
Rhubarb and Custard Pie Pudding
I can draw inspiration from anywhere. I think it’s perhaps my strongest quality and truly beneficial to my career as a chef. It does not matter to whom I speak…

I can draw inspiration from anywhere. I think it’s perhaps my strongest quality and truly beneficial to my career as a chef. It does not matter to whom I speak…

There is nothing better than a good full bodied red wine and a deliciously fragrant cheese to enjoy on a cold lazy evening in front of the crackling fire surrounded…

I’m not one to give up on a recipe. In fact I will repeat making it until I get it right. Ok. it may have been perfectly fine the first…

Browsing through the vegetable display at Saturdays Farmers Market, held every second Saturday at Great Garnets Farm, I saw these beautiful looking heads of broccoli. Next to them…

Where is the year going!?! Well it’s nearly Shrove Tuesday, which is the last day before Lent and known to everyone as Pancake Day.
We love a good pancake, there…

I do not often get the chance to visit London. I miss it and sometimes regret moving to the country, well you can’t have it all. When I do get…

I absolutely loved the movie Slumdog Millionaire.I not only appreciated the mechanics on how the movie was made but also how it highlighted the way we allow children and other…

One of my “new years resolutions” is to bake fresh bread more often. I find it therapeutic and it actually helps me to collect my thoughts and just simply calm…

I cannot believe that its the end of January, the year is off to a flying start. It’s already that time of the year to get romantic and treat the…

I have always loved the combination of cauliflower and cheese. However I do have a rather sad memory of a cauliflower cheese incident. Dad was accustomed to having his food…

This luxurious and velvety lemon curd recipe is very close to my heart. I have had this recipe for nearly 15 years and it’s been used in many of the…

This lightly coloured Seville orange and vanilla bean marmalade is enhanced by the inclusion of the vanilla beans which gives it that heavenly fragrance. It is luxurious and I love…

Right I’m ready for the new decade! Christmas and New Year have gone and there is no more reason to indulge in the unhealthy foods. My body feels a bit…

It’s a new year and after lavish celebrations for both Christmas and New Year, it’s time to think twice about what I put on my dinner plate.
This raw salad…

It’s snowing outside and it’s nearly Christmas. A winter wonderland unfolding in front of my very own eyes.
It’s now only a matter of day’s before Christmas and I’m working…

The British Larder wishes each and every reader a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I love to play and if it means I can play with food…

It’s incredible how certain foods have certain meanings for different people. For example I like tapioca, it reminds me of my Mum, Sundays and happy family time spent together, whereas …

I cannot believe its already December and we are heading for Christmas full steam ahead. I get great satisfaction when my colleagues start asking for ideas and hints on how…

I have a special affection for marzipan and almonds,so at every opportunity to create something containing either one of these will be grabbed with both hands. With Christmas just a…

Wow…I had so much fun making these perfectly pretty but rustic festive ginger Christmas cookies. The worst thing was that I was all on my own so it would have…

This recipe is dedicated to John Lawson, Abi’s dad and a Lincolnshire farmer. He sent me a couple of large bags of freshly dug Jerusalem artichokes and I found it…

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but one I ignore most of the time…completely! I’m normally way to busy and it’s pretty early,…

I cannot believe it’s already November, where has the year gone? I have to start making plans for Christmas and have actually been developing Christmas recipes for months but this…

I have a special affection for Spain, I feel truly at home when I’m there. They have exceptional food, brilliantly jaw dropping innovative chefs, fantastic architecture, art, produce and wine.…

With the colder days all I want to do is eat, which is definitely no good for the waistline nor for my wardrobe. To stay away from the temptation, I…

This recipe is dedicated to UK Thermomix as featured in the Yes Chef Magazine October 2009.
I have had the privilege to use the previous models…

Four lonely bananas have been lying in the fruit bowl for two weeks now. I’m feeling way too guilty to throw them in the food bin so I had better…

This recipe is made from the leftovers from our wild food foraging day with Food Safari. It’s amazing how much free food there is actually to collect out…

When Abigail Lawson joined our chef’s team I was sceptical at first as she had just recently graduated from Leiths. I have old fashioned views on how a cook should…

I’m taking a serious risk today posting this traditional kitchen classic recipe Aubergine Parmigiana. As you all know I have had an exciting summer producing spectacular fruit and vegetables, some…

Warm winter and autumn salads are a terrific substitute for the lighter leafier ones that we loved so much during the summer. I can eat salad all year long and…

This is a pretty humble dish in itself but the kind of dessert that would be perfect to round off a lovely family Sunday roast with all the trimmings. It’s…

It’s a sombre grey wet and grim looking day, secretly I’m very pleased that the rain has finally arrived. The forest is dry and my garden is suffering too.
My…

The recipe for this chocolate and amaretti torte with a divine chocolate frosting could not have come at a better time than during the national Chocolate Week 2009.…

Credit goes to Valentine Warner for inspiring me to make these fabulous orange and cardamom soaked brioche buns. I was watching Val on telly a few months ago making something…

I feel incredibly privileged to live in Britain, especially close to London as we are the “food capital” of the world, well that’s my opinion. You can buy nearly anything…

This last weekend we went to the annual Aldeburgh food festival. It has become a family affair and we have been going for the past three years. As…

I’m known as the Queen of Tart Tatins….even if I have to say so myself!
I’m looking for perfection when it comes to this classic dish and these are the…

How good does cooked cream taste? My mouth is watering just writing about it, but the moment of weakness over the lips and the lifetime of regret over the hips…

This recipe is dedicated to Julie and Julia the movie. I was very inspired to cook and write after watching the movie at the cinema, it’s a feel…

This recipe gives me that lovely and overall warm feeling. It’s simple and easy to make but brings back priceless memories of my Grandmother.
We went to visit her during…

Its time for me to focus on eating healthier, it was wonderful having my Mum staying but my poor and carefree eating habits has taken it’s toll. Too many sweet…

I have been harping on all summer about my fantastic kitchen garden. We have taken full advantage of a small space and grown as many different fruits and vegetables that…

Roy called this week saying that Dennis’s greengages and damsons were ready to be picked. We had finished our chores so we wasted no more time and we departed post…

I love this concept, Mr.P told me a lovely story a while ago after he had visited a chef in the Newcastle who made plate pies. I liked the idea…

I’m really excited about this recipe. I planned baking this bread in my dream. You might find that seriously bizarre but then I’m thinking of food all the time, even…

The ultimate courgette supper is on the table and and it looks absolutely divine. Chilled courgette soup with goat’s yoghurt, courgette and garden herb pesto bread and finally…

Working as a chef in a top Michelin stared restaurant you get to learn the tricks of the trade. The chances are that you will make pate fruits, as we…

My borlotti beans have finally produced a few pods which can now be harvested. Last year I was very impatient and picked them too early and ended up with only…

It was Mums birthday the first week of August and on the Saturday before she returned home we took Mum, Roy and Linda to Borough market, followed by a delicious…

You have heard me speaking about a glut before but you have not seen anything yet! I think the courgette monster is about to suffocate me and take over my…

This lemon, polenta and almond cake recipe has been with me since I was a young commis chef working in a London restaurant. This is another one of my recipes…

Summer is the season of plenty. Surely there must be a few keen gardeners that will have a glut of something whether it’s beans, raspberries, plums or even courgettes. I…

This recipe is inspired by Shuna a pastry chef working in London. We do not know Shuna at all, however the fantastic world of Twitter and food blogging…

My garden has been fruitful this summer. I have now harvested all my carrots, beetroot, spinach, mulberries, radishes, broad beans and peas. The courgettes, onions, garlic and raspberries are still…

The sticky sweet but strong distinctive flavour of stem ginger is a taste that you either love or loathe.
How amazing is it that your taste, likes and dislikes change…

I have used this fabulous salad as an accompaniment to two dishes but as it is so good it deserves a feature of its own. I love corn on the…

The plum season is about to start and it’s amazing how many different varieties of plums are available. I like each for different reasons, some are sweeter than others, some juicier…

I love the summer, even though as I get older I learn to appreciate each season for it’s own beauty and seasonal gifts from nature. There is still something magical…

A trip to London is not complete without stopping at Borough market. I set off with the cool box and ice packs in the back of the car knowing that…

For some strange reason I can’t drink neat water so I always need to flavour the water with something slightly sweet and tasty. After another trip to the local PYO…

All the credit for creating this outstanding recipe goes to Ross my brilliant other half. Our annual summer holiday for this year was only for one week . Nevertheless I…

The season for peas is short and preserving the flavour and colour is very important when creating a dish like this. My top tip is to work as fast as…

A few weeks ago we went on a Food Safari trip with Polly Robinson, on arrival we were greeted with freshly brewed coffee and home made flapjacks that she had…

The glorious sunshine has finally made it’s appearance, the barbecue got a dusting and so did my salad bowl collection. Strolling through Borough market early on a Saturday morning my…

It’s a gardener and foodies delight in my back yard.I had great fun this morning pulling the beets and harvesting the broad beans. The courgette flowers are amazing too. I…

This is the easiest recipe that I have ever made and posted on The British Larder. It’s simple, there are only two ingredients but the possibilities are endless.
I bought…

Gooseberries and rhubarb never used to excite me. Only recently did I start to appreciate the British love affair with these tart seasonal delights. I have never thought that I…

With the summer predicted to be a scorcher it’s best to be prepared. It’s time to sift through the recipes, select the winners and be ready to move when the…

My newly planted garden is one year old and contains a multitude of plants. I am incredibly impatient and cannot wait to fill the baskets with raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, gooseberries,…

Last week we went to Cammas Hall Farm to pick strawberries and gooseberries. Once we got home it was all systems go and we were fired up to…

The short elderflower season is drawing to an end.
I’m feeling a bit sad as it means that this wonderful gift from Mother Nature is not going to be around…

Dear Gill,
A big apology for not replying to your letter and saying thank you for sharing this remarkable recipe with us. Your cheesecake recipe will be one that I…

Congratulations to Maria Elia for writing The Modern Vegetarian cookbook. It’s beautiful and truly outstanding. A few weeks ago I went to a cooking demonstration hosted by Maria…

I have had a serious love affair with cherries since I was a little girl. I remember that the cherry season in South Africa is around Christmas time and how…

I have been on the elderflower watch for a few weeks and finally this week they were in full bloom. There were a few bushes by the road side with…

It’s Saturday morning and the high street is buzzing with lots of people going about their normal Saturday business. I was dashing about to complete all the tasks on my…

When I received loquats in the box of wonderful inspirational goodies last week I could hardly contain my excitement. Loquats ,also known as nispero fruits, are medium size oval-round milky…

When Richard phoned and asked me to make one kilo of strawberry chutney, I was confused and slightly sceptical.
Wow was my scepticism put to bed once I got started.…

I love the textures and flavours of this dish. The cold fragrant tomato jelly against the warm carnaroli risotto pearls laced with the highly perfumed opal basil. It’s simply a…

This recipe has been specially developed, designed and made for Nanette aka Gourmet Worrier. I have only recently met Nanette via the internet, however it feels as if…

I’m going to tell you about my visit to Restaurant Sat Bains again and again…! We had a brilliant time and experienced the warm glowing feel that you…

These marshmallow, cardamom and bitter chocolate naughty dunkers are a bit of fun! It’s very simple and easy to make, but the guilty pleasure it provides is irresistible.
I dunk…

Wow did I have fun making this dish today!
Thanks to Great British Menu last week featuring the Welsh heat with Stephen Terry and James Sommerin. Both their desserts reminded…

Believe it or not I have already purchased new season broad beans from Borough market this week.
I was amazed to have found them. I immediately enquired where they came…

The perfect breakfast to savour on a bright Sunday morning with the morning paper and a cup of freshly brewed coffee. What better way is there to start the day?…

On Friday morning I received a box with amazing looking seasonal vegetables. It was a real treat for me to discover two bunches of the finest looking English asparagus from…

When Garden or chopped salads are listed on a menu the words are vague enough to mean anything. It could convey that it includes minimal ingredients like cucumbers, tomatoes and…

It’s just a little bit of fun!
There is no raw meat and no baking involved. It’s a fairly simple recipe and I’m sure you would have tried something similar…

Onions in general are one of my favourite vegetables. I love all the different varieties and seldom cook without onions. I love the natural sweetness and flavour trapped in each…

I love Madeleines and always call them mini Me’s. Fabien my pastry chef friend always makes lemon Madeleines for me as a little treat.
I’m pretty pleased with this date…

I have eaten and made lots of coleslaw in my life but so far have not made cabbage taste so good as this recipe. I’m pretty pleased with myself. I…

Driving through the Cotswolds the smell of wild garlic smacks you in the face. I have this love hate relationship with wild garlic. It reminds me of the days when…

I was horrified to hear the negative comments from the general public on tapioca pudding.
Last week I was doing a cooking demonstration to a group of ladies who all…

It’s a lovely sunny day; all my spring flowers are in bloom. The smell of hyacinths is in the air and my bunny Elly is hopping over the grass. It’s…

I have had these pickled beetroots in my fridge since autumn of last year.
They came from our garden and it’s quite a surprise as we love beetroot…

These giant meringues take me back to the Millennium when I lived in Fulham. Most Sunday mornings I used to walk down Fulham Road towards Sloane Square to have breakfast…

I’m feeling pretty rotten this week. I have been struck down with the dreaded flu for four days and cannot stand it much longer.
My mum was kind enough to…

Sticky toffee pudding is as British as British could be.
I have eaten many sticky toffee puddings in my lifetime and have found that more than once the texture is…

The best kitchen gadget and the number one must have for 2009 is the phenomenal Thermomix. There is very little that this machine wonder cannot do in the…

This recipe is a follow on to the farmhouse white loaf recipe inspired by Richard Bertinet. I have used exactly the same bread dough and the same method, however I…

I was inspired to make this salad after visiting Ottolenghi in Notting Hill. If you have ever had the opportunity to visit any of the Ottolenghi shops you are seriously…

When I received an invitation to spend a morning in the pastry section of Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair with head pastry chef Fabien Ecuvillon I was delighted. Fabien…

Making tart tatin used to be my “party piece”. I love the wow factor which I still get after all these years. It’s a warm fussy feeling and a sense…

“Sugar and spice and all things nice. That’s what little girls are made of”. You might think that I have now completely lost the plot!? Perhaps I have, but this…

Making Gnocchi like an Italian mama is an art in itself. I have gone one step further and used celeriac instead of traditional potatoes. I guess that the Italian Mamas…

Walking through Borough market is truly inspirational. The different cultures, seasons and aromas draw you into this wonder world of food, it spits you out at the other end half…

The vibrant bright yellow colour of this silky butternut squash and Parmesan soup is enough to put a smile on anyone’s face, especially on a cold and grey winters day.…

The vibrant colour of this maple glazed parsnip and Israeli couscous salad attracts a lot of attention around the dinner table. Israeli couscous might be an unusual ingredient for some…

For years it has always been a hassle and a half to make a successful and vibrant green Garden Pea Soup. It does not matter if you use fresh or…

Packing a lunch box to work is something of the past. Most work places have a lunchtime offer on site and if not there’s enough expensive temptations on the high…

I’m very excited about this fine pear tart.Firstly I had made a fresh batch of rough puff pastry and was very pleased with myself. Secondly I have finally followed a…

The inspiration for this recipe came from the book ‘ Under Pressure’ by Thomas Keller. I love this recipe for many reasons, one of which is that the pears do…

Doughnuts could be described as devils food; you simply just can’t get enough of them. Or shall I say that’s my excuse!
As these Bite size cinnamon sugar doughnuts limit…

Quinces were introduced to Britain during the late 16th century from the Mediterranean. It made its appearance at the end of a large banquet, as it helped with the digestion…

Inhale a deep breath of air; the aroma of freshly baked Banana and Date Loaf caresses your nose and all your senses. My mouth starts to water and the memories…

Warm or cold;starter,main course or accompaniment, this recipe ticks all these boxes. It’s one of my favourite salads, it’s healthy and absolutely delicious. I make this dish in the summer…

The rich chocolate with a hint of beetroot is enough to suppress the guilt of indulgence. The fibrous beetroot enhances the richness of the chocolate and makes this recipe truly…

This recipe takes me back to my childhood. South Africans would know the name of this dish as Melk tert and not surprisingly the English translation is Milk Tart. There…

Square is funky and fun. I love making these gorgeous looking rustic tarts. They always look attractive and catch the eye but I must confess the pretty pink forced rhubarb…

Tender stem forced Yorkshire rhubarb is definitely recommended for this recipe. The soft pastel pink colour is trapped in the young skin of the forced rhubarb. If the rhubarb is…

There is a inner child hiding in every grown up, true! These gingerbread men bring that inner child out of me. This is truly a trip down memory lane, and…

One Friday morning Konstantina, a Greek lady that worked with me, came into the kitchen and asked if I would like to try a bit it of her mothers Spanikopita.…

The nutty wholemeal rich spelt shortbread base is a pure melt in the mouth delight. I spent a cold grey Friday wandering the streets of London looking for inspiration. I…

I had been asked to help out with a canapé function a couple of weeks ago. I got all excited, as I wanted to make Catharine’s ultimate very…

Chocolaty, gooey, deliciously rich is the only way to describe Catherine’s ultimate very chocolaty brownies. A few months ago the whole support team at work took part in a cooking…

Quinces are one of those rather romantic fruits, it’s speculated that these fruits were used as an aphrodisiac in the early days and with its appearance one could see why.…

These Chocolate and Hazelnut crackle cookies are also known as our holiday cookies. Last Easter we went on another driving holiday to France. We rented a gite for a week…

My mother had this bizarre belief that if there is no fresh bread around it means there is no food in the house. For that reason we always had lots…

I love the nutty sweet taste and aroma of spelt. It’s only recently that we have found spelt flour produced by Sharpham Park at Borough market and to…

This Spiced Apple and Olive Oil cake is a tribute to an Egyptian chef who used to work with me. Using olive oil instead of butter makes this cake interesting.…

This recipe is a memory of last spring when we went to the Basque country, Northern Spain for a pure stuff your face weekend. We had a table booked for…

This recipe is one of the very first recipes that I specially produced for The British Larder.This website has been a dream in the making for a long time. The…

Russet apples are a naturally highly scented apple with a leathery skin. The scent of the russet reminds me of toasted hazelnuts. The Victorians liked to use the russets in…

Breakfast or afternoon tea will be a perfect time to enjoy these Mini Cinnamon and Apple Whirls. The Russet Apple Compote is a recipe that I have prepared and kept…

Comté cheese is one of my favorite cheeses with a mild, distinctive fragrance and slightly sweet taste. These semi-dried tomato & Comté cheese scones are ideal for breakfast or as…

The aroma of freshly baked bread is very hard to beat. It does remind me of home, the congregation of family and happy days around the kitchen table; chatting away…

Sous-vide cooking has brought a lot of joy to me. I love to discover and experiment with new ingredients and equipment.I received the water bath as a gift from Ross …

Choosing the right butternut squash has always been an important and precise task for my mother. It has to be elongated with the smallest seed cavity as possible. She believes…

The fragrant but subtle tones of the spices and herbs make this soup incredibly moreish. I love the natural vibrant orange red colour which is bright enough to make a…

Following recipes word for word has been one of my weaknesses in life. However I love to add my own twist and take on recipes, I suppose it’s all part…

Visiting the in- laws and walking Duke the Labrador puppy on Christmas day was an experience in itself. We came across a wild apple tree that had just about dropped…

Every time I make pastry cream or as it is better known – Crème Patissiere, it takes me back in time. As a young chef in Paris, I use to…

Naughty but nice comes to mind when I make these Date and Rum Bon Bons. They do remind me of Christmas with their alcoholic kick and the fruity fudgy texture…

Growing vegetables has been a new and humble experience for me.It has given me a new found respect for the food we eat. I had a good harvest last summer…

Piccalilli is the king of the pickles. Once a year in a rather ceremonial fashion there is an official piccalilli making date in our household calendar.This occurs just before Christmas…

Making puff pastry has always been one of those things that I just simply do not do. Purely because it takes for ever and then I have the fear that…