I love slightly unusual cakes – my pistachio and walnut crumbly cake and gingerbread cake with blood orange syrup are two examples of my leaning towards not-too-sweet, spiced, no-icing cakes that are better suited to grown-ups than the under eights in your household. And this cake is another in that category. There is texture from…
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Once in a while i am struck all over again by just how blue the sky appears on wind-played autumn mornings, blue enough to bruise a heart. Sanober Khan The weather has turned in my part of the world, and autumn has rushed in with crisp mornings, clear azure skies and the promise of cool…
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A great marriage is one where each person, without agenda, celebrates the unique and distinctive characteristics of the other, and lovingly helps them be the best possible version of themselves. When I see a couple who express this in their relationship I am always moved and inspired, because they are so much more together than they could possibly…
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My husband used to say that the only purpose of cauliflower was as a vehicle for cheese sauce. Given his childhood memories of soggy cauliflower cooked in the pressure cooker – limp, transparent and almost tasteless – it has taken me some time to excite him about the wonders of cauliflower when it is roasted,…
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In my part of the world flour has become a scarce commodity, and to scratch my baking itch I decided to make a recipe that used buckwheat flour, all that was available for me to buy this week. I found a few recipes and eventually made an amalgam of my own, using as as a…
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Middle age is mostly getting excited about different flavours of hummus. Unknown over 45 year old. Middle age is my demographic – and caramelised onion, chilli and sweet potato are some of my favourite ways to zhush up hummus. Hummus as originally conceived – chick peas, garlic, tahini, salt, lemon and olive oil is a…
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To feel safe and warm on a cold wet night, all you really need is soup. Laurie Colwin In my part of the world pumpkin soup is synonymous with winter. Everyone has a favourite recipe and there are almost endless variations that enhance the rich, buttery flavour of pumpkin. My preferred pumpkin variety to use…
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Pumpkin is probably my most favourite vegetable, for its natural nutty sweetness and capacity to absorb flavour. I love it in soups, curries, as part of a traditional baked dinner slathered with gravy, and roasted with spices and garlic and herbs as in this recipe. In my part of the world there are a number…
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“Gleaming skin; a plump elongated shape: the eggplant is a vegetable you’d want to caress with your eyes and fingers, even if you didn’t know its luscious flavor.” ~ Roger Verge I cannot praise the delights of beautifully cooked eggplant more highly. The flesh is creamy and soft, and slightly smoky in flavour. And in…
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As a lover of tomatoes I am always looking for different ways to prepare and serve them that will enhance their already beautiful flavour. This recipe is based on one I read in an Ottolenghi cookbook – it used sumac as an ingredient – a spice I have been experimenting with for some time. Sumac…
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Simple food 