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Through them I developed the knowledge and expertise to find the most flavoursome good quality ingredients at the right time of year from the best countries to create the tastiest meals.
Lydia Gerratt
Dec 29, 20142 min read
Endive (chicory) & avocado salad with a French dressing
This winter salad recipe discovery happened in Paris. I took my brand new shiny husband (we’d only been married a year) to stay with a...
Lydia Gerratt
Dec 17, 20142 min read
Raw fennel salad with lemon juice & extra virgin olive oil
The first time I visited my Italian friend, Patrizia, at her home on Italy’s Liguria coast, her mother made a beautiful winter meal of...
Lydia Gerratt
Nov 18, 20142 min read
Pork Stroganoff with sour cream and paprika
Pork Stroganoff is so retro but so good. Crème fraîche, sweet paprika, Dijon mustard, mushrooms and pork fillet make a seriously...
Lydia Gerratt
Nov 3, 20143 min read
Salmon and pea tagliatelle with lemon, garlic, tarragon & parsley butter
Every now and then I crave a light meal with killer flavours. The sharp sourness of lemon (I use a lot in this recipe), pungent garlic,...
Lydia Gerratt
Oct 21, 20142 min read
Cullen Skink (smoked haddock potato leek soup)
My recipe was featured in the Waitrose Weekend magazine I used to work with a Food Buyer at Waitrose who had a serious passion for Cullen...
Lydia Gerratt
Sep 24, 20143 min read
Spaghetti alle cozze (mussels)
My recipe featured in the Waitrose Weekend magazine; It’s autumn, there’s an ‘R’ in the month - now is the time to eat shellfish. ...
Lydia Gerratt
Sep 8, 20142 min read
Tender griddled chicken
Italian butchers are brilliant. I love going into these pristine, marble emporiums while on holiday and seeing what delicious morsels...
Lydia Gerratt
Aug 29, 20143 min read
Spaghetti with a fresh baby plum tomatoes and basil sauce
Have you ever come across a recipe that has been a revelation? One that has changed the way you cook and the type of meals you make...
Lydia Gerratt
Aug 18, 20143 min read
Pesto (a classic pasta sauce from Liguria)
I remember the first time I ate pesto - it was in Milan a very long time ago. I was sitting at the kitchen table watching with slight...
Lydia Gerratt
Jul 1, 20142 min read
Lydia Gerratt
Jun 5, 20143 min read
Pilaf rice
A family friend taught me how to make a middle eastern pilaf rice (they were originally from Bagdad) while I was a student. Over the...
Lydia Gerratt
Jun 3, 20142 min read
Fusilli with courgettes and mint
I do think that courgettes need some help from other ingredients to bring out their own distinctive taste. Creating a dish that brings...
Lydia Gerratt
May 13, 20142 min read
Penne with creamy pesto, chicken and broccoli
This is not an Italian recipe – an Australian friend cooked this pasta dish for me about 15 years ago as a tasty tummy filler before a...
Lydia Gerratt
May 7, 20142 min read
Spaghetti with chestnut mushrooms, cream & parsley
This recipe is a variation on the traditional Italian mushroom pasta - I've added a little single cream. Not so much that you feel...
Lydia Gerratt
Apr 23, 20143 min read
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Roman food is different to all other dishes in Italy; it’s robust and satisfying, the flavours linger on in the memory. A weekend trip...
Lydia Gerratt
Apr 15, 20142 min read
Roast rack of lamb
Early season French trimmed rack of lamb seared in a very hot cast iron pan on the hob and then roasted in a hot oven for 15 minutes...
Lydia Gerratt
Apr 8, 20142 min read
Chicken, pasta and tomato soup
This is one of those super quick, unbelievably easy recipes that uses mostly store cupboard ingredients. My Italian friend gave me this...
Lydia Gerratt
Mar 26, 20143 min read
Schnitzel
My recipe featured in the Waitrose Weekend magazine; Eating schnitzel reminds me of the noisy family dinners at my parent’s house. My...
Lydia Gerratt
Mar 18, 20142 min read
Chestnut mushroom and Porcini risotto
My recipe featured in the Waitrose Weekend magazine; This dish induces serious contentment. The mushrooms, stock and parmesan are...
Lydia Gerratt
Feb 11, 20142 min read
Penne with sausage, fennel, tomatoes and ricotta
I love this recipe; it’s just what you need to get through a cold winter day. The crushed fennel seeds add the right amount of aniseed...
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