Last year during deepest, darkest lockdown I ordered a box of heirloom tomatoes from The Tomato Stall on the Isle of Wight. A far cry from the refrigerated packs of tomatoes available at the supermarket, these have so much flavour and taste of summer. What a revelation. We ate tomatoes in everything for almost anContinue reading “Heirloom Tomato Salad”
Category Archives: Ingredient Spotlight
Using up Leftover Chicken
I regard cold, cooked chicken as the reward for roasting one in the first place. Indeed, I often roast a larger-than-needed chicken just so I have the luxury of picking from it in the days ahead. If used thoughtfully, a whole chicken can feed two people at least three times – four, if you canContinue reading “Using up Leftover Chicken”
That Time I BBQ’d a Whole Trout
Cooking whole fish, on the BBQ – or otherwise – has always somewhat eluded me, and I expect it has for lots of other people, too. I wasn’t quite sure how to cook it (compared with the convenience of fillets seared in a pan or cooked under a broiler), was slightly squeamish at the ideaContinue reading “That Time I BBQ’d a Whole Trout”
Celebrating Cabbage
Cabbage may be deeply unfashionable, but I’m rooting for a comeback. It’s often the cheapest thing going in the produce aisle, they last forever in the fridge, are low calorie, full of vitamins, quick to prepare and extremely versatile. I started cooking with cabbage because one arrived in my vegetable box delivery at least onceContinue reading “Celebrating Cabbage”
In Praise of Make-Ahead Gravy
Jamie Oliver has brought many food-related joys into my life, and with the exception of that time I made his chicken liver pâté, he hasn’t let me down yet. Chief among his festive brain waves is his notion that we should all be making our Christmas gravy well ahead of time, freezing it, and simplyContinue reading “In Praise of Make-Ahead Gravy”
We Should All Be Eating Mussels
Mussels are one of my absolute favourite things to eat. They were actually the first thing I ever cooked for my (now) husband. He was dead impressed – and you will be, too. In addition to being really delicious, mussels have so much going for them. They’re cheap, elegant, easy and quick to cook, lowContinue reading “We Should All Be Eating Mussels”
That Time I Roasted a Pheasant
A Fowl Tale I live over the road from a lovely, old-fashioned English butcher. The men know me by name but call me Madam, and routinely inquire after “Sir”, my husband Tom. Utterly charming. Inside this butcher is a display that would delight any carnivore. Proper Tomahawk steaks, full ribs of beef, sliced to order,Continue reading “That Time I Roasted a Pheasant”
Oven-Dried Tomatoes
If you’re lucky enough to grow your own tomatoes, or you just happen to have a bunch of tomatoes lying around, this is a fantastic way to use them up. Use in pastas, bruschettas or as part of an antipasti platter. To make these, halve a bunch of cherry tomatoes and place in a bakingContinue reading “Oven-Dried Tomatoes”
Romanesco
Romanesco is an old species of vegetable, somewhere between cauliflower and broccoli in taste. Think of it as the heirloom tomato of the Brassica family. A real life expression of the Fibonacci pattern, its beauty and detail are truly spectacular. Does anyone else get this excited about a vegetable? The best way to eat thisContinue reading “Romanesco”
Runner Beans are in Season
Here’s how to prepare them… Top and tail the beans and run a vegetable peeler down the edge of the top and bottom, as shown. Cut the beans on the diagonal and boil in salted water for 5-6 minutes, until tender. Drizzle over a little olive oil and a pinch of salt.
