Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
Walnut & Pumpkin Seed Scottish Oatcakes are rustic, wholesome savoury biscuits or crackers. Perfect with cheese, pâté, nut butters, or to eat alongside soups, they’re incredibly easy to make and will keep for a month. The main ingredient is oats: make your own oatmeal by whizzing …Read more
Aubergine & Beetroot Moutabal (or baba ganoush) looks beautiful and tastes both smoky and sweet, earthy and mildly spicy. But this Middle Eastern inspired dip or spread with tahini, garlic, lemon and cumin is very easy to make. A whole aubergine is charred under the …Read more
Quick Flatbreads are easy to make and so versatile that every home cook should have this recipe! With no yeast, there’s no kneading and no waiting for the dough to rise. Just fifteen minutes’ rest and you’re ready to go. But, unlike many no-yeast quick flatbreads, …Read more
Scandi-Style Smoked Fish Salad is an easy, colourful main course salad. You can include any smoked fish you like in this Scandinavian/Nordic-inspired dish. I’ve used pan-fried, lightly smoked salmon fillets, but regular smoked salmon, smoked trout or smoked mackerel will all work well. Potatoes, beetroot …Read more
Fruit and Spice Bun Ring, with currants, cinnamon, and a maple syrup glaze, looks impressive. But, as I’ll show you in this post, the pull-apart bun ring is easily made AND baked in little more than half an hour. It’s so quick because, unlike most …Read more
Hot & Spicy Courgette Chutney is a great way to use up homegrown courgettes or marrow. Inspired by Indian flavours, the hot, sweet and sour preserve pairs wonderfully with curries, pakora, yogurt and poppadoms as well as cheese and biscuits. Even if you don’t have …Read more
Pinchos Morunos are wonderful little kebabs of spicy pork. Literally meaning ‘Moorish Skewers’, they’re an easy addition to a tapas spread. Or eat them as a main course with salad plus bread or potatoes. Quick-cooking pork tenderloin is marinated with garlic, smoked paprika, chilli flakes, …Read more
My eating out highlights for June and July 2021 is the first in a new series of occasional posts. I wish I had time to write full reviews for all the eating out I do in independent cafes, pubs and restaurants, at street markets etc. …Read more
Tuna & Potato Salad with an Italian twist: capers, olives, garlic, lemon and optional anchovies. Full of gutsy flavour, plus filling ingredients like potatoes and hard-boiled eggs, you’ll find this a tasty and satisfying salad. Enjoy on its own or as one of several dishes, …Read more
Lamb Kofte Kebabs always feel like a treat to me. Juicy minced meat with a touch of onion, garlic, herbs and spices, served with good bread, salad and garlicky yogurt, never fails to please. Cooked in a griddle pan, under the grill or on a …Read more
Overnight Oats with Gooseberry Compote makes a great summer breakfast or even dessert. Ripe, seasonal gooseberries are cooked with sugar until thick and soft. Layered between cool, creamy oats with optional chia seeds and yogurt, you’ll be racing out of bed to eat this! To …Read more
Cucumber & Sesame Noodle Salad is quick, easy, refreshing and utterly delicious. Especially good during hot weather, the only cooking required is your choice of noodles. I’ve used egg noodles, but rice, soba or your own favourite will work too. The noodles are tossed with shreds …Read more
Salt Bar in Macclesfield, Cheshire is small but perfectly formed. Offering Scandinavian inspired food, on my first visit I enjoyed light, fresh yet satisfying dishes including a great value smörgåsbord and simple, traditional desserts. Only a 30-minute drive from home, I already knew I …Read more
Cheesy Scottish Oatcakes are easy to make with simple ingredients. But they’re wickedly good! Based on a traditional savoury biscuit or cracker, the addition of cheese takes them to another level. You can eat the cheesy oatcakes as part of a cheeseboard, with pates or …Read more
Roasted Carrot and Chickpea Salad with Mint Pesto is one of my current favourite dishes. Aromatic cumin seeds, fruity and warm Aleppo pepper plus refreshing mint, transform earthy root veg and pulses into a great summer salad. The Mint Pesto that’s the star of the …Read more
Turkish Eggs with Chickpeas and Flatbread is my idea of heaven on a plate. Chewy, satisfying bread topped with minty, garlicky yogurt, a runny poached egg plus nutty chickpeas in a cloak of spicy butter. I’ve flavoured the yogurt with vibrant homemade Mint Pesto but, …Read more
Mint Pesto is a lively condiment that takes little more than ten minutes to make. Without the cheese included in the classic Italian basil version, vibrant Mint Pesto is hugely versatile. All you need are: almonds (or substitute your favourite nuts), garlic, a lemon, salt, …Read more
Pea & Mint Baked Falafel make a great change from regular chickpea-only falafel. Replacing half the chickpeas with frozen peas gives a slightly sweeter edge. Mint leaves bring freshness that lifts the coriander and cumin spices. Brushing with oil and baking instead of deep frying …Read more
The Square in Stafford, newly opened just a few weeks ago, is already turning out memorable, superb quality dining. I went along and enjoyed three expertly cooked plates plus the homemade breads and fantastic amuse bouche we’ve come to expect at this level. Also open …Read more
The Butcher’s Arms in Forsbrook recently invited me to sample its food. My only regret is that I hadn’t eaten there sooner. Set in the Staffordshire Moorlands, this taphouse from Joule’s brewery is no gastropub. But what you will get is food like steak and …Read more
Bang Bang Chicken Noodle Salad is full of bold spicy, nutty, salty, sweet and savoury flavour. Based on a Chinese classic, my version takes tender shredded chicken, a knock-out 5-minute sauce, and combines them with noodles and lots of fresh vegetables to create an easy, …Read more
Strawberry & Cucumber Salad with Mint is light and refreshing. So quick to make, it’s perfect for hot summer days. Lovely as a side with fish, meat or barbecued foods. Or try it as a main meal salad topped with feta or goat’s cheese. …Read more
Quick Roasted Pepper Pasta is a super-speedy dish for when you need something filling and tasty, but fast. Whizzing together a roasted pepper from a jar, garlic, a little cream, olive oil and seasoning is done in seconds. The rich, creamy sauce is then heated …Read more
Cucumber, Apple & Mint Smoothie is a wonderfully refreshing drink on a hot day. Cooling cucumber and naturally sweet apple are a perfect combination with the tang of fresh mint and zingy lime juice. Blend in some ice cubes, plus a little sweetener if you …Read more
Rough Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls are surprisingly easy to make at home. Once you’ve tried them, I think you’ll agree that the homemade version of this popular British savoury snack is miles better than any mass produced offering. If you’ve never made rough puff pastry before, …Read more