Tuna with Sicilian Potato Salad (4)

I found this recipe for Tuna in ” Lobster & Chips” by Trish Hilferty, one of my go to fish cookbooks. She inherited it from Tom Norrington Davis and they both worked at the renowned Eagle in London. You need to use really fesh tuna and waxy potatoes such as Charlotte. The tuna could be replaced with swordfish or other robust meaty fish. The tuna will be medium rare which is the best way to eat it, but if you prefer cook it for a little longer.

Pasta Alla Norma ( 4)

I am just back from a three week holiday in Sicily, where my vegetarian husband often had little choice other than pasta with tomatoes or this local favourite which originates from Catania. . This very good version of Pasta Alla Norma is from ” Simple” by Yotam Ottolenghi . The aubergines are cooked in the oven which I find far less time consuming than frying in batches.

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.

Christmas Tiramisu ( 6-8)

I still have a larder and fridge well overstocked with festive food offerings due to unavoidable but last minute plan changes in the numbers catered for at several points. So I have been searching around looking for new ways to use this up. Here’s a dessert offering from Matt Tebbutt .