In these times, we need uncomplicated food made from ingredients that we can source more easily than others. Despite the humble ingredients here, these burgers – invented by my mother – are incredibly tasty and very filling. They also hold together really well, instead of sprawling and disintegrating. Ingredients (makes about 8 burgers) 170 oz…
Jack Monroe’s ‘Ultimate lasagne’
I was browsing through Jack’s Cooking on a Bootstrap website at the weekend and this sumptuous lasagne piqued my interest, so I made it last night. Even though lasagne can be a faff – and I never seem to have the right-sized dish for it – I find the processes involved in making it strangely…
Cashew nut pate en croute
If you’re looking for a wonderful vegetarian Christmas – or occasion – centrepiece, look no further! I have been using this recipe for years now – it’s from my very old DK Rose Elliot ‘The Classic Vegetarian Cookbook’ (1994). I haven’t managed to take a decent photo of it but wanted to get this out…
Red lentil dhal
Who doesn’t love a nourishing, warming dahl – on its own, with naan or with rice. Totally delicious and they’re all different. I have made several different recipes of dhal but this one is an absolute keeper. It has a piquancy and heat that border on the addictive.
Baked stuffed tomatoes
I have never in my life stuffed vegetables. It’s always seemed to me to be unappealing and old-fashioned. That was, that is, my lovely friend Julia, in Italy, sent me a photo of home-grown beef tomatoes stuffed with rice, basil and cheese. They looked heavenly. So when we had some family members visiting recently, I…
Spanish omelette
A Spanish omelette is another dish that is so much more than the sum of its parts – which are onions, potatoes, eggs and olive oil. The cooking of it takes care of itself more or less. It’s great served hot, warm or cold (it’s a great picnic option). Of course, you can add loads…
Baked pasta with tomato sauce and mozzarella
This is a lovely baked pasta dish that you can do some or all of the prep for in advance and leave it sitting. It’s very easy to make. The chillies lend it a piquancy that I like very much – and that heat won the approval of the Italian husband of a dear friend…
Linguine, courgetti, peas and spinach
I am coming to love courgettes, especially in their long summer season. Our wonderful farm shop sells them in abundance – lovely small, new, dark, fresh, flavourful courgettes that are a far cry from the tough, watery, insipid, large ones found in supermarkets. This recipe is a wonderful light meal – and very pack-lunchable because…
My wicked step-mother’s wicked garlic bread
This is a HUGE crowd-pleaser. My step-mother makes tonnes of it whenever a large group of us are around. The children all devour it – and have all learnt to be quicker than the adults in getting their mits on it. It is infinitely tastier – and more buttery and garlicky – than any shop-bought…
Italian sausage stew
A gorgeous, earthy Italian stew – so much more than the sum of its parts, again.
The Veg Isle 