I was recently invited by Currys and Hotpoint to an exclusive Spring Feast dinner, cooked and hosted by Lisa Faulkner, actress, TV chef, cookbook author and winner of Celebrity MasterChef.

Lovely Lisa prepared a simple but scrumptious two-course meal (no fried heads were on the menu – Spooks fans will know what I’m talking about). We were in the Hotpoint Design Centre (serious kitchen porn) where she used the Hotpoint OpenSpace oven which has two separate sections that can be used at the same time. Yes you can cook two meals at different temperatures at the same time! WANT WANT WANT.

We weren’t just there to sit back and be fed though, we had to sing for our supper. Well not sing make that cook. We divided up to cook the main dish or dessert.

On the menu was:

• Lemon Sole En Papillote – full of fresh herbs and vegetables this is spring on a plate. I do various versions of this but have never used fennel or capers, which both add so much flavour. I think Tempeh or Tofu would work well as a substitute for non-meat eaters.
• Upside Down Pineapple Pudding – a real retrotastic throwback. I haven’t had this since school and have never cooked it. Lisa shared that this was inspired by childhood memories of her mum who died at the age Lisa is now and used to make this. Spring is about celebrating life and love. This brought memories rushing back for me too. I haven’t got a very sweet tooth so shall be recreating a more me version.

with Nikki

Getting cookery tips from Lisa Faulkner

Fennel and spring onion sauteeing

Dinner is served

Lemon Sole en papillote

Upside Down Pineapple Pudding. Extra Syrup.

You can find Lisa’s recipes for both dishes here.

What Old Skool dishes have you had recently?