Green Pea Soup aka Clanger Soup

This is one of my daughters’ favourite lunches. It has the huge advantage that you can make it from scratch in about 20 minutes … which is about how long it takes to heat the oven and bake off some part-baked baguettes to go with it.

For this recipe I use my faithful Le Creuset […]

Hot and spicy sausage pasta

This is a fairly quick and very tasty meal.

Recipe: Hot and spicy sausage pasta

Summary: Yummy!

Ingredients 400g pork sausages 1 large red onion, chopped 1tbsp olive oil 1 clove of garlic, crushed 1 red chilli, de-seeded and finely chopped 150 ml red wine 1 tin of chopped tomatoes a pinch of sugar […]

Mulled Wine

While there can be no doubt that mulled wine is non-dairy, to paraphrase slightly, “Christmas isn’t Christmas without mulled wine” and this recipe tastes superb so I thought I’d tuck it in. It isn’t as ferociously alcoholic as many versions, but tastes a great deal better because of all the fruit and you really don’t […]

Mince Tart

Like a mince pie, but better!

This makes a great party offering: it looks fantastic and isn’t hard to do! Much more impressive than mince pies for the end of a dinner party, less effort and very Christmassy with a little twist of originality. Enjoy!

You will need an 11″ / 28cm loose […]

Mince Pies

The traditional accompaniment to a glass of mulled wine during the Christmas season.

For this recipe you will need 2 sizes of pastry cutters (wine glasses will do in an emergency), 2 tart trays, a pastry brush and a wire cooling rack.

Recipe: Mince Pies

Summary: Can’t have Christmas without mince pies! Here’s how […]

Traditional Fruit Cake

All ready for decorating

My mother has been making this cake for Christmas and special occasions in the family for about thirty years. It is truly delicious: moist but not sticky. It isn’t cheap because of all the fruit, but it is well worth the effort for a traditional Christmas cake. Do note […]

Christmas White Sauce

This goes superbly with Christmas Pudding and is really fairly straightforward.

For this recipe you will need a heavy bottomed saucepan which is NOT non-stick, a pint jug and a balloon whisk.

Recipe: Christmas White Sauce

Summary: What would Christmas pudding be without a traditional rum sauce?

Ingredients 2 tbsps cornflour 1 tbsp demerara […]

Christmas Pudding

This is the recipe which has been used in the family for almost as many years as I can remember. It is lighter in texture than a very traditional pudding, but the flavour is absolutely traditional. I’m afraid I don’t go in for weird and wonderful variations on Christmas recipes; the tradition is all part […]

Condensed Milk

Yes, you really can make a dairy-free version of this and it is just as tempting to stick your finger into as the tins of the real thing! The only slight drawback is that this is not a quick thing to make and you do have to stay with it at all times. However, it […]

Chocolate Crème Brulée

Goes down a storm and you can’t tell it’s dairy-free. Down sides? Expensive and fiddly to make.

For this recipe you will need a smallish basin and a saucepan to make a bain marie, a large mixing bowl, an electric hand mixer, a second saucepan and 6 ramekins about 2″ / 5cm deep by 3″ […]