recipes

  We’re experiencing an ‘Indian Summer’ apparently. And although I know what that means – unseasonably warm weather in late autumn – the term’s always slightly baffled me as summers in India are much earlier in the year and far more intense. So, I did what all good people do and googled it and it’s … Continue readings →

Endless summer days invariably mean long hours in the sun, late nights and possibly a little bit too much fun, if there is such a thing. So, sometimes we need to take time out for ourselves and recharge. A simple, restorative green mung bean soup can really do the trick. The tiny mung bean is … Continue readings →

  It’s hot, hot, hot! Proper summer. Actual heat – and we’re British. What do we do? Well, what we do best. Eat, drink and make merry! The sun’s a great excuse for getting together with loved ones. And while, lots of cold beer and bags of tortillas with jar dips probably would do a … Continue readings →

  YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT’, they say (whoever the mysterious ‘they’ are). Certainly, that seems to be true for a small population of people living in Hunza, a remote, former princely state – allegedly the inspiration for James Hilton’s Shangri-La – found high in the mountains of what is today northern Pakistan. Its inhabitants seem … Continue readings →

  This is that weird time when the climate’s not quite caught up with the changing light. Still, longer days bring that hope of spring and new beginnings. Food-wise, comforting soups and stews give way to salads and lighter dishes made with seasonal ingredients. Now, I don’t eat a huge amount of dairy, mainly because … Continue readings →

  I COME FROM A LARGE, NOISY FAMILY in which lovingly prepared food is considered the equivalent of a hug. When we were growing up, my mother had an open-door policy at mealtimes – our neighbours, friends, and friends of friends knew they were welcome to stop by and break bread with us. As numbers … Continue readings →

  I love soup. It’s my ‘go-to’ food when I need a little bit of comfort, a little bit of love. Quite simply, soup puts the world to rights. And I’m not the only one, who feels like this. According to food historians, people have been making soup, in one form or another, since around … Continue readings →

  Everything can have drama if it’s done right. Even a pancake.” – Julia Child   FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, PANCAKE DAY – or ‘Shrove Tuesday’, as it’s also known – has been a much-anticipated date in my diary. This year it falls seemingly early on Tuesday 28 February, but I’ve already … Continue readings →