Rhubarb Salad is delicious with loads of fresh mint. Marinade the young chopped stems in brown sugar for an hour then toss in a vinaigrette dressing with plenty of fresh mint and a scattering of Rosemary flowers. A light simple Rhubarb Fool is hard to beat on a mild Spring evening. Just poach young stems…

Quinces on the tree My Quince Ratafia will be wonderful by Christmas. It will add a glow as we drink it, to the Christmas Pud and the Mince Pies. It will cheer up vanilla ice cream and add a sparkle to the winter fruit salad. Added to the pork gravy or stirred into a pheasant…

Peel four pears, slice a small piece off the bottom of each one so that they stand up. In a pan heat half a pint of water (300ml), 4 ounces (125gms) of caster sugar and a quarter of a pint (150ml) of red wine. Bring to the boil. Add the pears and cook gently till…

An old fashioned favourite, feather light but fresh and tangy too. Separate the yolks and whites of three eggs. Beat 175grams of caster sugar into the yolks in a small bowl, add the juice and rind of a lemon. Place the bowl over a pan of gently boiling water and whisk till thick. Make sure…

Peel about 2kg of apples, pears or quince etc. Save peel and pips and tie in muslin cloth. Put everything in a heavy pan with 300ml water and cook till soft. When soft remove the bag of peel etc, weigh the cooked fruit, place in a rinsed pan with an equal amount of sugar. Boil…

For real comfort food I sometimes make this wonderful old fashioned pud. So simple and delicious; just add toasted, chopped hazelnuts to a basic meringue mixture; four egg whites, ¼ tsp cream of tartar, 225 gms caster sugar, 1 tsp vinegar. Bake two meringue cakes in lined sandwich tins in a low oven. Cool in…