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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.
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
Nov 3, 20143 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
Oct 21, 20142 min read
Pork shoulder steaks with paprika, potatoes, onions, garlic & rosemary
This is such a great recipe for the all family; lots of flavour, easy ingredients, inexpensive and everything is roasted together in one...
Lydia Gerratt
Oct 6, 20142 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 24, 20143 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
Sep 8, 20142 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 29, 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
Aug 18, 20143 min read
Caponata (Sicilian slow cooked aubergines)
One dish that I just couldn’t get enough of on my recent holiday to Sicily was Caponata – it’s full on addictive. This is an aubergine...
Lydia Gerratt
Aug 7, 20143 min read
Chinese beef noodles
This is my husband’s recipe and I LOVE it. The flavours in this dish remind him of his old life when everyday there were seriously tasty...
Lydia Gerratt
Jul 26, 20143 min read
Spaghetti alle vongole (clams)
My other passion, apart from cooking and eating, is reading detective books. A favourite author is Timothy Holme whose detective,...
Lydia Gerratt
Jul 24, 20143 min read
Quiche Lorraine
I’ve been meaning to make a Quiche Lorraine for ages now……but it always seemed like it would be a faff and life just gets in the way. I...
Lydia Gerratt
Jul 12, 20142 min read
Lydia Gerratt
Jul 1, 20142 min read
Piemonte peppers
I’m always on the lookout for seriously good vegetable recipes for my family, particularly ones that don’t look like a portion of veg...
Lydia Gerratt
Jun 17, 20142 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 5, 20143 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
Jun 3, 20142 min read
Walnut Torte
I have a passion for walnut cakes. Not the ordinary ones, but the flourless, moist kind that taste overwhelming of walnuts and if they...
Lydia Gerratt
May 27, 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 13, 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
May 7, 20142 min read
Roast Salmon fillets, asparagus, potatoes, garlic and rosemary with a tarragon parsley butter
Fish can be expensive which is why I get excited when I come up with a tasty salmon recipe as salmon is fairly reasonable in price. ...
Lydia Gerratt
Apr 29, 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 23, 20143 min read
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