Sweetcorn Pancake Fritters

This recipe evolved from some experimentation when I wanted to make some corn fritters to serve with Chicken Gumbo, although it was not difficult to work out a satisfactory recipe.  I wanted a fritter that involved shallow frying using a minimum of oil, rather than a calorie laden deep fried version.  (I do not own a deep fat fryer.)  After [...]

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Fried Plantain

I learned how to make fried plantain by following instructions given by a friend from the Caribbean.  It’s such an easy recipe you might wonder why it is here, nevertheless I think it is worth recording.  Plantain is still fairly new and may be unfamiliar to some people: I had to find out how to cook it!  Although they are the same family, Plantain differ from the yellow dessert bananas [...]

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Rice & Peas

This traditional dish from the Caribbean is a combination of rice and red kidney beans, which are are usually called peas, rather than green peas.  The mixture is cooked in coconut milk making it slightly sweet and fragrant.  It is lovely served with any foods from the Caribbean.  I always serve it with Salt Fish Cakes, which I make using a recipe given [...]

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Baked Tomato Stuffed Marrow

Having bought a marrow on the market I wanted to find a simple recipe so I could stuff and bake it.  I found several online and eventually decided on this very simple meat free version.  It is worth spending time reducing the tomato mixture as this gives a really rich smooth sauce.  Don’t stint on the basil either [...]

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Raw Beetroot Salad

Mostly we boil beetroot and serve it very plain as part of a salad, with or without a splash of vinegar.  In the past I made a delicious recipe where cooked chopped raw beetroot was used as part of a beef stew (lovely – must find that recipe and do it again!). I have also seen it used, grated, as an ingredient in [...]

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Chickpea Couscous Salad

This is one of my favourite ingredient combinations for couscous.  It makes a good accompaniment for meat at a main meal but it could equally well be served as a light vegetarian lunch.  It is best when dressed with the oils and lemon while warm to allow the flavours to develop and is lovely served slightly warm as well, [...]

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Special Coleslaw

There are so many different recipes for Coleslaw, but this is the one I always use. It comes from a shared lunch I attended a very long time ago and was so delicious I made sure I did not leave without finding out the ingredients. I was not given any quantities at the time and think this is a [...]

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Sweet Pepper Salad

I found this recipe, a previously pulled out page from a magazine, when hunting down some recipes for salads with a difference.  It is good to have some simple ideas to hand as an alternative or addition to the usual green leaves and cucumber salad mixture.  I love cold ratatouille almost more than hot ratatouille so I knew [...]

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Pizza Florentine

With its sprinkling of crunchy toasted almonds and hint of nutmeg this vegetarian pizza is just a bit special and would make a lovely lunch dish to enjoy with a vegetarian friend.  I like the combination of spinach with cheese (usually in a sauce) that makes any dish ‘Florentine’ style (from Florence in Italy), especially if combined [...]

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Roast Mixed Vegetables with Balsamic Vinegar

This colourful vegetable assortment, which can be varied as you wish, is a good accompaniment for a roast dinner and is especially useful (and easy) if you are entertaining for Sunday lunch as preparation can be done in advance.  The vegetables used can vary according to season, or availability, though I suggest that onion is an essential starting point unless you [...]

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