Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
Mokissos restaurant, meze, grill and bar recently opened on the outskirts of Leek. Serving tasty traditional Greek and Turkish dishes, both familiar favourites and lesser-known delights, after my first visit I think this great addition to the Staffordshire Moorlands food scene deserves to do well. …Read more
Rice and Vegetable Salad is a versatile dish you can adapt to whatever veg and herbs you have. Perfect as a side to a range of different foods and ideal for your buffets, picnics, and barbecues. Following this easy recipe, the salad will keep in …Read more
Picnic food doesn’t have to be all about sandwiches. In this post I share some of my favourite recipes for a tasty, varied picnic. From fresh salads, savoury bakes, pies and dips to sweet treats, you’ll find lots to tempt you outdoors with your picnic …Read more
Dog Friendly Eating & Drinking in Staffordshire is a personal guide to my favourite independent dog friendly pubs, restaurants and cafes in the county. Besides enjoying the outdoors with my cocker spaniel Larkin, eating and drinking is how I spend a lot of my leisure …Read more
Egg and Ham Pies are perfect as a snack, part of a salad meal, or for your lunch boxes, picnics, parties and buffets. Individual cold pies of crisp shortcrust pastry are filled with ham (you could swap in cooked bacon), sweetish onion, and fresh parsley, all …Read more
The Restaurant at Hotel Rudyard, like the rest of the business, has recently undergone a major refurbishment inside and out, with its food offering now including quality local suppliers. Returning after many years away, I was pleased to discover that the current management seem set …Read more
Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes & Mint has been described as both exquisite and simple. And I have to agree. Cherry tomatoes and chilli flakes are briefly cooked in olive oil subtly flavoured with garlic, then tossed with capers and mint. Light but full of flavour, …Read more
Courgette, Cheese & Basil Quick Bread is a simple but delicious savoury loaf. Instead of yeast, it’s made with self-raising flour and eggs, so there’s no kneading and no proofing. Just mix up the ingredients and bake straight away. With a moist and soft, cake-like …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, and restaurants I’ve enjoyed recently. Among these highlights from …Read more
Jam & Coconut Traybake, featuring soft and fluffy coconut sponge topped with jam and more coconut, is a simple but delicious treat. Whether you remember it as an old school favourite or you’re looking for a quick and easy sweet bake, I think you’ll love …Read more
Elaf Lebanese & Syrian Restaurant in Macclesfield is perfect for both fans of Middle Eastern food and those looking for an introduction to authentic dishes. On my first visit, I found a great range of small plates to create a mezze feast, tender and juicy …Read more
Cheat’s Saffron Aioli, mayonnaise flavoured with garlic and saffron, is a superfast way to add flavour and richness to all kinds of foods. Vegetables, meat, seafood, potatoes, and rice dishes. Starting with jarred mayonnaise, you need just five to ten minutes to transform it into something …Read more
Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomato Bread has an intense tomato flavour with background notes of cheese, herbs, and garlic. Perfect for tearing into chunks to dip into olive oil and Balsamic vinegar, equally good alongside soups, salads, or made into sandwiches. After a couple of days, …Read more
Genoa Cake Muffins have all the dried fruit, almond, and lemon flavours found in one of Britain’s favourite cakes. But they can be ready in a fraction of the time. Just like a good homemade Genoa cake, these muffins are light with a delicate flavour. …Read more
The Grosvenor Restaurant in the Staffordshire Moorlands offers a winning combination of popular favourites plus imaginative dishes in a modern British fine dining style. Located in Hales Hall, a restored Grade II listed country house, rather unusually it sits in the grounds of a caravan …Read more
Roasted Apricot & Almond Ice Cream has a sophisticated flavour, but this egg-free recipe is so easy. The ice cream base of milk, double cream, and sugar is flavoured with almond extract and crunchy pieces of toasted almond. Swirled through is a fruity and tangy …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, restaurants, and takeaways I’ve enjoyed recently. Among this …Read more
Tuna Pâté is delicate and light, blending tinned tuna and butter enhanced with a hint of lemon and black pepper. The simple but delicious pâté is perfect for spreading on crisp toast or crunchy crackers or dipping into with vegetable crudité. Easy for a quick …Read more
The Hammersley Restaurant at Stoke-on-Trent College is staffed by hospitality and catering students gaining experience in a real work environment. But even if it wasn’t such a fantastic project, I’d still urge you to eat there. Because there aren’t many restaurants where you can eat …Read more
Homemade Rye Crackers are thin, crunchy, and full of flavour. Inspired by Nordic knäckebröd, you can eat them as an open sandwich piled with tasty toppings, or enjoy as a simple cracker with cheese, pâté, dips, and savoury or sweet spreads. EASY HOMEMADE …Read more
Rhubarb Crumble Ice Cream brings together two favourites: sweet but tangy rhubarb crumble and vanilla ice cream. Cooked and pureed rhubarb is rippled through an easy, egg-free ice cream along with nuggets of crunchy, oaty crumble. Delicious whether you eat scoops from a bowl or enjoy in …Read more
STOCK by Feasted, Newcastle-Under-Lyme’s newest bar and restaurant, takes traditional local dishes in a modern but accessible direction with competitively priced broths and small plates of outstanding flavour. FEASTED Feasted was created in 2017 when Cris Cohen, a former teacher and head chef, was …Read more
Homemade Italian-Style Seasoning is made in just a few minutes. But it will add flavour to so many of your dishes, and not just Italian. Try it in burger mixes, meatloaf, vegetarian bakes, soups, stews, marinades, and more. Buying dried herbs in bulk and making …Read more
Cinnamon Raisin Oat Bread is delicious sliced and spread with butter for breakfast, at teatime, or as a snack. A few days after baking, try it toasted to bring out even more flavour. Soaking the raisins before adding to the dough ensures they’re plump and juicy. …Read more
Hummus Soup is a delicious, easy way of using up leftovers of the ever-popular chickpea and tahini dip. Light and refreshing, but so tasty, it can be ready in just five minutes. Perfect for a quick lunch or unusual first course, I like to top …Read more