Country Life: Cookbook

Food is deeply intertwined with nature. The four seasons bring a cornucopia of fresh ingredients into their prime. Whether you’re foraging for wild garlic in the springtime or going blackberrypicking with the family in the early autumn, a whole host of produce begs to be taken home and cooked up in your kitchen. Gardeners and home cooks alike will delight in Country Life’s selection of the best seasonal recipes, which show you how to make the most of the month’s fruits and vegetables, as well as highlight some truly best-of-British dishes. From Princess Anne’s favourite pheasant recipe to an imaginative wintery spin on childhood classic banana bread, Country Life presents the magazine’s finest recipes that you can feast on all year round.…

Serves 4 Ingredients For the gratin 300 g | 3 cups | 10.5 oz Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved175 g | 1 cup | 6 oz butternut squash, peeled and diced175 g | 1 cup | 6 oz sweet potatoes, peeled and diced1 red onion, thinly sliced180 g | 1½ cups | 6.3 oz whole chestnuts1 tbsp chopped rosemary1 tsp thyme Splash of olive oil400 ml | 1½ cups | 14 fl oz vegetable stock1 tbsp wholegrain mustard100 ml | ½ cup | 3.5 fl oz double cream For the topping 150 g | 1 cup | 5.3 oz fresh white breadcrumbs100 g | 1 cup | 3.5 oz gruyere, grated60 g | ½ cup | 6 oz chopped hazelnuts To serve Sausages Method Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°/gas mark…

Serves 2 as a side Ingredients 500 g | 6 cups | 17 oz purple-sprouting broccoli, bigger stalks removedSalt and pepper50g | ¼ cup | 1.7 oz anchovies, preferably dry salted ones, soaked for half an hour in a couple of changes of water, then filleted and chopped3 small dried red chillies, very finely chopped2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped6 tbsp olive oil1 lemon Method Set a large pan of lightly salted water to boil. Put the anchovies, chillies, garlic and oil in a large frying pan and cook over a medium heat for three minutes. Stir well to crush the anchovies, then set aside. Boil the broccoli for two minutes and drain. Return the frying pan to a high flame and tip the broccoli in, stir and fry…

Serves 4 Ingredients For the pancakes 300 g | 1 cup | 10.5 oz cold mashed potato3 eggs100 g | ⅔ cup | 3.5 oz plain/all-purpose flour150 ml | ½ cup |5.3 fl oz milk1 tsp baking powder For the spinach 3 spring onions, chopped2 tbsp white wine1 clove of garlic, crushed200 g | 7 cups | 7 oz baby spinach75 ml | ⅓ cup | 2.6 fl oz plain set yoghurt For the prawns 1 tbsp butter230 g | 1¼ cups | 8 oz raw prawnsA squeeze of lemon To serve 4 tbsp chopped chives Pea shoots Method In a large bowl, break up the mashed potatoes with a whisk. Add the eggs, flour, milk and baking powder and keep whisking until the mixture is completely smooth. Season well…

Serves 4 Ingredients For the soup 50 g | ¼ cup | 1.7 oz butter (plus more for frying)1 small onion, chopped1 cauliflower500 ml | 2 cups |17 fl oz milk300 ml | 1 cup | 10.5 fl oz chicken stock2 tbsp double cream50 g | ⅓ cup | 1.7 oz chopped, roasted hazelnuts4 spring onions, green part only, chopped For the sourdough 100 g | 1 cup | 3.5 oz grated Cheddar100 g | 1 cup | 3.5 oz grated Gruyère50 g | ½ cup | 1.7 oz grated Parmesan2 cloves garlic, crushed2 sprigs rosemary, roughly chopped1 sourdough loaf3 tbsp olive oil Method Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the chopped onion and sweat it until soft and translucent. Slice four, flat mini steaks from the cauliflower…

Serves 2 Ingredients For the pizza dough 200 ml | ⅔ cup | 7 fl oz warm water1 tsp caster sugar1 tsp dried yeast (one sachet)125 g | 1 cup | 4 oz plain flour125 g | 1 cup | 4 oz wholemeal flour1 tsp saltOlive oil for greasing For the pesto base sauce 4 tbsp pesto100 ml | ½ cup | 3.5 fl oz olive oil Juice of 1 lemon1 tbsp wholegrain mustard For the topping 12 asparagus spears100 g | ⅔ cup | 3.5 oz garden peas200 g | ⅔ cup | 7 oz burrata cheese6 slices Parma ham2 spring onions, slicedA handful of rocket2 tsp chilli flakesExtra-virgin olive oil for drizzling Method Preheat your oven to 200˚C/400˚F/gas mark 6. Blanch the asparagus spears in boiling water for…