Chick pea and sweet potato curry

This packs a real punch - it's really flavourful and robust. The yoghurt gives it a creamy note without toning down the kick of the spices.

Chicken with mushrooms and lemon grass

My daughter, who is a smoker, likes blow your head off spicy food, so, thinking of her, I disregarded Nigel's direction to deseed the 3 hot red chillies and instead left them in. Cor! The heat was intense - I'd used scotch bonnet and they were seriously hot, but it did the trick and we both enjoyed our meal tonight. I had an emergency right at the end of making this when the lime I bought for it was dry as a bone. I made do and mend with a lemon and it didn't seem to make any difference.

Stir-fried mushrooms, spring leaves and lemon grass

As I said last week I love green food. I'm also a fan of mushrooms and of Chinese flavours so this worked for me. Followed up by a slice of yesterday's cake and there you have a perfect lunch!

Chocolate almond cake

A rich chocolatey cake - I'm not really a massive fan of chocolate cake unless it has got a fudgey icing, so I may add just that to the remainder of this cake to make it more my kind of thing

Prawn and coriander rolls

I've just got back from the pub and having made the paste for these earlier all I needed to do was fry them and they were perfect post pub fare. They had a proper bite to them and with the sharpness of the sauce they totally worked. I'm not a fan of lettuce so I gave that a miss but I don't think they suffered for the omission.

Chicken with mustard seed and coconut milk

It has been cold today and so my thoughts turned to curry. I've had to skip ahead to April but this coconutty delight was just right.

Chinese greens with oyster sauce and ginger

I love green food and in particular Chinese green food. I'm not sure whether it was a fluke or if I genuinely am becoming a better cook but the greens here (pak choy) were perfectly cooked and this dish was delicious. Another bonus is that I always feel ridiculously healthy after a green meal!

Roast fillet of lamb with anchovy and mint

Finally, a lamb dish that both of us in my house loved. The anchovy and mint crust really livened up this dish which was a beautiful cut from my local butcher. I'll definitely make this again.

Demerara lemon cake

Nigel had his with thick yoghurt but I'm not a fan so I've just had a slice (ok I've had two) still warm and all on its own. The sharpness of lemon slices on top perfectly contrasts the sweetness of the cake making this a wonderful afternoon treat.

Smoked mackerel on toast

Not just smoked mackerel but flaked and combined with cream and Parmesan. Oh man! This was amazing - if you've got the book make this.

Chicken salad with watercress, almonds and orange

I love this! Not something I say about a salad often. The orange lifted the loveliness of the toasted seed and nuts, combined with the chicken, leaves and dressing to a different level. It was beautiful. I will be making this as a starter for my family at Easter.

A fiery way with lamb

More lamb! I'm starting to notice the sheer quantity of lamb as it is a meat my daughter doesn't really care for and which I like just now and again. Nice but I wouldn't make this again.

A simple flatbread

I made this and was expecting a pitta bread type result but instead got something resembling ciabatta which was a lovely surprise. We really enjoyed this bread and it was so simple to make (especially with my new kitchen toy - a huge food mixer) that it will definite enter my repertoire. Another plus was that my house smelt like a bakery afterwards which was great. We had hummus with our bread rather than the homemade taramasalata - I've not been able to get hold of smoked cod's roe (my fishmonger tells me that there isn't as much of it about at the moment) so this will have to join the other things I'll have to make when I'm able to find the necessary ingredients.

Pork burgers with lime leaves and coriander

My oh my oh my! These were wonderful and packed a real punch. I balanced the extra hot chillies out with pickled gherkins but this was, in my opinion, a perfect burger. Thanks Nigel.

Chicken stew with mash

I had to drive to London and back (a 400 mile round trip) today and wanted something to comfort me on my return, so, having marinated this overnight and prepared it this morning, I deviated from Nigel's recipe and threw it in the slow cooker for 8 hours, rather than his 2 in the oven. The result was tremendous - the meat falling away from the bone, the hint of citrus flavours from the orange peel in the marinade and the slightly sweet balsamic tones. The mash soaked up the excess juices which was perfect. Oh and I chose the sluttish route, opting for canned cannellini beans rather than soaking and boiling my own, my defence being I had canned in. Not sure it made an iota of difference. And finally, for the record only, this is the first time I have jointed a chicken myself - quite proud!

An English cheese salad

All the flavours in this salad are gentle and perfectly matched - total English loveliness.