Food, Wine & Beverages

These mildly spiced biscuits can be made in advance, and kept in the fridge up to a week. Just slice them up and bake when you want! Perfect for a festive nibble or when visitors call in.

This is a great comfort bake that’s filling, tasty and freezes well. I often make two at a time – one to eat and one to freeze, to save me time during the week when I feel like a night off from cooking.

A blast from the past. I had not eaten or even seen a chocolate ripple cake since my teenage years. But at my brother’s party for his 70th birthday his charming neighbour Carina volunteered to make a collection of sweet dishes.

Food waste is a hot topic, especially as billions of dollars worth of edibles disappear into the world’s landfills each year. Some food is wasted because restaurants and caterers over-order; some is thrown into big bins by supermarkets as ‘best-by’ dates reach their deadlines. But a vast amount of food is wasted in our own homes

Preparing simple dishes like this in advance keeps me organised during a busy week, and I can pre-track the recipe the night before. This loaf is generously portioned for a hearty breakfast, and also makes a great addition to a lunch box.

This is such a good recipe. I love this yeasted dough, which includes lard, the traditional shortening for many pastries and raised pies from the north of England. Long-time readers of my books will remember my grandmother’s wonderful bramble pie recipe that uses Lard Pastry.

I’m often asked how I maintain my weight, and my answer is simple – not much changes from the weight-loss phase!

I cannot express how much I love ginger cake, especially when it’s as delicious and simple to make as this recipe.

I’ve always loved sausage rolls, but I particularly enjoy this combination – it reminds me of my mum. She used to make a similar recipe when I was at school, and coming home to the smell of them in the oven was always a welcome treat.

Looking for an easily transported savoury snack thats also good for you? Try these bliss balls, they're great for afternoon treats, snacks on the run and lunch box fillers. Try them dipped in hummus or natural yoghurt.