Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
Seed Chocolate is one of only a handful of ‘bean to bar’ chocolate makers in the UK. Importing cacao beans directly from family farms and cooperatives, they make their unique, award-winning chocolate from scratch in my home county of Staffordshire. In this post I’ll tell …Read more
If you’re a porridge fan like me, then you’re going to love overnight oats. In this post I show you how to make Carrot Cake Overnight Oats – a nutritious, easy breakfast with all the flavour of a spicy carrot cake. Great for when you …Read more
I’ve called my Vegetable Noodle Stir Fry Pad Thai-style because its flavouring is very similar to the Thai original. But the big difference is that instead of the traditional rice noodles, I use thin julienned vegetables like courgette and carrot. Not only does this taste …Read more
Venison Stew is rich, comforting, warming and utterly satisfying. In short, it’s just what’s needed at this time of year, with Autumn turning to Winter. Even better, cook some traditional, fluffy Suet Dumplings on top of the stew and let them soak up all that …Read more
Now we’re well into November, I think it’s OK to mention the ‘C’ word. Christmas, that is. In this post I tell you about some of my favourite local, independent food and drink businesses that can help you have a wonderful indie Christmas. Whether you’re …Read more
Split Pea & Ham Soup is a fabulous warming dish for Autumn or Winter. Packed with nutritious, fibre and protein-rich dried peas, plenty of vegetables and tasty ham, it’s top-notch comfort food. SPLIT PEA & HAM SOUP: A BRITISH CLASSIC Versions of …Read more
Cobb Salad is one of those dishes we rarely see in Britain. But I think this hearty, main course salad, a classic in its US home, is one more of us really ought to try. With chicken, bacon, avocado, eggs, tomatoes and blue cheese, all …Read more
The Dog & Doublet in Sandon, like the other properties in the small but perfectly formed Staffordshire-based Lewis Partnership, offers great value and excellent cooking. THE DOG & DOUBLET The Dog & Doublet Inn at Sandon, some five miles north west of Stafford and …Read more
Corn, Red Pepper & Coconut Curry is subtly spiced, creamy and delicious. Inspired by the dishes of South and West India, it’s entirely plant based. Use fresh, tinned or frozen corn. I think Indian cooking must be the best in the world for inspiring, …Read more
Creamy Mushroom Risotto is classic comfort food. But in this recipe I show you how to make it even more special. Using a combination of fresh, dried and speciality mushrooms, it’s full of earthy flavour. Then, when the risotto’s cooked, I lay slices of rich …Read more
The Slamwich Club in Stoke-on-Trent has a new fan in Moorlands Eater. Not that they need me. Since opening in May this year they’ve quickly become one of Hanley’s favourite bars and restaurants. On my first visit I found out exactly why. THE CULTURAL …Read more
These Banana Chocolate Muffins are so easy to make, yet taste incredible. Light and moist, filled with banana flavour, chunks of milk chocolate and a hint of cinnamon. Best made with very ripe bananas, they’re a great way of using those brown bananas in your …Read more
At The Boat Inn, Lichfield we found a well balanced tasting menu full of interest and with excellent cooking. It was a rather gloomy evening when myself and partner ID (also my photographer for the night) set out for The Boat Inn, near Muckley Corner, …Read more
Simple Lentil Soup must be one of the first soups I ever made. With ingredients I always have to hand – red lentils, onion, garlic, cumin, lemon – it’s easy to make a batch whenever I fancy something warming and comforting. The easy recipe can …Read more
I think you’ll love these homemade crusty bread rolls with a fabulously crunchy outside and a soft, open-textured crumb within. And the really great news is that there isn’t any kneading involved. Mix the dough in the evening and you can have fresh homemade crusty …Read more
Until I picked up a box from The Magnificent Marshmallow Company, I’d never really understood the appeal of marshmallows. Weren’t they just foamy, sugary lumps with no real flavour? But after trying the real thing, I’m hooked. I was at The Stone Food & Drink …Read more
Creamy White Bean Soup is incredibly easy to make but so satisfying. Its creaminess comes largely from beans such as cannellini cooked in stock and milk along with onions, celery and garlic. Pureed with a hand blender, the soup is rich and smooth even if …Read more
Vitamin Rich Salad with Tahini-Soy Dressing is just what’s needed at this time of year. With the onset of the season for coughs, colds and sniffles you’ll want to look after your immune system to help fight those bugs. And this colourful salad just happens …Read more
Smoked Mackerel Fish Fingers are so easy to make yet feel like a real treat. The crunchy breadcrumb coating surrounds a soft, rich mix of potato and smoked mackerel flavoured with lemon and spring onion. Who doesn’t love fish fingers? For me, they’re …Read more
The Bank House Hixon has recently come under new ownership, and I was lucky enough to be invited to a preview before it offically opened to the public. After what I’ve seen, I can’t wait to go back and dine at this comfortable country inn. …Read more
At The Stafford Arms in the pretty Staffordshire Moorlands village of Bagnall, I found solid cooking and a friendly welcome. After a major renovation and extension, diners can choose from cosy traditional pub surroundings or a modern restaurant feel. The Stafford Arms, on Bagnall …Read more
These Raspberry & White Chocolate Muffins are the perfect flavour combination. Tart, fruity raspberries studded throughout a buttery cake alongside creamy, sweet white chocolate. I guess it was only with the rise of the big US coffee shops across Britain that ‘muffin’ came to …Read more
Chunky and satisfying, Vegetable Tomato Soup is so easy to make. Infinitely adaptable by using whatever vegetables and herbs you have to hand. Add cooked beans or lentils to make it even heartier. THE SEASON FOR SOUPS & STEWS As I write this, the …Read more
Troutsdale Farm is a family-run farm set in the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands Peak District. In this post I want to tell you about their flock of traditional Shropshire Breed sheep and the superb lamb they produce. Slow reared, grass fed and with full traceability this …Read more
I’ve called these tasty squares, packed with vegetables, feta cheese, herbs, nuts and seeds ‘flapjacks’. But they’re so much more than a savoury version of the popular oaty snack. Great hot or cold, I eat Vegetable Feta Flapjacks as a vegetarian main course with lots …Read more