As everyone keeps saying, Christmas will be different this year. For me, it will be cooking transportable, reheatable meals for delivery to people who aren’t cooking for themselves; baking some goodies as thank you gifts for those kind and competent … [Read more...]
Tamale pie
This Tex-Mex recipe is one I've cooked regularly for over thirty years because it's so good -- one of those dishes people ask me to make, and want the recipe for, so I guess it qualifies as something of a retro classic that's stood the test of time. … [Read more...]
Sicily, part 2: Sicilian caponata
This is where I share the treasured recipe and insider tips for making traditional Sicilian caponata, as we learned it from two wonderful cooks in Noto, in the south-east of Sicily (read more here). It's the real thing -- exquisitely vibrant, … [Read more...]
A Valentine’s menu, and musings on love’s labours
We are all in search of easy ways to eat well, but when I see recipes that claim to be ‘effortless’, I raise my eyebrows. Feeding ourselves is a basic need that requires effort, even when it’s pleasurable, creative and appreciated. Preparing a … [Read more...]
Scandinavian smørrebrød
I can't describe the excitement I felt when I encountered my first true smørrebrød. I was a student in Denmark, at the University of Copenhagen on a semester abroad scholarship. It was the first time I'd travelled out of my own country as a … [Read more...]