Caraway Blini

I happened to have some smoked salmon which needed using up - you know, like you do - and I wanted a new blini recipe.  The problem with blini is that by about the third, you're feeling their leaden grip in your stomach.  They stop being a vehicle for the topping and become a hindrance.  I'd had my eye on Felicity Cloake's recipe for a while now, as it's a variation on Richard Bertinet's, and I think we all know I love Richard's gallic charm (and his excellent online baking shop).

Chorizo and Fennel Seed Sausage Rolls

You may have realised, by now, that I'm catching up on all the recipes I intended to cook in December! A combination of gas leaks, children's flu etc, has somewhat disrupted my schedule.  One thing I really wanted to cook for my annual quiz night were Andy Bates' chorizo and fennel seed sausage rolls...

Black Olive, and Caraway and Onion Rolls

I have several, no, many bread books, which get used to varying degrees. However when I need a basic do-ahead recipe which will be transformed into a variety of uses, I head straight for Peter Reinhart's Artisan Breads Every Day.

I've made any number of variations of this recipe - sun blushed tomato bread, cinnamon and raisin, but my favourites are onion and caraway, and olive bread. The joy of this recipe is that the dough can sit in your fridge until you're ready...

Beetroot and Kummel Cured Salmon, with a cucumber salad

I was at a shooting party recently and was served beetroot and vodka cured salmon as a starter - it was absolutely delicious.  Light, tangy, the cucumber salad adding a refreshing bite.  I found a number of variations on-line which I've adapted to produce my perfect variation - it's a bit more Scandinavian than the original, and a little more fragrant.