Food memories

My mum was a reasonable cook even before we went abroad when I was about five, she improved and was even more adventurous after travelling the world. As youngsters of primary school age, we would have our own choice of birthday cake and mine was usually a chocolate layer sponge. She had two heart shaped sponge tins which were birthday specials. I was very girly and liked heartshaped anything. The cake was light fluffy and not too 'chocolatey' , I'm not into dark choc, and layered with smooth, creamy, chocolate buttercream. I believe I still have those tins in the cupboard somewhere. One birthday things must have gone wrong, the cake turned out dense and soggy, but oh so delicious. I think it might have been a forerunner of brownies. My brother and I would ask for 'soggy cake' but she could never replicate it.

Another one of mum's specials was called chicken cacciatore. A chicken, sweet pepper, tomato one pot dish. We had it regularly for umpteen years. Mum thought it was a favourite of dad's, until some years later dad very plaintively asked whether we might have something other than tomatoey stew. It took him some 10 years to pluck up the courage to say he didn't like it.

We were based in the Orient for many years of my childhood and I have fond memories of exotic ingredients. Huge prawns, wonderful veg, all bought from the bustling market fresh daily. Juicy mangoes, pineapples, mangosteen, rambutan, breadfruit. All probably available here but not a patch on what I remember. One thing we never had the courage to buy in Thailand were huge live bugs tied up with bamboo strips. Their eyes would follow you as you walked past. I'm fairly adventurous with food, but there was a limit.