Dad's Cuisine

Looking for ways to hide vegetables in a meal? Pine nuts, mint and cherry tomatoes combine in this courgette and goat's cheese tart that will have even the fussiest of diners asking for more. For as long as I've been encouraging Dad to cook healthy, tasty meals , getting him to eat vegetables has continued to be an ongoing battle. It's a battle that has been raging for most of his life.  I can clearly recall how the battle lines were drawn at the beginning of every meal at home. Mum, serving the food, would send over some friendly fire, nonchalantly adding some vegetables to Dad's plate by strategically concealing them behind a large potato. But Dad, eyeing the servings with gimlet eyes, would respond to the perceived unfriendly fire by protesting loudly that there were far too many vegetables on his plate ("That's enough!" he'd cry urgently, seeing a handful of peas dwarfed by a generous helping of beef and potatoes.) Eyes narrowed, he would proceed t

  Spicy prawn stew This spicy prawn stew is filling, as fiery as you like, and couldn't be easier to put together when you're pushed for time. One of my abiding memories from childhood is my parents' dinner parties. It didn't matter who they had invited - family, old friends, new acquaintances or work colleagues - they were always raucous affairs that lasted for hours. Mum generally made curries on these nights for two reasons: first, curries are fantastic dishes for sharing; and second, due to my childhood aversion to anything resembling spice, it meant my parents could enjoy a curry without me flailing around dramatically in reaction to the merest hint of heat (my brother and I would have to come and say hello to all the guests before being packed swiftly off to bed, with strict instructions to stay upstairs).  On those evenings, the dining room would come alive with exotic sights and sounds - oranges, reds and yellows crashing into each other;  the cracks of poppadom

Chestnut, bacon and cranberry loaf Sweet and savoury come together in this chestnut, bacon and cranberry loaf. A delicious, seasonal cake that's perfect for those chilly autumn days. Chestnut, bacon and cranberry loaf Autumn has crept up on us. It's hard to explain why we are constantly surprised by the changing of the seasons, but every year we exclaim and complain how chilly and dark it's getting, as if this is the first time it's happened and the universe is pranking us.  But this year, we aren't complaining. In a time where everything is uncertain and we're all having to adapt to a new way of living, it can be comforting to honour the season's rituals and welcome a change that is familiar.  In our family, autumn heralds a period of long walks and foraging in the forest for mushrooms and chestnuts.  After all, eating seasonal foods is good for your health and great for your wallet.  Now, I'm not overly confident when it comes to mushrooms; I can't