Back in 2003 when I was writing my sourdough book "The Handmade Loaf”, I travelled to Sweden to understand rye crispbreads better, making my way to the organic Roslagsbröd bakery. There, huge dimpled rollers were part of a wheel-and-belt old school apparatus – fascinating in its complex Heath Robinson ingenuity – which squished and extruded the sticky grey rye dough into pitted sheets that ... Read more
In this new age where we’re either used to lockdown or feeling less inclined to travel, I find myself thinking more about the journey ingredients take to get from the field to my table. The grain used to make flour is no exception. It used to be said, until not so long ago, that all of us, the world over, could only make fine bread from high-gluten Canadian wheat varieties. And we believed it, ... Read more
In France a “Pain Complet” is almost what we would call a wholemeal loaf. However, the flour used is typically slightly more refined: often roller milled without the wheat germ, resulting in a bread with a rich dark crumb colour, but a rather lighter texture than our regular 100% wholemeal bread, yet maintaining a bold bran flavour. This means that if you want to add other ingredients ... Read more
This recipe has grown out of one I wrote back in 1998 for my first book, “Baking with Passion”, where I was making a honey cake and wanted it to have a fresh bright ginger flavour. The bran-rich nuttiness of the Foricher’s Farine Complet T150 Brun de Plaisir flour suits this cake to a tee and helps to make a mixture that's high in natural fructose and glucose more stable, as the bran soaks ... Read more
A simple but flavour packed seafood sauce to serve with pasta, easy to make in advance: just add the fish at the last minute. Here I’ve served it with our South Devon Pasta Company's Casarecce pasta as it holds its shape very well. If you want to add capers, anchovies or a dash of white vermouth to enhance the flavour of the fish, then do, so... it’s a recipe that is endlessly tweakable, and a ... Read more
In Italy you’d call these ‘zucchine ripiene al pesto’ but - whatever you call them - they’re delicious and one of those mainstays of Italian home-style cooking. I use the very fine Hand-made Einkorn Capellini from the South Devon Pasta Company, and find the delicacy of it swirls and fills the courgettes without any heaviness. They can be made in advance and baked in just 20-30 minutes when ... Read more
An utterly light-textured but intensely-flavoured sauce, perfect when you have beautiful, ripe tomatoes and want to show them at their best in a pasta dish where they’ll be the star, paired here with our South Devon Pasta Company handmade Einkorn Sedano ... Read more
Pretty much the standard recipe for traditional Ragù alla Bolognese, though there may be a few ingredients here, or not here, that surprise you. No garlic or herbs, though do add them if you like. Milk is added to help tenderise the meat, more useful if you’re using cubed beef rather than minced. You can use half pork and beef for the meat. And everything is cooked separately before combining ... Read more
This is one utterly rich swirl of pasta coated in an intensely garlic Stilton sauce with ribbons of blanched green cabbage stirred through before serving. It’s like a posh mac’n’cheese, and great on its own or as an accompaniment for grilled vegetables or meats. A perfect way to serve our Emmer Bucatini pasta from South Devon Pasta Company, and easy to make, as much of it can be done ahead ... Read more
Madeleines are quick and easy to make sponge cakes, baked in a special tray that gives them their shell shape. Perfect when you can find a quiet 10 minutes with a mug of freshly ground coffee.
The recipe here is based on one by Eric Lanlard, which makes enough to fill the shells of our Madeleine trays. I've used some Fiori di Sicilia instead of the orange blossom water suggested, which gives the ... Read more
I've always loved malt loaf: the bought stuff, but only because I've never been able to make one that comes close to that moist malty consistency that just needs some butter on it for a delicious snack.... Until now!
With help from our friends at Muntons, we've got an easy recipe that makes a marvellous malt loaf. The secret to the rich, malty flavour and colour is to use a little roasted barley ... Read more
Pandoro is a glorious Christmas speciality from the Italian city of Verona. This rich, sweet, fragrant bread is fairy light, golden and flavoured with orange extract. Traditionally baked in a star-shaped tin and dusted with icing ... Read more
