Country Life's top 10 recipes of 2019, from salted caramel millionaire's shortbread and tarte au citron to a classic kedgeree
We've gone through the archives from the year to find the most popular of our regular recipes from 2019. Suffice to say that putting this piece together left us VERY hungry...

Perfect Tarte au Citron
Back at the start of the year we ran a few recipes from Jane Hornby’s latest book, Simple & Classic, which we described as a tome that was 'joyously easy to use'. And joyously rewarding too.
Roast chicken with blood oranges, sweet potato and avocado salsa
Melanie Johnson's delightful recipe using these seasonal oranges was a huge hit — and rightly so.
Salted Caramel Millionaire’s Shortbread
Another of Jane Hornby's recipes — and we'd forgotten just how good this looks.
Normandy chicken 'that’s a perfect dinner as autumn nights draw in'
'Apples aren’t just good for sweet dishes — they can work equally well giving an extra zip to savoury main courses,' wrote Melanie Johnson in September. We agreed.
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How to make kedgeree
This gorgeous recipe, which we described as 'a classic rice dish that makes a perfect weekend brunch', came from Christian Turner at the Colony Grill.
Four recipes to make the humble cucumber rather more interesting
Back in April, Melanie Johnson attempted the (almost) impossible.
Jane Hornby’s chicken and bacon pie
'Chicken pie is as good as it gets for comfort food,' we wrote of this deceptively simple recipe.
Chicken poached with slices of black truffle in a broth flavoured with tarragon and Madeira
Top chef Simon Hopkinson penned this ode to one of his all-time favourite dishes — as served at one of his all-time favourite restaurants.
How to make The Savoy’s sensational pistachio madeleines
The wizards responsible for afternoon tea at The Savoy shared this recipe for one of their showstoppers.
Banana, walnut and salted maple-syrup loaf, served with maple mascarpone
‘I always have bowls of walnuts at home over Christmas,’ wrote Melanie Johnson, ‘I like to make good use of them in the kitchen.’ We'd definitely say this counts as 'good use'.
Credit: Melanie Johnson
Celeriac soup with rosemary, walnuts and bacon plus Parmesan scones
Melanie Johnson’s warming celeriac soup is delicious.
Credit: Melanie Johnson
Chicken, spring-onion and mozzarella meatballs with pesto courgetti salad
Melanie Johnson adds some zing with this season’s new spring onions.
Credit: Country Life Picture Library
Sticky sloe gin venison steaks with parsnip and spinach rösti
Thank Melanie Johnson for this deliciously seasonal addition to your recipe roster.
How to make rocket-and-pea panna cottas with sesame salmon
Our kitchen garden cook Melanie Johnson makes panna cottas with rocket.
Credit: Melanie Johnson/Country Life
Two cakes for the price of one: A salted caramel cheesecake with a carrot cake base
Best friends, carrot cake and cream cheese are fully celebrated in this innovatice recipe, with a salty twist. Thank Melanie
Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.
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Dawn Chorus: A river comes to life, more mews is good mews, and the new 400-mile electric Volvo
Rivers now have the legal right to flow, and to not be full of pollution. It's about time.
By James Fisher Published
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Robin Hood's seaside getaway, and who appears on the £20 note?
Our daily quiz features one of the most beautiful spots in Britain... but where is it?
By Toby Keel Published
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How to make a bay and vanilla crème brûlée custard tart
Elevate your everyday vanilla crème brûlée by infusing it with delicate bay.
By Melanie Johnson Published
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'Mary Berry has an aversion to a soggy cake bottom and I have one to a flaccid croissant': London's best baked goods by the people in the know
From high-end to humble, Swedish cinnamon bun to Greggs steak bake, London is an undisputed pantheon to the pastry. Illustrations by Bryony Fripp.
By Rosie Paterson Published
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How to make the 'best pancakes in the universe'
When we sent writer Jo Rodgers to Oxfordshire to write up a Country Life guide, we were expecting her to wax lyrical about dreaming spires and Cotswolds villages. Instead, Jo came back raving about pumpkin pancakes — so we decided to track down the recipe.
By Country Life Published
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The greatest cottage pie recipe
Potatoes are at the heart of so many favourite dishes, including this delicious cottage pie recipe that you will want to make again and again.
By Melanie Johnson Published
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The need for mead: 'We can re-wild the countryside and get drunk while we’re doing it'
The oldest alcoholic beverage in the world is in the midst of a renaissance.
By Amie Elizabeth White Published
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Tom Parker Bowles's favourite recipe: French onion soup
This dish is no mere Gallic broth, rather pure bonhomie in a bowl — a boozy, beefy, allium-scented masterpiece that cries out for the chill depths of winter
By Tom Parker Bowles Published
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Dawn Chorus: The Dorchester’s plans for British Pie Week, Anya Hindmarch takes flight and how to rent the Earl of Suffolk’s childhood home
Everything you need to know about Pie Week, Anya Hindmarch's new 1970s-inspired travel collection, the Earl of Suffolk's home and foraging in Somerset.
By Rosie Paterson Published
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Celeriac-crusted cod with chorizo butter and romanesco sauce
Make the most of seasonal celeriac whilst it's still around with this easy mid-week or weekend recipe.
By Melanie Johnson Published