Pesto without nuts – Easy Recipe for Pistou: Why am I making pesto? Well, it’s that time of year. I have a full maternity ward of greenish tomatoes which appear to be heading for delivery at the same time. I have a marrow plant which, like some seedy London nightclub on a Friday night, has […]
Melba Toasts
Melba Toast – how to make it: There are certain things which I firmly believe should be passed down through the generations. The making of Melba Toasts is one of those things – tiny sophisticated triangles of biscuity bread which pair perfectly with pates and dips and which look so much better than a bowl […]
Easy Artisan Bread – The Perfect Home Baked Bread for Every Household
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
China: The Cookbook – Review
A Comprehensive and Fascinating Guide to Chinese Home Cuisine – China: The Cookbook I am the sort of cook who tends not to follow recipes. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy reading recipe books, I do. But, for the most part, I improvise a lot (with varying degrees of success). My own recipe […]
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 cookery […]
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 […]