Author Archives: Olivia

Salted or Unsalted? (And other thoughts on butter).

A reader wrote about this scone recipe, “I have compared your recipe with the Ballymaloe recipe and you miss out the pinch of salt.” That’s true and if you are using unsalted butter you should probably add the pinch of salt. I … Continue reading

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Menus at The Feast of Reason

The 1st Feast of Reason with Andy Day, Chloe Ruthven and Jo Wallfisch Champagne cocktails and beetroot blinis Pork and herb pate with red onion relish Roast cod with pumpkin risotto, black kale, cream and leeks Lemon and apple syllabub … Continue reading

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The Perfect Scone

These Ballymaloe scones never fail because of the generous amount of eggs and baking power in the recipe. When I make them I can hear Darina Allen talking about whipping up a batch as you see your guests walking up the garden path. I … Continue reading

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Foraging for Sloe Gin in October

On a sunny weekend in Hampshire we foraged for blackberries, rose hips and sloes and sat outside the next day popping the sloes into bottles of gin. Sloe Gin Recipe Wash the sloes, throw out any that are bad, and prick … Continue reading

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My Des(s)ert Island Cookery Books

Like many cooks I have far too many cookery books so I’m trying to decide on my desert island list. 1. The Times Cookery Book by Katie Stewart (1972) This is annoyingly out of print but I have an Abebooks … Continue reading

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100 scones for Persephone Books

Made 100 scones for Persephone Books tea using this foolproof Ballymaloe recipe. (Note that it’s jam first then cream – revealing my Cornish loyalty). To make 100, use the quantities below. But when using the Magmix (even though I have the … Continue reading

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A Chocolate Raspberry Pudding Cake for 80 people

This Nigella Lawson recipe works extremely well for large numbers as it’s very easy to make in a huge saucepan and extremely forgiving of almost any baking tray or oven. Ingredients Timescale & Hints The recipe serves ten but it’s … Continue reading

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Gammon and Red Cabbage for 80 people in Cornwall

A very simple but popular meal for lots of people: boiled gammon, mashed potato, and red cabbage. It’s low-budget and can be done in advance. It doesn’t sound or look very glamorous but it’s surprisingly delicious. Baked Gammon For 80 people you need … Continue reading

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Vegetarian food for 30 at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay

I have just come back from cooking at one of my favourite places in the world, The Abbey in Sutton Courtenay. I was cooking for a group doing a mindfulness retreat led by Alistair Appleton. One of the meals was … Continue reading

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Making pastry the easy way

I am not a natural pastry maker unlike my grandmother Norma who made wonderful light pastry by hand. I’m also lazy and take any shortcut going, so at the risk of sounding like an advert I always make pastry in … Continue reading

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