Thanks lovely - I can’t believe it’s already march however 😮💨 It’s zooming by!
Oooo it seems like rock cakes is a divider of opinions more than I thought! Loads of people have said the same and vice versa. For me… it all goes down the same way 😆
Just catching up on my newsletters, and this is very exciting to read! I love the idea of the imaginary coffee shop, amazing! Happy New Year, Mark, hope Hiro will feel better super soon.
Hey lovely! I’ve been meaning to catch up with you but with everything going on - it’s been all consuming. Happy New Year to you, too! I hope you’ve had a great start to the year.
Sounds like a full and exciting year! I’m also ‘cooking my books’ but in a less full fashion, my plan is cook from 25 in 2025. Maybe we’ll even cook from some of the same books!
Wishing you well -- and look forward to watching -- you chase that dream, Mark. I love rock cakes: my daughter perfect a recipe that she cooks most times for her grandad when we are down in Cornwall. And that writing retreat is a lovely thing to have to look forward to. Two of the best to learn from, I am sure.
I love this. 'I’m writing a cookbook'...committing to the writing weekend with Diana and I...the intentions here all laid out - bering intentional and occupying the space while being aware of learning as you go is about the best recipe for taking things where you want to go with them as I know. Looking forward to reading more
Haha thank you, Mark! I think there a large element of blind enthusiasm involved, too I've been playing around with the book idea for a while and spending time with you and Diana will be the perfect catalyst to actualising it. I'll explain more about the concept in person :)
🤣🤣 well I mean you do have an excuse that you’re time is spent making awesome bakes. But I’m glad you share this habit with me! We should join a little cookbook club 📖
I know, I've not had a minute to do anything else, let alone write another post, haha! But it will come 😂 It definitely would be a fun little project, I was thinking of going through a baking book start to finish ☺️
How addictive are cookbooks? If you're interested, I have a little cookbook club thing running where we cook from and review one cookbook along a theme each month. Anyways, great intentions here and go you!
Oh Joanne, don’t get me started 😆 I could quite easily pick up a new one every time I walk past! Ooo that sounds like great fun - I’ll definitely take a look and get involved. Think it helps with the motivation too when you’re doing it with other people.
Sounds like a great year ahead Mark! Looking forward to hearing more about Beandog and your cooking of the books! I have so many I could recommend. Tempted to just send you a picture of my bookshelves!
Also, incredibly jealous of that writers weekend. As a fellow introvert I would be nervous too, but you will smash it. Looking forward to hearing all about it!
Thank you, lovely one! Absolutely send me a pic of your bookshelves, along with your top 3 (if you can choose a top 3) - can’t have too much inspiration!
I’m equal parts ecstatic and terrified 😆 But it will be amazing, I’m sure. I’ll be sure to report back on everything!
Ok, so going with baking and also with the idea that you'll want to cook through them - Bake off's A Bake for all Seasons is a brilliant one. Also, The Pastry School by Julie Jones and The Pastry Chef's Guide by Ravneet Gill.
A little extra one as you like photography, How to Photograph Food by Beata Lubas provides me with so much inspiration.
Oh also, if you haven't read Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat I would so recommend it. Totally changed the way I view food.
Oh, this one by Ravneet is great. It takes you through each of the basic recipes - from choux pastry, to Italian meringue buttercream, to macarons, even to your more basic lemon loaf cake. You can then play with your own flavour combinations and ideas. It's a pocket book and she wrote it with the idea that a pastry chef would have it on them at work as a reference guide.
So many exciting things on the burner! What a great year ahead you have!
Re the rock cakes, IMO, scones are not so dense and pull/break in half for jam and cream. Rock cakes are poorly named and are biscuits! 😂
Thanks lovely - I can’t believe it’s already march however 😮💨 It’s zooming by!
Oooo it seems like rock cakes is a divider of opinions more than I thought! Loads of people have said the same and vice versa. For me… it all goes down the same way 😆
Will love to hear how you get on at the writer's weekend, and how you get on with your book.
I’ll keep you posted! I’m hoping to buck up the courage to be doing some video content by then as well.
“Captain’s log…”
Love it!
Just catching up on my newsletters, and this is very exciting to read! I love the idea of the imaginary coffee shop, amazing! Happy New Year, Mark, hope Hiro will feel better super soon.
Hey lovely! I’ve been meaning to catch up with you but with everything going on - it’s been all consuming. Happy New Year to you, too! I hope you’ve had a great start to the year.
Got a lot of catching up to do myself, too 😅
Sounds amazing, Mark. Can’t wait to see it all!
Thank you Renee! And so sorry I missed this comment 🙃
Sounds like a full and exciting year! I’m also ‘cooking my books’ but in a less full fashion, my plan is cook from 25 in 2025. Maybe we’ll even cook from some of the same books!
Lucy! It seems I missed this comment, sorry 🙇♂️
I’m excited to know, how are you getting on with your challenge?
I like your mini-challenges! I'm toggling through multiple cookbooks and trying out new things as well. :)
Thank you, Tracey! Ooo that sounds great - any you can recommend? :)
For sure - I cook; ayurvedic, vegetarian and whole foods… any of it interest you?
Wishing you well -- and look forward to watching -- you chase that dream, Mark. I love rock cakes: my daughter perfect a recipe that she cooks most times for her grandad when we are down in Cornwall. And that writing retreat is a lovely thing to have to look forward to. Two of the best to learn from, I am sure.
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement, Matt - it means a lot! The more I think about it, the more I realise how perfect rock cakes are 😄
Can't wait for the retreat - looking forward to sponging every bit of that experience up!
I love this. 'I’m writing a cookbook'...committing to the writing weekend with Diana and I...the intentions here all laid out - bering intentional and occupying the space while being aware of learning as you go is about the best recipe for taking things where you want to go with them as I know. Looking forward to reading more
Haha thank you, Mark! I think there a large element of blind enthusiasm involved, too I've been playing around with the book idea for a while and spending time with you and Diana will be the perfect catalyst to actualising it. I'll explain more about the concept in person :)
Great, exciting times ahead Mark. Can wait to see your next instalment! Just go for it -
clearly you are!
Thanks Gill! It’s going to be a fun year, that’s for sure 😊
Think I'll join you on the cookbook one! I have too many lovely baking books that I've not attempted a single recipe from (or even read half of) 🫣
🤣🤣 well I mean you do have an excuse that you’re time is spent making awesome bakes. But I’m glad you share this habit with me! We should join a little cookbook club 📖
I know, I've not had a minute to do anything else, let alone write another post, haha! But it will come 😂 It definitely would be a fun little project, I was thinking of going through a baking book start to finish ☺️
Cookbook sounds perfect! I love Beandog and am so happy you’re putting it out into the universe. I’m sure it’ll happen before you know it!
Thank you Lyns!! Hope you had a great Christmas / New Year 😊 I’m so excited for this year for us - it’s going to be awesome 🤙
Yep! Say hi to the Prince of Naps for me 😍
We're off to the vets today, bless him - he's been feeling under the weather for the past week. I'll give him extra snuggles from you
Oh no! Sweet guy 😢
Sounds like an exciting year ahead, Mark. Looking forward to following along, especially with the book and Beandog. Fun times! 👏
Thank you, Claire! Will definitely keep me busy 😅 Here’s to an awesome 2025 for us! 🙌
Oh, and I'm SO jealous about the writing workshop with my two fave food writers. Sadly it's too far to pop over from Queensland.
It’s going to be so great, I’m sure! I’ll report back on everything I’ve learned 😊
How addictive are cookbooks? If you're interested, I have a little cookbook club thing running where we cook from and review one cookbook along a theme each month. Anyways, great intentions here and go you!
Oh Joanne, don’t get me started 😆 I could quite easily pick up a new one every time I walk past! Ooo that sounds like great fun - I’ll definitely take a look and get involved. Think it helps with the motivation too when you’re doing it with other people.
Lots of positive plans.
Will keep me busy!
Sounds like a great year ahead Mark! Looking forward to hearing more about Beandog and your cooking of the books! I have so many I could recommend. Tempted to just send you a picture of my bookshelves!
Also, incredibly jealous of that writers weekend. As a fellow introvert I would be nervous too, but you will smash it. Looking forward to hearing all about it!
Thank you, lovely one! Absolutely send me a pic of your bookshelves, along with your top 3 (if you can choose a top 3) - can’t have too much inspiration!
I’m equal parts ecstatic and terrified 😆 But it will be amazing, I’m sure. I’ll be sure to report back on everything!
Top 3, hmmm.
Ok, so going with baking and also with the idea that you'll want to cook through them - Bake off's A Bake for all Seasons is a brilliant one. Also, The Pastry School by Julie Jones and The Pastry Chef's Guide by Ravneet Gill.
A little extra one as you like photography, How to Photograph Food by Beata Lubas provides me with so much inspiration.
Oh also, if you haven't read Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat I would so recommend it. Totally changed the way I view food.
Oh bugger, that was 5.
I mean I said top 3, but actually - more the merrier! 🤣
These a GREAT recommendations, thank you! I think I need to start a Notion database of all books I have got, want to get and been recommended to get.
I've seen the Bake Off one but haven't heard of the other 3 yet. Love Ravneet, so might have to pick this one up pronto!
Loving the nerdyness of that database!
Oh, this one by Ravneet is great. It takes you through each of the basic recipes - from choux pastry, to Italian meringue buttercream, to macarons, even to your more basic lemon loaf cake. You can then play with your own flavour combinations and ideas. It's a pocket book and she wrote it with the idea that a pastry chef would have it on them at work as a reference guide.