Tag Archives: years of practice

Raitha / Tsatsiki

Two recipes in one post this week, because they are variations on the same theme. I usually make raitha with thinner yoghurt and grated cucumber, and I don’t add garlic. The cooling effect of the yoghurt here works well to offset the strong spices of an Indian meal. For Tsatsiki (Greek) or Cacik (Turkish), IContinue reading “Raitha / Tsatsiki”

Lemon Tart

Inside a cookery book (Sophie Grigson’s Food for Friends), given to me by Granny when I was a student, is a collection of dog-eared recipes saved from newspapers and magazines over the years. Frances Bissell’s recipe for individual lemon tarts is among them, originally published in the Saturday Times magazine in November 1997. I madeContinue reading “Lemon Tart”

Lake Palace Aubergines

Is this recipe responsible for converting the vegetable-sceptic Zita? It’s another one inspired by Madhur Jaffrey, who gives it the verbose title ‘The Lake Palace Hotel’s Aubergine Cooked in the Pickling Style’. Works well as a meal on its own, with rice, raitha and chutney, or to accompany a more varied Indian meal. It’s alsoContinue reading “Lake Palace Aubergines”

Red Cabbage

In 1994, when we were living at Gale, I had a small party for my 25th birthday. Baby Sam (six weeks old) received more presents than I did, but one of the presents I got has stood the test of time. Matthew Faulkner gave me a copy of his friend Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s first cookery book,Continue reading “Red Cabbage”

Slow Roast Pork

During our current meat drought (Veganuary 2020), carnivorous fantasies have begun to preoccupy the mind. We started eating this after I saw Lorraine Pascale (fellow JAGS parent) doing it on TV. My version includes a number of modifications. Serve with roast potatoes, red cabbage, apple sauce and another veg of your choice (Carluccio’s carrots orContinue reading “Slow Roast Pork”

Spinach & Lentils

Originally an actress, Madhur Jaffrey became a household name in the UK in the 1980s as an authority on Indian cookery. We cooked loads of her dishes at home and several have become family staples. Spinach & lentils, which I’ve adapted over the years, is cheap and nutritious (sorry, Zita) and makes a great mealContinue reading “Spinach & Lentils”

Hungarian Spinach

Babú’s standard birthday meal is Hungarian spinach (spenótfőzelék) and pork meatballs (fasírt). I haven’t ever been particularly keen on the latter, which can be quite heavy, but the spinach part has evolved into one of our staples, eaten with roast chicken or baked potatoes or lamb kofta. I’m not claiming my version is authentic butContinue reading “Hungarian Spinach”