All Recipes

Nature's Larder It's about this time of year in Somerset that Bramley apples have a habit of appearing on doorsteps .. less cherry knocking, more apple knocking. You certainly can't walk through a Somerset village at this time of year without tripping over a box of Bramley apples. Left hopefully outside a gate with a little handwritten note inviting you to take a few, they're one of my favourite signs that the seasons are beginning to shift. This hearty potato salad is my wa

Some recipes begin with a shopping list ...This one began with a bucket of blackberries. The sort that arrive in a neighbour's hand with a smile and the words, "I thought you might like these." The sort that stain your fingertips purple before you've even reached the kitchen .. and those very blackberries became a delicious homemade curd, rich with a gentle sharpness and gloriously jewel coloured ( When Life Gives You Blackberries ... Make Blackberry Curd.) Generously spooned

A refreshing taste of summer beneath the apple trees ... There are some places that quietly become part of your story. For us, Wady's Cider Orchard and Taproom is one of them. On warm summer afternoons, it's one of our favourite places to escape for an hour or two. Sitting beneath the apple trees with a chilled drink in hand, watching the light filter through the orchard, you can't help but slow down. There's something wonderfully simple about it all ... the scent of apples

They say when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade ... But every now and then, life has other plans ... Not long ago, I mentioned to my husband that we really ought to go blackberry picking. I had a craving to make a blackberry curd and imagined an afternoon spent wandering the hedgerows, returning home with purple-stained fingers and enough berries to fill a basket. About twenty minutes later, there was a quiet knock at the door, and on the doorstep sat a generous

A crisp caramel brittle for scattering over ice cream, cakes and puddings. There always seems to be a handful of nuts left in the cupboard. Half a packet of hazelnuts, a few lonely walnuts, the last spoonful of pumpkin seeds. Not quite enough of anything to make a recipe ... but together? They're perfect for nut brittle. This is one of those wonderfully forgiving recipes that changes every time you make it. Use whatever nuts and seeds need using up, provided they roughly fil

A rich no-churn ice cream with toasted brown butter, a splash of bourbon, maple syrup and homemade brittle. There are recipes you set out to make ... and then there are recipes that simply appear because your curiosity gets the better of you. This one began with a pan of butter, not for toast, not for baking. Just because I wanted to watch it transform. As it melted, the butter slowly turned from pale yellow to liquid gold. Tiny milk solids settled on the bottom of the pan

The Black Nebula Spritz ... An elegant aperitif inspired by a heritage carrot, an old family recipe and a neighbour's garden. Some recipes begin with a carefully planned shopping list, The Black Nebula Spritz begin with a message from a neighbour ... Whenever Beverley invites me round to try something from her garden, I know I'm in for something a little out of the ordinary. This week, she shared a photograph of freshly pulled Black Nebula carrots on Facebook and casually ann

A silky tomato soup made with cupboard staples ... There are recipes that are planned for days, and then there are recipes that appear because it's lunchtime, you're hungry, and the cupboard happens to be well stocked. This Creamy Vegan Tomato & Butter Bean Soup belongs firmly in the second category. A tin of tomatoes. A tin of butter beans. A squeeze of tomato purée, a sprinkle of smoked paprika, a generous shake of spicy garlic Italian seasoning and enough vegetable stock

A Somerset Fairy Tale (With a Cocktail at the End) Are you sitting comfortably? Then we shall begin... Every fairy tale contains an element of truth. As with all stories handed down through the years, however, they have a habit of acquiring a little extra sparkle in the retelling. Such is the tale of the Fig Leaf & Gooseberry Spritz. And like every good story ... Every recipe has a beginning. Sometimes it's a scribbled idea in a notebook. Sometimes it's inspired by a memora

The drink I nearly didn't make ... This drink almost never existed, but then ... While making my Blackberry & Mangelwurzel Jelly ( Deliciously Unique Blackberry and Mangelwurzel Jelly Recipe to Try ), I found myself standing over a pan of the most beautiful ruby-red juice I'd ever made. It seemed almost criminal to watch every last drop disappear into the preserving pan. So I quietly poured 100ml into a jug. No plan. No recipe. Just curiosity. What followed was one of those

How an old-fashioned root vegetable became my favourite preserve of the summer ... Some recipes arrive with months of planning. Others arrive in the hands of a neighbour carrying a rather extraordinary vegetable. When I was given mangelwurzels ahead of village Mangelwurzel celebrations, I'll admit I wasn't entirely sure where to begin. Most people know them as livestock feed, not something destined for toast or afternoon tea. But curiosity has always been my favourite ingre

"Sometimes the best recipes begin before you've even stepped into the kitchen." When I arrived to collect a basket of mangelwurzels for our village's Great Polden Mangelwurzel Off, they were spread out across the lawn waiting to be admired. Some were red, some golden yellow, all wonderfully wonky and full of character. Standing there, I expected to be planning soups, salads or something savoury. Instead, my first thought was... Orange. White chocolate. Hazelnuts. I couldn't e

"Sometimes the most interesting ingredients aren't the ones shouting the loudest." When I first brought home a basket of mangelwurzels for our village's Great Polden Mangelwurzel Off, I have to admit, I was a little underwhelmed. They weren't the jewel-like reds of beetroot or the sunshine yellows of squash I'd imagined. They were... quiet. My first instinct was to chase colour. How could I brighten them? Should I add the red stems? The leaves? More herbs? More drama? Then,

This Italian Sausage Kale and Tortellini Soup is hearty, comforting and apparently capable of converting kale sceptics ... There are some recipes that receive a warm reception when they arrive at the table. This was not one of them ... When I announced that dinner was Italian Sausage, Kale & Tortellini Soup, my husband looked deeply suspicious. He has long suspected that many of my recipes are simply elaborate vehicles for getting more kale onto the table ... To be fair, he i

What started as a simple tray of tortilla chips quickly became something altogether more interesting, I give to you my Smokery Nachos Topped with Apple Sage and Smoky Onion Chutney ... These aren't delicate nachos. They're generous, slightly over-the-top, and designed for sharing ... Smoked chicken, smoked sausage, melted brie, smoky onion chutney, crisp apple and fresh sage may sound like unlikely companions, but together they create that magical balance of sweet, savoury, s

Fig Kale & Goat's Cheese Salad ... A salad that proves leafy greens can be the star of the table There are some recipes that are planned meticulously, and others that come together because a few good ingredients happen to cross paths at the right moment. This salad falls firmly into the second category. The idea began with fresh figs and a bunch of kale that needed using. The addition of creamy goat's cheese felt obvious, but it was the savoury granola that transformed it fro

There are some meals that start with a recipe and others that start with a craving. These tacos fall firmly into the second category. I wanted something colourful, comforting and packed with flavour, but still fresh enough for a warm evening. Roasted sweet potato brings sweetness, cauliflower adds a little bite, black beans provide substance, and kale brings a welcome earthiness. Tucked into soft tortillas and drizzled with a smoky chipotle sour cream, they're the sort of tac

If you find yourself with an abundance of courgettes and want a fresh, light dish that captures the essence of summer, this goats cheese and courgette tart is an excellent choice. It combines a crisp, buttery pastry with a creamy, tangy filling and tender, golden courgettes. The subtle heat from red chilli and the aroma of fresh thyme add layers of flavour that make this tart a standout at any meal. Whether served warm or cold, it’s a versatile dish that works well for casual

Courgettes seem to have a life of their own in the garden. Just like the seemingly never-ending football season on TV in our house, the courgette harvest keeps going, surprising you with new arrivals every time you glance away. While it’s great to have fresh vegetables on hand, it can get tricky finding fresh and exciting ways to cook with them. If you’re tired of the usual ratatouille or simple stir-fries, this recipe for Ratatouille Topped Cauliflower Cheese will help you m

Sometimes the best recipes come from unexpected moments. This Mascarpone Spelt Apple Crumble Tart was never meant to exist. What started as a simple plan to bake an almond-based apple crumble tart with mascarpone and cream cheese filling turned into a kitchen adventure fuelled by a sudden rainstorm and a missing ingredient. Yet, this twist of fate led to a delicious discovery that I’m excited to share. The Unplanned Beginning The original idea was straightforward: create a ta