Gluten Free

A light and moist cake made with fine cornmeal (polenta) and ground almonds. If you use gluten free baking powder then the cake is completely gluten free. Try using limes or oranges instead of lemon. I used the spare lemon juice mixed with icing sugar to make a drizzle icing for the top. This recipe will make a large cake but for a smaller family size cake just half the quantities.

This piquant red cabbage dish is always better if made the day before. It is popular in Denmark on Boxing Day. We like it as a side dish with a slow roast belly of pork.

This deliciously creamy ranch dip is the perfect accompaniment to our southern fried chicken or to spoon onto a barbecued beef steak. It's good to serve as a dip with celery sticks, carrot batons and cucumber too. It's quick and easy to make and doesn't require exact measurements if you are in a hurry.  Use any soft and creamy blue cheese for the dip with a more crumbly cheese to fold in. You can thin it with a little milk if you fancy using it to dress a salad.

Buckwheat flour is gluten free and has a delicious nutty flavour.  In Brittany, France the buckwheat pancake is a regional speciality. Although delicious with a sweet filling, such as stewed apples, you cannot beat a savoury filled buckwheat pancake... bacon and egg .... smoked salmon and creme fraiche.....ham and melted cheese....

A soup for all seasons that's full of herb flavour but simple to make - and much tastier than the ones in the shops. Use very good stock for the best flavour.

These gluten free brownies are rich and nutty with a delicious fudgy centre.  Buckwheat flour is available from most supermarkets. You can buy ready roasted hazelnuts or toast your own in the pre-heated oven, on a baking tray for 15 minutes.

A delicious cream cheese dessert to serve with fruit, particularly summer berries. Named after the heart shaped moulds they are traditionally made in. You will need a piece of muslin to line the moulds, although if you don't want to turn the creams out, don't worry.

A marinated and slow cooked duck casserole which does not have a thickened gravy. It is sweet from the fresh sun ripened tomatoes, deliciously citrussy from the orange zest and juice with a briny saltiness from the olives. It tastes even better the next day.

Perfect for using up those unripe tomatoes and great for breakfast or supper. I like them with hot sauce.

Plan ahead for this recipe as it will take 4 days to cure. You must turn the fish each day and use the freshest salmon possible. It really is so much better than anything that you will buy in a pack from the supermarket, and cheaper too! Serve with Dill and Mustard sauce and on rye bread.

Halloumi cheese cooks very well on the barbecue as it doesn't melt into a puddle as soon as it hits the heat. Cut quite large cubes of cheese so it doesn't fall between the grid on the barbecue into the fire. Try marinading in lemon, garlic and oregano. Skewers work too, although halloumi is prone to break when you thread the skewer and try to turn them over. Grill to form a lovely brown crust.

Succulent chicken breast pieces marinated in Indian spices and yoghurt making, a very quick and delicious summer meal. Chicken thigh meat is great to use too, and possibly more tasty and succulent than breast meat. Use less chilli powder or cayenne pepper if you prefer less kick, although the amount in this recipe won't have you gasping for water! If you do not have all the spices in your store cupboard, don't worry, just substitute all of the spices with curry powder.

Leg of lamb is perfect for these dainty little skewers. Use small woody stems of rosemary and thread with the marinated lamb and onion. Make sure that the rosemary sprigs are not too fleshy or the meat will not thread. Grill over hot coals. This recipe makes 8 mini skewers, enough for 4 people as a starter or 2 people for a main course. Delicious served in pitta bread with some tzatziki.

A simple and economical soup which is quick to make. Use oil instead of butter for a dairy free version.

A quick and easy marinade to use on barbecued/grilled cheese, meat or fish. Delicious to perk up halloumi cheese, salmon or lamb.