Step 1 To cook the dried beans, first soak them in plenty of cold water overnight. Drain and place in a saucepan filled with fresh water. Place on a high heat and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for ¾-1 hour or until tender. Remove from the heat, drain in a…

Step 1 Place the bacon and mince in a large saucepan. Cook until the mince is browned. Remove from the pan and leave to one side. Step 2 Add 2 tbsp of oil to the pan and soften the onions on a medium heat without letting them colour. Put the meat back into the pan,…

Step 1 To make the meat sauce, heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, celery and garlic and sauté for a couple of minutes until just beginning to brown. Add the minced beef and continue to fry over a high heat for 3-4 minutes, breaking up any…

Step 1 Place the onion, celery and carrot in a food processor and blitz for about 10 seconds until finely chopped. Heat a deep-sided non-stick pan and then add the olive oil. Tip in the vegetables and pancetta or bacon and sauté over a medium heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon….

Step 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 Step 2 To begin, make the potato purée. Wash the potatoes, sprinkle with salt and bake in a preheated oven until soft in the middle, for about 2 hours. Step 3 Remove from the oven and whilst still hot, cut them in half and scoop out…

Step 1 The day before serving, make the parsley oil. Blanch the parsley in salted boiling water for 1 minute. Drain, transfer to a liquidiser and blend with the oil until smooth and bright green Step 2 Transfer to a cheesecloth and hang overnight in the fridge with a jug positioned underneath to collect the…

Step 1 To begin, slightly soften the butter for the devilled butter. Blitz in a blender with the remaining ingredients until well-blended but coarse in texture Step 2 Transfer to a sheet of cling film and roll into a tight cylinder. Refrigerate until set solid Step 3 Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 Step…

Step 1 Heat a large, heavy-based pan. Add the oil and sauté the pancetta or bacon for a minute or two until it has begun to crisp and release some of its fat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, thyme and bay leaf. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the vegetables have softened and taken on…

Step 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 Step 2 To make the potato gratin, peel and thinly slice the potatoes, using a mandoline if you have one Step 3 Add the cream, garlic and thyme to a pan and bring to the boil. Reduce the cream by half, add the sliced potato and gently stir…