Chocolate Mousse

Preparation time is about 2 hours. Takes only 10 minutes to make. Ingredients 165g/6oz dark chocolate, minimum 70% cocoa solids, finely chopped 8 free-range eggs, whites only 4 tsp castor sugar Fresh Lemon Juice Method 1. Place the chocolate in a large bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water (making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the surface of the water) and leave to melt over a low heat. Turn...

Spiced Sugar

Makes 1kg of sugar 3 fresh bay leaves finely grated zest of 2 oranges finely grated zest of 2 lemons 6 whole cloves ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 10 gratings of whole nutmeg 1 vanilla pod, halved lengthways 1kg unrefined caster sugar "What’s mad about this is that, even though all of these spices and flavours are so pungent on their own, they actually taste like tutti frutti sweets when together. You can use this sugar...

Roasted cauliflower with cumin, coriander and almonds

1 head of cauliflower, outer green leaves removed, broken into florets sea salt olive oil a knob of butter 2 teaspoons cumin seeds 2 teaspoons coriander seeds 1-2 dried red chillies a handful of blanched almonds, smashed zest and juice of 1 lemon "When most people think of ways to cook cauliflower they will come up with either boiling or gratinating - I'm sure this is the same for you. It may seem strange, but cauliflower...

Pesto (serves 4)

½ a clove of garlic, chopped sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 good handfuls of fresh basil, leaves picked and chopped a handful of pine nuts, very lightly toasted a good handful of freshly grated Parmesan cheese extra virgin olive oil optional a small squeeze of lemon juice "First I’m going to show you an easy recipe for making pesto and then I’ll give you some ideas on how best to use it, instead of just...

Homemade Tomato Ketchup

• 1 large red onion, peeled and roughly chopped • ½ a bulb of fennel, trimmed and roughly chopped • 1 stick of celery, trimmed and roughly chopped • olive oil • a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced • ½ a fresh red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped • a bunch of fresh basil, leaves picked, stalks chopped • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds • 2 cloves • 1 teaspoon...

Grilled Herb Shrimp (Serves 6)

3 garlic cloves, minced 1 medium yellow onion, small-diced 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley 1/4 cup minced fresh basil 1 teaspoon dry mustard 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup good olive oil Juice of 1 lemon 2 pounds jumbo shrimp (16 to 20 per pound), peeled (tails left on) and deveined Combine the garlic, onion, parsley, basil, mustards, salt, pepper, olive...

Chicken liver parfait (serves 8-10)

2 x 250g packs of butter a small bunch of fresh sage, leaves picked olive oil 2 red onions, peeled and finely chopped 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped a small bunch of fresh thyme, leaves picked 1kg chicken livers, preferably free-range or organic, trimmed sea salt and freshly ground black pepper a small wineglass of brandy mixed fresh bread, to serve Parfait is basically a silky smooth pate. You can buy...

Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs (serves 2)

30g butter, plus a little extra for spreading 6 large free-range or organic eggs 2 slices sourdough or crusty white bread, griddled or toasted sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 slices of smoked salmon 1 lemon, quartered Melt the butter in a small saucepan over a moderate heat until it’s foaming. Whisk the eggs in a bowl and add to the saucepan. Stir the eggs continuously with something flexible like a spatula...

Cinnamon Chocolate Fudge

Butter for greasing the pan 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 pound (about 2 cups) bittersweet (60% cacao) chocolate chips (recommended: Ghiradelli) *see Cook’s Note 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, at room temperature Kosher or flake salt (optional) Butter the bottom and sides of an 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Line the pan with...

The Full English (serves 2)

Ingredients: 6 good-quality pork and leek sausages 4 field mushrooms, wiped 2 small tomatoes – scored on top 250g smoked dry cured back bacon 170g black pudding, sliced 1 x 420g can of baked beans 2 knobs of butter 6 eggs, preferably free-range or organic, cracked into a bowl and beaten sea salt and freshly ground black pepper ½ a loaf of thick-sliced bread, for toasting Preheat the grill to high. Set the oven to its...

Tequila Chicken

1/2 cup gold tequila 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (5 to 6 limes) 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (2 oranges) 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon minced fresh jalapeño pepper (1 pepper seeded) 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (3 cloves) 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3 whole (6 split) boneless chicken breasts, skin on Combine the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, chili powder,...

Sun-Dried Tomato Dip (Makes 2 cups)

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped (8 tomatoes) 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup good mayonnaise 10 dashes Tabasco sauce 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 scallions, thinly sliced (white and green parts) Purée the tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper in a food processor fitted with a metal...