You’ll always know if you’re eating Bundt cake from its distinctive circular shape, doughnut hole in the middle and ornate, oblong ridges and plumes around the outside. The original Bundt shape was inspired by the Gugelhupf, a traditional yeast baked cake enjoyed across Europe. Have you ever seen the beautifully designed Bundt pans up close? They’re these…
Pork belly is uncured, unsmoked and unsliced bacon that comes from the underside of the pig. It also happens to be the most delicious and decadent cut of pork, if cooked just right. The aim with pork belly is to have a roast with crispy, crunchy skin on top and that soft, succulent, meltingly tender meat below. Who can resist this? It must be the ultimate in roasts – whether you cook…
Geschnetzeltes is a creamy hunter’s stew traditionally found in Austria and Switzerland, but thankfully discovered by the rest of the world too. Made with sliced veal or pork and drenched in a white wine cream sauce, it’s a hearty meal on it own, but all that sauce is begging to be mopped up with something. And that something, be still my beating heart, is spaetzle. These soft…
Preserved lemons have a deep, salty, fermented flavour and are a great addition to risotto, chicken and fish dishes, or chopped into couscous with some harissa spice. In fact, they’d go beautifully with any dish where you’d normally use salt and lemons, giving life and brightness to the overall flavour. Preserving lemons with salt originated in the Middle East, where it was…
Remember that childhood rhyme “Run, run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man”? This cheeky chap with a broad smile embodies the spirit of the festive season for me, especially the night before Christmas, when kids are running around with cheer and excitement for the surprises to come. It’s a time when families spend quality time together and…
The first thing you’ll notice about piccalilli is the colour. But the flavour is what you’ll remember long after your stained fingers have returned to normal. Made up of chopped vegetables and spices, piccalilli is delightfully tart, with a distinctive psychedelic, electric yellow colour, brought to life by the turmeric in the sauce. It’s normally served as an accompaniment to…
Potatoes are such a versatile vegetable, delicious no matter which way they’re cooked. From baked – for a quick, satisfying meal when you don’t have much time – to mashed potato, that tummy-hugging side dish, to rosti or gnocchi to duchess potatoes and still many more ways to explore. Someone once said that a meal is not a meal without potatoes. They must’ve been…
This plum pudding is easy to make and even quicker to eat. Slightly sweet, a little tart, and altogether very moreish, the mix of the nutty almond flour and the sour plums is a perfect match. Heavenly even, if you add a dollop or two of double thick cream. But the hardest part – and absolutely essential if you want to enjoy this pudding at the right texture – is to let it cool for a…
Slow-roasted lamb shanks must be one of the most satisfying meals. Cooked right, there’s nothing better to warm the soul on a cold winter’s night. As it bubbles away, roasting in its own juices, the flavours intensify while the sauce reduces and the meat gently softens. But you don’t have to wait until winter. This is a dish that’ll stick to your ribs any time of the year.
Madeleines are small, dainty, delicate, fluffy and delicious little butter cakes shaped like little seashells. They are so easy to eat and will disappear like magic once you serve them. They are best served just out of the oven and will only stay crisp on the outside for a day or two, if they last that long. Madeleines can be made in many different flavours, like Earl Grey tea, blueberry, orange…