Few things are more handy to have in the fridge at Christmas for spontaneous lunches than a side of smoked salmon. I will be taking myself off to the fishmonger to make my purchase of a locally smoked side before Christmas, that is for sure. Lovely as smoked salmon is I adore the freshness…
Lunch
Herby Courgette & Feta Tart
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reacquainting myself with my vegetable plot this year having given it a wide berth for a while, why you ask? Frustrated to say the least with the battle of copious slugs and French partridge! Time is a great healer and a little more giving these days which has definitely helped. Courgettes are…
Tomato & Mascarpone Tart
Last week was rather higgledey-piggledey and a little stressful, it felt like I hadn’t stopped. That is why I decided Sunday was a complete day of rest, spent in the garden. I rusted up a salad, bought some cheese, concocted a few dips and made this tomato and mascarpone tart. It was a scrumptious lunch…
Pea & Dill Cakes with Beetroot Yogurt
It’s almost that time of year when we are besieged by green vegetables. After a few years off planting in my little kitchen garden, I’ve taken an almighty leap and sown all my veggie beds. Many are still tiny shoots but I eagerly anticipate harvesting courgettes, carrots, beetroot, kale, Swiss chard and peas. Assuming (the…
Turmeric Houmous with Lightly Pickled Beetroot & Spelt Flatbreads
I can’t remember when I first tasted houmous but I do remember loving the garlicky chickpea dip. Once upon a time in the West it was an ethnic delicacy with a hippy following, now its available in every supermarket! This ancient peasant dish – the authentic version contains chickpeas, mashed and flavoured with sesame seed…
Spanakopita – Greek Spinach & Feta Pie
This spinach pie, is a Greek classic: made from dark leafy greens and salty feta cheese, enclosed in several layers of perfectly crisp, flakey filo pastry. If you’ve never tried it before you’re in for a treat. Delicious hot or cold, perfect to serve vegetarians and suitable for lunch or a light dinner. I like…
Cauliflower Cheese Tart
This was ‘I don’t know where the day has gone and I haven’t planned dinner kind of meal’. In fact I raided the fridge in desperation only to find cauliflower, spinach leaves and cheddar cheese to work with. (I always try to buy vegetables in season and cauliflower is superb at the moment). As a…
Sri Lankan Dhal and Chapatis
With beautiful golden beaches lined with palm trees, tea plantations nestled on misty mountain tops, bustling traffic packed cities, tuk-tuks, elephants, bananas and coconuts. Sri Lanka has so much to offer. We visited the cultural triangle between Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla, it has a profusion of wildlife, exotic plants and World Heritage Sites. The palace…
Smoked Haddock Fishcakes with Lemon Butter Sauce
Having experienced an incredible trip to Sri Lanka and arriving back in the UK in March, Spring and my birthday month, happy days! Our holiday was amazing, the food utterly delicious and the people so warm and welcoming. More on this when I post a few recipes from my time working with a Sri Lankan…
Spiced Lemon Chicken Wraps
I can’t describe myself as a vegetarian but by and large I steer away from meat when I think about what to prepare for our supper. Every now and then however I go through periods of eating meat more regularly. One of our family favourites is roast chicken, free range from my local farm, it’s…
