Cookbooks

A perfect accent for an outdoor supper during tomato season. In winter, it revives the palate as an aperitif. This drink demonstrates so ably how fresh ingredients can be incorporated into everyday drinking cocktails.

The precursor to the Pimm’s Cup, the old Claret Cup employs a wine base to make a drink that is light and redolent of additions such as borage, cucumber, or strawberries. There are multiple recipes, but we like a simple one that modifies wine with just a bit of sherry (or even vermouth, in a pinch). Claret was what the English used to call wines from Bordeaux. Really, any red jammy wine will do—Cabernets or even Syrah, although a decent Côtes du Rhône or a Beaujolais is what we use most often. Don’t overthink it—use whatever fruit you’ve got in the fridge and see what you prefer. In fall, it’s lovely to grate a little nutmeg and cinnamon on top.

Created during World War II by Donn Beach, the name is Morse code for “Victory.”

Turn simply poached salmon into a complete meal with a ratatouille that cooks in the same amount of time as the fish.

This is a quick and easy breakfast to have ready to go, after jump-starting your day with a morning workout.

I have lots of people asking me to create gluten-free recipes that do not just rely on the gluten-free flour that can be found in the shops. I have experimented with almond flour (ground almonds), but find that the resulting bakes can be quite heavy, which does not suit all baked goods, and also highly calorific. So while I use ground almonds in some things, I do like to use oats in others. The cinnamon in this recipe adds a lovely taste to the blueberries, as well as helping regulate blood sugar levels.

I have written many quiche recipes and usually they are mushroom with a little ham, but smoked salmon in a quiche gives a lot of flavor and works beautifully with the basil.

I like to make things in my cupcake tray that are not cupcakes. Often. And these quasi-muffin omelettes are one of my favorite. A good thing to do is to make a whole load and store them in the fridge for lunches, brunches, and snacks for the family to enjoy without having to make them fresh each time. They will keep for a couple of days in the fridge.

Berries are such a great source of nutrients called polyphenols, which make them and the foods they are mixed with a lovely slow energy releaser, perfect to avoid those unwanted energy highs and then lows after eating refined sugar. These tarts are wonderful for when you are entertaining guests and need an easy and cool-looking dessert.

Deviled eggs are always a crowd-­pleaser and are a great way to extend your relationship with eggs beyond breakfast. Here’s a twist on the classic that packs more flavor and far more nutrition with the powers of mustard greens and roasted red pepper. These are great for a snack or for lunch at work.

Juicy wild blueberries and a subtle sweetness from the mint pair well with the vegetal taste of greens in this aromatic smoothie.

If you love sweet and salty paired in one dish, then this nourishing salad is for you. To take this dish on the road, pack the berries and the dressing separately to avoid wilting the greens. For a cocktail party, swap the greens out for lettuce cups and spoon them full of the carrots, radishes, berries, and nuts, then drizzle with dressing.

Perfect with a couple of Coronas with lime wedges, these tacos make for the ultimate summer communal dining experience. The combination of hot, tangy and sweet flavors is amazing. Share them with your mates and they’ll be your friends for life.

On an afternoon in May, a favorite Provençal bistro served us this utterly delicious and totally beautiful spring salad of blanched asparagus, a perfect poached egg draped with a shiny, fragrant slice of ham from the French Basque region, and a tangle of soft greens.

With the crunch of the iceberg and onions, the soft richness of the avocado, the saltiness of the bacon, the sweetness of the tomato, and the bite of the blue cheese, this salad has it all! And it is beautiful to boot.

Tart kiwi and sweet blueberries make a unique salsa to dress your basic pork loin. This is a leaner cut of pork, so be sure not to overcook it; you can test the meat by slicing it with a paring knife or using an instant-read thermometer, which should register 145ºF.

Start your weekend on a healthier note with this herb-packed frittata.

Wild salmon tops the list of fish that are high in omega-3 and low in mercury. So swap out farmed salmon, which contains food dyes, for the real thing. Frozen sides of wild salmon offer the best value. Garlic scapes are the young, soft stems and unopened flower buds of hardneck garlic. This variety of garlic tends to be prevalent at farmer's markets. The season for scapes is short, so if you can't find them you can substitute scallions or baby leeks.

Tried a green smoothie in the past you had to force down for the good of your insides? Well, this one is sweet, delicious, easy to drink, and full of all the right stuff.

WARNING: This French toast is wickedly indulgent. Enjoy it for breakfast on special occasions, although it’s probably better suited to a decadent dessert. Either way, it’s freaking tasty!