Bruschetta with tomatoes and basil

After watching ‘Julie and Julia’ for the millionth time I really wanted to munch on the tomato bruschetta that features in one scene, but having found the recipe I decided that I needed to amend it a little as I’m not the biggest fan of cold tomatoes, esp when paired with something warm. So I… Continue reading Bruschetta with tomatoes and basil

Halloumi with honey + lemon

This could not be simpler to make, and is seriously the best way to start an evening in the sunshine. Or an afternoon BBQ. Or when you can’t find anything in the fridge bar a block of halloumi, a lemon, and some salad. Or just because. A bit of marinating, a bit of frying (in… Continue reading Halloumi with honey + lemon

Baked feta pasta

No, I don’t use TikTok, but yes, this is the viral pasta dish that was seemingly everywhere last year. I resisted for a while then caved in and gave it a whirl after it chased me around Instagram for months and months – turns out it’s excellent, super easy peasy, and has become a mid-week… Continue reading Baked feta pasta

Marmalade

My mother makes marmalade every year, but as The Husband and The Teen don’t like it (more fool them) I’ve never made my own. However this year I ventured into those unknown waters and discovered what will now be What I Do Each January from here on. It’s easier than I anticipated, especially if you… Continue reading Marmalade

Mexican chicken soup with bean quesadillas

Or, as we like to call it, the Midweek Mexican. Leftover roast chicken works a treat here, and the rest pretty much comes out of your cupboard and fridge so this can be whipped up in a relative jiffy (assuming you have some limes in your fruit bowl) because the two things can be made… Continue reading Mexican chicken soup with bean quesadillas

Cauliflower cheese

The clocks have gone back, every leaf from miles around seems to be dropping in our garden, and I’m wearing a coat to walk the dog – Autumn is officially here, and cauliflower cheese is exactly what I want to eat. Surely the sheer quantity of vegetable here counterbalances the vast amount of cheese involved,… Continue reading Cauliflower cheese

Satay mushrooms

You are going to have to trust me when I say that This Is Amazing. The Teen refuses to eat it because she simply will not entertain the idea of eating mushrooms, but The Husband and I have been eating these satay mushrooms as often as possible because they are unbelievably tasty and feel actually… Continue reading Satay mushrooms

Mushroom Risotto

I love standing in the kitchen stirring a risotto, it’s comfort cooking resulting in comfort food. A glass of wine and some family or friends to chat with while I do the standing and stirring element is all that’s required to make me really happy. There’s nothing technically difficult with a risotto, you just have… Continue reading Mushroom Risotto

Blackberry jam

It’s blackberry season in the UK, so I seem to return from almost every woofer walk clutching a bag full of juicy ripe fruit and sticky fingers. Even The Teen enjoys a spot of blackberry picking which has meant that we’ve had some lovely long walks together, followed by me bubbling up a jammy storm… Continue reading Blackberry jam

Aubergines with soy + Thai basil

Just when I thought that having a Turkish father meant that I’d tried aubergines in almost every way possible, along comes this brilliant Vietnamese Soy + Thai basil recipe from Uyen Luu. Steaming the aubergines before frying them means that they are incredibly soft and actually don’t absorb every drop of oil in the world… Continue reading Aubergines with soy + Thai basil