Summer is a distant memory here in the Dordogne but autumn’s ripe with exciting prospects. So, here are 5 reasons to be happy autumn’s here:1. Enjoying the beauty of the strong, clear late sunshine illuminating the great colours of the countryside – vibrant reds, yellows, golds and...

Marshmallow EyeballsYou’ll need:20 marshmallows20 large raisinsRed icing writerAssemble the eyeballs by pushing one raisin into the center of one marshmallow. Using the red icing writer, draw the bloodshot lines on the top and sides of the marshmallow. Allow the marshmallow eyeballs to set...

Now is the time I get ready to pick all the fruit from my garden, before the bounty disappears - store, pickle and get jamming!  Fresh fruit and veg are in abundance, although  less than last year after the dry summer. It is a good time to swot up on your mushrooms [obviously wise, so as...

When he was stationed in London it was always the same. It consisted of very strong coffee … of which he drank two large cups, black and without sugar. The single egg, in the dark blue egg cup with a gold ring around the top, was boiled for three and a third minutes … Then there were...

The August harvest will soon be here, but because of the  early warm summer and late rain some of the usual suspects, blackberries for example came early.One of my favourite dishes at this time of year is Courgette and artichoke risotto. Artichokes are not grown a lot in this country, so...

As I look out from our kitchen perched over the Dordogne valley, I contemplate the great wealth of food and drink available in the region.I have always been captivated by the French way of life, design and culture – my dream being of sipping local wine while conversing effortlessly with the...

When I get writers’ block, need a new idea for a project or simply have some spare time on a rainy afternoon, often a trip to a museum or gallery is the only thing to do. There’s something about encounters with wonderful art – whether sculpture, photography, video or works on paper...

East Londoners are spoilt for choice when it comes to making the kitchen the most stylish room in the house. Aside from fabulous vintage china and tablecloths to be found on Columbia Road, and contemporary wares at SCP, two stores are particular treats;Firstly is Labour and Wait on Cheshire Street,...

With the festivities al lover, alll of us who enjoyed are carrying a little extra Christmas weight, so time to get healthy. January’s seasonal food is surprisingly fresh and rich.I like to go down to my local market and buy up any fruit or vegetables where there’s plenty left over this...

In 2003 I moved to an area on the mainland Greece near Kalamata, famous for its olive production. After a couple of months of looking, I found an olive grove in a small mountain village with the most spectacular view of the sea. It was beautiful but isolated, without even a telephone or television,...