Even though it seems like I’ve been really busy all through the lockdown, on some days it felt like the most I achieved was dinner. On some better days, there was also a lunch that worked out well enough. I’ve been cooking way more than usual, and it’s really helped me get through this bizarre, uncertain time. What also helped was having someone to cook for - my housemate Mounia, who came to stay for two weeks in mid-March and has been here ever since. It helps even more that she’s a great cook.

Here are some of the meals we’ve shared over the last three months, including a couple of disasters. She moves back to France tomorrow, and I’m going to miss her.

Click images and hover over for captions, recipes at the bottom of page.

I got vegetable deliveries from Hussey Farm and Clonanny Farm, and meat, fish and poultry from the Corner Butcher. Assassination Custard’s piccalilli is available from The Fumbally and Gailliot et Grey, who make amazing sourdough bread. Most of the more unusual ingredients came from the halal shops on Clanbrassil Street. Photographed in Helen James’s beautiful bowls.

Recipes