how to plant, grow & care for crocuses Early spring colour is so important in the garden, bringing mood-enhancing optimism just when we need it most. Delicate and colourful, crocuses are the ideal cheer-givers in February and
Spaghetti with beans and tomatoes This is originally a River Café recipe that I make all the time for supper when the beans and tomatoes are abundant and utterly delicious. Pick the beans snappy and small rather than la
Grilled figs with lemon and pomegranate A perfect late summer and autumn pudding, when figs are plentiful, (we grow ‘Brown Turkey’ here and even from a 3-year-old tree we can hardly keep up with the harvest). Serve with a dollop of yoghurt
Canterbury Apple Tart A totally delicious and warming recipe. We make lots of these when we’re quiet, to freeze and then gently heat to serve warm as a different option to cake in our café at our open
Dakos Salad I love the island of Crete, particularly the mountains and their valleys bang in the middle, and I love the nature and the food. I make the Greek-inspired salad at home when the tomatoes are a
Blackberry Cranachan This is a child-friendly version of a Scottish classic of whisky, cream, raspberries and oatmeal. In this one, I add pudding wine instead of whisky, and I make a sweet granola with toasted oat
Sweet Cucumber Pickle This recipe is excellent for the long-term storing of cucumbers. It’s sweet and tangy, with a good crunch, and is delicious eaten with potato salad, cold meat and pates and in Cheddar ch
Lamb Tagine/ Squash Tagine Serves 4 750g boned lamb shoulder trimmed of excess fat and skin (a large half shoulder), or you could use 4 x small lamb shanks 1 Squash (V) 3 tsps cumin seeds 1 tsp coriander seeds
Crimson Mary A super-healthy version of a classic Bloody Mary, using beetroot juice as the base. Beetroot juice is very easy to make yourself, super-fresh and nutrient-rich, or you can now buy it by the ca
Smoky squash and lemon soup This delicious soup, which uses preserved lemons, was inspired by a dish I had in Morocco a few years ago. For 4 as a main course, 6-8 as a starter About 1.3 kg butternut squash 3
Carrot and sprouted alfalfa/broccoli salad We make this salad in the school for lunch all the time, simple grated carrot and poppy seeds, with bouncy alfalfa and broccoli sprouts threaded through. These can be found in good health-food
Pumpkin cornbread Serve this delicious savoury bread with soup or strong cheeses, such as Stilton, mature Cheddar or a hard goats’ or ewes’ cheese. The bread is lovely toasted and freezes well.
Sweet potato, ginger and coconut gratin This is a massive family favourite. We might eat it as a main course one day with a green salad, and then often have the leftovers as a side veg the next day, delicious alongside chicken or fi
Mushrooms with polenta Anything with a strong flavour and a soft texture is good with polenta. I love polenta with braised chicory and it’s wonderful with mushrooms. You can use a real mix of mushrooms for thi
Cauliflower couscous This so-called ‘couscous’ made from nearly-raw cauliflower is an excellent side dish to have with any of the chillies or curries. It looks great with multi-coloured cauliflower, of
Squash and Feta Filo Parcels One of our favourite things to serve for our Garden Open café lunches, filled with squash, courgettes, spinach, chard, grated beetroot, fennel, or a mixture of veg. You can make these i
