This wonderfully refreshing soup started with some rich chicken stock and a few celery stalks. The sorrel on the allotment was still good in mid-November. 1 onion, peeled and choppedOlive oil1 medium potato, peeled and chopped3 celery stalks, slicedChicken stockTwo large spoons Puy (or green) lentilsA handful of sorrel leavesSalt and freshly ground black pepper…

Cooked fennel has been an acquired taste for me. Love it with leeks and fish and now I have this dish which goes equally well with fish, chicken and turkey. We especially enjoy it with turkey escalopes. 2-3 bulbs fennel0.75 litres full fat milk2 tbsp crème fraîche (optional)1 generous pinch nutmeg50g unsalted butter45g plain flour2…

This was such a delicious, easy meal that it was requested again as soon as possible. Happy to oblige! The addition of paneer made what could have been a side dish into a whole meal. There are lots of recipes for Saag Aloo. I like this one for its heavy use of spices – you…

Pontack Sauce was reputedly made in the kitchen of M.Pontac whose tavern, The Pontack’s Head, was established in Abchurch Lane in the City of London after the Great Fire of 1666. M. Pontac was the son of Arnaud de Pontac, president of the Parliament of Bordeaux from 1653 to 1673. He owned excellent vineyards, including…

It was time to invent a new cake and this has been declared a rival to my ‘winner’, the Cheltenham cake. Both are easy to make, moreish and freeze well. Try to use pears that are neither too hard nor too soft. Windfalls would be fine. Line a greased 30 x 23 cm baking tray…

‘Tarragon is quarrelsome in the company of the bitter herbs and, but for its role among the fines herbes, is best used alone. Very pleasant when handled with discretion, it can become repellent – and this is especially true of cooked dishes – if too liberally dispensed; in combination with parsley, chives, and chervil, a…

It is a wet day and a good excuse to go through a pile of recipes and ideas for recipes that are piling up on the floor of my office. The strange thing is that the most tempting recipes are often the simplest. I look forward to making a rhubarb cheese cake, an Ottolenghi dish…

Most of a tin of anchovies is left over from making gremolata – perfect for using in anchovy butter. Again, the recipe is an Elizabeth David classic. ‘This is a most delicious little mixture and a wonderful standby for serving with steaks or for adding to eggs en cocotte’*. Drain the anchovy fillets and soak…

Near the stables is a quince tree which overhangs the hedge. I was kindly allowed to pick some of the fruit. Having cooked apples with quince to put into the deep freeze for crumbles during the winter, the big treat, is to make this stew. The recipe is taken form Sabrina Ghayour’s book Sirocco. The…

A great way to cook courgettes which goes so well with floured and pan fried fish such as sardines or sea bass. 2-3 medium courgettesExtra virgin olive oil2 garlic cloves, finely chopped1 tbsp roasted sunflower seeds1 tsp tahini pasteJuice of 1 lemonFinely chopped mint leaves (optional)Salt Preferably using a mandolin, slice the courgettes very thinly…