It's the week before Easter and the Easter Bunny is in every Easter trail across the Dales.  The most famous bunny is of course Buggs Bunny and his favourite snack is of course the carrot.  So there's the tenuous link to this week's pod!

In this edition of The Dales Chef we find out all about this superfood of a root vegetable.   Can they really help you see in the dark?  

Used in starters mains and deserts the carrot is always top of the bill.  From carrot and corriander soup to carrot cake. 

Pork Pies are a Yorkshire speciality and each pie shop stamps their own mark on them.  All different in the Dales, yet equally delicious.

In this episode of the Dales Chef, Bruce Elsworth looks at the history of pie making in Yorkshire.  We compare with the famous Melton Mowbray pie  - and which is best?  

How do you like yours?  Here in the Dales we love our pies hot - straight out of the oven and oozing with liquid jelly.  Delicious!

There's fun facts and we look at what best to pair your pie with.  Pie and a pint, pie and pickle or pie and peas! Together it is the ultimate Dales pub lunch!

Avocado is undoubtedly a superfood, popularised as smashed avocado on toast in cafes and restaurants across the world, we can't get enough of it - on sourdough with a couple of free range poached eggs, avocado is served at its best.

Avocado is the main ingredient in Guacamole.  But don't buy it ready-made, in the is edition of the Dales Chef, Bruce Elsworth shows you how to make it yourself.

We look into the dark side of Avocado, with links to South American Drug cartels and its impact on the environment.

As always, there are some fun facts and we find out how to cook Avocado too.

Image: Avocado on toast at Ripley Castle tea room

In this episode, we are going bananas, Bruce looks into when the nation's favourite fruit came from.  But is it actually a fruit?  And there's a link between the Dales and every single modern day banana eaten in the western world. 

Banoffee Pie, to Bananas and Custard.  How do you enjoy yours?  Just how good are Bananas for you?

Finally, how do you peel yours?  There's a revelation from the animal world!

Image: Freepik

In this edition of the Dales Chef Bruce Elsworth talks about everything goat.  It's been a staple around the world for tens of thousands of years.  Humans have bred and farmed Goat for meat, milk, cheese and its skin.  Nothing is ever wasted.

Goat meat is not over popular here in the UK but it is in North Africa - Morocco, in Asia with Goat curry and in the Caribean.  Here we are more into Goat milk and Cheese.

Bruce looks into why Goat milk is so popular and some tasty ideas for Goat cheese.

Theres some fun facts as always...and we're not KIDDING!

In this edition of the Dales Chef, Bruce Elsworth looks at honey - its origins, it's uses both medicinal and culinary.

Bruce talks about the benefits of local honey verses supermarket bought honey and theres some top tips for using honey in your kitchen.

Bruce tells us all about the hives they have at the Mill too, providing honey for their own restaurant.

We find out about one local business which thrives on honey products.  Herd and Hive specialise in bee products and offers educational visits to see their own bees.  You can often meet them at events in the Dales and at local markets too  https://herdandhive.co.uk/

There are some fun facts about the humble bee.  Do you know just how fast it can fly, or how it communicates with other bees when it finds some delicious pollen?

Image: Freepik

Shrove Tuesday, the day before the beginning of lent is when we traditionally use up all the ingredients in the cupboard before fasting.  Hence making pancakes with the available eggs.  

Now its become more about buying things in to enjoy our pancakes - savoury or sweet.

In this episode the Dales Chef delves into the history of the pancake.  Its origins and how it has developed here, over the pond and in Amsterdam.

Some great recipe ideas for savoury pancakes, making the best batter and not forgetting the simple lemon and sugar traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake.

Image: Freepik

Do you like it black, white, filtered or instant?  We all love a coffee our way and today The Dales Chef Bruce Elsworth looks into why coffee is a favourite drink.

We look at using coffee in cooking - from Tiramasu to coffee cake and a little tipple too with an Espresso Martini!

Where have you 'bean'?  It's coffee all the way today on the Dales Chef!

Image: Freepic

In this edition of The Dales Chef Love is in the air as Bruce Elsworth looks at our passion for chocolate, whether to woo your loved one with or to simply to indulge yourself!

What are its origins?  Is is related to coffee? Why do we enjoy it so much?

From Cadbury's Dairy Milk to Milk Tray what do you spoil your loved one with on Valentines Day?

Originally made popular by the Swiss, I bet you didn't know we nearly had chocolate in the UK in the sixteenth Century!!

There's a tasty treat of a desert knocked up in the Dales Kitchen with a rather chocolatey centre and adding a new dimension to a chilli!

Whatever your favourite bar or box, have a happy Valentines Day from The Dales Chef!

Picture: Freepik

Valentines Day is nearly upon us and in this episode of the Dales Chef, Bruce Elsworth gives us some ideas for a Valentines meal at home, plus how things work in restaurants on teh most romantic day of the year.

Start the evening with some bubbles!

From Steaks to Seabass - some great ideas for main couse and a nice light desert.  Cheese for nibbles later on.  Plus of course chocolate!

Image: Freepik