The Lunchbox Diaries

Time for a New DressingJust found the perfect dressing to live...

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 09:32:29 -0500

Time for a New Dressing

Just found the perfect dressing to live up a watercress and chicory salad. In a food processor mix one egg yolk with 1tsp white wine vinegar (no more), followed by enough oil to make a runny consistency. Add chopp gherkin, caper, Dijon mustard and parsley.

Nadolig LlawenThe perfect Christmas breakfast -...

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 05:22:12 -0500

Nadolig Llawen

The perfect Christmas breakfast - dainty blinis with a slow-creamed scrambled egg and some top quality smoked mackerel. Ooh and the chipotle Tabasco I got in my stocking

Mincemeat Cheesecake

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:02:51 -0500

Mincemeat Cheesecake:

Nigel proves himself a genius yet again

Ragù of red mullet with penne recipe

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:01:02 -0500

Ragù of red mullet with penne recipe:

Mullet is hard to come by, but with trout this worked a treat

Peas and CheeseSome leftover macaroni peas were rejuvenated with...

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 09:31:15 -0500

Peas and Cheese

Some leftover macaroni peas were rejuvenated with a few sprigs of mustard leaf, bacon and a dab of sesame dressing. Economical, hearty and super-tasty.

Christmas is ComingAn improvised pudding tonight, and a perfect...

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:38:57 -0500

Christmas is Coming

An improvised pudding tonight, and a perfect way to use up the marinated Christmas fruits which had stuck around since last year.

For five puddings, make a sponge with 130g of sugar, butter and flour. Mix in some over-ripe chunked pear and chopped Christmas fruits. After 35 min at 180C douse in quince vodka and serve with crème fraiche and lemon zest.

Neeps and BaconThe sourdough just keeps giving. Today’s...

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:59:23 -0400

Neeps and Bacon

The sourdough just keeps giving. Today’s adornment was a turnip purée (diced, boiled, whizzed with butter), smoked bacon and some aubergine leftovers. A warning though: don’t leave your turnip too long or you’ll get a bitter result.

Spicy Sunday SourdoughAfter hours in the baking, the home...

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 08:27:00 -0400

Spicy Sunday Sourdough

After hours in the baking, the home sourdough needed something to bring out its best. Chicken livers proved to be be the unlikely answer, fried in oil and butter with some Harissa and soured cream chucked in at the last minute with the seasoning. .

An Unlikely Partner for HamNigel’s suggestion of partnering ham...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:34:52 -0400

An Unlikely Partner for Ham

Nigel’s suggestion of partnering ham hock and plums sounded pretty far out, but as usual he’s bang on the money when it comes to a novel coupling.

The Squirrel Gets ItIt has to be the perfect autumnal food -...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:02:16 -0400

The Squirrel Gets It

It has to be the perfect autumnal food - gamey flavours, organic, free range and cheap. The cooking takes a while though, with a good couple of hours of braising in reduced white wine and stock, plus some shallots, bacon and porcini. Badger next?

Tahini-Dressed Salad One of Hugh’s better recipes from his...

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 05:11:29 -0400

Tahini-Dressed Salad

One of Hugh’s better recipes from his veg book this, although the dressing does come out a bit claggy.

It’s Tomato Festival Time At this time of year it seems a...

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:15:15 -0400

It’s Tomato Festival Time

At this time of year it seems a crime not to eat tomatoes at every meal, so how about a dose of super-fresh and zingy gazpacho. The smoked paprika is a must in this recipe.

Another day, Another Panzanella Nothing fancy here, just the...

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 05:07:00 -0400

Another day, Another Panzanella

Nothing fancy here, just the freshest tomatoes I could get, basil, onion, anchovies and some stonking homemade hummus.

Miskin Paprika Week Revisited Halloumi is generally a waste of a...

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 05:18:00 -0400

Miskin Paprika Week Revisited

Halloumi is generally a waste of a plate in my experience, but jazzing up with some paprika just about saves it.

Courgettes they are a’coming It’s still early for...

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 07:48:23 -0400

Courgettes they are a’coming

It’s still early for this season’s courgettes and I couldn’t resist the temptation of some imports to complement some orzo pasta, pancetta and onions. The recipe could do with some basil I reckon, but it’s tasty all the same.

An Advocado Marriage I’m sure the best flavour...

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 17:50:09 -0400

An Advocado Marriage
I’m sure the best flavour combinations come together by accident. Today it was the discovery of soft sweet advocado partnered with the salt of bacon chunks and goats cheese. It’s an awesome partnership, especially served up with the first of the home-grown salad.

Perfect way to use a whole load of chard, and a fair bit of...

Sun, 20 May 2012 17:54:31 -0400

Perfect way to use a whole load of chard, and a fair bit of cream. Recipe from Tender vol.1

Roll up roll up Great thinking from Ethical Chef to fill the...

Sun, 13 May 2012 08:26:24 -0400

Roll up roll up
Great thinking from Ethical Chef to fill the hungry gap, and there’s a lot of potential for the lunchbox in sushi rolls. Expect to see my own versions soon. Shredded duck for starters?

Almond Soup from the Freezer

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:57:25 -0400

Almond Soup from the Freezer:

It might sound weird, but Jamie’s Almond and Garlic Soup is prodigiously good, even after a couple of months in the freezer. Don’t forget the orange though - needs the acidity.

Last of the Beetroot Shame the beets don’t last into...

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:54:12 -0400

Last of the Beetroot

Shame the beets don’t last into summer, but they were great with some Spanish goat’s cheese fresh from a Barcelona trip and a topping of cashews and pumpkin seeds tossed in a little pomegranate molasses (actually that last bit didn’t really work)