DEVILS ON HORSEBACK

I think it’s high time that devils on horseback, a favourite canapé from the Abigail’s Party era, was resurrected. Bacon-wrapped stuffed prunes are delicious, easy to prepare and great if you’re entertaining. Serve with cocktails and a dash of irony.

Ingredients

Makes 24 (Serve 4-6 per person)

24 pitted Agen prunes
Cooking brandy, for marinating
Mango chutney, ½ to 1 tsp per prune
24 thin slices of smoked streaky bacon
Lemon juice or sherry vinegar

Place the prunes in a deep, narrow container, cover with brandy and leave to marinate for 24 hours. To stuff the prunes, open them a little where the stone has been removed and push in some mango chutney with a small teaspoon. Loosely wrap a single layer of bacon around each prune, then pin together with a cocktail stick. Place under the grill until the bacon is crisp.

Before serving, squeeze a small amount of lemon juice or good-quality sherry vinegar over the devils on horseback, as the acidity helps to balance the richness.

GARLIC AND CHILLI PASTA

The great thing about pasta is that you can always use it as the base for a quick meal. This recipe came about when I came home one day to find there was nothing in the fridge. With the help of a bit of garlic, chilli and handfuls of fresh herbs, you can turn a few store-cupboard staples into something quite delicious — and worth cooking even if the fridge is full.

Serves 4

1 onion, peeled Extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove of garlic, peeled
1 small red chilli, halved and deseeded
1 small green chilli, halved and deseeded
2 fillets of salted anchovies, rinsed and roughly chopped
500g pasta
1 lemon
A generous bunch of parsley
A generous bunch of basil
Parmesan cheese, to serve

Finely chop the onion and fry in 1 tbsp of olive oil on a medium heat until the edges just start to catch. Mince the garlic and add to the onion. Reduce the heat and cook gently for 5 minutes to soften the onion. Finely chop the chillies and add to the pan with the anchovy fillets. Cook for a further 5 minutes on a low to medium heat. Set aside.

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