I have a new gadget, a Hackelmann slicer – a present from Bärbl brought back from Germany. Brilliant for making very thin slices of vegetables. Just tonight we are having beetroot slices (6mm thick) roasted, left to cool and then topped with hummus with our drinks before the meal. I also sliced fennel (5mm thick)…

This recipe comes from Clarissa Dickson Wright who tells the story of how her mother cooked duck for the son of the famous Russian opera singer, Feodor Chaliapin. It is quite delicious and Chaliapin’s son ate a whole duck to himself, much to the chagrin of the youthful CDW as duck cooked this way is…

Midway through Holy Week when leeks are in season is a splendid time to make this pie. I didn’t use puff pastry but the pastry I make for quiches (and much more) on page 209 of The Allotment Kitchen. It worked very well. I was pleased to use my first picking of chives from the…

My local greengrocer (what an old fashioned word that is!) has new season garlic from Spain on display. Perfect for making hummus. Good spread on pitta bread or any rustic toasted bread but also good to serve with drinks spread on very thin slices of roasted beetroot. 150g chickpeas Salt 4 garlic cloves Juice of…

A variation of salsa verde which is refreshing and especially good with barbecued chicken. 50g lightly roasted pistachios, roughly chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 small bunch mint, stalks removed and leaves finely chopped 1 small bunch parsley, finely chopped 1 green chilli, finely chopped Juice of 1 lime 4 salad onions, finely sliced 4…

St Patrick’s Day yesterday and we did him proud. Mr Guinness’s Cake for tea and then off to the pub for a Guinness and back home, as the snow was falling, for colcannon – one of my very favourite dishes. This classic kale dish, delicious served with baked ham, is the bubble and squeak of…

Friday evening suppers have to be easy as I come home late from the stables. Because it’s Friday, the tradition is that it should be fish or vegetarian. Last Friday I bought two excellent tuna steaks from Tesco. The fish monger kindly wrapped them with an ice pack (not that the interior of my old…

My favourite marmalade. It is made in exactly the same way as the Seville and Bergamot Marmalade but the result is much sweeter. As every part of the fruit, including the peel, is used, it is important that it should be organic. 9 blood oranges 2 Seville oranges 2 lemons 1 pink grapefruit. Approx 1.2…

Perfect for a damp Monday’s supper to accompany the remains of a roast chicken and a baked potato. Coriander and Peanut Chutney 2 generous handfuls of fresh coriander A small piece (1.25 cm) fresh ginger 2 green chillies 2 tbsp roasted unsalted peanuts 1-2 tsp caster sugar Juice of one lemon Salt Wash and chop…