The ultimate veggie roast dinner

Joining in with the tradition of ‘Sunday roast’ has to be one one of my favourite things about moving to England. In a cozy pub with a pint of ale or at home cooked with friends and a few glasses of wine, it’s just the perfect way to make Sunday feel relaxing and fun and to completely forget you’ll be back at work the next day.  But despite all those lovely words about roasts, I have to admit I’m a bit picky when it comes to choosing one…

What to do with brussel sprouts?

I didn’t grow up hating brussel sprouts. In fact I sort of liked them before I tried them because they’re so cute – I mean little baby cabbages, how could you hate anything so mini and innocent looking? Especially when you see them growing on the stalk, they’re actually kind of beautiful. But I can definitely identify with hating overboiled vegetables and brussels suffer from this worse than most veggies. If they’re going to be part of so many festive meals, they ought to be cooked properly…

Black pumpernickel bread with olives

I’m not much of a bread person. Some people seem to need it with almost every meal but I would normally say that if I never saw another slice again I’d be fine. But there is an exception and this bread is it…

A veggie pie for the holidays

The day after our big Thanksgiving day feast, I was already thinking about what to make for Christmas. Sad but true! And this veggie pie is going to be the main event. The test run was so tasty, I might even be making it on Thanksgiving next year instead of the dreaded bird…

Red cabbage and carrot curry

Yes, you read that right – red cabbage curry. It started out as a random idea but it turned out more delicious and delicate and aromatic than I thought it could be…

Thanksgiving menu ideas

It’s November – so I can officially start obsessively planning my big Thanksgiving feast. Although if I’m honest I may have looked at a few recipes in October or even September… I love the planning almost as much as the actual night, and if you’re feeding 15+ people you need to plan!

What to do with too many apples?

Spend too much time in the kitchen cooking them! But hey, it’s autumn so being in a warm kitchen making yummy-smelling food which might even keep you fed over winter isn’t so bad…

Herb and greens pie

This was the perfect quick autumn meal the other night – lighter than winter stews and roasts but heavier than a summer salad, it’s filling, tasty, and a great way to use up herbs and greens from the garden or the shop…

What to do with too many courgettes, summer squash and zucchini?

So autumn has snuck up on me! A couple festivals and a big trip to America and somehow the summer vegetable bonanza is almost over and I haven’t blogged nearly as many recipes as I meant to.

Luckily there is a summer veggie which carries on into September and just keeps on giving. If, like me, you haven’t made it to your garden or allotment in weeks and you’re a bit scared to go because of the amount of courgettes (aka zucchini or summer squash in the USA) that might have sprouted up since you were last there, fear not – I have been building up the recipe list for these little beauties for a few years now so you don’t have to be afraid of them anymore.

Blackberry wine and apple fruit leather

Making booze from fruit is an idea that’s always intrigued me. It sounds too good to be true that we can pick fruit for free all summer and turn it into warming winter cocktails! But all the recipes I’ve ever seen seemed a bit complicated and I was too intimidated to give it a try. But once I realised how simple it can be, I knew blackberry wine would be just the beginning…