TrendLife Food

This months seasonal vegetable is the humble cauliflower. I know, I know cauliflower is rarely out of season but for April we shall give it some loving attention. It's going to be a rainy, dreary month so take it back to the homey and warming Cauliflower cheese. I put a mixture of cauliflower and broccoli florets in a glass dish. I then mix up a simple roux sauce and add some mustard seeds, a teaspoon of mustard and as much cheese as it will take. Pour this over the florets and bake until golden. Yummy with just some green beans (there is lots of protein in cheese) or as a decadent but traditional side with a roast dinner.

This months seasonal vegetable is, in my opinion, often overlooked but it's one half of the all mighty bubble and squeak. Spring green cabbage is a vegetable that is fragrant and nutty in flavour and can really add depth to fish dishes. Not only that but it is great value and so simple to cook. For a super quick Sunday roast side blanche the leaves and mix in creme fraiche and pepper, perfect with pork!

This is such a simple treat that is often overlooked in favour of heavily frosted cakes. But as the sun begins to filter through the clouds and we discard our winter warmers this light cake will brighten you up. Serve with Lady Grey or ginger tea.

Ingredients:

170g Plain Flour

170g Caster Sugar

170g Butter

3 Large Eggs

1 Lemon

3/4 tsp Baking Powder

For the drizzle:

80g Caster sugar

Lemon

1.Preheat the oven to 180c and line a 20cm loaf tin with greaseproof paper.

2.Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.

3.Slowy sift the baking powder and flour into the mix. Add the zest of the lemon.

4.Add the mixture to the tin and place into the oven for 30-35mins or until light and springy to the touch.

5.Remove from the oven and place the tin on a cooling wire. Whilst this cools mix the juice of the lemon with the caster sugar until fully dissolved.

6.Using a cocktail stick push it in the cake at various points this will allow the drizzle to seep in to the cake and make it lovely and moist.

7.Remove from the tin when completely cool. I like to keep it in the parchment as I think it looks pretty, just trim to size.

Tips: For something different add 50g of poppy seeds to the mixture or swap the caster sugar in the drizzle for icing sugar.

"Sweets for my Sweet, sugar for my Honey." Ditch the predictable and surpise with a cookie card!

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You can get them from their lovely little website: http://www.biscuiteers.com

Just the mere mention of this vegetable makes me a dribbling mess. My dad was a huge leek fan and master at cooking them, his simple baked leeks to accompany a chicken roast were out of the world. So I'm glad to announce that the mighty Leek is in season this month and therefore at it's best. 
Versatility is a great quality of the humble leek, buttery and comforting in a ham pie or light and fresh in a smoked haddock risotto. It's also packed with anti-oxidants, so as the country freezes over meals packed with the veg will help stave off colds too. A great reason to incorporate leek into your food.