Cookbook challenge – The Sopranos Family Cookbook: Braciole

Andrew and I have always loved cuddling up on the sofa to watch a tv show or film, usually with a cat or four on our laps demanding our attention. In the olden days when Netflix and Amazon Prime didn’t exist and we had to watch DVDs (yes, I do also remember VHS), Andrew and […]

Week 26 – looking forward to the calm before the 40th birthday storm

My birthday celebrations have been brilliant, but carried on longer than expected. This week we have a brief break from birthdays before starting the celebrations for Andrew’s 40th, which will include a birthday party and trip to Rome (mmmm, pasta and tirumisu). I am very much looking forward to a rest as we’ve both felt like […]

Weeks 24 & 25 – birthday binging in style

My few regular fans (hi Mum!) may have noticed that I missed last week’s meal plan. This is because I was in no position to type: I was either eating, in a stupor recovering from eating, or listening to live music (whilst eating). Annoyingly I also had to fit in the usual work-related tasks which […]

How to make a 3 course meal in minutes

As I may have mentioned once or twice, I spend quite a lot of time thinking about food – either what I am going to eat next, what I am going to cook for dinner that evening, or what I am going to make next week … essentially it boils down to always thinking about […]

Cookbook challenge – Nigel Slater: beetroot and goats cheese, pork and lemons, rhubarb marscapone tart

I am writing this just after watching the first episode of a new cookery programme by Nigel Slater. As always I am struck by how genuinely nice he seems, and how much I’d like to go around to his house for dinner. In fact, years ago we used to live near to him in Highbury […]

Poached eggs

Poaching is my default way of cooking eggs. I love a solid white and dippy yolk, whereas Andrew likes his yolks set like bullets, so with poaching I can leave his in the poaching water for a bit longer than mine. I’ve seen and heard lots of tips for poaching the perfect egg – here’s […]

Week 21 – Fleetwood Mac, Aliens and The Beach Boys

This week is basically going to be a week of going out, so there’s not going to be much cooking happening. But the going out is going to be very exciting. We’ve got Fleetwood Mac at the O2 (The Chain is one of my all-time favourite songs), then I am going to a food blogging […]

Week 20 – chicken with courgettini

After my two days in Paris I have been struggling to catch up with my sleep, and with my work, so am feeling a little bit stressed. I’ve had the weekend to recover a bit, so am hoping I can crack through with some work this week and get back to feeling under control. Of […]

Week 19 – off to Paris again

Yes, I am indeed off to Paris again – just for a couple of days of meetings for work: I literally won’t have any time to spare as I am booked solid with meetings, so I am sure the time will fly. Then my Mum is visiting on Wednesday and wants to try courgettini (courgette […]

Week 18 – May the 4th be with you

Happy Star Wars Day! Okay, I am not a Star Wars geek like my brother Jason, but I did grow up watching the original films (and remember a mad hunt around London in the early 80s to try and find the Princess Leah toy … her wearing the white dress and buns was much sought […]