Weeks 1 - 3 - Various

The ratings are out of 5.

Rachel Allen - entertaining at home
1. Chocolate Creme Brulee
Rating: 2
Comment: Disappointing. Chocolate flavour ruins the classic rich taste of normal vanilla creme brulee. 
Use it again: Not likely to

2.Spinach soup with rosemary oil
Rating: 4

Comment: Nice and refreshing. The amount of spinich I used versus the amount she appeared to use on the tv series seemed quite different. (I seemed to use far more). The potato needs to be in very small chunks or it won't cook properly. It's worth making the rosemary oil (very easy).
Use it again: Yes.

3.Chocolate roulade (cocoa powder rather than chocolate)

Rating: 3

Comment: 

Use it again:  Maybe. I didn't bother making the chocolate mousse - used cream and raspberries instead - it needs the mousse. The version in a different Rachel Allen book with real chocolate in the roulade itself is far tastier.

4. Parsnip, mustard and parsley mash

Rating: 3

Comment:  This has quite a strong flavour - one small scoop as a side dish would be plenty. May be better mixed in with normal potato mash.

Use it again: probably not. Roast parsnips are far superior to this.

Italian (What's cooking)

5.Onion, pepper and mozzarella tarts

Rating: 3.5

Comment:  Tasty. Would be lovely for a starter.

Use it again:  Yes

Rachel's Favourite food for friends

6. Jane's biscuits

Rating: 3.5

Comment: 

Use it again:  Yes. Nice with ginger or cinnamon too.

7. Maple roast parsnips
Rating: 3.5

Comment: 

Use it again:  Yes.The maple syrup is very subtle. Honey would probably be just as good.

Lovely recipes from this book: Chocolate Roulade with raspberries and cream, apple pudding.
Average: Sweet corn and coriander cakes with tomato salsa.
Avoid: Chocolate fudge mousse, chocolate tart.

Recipes from my mother for my daughter (Lisa Faulkner)

8. Creme Brulee
Rating: 5

Comment:  Very easy to make and delicious.

Use it again:  Yes.

Rachel's Favourite food

9. Hot lemon pudding
Rating: 5

Comment:  Yummy. works far better in oval dish rather than individual ramekins. I've tried a few variations on this. The Mrytle Allen one is the very best - but this one also works very well.

Use it again:  Yes.

Lovely recipes from this book: Pea and coriander soup (with chilli), spicy beef noodle soup.

Avoca Cafe Cookbook - 1

10. Tuscan Bean soup

Rating: 4.5

Comment:  Doesn't need the 3 cans of tomatoes - 2 is more than enough .

Use it again:  Yes.

Rachel's Favourite food at home

11. Lemon Biscuits
Rating: 3/5

Comment: Use less flour than suggested or these will be too dry. 

Use it again:  Yes, but not very often.

 Rachel Allen - Home cooking
12. Meringues

Rating: 3

Comment: 

Use it again: Maybe. I'll probably stick with my mother's version.

13. Shepherd's Pie (lamb)

Rating: 3.5

Comment:  I'll probably stick with the recipe I've been using for years, but this still tasted good.

Use it again: Maybe, but unlikely. 

Lovely recipes from this book: Millonaire's shortbread (sister-in-law got me hooked on this one) and recommended this one - Fish Pie.
Avoid: Rhubarb muffins, chicken casserole with cheesy herb dumplings.