I am a late comer to goat’s cheese, having been scarred by my first experience, which was an intensely smelly, fiercely flavoured french variety. However, I have been educating my palate to milder versions and now love a subtle, creamy, ash covered chevre. Mushrooms pair beautifully with it, as the cheese seems to enhance their…
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I first had a ‘crumbly’ cake at an afternoon tea hosted by a friend whose brother lived in Norway, and she made a traditional Scandinavian cake that was not too sweet and had a unique slightly crumbly texture. I loved it and have been trying for some time to create my own version from that…
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“Reader, I married him.” Jane Eyre My husband and I are soon to mark 25 years of marriage and one of the things I appreciate most about him is his unfailing support of my dreams and goals. He photographs most of the recipes for this blog in his spare time, and helps bring to life…
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Sticky, sweet and spicy lamb cutlets, with a slightly astringent dipping sauce is a perfect starter for a dinner with friends – good friends, who don’t mind slurping and eating with their fingers to get every last morsel off the bone. It tastes best if the lamb can be marinated for several hours, or even…
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Rich and unctuous, with a crispy crackling, pork belly is a spectacular dinner party dish and the pan fried apples and spiced sauce are wonderful partners. It’s important to cook the pork long and slow to help render out most of the fat, and end up with meltingly soft flesh. But then the last part…
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This is a new favourite of mine – only problem is that I am the sole prawn lover at our place. But then – no sharing required! I used tiger prawns, but you could use any variety of your choosing. The chilli, parsley and lemon zest are astonishingly simple ingredients, but together they are a…
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In my part of the world it is wintry, with cool, bright days, and chilly nights. This rich stew is perfect for this time of year. Tender beef and root vegetables, with undertones of smoky paprika, garlic and onions, and finished with the freshness of gremolata sprinkled over the top, it is only made better…
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Such a simple recipe title, but this dish is packed with spicy flavours and interesting textures that make it a complex and satisfying dish to eat. Don’t be put off by the list of ingredients – it takes only about 20 minutes from start to finish to make. Serves 4 2 cloves garlic 1 stalk…
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When Ewen and Elissa Macpherson of Symphony Hill wines asked me to create a recipe to go with their Moscato Giallo I was both flattered and excited. They are a couple who have lived out their passions and dreams, and make spectacular, award winning wines with great style and panache. Matching a wine to a dish…
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Huevos rancheros, or “ranch eggs” are Mexican in origin, and a simple and quite humble dish. But they taste terrific, especially with lots of delicious accompaniments such as dollops of sour cream, sprinklings of fresh coriander, chunks of smooth avocado and rounds of soft tortillas. They are also, we decided at our place, the perfect…
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Simple food 