Hot & sour soup

 

Ingredients
2 cloves of garlic
1-2 fresh red chillies
sea salt
freshly ground white pepper
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger
250 g shitake mushrooms, cleaned
225 g bamboo shoots, drained
groundnut oil, or vegetable oil
low-salt soy sauce
rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon runny honey
1.5 litres hot organic vegetable stock
150 g firm tofu
2 spring onions
½ bunch of chives
1 large free-range egg

Method
Peel the garlic and deseed the chillies, then roughly chop and place into a pestle and mortar. Bash with a pinch of salt to a rough paste. Peel, finely chop and add the ginger, then bash until broken down and combined.
Finely slice the mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Heat a lug of oil in a large wok or heavy-based saucepan over a medium-high heat, add the mushrooms and fry for 4 minutes, or until lightly golden. Stir in the chilli paste and bamboo shoots and fry for a further minute.
Meanwhile, mix together 3 tablespoons of soy, 4 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar, the honey and a good pinch of white pepper. Stir the mixture into the pan and cook for a minute, then pour in the hot stock and bring gently to the boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, or until slightly reduced. Meanwhile, chop the tofu into 1cm cubes, finely slice the spring onions and chives and whisk the egg well.
Once reduced, remove the soup from the heat. Using a chopstick, stir the soup in a clockwise direction until you get a little whirlpool, then slowly add the beaten egg, stirring continuously to form thin ribbons. Stir in the tofu and return to the heat for 1 minute to warm through. Season to taste with soy and vinegar, then serve immediately with the spring onions and chives scattered on top.

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Zucchini ,potato & cheddar soup

Ingredients
500g potatoes, unpeeled and roughly chopped
2 vegetable stock cubes
1kg Zucchini, roughly chopped
bunch spring onion, sliced - save 1 for serving, if eating straight away
100g extra-mature cheddar or vegetarian alternative, grated, plus a little extra to serve
good grating fresh nutmeg, plus extra to serve

Method
Put the potatoes in a large pan with just enough water to cover them and crumble in the stock cubes. Bring to the boil, then cover and cook for 5 mins. Add the courgettes, put the lid back on and cook for 5 mins more. Throw in the spring onions, cover and cook for a final 5 mins.
Take off the heat, then stir in the cheese and season with the nutmeg, salt and pepper. Whizz to a thick soup, adding more hot water until you get the consistency you like. Serve scattered with extra grated cheddar, spring onions and nutmeg or pepper. Or cool and freeze in freezer bags or containers with good lids for up to 3 months.

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Chicken, sweetcorn & noodle soup

Ingredients
2 large carrots, chopped
2 large leeks, trimmed and finely sliced
2 corn on the cobs, corn kernels cut off
200g vermicelli noodles
small bunch parsley, finely chopped

For the stock
2 onions, quartered
1 leek, cut into chunks
2 carrots, thickly sliced
2 bay leaves
6 black peppercorns
parsley stalks
4 celery sticks, roughly chopped
2 tbsp vegetable bouillon or 1 vegetable stock cube
1.3kg chicken

Method
Put all the stock ingredients and the chicken in a very large saucepan, then cover everything with about 3 litres cold water. Bring to the boil, then lower to a simmer and cook for 1 hr-1½ hrs, until the chicken is cooked through. Skim off any froth every 20 mins or so. Remove the chicken to a plate to cool. Strain the stock through a sieve, skimming off as much fat as you can.
Rinse out the pan and put the stock back in, then simmer on a high heat until reduced a little – you need about 2 litres in total. Add the carrots and leeks, then simmer for 10 mins.
Meanwhile, shred the meat from the chicken, discarding the skin and bones. Add to the pan with the sweetcorn. Add the vermicelli noodles, unless you want to freeze the soup, and simmer for about 7 mins more, until the corn and pasta is cooked. Ladle into bowls, sprinkled with the parsley. To freeze, allow the soup to cool completely before freezing (see tip), and when you’re ready to eat, allow the soup to defrost before bringing it back to a gentle simmer in a pan. Add the noodles and simmer until cooked.

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Poached chicken & vegetable soup

Ingredients
1.6 kg whole higher-welfare chicken
4 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 heart celery, sliced, yellow leaves reserved
12 new potatoes, peeled
a few sprigs fresh thyme
2 large handfuls peas
1 leek, washed and shredded
1 small bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked and chopped

Method
A filling, delicious dish that's super healthy too.
Wash your chicken in cold water and pat dry with kitchen paper. Place the chicken, carrots, celery, potatoes and thyme into a large, deep pan and pour in 3 litres of water or enough to cover the chicken.
Simmer on a medium heat for 1½ hours or until the chicken is cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the pan and strain the broth. Save the veg for later. Put the broth back on a high heat and allow to reduce for 15 minutes until there's about 2 litres left.
Meanwhile, tear the cooked chicken into long chunks. Once the broth has reduced, throw the vegetables back in the pan with the peas, leeks and chicken. Simmer for a further 5 minutes, then remove the sprigs of thyme.
Serve in warm bowls sprinkled with chopped parsley and the celery leaves.
Tip: The chicken is the star ingredient so use the best you can get your hands on.

chicken stew with dumplings

Ingredients

1 leftover chicken carcass, plus up to 300g leftover cooked chicken
4 rashers of higher-welfare smoked streaky bacon
olive oil
2 onions
3 large carrots
2 potatoes, or 250g of celeriac
a few sprigs of fresh thyme
2 fresh bay leaves
200 g of button mushrooms
1 heaped tablespoon of plain flour
250 g self-raising flour
125 g cold unsalted butter

Method

For this recipe, you will need 1 leftover chicken carcass, plus up to 300g leftover cooked chicken

A simple delicious chicken stew done one of my favourite ways – with leftover chicken and dumplings, enjoy.

Strip all the meat you can find off the chicken carcass, and put aside. Place the carcass and any bones in a large pan and use a rolling pin to smash them all up. Cover with 1 litre of water, bring to the boil, then simmer for at least 30 minutes, skimming away any scum from the surface.

Meanwhile, finely slice the bacon and place in a large casserole pan on a medium heat with a lug of oil, while you peel and chop the onions, carrots, and potatoes or celeriac into 2cm dice. Add to the pan along with the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Halve and stir in the mushrooms, along with the leftover chicken and plain flour. Pour the stock through a sieve straight into the pan (topping up with a little water, if needed) and let it simmer for 20 minutes, or until thick and delicious, while you start your dumplings.

Place the self-raising flour and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl. Coarsely grate in the butter and rub together until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add 100ml of cold water and bring into a ball of dough. Divide into 12 pieces and roll into balls.

When the time's up, loosen the stew with a good splash of water if needed, season to perfection, then transfer it to an ovenproof pan and place the balls on top. Pop the lid on and bake at 190°C/375°F/gas 5 for 30 minutes, or until hot through and the dumplings are fluffy and cooked. Serve with some seasonal greens.

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Beef & vegetable casserole

Ingredients
2 celery sticks, thickly sliced
1 onion, chopped
2 really big carrots, halved lengthways then very chunkily sliced
5 bay leaves
3 sprigs thyme
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp tomato purée
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 beef stock cubes, crumbled
850g stewing beef (featherblade or brisket works nicely), cut into nice large chunks

Method
Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Put the kettle on. Put the celery, onion, carrots, bay and 1 thyme sprig in a casserole with 1 tbsp oil and the butter. Soften for 10 mins, then stir in the flour until it doesn’t look dusty anymore, followed by the tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce and beef stock cubes.

Gradually stir in 600ml hot water, then tip in the beef and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and put in the oven for 2hrs 30 mins, then uncover and cook for 30mins – 1hr more until the meat is really tender and the sauce is thickened.

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Chorizo, pork belly & chickpea casserole

Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
700g skinless, boneless pork belly, cut into large bite-sized chunks
100g cooking chorizo, sliced into thin rounds
1 large onion, chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 tsp fennel seed
small pinch dried chilli flakes
2 garlic cloves
4 bay leaves, fresh are best
sprig of thyme
large pinch golden caster sugar
1 tbsp tomato purée
50ml sherry vinegar or good quality red wine vinegar
400g tin chopped tomatoes
400g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
fresh chopped parsley

Method
Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat the oil in a casserole dish with a lid and spend a good 10 mins browning the pork on all sides. If your casserole dish isn’t wide enough to fit the pork in a single layer then brown it in batches. Scoop the pork out and set aside then add the chorizo and sizzle for a minute. Add the vegetables, fennel seeds, chilli flakes, garlic and herbs and cook for about 5 mins until the vegetables are soft and just starting to colour. Sprinkle over the sugar and stir in the tomato purée then splash in the vinegar and bubble for a moment. Tip in the tomatoes and a can of water. Stir the pork and juices into the sauce, season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.

Cover the dish with a lid and place in the oven for 1 hr 45 mins, checking occasionally and if the sauce becomes too thick add a splash more water. Remove the pan from the oven and stir in the chickpeas and return to the oven for 15 mins. Remove again and leave to cool slightly so it’s not scorching hot then stir through the parsley. Taste for seasoning and serve with crusty bread or boiled potatoes.

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Beef & ale stew

Ingredients
3 fresh or dried bay leaves
500 g quality diced stewing beef
500 ml ale, Guinness or stout
2 sticks celery
2 medium onions
2 carrots
olive oil
1 heaped tablespoon plain flour
400 g tinned chopped tomatoes
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

Method
If using the oven to cook your stew, preheat it to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Trim the ends off your celery and roughly chop the sticks. Peel and roughly chop the onions. Peel the carrots, slice lengthways and roughly chop.

Put a casserole pan on a medium heat. Put all the vegetables and the bay leaves into the pan with 2 lugs of olive oil and fry for 10 minutes. Add your meat and flour. Pour in the booze and tinned tomatoes. Give it a good stir, then season with a teaspoon of sea salt (less if using table salt) and a few grinds of pepper.

Bring to the boil, put the lid on and either simmer slowly on your hob or cook in an oven for 3 hours. Remove the lid for the final half hour of simmering or cooking. When done, your meat should be tender and delicious. Remember to remove the bay leaves before serving, and taste it to see if it needs a bit more salt and pepper. You can eat your stew as it is, or you can add some lovely dumplings to it.

Chocolate Cup Cakes

These cup cakes are light and moist. 

Ingredients
125 g butter or margarine
120 g sugar
2 eggs
300 ml flour (200 g)
40 ml cocoa
10 ml baking powder
5 ml vanilla essence
125 – 150 ml milk

Method
Cream butter or margarine and sugar.  Add eggs and mix well.  Add the flour, cocoa, baking
powder and vanilla essence.  Add milk and mix well.  (It should be a soft dropping consistency.)
Put into well greased patty pans or paper cups and bake at 200 C for 12 – 15 minutes.
Decorate with chocolate butter icing or alternatively cut off tops, put jam and cream on top, halve
the cut off tops and replace to look like a butterfly.  Dust with icing sugar.
Makes 12

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Brie, Zucchini & red pepper muffins

Ingredients
knob of butter
2 small or 1 large Zucchini, cut into small cubes
250g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp fresh oregano leaves or 1 tsp dried
3 eggs, lightly beaten
100ml milk
5 tbsp sunflower oil
2 red peppers, skinned (see tip, below) and cut into bite-sized pieces
85g cheddar, grated
100g brie or Camembert (check packaging for a vegetarian-friendly brand)

Method
Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Line 10 holes of a muffin tin with paper cases. Melt the butter in a pan and gently cook the Zucchini for about 5 mins until softened.

Mix the flour, baking powder, oregano and some seasoning in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the eggs, milk and oil, stirring all the time to draw the flour into the centre. Beat for 1 min or so to make a smooth batter.

Add the Zucchini, peppers, two-thirds of the cheddar and all the Brie or Camembert to the batter, stirring well. Divide between the muffin cases and sprinkle with the remaining cheddar. Bake for 25-30 mins until the muffins feel firm to the touch and are golden and crusty on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Fruitburst muffins

Ingredients
225g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 large eggs
50g butter, melted
175ml skimmed milk
100ml clear honey
140g fresh blueberries
85g dried cranberries
140g seedless raisins
140g dried apricots, chopped
1 tsp grated orange zest
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Method
Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/ fan 180C and very lightly butter a 12-hole muffin tin. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then stir in the melted butter, milk and honey. Add to the flour with the remaining ingredients. Combine quickly without overworking (it’s fine if there are some lumps left – you want it gloopy rather than fluid). Spoon the mixture into the muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes until well risen and pale golden on top.

Leave in the tin for a few minutes before turning out. When cool, they’ll keep in an airtight tin for two days. (Can be frozen for up to 1 month.)

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Pistachio cupcakes

Ingredients
100g pistachios
140g golden caster sugar
140g butter, very soft
2 eggs
140g self-raising flour
5 tbsp milk
edible glitter, to decorate 

For the icing
250g icing sugar, sifted
mint green food colouring

Method
Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with cases. Put 85g pistachios into a food processor with about half the sugar, then whizz until very finely chopped. Tip into a large mixing bowl with the remaining sugar, butter, eggs, flour and milk and beat until smooth. Divide between cases, then bake on a low shelf for 22-25 mins until a skewer poked in comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

For the icing, mix just enough water into the icing sugar to get a very thick but still runny icing – just add 1 tbsp of water at a time. Stir in enough food colouring to give a pretty, pale green colour. If any cakes poke above the top of the cases, trim with a small knife, or scoop out with a teaspoon – being very careful not to release any of the case from the sides of the cake. Put a generous spoonful of icing on each cake and let it gently spread to cover. Chop the remaining pistachios and scatter these over with a pinch of edible glitter. Set, then serve.

Cranberry obsession snow cake

Ingredients
10oz unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for pans
3 1/2 cups self-raising flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
7 large egg whites, at room temperature
Cranberry filling
3 3/4 cups cranberries, divided
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups cranberry or cherry preserves
Buttercream
5 large egg whites, at room temperature
Pinch of salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
12 ounces white chocolate (bars or a block, but not chips), divided
1 pound unsalted butter, cut into pieces and at room temperature
Assembly
1/2 cup colourless liqueur such as crème de cacao or kirsch
About 2 tbsp. powdered sugar
To make a pure white cake, use your fingers to rub off the browned surface of each layer before assembling.

Method
Preheat oven to 170°C/325°F/Gas Mark 3. Butter 2 9-inch round cake pans and set aside.

To make the cake: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the egg whites in 3 batches, scraping down the inside of bowl as needed. Beat in  the flour mixture in 5 batches, adding 1/4 cup water after each addition (you will begin and end with flour). Make sure the flour is completely blended each time before adding water. Pour batter into prepared pans, dividing evenly. Smooth tops with a spatula. Bake until center of cake feels firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes completely in pans on a rack.

Meanwhile, to make the cranberry filling: Combine 3 cups cranberries, the sugar, preserves, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until cranberries pop and preserves melt. This should take 5 to 10 minutes. Add remaining 3/4 cup cranberries, stir to combine, and remove from heat. Transfer to a small bowl and chill until ready to assemble cake.

To make the buttercream: Fill a saucepan with about 1 in. water and bring to a simmer over low heat. Put egg whites, salt, and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer briefly to combine. Place bowl over hot water, making sure bottom of bowl isn't touching water, and heat whites, whisking constantly, until hot to the touch, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan and bowl from heat. Put bowl of warm whites on the mixer and whisk on high speed until tripled in volume and side of bowl is cool to the touch, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, chop 4 oz. white chocolate, put in a medium metal mixing bowl, and set in same pan of warm water off the heat to melt slowly, stirring occasionally. Remove bowl from pan and let cool to room temperature. Reduce mixer speed to low and whisk butter into whites, about 1/4 cup at a time, until incorporated. Continue to whisk on low speed until smooth and fluffy, about 10 minutes (mixture may look grainy at some point but will come together). With a rubber spatula, gently fold melted chocolate into buttercream until completely combined.

Assemble: Rub tops of both cakes gently with your hands to remove browned outer surface, then carefully invert cakes and rub undersides so that cakes are completely white. Place 1 cake layer on a cake stand or serving plate, top side up. Using a pastry brush, brush top with half the liqueur. Spread about 1 1/2 cups cranberry mixture over layer with a metal spatula, leaving a 1/2-in. empty border around edge. Place second cake layer on top, flattest side down, and brush with remaining liqueur. Spread top and sides of cake with a thin layer of buttercream to seal in crumbs and chill 30 minutes. Cover with remaining buttercream, starting with the sides and covering the top last.

Use the palm of your hand to warm remaining chocolate. Shave smooth side of chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler to make thin curls and scatter curls over cake's top. Sift powdered sugar over cake. Serve with remaining cranberry mixture on the side.

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Apricot, cinnamon & olive oil cake

Ingredients

200g dried apricots, roughly chopped
225g spelt flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground cinnamon, plus a little extra for sprinkling
200g light brown muscovado sugar
3 large eggs
100ml good-quality olive oil
100ml full-fat natural yogurt
2 tsp vanilla extract

For the icing

140g full-fat cream cheese
85g butter, softened
250g golden icing sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

Method

Put the apricots in a bowl, cover with boiling water and set aside for 30 mins. Meanwhile, heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4, grease a deep 20cm round loose-bottomed cake tin and line with baking parchment.

In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, sugar and ½ tsp salt. In a jug, mix the eggs, olive oil, yogurt and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix briefly with an electric hand whisk to remove any lumps. Drain the apricots and stir into the cake mix, then pour into your cake tin and bake in the centre of the oven for 1 hr or until a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the icing, mix all the ingredients together, using an electric hand whisk, until smooth. Spread generously over the top of the cake and dust with cinnamon before serving.

Sticky sponge cake

Ingredients
4 medium oranges
6 tbsp golden syrup, plus extra to serve, optional
200g butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing
200g soft brown sugar
200g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
100g ground almonds
4 large eggs

Method
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Finely grate the zest from 2 oranges into a large bowl. Cut the peel and pith from all the oranges with a serrated knife, and slice quite thickly.

Drizzle the golden syrup evenly over the base of a greased 23cm round cake tin. There is no need to line the tin and it shouldn’t have a loose bottom otherwise the syrup will bubble through. Arrange the best orange slices on top of the syrup and finely chop any that don’t fit.

Put all the remaining ingredients in the bowl with the zest and chopped orange. Beat with an electric hand mixer until smooth. Spoon on top of the oranges, spread lightly and make a deep hollow in the centre of the mix with the back of a spoon – this will ensure that the cake rises evenly.

Bake for 45-50 mins until firm when pressed. Allow to settle for 5 mins before turning out. Drizzle with golden syrup if you like, and serve with custard or ice cream.

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Ginger treacle sponge

Ingredients
175g softened butter, plus extra for greasing
2 tbsp breadcrumbs
3 tbsp golden syrup
1 tbsp ginger syrup from a jar of stem ginger
175g soft light brown sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
zest 1 lemon
175g self-raising flour
1 tsp ground ginger

For the candied Clementine
200g caster sugar
1-2 Clementine, unpeeled and thinly sliced

For the topping
6 balls stem ginger, chunkily diced, plus 3 tbsp syrup from the ginger jar
100g golden syrup

Method
Butter a 1 litre pudding basin. Mix the breadcrumbs, golden syrup and ginger syrup and place in the bottom of the basin.
To prepare the steamer, put a small, upturned saucer or trivet into a large saucepan big enough to fit the pudding basin. Put the kettle on. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add the beaten eggs, vanilla and lemon zest, then sieve the flour and ginger into the mixture. Fold everything together with a big spoon or spatula. Fill the pudding basin with the sponge mixture.

Cut out large sheets of greaseproof paper and foil, big enough to fit over the basin with a 2in overhang. Sit greaseproof on foil, fold a pleat into the middle, then butter the greaseproof. Put, butter-side down, over the pudding, and tie tightly under the rim with string. Sit the basin in the saucepan, add enough water from the kettle to come halfway up the basin sides, cover with a lid and simmer gently for 1 hr 45 mins.

Meanwhile, candy your Clementine slices by pouring 100ml water from the kettle over the sugar in a small frying pan. Heat until melted, then add the Clementine slices and bubble until they are shiny and sticky with sugar. Lift out with tongs and set aside on baking parchment to dry.
Check the pudding is cooked by inserting a metal skewer – there should be no raw mixture on the skewer, but you may find a little sticky syrup from the bottom.

For the topping, put the syrups in a small pan and bubble to thicken for a few mins, then stir in the ginger chunks and a few Clementine slices. Turn the pudding out onto a serving plate and spoon over some syrupy ginger topping. Serve with crème fraîche and custard.

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Chocolate cake

Ingredients
200g good quality dark chocolate, about 60% cocoa solids
200g butter
1 tbsp instant coffee granules
85g self-raising flour
85g plain flour
¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
200g light muscovado sugar
200g golden caster sugar
25g cocoa powder
3 medium eggs
75ml buttermilk (5 tbsp)
grated chocolate or curls, to decorate

For the ganache
200g good quality dark chocolate, as above
284ml carton double cream (pouring type)
2 tbsp golden caster sugar

Method
Butter a 20cm round cake tin (7.5cm deep) and line the base. Preheat the oven to fan 140C/conventional 160C/ gas 3. Break 200g good quality dark chocolate in pieces into a medium, heavy-based pan. Cut 200g butter into pieces and tip in with the chocolate, then mix 1 tbsp instant coffee granules into 125ml cold water and pour into the pan. Warm through over a low heat just until everything is melted – don’t overheat. Or melt in the microwave on Medium for about 5 minutes, stirring half way through.

While the chocolate is melting, mix 85g self-raising flour, 85g plain flour, ¼ bicarbonate of soda, 200g light muscovado sugar, 200g golden caster sugar and 25g cocoa powder in a big bowl, mixing with your hands to get rid of any lumps. Beat 3 medium eggs in a bowl and stir in 75ml (5 tbsp) buttermilk.

Now pour the melted chocolate mixture and the egg mixture into the flour mixture, stirring just until everything is well blended and you have a smooth, quite runny consistency. Pour this into the tin and bake for 1 hour 25- 1 hour 30 minutes – if you push a skewer in the centre it should come out clean and the top should feel firm (don’t worry if it cracks a bit). Leave to cool in the tin (don’t worry if it dips slightly), then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

When the cake is cold, cut it horizontally into three. Make the ganache: chop 200g good quality dark chocolate into small pieces and tip into a bowl. Pour a 284ml carton of double cream into a pan, add 2 tbsp golden caster sugar, and heat until it is about to boil. Take off the heat and pour it over the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.

Sandwich the layers together with just a little of the ganache. Pour the rest over the cake letting it fall down the sides and smoothing to cover with a palette knife. Decorate with grated chocolate or a pile of chocolate curls. The cake keeps moist and gooey for 3-4 days.

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Chocolate fridge cake with pecan & meringues

Ingredients
200 g digestive biscuits
110 g whole pecans, roughly chopped
110 g pistachio nuts, peeled
10 glace cherries
2 ready-made meringue nests, smashed up
150 g unsalted butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
200 g good-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)

Method
Break the biscuits into small pieces directly into a large bowl. Add the pecans, pistachio nuts, cherries and smashed meringue. Put the rest of the ingredients into a second, heatproof bowl and either put this over a pan of simmering water, or into a microwave until melted.

Mix the contents of both bowls together and get yourself a container that will act as a mould. To help with turning the cake out, line the container with clingfilm, leaving plenty of extra clingfilm at the edges to fold over the top. Now spoon the mixture into the container. Put into the fridge to firm up, then turn out , removing the clingfilm, and cut into chunky slices. This cake can be kept in an airtight container for a few days and actually improves in flavour after a few days.

If you're allergic to nuts then simply leave them out of the recipe.

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Mint choc teacakes

Ingredients
110 g butter, softened
100 g caster sugar
1 free-range egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
150 g flour
30 g cocoa powder
Icing sugar, for dusting
Peppermint meringue filling
275 g caster sugar
4 free-range egg, whites
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
A few drops of pure peppermint extract
Chocolate topping
100 g 70% cocoa chocolate, broken into pieces
1 tbsp vegetable oil

Method
1. Beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Whisk in half the beaten egg (you only need half) and the vanilla extract, then stir in the flour and cocoa powder until just combined. Divide the mixture in half, shape each into balls, wrap both in clingfilm, then chill for a couple of hours until the dough has firmed up.
2. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4, and grease and line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper. Dust a work surface with icing sugar and roll out 1 batch of dough to 5mm thick. Cut out rounds using a 5cm cutter (re-roll and cut any trimmings), then transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes till cooked through. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the second batch of dough.
3. To make the peppermint meringue filling, place the sugar, egg whites, cream of tartar and 1½ tablespoons of water in a large heatproof bowl. Beat with an electric whisk till fluffed up, about 1 minute. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water set over the lowest heat possible, and continue to beat at high speed for 10–12 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Remove from the heat, add a few drops of peppermint extract and beat for 2 more minutes, until the meringue has thickened even more.
4. Fit a 1cm plain nozzle to a piping bag and fill the bag with the peppermint meringue. Pipe onto the biscuits in an upward spiral, working from the outside in; leave a small border around the edge – aim for a swirl around 3–4cm tall. Place the biscuits on a tray and leave to set in the fridge while you make the chocolate topping.
5. Place the chocolate pieces and oil in a small heatproof bowl and gently melt over a pan of simmering water until completely smooth and glossy. Transfer to a small, deep bowl and leave to cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
6. To finish the teacakes, hold the chilled biscuits by the base and gently dip the meringue into the melted chocolate, swirling so it's completely covered. Or, place the biscuits on a wire rack with greaseproof paper underneath and drizzle over the chocolate until each biscuit is covered. Chill the biscuits for a few hours until the chocolate has completely set, and serve.

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Quick and Easy Biscuits

Ingredients
4 ounces (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces and refrigerated
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (8 ounces)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup whole milk

Method
Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper; alternatively grease a baking sheet with butter.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
Toss butter into the dry ingredients until coated with flour. Working quickly and using your fingers or a pastry blender, rub or cut butter into flour until it resembles coarse meal. Alternatively, add flour mixture and butter to food processor and pulse 2 to 3 times to form pea-sized pieces; transfer to a large bowl.

Add milk and stir with a fork until it just comes together into a slightly sticky, shaggy dough.
For small biscuits: Using a teaspoon or small ice cream scoop, mound walnut sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. For large biscuits: Using a 1/4-cup measuring scoop, mound balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet.

Bake biscuits until golden brown, about 15 minutes for small biscuits and 20 minutes for large ones. Let cool slightly, then transfer to wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes about 20 small biscuits

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Raspberry biscuits

Ingredients
1 quantity Basic biscuit dough See 'Goes well with' below
1 tsp cinnamon
6 tbsp raspberry jam
6 tbsp icing sugar, sifted
icing, to decorate

Method
Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Make up the Basic biscuit dough, sifting in the cinnamon when you add the flour. Shape into 2 balls, wrap in cling film and chill for 20-30 mins.

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface, then stamp out 28 biscuits with a 7-8cm wide cutter. Lay these on non-stick baking sheets. Using a 4cm cutter, cut out the ‘noses’ from half the biscuits. Bake for 10-12 mins until pale golden, then lift onto a cooling rack.

Mix the raspberry jam with the sifted icing sugar. When the biscuits are cool, spoon a little of the jam onto each whole biscuit, then carefully sandwich the other biscuits on top. Serve as they are, or pipe icing, made with a little water, to draw funny faces.

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Little jam tarts

Ingredients
500g sweet shortcrust pastry
20 tsp jam (we used apricot, blackcurrant and strawberry)

Method
Roll out the shortcrust pastry on a lightly floured surface to just under the thickness of £1 coin. Stamp out 20 x 5cm circles using a pastry cutter and line 2 mini muffin tins (or make in 2 batches).

Prick with a fork and spoon 1 tsp jam into each (we used apricot, blackcurrant and strawberry). Stamp out shapes from the leftover pastry to decorate the tarts, if you like.

Bake at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 12-15 mins, until the pastry is golden.

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Sweet  biscuits

Ingredients
250g plain white flour
85g golden caster sugar
175g unsalted butter, at room temperature, cubed
2 tbsp lemon curd
250g white icing sugar
1 tbsp strawberry conserve

Method
Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Put the flour, sugar and butter into a food processor. Whizz until the mixture forms crumbs, then pulse a little more until it forms a ball.

Spread a large sheet of baking parchment over the work surface and turn the dough onto it. Dust with a little flour, then roll out to about the thickness of two £1 coins. Stamp out 24 rounds using a 5cm round fluted cutter, then cut out the middles with the end of a piping nozzle. Carefully peel the rest of the mixture away from the stamped shapes. Lift onto baking sheets and bake for 10 mins until pale golden. Cool on a wire rack.

Put the lemon curd into a bowl with 2 tbsp boiling water and mix until smooth. Sieve in 175g of the icing sugar; stir together to make a smooth icing. Put the strawberry fruit spread in another bowl and add 2 tsp boiling water, mix, then sieve in the remaining icing sugar. Spoon the lemon icing over the biscuits, then drizzle or pipe over the pinky icing. Leave to set for at least 20 mins. Will keep for up to 2 days in an airtight tin, longer if left un-iced.

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Syrup crunchies

Ingredients
250g pack butter
½ x 397g can condensed milk
175g golden syrup
175g cornflakes, plus a few extra
175g porridge oats
250g plain flour
100g custard powder
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Method
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a few baking trays with baking parchment. Melt the butter, condensed milk and syrup in a large saucepan.

Very roughly crush the cornflakes in a bowl with your hands, then stir in the oats, flour, custard powder and bicarb, and mix really well.

 

Once everything in the pan has melted, take it off the heat and stir in the dry ingredients. Roughly scoop heaped tablespoonfuls of the mixture onto the baking sheets. Crumble over a few more cornflakes, then squash to flatten a bit with your hands. Bake for 12-15 mins until golden. Cool on a wire rack.

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Cornish pies

For the pastry

250 g butter
300 ml hot water
500 g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 large free-range egg, beaten
1 handful medium ground cornmeal or polenta

For the filling

1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped
olive oil
4 skinless, boneless higher-welfare chicken thighs, cut into 2cm dice
½ small butternut squash, (approximately 250g) peeled and cut into 1cm chunks
1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
1 medium potato, peeled and cut into 1cm chunks
6 sprigs fresh sage or thyme, leaves picked and chopped
nutmeg
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
300 ml organic chicken stock
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon plain flour

Method

Marcy Tatarka, an absolutely lovely cook I met in Wyoming, was full of all sorts of local food knowledge. She told me that people in this part of America are really into their pasties! Turns out that in the 1920s and 30s, miners from Cornwall came over to work in Montana and it wasn't long before the locals developed a taste for the good old Cornish pasty. Their recipes haven't evolved radically since, but they do embrace local ingredients like chicken, squash and sage. Pastry isn't exactly health food, but a delicious pasty once in a while won't hurt you. If you like, you can make a slightly 'skinnier' pasty by reducing the butter to 200g and adding 50ml of olive oil. But frankly, if I'm making these I just go for it old-school style.

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Bring your butter and water to the boil in a large pan, then take the pan off the heat. Stir the flour and salt into the mixture bit by bit with a spatula, until you've got a dough. Tip it on to a floured surface and use your hands to shape it into a smooth ball. Put the ball of dough into a floured bowl, dust the top with flour, then cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes while you make the filling.

Meanwhile, get a large pan and fry your chopped onion in a lug of olive oil for 10 minutes or until softened. Add the diced chicken and fry for 5 minutes until brown, then add the rest of the chopped vegetables and herbs. Fry for another 5 minutes, then add 3 or 4 good gratings of nutmeg. Season well with salt and pepper, then pour in the chicken stock and Worcestershire sauce. Stir in the flour and simmer on a medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until most of the stock has cooked away and you're left with nice thick gravy.

Dust a clean surface and a rolling pin with flour, then divide your pastry dough in half and roll each half out until it's slightly thinner than 0.5cm. Use a cereal bowl (about 15cm in diameter) to cut 4 circles out of each half, so you end up with 8 circles. You may need to cut out 2 or 3 circles from each half first, then re-roll the remaining pastry to make the rest. Dust the circles with flour, and spoon your filling into the middle of each one. Brush the edges of the pastry with some of the beaten egg, then fold each circle in half over the filling and crimp the edges with your finger and thumb to seal them. If you want to see how this is done, check out this video on how to assemble a pasty.

Line 2 baking trays with greaseproof paper, scatter a handful of cornmeal or polenta over the paper, and place your pasties on top. Brush the pasties all over with more of the beaten egg and sprinkle over a little more cornmeal. Bake in the hot oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden, and serve straight away with a fresh green salad. A taste of Cornwall in the Wild West – who'd have thought it!

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Mushroom & goat’s cheese pizza pie

Ingredients

220g pack pizza base mix
2 tsp olive oil
250g mixed mushrooms, such as chestnut, Portobello, porcini or shiitake
1 fat garlic clove, crushed
pinch chilli flakes
1 tsp rosemary leaves, finely chopped
1 tbsp half-fat crème fraîche
100g goat's cheese
rocket, to serve

Method

Make up the pizze dough following pack instructions. Meanwhile, make the filling. Heat 1 tsp oil in a large frying pan and fry the mushrooms until golden, about 8 mins. Add garlic, chilli and rosemary and cook for 1 min more. Stir in crème fraîche and 1 tbsp water and remove from heat.

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Roll out the dough to a 30cm-diameter circle. Spread the mushroom mix across half of the circle, leaving a 2cm border from the edge, and scatter on the goat’s cheese. Fold over and press to seal.

Brush with remaining oil, transfer to a baking sheet and cook for 15-20 mins until risen and golden. Cut in halves and serve with rocket, if you like.

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Tricolore pizza with basil oil

Ingredients

175g from a 500g pack bread mix, plus a little extra for dusting
3 tbsp olive oil
large handful basil leaf
1 avocado, halved and thinly sliced
splash lemon juice
125g ball reduced-fat mozzarella
225g mixed tomatoes, sliced and drained on kitchen paper

Method

Heat oven to its highest setting, about 240C/fan 220C/gas 9. Tip the bread mix into a large bowl, pour over 125ml lukewarm water and 1 tbsp olive oil, then mix well to a sticky dough. Knead for a few mins, using some of the extra dry mix to stop it sticking. Place in an oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave in a warm place for 15 mins.

While the dough is rising, put the remaining oil in a small blender with most of the basil, then whizz until the leaves are finely chopped. Toss the avocado in the lemon juice, then tear the mozzarella into rough pieces. 3 Using a little more of the dry bread mix to help you, roll and stretch the dough out to a rough 25 x 30cm rectangle on a large baking sheet. Brush over the basil oil, scatter with the mozzarella and tomato slices, then bake for 10-12 mins until the base is crisp and the cheese melted. To serve, scatter with the avocado slices and remaining basil leaves, then season with freshly ground.

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Mushroom & Zucchini rice pie

 

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
2 shallots or 1 small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
675g mixed mushrooms (such as chestnut, oyster and shiitake), sliced
2 large Zucchini, chopped
50g risotto rice
3 tbsp white wine
300ml hot vegetable stock
3 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
1 tbsp vegetarian parmesan -style cheese
2 tbsp crème fraîche
2 tbsp pesto
25g chopped walnuts
½ quantity shortcrust pastry (see 'Goes well with' below) made with a large pinch of saffron strands
1 tbsp milk, to glaze

Method

Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Heat oil in a large pan and cook shallots and garlic for 2-3 mins until softened. Stir in mushrooms and Zucchini and cook over a high heat for 5-7 mins until golden.

Stir in the rice and cook for 2 mins, then add wine and cook for 3 mins until the liquid has evaporated. Add a ladleful of hot stock and cook, stirring constantly. Continue in this way until all the stock has been used up. Stir in the tarragon, cheese, crème fraîche, pesto and walnuts and plenty of seasoning. Cool.

Fill a 900ml/1½pt pie dish with the rice mixture. Brush the edge of the dish with water. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use to cover the filling, trimming the edges and pressing down well to seal. Brush with milk, place on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 mins until crisp and golden.

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Ricotta & basil pizza

Ingredients

1 onion, finely chopped
2 yellow peppers, roughly chopped
1 tsp olive oil
2 x 400g/14oz cans chopped tomatoes
500g bag mixed grain or granary bread mix
plain flour, for dusting
10 cherry tomatoes, halved or whole
250g tub ricotta
a few basil leaves, to serve

Method

Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 6. Soften the onion and peppers in the oil in a large pan for a few mins. Pour in the tomatoes, season, then simmer for 10 mins.

Meanwhile, make up the bread mix according to pack instructions, then bring the dough together and knead a couple of times. Flour a large baking sheet and roll out the dough into a rectangle roughly 25 x 35cm. Bake for 5 mins on a shelf at the top of the oven until firm.

Remove from the oven, spread with the sauce, add the cherry tomatoes, then dollop over spoonfuls of the ricotta. Bake for 10 mins more until the base is golden and crisp. Scatter with basil and serve straight away with a green salad.

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Squash & sausage pot pies

Ingredients
1 tsp olive oil
2 red onions, chopped
175g sausage of your choice, skin removed, sliced
300g butternut squash, peeled and cut into cubes
400g can chickpeas
200g bag spinach
140g crème fraîche
320g puff pastry sheet
1 egg, beaten

Method
Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onions and cook for a few mins until soft, then add the sausage of your choice . Stir around the pan for a few more mins until the chorizo leaks some of its oils, then add the squash and 100ml water. Cover with a lid and leave to cook for 10-15 mins until the squash is just cooked through.

Add the chickpeas with any liquid from the can, the spinach and some seasoning. Stir, then cover with a lid and simmer for 1-2 mins until the spinach has wilted. Stir in the crème fraîche and bubble for 3-4 mins, adding a splash of water if the sauce looks too thick.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Divide the filling between 4 pie dishes. Unroll the pastry and cut out 4 lids, large enough to cover the pies. Brush the edge of each dish with a little beaten egg, then put a pastry lid on top and brush this with egg too. Poke a hole in the top of each pie. Bake on a tray for 25 mins until the lids are puffed and golden.