Courgette, Parmesan & Mint Fritters

I was looking through an almost 20-year-old Antonio Carluccio book of his favourite Italian recipes a few days ago and came across these courgette fritters that I remember making with my son – almost 20 years ago! I’m not sure why I haven’t made them since as I remember we loved them and they’re pretty […]

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Pasta with Cauliflower, Saffron, Chilli, Pine Nuts & Raisins

This is an adaptation of a Rick Stein recipe in his Long Weekends book. I’m particularly attached to this book (and the accompanying DVD of the TV series) at the moment, not only for its great and reliable recipes, but its subject: Long Weekends. Pre-Lockdown I’d become well practised at making the most of a […]

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Brussels Sprout, Chestnut & Black Garlic Risotto

There’s a lot of negativity around when it comes to using up Christmas leftovers. Of course, a simple solution is to cook less and not over cater; there were even reports in the media before Christmas of people being more careful not to buy and cook too much this year – a combination of frugality […]

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Glorious Grains & Roasted Vegetables – Three Ways

This is one of my regular midweek supper dishes, especially now autumn is here with its cooler evenings and I crave something comforting and warming in the evening once the night has drawn in and the temperature dropped. I’ve taken to using it for three meals as there’s far too much for one. Food shopping […]

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Tomato & Goats’ Cheese Tart

Travelling to beautiful places like Nice, as I did last weekend, where there’s the most wonderful food to be enjoyed, just has to be an inspiration once you’re back home in your own kitchen.  I thus decided to cook a Niçois meal for the family this evening. Tarte à la Tomate, along with pissaladière (onion […]

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Sumac Salmon with Saffron & Preserved Lemon Yoghurt and Griddled Vegetables

Having opened a new jar of preserved lemons for the recent bulgur recipe and a new pack of saffron for the risotto the other day, I needed to use them; not allow them the moulder and grow old so I end up throwing them away, as has happened before. They’re not ‘everyday’ things – unless you’re Ottolenghi […]

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Bulgur with Tomato, Aubergine & Preserved Lemon Yoghurt

This is an Ottolenghi recipe from his book, Simple. Ottolenghi + Simple are not two words I’d normally put together. His recipes often contain very long lists of ingredients and are quite complicated. However, I was completely addicted to his Jerusalem book when it first came out in 2012 and cooked from it endlessly. Some […]

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‘Carpaccio’ of Kohlrabi with Goats’ Cheese & Thyme

There’s been a discussion about kohlrabi amongst a food writers’ group I belong to over the past few days, so when I saw red kohlrabi in Wholefoods in Richmond this morning, well … it was impossible to resist buying some. I’ve actually put a couple of kohlrabi recipes on here before – with walnuts and […]

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Roasted Asparagus with Fried Eggs

I couldn’t resist a bunch of English asparagus in Waitrose a couple of days ago; it’s almost the end of the short season (April – June) and fresh English asparagus is so delicious. I decided to cook it this evening with some eggs. It’s become a habit of mine on Tuesday evenings, when I go […]

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Kale & Courgette Soup

If green food is good for us, soups don’t come much more nutritious than this gorgeous Kale & Courgette Soup. The kale was an instant buy in the little local Tesco that stocks quite a few organic things. I was actually looking for spinach but settled for kale. The pack of courgettes contained three large […]

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