Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
Viennese Whirl Mince Pies combine two British favourites. Melt-in-the-mouth, buttery shortbread and the classic Christmas mince pie full of spicy dried fruit preserve. Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links. If you buy via my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra …Read more
Traditional Mince Pies, made at home from scratch, can’t be beaten by any found in the shops. Light, buttery and melt-in-the-mouth shortcrust pastry filled with a luscious mincemeat that’s unbelievably easy too. But even if you’ve left it too late to make the mincemeat this …Read more
Christmas Sausage Pies are individual cold pies of crisp shortcrust pastry filled with delicious herby sausage meat, onions, and chestnuts. Cooked in a 12-hole deep muffin/bun tin, these easy pies are perfect for your Christmas parties and buffets. Also brilliant all year round as a …Read more
Stilton Shortbread Biscuits are richly flavoured with butter, classic English blue cheese, and a hint of black pepper. With a texture that’s light, delicate, and crumbly, you can enjoy them as a snack, a nibble with drinks, or give as a fantastic present for foodies. …Read more
Savoury biscuits and crackers, for cheese or other tasty toppings, are surprisingly easy to make at home. And with so many shop-bought packets containing environmentally disastrous palm oil, being able to rustle up your own biscuits and crackers is a real boon. Perfect with a snack …Read more
This special Turkish pide flatbread, known as Ramazan Pidesi, is beautifully soft, light, and has an open textured crumb. It also looks stunning. With a distinctive diamond pattern and shiny glaze speckled with black and white seeds, you might think this focaccia-like bread is difficult. …Read more
I’d love to be able to write full blog reviews of all my eating out recommendations. But, timewise, it’s not possible. So, here’s the latest of my occasional round-up posts featuring some of the independent restaurants, pubs, takeaways, and cafés I’ve enjoyed recently. Highlights include lots …Read more
Spicy Sweet Potato and Chickpea Stew makes a satisfying, comforting bowlful. With an Indian-inspired mix of aromatics, whole and ground spices, this incredibly tasty but easy dish is packed with vegetables and pulses. Eat just as it is, with a dollop of yogurt on top, …Read more
Deep into autumn now, I’m regularly craving rich, meaty stews and braises for dinner. As the evenings get chillier, tasty, tender meat served with the delicious sauce it was cooked in is exactly the type of hearty food I’m after. In this post I share …Read more
Smoky Not-Baked Beans, spicy with smoked paprika, chipotle chilli flakes, and cumin, might taste like they’ve been lovingly simmered for hours. But they’re actually made in around thirty minutes with a simple base of tinned cannellini beans, onion, garlic, and tomato puree. Enjoy on toast, …Read more
Cherry and Coconut Muffins combine a buttery, light and fluffy texture with a classic, well-loved flavour combination. So quick to put together and baked in under twenty minutes, they’re perfect when you fancy a sweet treat. But, despite how easy they are, and with simple …Read more
Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup is incredibly simple but tastes so good. With a smooth, silky texture, it’s full of flavour without heavier ingredients like cream found in many versions. In fact, I think this pared-down recipe which allows the vegetables to shine, might be …Read more
I’d love to be able to write full blog reviews of all my eating out recommendations. But, timewise, it’s not possible. So, here’s the latest of my occasional round-up posts featuring some of the independent pubs, takeaways, and restaurants I’ve enjoyed recently. Among the highlights are …Read more
Smoked Mackerel Chowder is a complete meal in a bowl with bags of flavour and lots of good things in every spoonful. In this thick, lightly creamy soup there’s chunks of fish, smoky bacon, onion, celery, leeks, garlic, potato, and peas, all flavoured with fresh …Read more
The Jervis Arms in the Staffordshire Moorlands village of Onecote has recently reopened under new owners. I went along last Saturday night and enjoyed great flavours in their competitively priced, generously portioned dishes. Like many others, I was so pleased to hear, earlier this summer, …Read more
Sausage Plate Pie is easy, economical, and so tasty! With sausage meat and softened onions flavoured with a few dried seasonings baked in a simple shortcrust pastry, this homely pie makes a comforting, filling meal. Great served with mashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy, or chips …Read more
Ham, Olive & Cheese Quick Bread is inspired by French cake salé or savoury cake. Easy but delicious, it’s made with self-raising flour and eggs so there’s no kneading and no proofing. Just mix up the ingredients and bake. With a moist and soft, cake-like texture, …Read more
Quick Dumpling Soup, based on frozen gyoza and inspired by East and Southeast Asian flavours, can be made in fifteen to twenty minutes. With store cupboard ingredients like soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chilli oil, a handful of aromatics (garlic, ginger, spring onion) plus your …Read more
Chickpea and Oat Bake is inspired by the classic flavours of falafel but in the form of an incredibly easy bake. So simple to make, all you do is stir up the ingredients, pack into a loaf tin or baking tray and cook in the …Read more
Homity Pies are rustic open-topped pies with a generous, chunky filling based on potatoes and cheese. In this extra tasty version, the boiled potatoes are mixed with sauteed leek, garlic and spinach, butter, a little cream cheese, plus grated cheddar. Top with more cheddar, and …Read more
I’d love to be able to write full blog reviews of all my eating out recommendations. But, timewise, it’s not possible. So, here’s the latest of my occasional round-up posts featuring some of the independent cafes, pubs, takeaways, and restaurants I’ve enjoyed recently. Among the highlights …Read more
Soupe au Pistou is a simple vegetable, bean, and pasta soup from the south of France. Traditionally based on seasonal summer vegetables like courgette, beans, and tomatoes, the highlight is the punchy basil and garlic pistou from which the soup gets its name. A stripped-down version of …Read more
Smoked Salmon Smørrebrød or Scandinavian-style open sandwich has a perfect combination of flavours and textures. Nutritious, wholesome rye bread, cream cheese with lemon, chives and/or dill, topped with crunchy fresh cucumber and rich smoked salmon. Embellish with a garnish of tangy quick-pickled onion, piquant capers, …Read more
Italian Tuna Loaf or polpettone di tonno is a light and delicious seafood variation on the classic meatloaf. With the everyday staples of canned tuna, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, eggs, plus a little garlic and parsley, the result is a subtle savoury flavour. Wrapped then gently simmered …Read more
Green Bean, Tomato and Potato Salad with Aioli contains simple ingredients. But eaten in season when beans, tomatoes and new potatoes are at their best it feels like a real treat. The light dressing is based on cheat’s aioli or jarred mayonnaise flavoured with garlic, …Read more