pignoli breakfast biscuits

These soft nutty lemony Sicilian biscuits are served at breakfast in Italy with an espresso and are really popular at special holidays like Christmas and Easter. I like them all year round for breakfast with my coffee or after dinner when I fancy something sweet.

Continue reading

pasta alla norma

This is the classic delicious Sicilian aubergine Pasta Alla Norma recipe, which from everything I have read, was first created in the 1700’s in Catania in Sicily and was so delicious that it was compared to the beautiful opera Norma and thus named. Its a good store cupboard supper, and I’ve also served it up at dinner parties with a crisp green salad.

Continue reading

fried egg sandwich with mushrooms and pink pickled onions

I was commissioned by a bread company to come up with three recipes using their bread and this is one of them. It’s a delicious breakfast, brunch, lunch or snack. It’s got lots of flavour with the pickled red onions and the fried egg with the crunchiness of the bread.

Continue reading

cherry and almond cake

This cake is a version of my apple cake only made with cherries and almonds. It’s a very moist puddingy cake and it goes marzipany in the centre and has a pie like crust on the outside. The cherries I use are hassle free frozen ones from the supermarket which have been stoned and are cheap and easy. 

Continue reading

polpette di melanzane (eggplant meatballs)

This Italian recipe is a fantastic meatless version of meatballs, they are absolutely amazing and packed with flavour and perfect if you love aubergines, like me. Also they are great if you are having a dinner party or date night (just halve the quantities for two) I absolutely adore them.

Continue reading

Moroccan(ish) almond biscuits

For the almond lovers… these biscuits are from a Moroccan cookbook called Orange Blossom and Honey by John Gregory Smith. He based them on the biscuits from the Medina and they are absolutely delicious. They are chewy, nutty and macaron like and perfect served with an espresso. They are also dairy and gluten free. 

Continue reading

pistachio and vanilla biscuits

For the pistachio lovers, these biscuits are Middle Eastern in their inspiration and really easy to make. They are chewy, nutty and macaron like and perfect served with an espresso. They are also dairy and gluten free.

Continue reading

karedok

This is my version of the all raw peanutty salad that comes from Indonesia, the ingredients I put in it are readily available in the supermarket, but if you can get Thai aubergines, which I couldn’t get, then you can add chunks of those too if you want it to be even more authentic, but it is delicious either way(it’s also a good fridge clearer outer using up veg from the fridge) You can serve it with rice if you want, or just on it’s own as a tasty healthy salad. 

Continue reading

roasted pears with date molasses

This easy Middle Eastern inspired recipe is made with the delicious flavours of cinnamon, lemon, vanilla and the sauce it creates is dark and syrupy. It is delicious hot or cold with a dollop of ice cream, cream or yogurt. 

Continue reading