Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
Chia Jam, thick and full of fruit, can be made in around 20 minutes. Using chia seeds’ amazing ability to become gel-like, this jam doesn’t need the large amounts of sugar required to set traditional jams. In this post I show you how to make …Read more
Roasted Radishes may sound unusual, but they’re surprisingly tasty. Fast roasting in olive oil for around ten minutes mellows the radish’s natural pepperiness and makes them delectably juicy. Flavoured with garlic and a squeeze of lemon, I think they’re great as a side dish, warm …Read more
Beetroot Crackers not only look good but, speckled throughout with nigella seeds, they taste wonderful too. The beetroot brings an attractive colour and earthy sweetness. The seeds, said to resemble anything from onion, cumin or oregano, add a contrasting mild bitterness that becomes quite addictive. …Read more
Grilled Spring Onions with Romesco Sauce turns an everyday ingredient into a simple but oh-so-good feast. Based on a Spanish-Catalan classic, spring onions are doused with olive oil and grilled. Or, if it’s barbecue weather, you can char them over hot coals. But what …Read more
Chinese Coleslaw Salad, full of crunchy vegetables, is the perfect accompaniment to many East Asian-inspired dishes. You won’t find the rich, creamy dressing of traditional European coleslaws here. Instead, shredded cabbage, carrot, cucumber and onion has a lightly sweet but refreshing and tangy dressing inspired …Read more
Root Vegetable Tian, with its thinly sliced vegetables, seasoned and baked until tender, finished with optional cheese, is a beautiful dish for Autumn and Winter. Its distinctive pattern of concentric circles is very easy to achieve using as many different multicoloured root vegetables as you …Read more
Beetroot & Kale Salad, with roasted vegetables, grains, nuts, and a lively orange-maple dressing, is a perfect one bowl meal for Autumn and Winter. This warm salad is full of goodness, but with great textures and flavours too. I love it topped with golden-fried halloumi. …Read more
Homemade Baguettes, with a tasty, light crumb and thin, crunchy crust, really aren’t difficult to achieve. With no nasties like the palm oil found in many mass-produced baguettes, unless you live next door to a great artisan baker, I don’t think you’ll get better than …Read more
Scottish Oatcakes are traditional savoury biscuits or crackers that are perfect with cheese. So easy and satisfying to make, I think they’re head and shoulders above shop bought ones. Containing just oats, salt, olive oil or butter plus water, you’ll be surprised just how good homemade …Read more
Harira is a traditional Moroccan soup, fragrant with spices and full of hearty chickpeas, lentils and sometimes meat too. But, often eaten to break a fast, it’s satisfying without being heavy. Lemon juice added just before serving brings a refreshing, zesty note. In this post …Read more
Roasted Aubergine with Herbed Tahini Yogurt & Crispy Chickpeas brings together some of my favourite things. Softly baked aubergine is topped with a creamy but punchy dressing of tahini, yogurt, cumin, garlic, fresh coriander and mint. Finished with a scattering of crispy baked chickpeas, za’atar …Read more
Sprouting at home all kinds of seeds and beans is incredibly easy. In this post I show you how to get super-fresh, crunchy sprouts in just 3-5 days. I’ll tell you what simple equipment you need, which seeds and beans to sprout, how to do …Read more
Green Bean Salad with Garlic & Mint makes the most of this wonderful seasonal vegetable. The just-cooked beans are dressed with garlic slices that have been gently fried to golden mellowness, plus a minty vinaigrette. An easy side dish that will complement almost any summery …Read more
Cashew & Bean Sprout Stir Fry is put together in around twenty minutes. Quick and healthy, it makes a perfect light meal, or serve alongside other dishes as a main meal. With garlic, spring onions plus a light dressing of soy sauce and sesame oil, …Read more
Beetroot, Blueberry & Mint Smoothie may sound like an odd combination, but it’s one of my absolute favourites. Naturally sweet, but with a little earthiness from the beetroot, plus mint and lime juice to give a fresh zing. Perfect as a light breakfast or snack, …Read more
Tomato & Broad Bean Salad with Salsa Verde makes a wonderfully summery meal. I like it with some feta cheese crumbled over the top. But you can leave that off for a completely plant-based dish. Eat on its own, with bread, with a range of …Read more
Spinach & Avocado Smoothie is a quick breakfast, but one that will keep you full for hours. A beautiful shade of green from spinach, but with avocado, banana, peanut butter and yogurt, it packs a hefty nutritional punch too. I came up with …Read more
Thai Pickled Shallots are a great little item to have tucked away in the cupboard or fridge. Flavoured with chilli, garlic, ginger, lemon grass and coriander, you only need a few, thinly sliced, to perk up salads and virtually any dish with a South-East Asian …Read more
Batata Harra literally means spicy or hot potatoes. This is my wonderfully moreish version, based on the Lebanese classic. Traditionally deep-fried, I prefer the convenience of roasting the diced potatoes. Dressed with a mix of garlic, spices, herbs and lemon, I think it’s a light, …Read more
Za’atar is a versatile Middle Eastern spice blend that’s a useful addition to your kitchen cupboard. Eat it with bread and olive oil, sprinkle over roasted vegetables, salads, eggs or yogurt, in marinades or as a dry rub. While za’atar is becoming more widely available, …Read more
Homemade Elderflower Cordial is simple and delicious. Make this delicately perfumed drink using foraged flowers found between late May and mid-June. Besides a bowlful of flower heads, the only other ingredients you’ll need are lemons, an orange, sugar and water. Recipe adapted from River Cottage. …Read more
Salsa Verde with Roasted Cauliflower is perfect for those who love robust flavour. With powerful ingredients like garlic, capers, herbs, & optional anchovies, this Italian cold sauce can enliven so many dishes. In this post I give you my version of Salsa Verde & I …Read more
Mint Cordial, made with just fresh mint, sugar and water, is a refreshing drink on a hot day. Try it over ice and topped with sparkling water or use it in mojito style cocktails with rum, vodka or gin. If you’re blessed with …Read more
Dandelion Syrup made at home is an interesting little project if you’ve plenty of pesticide-free flowers. Use the golden, delicately flavoured syrup as you would honey: over pancakes, at breakfast with yogurt or oats. Indeed anywhere you want to add sweetness with a little intriguing …Read more
Sourdough Potato Bread has great flavour, a moist, open crumb, and a wonderfully chewy crust. Inspired by an Italian recipe, I make it with my easy no-knead, overnight method which produces a sensational loaf of bread. Wonderful eaten just as it is, spread with butter, in …Read more