Home
Recipes
- Accompaniments
- Baking
- Chocolate
- Desserts
- Drinks
- Lunches
- Mains
- Sides
- Treats
- Vegetarian
Interviews
Insights
P/Reviews
About
- MasterChef
Contact

Squash_bacon_2

3rd November 2025trevor44

Leave a commentCancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

From the Archives

From the Archives

The first Saturday after going back to work, so I

The first Saturday after going back to work, so I felt some baking was in order.

Ginger flapjacks, made using a recipe from @damemaryberry brilliant Mary at 90 book, which Santa left for me under the tree. I added some dark chocolate because - why not? It is full of antioxidants and that's as good a reason as any in my book!

I enjoyed the first, just-set flapjack with a coffee from @paddyandscotts - the perfect relaxed afternoon after a busy week!

Samantha x

As delicious as it looks! A peel-free stollen from

As delicious as it looks! A peel-free stollen from @norfolk_born_and_bread - a perfect treat for New Year's Day with an afternoon coffee.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year, and I look forward to sharing more foodie delights with you in 2026!

Samantha x

First festive sausage rolls of 2025 in the bag! Ma

First festive sausage rolls of 2025 in the bag! Made with sausage meat from @theforequarter plus chestnuts and the amazing festive spice from @rbprovisions @chefbainbridge

Let Christmas begin!

As we move into winter, I'm sharing my recipe for

As we move into winter, I'm sharing my recipe for a delicious warm salad of butternut squash, bacon and pecans, with a sour cream dressing. You can leave off the bacon to make it veggie, and you can add blue cheese if you love it. As I always say with my recipes, make them your own! Leave out the stuff you don't like, add in the bits you do, and you'll soon have a family favourite for all to enjoy.

Save the recipe so you don't lose it, and let me know if you make it! You can also find the recipe on my website, The Delicate Diner.

Happy cooking!

Samantha x

Crackling set! Beautiful pork from @theforequarter

Crackling set! Beautiful pork from @theforequarter from local woodland bred, rare breed pigs at Thatched House Farm. As I always say - keep it local. It is so worth it!

This beauty now cooks slowly in @woodfordesbeer cider for three hours before we enjoy with roasted potatoes, cabbage, carrots, homemade apple sauce, and a rich cider gravy.

Sundays sorted - The Delicate Diner way.

Tapas in Sevilla. This Iberico pork loin was amazi

Tapas in Sevilla. This Iberico pork loin was amazing, and it was so well seasoned. Sevilla in general was amazing, too - just incredibly hot for the time of year!

Thank you @chefbainbridge & @katja_bainbridge for

Thank you @chefbainbridge & @katja_bainbridge for these amazing new products from @rbprovisions - I look forward to trying and sharing my thoughts!

Plant-based chicken rub
Blueberry and basil preserve
Hedgerow preserve
Gooseberry and mint preserve

A taste of summer - and perfect for Christmas gifting!

Review to follow on The Delicate Diner.

#gifted

Pure comfort food @thecarpentersarmswilbraham toda

Pure comfort food @thecarpentersarmswilbraham today for a fabulous lunch. Ham hock mac'n'cheese with honey? Don't mind if I do...

A fabulous self-saucing pudding for dad's belated

A fabulous self-saucing pudding for dad's belated birthday dinner.

Banana, pecan, whiskey.

Delicious, decadent, and lots leftover for later! Just add cream.

For all of the good stuff, it has to be @earshamst

For all of the good stuff, it has to be @earshamstdeli

There's no place quite like it.

Homegrown jewels of delight. To be served simply,

Homegrown jewels of delight. To be served simply, and enjoyed.

A wonderful gift from neighbours over the fields -

A wonderful gift from neighbours over the fields - I am looking forward to turning these beautiful damsons into something delicious!

Beautiful saki @momiji_harleston last night. It w

Beautiful saki @momiji_harleston last night.

It was a perfect evening to have a catch-up with friends and family, all while enjoying delicious, freshly made sushi.

I do love this restaurant, it's a must-visit if you are local. Or even if you're not!

When you get local wagyu beef, you have to treat i

When you get local wagyu beef, you have to treat it with respect. This topside from @norfolkwagyubeef @theforequarter was incredible, melt in the mouth beef reared just a few miles away.

Sublime. Utterly sublime.

A quick and easy dinner last night, taking the fla

A quick and easy dinner last night, taking the flavours of a nicoise but with a small twist based on what I had in the fridge.

Beautiful salmon from the fabulous Earsham Street Fish, potatoes, eggs and tenderstem from @giddensthompson with anchovies, petit pois - and yes, that is salad cream you can spy along with a dash of @yarevalleyoils lemon oil, my kitchen must have.

Dinner doesn't always have to be complicated, but it does have to be tasty, and this definitely ticked that box!

How I spent my Sunday morning - testing and judgin

How I spent my Sunday morning - testing and judging the home produce section at the fabulous Wayland Show.

There were some great bakes there, congratulations to all the winners!

I always think you can tell a lot about a place by

I always think you can tell a lot about a place by the breakfast they offer, and @tarrfarminn is right up there with the best!

Everything about the stay was superb, from the view from the rooms, the most comfortable bed and bedding, to some of the best food I have had in a long while. I never order rib-eye steal when I am out, as I know I'll be disappointed, but I am SO glad I ordered it here. Cooked to perfection and full of flavour.

The breakfast offerings were superb - I enjoyed smoked haddock and poached eggs, as well as this full English beauty.

If you are in Exmoor, I throughly recommend this family-run inn, not least for their superb chef and restaurant.

An utterly delicious and authentic Italian last ni

An utterly delicious and authentic Italian last night @carriageslinton

I couldn't resist affogato for pudding, with one of the best coffees I have had in a while. A perfect example of simplicity done exceptionally well and full of flavour.

Possibly the last asparagus of the season - perfec

Possibly the last asparagus of the season - perfect with toasted homemade seeded bread, avocado, beetroot, Parmigiana Reggiano, and finished with @tuscanfarmshop extra virgin olive oil. Utterly delicious!

My Father's Day starter. I knew I wanted to do por

My Father's Day starter. I knew I wanted to do pork belly, but I just needed a bit of advice on a new direction to take it in. So, I asked pal @liamnichols_chef what he recommended - and from a list of ingredients, no measurements, I came up with this.

Absolutely banging, full of flavour, and incredibly tender - thanks Liam!

Pork from @theforequarter in Bungay. Served with a dry Riesling from Mosel, sourced from @imperialwineco

Summer days call for salad days - crisp lettuce, r

Summer days call for salad days - crisp lettuce, radishes, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, chicken, avocado and pancetta, with a quick dressing of lemon, mustards and the exceptional EVOO from @tuscanfarmshop

Salad doesn't have to be boring, and this was delicious. Even more so when I added some crumbled blue cheese...

Lunch @green_pastures_norfolk today - I had to get

Lunch @green_pastures_norfolk today - I had to get Norfolk asparagus in while it's still around!

So lovely to catch up with lifelong friends.

#keepitlocal

What an incredible lunch today @rest_upstairs - I

What an incredible lunch today @rest_upstairs - I dubbed this 'snickers on speed', it was so, so good!

Thanks to @cheftomshepherd and the team for such an amazing, delicious, and relaxed afternoon!

Follow on Instagram

Copyright notice

© The Delicate Diner, 2016-24. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to The Delicate Diner with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Contact us:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Subject

Your Message

The Delicate Diner was founded by Samantha Mattocks in March 2016. From then, she has gone on to appear on MasterChef UK, has conducted a number of food interviews, co-owned nourish magazine – the taste of East Anglia. She is also an award-winning author and journalist, writing for a range of international publications. Her own books – progress, Sandstorm, and Mister Mishkins’ Apothecary – are out now.

Copyright © 2023 The Delicate Diner

error: Content is protected !!