The Squashed Worm and Bramble Pie

This month began with a nasty form of lurgie. I felt awful but after 3 days of Lemsips and honey, I pulled myself out of bed at 5 am, still feeling miserable, and headed down to London. After a few fraught meetings in the mansions of power, negotiating with marketing and sales, I managed to […]

El Pais

A week in Spain in February. From a very pleasant 21 degrees in Barcelona to a blizzard on the outskirts of Leon, this trip has been more than a little eventful. Traveling with my amigos in Espania I’ve visited one of the biggest, most modern pig farms in Spain, a huge cattle ranch and many […]

Fillet Steak with Chilli Sprouts

So I have 300 calories left of my fasting 600. I picked up a cook book in a charity shop was inspired to come up with my own version of something in there. Take 100g of fillet steak = 120kcals Some spring onions A long red pepper And a bunch of beam sprouts Sear the […]

Prawn and Pomegranate Soup

Trying this new fasting diet and today is one of those days. Looking round the kitchen I decided to use what I could find quickly. The prawns seem to be fairly low calorie and the rest is just veg and a stock cube. I need to keep under 600 calories. The prawns, 100g, we’re 89 […]

Hosting Happyness

The last two months have been pretty hectic in the world of Sam. There was Xmas, some jamming, some hosting, a good chunk of writing, a promise to myself, and the prospect of some far flung travel. There was also an invite to become an ambassador for the charity Helensburgh Heroes. Christmas was quieter than […]

Cheat’s Chilli Con Carne

When I don’t have much time, and that’s pretty much all the time, I like to have a good standby in my head. You know, just in case someone special pops round, like my good lady. This version of chilli con carne is simple and truly scrumptious. Take a half pound of lean beef mince […]

Spicy Lamb Curry

Leftovers… Yum. How to resurrect lamb with some spices! Cut the cooked lamb into chunks. Put in a frying pan, no oil. Add tsp of curry power A tsp of cumin seeds 2 cardamom seeds, split 1 clove of garlic A tsp of coriander powder 1/2 a tsp of chilli powder 2 spring onions, chopped […]

Roast Lamb with Basil, Yogurt and Fajita Spice

Fajita Spice sounds as though she’d have been a good singer, perhaps that injection of Latin missing from the original line up. Anyway, this dish was simply yummy and pretty easy to put together. Take a leg of lamb and butterfly away from the bone. Rub in some fajita spice, about half a packet. Lather […]

A Bacon Roll

Okay, I know what you’re thinking… ‘a bacon roll? You must be joking?’ Well, no, I’m not joking. I had a kitchen full of teenagers and more than half had no idea how to make a bacon roll. So, for all the ‘teenagers’ out there… Take three rashers(strips) of smoked back-bacon, (that’s just a certain […]

Chicken with Garlic and Apricots

Here’s another take on chicken that is both sweet and tangy. Heat some olive oil in a big pan. Add two breasts of chicken A cup and a half of orange juice Half a stock cube Three cloves of garlic 6 dried apricots Salt and add black pepper to taste. Cover with a heavy lid […]