A pile of Triple Chocolate Brownies on a plate Not wishing to blow my own trumpet, but if there's one thing I'm 'known for' (aside from my irritating habit of bringing death and dying into every conversation!) it's my Chocolate Brownies. Before I became an Independent Celebrant, I worked in food and ran various businesses, including during covid, a postal bakes business where I was regularly baking and sending 100's of boxes of chocolate brownies each month. (fun fact: for a very brief moment...

(AKA ‘Bish Bash Bosh’ cake 'Freezer Fruit Cake' or 'Yoghurt Cake') In our house this cake has various names. But it’s my go-to recipe when I need a comforting slice of deliciousness with minimal effort and washing up, or something very transportable to take to a friend’s house or picnic! I've realised recently I could also call it the 'Grief Cake' - as it has become the cake I make to leave on the doorstep of someone recently bereaved or going through a tough patch - because it's robust...

Back on a sunny Saturday in March I was invited to help with a slightly unusual funeral. Unusual simply because as an Independent Celebrant I don’t usually get involved in ‘church’ funerals (people tend to choose a celebrant-led funeral when they don’t have close personal links with a faith organisation, and churches are historically not keen to host secular ceremonies). But D’s daughters were adamant that as a lifelong atheist, their dad should have a secular, celebrant-led ceremony. And...