Easy, no-knead artisan bread: While I can make a mean banana muffin I am no baker – and although I love the idea of baking my own bread, the reality of doing that just for myself has always been a step too far. Even when I’ve been given a breadmaker to try, my issue has […]
Italian Style Canapes for the Festive Season
Easy Festive Canapes with Prosciutto di San Daniele and Grana Padano: It is coming up to that time of year. Christmas and New Year are approaching fast – the holiday season. Just as we are all really busy shopping for the perfect presents, preparing for Christmas lunch and cleaning the house ready for the Mother […]
Courgetti with Oil and Garlic – a 5:2 Diet Low Calorie Recipe
Counting the Calories Italian Style – Courgetti with Oil and Garlic for the 5:2 Diet: It is that time of the year when there always seems to be a glut of courgettes. And, the good news for anyone doing the 5:2 diet or following any other low calorie diet is that courgettes are naturally very […]
Masterchef Challenge – Picahna Beef Cap with Chimichurri
As Good as it Gets – Salt Crust Picahna Beef with Chimichurri: While I’m horribly camera shy, I AM always tempted by a challenge. Especially when it involves cooking with some of the finest meat available in the UK. So, despite the fact that I spent most of July travelling, I still accepted a […]
Perfect Pesto
Italians do it better – Pesto World Championships, Genoa, Italy: It stands to reason that Italians should make the best Pesto in the World. A simple fusion of two kinds of cheese, garlic, basil, olive oil, pine nuts and salt sounds on the face of it like something that could easily be recreated anywhere. But, […]
Macaroni Cheese with the Panasonic CS-894 steam microwave
Mac n Cheese Made Easy – a Steam Microwave recipe: Mac and cheese is ubiquitous these days and this comfort food classic has become a mainstay on the menu of a huge range of restaurants. But making it at home can be quite a faff as it involves a couple of hobs, an oven and a […]
Japanese Cookery with Yuki Gomi – Salmon Ceviche
Japanese Home Cooking with Yutaka and Yuki Gomi: I love Japanese food. Of course dining out in restaurants serving beautiful dishes of sushi and sashimi is one aspect of the food. But, there are plenty of other Japanese dishes which are perhaps just a little more suited to the home cook. Yuki Gomi is a […]
Gratin Dauphinois with the Panasonic CS-894 steam microwave #experiencefresh
Simple and Quick Gratin Dauphinois Recipe: The Panasonic CS-894 steam microwave has so many more features than a conventional microwave. It really does speed up the cooking process even with dishes that you might normally expect to need hours in the oven. This year, Spring seems to be rather late, so I’m craving comfort food. […]
Basic Summer Cooking – Tomato Salad
Tasty Tomato Salad – Recipe and Rules: One of the first dishes I remember eating in France was tomato salad. The French family I stayed with ate their lunch outside and it was usually made up left-overs from the night before, supplemented with various salads and fresh bread. Tomato salad featured frequently on the menu, […]
Basic Summer Cooking – Potato Salad
Easy Potato Salad Recipe: Summer is the time of year when no-one really wants to be stuck in the kitchen for too long. Salads that can be made up in advance, like my simple potato salad recipe, are a great way to keep things easy. And, getting the barbecue going is another way to enjoy […]