ENGLISH POT-ROAST

A wonderful Sunday one-pot dinner to lift the spirits when the weather is grey and miserable.

DELIA SMITH’S COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED COOKERY COURSE – A NEW EDITION FOR THE 1990s.

ISBN780563214540 – PAGE 132.

Serves: 4 - 6 people.

Skill Level: Easy.

Taste Test: Excellent – This is home comfort food at its best, and the meat is very tender.

TIP 1: I left out the swede and the end result was still very good.

TIP 2: Eat with Delia’s Yorkshire Pudding Page 130 and reviewed on my blog.

Kitchen Equipment Used: Large Le Creuset Casserole Dish – this is enamelled cast ironware and is great for making casseroles etc.

YORKSHIRE PUDDING

I love to watch this pudding rising in the oven – delicious also served cold with lots of jam.

DELIA SMITH’S COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED COOKERY COURSE – A NEW EDITION FOR THE 1990s.

ISBN780563214540 – PAGE 130.

Serves: 4 people – or 2 hungry people.

Skill Level: Easy

Taste Test: – Excellent – this Yorkshire Pudding is not at all stodgy, this recipe is my favourite. You will not find a better Yorkshire Pudding recipe than this. The texture is superb and you will have success every time.

TIP 1: I use two eggs and not one as in the recipe - this seems to give a better rise.

TIP 2: Use lard for the roasting tin and make sure it is very hot before pouring in the batter.

TIP 3: I use a muffin tin and this makes four individual Yorkshire Puddings.

Kitchen Equipment Used: A Bamix Hand Blender to mix the batter – this adds in plenty of air and makes a smooth batter.

FRESH TOMATO SOUP WITH BASIL

A wonderful fresh soup to make in the summer when tomatoes are at their very best.

DELIA SMITH'S COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED COOKERY COURSE - A NEW EDITION FOR THE 1990s.

ISBN780563214540

FRESH TOMATO SOUP WITH BASIL - PAGE 73.

Serves: 4 people - or 2 people with second helpings.

Skill Level: Easy

Taste Test: Excellent - This must be the best fresh tomato soup ever!!

TIP 1: Use ripe tomatoes (because they’re sweeter). If you use under ripe tomatoes the soup will be very pale in colour and the tomato taste won’t come through very well.

TIP 2: For the stock, use half a vegetable stock cube or preferably vegetable bouillon powder (you can buy this in most supermarkets or health food shops - and this will last for ages).

Kitchen Equipment Used:A Meyer stainless steel saucepan – I like this because it’s a good conductor of heat, easy to clean and stylish.