Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
Now in its eleventh year, Congleton Food & Drink Festival attracts thousands of people to this Cheshire market town. I went along to the most recent event to sample what was on offer and to bring a nice little haul of goodies home too. A …Read more
Broad Bean Paté with Goats’ Cheese & Mint is a wonderful dish for Spring and Summer. With a combination of earthy broad beans, tangy goats’ cheese, refreshing mint and a hint of lemon, it’s light but satisfying. It’s fabulous spread thickly on toasted bread or …Read more
Pea Shoots are really easy to grow at home. All you need is a windowsill. So forget those bags of limp supermarket ones, cut days ago and trucked around the country. Grow your own and you’ll have super-fresh pea shoots whenever you want. If you’ve …Read more
You know when you’re going to The Moat House, in the pretty Staffordshire village of Acton Trussell, that you’ll eat very well. Whether you’re a guest at one of the many weddings which take advantage of its beautiful fourteenth century manor house setting, are eating …Read more
In this post I share some of the food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and from my social media during May 2019. MICROGREENS There’s something really special about growing your own food and always a feeling …Read more
Aubergine Fritters are one of those foods that are really simple but so satisfying: golden chickpea batter on the outside, soft and creamy inside. I think these could even convert those who don’t usually like aubergine, but the recipe works with courgette too. Paired with …Read more
Black Bean Chilli with Peppers & Corn is a tasty, easy dish. Combining convenient tinned black beans, tomatoes and sweetcorn with fresh peppers, coriander and a host of store cupboard spices, it’s perfect for a healthy, midweek meal. And forget boring old rice with your …Read more
Easy Seed Crackers are light, crispy and delicious. Grain-free, gluten-free, made with nothing but seeds, water and your chosen seasonings, they’re the perfect crunchy accompaniment to spreads, dips, soups or cheese. Add to lunch boxes or enjoy as a healthy nibble. If …Read more
Hawasana must be one of Stoke on Trent’s best kept secrets. I’d never heard of this Afghan restaurant until a follower of my Facebook page sent me a message suggesting I try it. “It isn’t the poshest place you’ll ever go to”, she said, “but …Read more
Feast Stone is the Staffordshire market town’s new street food event. I went along to the first one to see what it was all about & was mightily impressed. Last night saw the first street food event in Stone, the market town which is home …Read more
Quinoa Salad with Peas & Broad Beans includes some of the best ingredients of Spring and Summer. But you don’t have to wait until the new season’s peas and broad beans are available to make it. That’s because frozen versions, available all year round, can …Read more
Microgreens, packed with nutrition and flavour, are incredibly easy to grow at home. In this post I show you how. While a huge proportion of our food these days is transported across (and, even worse, flown over) the world, what could be more local …Read more
In this post I share some of the food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and from my social media during April 2019. The Old Mill Smokehouse & Craft Ale Bar, Leek I’d heard mixed feedback about …Read more
Socca ia a north Mediterranean flatbread made with a batter of chickpea flour, water and salt, cooked in olive oil. Incredibly simple, you can fry it like a pancake or bake in the oven and make your Socca crispy or soft. Infinitely versatile, you can flavour …Read more
Being a new-ish migrant to Staffordshire, and based in the north of the county, I’ve only recently started to scratch the surface of what Lichfield, an hour’s drive away, has to offer. The city, which I think feels more like a thriving market town (that’s …Read more
Miso, Ginger & Sesame Vegetable Salad is a real favourite at our house. The sweet and tart, zingy dressing is made in about five minutes. All you need to do then is decide what crunchy veg you want in the salad. I love carrot, red …Read more
Sriracha, Soy & Honey Glazed Salmon is one of those dishes I’ve been making for a good few years now. Full of spicy hot, sticky sweet and tangy flavours, who wouldn’t love it? This glazed salmon is really easy to put together and cooks so …Read more
After hearing mixed feedback about newcomer The Old Mill Smokehouse & Craft Ale Bar in Leek, I’d held back a little longer than usual before visiting and writing a review. However, after stopping by for a quick and satisfying lunch recently, I’ll be returning to …Read more
In this, my first round-up, I want to share with you some of the food and drink I enjoyed over the previous month. Most of this won’t have featured elsewhere on the blog. Usually, my posts are detailed recipes, reviews and profiles of producers and …Read more
On a return visit to Yu-Ma-Mi, Stoke-on-Trent’s fine dining Chinese restaurant based in Trent Vale, I once again found top notch cooking. Combining traditional and modern, old favourites and some less familiar, authentic Chinese dishes including dim sum, Yu-Ma-Mi is a great addition to the …Read more
Matar Paneer is one of my favourite vegetarian curries. With browned cubes of Indian paneer cheese plus peas in a thick, spicy tomato sauce freshened with mint, I think this Punjabi dish is utterly delicious. With a good stock of whole and ground spices in your …Read more
After too long away, I recently paid a return visit to Little Seeds Bar & Kitchen in Stone, Staffordshire. Tempted by their New Orleans Tasting Menu, I enjoyed an evening of delicious food. I’m always on the look out for new eating experiences, whether newly …Read more
Oat Bites are a delicious sweet snack or treat made in minutes, with no baking. Sometimes called energy or nutrition balls, I prefer the simpler and more honest Oat Bites. That’s because, although loaded with whole food, nutritious ingredients, they’re still a sweet treat best …Read more
Walnut Bread is a wonderful, tasty loaf. Equally good with cheese or toasted and slathered with butter and honey. With a mix of white, rye and wholemeal flours, the bread has substance without being heavy. Walnut pieces give the loaf a satisfying crunch, while a …Read more
Courgette & Chive Pancakes are incredibly simple but so good. Crispy at the edges, soft inside, and with a subtle taste of chives and Parmesan cheese. Put together in minutes then shallow fried, they make a great breakfast or brunch topped with eggs or a …Read more