BOOK OF THE MONTH

Recipes From My Mother by Rachel Allen (Harpercollins, £20) A book full of down-to-earth recipes with a pinch of nostalgia, such as the sweet delights of plum shortcake and rhubarb Eve’s pudding. For a perfect springtime main, I’d recommend the pan-fried lamb chops with apple and mint chutney. The recipes are simple and straightforward, with a comforting mix of cuisines drawn from Rachel’s Icelandic mother along with her childhood in Ireland.