Sunday supermarket shopping means plenty of bargains – this week, filled the freezer with fish.  So cod for tea and as the August rain lashed horizontally at the windows I felt the need for something warm and comforting.  Any flakey/smoked fish would work with this.  Start by putting the oven on to warm up to […]

I had an email from Sainsbury’s – would I like to try some black garlic? Never heard of it, but too curious to resist an offer like that – it’s aged white garlic and according to the pack has a ‘molasses-balsamic flavour’. That sweetness and mellowness would go well with my go-to soup recipe – […]

Sprout, chicken and pecrorino winter salad (M&S recipe) – perfect for post-Christmas as it’s light but also would be ideal for using leftover turkey, cheese, nuts and sprouts.

Two things coincided to make me tackle a simplified version of this Italian classic – it featured on the brilliant Jamie’s Comfort Food and a box of lovely SO Organic goodies arrived from Sainsbury’s for me to try including arborio rice, Pinot Grigio and Balsamic vinegar. So I was all set for a saffron risotto […]

It’s past the season for casseroles really, but with its chorizo, lemon and parsley this stew is light enough for a long sunny evening. And there are few dishes which aren’t improved by the addition of some fried chorizo. There are only  a few main ingredients and minimal preparation required. Start with the cubed beef – put […]

Considering how often I cook meatballs, it’s a surprise even to me that I’ve never made lamb koftas. I’ll always order them off a menu and so I went hunting online for some recipes – this is a mix of several. First either finely chop or food-processor half an onion, a clove of garlic and […]

You can’t beat a one-pot stew for a swift and simple midweek tea. This one is based on a BBC Good Food recipe which I played about with cos I didn’t have half the ingredients (who keeps chipotle paste in the store cupboard?!) It was warming, spicy, smokey and a bit sweet which is why […]

There was a brisket joint at the butchers last week – it was cheap, looked good and with a Bank Holiday looming, I figured it was bound to be slow-cooking weather. So in the inevitable pissing rain, I  went searching for a recipe this morning. I’ve never cooked it before and my only real reference point was […]

You know how The Colonel has a secret blend of spices for his fried chicken – well, I’ve got one too. Only it’s not a secret because I’m about to share it. I use it for traditional ‘Southern Fried’ coating for fish, chicken, turkey or fish. Recently I’ve taken to doing a final coat of panko […]

This is 20 minute tea that came about from a Friday-night need for something quick to cook with fish. It’s mostly ‘store cupboard’ ingredients too which helps in a busy week. I used a smoked haddock fillet (a favourite at the moment) but I’d make this with cod or coley too I think. Maybe even a […]