rose-geranium and lemon cordial recipe This is one of the best early autumn drinks – when scented-leaved pelargoniums are at their most prolific so you can pick the leaves almost as often as you like.I now grow a big block of Pelargoniums
ricotta al forno recipe This is rich and yet fresh - wonderful with bread and a crunchy green salad. Sometimes I make it with olives, sometimes pinenuts. Make it with basil pesto or we love it with wild garlic pesto too (the
red pepper and onion relish recipe I like the freshness of this relish - delicious served with burgers or sausages (or sausage burgers).Makes 3 x 450g jars7 red peppers, deseeded and finely chopped3 onions, finely sliced3 sticks of cel
rhubarb syllabub recipe This is a classic spring pudding – easy and quick to make, as well as being light, frothy and delicious. serves 6–8 Juice and grated zest of 1 orange 100g caster sugar 6 stems of
marinated cucumber and dill salad recipe This is a recipe from my friend Lucinda Fraser, and it's fantastic for making in large quantities when you have lots of people to lunch. It's at its most delicious eaten fresh, but it's fine mad
red thai curry mussels recipe Delicious, spicy and fragrant, mussels, like oysters, are generally thought to be best in the colder months of the year (those with an ‘r’ in them). Use a good-quality red Thai curry paste, such
smashed roast new potatoes with garlic and rosemary recipe My children call out for this as soon as they see new potatoes coming in from the garden. This is real winter comfort food – good as a side dish, but substantial enough on its own served with a salad.
raspberry cupcakes with mascarpone frosting recipe This recipe comes from my friend Sarah Wilkin, who is a brilliant baker and does tiered chandeliers of these cupcakes for parties. I'm not normally one for a cupcake - they can be so dry - b
hot cross buns recipe These buns are best eaten fresh out of the oven with butter; if not, they are better toasted. The mixture of flours (half wholemeal, half strong plain flour) gives good flavour and texture. The singl
quick tomato tart with thyme and red onions recipe This tomato tart is special because you can throw it together very quickly and it needs few ingredients. You can use any old tomato, bar cherry varieties. I always make mine in a frying pan
orange and lemon cake with marmalade cream recipe Based on a Claudia Roden recipe, this is an ideal cake for a picnic, moist but easy to transport and slice. The marmalade cream can be spread over the top or served alongside each slice. The
rhubarb charlotte recipe Rhubarb is one of the easiest plants to grow - it will put up with most shade and continue to be productive despite being almost totally neglected. In fact, it's so extremely persistent that when arch
persian jewelled rice recipe The textures, colour and flavour of this rice make it an almost stand-alone dish. Where in summer and autumn I cook Broad bean pilaf, in the winter and spring I cook this - one of my favourite things
pheasant with apple and chestnut A classic combination for autumn and winter, with the apple helping to prevent the pheasant from drying out.Serves 4 2 pheasants2 tbsp seasoned plain flour3 tbsp olive oil4 onions (about 500g), quart
potato gratin with sorrel recipe The flavour of sorrel is excellent with potatoes, which absorb some of it's citrus taste. This is delicious with salmon or chicken.For 4-6 30g unsalted butter, plus more for the dish1kg potatoes150g
provençal squid, new potato, olive and tomato stew There are many versions of squid stew, but this one has a particularly rich flavour. Squid goes brilliantly with tomatoes and together they make excellent heart-healthy food.Serves 4 1 tbsp cold-pres
