The Cinnamon Jar

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    Home

    About me

    Welcome to The Cinnamon Jar, your new favourite place to explore the flavours of the globe without ever leaving home! I'm Maretha, a devoted home cook, passionate photographer and slightly obsessed world food enthusiast. 

    A photo of Maretha.

    My self-appointed mission? I aim to demystify global flavours by modifying recipes to fit your everyday pantry and skill set, while staying true to the cultural spirit of each dish.

    The recipes draw inspiration from all over - South Africa, Italy, Australia, India, Sweden and many, many other beautiful countries. Alongside each recipe you'll find a helping of fun trivia to feed your mind, too!

    What you'll find on this blog

    • Globally-inspired dishes using accessible ingredients and simple techniques.
    • Meticulously tested recipes written in an engaging, easy-to-follow format.
    • My love of food shows in each recipe, meant to spark your inspiration.
    • Colourful pictures illustrating the taste and beauty of each recipe.
    • Endless meal ideas for every occasion - from weeknights to dinner parties.
    • Helpful tips and tricks sprinkled throughout to level up your skills.
    • An in-depth look at key ingredients and flexible swap options.

    My experience

    Easy South African bobotie in a white dish on a grey background.

    With over 30 years of passionate home cooking and a few jobs in the hospitality sector, I've honed my culinary skills through continuous hands-on experience. 

    My lifelong kitchen education involves recreating family recipes, putting creative twists on classics and exploring new global flavours through experimentation. 

    Countless hours of testing techniques and ingredients have allowed me to develop mastery and intuition when cooking.  

    Though mostly self-taught, I can adapt recipes with confidence and instinctively understand how flavours interact. 

    I'm excited to share the culinary discoveries from years of food-focused learning with you!

    A little bit about me

    I spent my sunny South African childhood on a farm with my mom, dad, older brother and two grannies, enveloped in vast landscapes and the scent of the occasional savanna rainstorm.

    The women in my family, exceptional cooks who could whip up wonderful feasts from humble ingredients, nurtured my early love of food. The ingredients were either grown on our land or available from the rudimentary stores in the nearby town. They could make anything work!

    African continent art work made from blocks of wood.
    Photo of a black cat.

    After attending art school in the capital and a few years of finding my feet, I ventured north to Sheffield, United Kingdom where I now live with my wonderful Yorkshire husband and Kevin, our larger-than-life feline.

    Why The ‘Cinnamon Jar’?

    It's my Proustian trigger as well as my favourite spice!

    Cinnamon was a common ingredient in the food my family cooked and in South African cuisine in general.

    The scent conjures nostalgia, transporting me back to the warmth of our sunny yellow farmhouse kitchen, where my mother and grannies always cooked with so much heart.

    A jar of cinnamon sticks.

    Please feel welcomed and encouraged here and let’s go on this journey of discovery together. I would love to learn from you too, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected] with any questions, ideas or just to say hello! 


    Just for fun, some of my answers to the Proust Questionnaire

    What is your motto?

    My motto is borrowed from my dear friend Dom's late dad - Work hard and be nice to people.

    What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

    Loyalty. It's an admirable trait but not at the expense of integrity.

    What is your idea of perfect happiness?

    If food had no calories.

    On what occasion do you lie?

    When it will protect someone from harm and where the truth would have no benefit to them anyway. Other than that, always tell the truth!

    What do you most dislike about your appearance?

    My nose!

    Which talent would you most like to have?

    I am rather envious of people who can sing beautifully, play the guitar and write their own songs.

    Where would you most like to live?

    The seaside! Morning walks on the beach sound so idyllic, but I understand that people who actually live by the sea don't really do that (what??!).

    What is the trait you most deplore in others?

    I have two of equal measure: Racism and cruelty to animals.

    If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

    I am an Uber-worrier! I would like to worry less.

    What is your greatest regret?

    Not being old enough in the eighties to have worn the outrageous hair and makeup.

    What is it that you most dislike?

    Bad hygiene (when it can be helped) and a lack of basic good manners.

    If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

    An Aurora Borealis - People travel miles to see you, wait for hours for your potential appearance and are brought to tears by your beauty. Basically you just hang around doing nothing, being fabulous.

    Can you use one of my photos?

    Sure! You are welcome to republish a photo on your website/blog/newsletter - but please always link it back to the recipe or blog post you pulled it from.

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    Comments

    1. Rosalind Parkinson says

      October 09, 2023 at 6:36 pm

      Hi Maretha, I've just subscribed and I can't wait to try your beautiful recipes 😋 I love the question and answers from you. Looking forward to receiving recipes and tips from you. Enjoy the rest of your week and I'm going to carry on reading all about you and your recipes
      Kind regards
      Ros Parkinson x

      Reply
      • Maretha Corbett says

        October 10, 2023 at 1:15 pm

        Hello Ros!

        What a delightful surprise to see your subscription and read your lovely, warm message! Welcome to our culinary corner of the internet. I'm thrilled to have you as part of our little community.

        Glad to hear that you enjoyed the Q&A section above. The Proust questionnaire is always a fun way to share a little more about yourself, and it's even more enjoyable when it resonates with readers like you.

        I promise to keep the delicious recipes and handy tips coming your way. Feel free to reach out anytime if you have questions or just want to chat about food.

        Wishing you a fabulous week ahead as well!

        Kind regards,

        Maretha xxx

        Reply
    2. Millie says

      October 29, 2023 at 8:54 am

      Love your Christmas cake recipe. My Mother in law is coming this year and is coeliac so requires it to be gluten free. Can I just do a straight swap with gluten free flour or should I add any xanthium gum?

      Reply
      • Maretha Corbett says

        October 29, 2023 at 9:50 am

        Hey Millie,

        Thank you! I'm glad you like the look of the Christmas cake!

        I haven't personally tried using gluten-free flour in this specific recipe, but from my research on other gluten-free Christmas cake recipes with a similar flour amount, you can typically do a straight 1:1 swap with gluten-free flour, with minor adjustments. Therefore, to play it safe, I'd suggest adding a teaspoon of xanthan gum. Because this cake doesn't include any leavening agents anyway, you don't need to worry about rising. Fruit cakes like this one are usually quite forgiving, but using the gum can help bind it together. "Feeding" the cake with alcohol a good four times before serving will also keep it deliciously moist.

        Good luck, and I hope your mother-in-law loves the cake!

        Maretha.

        Reply
    3. Irene says

      November 01, 2023 at 9:54 am

      Hi Maretha, am about to try your easy Christmas cake and want to know if it's possible to substitute molassis for the black treacle as I can't find it in SA at the moment. Your recipes look amazing and I'm looking forward to trying them.
      Regards Irene

      Reply
      • Maretha Corbett says

        November 01, 2023 at 12:14 pm

        Hello Irene!

        Thanks very much, that's very kind of you!

        Right, I have done some research and I think you will be ok to swap the black treacle with molasses. According to Google, molasses has an ever so slightly more bitter taste than black treacle, but it's essentially a very similar thing. Given that the recipe only needs one tablespoon, I very much doubt you're going to taste the difference.

        I also gave my mom in SA a quick call and she's under the impression that people in SA tend to use molasses in their fruit cakes - so that's some extra assurance too.

        I hope it works out for you. Good luck and happy holidays!

        Maretha.

        Reply
    4. Fern says

      May 24, 2024 at 7:26 am

      Hi Maretha. I am SO impressed your recipe structure! It's so informative and well laid out. I used your recipe for the Savoury Mince. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Maretha Corbett says

        May 29, 2024 at 12:58 pm

        Hello Fern,

        I'm so pleased you find the structure useful! Sometimes I worry it might be too wordy or detailed, but I don't want to leave anything out. You've made my day! Thank you for taking the time to leave such lovely feedback.

        Have a wonderful day!
        Maretha.

        Reply
    5. Rika Grobbelaar says

      September 17, 2024 at 6:15 pm

      Maretha, so mooi !! Baie Geluk met jou Cinnamon Jar! Ek kyk te lekker. Liefde. Rika

      Reply
      • Maretha Corbett says

        October 02, 2024 at 3:27 pm

        Dankie Rika! Wat 'n lekker verrsassing! Baie dankie, bly jy geniet dit en waardeer jou woorde so baie. Liefde!

        Reply
    6. Meiliana Ong says

      October 03, 2024 at 3:14 am

      Hello, my name is Meiliana from Indonesia,
      I've just found your blog last monday when I looked for biscuit recipe
      How can I make communicate with you Maretha ?
      Let me know ....

      Reply
      • Maretha Corbett says

        October 07, 2024 at 8:53 am

        Hello Meiliana,

        Sure thing, you can contact me at [email protected].

        Maretha x

        Reply
    7. Kate Brown says

      October 17, 2024 at 1:55 am

      I made the sultana cake exactly as per recipe but it sank in the middle. Very sad about that. Can you tell me why?

      Reply
      • Maretha Corbett says

        December 05, 2024 at 10:50 am

        Hi Kate,

        Thank you so much for trying the sultana cake! I’m really sorry to hear it sank in the middle — that’s SOOO disappointing, especially when you’ve followed the recipe carefully.

        There are a few things that can sometimes cause this, even when everything seems spot on:

        Oven quirks: Sometimes ovens can run a little cooler than expected, and a cake that’s not fully set can sink as it cools. An oven thermometer might help check the temperature.

        Moisture balance: Sultana cakes can be a little finicky with their moisture, and even things like extra juicy sultanas or humidity can affect how it bakes.

        Baking powder: Occasionally, if the baking powder is a bit older, it might not give the cake the lift it needs.

        I’m truly sorry it didn’t turn out as expected, but I appreciate you sharing your experience. If you give it another go, I’d love to hear how it turns out!

        Warmest wishes,
        Maretha x

        Reply
    8. Matilda Williams says

      November 17, 2024 at 6:05 pm

      I've just discovered you. Love your recipes and the way you help folks to source ingredients.for recipe success...

      I also grew up in South Africa and I'm also living in Yorkshire with my husband.

      Reply
      • Maretha Corbett says

        December 05, 2024 at 10:35 am

        Hey Matilda!

        What a small world — another Saffa in Yorkshire! Thank you for your kind words; they mean so much. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes and finding the extra info helpful. It’s wonderful to share a little taste of home with you. Happy cooking!

        Maretha x

        Reply
    9. Lyn Brighton says

      January 17, 2025 at 9:36 am

      I have just found your site while looking for a S African melktert recipe and have just made the rice pudding....it's delicious. Best regards from a Saffer in Oz.

      Reply
      • Maretha Corbett says

        January 17, 2025 at 9:48 am

        Hello Down Under, Lyn!

        Lovely to meet you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the rice pudding — simple, yet so moreish. Thank you for getting in touch and sharing your feedback. It’s always wonderful to meet a fellow Saffa abroad. 🙂

        Enjoy your Aussie summer (from a cold, misty but beautiful England) - I’m envious!

        Maretha x

        Reply

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    A black and white photo of Maretha Corbett.

    Hey!

    I'm Maretha, an avid foodie and constant student of gastronomy. My goal is to discover, develop and share scrumptious recipes with anyone willing to join me on this vast culinary adventure!

    more about me...

    Popular recipes

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