Sophie Kooks Month by Month: March

'Only in March do I begin to feel that winter has finally gone. It's great to see the brighter days. Trees starting to bloom and new spring vegetables popping up. As the month goes on I slowly move away from comfort food towards lighter dishes like pastas and vibrant, fresh curries. I love this time of year with all its promise of longer days and summertime soon to come' Sophie. Taken from the fantastic cookbook by Sophie Kooks, discover tips on using all the produce that is at its best in March and enjoy gorgeous March recipes.

Sophie Morris is owner of the innovative and exciting young Irish food company Kooky Dough. Started in her kitchen and initially selling at farmers' markets in Dublin, Sophie and her business partner, Graham Clarke, famously turned down the dragons on RTÉ 's Dragons' Den to build their food business their own way. Kooky Dough is now stocked in supermarkets and premium independent retailers in Ireland; in Waitrose in the UK; in Monoprix in France; and in Spinneys in the United Arab Emirates. Kooky Dough and Sophie have received extensive recognition for the quality of their product by winning numerous Blas na hÉ ireann food awards in Ireland, and Gold in the UK's Great Taste Awards 2011. With an MSc distinction in Economics along with a degree in Economics and Social Studies from Trinity College Dublin, Sophie enjoyed the challenge of academia and was always drawn to business-oriented subjects. However, away from the lecture halls Sophie developed an intense passion for food, not only in the eating but in the therapy of preparing and cooking. She completed an Italian cookery course in Rome in 2007, and after university she completed the 12-week Ballymaloe cookery course to develop her culinary skills further. Her experience at Ballymaloe only heightened her love for food and it was here that she developed the ambition to have her own food business. Cooking simple, feelgood food is what Sophie loves to do in her precious free time; it helps her to relax and escape from work. She hopes this book will help you to do the same.