The British Larder Inspirational recipe diary

Individual Square Rhubarb Tarts

Square is funky and fun. I love making these gorgeous looking rustic tarts. They always look attractive and catch the eye but I must confess the pretty pink forced rhubarb …

Pea and Slow Cooked Ham Tarts

As you have most probably gathered, we are pea fanatics, especially fresh new season garden peas from our own garden. Here is another pea delight that is delicious and perfect …

Oxtail and Roasted Onion Broth

Oxtail is a classic old British favourite and I found a recipe from 1922 in Mrs Beeton’s  New Edition cookery book. It is one of the forgotten cuts that should  …

Warm Ginger, Tamarind and Lime Flu Beater

I’m feeling pretty rotten this week. I have been struck down with the dreaded flu for four days and cannot stand it much longer.

My mum was kind enough to …

Pink Peppercorn Strawberry Jelly and Thyme Infused Honey Custard

Wow did I have fun making this dish today!

Thanks to Great British Menu last week featuring the Welsh heat with Stephen Terry and James Sommerin. Both their desserts reminded …

Wild Garlic and Goats Cheese Frittata

Driving through the Cotswolds  the smell of wild garlic smacks you in the face. I have this love hate relationship with wild garlic. It reminds me of the days when …

Confit Salmon, Pickled Ginger Celeriac, Haricot Beans

Boys and their toys!! OK I have to confess I also like kitchen tools, especially ones that do something slightly clever and out of the ordinary. Mr.P and the chefs …

Wholesome Pearl Barley and Beetroot Salad

Warm or cold;starter,main course or accompaniment, this recipe ticks all these boxes. It’s one of my favourite salads, it’s healthy and absolutely delicious. I make this dish in the summer …

Pistachio and Walnut Baklava with Rhubarb and Rose Delights

I love all the individual elements of this dish and think of them more as petite fours or sweets. I challenged myself to put them all together and make one …

Tufted Duck and Chicken Liver Parfait

Winter is settling in and the game season is well underway. Our deer friend and local game expert David Grimwood came bearing gifts, amongst the wonderful array of game was …

Dukkah Dusted Lamb Cutlets with Quinoa and Aubergine Salad

With  more daylight and the prospects of summer looming, this is enough to change my mindset and the way I think about food. It’s incredible but they say that most …

Braised Beef Rib Stroganoff, January King Cabbage and Carrot Crush

There is something really warming about eating good old classic recipes. I almost feel  nervous and get sweaty palms when I set myself the task of cooking an old kitchen …

Koeksisters

Earlier this month when I was challenged to cook for South African rugby players the nerves set in and to be honest I grabbed the phone and called my mother. …

Raw Salad of Fennel, Seville Orange, Chicory and Kohlrabi

It’s a new year and after lavish celebrations for both Christmas and New Year, it’s time to think twice about what I put on my dinner plate.

This raw salad …

Flame-Grilled Mackerel with Smoked Eel and Shiso

When Brett Graham invited me to visit him at the Ledbury in Notting Hill to share one of his signature dishes , I was truly honoured and incredibly excited.

Brett …

Finger Licking St.Peters Ruby Red Ale Sticky Pork Ribs

The wonderful sweet aroma of caramelised onions is filling the air. In the oven I have pork ribs cooking at 160°C for two and a half  hours  while I’m making …

Firecracker Roasted Pumpkin and Coconut Soup

It’s the beginning of  both a new year and decade. It’s certainly time to have deep clean, throw away the hoards of scrap paper with nonsensical squiggles, magazines from the …

Sweet & Sour Pickled Green Beans

Summer is the season of plenty. Surely there must be a few keen gardeners that will have a glut of something whether it’s beans, raspberries, plums or even courgettes. I …

Keralan Style Cod Loin En-Papillote with Crisp Citrus Keralan Slaw

Summer is on it’s way and I’m already starting to think of food for the BBQ. This dish sounds complicated but it’s not, it’s incredibly delicious and just right to …

Pear, Quail, Walnut and Stilton Salad

Well what can I say, Pear, Blue Cheese and Walnuts, the height of food fashion in the 60′s and 70′s. I deliberately pushed myself (or  alternatively tried to antagonise myself)  …

Crab Beignets with Fiery Apple Chutney

The days are getting shorter and the nights longer now, with most days being cooler and some having a decidedly chilly nip to them. The central heating is on and …

Medlar and Quince Jelly, Quince Curd and Garibaldi Biscuits

When Danny brought medlars for the first time I was absolutely flabbergasted. I had no idea what they look like, but strangely I guessed what they were. Medlars are the …

Pan-Fried John Dory with Cockles, Samphire and Cockle Velouté

This dish is Spring on a plate. I felt overcome with relief when I finally saw the blossoms covering the trees and the grass growing at the speed of light. …

Baked Potato and Leek Soup With Roasted Chicken Cigarillos

Where has the sun gone!?!? Just as the bank holiday approaches the sun disappears. The truth is that the weather people have a more sophisticated answer for what’s happening i.e.- …

Gooseberry Polenta Slice

Gooseberries and rhubarb never used to excite me. Only recently did I start to appreciate the British love affair with these tart seasonal delights. I have never thought that I …

Apple Snow, Warm Honey Madeleine

Autumn has finally settled in and our resident cherry tree has turned the most delicious shades of yellow, orange and copper. I watched autumn taking hold of this tree and …

Orford-Landed Seabass with Crispy Potatoes, Bacon and Sea Purslane

Orford is a fantastic place, getting to it is slightly tricky as it requires manoeuvring down a  narrow country lane but the “pot of gold at the end of the …

Kitchen Classic – Aubergine Parmigiana Made With My Own Home Grown Aubergines

I’m taking a serious risk today posting this traditional kitchen classic recipe Aubergine Parmigiana. As you all know I have had an exciting summer producing spectacular fruit and vegetables, some …

Mixed Spiced Ice Cream

The best kitchen gadget and the number one must have for 2009 is the phenomenal Thermomix. There is very little that this machine wonder cannot do in the terms …

Date and Earl Grey Tea Madeleines with Muscavado Dip

I love Madeleines and always call them mini Me’s. Fabien my pastry chef friend always makes lemon Madeleines for me as a little treat.

I’m pretty pleased with this date …

Confit Carrot Arancini Canapes with Roasted Carrot Houmous

Congratulations to Maria Elia for writing The Modern Vegetarian cookbook. It’s beautiful and truly outstanding. A few weeks ago I went to a cooking demonstration hosted by Maria to …

Pheasant Ravioli with a Chestnut Sauce and Curly Kale Pesto

It’s amazing the lovely colours that we can still achieve even in the heart of winter. I always used to  imagine and think that winter food was dull, heavy and …

Honey, Plum and Blackberry Jelly with Plum Sorbet

Autumn has arrived and we have already had our fair share of rain showers and cold nights. The central heating has been turned on in the pub and I’m not …

Pan-Fried Mackerel; Smoked Mackerel Cakes and Tomato Salad

This exceptionally good looking fish with its shiny blue and silver skin is classed as a humble creature from the sea. It’s not only sustainable but this oily fish is …

Victoria Plum and Blackberry Frozen Ice Cream Slices

The signs of autumn are in the air. The mornings are crisp and the sun is reluctant to show it’s face. I definitely feel the change in the season as …

Turkish Inspired Aubergine Soup with Dry Toasted Almonds

It’s a sombre grey wet and grim looking day, secretly I’m very pleased that the rain has finally arrived. The forest is dry and my garden is suffering too.

My …

Asparagus Soup with Crisp Asparagus Rolls

A few weeks ago Mr.P and I went to spend a night in Nine Elms….. No it’s no horror story, no ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ but it was actually a …

Lunch by Brett Graham, The Ledbury

As we had a little break we wanted to make the most of every day. Crazy how fast time flies when you are having fun!

So on the first available …

Jerusalem Artichoke and Roasted Garlic Soup

When Abigail Lawson joined our chef’s team I was sceptical at first as she had just recently graduated from Leiths. I have old fashioned views on how a cook should …

Pig’s Head Croquettes

This year marks a leap year and on the 29th of February we hosted a brand new concept and unique event; the Dingley Dell Flying Visit. Mark Hayward spends …