These non-authentic focaccie make a tender-hearted snack ... Ingredients: For the dough: 10oz/285g plain flour, one sachet of dried yeast (7g), 150ml crème fraîche, about 30ml/2Tbsp olive oil, a little salt and some warm water. For the toppings: half a small pumpkin, one yellow pepper, one large red onion, one beefy tomato, balsamic vinegar, 75g/3oz …
Category: dinner
Joy’s lentil stew
My neighbour Joy is the kind of person who gives of herself utterly. Occasionally, she makes a big pot of something tasty and feeds family, neighbours, friends. The other night she knocked at my door with a still hot container of spicy-delicious lentils and roti. I have made no attempt to obtain the secrets of …
Cheesy potatoes
I was trying to remember whether this dish was called Pommes Dauphinois or Pommes au Gratin or something else when I realised it was just plain old cheesy potatoes, the sort we ate all the time when young. It varies from the classic French recipe because of incorporating a white sauce instead of only cream. …
Clafoutis
I don't know whether you like to run down the contents of your fridge until nothing is left save a bit of milk, crème fraîche, eggs and a drawer of sprouting potatoes? And then think what to make? But I find it stimulating. The following two or three recipes all feature these ingredients to some …
Mackerel stir fry
Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) are so much part of traditional Britain that they are used to name a type of cloud pattern - Mackerel sky. They can be caught off beaches and piers, like this one at Cromer. Mackerel popularity goes up and down - once used for bait and now a pretty trendy item, they …
Smoked haddock soup
I was checking to see when smoking fish became a thing. Several references to medieval Poland but surely it must go back further than that? This is another soup made from leftover bits and pieces. Definitely tastes better than its parts, a very warming bowl. It could be considered a chowder, or maybe a bisque? …
Lamb curry
So far this blog has suggested several vegetable curries - all go well with this rack of lamb. Or you could add a green salad - it's up to you! Ingredients: One rack of lamb. For the marinade: Half a teaspoon each of mustard, coriander and fenugreek seeds. The same of ground cumin. Several cloves, …
Butternut squash and turnip curry
Another simple vegetable curry, the sort of thing I don't get tired of eating: Ingredients: Half a butternut squash, one turnip, two red onions, one red pepper, one chilli, one tomato, a small handful of kale, another of red lentils, 1tsp of ground cumin, coriander and half of mustard seeds. Several cardamon pods, 1Tbsp oil …
Baked cabbage and bresaola pancakes
It's Pancake Day! Way back in June I was eating pancakes all the time because I had plenty of flour and no bread. You could just skip this post and go back to Operatic pancakes or Almost blinis if you prefer. But I thought I would make something a little different, something for a cold evening, something which does not require any finesse:
Roast beef with roots
I am not a natural when it comes to red meat. Anything beyond a stew or hot pot is a challenge. And I always overcook for the modern palate. But I had a decent rib of beef in the freezer, and it can't stay there that long. No potatoes or onions until I have finished …
Cooking for one 