Hello, I’m Sally….

though my grandchildren (and now lots of lovely visitors to this site) call me Jam Jam.

I’m 58 and married to John, known around here as Paps (though he earns a few other names depending on the day). We live in a cosy cottage in High Hurstwood, East Sussex, alongside our two dogs, Corton and Fuzzy, and Winston the tortoise – slow, steady and always watching.

I have three daughters – all grown up and on their own adventures – and three grandchildren we call the Gremmos. Feeding family has always been my favourite thing. Even now that the girls have left home, I still come into the kitchen as if someone might pop in at any moment.

I just love cooking. Any excuse will do: visitors, leftovers, a chilly evening, or a half-opened packet that needs using. I hate waste and am always trying to turn “not much” into something comforting, filling, and worth sitting down for.

Recipes, to me are guides (except for baking, which actually needs respect and caution). When I change a recipe (which is most of the time), I tell Paps we’re having a Blag. Sometimes it’s planned, sometimes it’s accidental, and sometimes it probably shouldn’t work… but it’s always eaten. A glass of wine often helps, sometimes more than one.

Jam Jam’s Kitchen is where I share the food I actually cook at home:

• Budget-friendly meals
• Family favourites
• Leftovers turned into something new
• And plenty of blags along the way

It’s not about perfection – it’s about feeding people well, without spending a fortune or wasting what you’ve already got.

Pull up a chair, pour a glass, open the fridge and let’s make something good – together.