Introduction

Food glorious food.

Hot sausage and mustard.

While we’re in the mood

Cold jelly and custard.

Pease pudding and saveloys

‘What next?’ is the question …

Wonderful lines from ‘Food Glorious Food’ from Lionel Bart’s musical Oliver!, based on Charles Dickens’ brilliant novel. It’s a stunning musical, and what a wonderful question: What next?! Well, these lines sum up everything I feel about the most basic dishes. For me, all food can be glorious and that certainly includes sausages and mustard, or cold jelly and custard (you’ll find my recipes for these in this book!).