In Season

Golden puff pastry, tender quince, rosy pink apples and a buttery brown sugar caramel. A proper autumn pudding that looks rather grand but is surprisingly achievable. There are some recipes that come together exactly as planned. And then there are the ones that take you on a few twists and turns. This Quince & Apple Brown Sugar Tarte Tatin began with a couple of quinces, some apples and an idea. I wanted the floral sweetness of quince, the familiar comfort of apple and a cara

An autumn pavlova with a little surprise tucked inside ... There are pavlovas, and then there are pavlovas that make you wonder why on earth you've never thought of doing this before ... This one started with a batch of homemade quince cheese and a slightly mischievous idea. What if, instead of keeping quince cheese on the cheeseboard, we tucked it inside a French meringue pavlova? .. Not stirred through completely, not blended into a uniformly pink mixture, but swirled throu

You know when you make something and then start wondering what else you can do with it? That's where we are in my kitchen with quince cheese ... Now, quince cheese is perfectly happy doing its usual job on a cheeseboard. A little square alongside a lovely sharp cheese, a few crackers and some pickles, and everyone's perfectly content. Nothing wrong with that at all ... But where's the fun in leaving well enough alone? Because if you've got a batch of homemade quince cheese si

Golden, buttery puff pastry topped with creamy French cheese, savoury salami, sweet quince cheese and fragrant thyme. A little French-inspired kitchen improvisation that turned out rather well ... When the Fridge Has Other Plans You know those moments when you have a perfectly good idea for something to cook, only to discover that the fridge hasn't quite got the memo? ... This was one of those moments. The original plan involved bacon and Brie, which sounded rather lovely. E

I gather you all here today to discuss something on a rather serious note... It has come to my attention that there are people out there, such as myself, suffering from a little-known condition known as CGGOC – Courgette Glut Growers Overload Circumstance. The symptoms are actually very well documented. Sufferers are often left overwhelmed and bewildered as they stare into a fridge drawer full of courgettes wondering what on earth they are going to cook next. In the early sta

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

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

Summer shines brightly with an array of fresh produce, and tomatoes are one of the standout stars. Their vibrant colours and juicy textures remind us of sun-soaked gardens and the aromatic smell takes me back to summer visits exploring my Granddads green house. This Tomato, Feta, and Mint Salad beautifully showcases summer's offerings by blending sweet, large tomatoes and arm cherry tomatoes, blistered in a pan with tangy feta and fragrant mint. It is a delicious way to celeb

There's something absolutely delightful about blackberry season that brings a smile to my face. As the summer sun shines bright, the arrival of fresh, juicy blackberries means it's time to enjoy the sweet and tangy flavours these berries offer. Pair them with a robust whiskey and zesty lemonade, and you have a cocktail that captures the essence of warm, sunny days. In this article, we're going to explore how to make a vibrant Blackberry & Whiskey Lemonade cocktail that will b