DAVID HERBERT REVIEWS: Sonia Stevenson's Roasts

Thoughts on the book
"If you are looking for good ideas to help vary your Sunday roast, look no further than Sonia Stevenson's lovely book, Roasts. Roasting is the easiest, most delicious kind of home cooking, especially if you are cooking for a crowd. It's all here in clear instructions ideas for meat, fish, vegetables, sauces and more. I particularly like the Italian roast leg of lamb with lemon and anchovy and the roast mushrooms with olive oil and pine nuts.

"Sonia Stevenson was the first woman chef in the UK to be awarded a Michelin star and although a gifted chef, she writes like a home cook, giving clear, but uncomplicated instructions with lots of tips. The format is friendly the pages stay open and flat on the worktop when you are using the book, and all the recipes are accompanied with gorgeous pictures."

Trying out a recipe
"I tried out Sonia's recipe for Roast mushrooms with olive oil and pine nuts. Big flat mushrooms are delicious roasted in the oven, and so are the wild ones with an extra touch of hazelnut oil added to the cooking medium. Serve them as a first course, as part of an antipasti selection or as an accompaniment to roast meats, especially beef."