Some years ago the Pembroke Ladies Club published a Friends and Neighbours Cookery Book. It was an excellent publication and below is a recipe from Marion Nugent which serves four and is sure to warm you up in this cold weather.

Curried Lentil Soup
8 oz/200g red lentils
1 large onion diced
1 red pepper diced
1 green pepper diced
1 carrot diced
1 potato diced
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp curry powder
1 clove crushed garlic
3 pints stock or water
1 tin of tomatoes
1⁄2 tsp basil

Heal oil. Saute onion for 3 minutes. Add curry powder and garlic and stir in. Add lentils and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add stock, stir well and bring to the boil. Simmer for 30 to 40 minutes. Add remaining vegetables and cook until tender. Garnish with parsley and serve with crusty wholemeal bread.

And for tea time why not try Sister Salome’s Porter Cake.
1 lb flour
1⁄4 lb margarine
1⁄2 lb raisins
1⁄2 lb sultanas
3⁄4 lb brown sugar
1⁄2 stout
4 eggs
1 tsps mixed spice
1⁄4 lb peel
Rind and juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp bread soda

Put flour in a large bowl. Rub in margarine until mixture resembles bread crumbs. Add fruit, sugar, lemon and mixed spice. Heat stout to blood temperature and add bread soda. Mix quickly and pour into centre of dry ingredients. Add well-beaten eggs. Put in greased loaf tins and bake for 21⁄2 - 3 hours at gas mark 3 or 170c.