Wild Garlic Macaroni Cheese (6)

I love foraging for wild garlic on my local walks and am always looking for new ways to use it. This green and cheesy pasta from Thomasina Miers is also a great way to use up odds and ends of different cheeses- the more variety the better. If you like crisp pancetta or melted anchovies can be added to the sauce. If wild garlic is hard to find then bulb garlic can be used instead and wilted spinach or kale added for colour.

Polenta with Fontina (6)

One of my favourite vegetarian cookbooks many years ago was ” Cooking from an Italian Garden” by Paola Scaravelli and Jon Cohen. Here’s and easy recipe for polenta from them. For a variation you can cooked the cornmeal, add the cheese and then spread the mixture half an inch thick on a wet worksurface. When cooled and firm cut it into small squares or discs then fry in butter until golden on both sides. Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot.

Cheesy Polenta with Curried Onions (4)

Another unusual combination from Ixta Belfrage in ” Mezcla”. The onions can be used in other recipes too- they can be served as a dip mixed with labne or yoghurt, spooned on top of sour cream topped baked potatoes, over eggs or in sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs. This recipe can be served as part of a vegetarian spread or with sausages.

Rhubarb and Cheddar Tart (4-6)

Here is an unusual recipe from Skye McAlpine but dont be put off. Its from her new book ” A Table Full of Love”. It works best with the long, thin and very pink stems that you get early in the season. And as far as i know there is no shortage of rhubarb in the UK right now.

Giant Cheese on Toast (6)

A fancy cheese on toast for brunch . You can cut it up into quarters and serve with a crisp salad for lunch or dinner. Or you can cut into smaller squares and serve as a sharing snack. The recipe is from ” Mezcla” by Ixta Belfrage and can be doubled for a crowd.