RECOMMENDATIONS

• 

  Brandy snaps

  Toffee-coloured biscuits laced with spice and a billowing cream centre from Eleanor Smallwood

• 

  Parmesan scrambled eggs on sourdough bread

  Give scrambled eggs on toast a bit of a mix-up and try Amanda Lamb’s updated version

• 

  Patina of asparagus

  Sally Grainger’s recipe for asparagus custard, adapted from the ancient Apicius collection of Roman recipes, is surprisingly delicate and unsurprisingly delicious

• 

  Plain paratha (lightly fried bread)

  Discover just how delicious a home-made paratha can taste with Vicky Bhogal's recipe for these classic Indian flat breads

• 

  Fabada

  Mario Batali makes a Spanish favourite - a white bean and pork stew from the wild mountains of Asturias

• 

  Baked cheesecake with blueberries

  Rachel Allen’s recipe for this timeless dessert is a good base for any fruit that’s in season – blackberries and raspberries are particularly delicious

• 

  Heather honey cake

  Emma Sturgess' fabulous cake is made with heather honey from north-east England and as it bakes, will fill the kitchen with the distinctive heather honey aroma

• 

  Pine nut and carrot roast with mushroom sauce

  Rose Elliot dresses up a nut roast - serve it with roast potatoes and trimmings for a classic vegetarian feast

• 

  Lotte a l'americaine

  Sophie Grigson makes one of her mother's favourite dishes

• 

  Bucatini with bacon and mascarpone

  Matt Tebbutt’s cheap and easy-to-prepare pasta dish uses a piece of bacon to make a stock - a great thrifty tip