Lunch
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harissa and lemon chickpea soup
My love a good soup is well documented on these pages. This harissa and lemon chickpea soup is a quick to make recipe that uses things you will probably have in your store cupboard. It is a great lesson in flavour balancing and the subtle Middle Eastern flavours taste like nothing you’d be able to...
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beetroot, cannellini, basil and sherry vinegar dip
I made a quick batch of this beetroot cannellini dip as part of a nibbly platter for my students last week. I’d been jonesing for these flavours since I had the Marks and Spencer version of this beetroot and bean dip at Christmas. Not only is this dip fabulously purple, it tastes amazing, can be...
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One-pan sausage, butternut squash and sage bake with apple salad
When people ask me what my go-to mid-week meals are, I invariably mention my love of a sausage tray bake. Cooking in this way is hands-off and delicious. Spend the time and money on good sausages (made from happily raised animals please) and a lot of the flavor work is done for you. Below you’ll...
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Palm Springs kale, date, almond and quinoa salad
Lunch today is a recreation of the kale, date, almond and quinoa salad I had when we were staying in Palm Springs at the Ace hotel. I had their kale, date, almond and quinoa salad every day for lunch when we were there. I never usually get the same thing twice, especially when we’re in...
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pea pesto crostini
This pea pesto crostini recipe is dear to my heart as it was taught in my first ever You say Tomato class. Since then it has become a regular in my students’ houses. They love it like I do because it is colourful, healthy, child and budget friendly. Most importantly, because it is mainly make-ahead...
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smoked salmon fishcakes with pea tartar dip
These easy little smoked salmon fishcakes can be made ahead. I love them to soak up drinks at parties, or to serve a quick hit of omega 3s to my kids for dinner (tip – don’t tell your kids they’re having ‘cakes for dinner’ as they may be disappointed). They’re great on top of a...
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roast cauliflower, chickpea, Dijon and parsley salad
This roast cauliflower chickpea salad recipe perfectly illustrates the importance of balance in flavour and texture and will teach you new techniques for making vegetables the star of the show. Why roasting cauliflower is a game changer Roasted cauliflower is such a handy addition to meals. It has just the right amount of stodge to...
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Thai turkey or chicken salad with puffed wild rice
Almost as much time is devoted to dealing with leftover turkey as is spent talking about how to cook the blummin’ thing in the first place. To be honest, I love a good sandwich (toasted sourdough, Dijon, stuffing, crispy bacon, Maldon and cranberry sauce please). But what I often crave amidst the party food of...
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carrot and swede (rutabaga) mash
This way of eating carrots has been in my family for generations. I’d put money on this being one of the first foods I ate as a baby as it was on our table with well over half the meals we had each week. My children love it too. We always have it with shepherds...
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shakshuka – saucy eggs with tomato, herbs, avocado and feta
Sometimes I’m haunted by a meal I’ve had, or a meal I know I need to create. My craving for these baked eggs in a spiced tomato sauce, most often called shakshuka, has been a constant companion for ages. Then one Sunday the planets aligned. My boys were having a night at my parents’ house,...
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the best guacamole with bacon and seeds
If you thought guacamole couldn’t get any better, have a go at this guacamole with bacon and seeds recipe. I made this last week and my son had eaten almost half of it before I made it to the table with the rest of that night’s dinner. While he may be lacking in restraint, he...
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three-way pea salad with feta and lemon
I posted this pea salad with feta and lemon on Instagram and Facebook a few weeks ago and everyone went crazy for it. So I wanted to immortalise it here, given that we all get memory like goldfish on social media. This recipe is a great one for packed lunches as it hangs around well....
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baked stuffed potatoes
This baked stuffed potatoes is a very simple recipe but is a great, fast dinner. Especially if you plan ahead to have leftover baked potatoes in the fridge. My mum makes these for my boys whenever we arrive back at her house having flown in from California. She makes them a bowl of her lentil...
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grilled corn and kale salad with warm chili, rosemary, lemon and garlic dressing
If you have the bbq or grill going you may as well cook some sides at the same time. This grilled corn and kale salad recipe makes the most of the abundance of fresh corn when it is in season. The sweetness of the corn balances out the kale and the fact the kale is...
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Thai carrot and sweet potato soup with basil and avocado
Most Sundays I make a ‘clear the fridge’ soup. I don’t follow a recipe but I use it as an excuse to empty my fridge, give it a good wipe and make something from the odds and ends that are in there. I love making soup on a Sunday because it means I have a...
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pesto the most delicious, child-friendly way to eat greens
Wondering how to eat more greens? How to get children to enjoy eating vegetables? When I feel we need some more greenery in our diet I reach for pesto. But not the stuff in a jar. I want a hit of fresh, punchy, healthy greens and I’m afraid you won’t get that from the bought...
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two meals in one – meatballs
People in my classes are always asking for ideas of things to make for the freezer – things they can quickly grab out for dinner without cooking from scratch. This is one of my most popular recipes and is a new look at an old staple – meatballs. Adding fresh, citrus flavors and chilli heat...
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the new salad rules
If you want to step up your salad making read on as I’ve pulled together my top salad rules. Think of them as building blocks – when you’re making a salad check that you have the right elements to make it a perfectly rounded and balanced dish. Before long this will become instinctive. Until then,...
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