A year in my kitchen by Skye Gyngell

Nigel Slater says that A year in my kitchen by Skye Gyngell is 'Bold, thoughtful, warm-hearted cooking.' And more plaudits follow from Rose Gray who loves the complex flavours and textures of Skye's cooking and others too.

Another cookbook celebrating seasonal produce, get to grips with Skye's 'toolbox', the nuts and bolts of her cooking and you will be on to a winner. Each recipe in the toolbox acts as a conductor of flavour that brings a dish together. Here you will find recipes for the perfect stock, vinaigrettes, flavoured oils or yoghurts, tea smoking, sourdough breadcrumbs.

Then start to explore the recipes that are simple to follow and needless to say, full of flavour. With too many favourite recipes to mention, this book is set to become a classic. Winning the Guild of Food Writers Award for Best Cookery Book in 2007 set it on its way.

For those keen to get started, keep a jar of Skye's roasted spice mix to hand. Easily made, this is a combination of cinnamon sticks and equal measures of coriander, cumin, fennel, mustart and fenugreek seeds, cardomom pods and star anise. Using a dry heavy based pan over a low heat, toast the spices stirring frequently, being careful not to burn them. Once the seeds start to pop, the mixture is ready. Grind to a fine powder and then keep in a jar, for up to a month but no longer.

Jason Lowe's drop dead gorgeous photographs of both the food and Cafe at Petersham Nurseries are worth a mention too.

Published by Quadrille Publishing Ltd
£14.99

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