Charlotte's August Newsletter

Hello again.

The weeks have simply flown past since I last wrote. 2024 is turning out to be quite the rollercoaster and sadly last month I wasn’t well enough to pull a newsletter together, so I have plenty to catch up on today.

Yesterday marked a pleasing milestone: 11 years since my Hungry Student Cookbook series was published. I remain extremely proud of these books and just love hearing from people of all ages who have found them useful - not only students. The Vegetarian Cookbook remains the bestseller, but all three contain many useful recipes I make time and time again. They seem to prove very popular during the summer holidays, as children and teenagers seem to successfully manage making the simple but rewarding recipes. The holidays can be a great time to have some fun in the kitchen and learn some crucial life skills. I also hear from several readers who are learning to cook at a later stage in life and have enjoyed starting with these uncomplicated and achievable recipes. Inspiring people of all ages to cook from scratch and to equip readers with recipes that will hopefully bring enjoyment for years to come remains endlessly motivating and inspiring, and I look forward to sharing some new work with you all soon.

It’s a real pleasure to sit down and write these newsletters for you, and I really appreciate all the feedback you send me too, about the aspects you have enjoyed and the recommendations you’ve tried.

I’ve slightly tweaked the format of this month’s issue to include some of the features you tell me you have particularly enjoyed from my back catalogue. My ever-growing group of paid subscribers receive emails most weeks, which contain more detailed information, such as recipes or advice, and if you’re not a part of that group, I’d love you to consider joining. I have a brilliant cookbook giveaway planned for next week’s issue.

I hope you will all have a positive and delicious month ahead.

With my very best wishes,

Charlotte

Charlotte's Basket

My basket is slowly filling up with garden produce, as everything seems to be rather behind this year. The courgettes have made a steady start, and we have had had a decent crop of French beans, chard and brassicas so far.

I’ve been buying some fantastic summer fruits to cook with in the last couple of weeks, including apricots, blackcurrants and cherries. We’ve just had our first fresh broad beans and our home grown runner beans are hopefully not too far off being ready now.

In this issue, I’ve included a few recipes you might like to try that use some of these ingredients while they’re in season, so please read on for my recommendations.

Paid subscribers will have recently received some of my supermarket shopping guides, which include my top picks from each retailer. Here are the links to catch up on my Waitrose and Aldi top picks.

Charlotte Loves

Here are some of the brilliant things I’ve been celebrating recently

• The wonderful film Wilding, based on the book by Isabella Tree. It was brilliantly directed by my lovely friend Judy’s daughter, Gaby Bastyra.

• Jam making, using some homegrown fruit. I’ll shortly be making loganberry jam using fruit we’ve picked and frozen. I always use recipes from Vivien Lloyd, who I think is simply the best. Do keep an eye on her website for cookery classes, as they are a brilliant investment (she’s taught me how to make marmalade and a range of jams and preserves).

• Groundswell - sadly, I couldn’t make this important regenerative agriculture festival this year, but I have been catching up on some of the interesting talks on YouTube. It’s worth your time if you would like to learn more about our food and farming systems.

• A beach sauna! Yes, I somehow managed to book the Saltwater Sauna at Sandbanks on the hottest day of the year, but they are just such a lovely experience to try, if you, like me, enjoy swimming in the sea. If you find one near by, either at home or on your travels, do give it a go.

• The Paris Olympics have been so enjoyable. I am over the moon for Team GB and Northern Ireland rowing women’s quad scull for their gold medal this week. Hannah Scott from Coleraine and her teammates will be known to a number of readers who have been cheering her on, too. Congratulations to all.

  

A selection of lovely summery recipes for you

Here are some recipes I’ve recently published here, which you may like to try:

Roasted Apricots with Vanilla, Cinnamon and White Wine

Chargrilled Courgettes with Fennel, Broad Beans, Basil and Pine Nuts

Chicken with Garlic, Cumin, Sherry, Dates and Almonds

Roasted Aubergine Salad with Tomatoes, Burrata and Pesto

Blackcurrant Ice Cream

Plus, you might like to take a look at my Top tips for BBQs and picnics

What to cook this week

And here are a selection of recipes from others you might like to know about:

• I seem to make my courgette fritters again and again, as everyone loves them.

• I’ve been trying several new recipes from the excellent book Falastin by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley. Galayet Banadoura is SUCH a good, easy recipe to try that is pretty much guaranteed to please everyone you serve it to. Double, triple or quadruple the quantity if you make it. It will disappear very easily and keeps well.

• Angela Clutton’s Chermoula Roast Lamb with Aubergine Cream from her excellent new book Seasoning is so delicious.

• Ottolenghi's runner beans in tomato sauce is a great recipe.

• Sue Quinn’s book, Cocao, is a brilliant read. I tried this recipe for Brown Butter, Chocolate, Tahini and Banana cookies and loved it. Do give them a go, they’re wonderful.