organic kitchen garden
When the weather is cold, and spring just doesn’t seem to be on its way, I always fancy warm, comforting food. One of my favourites (and a bit of a classic in our family) is Mum’s homemade mushroom soup. She serves it Boxing Day lunchtime as a perfect antidote to the excess of food we… Continue reading Ultimate comfort lunch: Mum’s Mushroom Soup Recipe
This is a quick and simple dish, perfect when you’re in a hurry. Enjoy with grated Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. Cooking time 20 minutes (trust me, it can be done!)
I cook and eat the food I love and that those around me will enjoy (hopefully!). I don’t often follow trends or diets – I don’t want to force a shoe that doesn’t fit me. It’s just not worth it. It doesn’t make them bad diets or bad ideas, it just means they aren’t meant for me personally. Our likes and dislikes keep the world interesting and full of variety, and keep inventors dreaming up new tasty ideas. I don’t believe that food is a one-size-fits-all situation! However, it is great to keep updated with new ideas. You never know when inspiration will strike, or what new delicious things you might discover! So with that in mind, I’ve had a look at the predicted food trends for 2018 from company Whole Foods, as curated by their team of super trend spotters. I’ve picked my top 5 trends that I’m most excited to find out more about, and here’s a quick round up the 5, with my verdict.
The ultimate savoury taste of a steak and ale pie I difficult to beat, I love it best when freshly baked: puff pastry layers crackle under the knife, and dark, sticky gravy oozes out onto the edges of the pastry. I love chunky steak, sweet carrots and earthy mushrooms. I love rich saucy gravy edging slowly across my plate, muddling with muddling with creamy, buttery mashed potato. Drooling yet? I am.
Now that Halloween is over, the anticipation of Christmas festivities has moved to centre stage, with shops already sparkling with decorations and gifts. It’s clichéd, I know, but I really do love autumn and winter, especially now, in this little post-Halloween, pre-Christmas limbo. Crunchy leaves in vibrant red, copper and bright gold litter the ground outside, waiting to be walked in, kicked about, enjoyed, and jumpers and boots have made a convincing comeback in my wardrobe. There aren’t daily frosts just yet, but I can’t wait to see the beautiful silver spray of delicate, glittering lace over leaves and spiders’ webs in the morning sun. I don’t think I have long to wait. This morning I had to de-mist the car windows with the heating on max for a good 5 minutes before I left for work.
Meat-Free Monday recipes which still feel hearty and filling - you won’t miss the meat! Mushroom & Ricotta Tart, Stuffed Peppers & Veggie & Lentil Bolognese.
With leaves changing from lush green to burnished gold and silky conkers litter the ground, I can’t help but look forward to cosy nights in with hearty, comforting recipes to fill my belly as I countdown to Christmas. When the weather turns cold, my birthday month (September) is over and the mornings and evenings get darker, all I want to eat in the evening is a bowl or plate of something comforting.
This rich sauce is a perfectly indulgent combination of cream and sweet wine, threaded with earthy mushrooms and fresh thyme. Delicious! – if I may say so myself. I try to stick to healthy food during the week, and save treats for the weekend, but sometimes, only luxury will do: a simple but delicious combination of steak with chips. All it needs is the perfect sauce to finish it off – and perhaps a few greens to add some vitamins…