https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/blog-1 daily 0.75 2026-03-27 https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/blog-1/my-bbq-staples-the-must-haves-for-every-bbq monthly 0.5 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774386620222-Z6XGR14BZD7M3CYAE9V4/Screenshot+2026-03-24+at+21.09.16.png Blog - My BBQ Staples: The Must-Haves for Every BBQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774386627102-2NO55C4MIFYBJFLCL7U4/Screenshot+2026-03-24+at+21.08.50.png Blog - My BBQ Staples: The Must-Haves for Every BBQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774386627537-JXGKM18DHIVILR99LSOV/Screenshot+2026-03-24+at+21.08.22.png Blog - My BBQ Staples: The Must-Haves for Every BBQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774386631850-1MTWQS60U4D9N6CJ7UIZ/Screenshot+2026-03-24+at+21.08.29.png Blog - My BBQ Staples: The Must-Haves for Every BBQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774386737732-HLTSX02O860W4WXFZR8N/299A0016.JPEG Blog - My BBQ Staples: The Must-Haves for Every BBQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774386747375-HSMMILRZBUNIQAAKLJZL/299A0044.JPEG Blog - My BBQ Staples: The Must-Haves for Every BBQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774386754020-XSUBC3QW433XD12LCRIT/299A0062.JPEG Blog - My BBQ Staples: The Must-Haves for Every BBQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/971a1c63-48d4-4d39-b4ac-55702c018ffc/Screenshot+2026-03-24+at+21.09.28.png Blog - My BBQ Staples: The Must-Haves for Every BBQ - Oh and did I mention… K-DOGS??? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/86353ae4-f7b8-487e-bb46-cbacaa48fa1b/Screenshot+2026-03-24+at+21.09.16.png Blog - My BBQ Staples: The Must-Haves for Every BBQ - The Non-Negotiable’s Oh… as Nessa once said: “Are we talking burgers and sausage in a long-life bun, or are you takin’ it serious?” We’re definitely taking it seriously. Prawns - skewered with tomatoes or peppers… unreal Chicken - wings, thighs, or drumsticks (we’re drumstick people) Steak or brisket - not always necessary, due to the cost mainly, but when it’s there? Game changer These are the things that make it feel like more than just a standard BBQ. Just listen to the sizzle. https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/blog-1/this-weekend-planting-the-veggies monthly 0.5 2026-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774381770009-WFRNTV8UJ02MQB9JI9Z1/IMG_4699.png Blog - This Weekend: Planting the Veggies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774381785728-FQWQ430PQTJCE6AQYPXF/IMG_4700.png Blog - This Weekend: Planting the Veggies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774381739214-RYKV4K7KN05CVHNPV5LC/IMG_4701.png Blog - This Weekend: Planting the Veggies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1774381751749-OWT4XL79TM4F69MT1DJ7/IMG_4703.png Blog - This Weekend: Planting the Veggies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/96fa9118-bbbb-4175-873d-d331ef1c8c58/Screenshot+2026-03-24+at+19.44.04.png Blog - This Weekend: Planting the Veggies - Building the Tomato Trough Next, I turned my attention to my new tomato trough from Amazon. It came with a built-in trellis, which is perfect since tomatoes are natural climbers and need support as they grow. First, I built it, which admittedly, wasn’t too difficult… although it did result in three blisters (clearly I needed my dad on standby for that one). Once assembled, it looked so cute, and the red wood matched the brick of my house almost perfectly. To prepare it for planting, I started by lining the bottom with small stones. This helps improve drainage and prevents the soil from escaping through the base. On top of that, I added a layer of broken-up cardboard and crushed eggshells. This is something I’ve been really excited to try, as it tackles a few common issues with container gardening: Eggshells provide calcium, which is essential for healthy tomato growth and helps prevent issues like blossom end rot. Cardboard improves moisture retention while still allowing excess water to drain, helping keep the soil balanced. Together, they also improve soil structure over time and can even help deter certain pests. Finally, I layered in a mix of old soil from my raised beds and fresh compost. After giving it a good watering, the trough was ready and waiting for my tomato plants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/92b4ca91-f7e5-44d1-bd98-dcb10d88727d/IMG_4701.png Blog - This Weekend: Planting the Veggies - Bed Two: Onions & Beetroot Finally, I moved on to my second raised bed, which is dedicated to onions and beetroot this year. I’ve tried onions before with mixed success. I ended up with tiny silverskin onions (which I did pickle, to be fair!). But this year, I realised where I might have gone wrong. Previously, I planted the starter plants in clumps, not realising they needed to be separated. This time, I carefully split each one and planted them individually, spacing the onions about 20cm apart. Took forever, but I chose this hobby… The beetroot was spaced closer together, around 10cm apart. I’ve never grown (or even eaten) beetroot before, so this feels like a bit of an experiment, but that’s all part of the fun. Once everything was planted, I gave the beds a good watering and covered it with fleece for protection. https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/blog-1/the-budget-kitch monthly 0.5 2026-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/2e17dd91-9eca-4442-bd0e-bcc12247f038/tempImageAml4Yp.jpg Blog - The Budget Kitch: 11 Essentials I Always Have in Stock - Chicken Katsu Curry Rice, chicken breast, eggs, flour, cornflour, panko breadcrumbs, soy sauce, garlic, onion, potato, carrot, ginger, sesame oil, golden curry paste and seasonings. This one sounds like a lot written down, but it’s actually so simple once you’ve done it a couple of times. It’s one of those proper, wholesome meals we come back to week after week. It’s crispy, comforting, and always worth it. (even Reggie wants a try) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/3ad0ca6b-67e8-464f-8458-c72599b2d289/tempImageZqA0Iv.jpg Blog - The Budget Kitch: 11 Essentials I Always Have in Stock - Orange Chicken Oranges, cornflour, eggs, Chinese five spice, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice, chilli flakes and seasonings. Light, citrusy, and exactly what I make when I can’t decide what I’m in the mood for. It feels fresh but still comforting, which is a rare combination. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/0c82dca8-2d12-4b9f-a84c-891ccc049a2c/tempImageTZSf3Q.jpg Blog - The Budget Kitch: 11 Essentials I Always Have in Stock - Pesto Pasta Pasta with either a jar of pesto or a quick homemade version (basil, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, parmesan). This is the easiest meal. Sometimes I’ll add tomatoes or pancetta if I have them, but even on its own it’s low-budget, simple, and always good. https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/blog-1/fromchaostocompost monthly 0.5 2026-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1773847329123-I4BA0KT2XHSF80ZDH3TR/Screenshot+2026-03-18+at+15.21.27.png Blog - From Chaos to Compost: My 2026 Garden Reset https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1773847367198-UC5XNFBM3D0LJKB6FCOD/Screenshot+2026-03-18+at+15.22.34.png Blog - From Chaos to Compost: My 2026 Garden Reset https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1773847329169-642LKKQINSHZIRA57XE2/Screenshot+2026-03-18+at+15.20.59.png Blog - From Chaos to Compost: My 2026 Garden Reset https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/1773847338441-I7BN9RJ3I0H7DECVR2DC/Screenshot+2026-03-18+at+15.21.11.png Blog - From Chaos to Compost: My 2026 Garden Reset https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/e30ac4de-1ad7-4f5c-98cc-aec185b1d97a/9277ABD4-83D0-4F5F-9438-6E6FD575FA22.JPG Blog - From Chaos to Compost: My 2026 Garden Reset - The Spring Clean The first job was a proper clean up. With the help of my Husband and our Friend, Will. We worked through the edges, pulled up weeds, and finally dealt with the garden waste we had left sitting over winter. Luckily, my dad had a skip that weekend which made life much easier. (thanks dad) While clearing, we found a lot of moth larvae. We carefully moved them to a quieter part of the garden so they would not be disturbed. I also cleared out old and unused plant pots to make space for the new season. The final job was jet washing the patio, which was easily the most satisfying part. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/9c04566b-d0cb-4377-81e5-8de6ad234903/tempImagesjK2QX.jpg Blog - From Chaos to Compost: My 2026 Garden Reset - The Veggie Plan Potatoes were an easy decision. I love them with all my heart, they are always going in. Alongside those, I chose: - Carrots - Onions - Beetroot I had good results with carrots last year, so I wanted to grow them again but go for larger varieties this time. I decided to try beetroot even though I do not usually eat it, just to grow something different. I skipped broccoli this year after dealing with cabbage butterflies last summer. I will try that again in a cooler season instead. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/a56c8342-3f7c-422e-b877-bdd47dd1289c/Screenshot+2026-03-18+at+15.21.19.png Blog - From Chaos to Compost: My 2026 Garden Reset - The Grow Zone This is where I wanted to try a few things I missed last year. Tomatoes were top of the list, and I chose Sweet Million and Beefmaster. One for smaller snacking tomatoes and one for larger slicing tomatoes. I also decided to grow peppers again. Last year they were doing really well until my dog ate both plants and everything growing on them (cheers Reggie). This time I will be a bit more careful with where I place them… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/9908d11e-c7f4-41c2-9fe7-c594ca46b3ac/Screenshot+2026-03-18+at+15.26.44.png Blog - From Chaos to Compost: My 2026 Garden Reset - The Flower Plan Flowers aren’t something I’ve really focused on before in my garden. This year, I want to support pollinators as well as bring more colour into the space, so I spent some time researching and added flowers into my plan. For the edging and pots, I wanted a mix of colours and heights. I chose: Alyssum for low growing coverage Marigolds for bold colour Antirrhinums for height and structure I planned this with sunlight, soil type, and pet safety in mind, as well as making sure the plants would attract pollinators. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/f74dd087-08b3-4604-af11-1b61e2c8aaaf/Screenshot+2026-03-18+at+15.36.43.png Blog - From Chaos to Compost: My 2026 Garden Reset - The Garden Centre Trip No garden reset is complete without a trip to the garden centre, which for me is basically cue heaven gates opening… ahhh Armed with a rough plan and a trolley that I fully intended to keep “under control”, I went in with a plan… and very quickly ignored it. There’s something about walking into a wall of seeds that makes all logic disappear. Rows and rows of tiny packets, each one full of potential, and suddenly I wanted to grow everything. I spent a good amount of time going back and forth between the seed section and the starter plants, trying to stick to my plan while also convincing myself I definitely had space for just one more thing. In the end, I came away with a mix of both. A few starter plants to make things easier, and a good selection of seeds to grow from scratch. By the time we got to the checkout, the trolley was full, the plan had slightly expanded, and my bank account had taken a small hit… but it felt like the proper start of the season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/052041b5-8f47-45f4-be5d-8e0cd20052e1/Screenshot+2026-03-18+at+15.37.11.png Blog - From Chaos to Compost: My 2026 Garden Reset - Getting Everything Started Once I got home, it was time to actually get planting. I set up on the patio with all my seeds, soil, and propagation pots and worked my way through everything one by one. There’s something quite satisfying about this part, just getting everything organised and started. I planted up the courgettes first, using small pots so they have space to establish before moving outside. Then I worked through the rest of the seeds, filling each section, labelling as I went, and trying to stay as tidy as possible (which didn’t last long). Some seeds, like the alyssum, I set aside as these can go straight in the bed once the soil is ready. Everything else went into old paint trays and straight onto the windowsill, where they’ll get the best of the sunlight throughout the day. It’s not the most high-tech setup, but it works perfectly for the space I have. https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/blog-1/10-spring-desserts-im-excited-about-this-year monthly 0.5 2026-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/ceaa80cf-ce79-4000-b9d2-e73b8cf60787/tempImagewM0tVw.jpg Blog - 10 Spring Desserts I’m Excited About This Year - MINI EGGS IN EVERYTHING If you know me, you know what mini eggs mean to me… well that’s slightly dramatic, let’s start again.. I buy Mini Eggs “for baking” and somehow half the bag disappears. Every year. No growth. But mini egg cookies? SMASH. Soft in the middle, slightly crisp on the edges, and then that little crunch from the shell. And they’re pastel, which automatically makes them seasonal. That’s just science. They feel Easter-y without having to actually host Easter. These deserve a photo. https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/blog-1/Blog Post Title One-3zaa9-zlxng-67tfc-watz3 monthly 0.5 2026-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/e40b6e2a-8d13-4a15-b5cf-a2253176ba27/IMG_3519.jpg Blog - Nice to Meet You… - Hello and welcome. I’m J-J, and this is The Middleditch Kitch. This blog is a place for my love of food in all its forms. Cooking, baking, going out to eat, growing things, and occasionally getting it all a bit wrong. It is not about perfection or trends, and it is definitely not about taking myself too seriously. This is just a fun outlet for something that brings me a lot of joy. Here you will find recipes of my own, along with my attempts at other people’s recipes. Some will work, some won’t, and some will be useful lessons for next time. I love trying new things in the kitchen and seeing what happens, even if the result is not always what I imagined. I will also be writing about places I go to eat, from small local spots to somewhere I have been meaning to try for ages. These will be honest thoughts from someone who simply enjoys good food and a nice atmosphere. From time to time, my garden will make an appearance too. I grow what I can, learn as I go, and take a lot of satisfaction in bringing something from my garden into my kitchen. There will be garden diaries, small successes, and probably a few failures along the way. This blog is not here to impress anyone. It is here to share the process, the enjoyment, and the everyday moments that make cooking and growing feel special. If you enjoy food that feels real, stories from the kitchen, and a relaxed approach to trying new things, I hope you will feel at home here. Thank you for being here, and welcome to The Middleditch Kitch. I hope you’ll stick around to cook, bake, grow, and experiment along with me. https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/about daily 0.75 2026-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/c0120f00-0c96-47ab-8d62-e5687fe6b7de/IMG_3519.jpg https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-02-22 https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/new-page daily 1.0 2026-03-18 https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/recipes daily 0.75 2026-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/d84e889e-7a3d-4e5e-85b7-dd1a8b170aca/Recipe+Thumbnail+cinnamon+bun_2026.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/5b9b3e62-e5bf-43b5-9565-dff578cacd6e/Recipe+Thumbnail+muffin_2026.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/de4392ea-b5cc-4df1-a42b-7e67202e7edf/Recipe+Thumbnail+cheesecake_2026.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/716d6647-6d1e-4b7d-81d8-57e66e7b1f4f/Recipe+Thumbnail+cookies_2026.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/28cc0587-c126-4f90-84a7-5f3faaf94956/recipe+of+the+month.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/7811af0f-51e9-43e7-9eb6-6eb5cea18f71/Recipe+Thumbnail+chicken+pie_2026.png https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/cinnamon-rolls daily 0.75 2026-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/8d530ac3-69f2-42b7-9805-b5d73f5aad63/cinnamon+buns+2.jpg https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/chunky-cookies daily 0.75 2026-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/45fbcca7-209d-4ca9-954d-9a16f6212251/IMG_3914.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/0889c522-e58d-4ce4-b700-88d0e51ae5e5/tempImagewM0tVw.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/fb0ad9e3-20c3-433b-b40e-925f3ad929f1/IMG_3917.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/bd79dc7e-f13b-4dfc-a59a-759422ce8580/tempImage3EwMVD.jpg https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/chocolate-chip-muffins daily 0.75 2026-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/830a1370-cdb2-43b9-8ded-958d0b5d8567/tempImageZIWEEW.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/72f6baae-9cab-4f31-93a7-793a297fd813/IMG_3956.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/7b63b905-6137-4bf3-9710-3800dc8c95ae/tempImagexCFqeI.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/01dc0fa2-10b7-4517-ae63-2c0e605f72d2/tempImagel21Y6J.jpg https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/chicken-pancetta-mushroom-pie daily 0.75 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/c782ddca-53d0-4fab-a3cc-77b6eae13bd6/IMG_4288.png https://www.themiddleditchkitch.com/oreo-cheesecake daily 0.75 2026-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6942dcebd164283ac4fc1d15/d401535a-c5db-4fb5-9236-cb4d9de22816/IMG_4302.png