Dinner with... Jane Brocket

FOOD writer Jane Brocket harks back to the days when mums wore pinnies and there were picnics on the lawn. Her books, The Gentle Art of Domesticity and Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer, will breathe a warm aroma of nostalgia into your cooking.

What's the best meal you've had?

The masala dosas I ate for breakfast when in southern India nearly 30 years ago made the greatest taste impression.

What's the worst meal you've had?

As a student, I spent ten weeks in the Soviet Union, and I swear the same dreadful soup was recycled day after day. It had a disgusting layer of grease on top and what looked like tangled pond weed beneath.

What's in your fridge?

All I need to be able to bake at a moment's notice.

What's your hangover fix?

The word 'no'.

What are your most useful kitchen utensils?

A host of brightly coloured rubber spatulas; a hand-held electric whisk; a coffee-grinder – for freshly ground spices for curries; electronic scales.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Chocolate.

What's your favourite standby recipe?

Spaghetti smothered with lots of finely chopped garlic and red chilli that has been cooked briefly in good olive oil with salt and pepper and served with lots of freshly grated parmesan.

Ready meals or start from scratch?

I occasionally fall back on prepared meals, but when I do I invariably regret it as soon as I read the list of ingredients on the packaging.

What kind of food says home to you?

Rock buns. Warm, fruity, nutmeggy and with plenty of glac cherries. Utterly comforting and delicious.

Have you ever been on a diet?

Once – to get into a smaller size of wedding dress.

What's the one food that makes you feel better?

Hot toast, spread with good butter, plus a cup of tea. Never fails.

Do you eat airline food?

I harbour a strange fondness for airline food, which lingers after years of business-class travel in the 1980s. However, this is being quickly eroded by the abysmal food that is almost literally thrown at you on most airlines.

Do you buy organic?

I would much rather shop in a market and buy from local growers and producers.

How tidy is your kitchen?

The work surfaces are clutter-free, but my cupboards are danger zones.