Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
Spice Merchant opened last month in the Staffordshire Moorlands market town of Leek. I ate dinner there on Saturday night and found Indian and Bangladeshi dishes of a high standard with beautifully judged spicing. With a combination of old favourites and not so familiar dishes, …Read more
Northumberland seafood is some of the best available. And I ate lots of it when I spent a week’s holiday there earlier this month. In this post, I share the highlights from eating out in this seafood-lover’s heaven – and include a heartfelt thanks to …Read more
Salmon and Vegetable Soup is inspired by the fish soups of the Nordic countries. Easy but delicious, it features leek, potato, carrots, and salmon. These are cooked in a lightly creamy, buttery broth of stock and milk flavoured with fresh dill. With simple, everyday ingredients …Read more
Moroccan Lamb Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Sauce are easy but delicious. Similar in flavour to traditional Moroccan tagines but cooked in a fraction of the time. Juicy, browned lamb meatballs flavoured with a Moroccan-inspired spice mix nestled in a rich tomato sauce imbued with the …Read more
Seeded Scottish Oatcakes are easy, wholesome savoury biscuits or crackers packed with nutritious seeds and oats. But not only are they good for you, I think you’ll love their toasted, nutty flavour and crunchy texture. Great with cheese, pâté, nut butters, or alongside soup, they’re …Read more
Haslet is an old fashioned but much-loved English pork meatloaf flavoured with sage and onion. It’s usually served cold in sandwiches, with pickles, or salad. Great fried until golden brown and eaten as part of a cooked breakfast too. These days, it’s less common to …Read more
Little Dumpling King in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, serves up its take on well-loved East Asian favourites: Chinese dumplings and bao buns with tasty fillings. On my first visit to this casual bar and restaurant I found reasonable prices and good flavours alongside a truly memorable, lip-smacking dish. …Read more
Fruit Soda Bread is a quick and easy teatime treat or snack. I love slices of this soft and light loaf spread with butter and sometimes jam too. With no yeast, no proving, and no kneading, you can put it together in less than 10 …Read more
Cheese Soda Bread, with no kneading, proving time or yeast required, is a super-quick, soft, and moist cheesy loaf. It’ll take you less than 10 minutes to put together and bakes in half an hour. If you’ve never made soda bread before, or if you’ve …Read more
Mushroom, Lentil & Kale Stew is rich, thick, and tasty. Packed full of veg and pulses in a lightly creamy, garlic and thyme flavoured broth, it’s a comforting bowlful. Using tinned lentils, this easy vegetarian (and vegan adaptable) stew is perfect on chilly days. Serve …Read more
Spicy Carlin Pea Soup with Roasted Peppers is easy, satisfying, and full of flavour. Using everyday vegetables, tinned pulses, and jarred peppers, this warmly spicy soup cooks in around thirty minutes. I’ve used British grown carlin peas, but you could swap in chickpeas or your …Read more
I’d love to have been able to write full blog posts about all the great food and drink I enjoyed this summer. But, if I did, I’d have no time for anything else! So, here’s one of my occasional round-up posts: this time featuring my …Read more
Coconut Cake is an indulgent treat that’s so easy to make. Two layers of coconutty, moist sponge cake sandwiched and covered in a rich coconut buttercream icing. Perfect with a cuppa, as part of an afternoon tea or a dessert, I think this gorgeous cake …Read more
Andalucia, a Spanish tapas restaurant, opened this month in the centre of Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Not entirely new to the area, Andalucia had a former life as La Casona out on Buxton Road. Last weekend, I paid my first visit to their new …Read more
Iced Tea is one of the most refreshing, cooling drinks there is. But there’s no need to buy expensive bottles because it’s so easy – and cheap – to make at home. Brew a litre of your favourite tea (black, green, fruity, or herbal) then …Read more
Pork Kebabs: minced pork flavoured with toasted fennel seeds, garlic, orange zest, and oregano. Eat these juicy full flavoured kebabs, inspired by the flavours of Greece, in a flatbread, with a tahini-yogurt sauce, salad, plus grains, flatbread or cauliflower ‘couscous’. Based on a recipe by …Read more
Homemade Strawberry Jam is one of my favourite seasonal treats. In this post I’ll show you how to make a beautiful, soft-set strawberry jam filled with luscious pieces of whole fruit. It’s easy to make even for beginners, with no special equipment needed. If you …Read more
Sardine Fish Cakes, flavoured with dill and lemon, are soft within and have a golden crispy breadcrumb coating. Economical and good for you, richly flavoured tinned sardines make a fantastic and easy fish cake. I love to eat them with a super-quick mayo and yogurt …Read more
The Manifold Inn is in a great location in the Staffordshire Peak District, popular with locals, walkers, campers, and holiday makers. I ate lunch there and found a friendly pub that welcomed my four-legged friend, plus satisfying, reasonably priced home-cooked food. THE MANIFOLD INN …Read more
Jam making needn’t be difficult or involve lots of fancy equipment. In this beginner’s guide I’ll tell you everything you need to know as well as taking you through the process step-by-step. Although all the jam recipes on my blog give full instructions, here I’ve …Read more
Homemade Oven Chips, crispy and moreish, are so easy. Whether you like classic straight, or crinkle cut, my fool proof recipe will give you crispy oven chips every time. Costing less than most store-bought chips and fries, and using less oil than the deep-fried version, …Read more
Aïgroissade is a simple, adaptable, lovely salad based on a traditional French dish from Provence. In my version, a colourful mix of lightly cooked then cooled fresh vegetables plus canned artichoke hearts and chickpeas are dressed in a garlic mayonnaise lightened with yogurt. Choose whichever …Read more
Lunar, at the World of Wedgwood in Barlaston, near Stoke-on-Trent, opened last year to great interest. Offering fine dining with a Michelin-starred chef at the helm, I went along last weekend to try the new Lunar Experience tasting menu. And was suitably impressed. Lunar …Read more
Pea & Pancetta Pasta is ideal when you need a filling and tasty meal in double-quick time. In fact, this recipe is so fast you’ll need to put the pasta on to cook before you start on the simple sauce which is inspired by Rome’s …Read more
Blackberry Brandy is a satisfying, easy project made with seasonal, foraged fruit. The spirit is flavoured with blackberries and sweetened with sugar to make a delicious, liqueur-like drink. Swap the brandy for gin, vodka, whisky, or dark rum if you prefer. Made using fresh or frozen …Read more