Lynn from Southampton said:
Excellent site. Lots of useful tips. Too much to take in in one go, but will make the effort to look now and again... More
Profile of a Celebrity Food Lover... Lesley Waters
Lesley Waters studied French cuisine at Ealing College for three years before joining Prue Leith's Restaurant in 1978, where she became senior chef. She teamed up again with Prue when she became an instructor at her food and wine school and was soon promoted to head teacher.
As well as her regular appearances on Ready Steady Cook and This Morning, Lesley has also written several cookery books and currently hosts cookery days at her home in Dorset where she lives with her husband and two children.
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What’s your favourite leftover meal?
Bubble & Squeak with a poached egg and chilli sauce!
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What’s your signature dish?
Depends on the time of year and what’s in season. In spring, roasted asparagus served with Dorset Denhay air cured ham and crack black pepper butter.
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What’s your favourite cookery book and why?
At the moment Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros. I love all her books but this one is just a great example of real home food. Stylish, friendly and fun. A really refreshing book with great photos.
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What’s the best food tip your mum or grandmother gave you?
My Grandma always par-boiled her potatoes for roasting and then after tossing them in hot fat she would sprinkle them with a little seasoned flour. Perfect roasties every time!
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If you were stuck on a desert island and could take one meal with you, what would you choose?
Fresh Baked Bread, a hunk of Dorset Blue Vinney Cheese and some spicy chutney all finished off with a bottle of beer!
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What’s the most unusual food item that you freeze to use later?
I’m not a great freezer girl but I love a thai curry and if I’m bothering to make one I will always make a load of thai paste and freeze it in batches.
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If there’s one type off food that you always end up chucking out – what is it and why?
Potatoes and Bread! I don’t know why! I think it’s because I love them and always overbuy. The green potatoes go on the compost and the bread becomes breadcrumbs if it’s not mouldy!
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What’s your best tip for using up food left in the fridge?
Be strict with yourself! If there’s food in the fridge don’t go shopping! And try not to overfill it when you do. If you can see what’s in the fridge you’re more likely to use it.
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What’s your strangest food combination – and will anyone else eat it?
Cheese and Honey sandwiches on brown squishy bread. If you haven’t tried them you haven’t lived!
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The average household with kids wastes up to £600 a year on food thrown out. If you were given the money back, how would you spend it?
A trip to Spain with the family. The people, the place and of course the food. We love it!
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What’s the one recipe you would pass onto your children and why?
Roasted chicken dinner with bread sauce, roasties and gravy - it never fails to warm the heart!
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What kind of food do your kids leave on their plates the most?
Like most kids it’s always the vegetables that don’t get completely eaten.
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How do you encourage your kids to eat everything you serve them?
By allowing them (and everyone at the table) to serve themselves with a bit of everything – it gives them the choice without the pressure and seems to work most of the time.
