Chicken Savoyarde (6)

This simple to make chicken dish is great for special occasions, and is another old favourite. Serve with buttered new potatoes and a crisp green salad. The dish was created by Tim Withers of The George and Dragon Pub in Rowde, Wiltshire two or three generations ago. It was first shared by Simon Hopkinson, but I found it in ” Well Tempered Food” by Tamasin Day- Lewis.

Crab Crumble (4)

A recipe from ” The Hidden Hut” by Simon Stallard. Its good to make this in winter in the UK when crabs are usually both cheaper to buy and richer in the brown meat which makes this dish rich and flavoursome. Two whole crabs will give you about the right amount of crabmeat for this dish.

TV Chips (2)

Loaded chips to enjoy when you are in newed of comfort. Instead of tuna you could load these with Salsa Roja and Pickled Onions or with Mexican Sauce and Spring Onion Salsa. You need a flat baking tray and you want to spread the potatoes out as much as possible to crisp and colour evenly. The recipe is fro ” Mezcla” by Ixta Belfrage.

Risotto Milanese (4)

I have only recently started cooking risottos but now realise there is nothing to be afraid of- stirring slowly can be a contemplative process, especially with a glass of wine to sip alongside as you do so. This easy version is from ” The Art of the Larder” by Claire Thomson, my local but increasingly well known chef and food writer. You need good quality stock.