Chicken and prawn spring rolls

Mrs M loves Asian food, specifically stir-fried. Whenever I’m contemplating the recipe of the week and I ask her for guidance, as often as not the suggestion will be something stir-fried. True to form the other evening, she suggested spring rolls, which although they are (usually) deep-fried, the filling is usually stir-fried.

By Norman McFarlane 10 February 2012 Read Article

Satisfying toad-in-the-hole

There’s something about Nigella Lawson that makes one want to cook whatever it is she’s cooking. That thought struck me the other day, watching her make a very simple Toad-in-the-hole with her usual casual panache, that most of her avid followers must be men. I mean just look at how she makes the simple act of licking her fingers look so seductive.

By Norman McFarlane 03 February 2012 Read Article

Something old, something new, something borrowed

We’re talking about three recipes here, so there's nothing blue, except that's how Mrs M feels when I don't wash the dishes after making dinner, which I’ve resolved to do more often this year (New Year's resolutions….. Pshaw!) Combine hummus (something old), Jamaican jerk chicken (something new)....

By Norman McFarlane 25 January 2012 Read Article

A man in the kitchen: choices, choices, choices

These Americans are crazy. A thought I had on more than one occasion during my visit to the country last November. Having spent a sublime week in the Napa Valley and Sonoma taking a look at the Californian wine industry, I headed north east for South Ogden, Utah – which is a short distance north of Salt Lake City, hard up against the Rocky Mountains – to visit with family.

By Norman McFarlane 18 January 2012 Read Article

REAL apricot jam

Mrs M’s granddad was of the opinion that commercially-produced apricot jam (you know, that smooth stuff you get in the tin from the local supermarket) contained more pumpkin than apricots. Consequently he would only ever eat the homemade variety.

By Norman McFarlane 11 January 2012 Read Article