Almond, cranberry and oat biscuits
A recipe for cranberry, oat and white chocolate biscuits published by Yotam Ottolenghi in Sweet had sounded a great Christmas[…]
Alternative Christmas Cake
It’s not that I don’t like Christmas cake, I do, but a few pieces are enough. This cake is much[…]
Anchovies on toast and more
‘Something as simple as anchovies on toast can be a real treat.’ Mark Hix There are many other treats involving[…]
Anchovy Butter
Most of a tin of anchovies is left over from making gremolata – perfect for using in anchovy butter. Again,[…]
Apple Crumble revisited
We have had mixed fortunes with our apples this year. At least the Bramley is reliable and we are collecting[…]
Apple Jelly and Chilli Jelly
We have a bumper crop of crab apples this year. I made crab apple jelly, but enough of the strained[…]
Apricot and Harissa Chutney
This recipe, given to me by Gill Mace, is just filled with flavours I love. I’ve added ginger too as[…]
Arrabbiata Sauce for Pasta
This is one of our favourite meals and a great stand by. However, a simple meal comes with caveats and[…]
Artichokes à la Greque
I have three untidy artichoke plants. I love the nutty taste of artichokes and pick mine small. When in a[…]
Artichokes with broad beans
It is so satisfying to have a great meal of home grown vegetables. Artichokes with broad beans is possibly my[…]
Asparagus Cigars
We are having a wonderful spell of fine weather and bottles of rosé and invites are springing up for impromptu[…]
Asparagus Mimosa
Impromptu, alfresco, Asparagus Mimosa, is the perfect dish to serve in May or early June on a warm day when[…]
Asparagus Risotto
Early May and I am back from a break in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca with Anna, a friend[…]
Aubergines an Indian way, Baigan achari
This recipe comes from Madhur Jaffrey. It was given to her by the master chef of the Lake Palace Hotel[…]
Baked Apples
Humble baked apples are going global. I made them for the first time this autumn for Elena, an Italian teacher[…]
Baked Camembert
I have become a convert to baked soft cheese. A Christmas present of a cheese baker – an earthenware round[…]
Baked celeriac with smoked salmon and caper salsa
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to go through various piles of recipes taken from magazines and newspapers planning[…]
Baked eggs with spinach and leeks
One of my top tips is always to keep some vegetable stock in the fridge. The water in which potatoes[…]
Baked Seabream with Chillies, Potatoes and Tomatoes
Friday evening and William’s old Army habits die hard. No meat 🙂 One pot 🙂 Easy 🙂 Not macaroni cheese[…]
Banana Bread
A busy weekend. We have Li-Yun staying with us for her last break before’ A’ levels begin. Lots to play[…]
Basil Pesto
I was given a wonderful bunch of allotment grown basil by my neighbour Di Cray. Pesto with spaghetti is on[…]
Bean and Mint Salad
Earlier this week, I went to see Rick Stein give a cookery demonstration organised by Toppings, the bookshop in Bath to[…]
Beans and Lovage in Tomato Sauce
It’s April and at last spring is in the air. My best allotment crop is lovage. Beware lovage! A little[…]
Beef Stroganoff with Tagliatelle
I am more of a slow cook than a fast one and meals in minutes rarely work for me. If[…]
Beetroot and Chard
It’s mid July and beetroot and chard are in plentiful supply. This recipe was given to me by Margaret Kelland,[…]
Beetroot and Plum Salad
It’s early March 2023 and the news is of shelves in supermarkets empty as supplies of salad ingredients imported from[…]
Beetroot and Spinach Stir Fry
Beetroot and spinach are still in good supply and provide simple suppers for a quick mid week meal. Chard could[…]
Beetroot Bourguignon
Feeling cold and wintry and trying hard to get the onion sets planted before the end of the week. The[…]
Beetroot Bourguignon
I had forgotten all about this dish until a friend sent a picture and declared it ‘delicious’. Perfect for early[…]
Beetroot fritters
Beetroot fritters could be a meal on their own. They are also delicious with smoked fish. 400g beetroot, peeled and[…]
Beetroot with onions
Sometimes a recipe just jumps at you and this is exactly what happened when I was turning the pages of[…]
Beetroot with Shallots and Sage
My cookbook bookcase had to be cleared to make way for moving furniture around the house and laying some new[…]
Beetroot, Squash and Red Onion Salad
It wasn’t the meal I intended to make but it has been a crazy weekend and, by mistake, I had[…]
Bengali Style Fish Curry
There must be endless versions of this dish but common to all are white poppy seeds, mustard seeds and chillies.[…]
Bergen Fish Soup (Bergensk Fiskesuppe)
An exciting Christmas for us this year, spending two days in Bergen and then heading north on a Hurtigruten cruise[…]
Best Ever Damson Jelly
It has been an exceptional year for damsons. I made my first batch using fruit from Julie, my ‘Egg Lady’s’[…]
Blood orange marmalade
My favourite marmalade. It is made in exactly the same way as the Seville and Bergamot Marmalade but the result[…]
Blood Orange Polenta cake
I really enjoy the blood orange season and have a very vivid memory of eating blood oranges for the first[…]
Blue Lake Beans with Tomatoes
The beans are in good supply and this is my favourite way of serving Blue Lake beans. It is a[…]
Bolognese sauce
Sorting out bits of paper to send to my accountant before the end of January, I am finding much more[…]
Braised Swede, Celeriac and Carrot
This is a lovely recipe giving cheer in mid winter. I think of it as a Monday dish as it[…]
Braised Turnips
Some fresh turnips, all white, purple and green, caught my eye in the local Waitrose. I have never been the[…]
Brandy and Lovage
I had totally missed out on this West Country drink but it does resonate with many – perhaps remembering their[…]
Breakfast Rhubarb with Pomegranate Juice
One of my favourite recipes in The Allotment Kitchen has to be the Mark Hix inspired rhubarb with spices. For[…]
Breast of Chicken Stuffed with Stilton Cheese
This recipe has been adapted from a chance find in the delightful little book, The Café des Artistes Cook Book[…]
Broad Bean and Ricotta Dip
Eades, our local green grocer’s shop, is an Aladdin’s cave. Used to supplying vegetables to many of the Bath hotels[…]
Broad Bean Dip with Mint and Almond Butter
Fresh, raw broad beans with pecorino cheese are the treat for the start of the broad bean season and this[…]
Broad Beans and Pecorino Cheese
This simple recipe is published in The Allotment Kitchen but worth repeating as it is such a wonderful way of[…]
Broad Beans with Pecorino
Late May and here for one week only! Shell small broad beans and serve with pieces of pecorino. The Somerset[…]
Broad Beans, Artichoke and Potato Stew
This dish marks another point in the allotment calendar. The asparagus season finishes on 18 June (Waterloo Day) and remaining[…]
Brussels Sprout and Kale Salad
This salad, inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi, is one of several that I make which combines cooked and raw use of[…]
Buckler Leaf Sorrel
Buckler leaf sorrel or French sorrel (Rumex scutatus) was new to me but I was kindly offered some. Low to[…]
Bulgar Wheat
Two teachers, in charge of a group of 40 teenagers, were staying with me for two weeks before Easter. They[…]
Bulgar Wheat with Mushrooms and Feta
This is a lovely recipe adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi’s book, Simple. It is fine by itself for a mid week[…]
Bulgar Wheat with Tomato and Aubergine
Sometimes meals just come together and this was a great success. The bulgar and tomatoes could be used in different[…]
Burrata with Blood Oranges
I was invited to a joyous meal at The Beckford Bottle Shop with old friends Chris and Inge. A generous[…]
Butter bean mash
Rain drove me in from the allotment and I decided to clean the top shelf of the kitchen cupboard. Found[…]
Butter Beans in Salsa Verde
I couldn’t resist trying this recipe by Meera Sodha in the Guardian. She writes that her recipe taster had tried[…]
Butternut Squash Risotto
As I write (28 March 2020) the coronavirus is gripping. My walk into Bath to shop yesterday was beautiful in[…]
Cacio e Pepe
Pasta has been much in the news. Good on Mary Berry if she adds white wine and cream to her[…]
Calabrese Broccoli Stalks
Zeitgeist if you will but food and recipe columns, as well as letter pages, are increasingly turning to recipes for[…]
Cannellini Beans with Garlic, Sage and Oil
As Anna Del Conte notes in Amaretto, Apple Cake and Artichokes, the herb of northern Italy is sage, ’the flavour[…]
Caponata with peppers
My recently posted recipe for caponata has sparked lots of interest and reminiscences. I remembered a variation that included red[…]
Caribbean Cake with Orange Mascarpone Icing
Collette and Les are having an opening party for their allotment plot. We begin to believe it is an allotment plot but[…]
Carrot and Beetroot Tarte Tatin
This was a great dish to take to a Sunday lunch party and proved to be a very popular first[…]
Carrot salad with yoghurt, cinamon and herbs
An Ottolenghi recipe and a good way to add crunch to a summer meal. I have been using a lot[…]
Carrot Top Pesto
A discussion with Mike, my local greengrocer, and the subject turned to carrot tops. He reminded me that Rachel Demuth,[…]
Carrots Stewed with Rice
As Elizabeth David says, this is ‘an excellent little dish, which makes a course on its own’*. However, the quality[…]
Cauliflower, pomegranate and pistachio salad
This recipe came from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Saturday column in The Guardian and could qualify as my ‘Dish of the Year’.[…]
Celery braised with onion and tomato
This dish is as good cold as it is warm. Serve by itself as a starter or as a vegetable[…]
Chaliapin’s Duck
This recipe comes from Clarissa Dickson Wright who tells the story of how her mother cooked duck for the son[…]
Chargrilled Tenderstem Broccoli with Sesame Seeds
It is a wet day and a good excuse to go through a pile of recipes and ideas for recipes[…]
Cheltenham Apple and Sultana Cake
I gave my friend Penny a copy of The Allotment Kitchen. She was immediately disappointed that my ‘default’ Cheltenham cake[…]
Chestnut and Celery Stuffing for Chicken or Pork
Christmas 2021 and somehow it didn’t feel Christmassy enough for a turkey or goose but a large free range chicken[…]
Chicken with Parsley and Garlic
The idea for this dish came from the recipe for Pollo Spago in The River Cafe Cookbook by Rose Gray[…]
Chickpea, Cauliflower and Preserved Lemon Salad
This recipe for a ‘classy salad’ was inspired by the Sam Clarks at Casa Moro and given to me by[…]
Chickpeas, Carrots and Swiss Chard
Our last row of Swiss chard is beginning to bolt and this is such a delicious way to use it.[…]
Chicory Braised Under Roast Chicken
Neighbours recently lent me Feast Days Recipes from The Spectator by Jennifer Paterson. One of the Fat Ladies along with[…]
Chocolate and Almond Biscotti
This recipe is adapted from one in the Brownies and Biscotti booklet published by The Australian Women’s Weekly, a real[…]
Cinnamon biscuits
Sorting through all my cookery books, The Australian Women’s Weekly Biscuits (brownies & biscotti) booklet was a great find. These[…]
Classic Potato Rosti
Strictly it’s rösti, not rosti, but I think this dish has been around for long enough for us to drop[…]
Cocktail twirls
‘Nibbles’ is a horrible word and ‘canapés’ precocious but these pastry biscuits are so easy to make and perfect with[…]
Cod and Prawns with Fennel and White Wine
In the late summer of 2018, the Waitrose recipe for cod and prawns with fennel and white wine was everywhere[…]
Cod with Cauliflower Purée
Cauliflower purée makes a great dish served with pan fried cod loin flavoured with pieces of chorizo. 1 cauliflower 50g[…]
Coffee and cardamon marble cake
‘Six eggs’ means a big cake and this is great for a crowd. Rich enough to be a pudding but[…]
Comforting Spinach and Chickpeas
This recipe comes from Yasmin Khan’s Zaitoun and is seriously good. She gives it the adjective ‘comforting’ and it is,[…]
Coriander and Peanut Chutney
Perfect for a damp Monday’s supper to accompany the remains of a roast chicken and a baked potato. Coriander and[…]
Coriander Salad Dressing
I had too much coriander for what I had planned to cook over the Platinum Jubilee holiday but, waste not,[…]
Coronation Chicken
There is a myriad of recipes for making Coronation Chicken which is probably the only recipe from the 1950s worth[…]
Courgette and Feta Salad
This is such a brilliant way to serve courgettes; it makes a great first course by itself or as part[…]
Courgette and Tomato Bake
There are three words I try to avoid in recipes, ‘bake’ (as a noun) and ‘drizzle’ (as a verb) and[…]
Courgette Flower Tempura
My daughter-in-law Sam is having fun with allotment produce. Strawberry jam sounds good ! And now the courgettes are growing[…]
Courgette, Tahini and Sunflower Seed Salad
A great way to cook courgettes which goes so well with floured and pan fried fish such as sardines or[…]
Crab apple and Ginger Jelly
Another bumper crop of crab apples and, as this was such a popular jelly when I made it last year,[…]
Cranberry Sauce
We made a gesture towards celebrating Thanksgiving with turkey escalopes (the only choice in our local Waitrose was between fillets[…]
Cranberry, Oat and White Chocolate Biscuits
I’m going out to New York for Thanksgiving and taking these biscuits with me. Coals to Newcastle? I know that[…]
Crème Caramel with apricots
We had full-cream milk, cream and eggs in the fridge and a crème caramel was perfect for serving with stewed[…]
Cucumber Pickle
In the US this recipe is known as Bread and Butter Pickle – an off putting title which must be[…]
Damson Chutney
Picking the damsons was the easy part. I found as many as I needed along the hedge as I walked[…]
Devilled kidneys
A special treat for a Friday evening to celebrate the delivery of lamb from Mr Roberts, the butcher in Bala. His[…]
Dill mayonnaise with smoked trout
Hurrah! My dill is happy and plentiful. Dill reminds me of Scandinavia in summer. It goes brilliantly with fish, potatoes[…]
Dried apples
All the Cox’s apples have fallen off the tree. Many can be saved and are perfect for making dried apple[…]
Early Summer Salad
An evening walk around the allotment to pick salad ingredients. The sorrel had been cut down and its new growth[…]
Easter Biscuits
Of course, there are Easter traditions all round the world. My friend Trish recently gave me a packet of mahlep[…]
Elderflower Cordial
The weather was breaking and I just had time on Friday evening to pick perfect sprays of elderflowers before the[…]
Elderflower Cordial
Late May and, after a long dry hot spell, the elderflowers are smelling wonderful. Perfect time to pick just the[…]
Elderflower Vinegar
A recipe from Penny Dalrymple-Smith All sorts of delicious pairings go with this summery vinegar. It is especially good used[…]
Elderflower vinegar
Elderflowers are appearing and their smell is special. Elderflowers and lilac blossom tell us that summer is close. As with[…]
Endive with blue cheese and pickled walnuts
Pickled walnuts are a special treat around the family with cold turkey on Boxing Day but this easy starter is[…]
Epiphany Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad
I am a fan of Epiphany. It’s the time to make Galette des Rois and have a last flurry of[…]
Fennel Gratin
Cooked fennel has been an acquired taste for me. Love it with leeks and fish and now I have this[…]
Fiery Prawns and Spinach
Now that my tax return is completed, I have an office to sort out. Lots of recipes and cuttings in[…]
Figs with Honey, Blue Cheese and Parma Ham
I am not fond of ‘wrapped’ fruit or vegetables but, as this recipe leaves the Parma ham loose and crisp,[…]
Figs with Thyme
Richard Olney’s Simple French Food is a great book in which to browse. By chance I came across this recipe[…]
Flattened chicken with Swiss Chard Gratin
My school friend Voirrey, with whom I spent every day of my school life, and her daughter, Angie (my god-daughter),[…]
Fresh Coriander Cutney
An allotment neighbour has just given me a large handful of coriander. Good to be able to put it to[…]
Fried Courgette Batons
Coronavirus continues and new patterns of life become habit. Apparently, nationally there is less food waste and certainly I would[…]
Fried Courgettes
We have never had such a good season for courgettes. For a quick snack to have with an evening drink,[…]
Gin Gimlet
There are some drinks that are very special for the right occasion. A warm evening, relaxed, with a simple supper[…]
Ginger cake
As a child, ‘Mrs Arnold’s Ginger Cake’ was always a great favourite. I had the recipe, stuck in my recipe[…]
Glazed turnips
There are so few recipes for turnips. Try them in earthy soups or lamb stews – a well considered navarin[…]
Gleaner’s Salad
I had been invited to an impromptu party with neighbours and decided to make my ‘Gleaner’s Salad’ just taking a[…]
Goose with Potato and Apple Stuffing
This is almost the best part of Christmas. The stuffing is so good that one year Henry, my youngest stepson,[…]
Grapefruit and Rhubarb Marmalade
Jane Grigson’s rhubarb and grapefruit jam is a great favourite but, for a change, I wanted to make more of[…]
Gratin Dauphinois
We had a surfeit of cream and I am now digging into my row of Charlotte potatoes. A good time[…]
Gratin Dauphinois
Signs of spring and we celebrated with a half leg of lamb. Simon Hopkinson in Week In Week Out serves[…]
Greek chicken and pepper pie
Peppers are plentiful in the supermarkets at the moment and I am preferring this pie to richer versions using mushrooms[…]
Greek Meze Mushrooms
The chance find of a little book of meze ideas has a wonderful recipe for Greek mushrooms. As with any[…]
Greek Potato Stew
I seem to have a theme going; potato stews with olives, herbs and spices. My first was Ben Tish’s roasted[…]
Green beans in a creamy dressing with breadcrumbs
It’s not usually wise to try a new recipe over the Christmas season. There is enough stress – so best[…]
Guy Fawke’s Salad
The clocks have gone back and it’s time to have a final check on the allotment. The onion sets are[…]
Hazelnut and Cranberry Tart
Very excited about this dessert as it’s festive and a great alternative to pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Oven at 190°C.[…]
Hazelnut Maple Biscuits
This is a basic recipe that could be changed many times. Try using walnuts (not roasted or skinned) or almonds[…]
Indian omelette (Ande ki Bhurji)
A cooking course last Saturday at the Bertinet Kitchen with Monisha Bharadwaj has given me lots of new ideas and[…]
Indian Spinach with Dill
Dill transforms the taste of spinach. They can be cooked together melted in butter but better still when spices are[…]
Iranian Kale, Cabbage and Feta Frittata (Kuku)
Thank you Sabrina Ghayour for introducing me to a great new dish. In her book, Bazaar, she has this recipe[…]
Jansson’s Temptation
My old friend Carin from Stockholm was staying and kindly brought with her tins of Abba anchovies – perfect for[…]
Kabul Pilau
I could have been making pilau (or pulao, palao) in a kitchen or even a tent or yurt anywhere from[…]
Lamb and Aubergine Stew
I was surprised to see that I had never listed this recipe which is high up there among my favourite[…]
Lasagne all’Arrabbiata
I don’t know how authentic this is but Marco, a great student from Italy, managed three portions at one sitting[…]
Leek Pie (Flamiche)
Leek Pie (Flamiche) I’m not the only one revisiting old recipes – Cousin Anne’s leek pie (Flamiche) looks delicious and[…]
Leek Pie (Flamiche)
Midway through Holy Week when leeks are in season is a splendid time to make this pie. I didn’t use[…]
Leeks and Kale Sautéed with Pine Nuts and Dried Barberries
This is a quick recipe for January inspired by going through kitchen cupboards checking to see what dry ingredients were[…]
Lemon Drizzle Cake
This is one of my two default cakes (the other is the Cheltenham Apple Cake). If, like Nigel Slater, I[…]
Lemon Tart
There must be something in the air, Suddenly lemon tarts and puddings are the rage. Two delicious sounding recipes by[…]
Lime and Honeyed Poussins
‘Fast and French’ is the heading for the article that contained this recipe. It was Kathy Montogomery’s contribution to the[…]
Lovage oil
Sometimes recipes just come your way. My local shop supplies many of the best restaurants in Bath. While I was[…]
Madeleines
It’s the French group this evening and the topic for discussion is food. With reference to Proust’s unforgettable experience, I[…]
Marjoram and tomato salad
Indeed, Sir, she was the sweet marjoram of thesalad, or rather, the herb of grace. All’s Well That Ends Well,[…]
Mince pies
A very good pastry for pies and quiches Which pastry to make for a quiche or pie is very much[…]
Minestrone
Autumn is a good time to make minestrone soup as it uses so many vegetables that are in season. This[…]
Mint Pesto
My mint patch is up and running. We use so much that all the caveats about being overrun with mint[…]
Monkfish Tagine with Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes and Olives
The origins of this dish are Moroccan. It is delicious and satisfying. I have had to make it a few[…]
Mr Guinness’s Cake
A newspaper cutting, ‘How to make Mr. Guinness’s cake’ was the first entry in what had once been my recipe[…]
Mushroom and Chorizo stuffing
Inspired by the turkey stuffings sold in local stores around New York, there could be many variations on this recipe[…]
Nettle soup
Troika Steppes, our thoroughbred horse, has come back to Burcott for his summer holidays and will have a rest from[…]
New Potato, Chard and Coconut Curry
This dish is so quick and easy that I never thought to put in on the website. Here it is[…]
Onion Bhajias
I am so glad I bought a copy of Monisha Bharadwaj’s latest book, The Indian Cookery Course – a truly[…]
Onion Soup
We had ‘Chaliapin Duck’ (already on this website) over the Easter weekend and the rich stock was perfect for making[…]
Orange and Poppy Seed Cake
Sorting out a corner of my office, I found a box file of old recipes. I remembered baking this cake,[…]
Orange, Date and Radish Salad
Inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi, this is a salad that can have many variations. The orange and dates give freshness and[…]
Orecchiette with Turnip Tops and Mussels
Last year, just when we had finished our turnip tops, I found a delightful recipe for orecchiette with turnip tops[…]
Orecciette con le Cime di Rapa (Turnip Tops with Pasta)
Our local green grocer calls turnip tops ‘Jimmy the Rapper’ – not a surprising nickname when you learn that the[…]
Oven Baked Cod with Puttanesca Sauce
This is so good, colourful and sunny. Recently I made it using the first Cypriot new potatoes which worked very[…]
Parsley butter with lentils
This is a delight and a revelation. Parsley butter is given more status with its French title, Beurre Maître d’Hôtel,[…]
Pasta with Kale Pesto and Crispy Garlic Greens
A delicious meal, thanks to Anna Jones. In the first edition of The Guardian’s Saturday Feast magazine (20 January 2018),[…]
Pear and Date Cake
The Cheltenham apple and sultana cake has an almost cult following thanks to my friend Penny for whom it was[…]
Pear, Chocolate and Almond Cake
It was time to invent a new cake and this has been declared a rival to my ‘winner’, the Cheltenham[…]
Peppers and Herb Salad
It seems to me that the best thing about recipes for salads is that I do follow them, though perhaps[…]
Persian Lamb, Quince and Saffron Stew
Near the stables is a quince tree which overhangs the hedge. I was kindly allowed to pick some of the[…]
Pickled Cucumber
In the summer I grew little fat cucumbers which were delicious peeled and cut into batons. They gave a crunchiness[…]
Pickled Cucumber, Dill and Mustard Seed Salad
Nothing like a wet day to buckle down on the floor to sort through a pile of magazines and recipes.[…]
Pickled mussels
Mussels seem to tick all the boxes; being tasty, good for us, environmentally friendly and excellent value. I need no[…]
Pickled seriously large cucumbers
Ask any allotment holder and they will agree, 2022 has been the summer for cucumbers but even a seriously large[…]
Pilau Rice
I have just discovered a classic recipe from Elizabeth David in her, Spices, Salt and Aromatics in the English Kitchen,[…]
Pistachio Salsa Verde
A variation of salsa verde which is refreshing and especially good with barbecued chicken. 50g lightly roasted pistachios, roughly chopped[…]
Poached apricots
Punnets of apricots can often be good value. My usual way of cooking apricots is to poach them, halved, in[…]
Polenta Chips
Polenta chips go well with white fish or tuna. On Madeira wedges of polenta are served with tuna but I[…]
Pollen – A Sherry and Elderflower Cocktail
Researching recipes for cocktails is a process that cannot be rushed. The idea of using sherry in a cocktail for[…]
Pontack Sauce
Pontack Sauce was reputedly made in the kitchen of M.Pontac whose tavern, The Pontack’s Head, was established in Abchurch Lane[…]
Poppy Seed and Sesame Biscuits
These biscuits are Scandinavian inspired and great to serve with drinks. The pastry is a bit like a puff pastry[…]
Potato and Chard Gratin
It was the first Sunday in February 2023 and the sky was blue. A good moment for a dig on[…]
Potato, Chicory and Blue Cheese salad
This is a wonderful combination of flavours. The herbs can be varied, mint or sage could be used in place[…]
Potato, Courgette and Buckwheat Bhajias
It’s the AGM of the local residents’ association and finger food is required. Time to challenge the neighbours’ taste buds.[…]
Potato, Courgette, and Buckwheat Bhajias – A Revisit!
It’s the AGM of the local residents’ association and finger food is required. Time to challenge the neighbours’ taste buds.[…]
Potato, Fennel and Chard Bake
I am really excited by this recipe as there are not many bakes that I truly enjoy. Maybe it’s just[…]
Prawns Provençal with Spaghetti
This is such a simple meal and, as I am likely to have all the ingredients to hand, it makes[…]
Prawns with Pickled Cucumber and Pink Peppercorns
Inspiration for what to serve to neighbours with Sunday evening drinks came from the glut of cucumbers we have this[…]
Pulled pork with chilli sauce
This is our traditional meal to serve at the pre-Christmas get-together with my four stepsons and their families. It takes[…]
Pumpkin in Creamy Coconut Curry
It’s pumpkin time and this recipe from Monisha Bharadwaj’s new book Indian in 7 is already a firm favourite. Any[…]
Pumpkin Tart
Pumpkin Tart (Tourte de Citrouille) – a new take on pumpkin pie and a curious find in Elizabeth David’s French[…]
Pumpkin, roast pepper and tomato soup
We had invited some neighbours for lunch, forgetting that it would be Thanksgiving. Never too late to make a gesture.[…]
Purée of Fresh Peas
Delighted to have had an email from Astrid for whom purée of fresh peas was the highlight of her ‘Sicilian[…]
Queen of Puddings
The first wintery weekend of November and we have finished planting bulbs for spring. Hurrah for Mr Scamp! Every year[…]
Quince Cheese
This recipe was sent in by Heather Grant who prefers her method of making quince cheese to mine.A chance gift[…]
Quinoa Salads
Deciding that more ‘pulse based’ salads were needed, I have been experimenting with quinoa. So far, I have been offering[…]
Radicchio, Pecan and Blue Cheese Salad
This is a perfect salad for Thanksgiving or Christmas, inspired by Nigella Lawson (who had used chestnuts). It is festive,[…]
Radicchio, Radish and Clementine salad
This is my winter salad of the moment and again comes form Yasmin Khan’s book, Zaitoun. I have given recipes[…]
Radish Leaf Soup
Suddenly the recipe pages of newspapers and supermarket magazines are full of radishes; finely sliced and scattered over salads,in oriental[…]
Ratatouille Niçoise
On the first page of Frederic Raphael’s novel, Heaven and Earth (1985) is the description of a tea-cloth on which[…]
Recipe of the Day 10th July – Hummus
Hunting through my store cupboard, I came across chickpeas near their best before date. In homage to Greece, I had[…]
Recipe of the Day 9th July – Beetroot, apple and dill salad
Inspiration for this salad came from Natalia Conroy’s book, The Kitchen Orchard. Refreshing and tangy, it was excellent yesterday, served[…]
Recipe of the week w/c 6th July – Artichokes, Peas and Broad Beans
Artichokes, Peas and Broad Beans Artichokes, peas and broad beans are a true taste of summer. This is our dish of[…]
Red Cabbage and Pears
Getting ready for a week of Christmas parties and celebrations. The main feast is for the family next weekend. Red[…]
Red rice with tomatoes and peppers
My one criticism about The Guardian’s Saturday food supplement, Feast, is that the front covers tend to look very alike.[…]
Red Winter Salad
This is the most cheering winter salad I know as everything except the dill is red or orange. It is[…]
Redcurrant Jelly and Todays’ pudding Redcurrant
Enough redcurrants remained to make a second batch of redcurrant jelly. As these were riper than the ones I had[…]
Rhubarb Frangipane Tart
We are now in full rhubarb season . I’m very pleased with this recipe in which the rhubarb is lightly[…]
Risotto alla Milanese
It was a perfect meal on a perfect evening, asparagus with risotto alla Milanese. I love classic Italian meals for[…]
Risotto with Fennel and a Citrus Reduction
This recipe is well traveled. Astrid Øyehaug, who kindly sent it to me, and her family live in Oslo but[…]
Roast Chicken with Sumac and Red Onions
A New Year’s Resolution of sorts came about when I realised I could no longer reply on Waitrose to have[…]
Roasted Asparagus with Ricotta and Pecorino Cheese
I don`t think there is a recipe in Diana Henry`s book, From the Oven to the Table, that isn`t tempting.[…]
Roasted Beetroot with Almond Skordalia and Anchovies
I had left a cutting for this recipe beside the computer. It must have been taken from a Waitrose monthly[…]
Roasted Butternut Squash with Radicchio
Butternut squash is the new courgette; easy to grow, versatile and a fixture on the shelves in supermarkets. We have[…]
Roasted Carrot Purée with feta
This is a great dish to make while having a day of cooking. Carrots are at their best in July[…]
Roasted Carrots with Gingery Tomatoes, Quinoa and Mint
A dish of carrots roasted with cumin and served with feta is a great favourite but I wanted a roasted[…]
Roasted Cauliflower with Turmeric and Cumin
I cook this so often that it was a surprise when I realised I had never added it to the[…]
Roasted chicken with tarragon
‘Tarragon is quarrelsome in the company of the bitter herbs and, but for its role among the fines herbes, is[…]
Roasted Potatoes with Green Peppers, Chilli and Olives
This recipe comes from Ben Tish’s book, Moorish, which The Times reckoned to be the best cookbook of 2019. It[…]
Roasted Rainbow Trout with Tomato Salsa
I really enjoy shopping for fish when I just choose whatever appeals and start planning the meal for the evening[…]
Roasted salted almonds
Elizabeth David is not the food writer you would immediately turn to for the perfect recipe for roasted, salted almonds[…]
Roasted slices of beetroot
I have a new gadget, a Hackelmann slicer – a present from Bärbl brought back from Germany. Brilliant for making[…]
Roasted Sweet Potato and Squash
I have more than one recipe using roasted sweet potato and coriander. This is my favourite. We had it on[…]
Roasted Sweet Potato, Cauliflower and Courgettes with Tahini and Egg
After a hard day office clearing, supper was an ‘invention test’ to use up what was left in the fridge.[…]
Roasted Trombetta Squash and Tomatoes
It was a timely present to receive a trombetta squash. 70cm long! A curious vegetable. The seeds are all at[…]
Roasted vegetable salad
It’s years since I made a roasted vegetable salad but our courgettes are now coming along thick and fast and[…]
Runner bean chutney
Runner beans are brilliant this year. This chutney is the perfect solution for how to process them. -Susan
Saag Aloo with Paneer
This was such a delicious, easy meal that it was requested again as soon as possible. Happy to oblige! The[…]
Salad with eggs and a creamed dressing
Sometimes the simplest meals can give the greatest pleasure. I am a great fan of hard boiled eggs but the[…]
Salmon with a Za’atar Crust
I have become a convert to za’atar since discovering the Zaytoun brand which was established as ‘a social enterprise and[…]
Salsa Verde
Friday evening suppers have to be easy as I come home late from the stables. Because it’s Friday, the tradition[…]
Salted Roasted Cashews
Elizabeth David’s recipe for irresistible, roasted almonds is already given but here is a quick alternative, great to offer to[…]
Sauted Cypriot Potatoes
I remember Cypriot potatoes, large and with remnants of the red soil in which they are grown, from when I[…]
Sauteed Turnip Tops
A turnip grew in the middle of our beetroot; a welcome surprise! As well as using most of the root[…]
Scallops with Cauliflower Curry Velouté
Marcus Wareing prepared this dish as a skills test on Masterchef. These challenges are fascinating and this recipe was extra[…]
Scallops with Chorizo
The Hebridean Smokehouse (www.hebrideansmokehouse.com) supplied us so well with delicacies for Christmas that we had a repeat order for Easter. Their[…]
Sea Bass with Garlic and Ginger
There is a classic Chinese film about a widowed father trying to find a husband for his daughter. The father[…]
Seared tuna steaks with tomato dressing
Friday evening and a horrible drive back from riding in Wells. Met our neighbour, Roger, as I got out of[…]
Seville and Bergamot Marmalade
Things come in waves. One day, there were the Hairy Bikers on television tasting bergamots in Italy and then I[…]
Seville and Ginger Marmalade
This recipe worked well for me. I made eight jars. 1.25kg Seville oranges5 -7 cm piece ginger1.5kg granulated sugar (unrefined[…]
Shepherd’s Pie
It was a great surprise to receive an email from a German student who had stayed with us over six[…]
Sorrel and Puy Lentil Soup
This wonderfully refreshing soup started with some rich chicken stock and a few celery stalks. The sorrel on the allotment[…]
Spanish Omelette
This meal provoked debate. The motion was ‘A Spanish Omelette is not a Simple Meal’. However, both sides agreed it[…]
Spanish omelette
William looked crestfallen when I said we were having a Spanish omelette for supper. ‘Only one onion and no ham?’[…]
Spiced roast potatoes
This recipe, based on Yotam Ottolenghi’s from Saturday’s Guardian, gives a new twist to roast potatoes. As he writes, ‘they[…]
Spiced Yoghurt and Paneer Kebabs
Everything that was made in a cookery course with Maunika Gowardhan at the Bertinet School in June was something I[…]
Spicy Aubergine
I’m really excited about this recipe. Inspiration came from Emma Grazette and Stevie Parle’s book on spices. As they happened to[…]
Spicy Fish and Tomato Pie
New Year’s Eve supper with our friends Penny and Peter had to be cancelled. Instead we had an Epiphany Lunch.[…]
Spicy Rhubarb
Is the shortage of ground cinnamon universal or just local to Bath? Waitrose have had none for weeks and a[…]
Springfield Cake (Pear and Ginger Sponge)
Carrie, who illustrated The Allotment Kitchen, made Springfield Cake (Pear and Ginger Sponge) for guests and, on the back of[…]
Start with a Courgette…
I have fallen behind with the allotment this summer but, thanks to Mandy and Kevin, it is still in control.[…]
Stir-fried Asparagus with Chilli and Cashews
A delicious crunchy recipe, courtesy of Waitrose, which I have tried several times and adapted to the way I cook.[…]
Stir-fried Broad beans with spices
I have much enjoyed a series of discussions on 20th century Chinese literature, held in the Museum of East Asian[…]
Stir-fried eggs with tomatoes
As there was a fear of blight on our allotment site, it was wise to pick all our tomatoes which[…]
Stuffed tomatoes
It must have been an Ottolenghi recipe that made me curious enough to buy dried barberries. Amazon bill them as[…]
Summer fruit and almond cake
Spent a rainy day sitting on the floor of my office looking through the mound of recipes torn from magazines[…]
Summer Pudding
The first summer pudding is made and ready for supper this evening. I have just picked a final bucket full of[…]
Swedish Cinnamon Buns
A present of bread flour set me off on the path to make Swedish buns. The recipe for my first[…]
Sweet Potato and Chilli Muffins
When I came to check out these muffins that a friend raved about, it seems they were invented by Jamie[…]
Sweet Potato Salad with Green Olives
Another great delivery from Riverford Organics! First it was Calabrese broccoli and now it’s sweet potatoes that I am having[…]
Sweet Potato, Coriander and Red Onions Pakoras
Pakoras can be the making of a meal and are great for using up oddments of vegetables. An invention test[…]
Swiss Chard Quiche
I enjoy making quiches but, shame on me, it has been pointed out that there isn’t a single recipe for[…]
Swordfish with Tomatoes and Olives
This dish is perfect for an easy summer dinner. It need only go in the oven when the first course[…]
Tarragon Chicken
What better roast on a hot summer’s day than Tarragon Chicken! As Richard Olney writes in Simple French Food, ‘tarragon[…]
Tarragon, pea shoot and mushroom salad
It is always good to sort through piles of cuttings and old magazines, mostly kept for recipe ideas or book[…]
Tarte à l’Onion
This recipe is pure Elizabeth David and, as she writes, (this tart) ‘makes a truly lovely first course’. I cooked[…]
Today’s Pud! Red Currant, White Currant and Cherry Fool
Bärbl is coming for supper and this is the pudding of the moment! White and red currants are ready and the English[…]
Tomato and Nectarine Salad
As I passed, this salad was being served to outside eaters at a local restaurant. I made my own version[…]
Tomato Keftedes
In 1967, I was on the Exeter University coach on the Comex trip to India. We were a motley group.[…]
Tomato Rice
Madhur Jaffrey is legendary. Not only did she win the best actress award at the Berlin film festival in 1965[…]
Tomato Salad
Sergey, from Ukraine, is staying while on a two week language course. His English is improving in leaps and bounds.[…]
Tomato Salad
We have never had such a good crop of tomatoes. Many thanks to Di Cray and Penny Dalrymple-Smith for giving[…]
Tomato Sauce for Spaghetti
This is my all time favourite summer comfort food. This sauce epitomises Italian cooking. It is so simple but all[…]
Tomato Tarte Tatin
I had been planning to make this tart for a while and was delighted to find that Felicity Cloake, in[…]
Tomato, Onion and Coriander Relish
Finally our tomatoes are turning red. Hurrah! Time to use them and this is a great relish to serve with[…]
Tomatoes on Toast
I am writing this in late August. Tomato blight is creeping along the allotments. With luck mine will be the[…]
Tomatoes with sumac, shallots and pine nuts
Inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi, this recipe is for my favourite salad of the late summer and the best way I[…]
Tomatoes with Tarragon Butter
This is a classic Elizabeth David recipe. ‘A delicious and delicate vegetable dish to serve with white fish or a[…]
Trout with Dill
This recipe is based on one in Mark Hix’s British Seasonal Food. He uses fennel tops in place of dill.[…]
Trout with Salsa Verde
This recipe is for Simon fishing at Bredwardine on the river Wye in Herefordshire. “A wonderfully strong, clean, meandering river,[…]
Variations on Hummus
I love hummus and all through summer there will always be a pot in the fridge. Simple hummus, made from[…]
Veal Cutlets with Wine and Sage
There is a photograph on the cover of Simon Hopkinson’s book, Week in Week out, that never fails to make[…]
Vegetables on puff pastry pie
Decided that this evening’s meal has to come from what is in the fridge. Coronavirus nerves have kicked in and,[…]
Vegetables with Green Lentils
A few months ago, this recipe came as a lightening bolt when I was thinking about what to make from[…]
Venison en Casserole
The weather has changed and it is time for a winter dish. On Saturday, I had gone to Bath Farmers’[…]
Warm Courgette and Chickpea Salad
This is a delicious dish for allotment holders. It uses up courgettes, young spinach leaves and herbs but feel free[…]
Warm Lentil and Roasted Beetroot Salad
At home with the coronavirus around is a good moment to check through the store cupboard in the kitchen. Time[…]
Warm salad of spiced kale,wheat and Puy lentils
It has been the winter of lentils. I love them in soups, Mujaddara (a very favourite recipe already given) and[…]
Welsh Rarebit
Welsh rarebit has been a staple quick meal all through my life, on a par with beans on toast or[…]
Welsh Rarebit Muffins
I am having fun revisiting recipes and, getting wet in town the other day, decided that Welsh Rarebit would make[…]
Whole Cauliflower with Muhammara
This week (January 2018) there has been outrage that M & S should be charging £2.50 for a slice of[…]
Wilted Radicchio
A neighbour on the allotment has grown wonderful radicchio but his family are not its biggest fans. My gain! My[…]
Young Broad Beans cooked with Onion
This dish is one of the first delights of the year. I like it as a first course, served warm[…]
Young broad beans with feta
My broad beans are a bumper crop, the best for many years.. Aqua Dulce were planted deep late in October.[…]