Paper Palate

Fifteen meals for less than a fiver, Suppers in Under 30 Minutes, Jamie’s brilliant seasonal recipes, Jill Dupleix’s Big Soups - there’s a lot in this issue (as is the norm).

Being a bit of a sweet-fiend, Britain’s Best Puds was the obvious first stop. The five, complete with full recipes, are Jam Roly Poly, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Syrupy Marmalade Steamed Pudding, Eve’s Pudding and Queen of Puddings. I fondly recall many a Queen of Puddings baked by my mother - they were always served with a ‘the jam is very, very hot’ warning, which, of course, we ignored and burnt our mouths!

As I’m running the Waiter event this month, with a Salad theme, Jamie’s Proper Chicken Caesar Salad struck a note. He recommends unusual salad leaves and edible flowers in addition to chicken legs (free range obviously), smoky pancetta and rustic croûtons. Not sure what the difference is between rustic and non-rustic croûtons but there you go. The mag also includes recipes for Thai Chili Beef Salad and an attractive Yellow Split Pea and Bean Salad with Chive Dressing. All would be suitable for an entry to Waiter.

Over the last few issues, Delicious has been offering a pull-out section offering recipes for kids to cook. This month they have dough making instructions for bread and pizza bases and some Fruit and Nut Muffins. I do like a bit of crunch in a muffin, so Apricot and Pecan might just make it to the Barrow oven this week.

One recipe I have made is the Sweet Risotto with Rhubarb Compote, pictured. Full details on Spittoon Extra but needless to say it is a simple recipe producing impressive results. Well worth a go.

One book they recommend, and as I have a bit of a thang with Spanish food, is The Real Taste of Spain by Henny Chandler. “From the famous Boqueria Market in Barcelona to the village markets of Andalucia, this beautifully illustrated tome takes inspiration from markets across the land of chorizo, calamari and paella to give you a taste of the real Espana”. It’s on my wish list! [Available from Amazon.co.uk for £13 and Amazon.com for $26.60.

I do like Delicious and will be sticking with my subscription. Not only is the photographic foodporn consistently fabulous, but the recipes are very approachable, well constructed and tempting. It also seems to have a more professional feel than one or two of the UK’s other magazines.

[Photo Andrew Barrow]