Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
Chorizo, Bean & Cavolo Nero Soup is rich, hearty and with a good whack of chilli heat if you want. Although the chorizo is a must, you can change around the beans and type of greens you include. I like cannellini beans and cavolo nero, …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
Apple Tart is always a crowd pleaser. Sweet-tart apples, cooked to soft perfection, caramelized with a cinnamon and sugar topping. But what about the base? In this version, you can forget making pastry, rolling and cutting out. That’s because a simple shortbread type dough is …Read more
Celery Soup, made with onions, garlic, a little potato, half stock and half milk, finished with an optional dash of double cream, is beautifully flavoured with a subtle taste of celery. For top notch Autumn and Winter comfort food, top each creamy, satisfying bowl with …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
The Flintlock at Cheddleton aims to bring relaxed fine dining with an emphasis on local, seasonal produce to this Staffordshire Moorlands village. Opened just over a week ago in the building that was formerly Castro’s, I paid my first visit last weekend. And from what …Read more
Crumbed Baked Fish with Parmesan, Lemon & Garlic is one of those dishes, so simple and so quick, that you won’t quite believe just how good it is. Fillets of fish such as haddock or cod are baked with a coating of buttery breadcrumbs. Here …Read more
Chinese Pork Meatballs are my version of a dish often called Lion’s head meatballs. Pork mince is turned into wonderfully light meatballs with flavourings such as Chinese rice wine, garlic, ginger, soy and sesame. For contrasting texture there’s crunchy water chestnuts too. After browning, I …Read more
Apple & Cinnamon Cake makes the most of apple season in this simple but beautifully flavoured bake. Rustic and homely, the cake is a comforting treat with a cup of tea or coffee. To make it extra special, try Apple & Cinnamon Cake warm as …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
The Black Lion Inn, Butterton was my choice for a first visit INSIDE a pub since lockdown. With quality food and drink, lunch at this recently renovated Staffordshire Moorlands Peak District pub turned out to be a wise decision. I can hardly believe it, but …Read more
Tuna & Egg Salad has become a regular, hearty summertime lunch for me. Cupboard staples like tinned tuna, olives, capers and hard-boiled egg are combined with fresh vegetables and a simple dressing. It doesn’t haven’t pretensions to be a classic salade Niçoise, but it will …Read more
Cheesy Roasted Tomato Pasta Bake takes the simple, homely, pasta bake to a new level. But it’s still incredibly easy to make. That’s because at its heart is a roasted tomato sauce that can be made in advance. All that’s left to do then is …Read more
Yesterday, I had my first meal out since lockdown. For this notable occasion, I headed to an old favourite: The Lazy Trout pub in Meerbrook. Set in the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands countryside and serving outstanding food and drink, what better place could there be? …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
Green Shakshuka is a modern take on the classic dish which features eggs cooked on top of a spicy tomato and pepper sauce. In this version, there’s lightly spiced green vegetables and herbs instead of the peppers and tomatoes. I’ve used broccoli, courgette, baby spinach, …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
Moorland Veg Box delivers fresh, organic fruit and vegetables direct to your door. Based in the Staffordshire Moorlands, but also delivering around Buxton, Macclesfield, Ashbourne, Uttoxeter, Stone and Stoke-on-Trent, I recently tried one of their veg boxes. Initially not sure if veg boxes were for me; …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
Aubergine with Tomatoes, Chickpeas & Yogurt makes a great vegetarian main course or part of a mezze style meal. Aubergines & chickpeas are braised in a spicy tomato sauce inspired by the food of the Middle East and North Africa. To serve, contrasting creamy yogurt …Read more