Hay Baked Jerusalem Artichoke and Smoked Cream Salad

This recipe is dedicated to John Lawson, Abi’s dad and a Lincolnshire farmer. He sent me a couple of large bags of freshly dug Jerusalem artichokes and I found it…

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) …

Goji berry and Yacon Muesli Muffins

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but one I ignore most of the time…completely! I’m normally way to busy and it’s pretty early,…

Momofuku’s Pork Buns Recreated by The British Larder

I have not been this excited about a book for a very long time! I always try to be enthusiastic and promise myself to read them as soon as they…

Prawn Coconut Laksa

Recently I inadvertently came across Rick Steins Far Eastern Odyssey but to be honest I do not like watching him cook as I find it a bit cringe worthy at…

Fresh Cranberry and Chestnut Cantucci

I cannot believe it’s already November, where has the year gone? I have to start making plans for Christmas and have actually been developing Christmas recipes for months but  this…

Reminiscing About El Bulli Menu 2009…Salted Peanut and Corn Snow Wafers

I have a special affection for Spain, I feel truly at home when I’m there. They have exceptional food, brilliantly jaw dropping innovative chefs, fantastic architecture, art, produce and wine.

Last…

Schezuan Pear Broth with Mackerel Dumplings

This dish is different and rather unusual. Combining pears with mackerel might not sound like an obvious pairing but it works remarkably well.

I made a broth using British conference pears…

Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Fermented Black Beans and Soba Noodles

With the colder days all I want to do is eat, which is definitely no good for the waistline nor for my wardrobe. To stay away from the temptation, I…

Damson Parfait with Olive Oil and Thyme Sable

This recipe is dedicated to UK  Thermomix as featured in the Yes Chef Magazine October 2009.

I have had the privilege to use the previous models of the Thermomix in the superb professional…

Banana and White Chocolate Cupcakes with Magical Glittering Cream Cheese Frosting

Four lonely bananas have been lying in the fruit bowl for two weeks now. I’m feeling way too guilty to throw them in the food bin so I  had better…

Orange and Honey Caramelised Brussels Sprouts

You might have thought that either Christmas has come early this year or I have completely gone crazy. No, no, neither is correct. I thought it’s about time that we…

Forest Cappuccino with Beefsteak Mushroom Croustades

This recipe is made from the leftovers from our wild food foraging day with Food Safari. It’s amazing how much free food there is actually  to collect out there, but…

Pheasant Forestiere with Wilted Wild Watercress

Saturday the 24th October 2009 was marked in my calendar with big red letters. A few of us like minded foodies booked a day’s wild food foraging with Polly from…

Sautéed Cod with Textures of Jerusalem Artichokes

Crisp, crunchy and soft; cold and warm describes the textures of this dish. Cod is a flaky soft but fairly neutral flavoured fish and goes very well with vegetables with…

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…

Pulled Pork and Pumpkin Pies perfect for Halloween

It was a bright and beautiful autumn day, perfect for a walk and picnic in the forest. I made these delicious pulled pork and pumpkin pies, packed my metal lunch…

Hearty Cavolo Nero, Borlotti Bean and Smoked Bacon Soup

The combination of cabbage, bacon and beans is very familiar to me. I actually hated it when I was younger working in a top London restaurant. The cabbage hearts along…

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…

Guinea Fowl with Cep Butter and Creamed Brussels Sprouts

Roasted guinea fowl, sauteed ceps and creamed Brussels sprouts…..that’s what dreams are made of! We are in the heart of autumn, the trees  have the most glorious colours of burnt…

Sauteed Cavolo Nero and Caramelized Chervil Root with Ewes Milk Cheese Shavings

Warm winter and autumn salads are a terrific substitute for the lighter leafier ones that we loved so much during the summer. I can eat salad all year long and…

Creamy Parsnip Soup with Red Leg Partridge Sausage Rolls

The game season is now well under way and so is Autumn. It’s a fantastic time of the year especially the combination of game,the earthy root vegetables and the amazing…

Twice Baked Quince and Hazelnut Crumble with Quince Custard

This is a pretty humble dish in itself  but the kind of dessert  that would be perfect to round off a lovely family Sunday roast with all the trimmings. It’s…

Venison and Butternut Squash Canapes with Fried Quails Eggs

This recipe is another Aldeburgh Food Festival inspired dish and utilises the leftovers from the venison mince that I bought that day. I love the Aldeburgh food festival as it has…

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 tomato…

Chocolate and Amaretti Torte with a Divine Chocolate Frosting

The recipe for this chocolate and amaretti torte with a divine chocolate frosting could not have come at a better time than during the national Chocolate Week 2009. I am…

Wild Boar Bacon and Lemon Thyme Popcorn – My Tribute to Partick Swayze

This recipe is a bit of fun and yummy at the same time! The perfect Saturday afternoon recipe when you have  time on your hands, the weather is uninspiring and…

Venison and Smoked Pancetta Meatballs with Curly Kale and Parsnip Mash; Red Onion Gravy

Autumn is well and truly upon us and it’s time to indulge in the hearty and homely dishes that makes this season that little bit more interesting.The Game season has…

One £10 Chicken Three Meals – Part Three

Chicken Noodle Soup

There is something rather magical about chicken noodle soup, a feeling that’s it’s all going to be just fine. Did your mum give you chicken noodle soup when…

Marshmallow, Cardamom and Bitter Chocolate Naughty Dunkers

These marshmallow, cardamom and bitter chocolate naughty dunkers are a bit of fun! It’s very simple and easy to make, but the guilty pleasure it provides is irresistible.

I dunk the…

Slow Cooked Hens Eggs with Crispy Bread Sticks

The perfect breakfast to savour on a bright Sunday morning with the morning paper and a cup of freshly brewed coffee. What better way is there to start the day?

Have…

Chocolate Salami

It’s just a little bit of fun!

There is no raw meat and no baking involved. It’s a fairly simple recipe and I’m sure you would have tried something similar at…

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 and…

Soufflé Orange Tapioca Cream

I was horrified to hear the  negative comments from the general public on tapioca pudding.

Last week I was doing a cooking demonstration to a group of ladies who all remember…

Slow Cooked Duck Leg with Sweet Tamarind Pickled Rhubarb

The outdoor rhubarb season is in full swing. The combination of rhubarb with duck is a match made in heaven.

I have made the pickled rhubarb twice ,once with forced rhubarb…

Giant Cocoa and Cinnamon Meringues

These giant meringues take me back to the Millennium when I lived in Fulham. Most Sunday mornings I used to walk down Fulham Road towards Sloane Square to have breakfast…

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 tell…

Date Slice with Earl Grey Tea Bananas and Stem Ginger Ice Cream

Sticky toffee pudding is as British as British could be.

I have eaten many sticky toffee puddings in my lifetime and have found that more than once the texture is heavy,…

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 of…

Crusty Bread Sticks

This recipe is a follow on to the farmhouse white loaf recipe inspired by Richard Bertinet. I have used exactly the same bread dough and the same method, however I…

Buttermilk Pudding with Blood Oranges

When I received an invitation to spend a morning in the pastry section of Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair with head pastry chef Fabien Ecuvillon I was delighted. Fabien…

Farmhouse White Loaf

Baking bread is nothing new to me. My aunt lives on a farm and bakes bread everyday. As a child I loved visiting the farm, one of the very familiar…

Roasted Cardamom Panacotta with Stewed Rhubarb

This roasted cardamom panacotta with stewed rhubarb is exactly what the British Larder is all about. The combination of flavours, textures and unusual methods is a sheer delight.

Sophistication with a…

Sweet and Sour Pigs Cheeks

Yum yum is the thought that spring to mind when thinking about these lip smacking delicious little gems. Packed with natural gelatine, and when cooked for a few hours they…

Pot Roast Pork Belly

I love pork and only buy British pork. It does make me angry when I see supermarkets stocking pork from alternative origins. I can’t understand the reasoning behind it as…

Crispy Celeriac Gnocchi with Watercress Cream

Making Gnocchi like an Italian mama is an art in itself. I have gone one step further and used celeriac instead of traditional potatoes. I guess that the Italian Mamas…

Roasted Fennel Salad with Ras-el-Hanout Dressing

Walking through Borough market is truly inspirational. The different cultures, seasons and aromas draw you into this wonder world of food, it spits you out at the other end half…

Coq-Au-Vin with Parsnip Cream

Coq-au-vin is an old classic and one of my favourites. The beauty about this  dish is that it can be cooked in so many ways and  presented in various styles…

Maple Glazed Parsnip and Israeli Couscous Salad

The vibrant colour of this maple glazed parsnip and Israeli couscous salad attracts a lot of attention around the dinner table. Israeli couscous might be an unusual ingredient for some…

The Ultimate Cottage Pie

The inspiration for this dish came from my very first couple of weeks working in contract catering. At first, the change  from restaurants to the contract catering world was fierce…

Celeriac Espuma with Ras-el-Hanout Steamed Tiger Prawns

This delightful Celeriac Espuma with Ras-el-Hanout Steamed Tiger Prawns makes a perfect amuse bouche or canapé to tickle your taste buds and keep your guests very happy. I love every…

Fine Pear Tart

I’m very excited about this fine pear tart.Firstly I had made a fresh batch of rough puff pastry and was very pleased with myself. Secondly I have finally followed a…

Gorgonzola and Smoked Bacon Polenta Breakfast Muffins

The warm aroma  of melting cheese mixed with smoky bacon is enough to make anyone salivate. There is something magical about these Gorgonzola and smoked bacon breakfast muffins. The tiny…

Conference Pears Under Pressure

The inspiration for this recipe came from the book ‘ Under Pressure’ by Thomas Keller. I love this recipe for many reasons, one of which is that the pears do…

Quince Brule Tarts

Quinces were introduced to Britain during the late 16th century from the Mediterranean. It made its appearance at the end of a large banquet, as it  helped with the digestion…

Banana and Date Loaf

Inhale a deep breath of air; the aroma of freshly baked Banana and Date Loaf caresses your nose and all your senses. My mouth starts to water and the memories…

The Celebration of the Pigs Cheeks

Ever thought of eating pigs cheeks? If the thought ‘oh no not for me’  enters your mind then I advise you to think again. Once we cooked this dish, Ross’s…

Funky Bircher Muesli

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Oats and whole grains are perfect as they release energy slowly. The attraction for this recipe is that there is no…

Pork Belly Croquettes with Roasted Corn Cream

Pork Belly is food for the gods in our home.

I use the sous-vide cooking method for this recipe of Pork Belly Croquettes . It does take 12 hours but is…

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…

Jerusalem Artichoke and Haricot Bean Soup

This Jerusalem artichoke and haricot bean soup is rich, velvety and highly perfumed. The distinctive perfume of the Jerusalem artichoke is not everyone’s cup of tea but it certainly makes…

Vanilla Sous-Vide Rhubarb

Tender stem forced Yorkshire rhubarb is definitely recommended for this recipe. The soft pastel pink colour is trapped in the young skin of the forced rhubarb. If  the rhubarb is…

Catherine’s Ultimate Very Chocolaty Brownies

Chocolaty, gooey, deliciously rich is the only way to describe Catherine’s ultimate very chocolaty brownies. A few months ago the whole support team at work took part in a cooking…

Vinegar Air and Salty Crispy Potatoes

The inspiration for this recipe came from Daniel Clifford the chef at  the Midsummer House restaurant in Cambridge. We went there  for  lunch and were served a delicious canape of vinegar…

Quince Curd

Quinces are one of those rather romantic fruits, it’s speculated that these fruits were used as an aphrodisiac in the early days and with its appearance one could see why.…

Russet Apple Compote

Russet apples are a naturally highly scented apple with a leathery skin. The scent of the russet reminds me of toasted hazelnuts. The Victorians liked to use the russets in…

Mini Cinnamon and Apple Whirls

Breakfast or afternoon tea will be a perfect time to enjoy these Mini Cinnamon and Apple Whirls. The Russet Apple Compote is a recipe that I have prepared and kept…

Tamarind Pickled Rhubarb and Redcurrants

Sous-vide cooking has brought a lot of joy to me. I love to discover and experiment with new ingredients and equipment.I received the water bath as a gift from Ross …

Cumin Roasted Butternut Squash and Cracked Wheat Soup

Choosing the right butternut squash has always been an important and precise task for my mother. It has to be elongated with the smallest seed cavity as possible. She believes…

Spiced Red Lentil Soup

The fragrant but subtle tones of the spices and herbs make this soup incredibly moreish. I love the natural vibrant orange red colour which is bright enough to make a…

Wild Hedgerow Apple Jelly

Visiting the in- laws and walking Duke the Labrador puppy on Christmas day was an experience in itself. We came across a wild apple tree that had just about dropped…

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 …

Pastry Cream

Every time I make pastry cream or as it is better known – Crème Patissiere, it takes me back in time. As a young chef in Paris, I use to…

Date and Rum Bon Bons

Naughty but nice comes to mind when I make these Date and Rum Bon Bons. They do remind me of Christmas with their alcoholic kick and the fruity fudgy texture…

Chocolate Fudge Spread

Yum, yum I love this recipe!! It’s brilliant, no additives or preservatives. This chocolate fudge spread recipe takes pride of place amongst my recipe collection. Mum gave it to me,…

Cauliflower and Shallot Piccalilli

Piccalilli is the king of the pickles. Once a year in a rather ceremonial fashion there is an official piccalilli making date in our household calendar.This occurs just before Christmas…

Pheasant, Aegean Prune, Girolle & Chestnut Pie

The Game season and autumn is in full swing. The joys of walking in the woods on a crisp autumn day, seeing the chestnuts falling from the trees and a…