Lucy Rowe

Makes 24
275g self raising flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp mixed spice
½ tsp cinnamon
75g caster sugar
1 egg
250ml milk
75g butter, melted
1 x 411g jar mincemeat
75g raisins
1 Preheat the oven to gas mark 6/200C/180fan. Grease a muffin tin.
2 Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and mixed spice in a large bowl. Stir in the caster sugar.
3 In a separate bowl mix together the egg, milk, melted butter and mincemeat.

Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
Serves 6-8
1 large butternut squash (about 1.3kg), peeled, seeds removed and chopped
2 onions, roughly chopped
3 eating apples, peeled cored and chopped
1tbsp oil (vegetable or olive)
1tbsp medium curry powder
1.5 litres vegetable stock
Crème fraiche to serve
1 Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the onions for 5-10 minutes until softened but not browned, then stir in the curry powder and cook for a further minute.

Makes 16 Squares
200g butter
200g white chocolate
3 large eggs
300g caster sugar
200g plain flour
1 tsp vanilla essence
150g raspberries
1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180C/160 fan.
2. Line a 23cm square tin with a large piece of baking paper. (This will enable you to lift the blondes out of the tin easily.)
3. Roughly chop the chocolate.

Makes 8
4 rashers streaky bacon
60g cheddar
175g self raising flour
1 tsp English mustard powder
2 eggs
200ml milk
85g butter, melted
1 Preheat the oven to gas mark 6/200C/180fan. Grease a muffin tin.
2 Cut the bacon into small pieces and dry fry until crisp. Leave to drain on kitchen paper.
3 Cut ¾’s of the cheese into small dice and grate the remainder.
4 Stir the flour, mustard powder and some salt and pepper together in a large bowl.
5 Whisk together the eggs and milk, stir in the melted butter.

Serves 6
1kg diced beef shin
120g smoked bacon lardons
400g Echallion shallots, peeled
400g Forestiere mushrooms
3tbls plain flour seasoned with salt and pepper
3tbls oil
350mls red wine
600mls beef stock
2 bay leaves
3 large sprigs thyme
2tbls quince jelly
1 Preheat the oven to gas mark 3/170C/150fan
2 Add 2tbls oil to a large ovenproof casserole dish and fry the bacon lardons, then remove with a slotted spoon.

Treat friends and family to these divine chocolate brownies.
Makes 16 squares for tea or 64 mini squares for canapés.
200g butter
200g dark chocolate
3 large eggs
275g caster sugar
100g plain flour
30g cocoa powder
70g milk chocolate
70g white chocolate
1 Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180C/160 fan
2 Line a 23cm square tin with a large piece of baking paper. (This will enable you to lift the brownies out of the tin easily.)
3 Chop the white and milk chocolate into chunks and leave to one side.

Roasted Pepper, Red Onion and Rosemary Soup
Keep warm and healthy with this delicious and satisfying soup. Simple to make, lovely to look at and tasty to eat. Be nice to yourself this November and treat yourself to a bowl of this divine soup.
Serves 4
6 red peppers, de-seeded and cut into large pieces
3 red onions, peeled and quartered
3 tomatoes, halved
1tbls olive oil
1 sprig of rosemary plus 1tbls chopped needles
900 ml vegetable stock
4tsp crème fraiche
1 Preheat the oven to gas mark 6/200C/180fan