snacks and small bites
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pappa al pomodoro – Tuscan tomato soup
pappa al pomodoro recipe 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. I recently made a cookalong video of me making this so why...
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chickpea salad with feta, herb and lemon
The most delicious chickpea salad with feta, herb and lemon First things first, the star of the show in this chickpea salad is, clearly chickpeas but if that is throwing you, they are known as garbanzo beans in the US. Now everyone is clear on that, let’s talk about why you need to make this...
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chocolate sea salt pretzels and almonds
I’m a sucker for anything with salt and chocolate. I’m sure you know that by now. So these chocolate sea salt pretzels and almonds are pretty much like crack for me. The people I’ve given them to seem to agree. Chocolate covered pretzels were a revelation for me when I moved to California. As were...
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roast pumpkin seeds
Carving pumpkins this week? Need to entertain small people? Lots of us have children off school this week or next and need a way to keep them busy and fed without resorting to too much sugar. This roast pumpkin seeds recipe is a great way of ticking both boxes. Roast pumpkin seeds are a perfect...
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rosemary bacon hassleback potatoes
These rosemary bacon hassleback potatoes are the easiest and most delicious spuds to sit alongside all your feasts. I love these as an easy alternative to my roast potatoes with a roast dinner but I won’t say no to them with some fish and salad or even on their own. These hassleback potatoes have maximum...
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grown up grilled cheese with tomato dipping sauce
Until we moved to America I thought the whole world knew what a cheese toastie was, but I was wrong. Over there it is a grilled cheese – even though it is usually cooked in a frying pan rather than under the grill (known as a broiler in the US). Confused much? I’d always made...
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Spanakopita – spinach, feta, egg and filo pie
Spanakopita is the correct name for this Greek pie made of filo*, spinach, feta and egg. However my boys have named it ‘green pie’ rather than Greek pie since they are a) very literal, and b) not the best listeners. Regardless of the name, they and I agree (for once) that it is the most...
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romesco sauce – you’ll be adding this to everything
This romesco sauce is so versatile and yummy. It has a perfect Spanish balance of vinegar, smoke, sweetness and is packed full of goodness. It can be made in a jiffy using ingredients that I always keep in my store cupboard. A jar will last in the fridge for a week or two. I love...
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5 minute almond butter satay vegetable noodle bowl
This 5 minute almond butter satay vegetable noodle bowl recipe came about when I was staring into the cupboard with a rumbling tummy and two starving children. It is amazing how creative you can be with what you have when the thought of going to the supermarket with two toddlers is the alternative. I’m allergic...
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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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grain packed healthy pancakes
Ask my American born 4 year old what he wants for breakfast and before you’ve even finished the question he’ll have told you. Pancakes. Always pancakes. I can’t always find the time in the morning to indulge him but when I do, these are the grain packed healthy pancakes I make. These are far from...
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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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peppermint bark – a perfect homemade gift
This homemade peppermint bark recipe is so easy and a fraction of the cost of the bark sold at Williams Sonoma (theirs is $28 per lb, mine is closer to $6 per lb or £2 per 450g). When we lived in California I became addicted to the free peppermint bark samples Williams Sonoma had around...
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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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Parmesan and poppy seed shortbreads
Forget Pringles – these crumbly cheesy Parmesan and poppy seed shortbreads are so moreish that you’ll be lucky if one batch is enough to last you between the cooling rack and the serving plate. They are a perfect pre-dinner drink partner. My children love them with soup too. The dough for these can be frozen...
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