A Rustic Apple and Almond Cake

This wonderfully rustic and fail-safe cake is thanks to Mary Berry, I just add more apple. Delicious served warm with a scoop of ice-cream or at room temperature with some thick Jersey cream. Preheat oven to 180C. Grease a loose bottomed 20cm cake tin and line the bottom with parchment. Use a large bowl to…

Fragrant Chicken Noodle Soup

(Serves 4-6) Chilli, turmeric and ginger add extra goodness to this fragrant soup. The base freezes well, like a frozen first add kit for menacing lurgies that coincide with the cooler climate. Bring 3 litres of good quality chicken stock to a boil in a large pan then place in a chicken (about 1.5kg) and…

Roasted Aubergine, Basil and Caramelised Onion Pasta

They call aubergine the poor mans meat, or is it the vegetarians gold? I love this recipe, it’s velvety, creamy, economical and beautifully simple. Heat oven to 180C. Slice 2 aubergines lengthways and use a knife to score through the flesh in a criss-cross pattern close to the skin. Drizzle with oil and bake for…

Cherry Clafoutis

(Serves 4-6) The perfect dessert for August, to make the most of the cherries before they disappear for another year. Use apricots, peaches or blueberries if you’d prefer, all work well. Feel free to leave the stones in the cherries, some say this adds to the flavour. Heat oven to 180C, stone 500g cherries and…

Pizza Bianca

(Makes 2 large or 4 small pizzas) This no-knead pizza dough recipe is one of my absolute favourites. It’s a good late summer dish, as the warmth of the sun aids the rise of the dough. Personally, I leave for a minimum of 24 hrs and for anything up to 48, depending on the warmth…

Baked Peaches with Amaretti and Vanilla Mascarpone

If I had my little way, I’d eat peaches every day, but imported peaches do not compare to those picked at their peak and July is the perfect time to indulge in these juicy morsels. The flavours in this dish are so well matched that it’s a wonder how amaretti and vanilla don’t grow on…

Lamb Kofte

Lamb Kofte (Makes about 12 sausage sized kofte) Kofte go well with so many other ingredients so designing a menu plan is easy for a social gathering. You could marinate some feta in advance in jars, make an array of dips (humous, tzatziki, baba ganoush), serve it alongside Greek salads, tabouleh, olives, pestos and finally,…

Crab Linguine

It’s a great shame that 95% of our crab is exported to Europe. It seems we are depriving ourselves of exceptional national produce (possibly seeing it as special occasion/holiday fodder), rather than relishing it as island dwellers with all sorts of seafood on our doorstep. Now is the perfect season for eating crab, this recipe…

Persian Love Cake

Like a nutty grandma, everybody needs a slice of this cake in their life. The crème fraiche is critical when serving as it cuts through the sweet nuttiness, accomplishing perfect harmony. Feel free to add rose water or play around with spices, if this is your thing. I added edible rose petals to the top…

Pork Larb in Lettuce Cups

I love this quick and simple recipe. It’s great as a canapé, main with sticky rice and green papaya salad or as part of a South-east Asian inspired banquet. I last made these with asian fish cakes and prawn toasts which all go well with sweet and sour dip and satay so everyone could mix…

Summer Broad Bean Mint and Pancetta Pasta

(Serves 2) This recipe is a picnic to make, it’s worth taking the time to remove the beans from their skins (unless you can get them super-fresh). Refreshingly seasonal and nutritional and having made it once, I’m sure you’ll make it again. Choose crisp-looking un-withered pods at your local farmers market this month, or better still, pick…

Strawberries with Raspberry Cream and Amaretti

My mum has made this for as long as I can remember, a great ‘back pocket’ recipe that has saved me and famed me at many summer gatherings. A great way to flaunt great summer produce having PYO, I recommend a strawberry huller to save your fingers.Tip – Double the coulis quantity and keep some for…

Sticky Pork Loin

I think pork loin is underrated, it’s tender, easy to prepare and penny-wise. This marinade is comprised of pantry staples (with the addition of fresh ginger) and tastes incredibly good! I serve this with steamed rice or noodles tossed in sesame oil and sprouting broccoli or inside bahn mi with pickled veg and coriander. *Tip…

Lemon Polenta Cake

I absolutely love this cake, its ridiculously simple to make and really packs a lemon punch, stays moist for days and never fails. Tip – This can be made gluten free by either omitting the baking powder (and whisking exuberantly at the last step) or using a gluten free variety. Extra tip – I sprinkled…

Super-Spicy Daal with Eggs and Spinach

I really love this recipe. It is packed with loads of nutritious ingredients, it’s filling, it’s protein, it’s cheap and it makes enough to feed a small army (freezes well so don’t worry).  Great to whip out if you come down with a sore throat and versatile too…. Serve as breakfast, brunch, as a side…

Bakewell Slice,Very Nice

I am an avid frangipane fan and try and sneak it into recipes all the time – apple cakes, crumbles, mince pies, it’s always a bonus rather than a defamer. Here I have showcased it in all its splendour with a scattering of fresh raspberries, a generous layer of jam and addition of a good…

Sweet Pepper, Cherry Tomato and Basil Oil Orecchiette

I am really happy to be posting this, as it’s really delicious and I feel safe having the recipe here as I will never lose it or forget about it. It’s one of the simplest pasta dishes there could possibly be and meat lovers – add pancetta or some other meaty morsel, it will also…