This dense nutty brown loaf is adapted from Sarah Britton’s Life-Changing Loaf recipe that she developed while living in Denmark. The bread did literally change her life as the recipe from her blog – www.mynewroots.org – went viral. This is our version minus the maple syrup. You can use oats if you ...

These pretty pears can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge until you are ready to serve. I like to serve them chilled from the fridge with a jug of hot chocolate sauce to pour over the top. SERVES 4 4 medium, ripe pears juice of 1 lemon (put the squeezed halves in the water in which you cook the pears) 5cm (2in) cinnamon...

On our travels to Vietnam, I was amazed to see the quantity of herbs used, huge bunches of them, instead of salad leaves. They give so much zing and flavour; don’t stint on them. If you don’t have enough of one herb, just add more of another. If you use red cabbage, your chicken will be purple in colour, which is amusing although the flavo...

Smoked mackerel gives a familiar, traditional taste to the fishcakes and brings all the goodness of oily fish; to vary them, use hot-smoked salmon, canned salmon or sardines.  I have served these with lettuce, tomato and the Horseradish & Lemon Crème Fraîche.  These are also delicious made half the size to serve as canapés. SERVES 4...