Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
If you enjoyed plenty of festive feasting recently but are looking to bring things back into balance, my Top 16 Lighter Recipes for January are just right for you. I’ve selected my favourite lighter recipes from the blog and brought them together in one post. …Read more
Chai Spiced Star Bread, sweet, buttery and spicy, is a treat at any time of year. But I think it’s especially good at Christmas as, although not complicated to make, it looks really impressive. And those who don’t relish mince pies, Christmas cake and the like …Read more
NØRTH Kitchen + Bar is the new incarnation of RAWR in Stoke-on-Trent’s Cultural Quarter. The change came in early November 2019 with the new brand and a new menu. I visited one recent lunchtime to take a look. Goodbye RAWR, Hello NØRTH Situated on …Read more
Last night I was among a group of very lucky diners at The George at Alstonefield. We were there for a tasting menu from Louisa Ellis, finalist in Masterchef: The Professionals 2017. Now working as a private chef, cooking at events, pop-ups and holding cookery …Read more
Pork Burgers make a welcome change from the usual minced beef. Subtly flavoured with sage and garlic, I top the cooked patties with slices of creamy Stilton cheese before popping under the grill to melt. Add a crunchy, tangy apple and cabbage slaw to your …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during November 2019. Includes a controversial chilli, sustainable meat eating, tapas, South East Asian, Indian and Pakistani food and …Read more
Roasted Red Pepper & Borlotti Bean Soup makes use of economical and easy to use peppers from a jar plus tinned beans. With the addition of vegetables like onion, carrot and celery it’s a nutritious, vibrant soup with the warming heat of a little chilli …Read more
Chocolate Coconut Porridge is a real treat and perfect for chilly mornings when you want something a bit special. Oats, creamy coconut milk and intense cocoa or cacao powder are lightly sweetened with dates and a touch of vanilla. A sprinkle of cacao nibs and …Read more
Wat Wok serves up authentic, incredible-tasting South East Asian food. They’re regulars at food festivals and events with their pop-up kitchen, but right now you can enjoy their exquisite dishes in a restaurant setting during their residence at The Bank House Hixon. I went along …Read more
Tangy Vegetable & Apple Coleslaw is a great variation on the classic salad of shredded vegetables in a creamy dressing. Crisp eating apples and a splash of cider vinegar give a tart edge and yogurt mixed with the mayonnaise lightens this satisfying side salad. …Read more
Picturedrome in Macclesfield offers food and drink from a range of independent businesses, all under one roof. I recently visited this newly opened food hall set in an old cinema and loved the lively, communal eating experience. Opened at the end of October 2019, Picturedrome …Read more
Smoky Bacon, Leek & Potato Soup is a welcome change from the usual creamy leek and potato version. Made in around 45 minutes, this golden coloured soup has bags of flavour, including smokiness from bacon or pancetta. Say ‘leek & potato soup’ and what …Read more
Don’t you love finding evidence of previous owners in used books? Maybe just a neatly written name on the flyleaf and some underlining. Or, in cookery books, splashes of sauce or perhaps recipes satisfyingly ticked off as the owner cooked them. In this post I …Read more
Chicken Chilli is a lighter alternative to many traditional chillies, whether meat or veggie. Instead of a tomato base this is a ‘white’ chilli with sweetcorn and white beans as well as chunks of chicken. The spicy mix, with as much chilli as you like, is …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during October 2019. Includes a recommended read on the history of cooking and eating, reports from one of Staffordshire’s …Read more
No.26 Bar & Dining, at Aston Marina near Stone in Staffordshire, offers a tempting selection of seasonal dishes with an emphasis on using local suppliers. On my first visit I enjoyed some satisfying Autumnal food. It wasn’t until after I dined at No.26, Aston Marina‘s …Read more
The Foxlowe Arts Centre in Leek has been holding its annual Apple Fest for a number of years now. So, as I go food shopping in Leek most Saturdays and visit the Foxlowe fairly regularly (not least to have a mooch among the local art …Read more
Chicken Croquettes, creamy on the inside with a hint of Parmesan, crunchy on the outside, are a great way of turning leftover roast chicken into irresistible fried morsels. Serve with potatoes and salad or vegetables, or with similar little dishes in an Italian style fritto …Read more
Stone Food & Drink Festival, now in its fifteenth year, seems to be going from strength to strength. Held over the first weekend in October, the 2019 Festival drew huge crowds to the Staffordshire town. As on a number of other years, I joined them …Read more
Bean, Bacon & Cabbage Soup is nourishing and flavour-packed. Using tinned cannellini beans speeds up the process and each bowlful will give you three to four portions of vegetables. Perfect comfort food for Autumn and Winter. As if the fact that Autumn is …Read more
Amore serves up solid Italian cooking in a friendly, family-run restaurant in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. On my recent visit I was wowed by their top-notch pasta dishes as well as an unusual starter with a sauce I’d been looking to sample for a while. Excellent choice of …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during September 2019. Read about Love Lamb Week, dog friendly eating and drinking in Staffordshire, two great value restaurants, …Read more
Basic Biscuit Dough is a great recipe to have in your repertoire. From this base, you can flavour the dough with all sorts of add-ins to make a range of tempting biscuits. In this post I share with you my basic dough for crisp, buttery …Read more
Green Bean, Tomato & Coconut Curry is full of spicy flavour. The creamy coconut milk in the sauce is balanced by tomatoes and a final squeeze of lime. Use fresh or frozen green beans of any kind in this easy, completely plant-based curry. This curry …Read more
Beirut Lebanese restaurant in Stoke-on-Trent deserves to be so much more widely known. This small and friendly place serves up beautifully cooked food to eat in or take away. Choose from great value mezze small plates, salads, kebabs and Arabic dishes with incredible flavour. As …Read more