I look forward to baking this cake in autumn when mandarins are at their peak; some varieties continue into June and winter, which gives you time to get into the kitchen and start baking. In this cake, the lusciousness of the pistachios and the sweetness of the mandarins, make a perfect and flavoursome match. They [...]
Some mussels you buy are cultivated in protected areas of the sea bed, or grown on poles, fixed in clean saltwater. Others, because of their habitat, are often sandy and need to be scrubbed; mussels also ingest sand and grit as they feed. Live mussels must be bought very fresh. Kept in a moist, cool [...]
Tapénade is a rich olive paste with a full-flavoured taste that comes with the addition of garlic, anchovies and capers. Originally tapénade was made with a mortar and pestle; you may choose to hand chop the ingredients, if you like a coarse texture, or alternatively use a food processor or kitchen whiz wand. You may [...]
Croatian Ajvar is a popular dipping sauce which is served with meats, and particularly ćevapčići, or chevapi sausages, meatballs, chicken and sausages and Mediterranean vegetables. Ajvar is a capsicum pepper-based condiment with aubergines, garlic and chilies, which also is lovely as a spread; I loved it. You can see it here nestled into the meat [...]
Dukkah is an old Egyptian specialty condiment. It is a loose blend of nuts and spices in a dry, crushed but not to a powdered, form. The name “Dukkah” is derived from the Arabic word “to pound” referring to how all the spices are pounded together to prepare the dish. It is a very personal [...]
Honey from a Weed: fasting and feasting in Tuscany, Catalonia, the Cyclades and Apulia, by Patience Gray has been highly recommended to me from a variety of sources, including Sussan Loomis from On Rue Tatin Cooking School in Normandy and Kate Hill from the Kitchen at Camont Cooking School, down in the south west of [...]
