Joan Bishop

Herb, cheese and vegetable torte

A cake with only one tablespoon of sugar and a lot of vegetables? Yes and it's truly scrumptious.

In praise of light and lovely roulade

In praise of light and lovely roulade

This is a blast from the past. I remember eating versions of this way back in the '80s — it was all the rage. I loved it then and still do.

Easy and moreish apple cake

Easy and moreish apple cake

The tart fruitiness of Granny Smith apples offsets the stickily, aromatic sweetness of dates in this moreish cake.

Succulence and flavour

Slow cooked beef in beer with prunes. Photo: Christine O'Connor

Succulence and flavour

Joan Bishop shares a delicious, easy to do ahead of time stew if you've got friends coming for dinner.

Fragrant fruit and nut make perfect match

It is hard to resist the lure of these baby cakes, writes Joan Bishop.

Simply irresistible

Simply irresistible basil and parmesan tart

With its seductively smooth and voluptuous filling, this is an irresistible tart, says Joan Bishop.

Hot cross scones

These simple scones from Joan Bishop have been dressed up for Easter with the addition of rum-soaked fruits combined with a mix of heady spices. Tender, rich and flaky, they are quick to make.

Glorious mix of textures

Packed with strong flavours and a glorious mix of textures, this salad makes a fabulous addition to lunch or dinner served alongside barbecued meats, roasts, chicken or fish.

Fragrant and fresh

Raspberries, fragrant and intensely-fresh tasting, are the most heavenly of all fruits.

Black magic Christmas cake

Joan Bishop shares a non-traditional take on the festive fruit-cake.

Deceptively easy to make and delicious

These are mouth-poppingly delicious and so easy to make. I love them hot or cold.

Perfect home-made muffins

Home baking is on a roll; it's fashionable and trendy right now.

Simple stew oh so tender

This oven-cooked, one-pot braise simmers very gently for five hours with nary a bubble breaking the surface.

Rabbit perfect for cold-weather dining

Rabbit perfect for cold-weather dining

Welsh rabbit is a savoury delicacy of cheese melted with beer, spooned over toast and grilled. There are many variations of this dish, which is essentially melted cheese on toast.

Pudding? It's a date

I'm a great fan of sticky date puddings and cakes. However, when topped with toffee sauce, which is the norm, they can be tooth-achingly sweet.

Old favourite gets new flavour twist

Old favourite gets new flavour twist

Meatballs have become very chic of late - a great way to play with flavours. I love old-fashioned favourites, particularly if they have an intriguing flavour twist as this one does.