As the nights draw in and the temperature in my flat plunges well below what I would consider optimal to mooch about in a flimsy silk dressing gown and cashmere socks (in manner of The White Company brochure), I start to seriously consider the pros and cons of hibernation. Polar bears are my favourite animal and … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Italian
Coriander & mint Bombay pesto
Last Sunday I was having one of those days when leaving the house simply wasn’t an option. All I wanted was a long soak in the bath, a quiet read snuggled up on the sofa with endless cups of tea and some Netflix one-on-one quality time. My boyfriend didn’t want to go out either so … Continue reading
Belting bruschetta
There are few greater pleasures in life than a ripe tomato bursting in your mouth. Like liquid sunshine. Deliciously sweet and ludicrously easy, this recipe is perfect for a starter or light lunch – I’ve even made mini-ones as party canapés. ***WARNING: PLEASE USE RIPE TOMATOES OTHERWISE THIS DISH WILL TASTE ANEMIC AND MAKE YOUR … Continue reading
Chorizo & butternut squash risotto
Hi folks. I’ve got a real treat in store for you today and, if you’re in the market for that sort of thing, it’s rather nifty for catching boys too. This risotto is the first supper I ever cooked for my boyfriend (he liked it so much that he insisted I send him home with the leftovers) … Continue reading
Chorizo & scallop linguine
“And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.” It’s been raining and raining and raining for days here, almost without pause, and I’ve been cowering inside like a sad damp cat for as much of it as possible. It’s the sort of weather that makes you want to curl up and eat … Continue reading
Italian supper: Spaghetti alle vongole
Okay, so the trip to Sardinia, coupled with the sudden drop in temperature, means that I’m having an Italian (read carb) phase. That and bikini season is over and Italian food is just so damn tastilicious. So here we are again and today’s treat is spaghetti alle vongole. It sounds fancy and yet it really … Continue reading
Italian supper: Hot beef tagliata, rocket & parmesan salad
Mmmm, steak. Steak and salad is one of our staples at home and it regularly crops up as a quick and satisfying midweek supper. Today’s variation is a take on the classic Italian tagliata, beef steak sliced into ‘ribbons’, which featured heavily on the menus in Sardinia when we were there. It was often served with a … Continue reading
Truffly porcini & chestnut mushroom risotto
I feel like the seasons have shifted since my last post. We are tumbling into a darkness where the days are snappier and the rain, once refreshing, now splashes an ugly scowl across your face as you think of your umbrella, warm and dry at home. The chill in the air has started creeping down … Continue reading
Speedy pizza tomato sauce
This is my go-to tomato sauce – quick and easy to make and simply delicious spread on homemade pizza bases. The flavour is surprisingly intense given the speedy cooking time so it’s perfect if you’re short on time but want to go big on flavour! Any leftover sauce screams out to be stirred into a bowl … Continue reading