I don’t know whether it’s down to the weather this year – very wet spring and weeks of hot and dry conditions during the middle of summer – but my curly kale is doing incredibly well. I love having it instead of cabbage to complement a roast dinner with loads of roast potatoes and parsnips and oodles of gravy It takes no more than 5 minutes to cook on the hob in a few spoonfuls of simmering water. But surely there must be more to this pretty, frilly leafed green vegetable

Around the world crumpets are known to be very much a British Institution. It seems that, throughout history, toasted crumpets have been served in the drawing room with afternoon tea in front of a roaring log fire.

Quick, easy and cheap to make, these sausages are perfect if you’re holding a finger buffet for friends or family over Christmas.
I suspect, like me, there are a few people who are having friends round for a buffet style meal over Christmas. As I work full time and have my sister and her tribe over on Christmas Eve I’ve bought in several frozen buffet items but I always think it’s nice to make a few of my own.