OCCASIONAL FEASTS

My mother’s mince pies are like no other I’ve ever tried. Her mincemeat is far more how I imagine it tasting to a Medieval palate. Made...

Latticed pies are always wonderful to look at. The one pictured is a bit rushed and rustic, but still drew gasps when I presented it at...

This was a recipe formulated for the opera-themed Diva Kitchen Cook-Along, part of the Blackheath Halls 'Thursday Nights in with Nicky...

I've been making this pilau rice for years for all sorts of feasts. It's based on a recipe by Delia Smith, but with a few of my own...

BEHOLD The Kiwi 🥝’Te Kanawa’ Bellini!!! Named after Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, this is the ultimate singer’s cocktail, with kiwifruit, fresh...

Every year, my mother would make walnut crescents as part of her annual Christmas baking repertoire - a formidable collection of recipes....

Makes one 23cm tart (with some leftover pastry in case you want to add some pastry shapes on top) You'll need: a 23 cm tart/flan dish...

I've based my vanilla cupcake recipe on the Hummingbird Bakery recipe as I haven't encountered a better one, quite honestly! However I...

I'm often asked for my favourite, most versatile, never-fail chocolate cake recipe. This one always wins. It was given to me by my...

I love making madeleines so much and experimenting with flavours. These orange-blossom-scented madeleines with lemon and cardamom are...

Now that picnic weather is starting in the UK (though admittedly the weather has taken a turn today for the grey and rainy), I’ve been...

I am proud of these. It’s taken a lot of tries but I’m happy to sacrifice my waistline for culinary perfection - and I reckon I've nailed...

Spanakopita - that famous Greek spinach and feta pie with dill, parsley, pinenuts, nutmeg, spring onions, shallot and of course, filo. My...

I have tried so many rich fruit cake recipes. In fact, for a few wedding cakes over the years, I've made multiple recipes for clients to...

This recipe is Nigella Lawson's (bar a few tweaks), from her book, 'Feast'. It is utterly marvellous with pork or lamb and makes a...

This is one of the meals I make for celebrations like Christmas or long family Sunday roast lunches. The recipe for the pork is based on...

This is a pie that I've made for a long time. I would make the poached pears for dinner parties, then I started fanning them out on puff...

I have spent quite a few years perfecting this recipe, which was made up, but fairly traditional in that the flavours are those that...

My Mother’s Strawberry Yoghurt Pie is a perfect way to showcase the upcoming strawberry season in the Northern Hemisphere - and to use up...

I usually just put whatever I have in to a stew so every time is different but this one was a winner! I served it with potato and spinach...