs and thoughts with me. I would love to see your efforts.. as would nanny if she was still here and probably pinch one without you looking! 🥧
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#memories #memoriesmade #baking #rockbun #rockcake #recipe #simplerecipe #kidfriendlyfood #easyrecipes #nanny #love #loss #grief #birthday #birthdaygirl #rationing #vegetarian #momentsofmine #tarasbusykitchen #getbaking #wartimefood

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A throwback to when I didn’t have to wear a bobble hat and scarf and the shades were out..😎Oh sunshine I miss thee. Will we ever have a dry, sunny day again? I miss the sky being blue.
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#rain #vintage #secondhand #secondhandclothes #sunshine #autumnfeels #pumpkin #orangeisthenewblack #swap #reuse #reducereuserecycle #mend #repair #shopping #indie

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It’s definitely bobble hat season.. have you noticed the change in temperature?🥶How can you not have? Tara’s Busy kitchen is a hive of soup making activity to warm my cockles. (Where does that saying come from? Anyone know?) My favourites being my recently posted recipe for Butternut Squash & Sage Soup with Chilli Oil and my Cheats Ribollita. I am pretty sure any Italian Nonna would turn in her grave if she knew the shortcuts I have taken in my recipe but it works and is blimmin’ delicious. The recipe for that little gem will be coming your way very soon. 🍲
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#winter #winteriscoming #winterwarmer #vintagefashion #secondhand #bobblehat #wrapup #soup #soupseason #recipe #tarasbusykitchen #beige #jaeger #wool #ethical #reduce #reuse #recycle #homemade #italian #italianfood #eat #yum #food

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This morning Instagram stories reminded me how much things can change within a year. A gorgeous picture of my Nanny popped up from last years Remembrance Sunday parade in Sidmouth and it hit home that she was no longer here. (Swipe left) With today being Armistice Day and my Nan having served in the Second World War as a Wren it seemed apt to make one of Nanny’s favourite tea time treats. Rock buns had been promoted by the Ministry of Food in the Second World War since they required fewer eggs and less sugar than ordinary cakes, an important saving in times of extreme rationing. Nan used to make these rock buns/cakes regularly when my sisters and I were growing up. I had forgotten how completely delicious they were. Not like rocks at all! 😂With Nanny’s birthday coming up on Saturday I have decided that I will share the recipe with you then to celebrate. I hope you will bake them and love them just as I did growing up. Little things like this keep my memories alive now she isn’t here with me anymore. ❤️
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#memory #memorylane #makingmemories #rockbuns #rockcakes #baking #cake #dessert afternoontea #grief #loss #love #teaandcake #cakelover #armisticeday #remember #remembranceday #lessweforget #nanny #buns #tarasbusykitchen

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It would seem that every recipe coming out of Tara’s Busy Kitchen has had an orange hue of late. Whether it’s been pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pasta or pumpkin mousse. Now it’s the turn of the humble butternut squash. A delightful winter warmer that will take the chill off the freezing winds away and thaw the coldest of bones. The addition of @ronib_kitchen black bean chilli oil added a hum of heat to the recipe. Not blow your mind heat but a subtle warmth that works so well with the butternut squash. Head on over to the link in my bio to be easily transported to the recipe. 🧡❤️💚
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#winterwarmer #soup #chilli #spicy #recipe #recipes #homecooking #cooking #cook #homemade #foodblog #recipeoftheday #foodblogger #vegetarian #vegan #vegetables #green #fresh #tarasbusykitchen

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Two weeks today I will be getting my bags packed for the BIG trip. I’m of to NYC people and I am so excited. I get to catch up with my chum @natashaljeffery in her home town, see Steve play with the @thepineapplethief and hang out with my sister and step dad eating ALL the food. I have resto reservations coming out of my ears.. Indian, Italian, French, Mexican, Mayan; you name it and I will be consuming it. I am intrigued to see what’s on offer. I want to pound the streets looking for thrift stores, visit flea markets & farmers markets, drink tea, eat cake, explore... argh!! There’s going to be so much choice. How will I decide?! Now all the foodie plans are in place and the hotels are booked I need a truly outstanding capsule wardrobe.. HELP me @thewhimsythrift & @cabinetjewellery 🙏🏻
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#newyork #nyc #holiday #vacation #vintage #foodie #secondhandfirst #bigapple #fleamarket #weekendgetaway #familytime #sister #livemusic #friends #momentsofmine #pursuepretty #gig #thrifting #teaandcake

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My love affair with a well made scone has been documented many times over on the blog and it always has to be cream first; I’m a Devon girl after all. I hate all this namby-pamby cream application too. If you are going to have a cream tea you have to go all out. Am I right? I visited @saintgeorgetearoom in Winchester on a recent visit to sample their afternoon tea. Finger sandwiches, pretty little cakes and scones with homemade jams and cream were on my agenda after a blissful walk through the water meadows and beyond. I will be writing about my visit over on the blog very soon but in the meantime how about you drool over these photographs? .
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#afternoontea #teafortwo #creamtea #cake #clottedcream #scones #winchester #dessert #baking #cakedecorating #cakelover #creamfirst #clottedcream #staycation #holiday #stgeorgetearoom #charwinchester #looseleaf #tea #cuppa #tarasbusykitchen

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© Tara Smith 2018