This is a fabulous compendium from the Irish Times, and the perfect answer to that never-ending question: "What shall I cook for dinner tonight?" As it approaches Valentine's Day — the only night worse for going out to dinner on than New Year's Eve — it seemed a good time to choose a recipe for a date night in. Never mind that it's meant to feed 4-6, this ham hock would make for very happy-making leftovers, too. Besides, I could easily polish off one ham hock myself. If plums elude you at this time of year, I would have thought rhubarb, gorgeous, pink, forced Yorkshire rhubarb, would be excellent in their stead; I haven't tried it — but what is life, love or cookery if not an experiment — though I'd guess 400g would cover it. But I don't mean to lead you away from this recipe. It looks perfect to me as it is.
Dinner by Domini Kemp
Photography by Joanne Murphy
Published by Gill & Macmillan