One pan
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mushroom barley soup with rosemary
This mushroom barley soup came about because I spotted loads of large mushrooms in the reduced area at the supermarket. I also spotted a bag of soffrito, reduced to 10p. Soffrito is just the Italian name for chopped onion, carrot and celery – the basis for most Italian soups, sauces and stews. I never usually...
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A pot of baked beans – a base for all sorts of meals
I started 2018 by making a big pot of baked beans. We’ve totally over indulged the last few weeks so I’m craving proper healthy food again. No diets or deprivation, just loads of low-stress, home cooked meals – heavy on the veg and beans with plenty of fish and small servings of well-bred meat. You...
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one pan pasta – the easiest midweek dinner
Last night was our usual frantic mid week evening that started with double swimming lessons, showering two soap-resistant children and battling the changing rooms before coming home with another pile of laundry to add to the existing pile of laundry. I made this easy one pan pasta when we got home and it was on...
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Italian fish stew – a one pan mid-week treat
First up, this is not a fish stew with all sorts of shellfish, tenticles and gubbins in it. I do love those French stews, but they are a lengthy, expensive process and more likely to turn off the squeamish amongst you. This is definitely in mid-week dinner territory, although I’d be pretty delighted to have...
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easy pilaf
I know how excited everyone gets about a good one-pan dish. This family-friendly, easy pilaf has minimal hands-on time and dish washing but maximum flavour. Purists will note that this isn’t an authentic recipe, but the results are delicious so that’s good enough for me. This is a great lesson in balancing flavour, texture and...
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roast sausage gnocchi with tomato and greens
AKA ‘easy dins for little ones when the mums need to get on the wine and chat fast.’ I first made this roast sausage gnocchi when my frazzled friend was over with her children one Friday after school. It remains one of the easiest recipes and most quickly gobbled dinners I’ve made this year. I...
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speedy spring tomato, corn and basil frittata
On Monday nights I have the combination of meat-free Monday and after school football (soccer) to shape my dinner plans. I’m usually trying my best to delay a trip to the supermarket so dinner is often a mad rush to make something from what is in the fridge and freezer. This speedy spring frittata ticks all...
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Saltimbocca alla Romana
This classic Italian dish Saltimbocca alla Romana translates as ‘jump in the mouth’. When you learn how to make a dish like this and master the accompanying pan sauce you will replicate it time and time again. This classic Roman dish is quick (it takes around 20 minutes in total) but is so impressive. Traditionally it...
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pappa al pomodoro – Tuscan tomato soup
This classic Tuscan bread and tomato soup, pappa al pomodoro, is super speedy, silky smooth, family friendly and works brilliantly for a lunch or dinner. It also freezes well, making it handy for quick after school and work dinners. Italian soups have a much thicker texture than you may be used to, this one has a...
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one-pan braised Spanish chicken
This Spanish chicken is the kind of dish I grew up eating. We often had braised or roasted one-pan dishes that my Mum could spend a few minutes pulling together then leave to cook in the oven while she went on with all the other things she had to do. This type of meal also...
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the easiest tomato sauce for pasta
Home from a week away and tired after a long journey. I was so close to ordering pizza but then I realised what I really wanted was a bowl of pasta with a good tomato sauce and too much Parmesan. So I turned to the easiest tomato sauce for pasta there is. This classic recipe...
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fennel and lemon freekeh
I’m a bit in love with this fennel and lemon freekeh recipe and I think you’ll love it too. Whenever I think about this recipe I have the sound of Missy Elliot – Get Your Freak On playing in my mind, except I change freak to freekeh. So now it is in yours too. Sorry...
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Spanish meatballs in tomato sauce
I love a good meatball. And these Spanish meatballs in tomato sauce are the latest iteration of my obsession. Meatballs are such an easy thing to make a big batch of and freeze. Read on for how you can store and serve these in all sorts of ways for midweek dinners and fancier dinners with...
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One pan fragrant roast chicken with crunchy chickpeas and vegetables
My students love a good one pan, throw it in the oven dinner so I think you’ll love this. I just got back from teaching a week of classes in California and I’ve already had loads of pictures of this one pan fragrant roast chicken dish from my students after they’ve recreated it at home....
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chorizo love in – speedy chicken, tomato and chorizo stew with crispy broccoli
One of the nicest things about living back in England (aside from family, old friends and telly obviously), is being able to shop at Waitrose. Most expats in California can be turned instantly misty eyed at the mention of this most British of supermarkets. American friends – imagine a shop that is combination of the...
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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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sticky apple one pan crumble
I do love a good crumble and had always made mine in a ceramic dish. Then one day, inspired by the method used for Tarte Tatin, I decided to cut out some dish washing and make the whole blummin thing in a frying pan and my sticky apple one pan crumble was born. The apples...
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