Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
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
Watermelon Salad, flavoured with mint and lime, was made for hot summer days. Refreshing, quick, and incredibly good. Joining juicy cubes of fresh watermelon are crunchy diced cucumber plus a little red onion and lime zest. A simple olive oil and lime juice dressing brings …Read more
Homemade Malt Loaf, despite its name, is a traditional British favourite that’s a type of teatime cake. With a gloriously sticky texture, the rich, dark loaf is packed with juicy raisins and has the intriguing flavour of malt extract. So easy to make, Malt Loaf …Read more
Spicy Bean Balls, inspired by Tex-Mex flavours, make an easy and tasty dinner or lunch. So quick to make using your choice of tinned beans, plenty of spices and a few other simple ingredients, the balls take just 20 minutes to bake in the oven. …Read more
Using this easy Mixed Grain Salad as a template, you can create a whole range of salads by changing which grains, vegetables, and seasonings to include. My grain mix includes brown rice, spelt, bulgur wheat, quinoa, and couscous. But almost any combination will work. I …Read more
Homemade Potted Beef is a traditional British food that’s so simple you won’t believe how delicious it is. All you need to make it are diced beef, butter, salt, pepper, and a little beef stock. The seasoned, diced beef is slowly cooked with butter and …Read more
Duck Goose is the newest independent eatery in the Staffordshire Moorlands town of Leek. Styling itself as a bistro rather than restaurant, Duck Goose offers a small but regularly changing menu of familiar dishes that are big on quality and flavour. I ate dinner there …Read more
Artichoke Spread, made using a jar of chargrilled artichokes, is an easy treat to make at home. Enjoy it bruschetta-style on toasted Italian bread or dipped into with raw veggies. With the pungent flavours of garlic, lemon, fresh mint, plus optional red pepper flakes or …Read more
Sesame Crackers, thin, crispy, with lots of earthy sesame flavour, are unbelievably easy to make at home. I love to scoop up dips like hummus and baba ganoush with them. But the crackers are just as good with cheese or peanut butter. So tasty, you …Read more
Victoria Sponge Cake is a British classic. And with good reason, I think. Because there’s something so satisfying about its combination of simple flavours. Buttery sponge cakes sandwiched with fruity jam and, in my version, plenty of buttercream with a hint of vanilla. A good …Read more
Potato Focaccia is a beautifully moist and tasty version of the classic Italian flatbread. Although you might not guess it was there, grated potato adds complexity of flavour and wonderful texture. The crust is appetizingly dark golden brown. Inside you’ll find a springy, open, and …Read more
Marinated Roasted Peppers are even more delicious than regular roasted peppers. Here they take up the spicy flavour of the marinade which becomes infused with the peppers’ charred smokiness. Temper that spicy, smoky heat with creamy yet tangy goat’s cheese for a perfect pairing. Served …Read more
Asparagus Risotto is one of the joys of Spring. But my version takes it to the super-luxury level with a golden, melting grilled goat’s cheese topping. The season for British asparagus is short. So I make the most of it with generous amounts of the …Read more
It’s not surprising that The Flintlock at Cheddleton in the Staffordshire Moorlands was recently awarded 2 AA Rosettes. Because my local restaurant just gets better and better. I ate their latest tasting menu last night and couldn’t fault a thing. With punchy flavours, great attention …Read more
This Dog Birthday Cake is perfect for fish-loving dogs – and you won’t believe how quick and easy it is. The ‘cake’ is made from just tinned tuna, flour, egg and water. The sugar-free, low-fat ‘frosting’ is mashed potato and a little yogurt. Decorate with doggie …Read more
This Picnic Pie will look so impressive when you unwrap and cut into it at your outdoor feast. With its glazed shortcrust pastry and richly savoury filling of sausage meat, apples and onions, it’s bound to be the star of the show. But what your …Read more
Tuna Dog Treats are so quick and easy to make and have just 3 ingredients plus water. Made in ten to fifteen minutes, the treats have a soft texture and a flavour that fish-loving dogs will go barking mad for. All you need is a tin …Read more