Page 11 - Dan Lepard News Today

From Dan Lepard’s strawberry and mascarpone to Claire Thomson’s leek and cheddar, these mouthwatering dishes redefine the humble dessert. But in a good way …

WHILE aficionados are chewing over the question of whether marmalade was invented north or south of the border, a toast is raised for the Scottish version that has been officially crowned best in the world. A farmers daughter from Angus beat competition from a record 30 countries to lift the highest accolade at this year’s World Marmalade Awards in Cumbria. The appeal of marmalade is spreading, judge and patron Dan Lepard said, with the largest number of entries this year from Japan, US...

Rhubarb Collins with gin, prosecco, lemon juice, rhubarb juice and hibiscus syrup. Photograph: Getty Images When I was growing up in the US, people sometimes spoke of rhubarb – they seemed mildly amused by the word – but no one I knew ever ate it. I don’t think I’d ever really seen any until I came to the UK, where – from my point of view, at least – people got a little too excited about the annual arrival of this...

Last modified on Wed 3 Mar 2021 12.09 EST They were once regarded as technological miracles – machines that allowed you to travel back in time to a moment when your cup of tea was still hot. But the microwave oven was destined to become a tool of convenience rather than necessity. That said, you don’t really notice how much you use a microwave until you don’t have one. When ours broke and my wife suddenly decided that the two extra square feet of worktop space was more valuable t...

Brain Foods top tips for making jams, pickles, chutney and relish Richard Cornish Photo: Marina Oliphant Jam and marmalade Jam jars must be spotlessly clean.  Photo: Marina Oliphant When I first arrived in London as a backpacker in the 1990s I remember being amazed at the way Australians were attracted to each other, forming raucous braying mobs in pubs and clubs. Sugar molecules, even when dissolved in liquid as they are in jams, like to form into groups - or crystals. They love a party s...

A large pot of homemade marmalade, ready for spreading on toast, or putting in a cake ... Photograph: Tim Gainey/Alamy We may never know how many surplus jars of marmalade were created during the lockdown year, just for something to do. There is, however, still time for one final push: marmalade – as detailed in this masterclass recipe from Felicity Cloake – is traditionally made with sour Seville oranges, which have a notoriously short s...

Last modified on Wed 20 Jan 2021 08.33 EST Traditionally, Burns Night ,which takes place on 25 January, celebrates the life and work of the poet Robert Burns. With Covid restrictions in place, the usual gatherings full of poetry, revelry and haggis will have to be curtailed, but it is still a convenient excuse to drink whisky on a weeknight. Traditional ... haggis, neeps, tatties and whisky. Photograph: Getty Images/iStockphoto Whisky is, of course, more than just a drink: it is an ingredient, ...

EMERGENCY GIFTS If you forgot someones gift, or have an unexpected visitor, dont panic. Don’t forget that some dairies and service stations are open till midday, so there’s still time to get a box of Roses or some window wiper blades (at a pinch). If you’ve got an old jar, some brown sugar and olive or coconut oil, you’ve got the makings of a homemade sugar scrub, tart it up with some Christmas tinsel. Take a tip from that heartstring pulling advert that’s on at the moment, and tak...