Gather Food, Flowers & Friends
Sort of a hybrid between a pot pie and a fish pie, these tasty little dishes are the ultimate in comfort food, and need only some peas or braised cabbage on the side to make a really satisfying meal.
Made with bullace or damsons instead of sloes, the flavour profile of this ‘hedgerow’ gin is a little less complex than that of sloe gin and it’s ready to drink a lot sooner too, making it great for adding to autumn-themed cocktails or simply serving over ice as a fabulous seasonal tipple. That’s not to say that sloe gin isn’t worth making too in a few weeks’ time – there’s nothing nicer than a thimbleful on a cold dark night in winter – but this simpler alternative is tasting pretty good right now, as a fruity, seasonal segue into autumn.
Smoked over pinewood to achieve its unusual, brewed-over-campfire taste, lapsang souchong tea is great for infusing a fabulously smoky flavour into foods. Try the technique with these deliciously tender lapsang souchong poached chicken breasts, which are ideal for a light supper with friends.
The perfect option for a fuss-free dinner party starter, this gorgeous dip can be made with with smoked salmon or trout and will have all your guests asking for the recipe
Made with miso-roasted portobello mushrooms, this deliciously savoury ramen would be a great option for a midweek meal as it only takes about 30 minutes to make, is beautifully comforting and can be meat-free if you so choose.
Simple to make but surprisingly impressive once dished up, this colourful and flavour packed chicken traybake with plums, herbs and rosé wine would be delicious for Sunday dinner or prepped in advance for a fuss-free midweek meal with pals.
Strongly emblematic of Asian-American cuisine, handmade dumplings make for a deliciously flavoursome & impressive starter, party snack or meal, and are surprisingly easy (if admittedly not enormously speedy) to make.
Roasting grapes brings out a beautiful, complex richness in their flavours which works perfectly alongside slow cooked pork chops.
Light, fluffy & richly flavoured, these muffins feel very cosy and autumnal and would be ideal for serving up to friends with coffee for brunch or late in the afternoon, or packed up and brought with a thermos of chai tea for a walk at the beach.
While this mushroom, mozzarella & sage meatloaf is fabulously impressive in all its beautifully burnished, pancetta wrapped glory, it is also a very cost-effective, easy & delicious roast dinner option for feeding a crowd.
While in Copenhagen recently, my father and I taught ourselves how to use a wood-fired pizza oven through trial, error and eventual success. Here’s what we learned, along with some of my other food focused explorations around the city.
For a brilliantly memorable brunch or birthday gathering, simply make up a batch of these lovely rye everything bagels and some homemade dill pickles; set out some fillings, stand back and just let your guests make their own filled bagel just how they like ’em.
Serve these fabulously flavoursome sesame & thyme dukkah crackers with homemade herby labneh for a stylish & delicious laid-back starter or snack.
When temperatures start to climb, this Roman-style rice salad with tuna, vegetables & hard boiled eggs is my go-to recipe for feeding a crowd. As well as being deliciously full of flavour and easy to prepare, it’s also a handy option for bringing on picnics, walks or long car journeys.
Looking for a dessert that even your health conscious pals will enjoy? Although this blueberry & yogurt cloud cake is made with no butter or oil, barely any sugar and just a sprinkle of flour it somehow becomes a magnificent, towering cake with a wonderfully fluffy texture and a beautiful subtly sweet, lemony flavour – a triumph by any standards.
