This fruity mincemeat recipe has been my most viewed post during October. It combines dried fruits, citrus zest, spices and brandy to make a luxury filling for mince pies. It will keep for several months in sterilised jars ready to use in one of these festive baking recipes. Other popular recipes include crunchy oat biscuits, no knead olive bread, almond slices, sweet shortcrust pastry and apple custard tart. Vegetarian mincemeat This mincemeat is made without suet making it a tasty treat for...

Fill your kitchen with the aroma of one of these tasty October bakes! At this time of the year I have regular baking sessions to keep our cake tins and freezer topped up with baked goods ready to enjoy as a dessert or with a cup of coffee. I also like to share them with friends and neighbours. While I have a weakness for cakes and biscuits I only enjoy them if they are homemade. I think they are so much better than any mass produced goods. From sweet almond frangipane to lightly spiced fruit...

Cosy up with a bowl of homemade soup! Whether you like chunky vegetables, hearty lentils, tangy tomatoes or spices, homemade soups are just the thing for chilly days. These vegetarian soups are simple to prepare and make a complete meal when paired with fresh crusty bread. They are also flexible. If you don't have one of the ingredients or want to substitute something else, in many cases this will work. If you have any old bread, use it to made some crunchy croutons to add to your soup....