Proper Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding

Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, crispy potatoes, rich gravy, spiky horseradish and classic vegetables is one of the great meals of the world. The joy of sitting with the ones you love, slowly devouring the feast (alongside several glasses of red wine) truly can’t be beaten. And while of course you can find terrific iterationsContinue reading “Proper Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding”

Chicken, Mushroom & Broccoli Bake

This dish reminds me of a dinner my mum used to make for me – she took an uncharacteristic shortcut and made hers with cream of broccoli soup, as I recall. For me, it is comfort and nostalgia on a plate. This version dispenses with the tin of soup, but I redress the balance byContinue reading “Chicken, Mushroom & Broccoli Bake”

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”

What I learned last Christmas

My husband and I hosted Christmas for the first time last year. In previous years I had always helped the hosts – obviously preparing food, and helping with lots of wrapping and decorating – but putting on the whole show unsupervised, as it were, was a different experience. And here’s what I learned. Do notContinue reading “What I learned last Christmas”

Roast Chicken and Homemade Gravy

Roasting a chicken is one of the easiest things in the world to cook, and what a payoff! I roast my chickens in a cast iron pan because it goes straight on the flame afterwards to make the gravy, but any stovetop-safe roasting tray that is large enough to hold your chicken will do. I’veContinue reading “Roast Chicken and Homemade Gravy”