A French 75 – named after a 75mm field gun, because apparently drinking a couple would make you feel like you’d been shelled.

I first drank fig martinis at a cookery class in Istanbul. They’re divine, and the perfect drink to celebrate the end of the festive season

Little pots of tender duck, hot buttered toast for scooping and spreading, cranberry confit on the side, and a glass of red wine.

These Christmas Cupcakes are just the thing to restore festive spirits following an encounter with any kind of stripping mythical creature.

This pork and cider sauce makes the house smell enticingly of Christmas. The cider reduces down into a sweet thick gravy.

A Lychee Fizz – the perfect drink for Sneak Like a Ninja Day.

Salmon and bok choi with a sesame, soy, chili sauce. A spicy antidote after a week of turkey.

Spiced pumpkin apple cake has all the flavors of fall, and can be topped with a simple maple glaze, or a full on cream cheese maple frosting

Wild mushroom risotto – you put the love in, you definitely get the love out.

Lancashire hotpot – rich lamb stew topped with layers of sliced potatoes. Perfect for cold autumn nights.

There’s something about cheesecake that seems so celebratory to me. Its golden creamy richness takes decadence to a level way beyond cake.

Imam bayildi (‘the priest wept’) is one of the all time great, most delicious ways to eat aubergine/eggplant.

Here’s the thing, if you boil the sausages first before roasting in chianti, you’ll get rid of some of the fat.

This week it’s the chianti harvest. Young Chianti, (up to $20) is a great pizza and pasta wine, perfect with tomato sauces and spicy salami.

Focaccia is what you cook when you have time to spend in the kitchen, and you want to root yourself back in your home.

The juiciest late summer plums – perfect for plum cake and afternoon tea.

There are few more lovely things than an array of multicoloured heirloom tomatoes. Personally? I like them on homemade pizza.

Vodka infused cherry tomatoes and a splash of tabasco. Could this be the cutest ever bloody mary?

Bourbon cherries and cherry bourbon – what better way to use the abundance of cherries at the end of summer?

The ultimate chocolate birthday cake passed on by Jon’s mum and baked for every Roberts celebration.

Cinnamon buns adapted from an Amish recipe. It’s proper old fashioned cooking, with a gentle rhythm that can’t be rushed.

Peach and raspberry pie made after a trip to Amish country.