• Dear Agony Aunt: I’m broke and still need to buy Christmas presents…

    Dear Auntie Carol, Any cheap Christmas present ideas for family? I’m strapped for cash and need some inspo. Dear reader… You know, Channel 4 originally asked ME to do their Christmas special. Yes, that’s right – Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas was originally meant to be Carol’s Handmade Christmas! But I...
  • Autumn Warmers – Autumnal Carrot Cake

    Has October kicked in for you? Are you spending evenings watching Bake Off, drooling over whatever they’re making? Want a sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of tea after a long day at uni? Well I present to you my autumnal carrot cake! This can be made quickly...
  • Food Review: Baklava Bistro

    I had the pleasure of being invited to try out the brand new Mediterranean restaurant, ‘Baklava Bistro’. ‘Baklava’ was opened just two weeks ago by enthusiastic owner Omar. Just an easy ten-minute walk from Lenton, this small and well-decorated bistro situated on Alfreton Road is soon to be a...
  • Italian Afternoon Tea @ Veeno

    Nestled in Nottingham’s famous Lace Market, Italian wine café chain Veeno has recently launched its own version of the classic English Afternoon Tea, including a selection of focaccia, meats and cheese, chocolate cake, lemon cake and scones with mascarpone and strawberry jam. Introduced in Britain in 1840 by Anna,...
  • Vegan and Gluten Free Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe

    We all know how annoying it is when you or someone you know has a dietary requirement. Some of you might also know that most store-bought gluten-free cakes have the taste and texture of cardboard. This cake contains no gluten, no dairy and can be made nut-free, so no...
  • Build Your Own Cake Series: The Icing On The Cake!

    Baking a cake to suit your own tastes is surprisingly easy, but most people just don’t have the confidence to give it a go and add their favourite flavours. In this series, I will give you the basic steps you need to make a cake with the opportunity to...
  • The Sinking Feeling: Gluten-Free Baking

    Whether you are Coeliac, suffer gluten intolerance, or whether you just decide to cut it out of your diet, more and more people are eating gluten free food. For most, this includes cutting out most forms of cake, pastry, breads, and baked goods (or paying ridiculous amounts for the...