Joan Ransley

Gennaro Contaldo welcomes me into the kitchen at Jamie’ Italian in Leeds with an exuberant smile. Laid out on a table before us is a bowl of ‘00’ flour, two eggs and a pasta machine. “We are going to make tagliatelle and capallacci and some beautiful sauces” he announces with an Italian accent as he passes me an apron and we begin our lesson.

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Which tasty snacks hit the spot after eating supper with the family and dissecting your latest good read over a glass of wine with friends. October is a busy month for literature festivals in Yorkshire. There’s a small one in Beverley spanning a long weekend; a medium sized one in Morley stretching to a week; a very long one in Sheffield spreading from late September to December and then there’s Ilkley – the county’s liveliest, most prestigious festival with over 200 literary events packed into just seventeen days. continue reading ›

It’s warm and sunny and I am squatting between rows of glossy, bright red strawberries at Harewood Bridge, one of Yorkshire’s PYO farms. This is the first day strawberries and gooseberries are ready to pick. Raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, and tayberries will follow in a couple of weeks. continue reading ›

This is the time of the year for a green meal. Tender broad beans in cosy fur lined pods, spears of asparagus and young peppery rocket are all in season and make an ideal base for a light fresh salad as the weather warms up and the days grow longer. Over the past few years salads have undergone a transformation from a dish on the side to great meals packed with big flavours and sensational ingredients. continue reading ›

 Getting home hungry and putting delicious food on the table can be a challenge. Some fantastic tasting dishes can take time to prepare so it makes sense to cook one for supper and freeze a spare when you can. Popular dishes like fish pie and lasagne freeze really well for up to three months. continue reading ›

It’s lunch time and I am at Northern Ballet, chatting to three dancers performing in the forthcoming production of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly at Leeds Grand Theatre. I am here to find out their top tips for eating well to stay in shape. All three look wonderful, slim (but not thin), healthy and full of life. Dreda Blow, 26, from Toronto is tucking in to some, deep orange soup. continue reading ›

Jean Brillat-Savarin, the 18th century politician, lawyer and gastronome wrote that a mutual enjoyment of the pleasures of the table has an enormous influence on the happiness that can and should be found in a marriage. He says that a couple that can share this enjoyment “have at least once every day, a delightful reason for being together”. continue reading ›

 ‘I WAS literally thrown in at the deep end when I started in the fish business 12 years ago’ says Matthew Asquith, Managing Director of Whitby Seafish Ltd and a winner at this year’s Deliciously Yorkshire Awards. ‘I knew nothing about fish at the time but had the opportunity to set up a fishmongers and smokehouse at Saltburn by the Sea, near Whitby. ‘I was determined to supply the best quality fresh and smoked fish in the area.’ An ambition realised as Matthew picked up an award for his oak smoked salmon last Monday evening at Rudding Park. continue reading ›

The clocks have gone back and the days are getting shorter. Autumn has arrived and our thoughts are turning to hot rather than cold breakfast, particularly as the chilly weather really begins to bite. But what are the options for a warm, wholesome breakfast to set you and your family up for the day ahead? continue reading ›