Soups
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Black bean sopa Azteca – Mexican black bean soup
This Mexican soup is a regular dinner for us – the add-ins made it really filling and substantial. A few steps at the start of the recipe give the soup a wonderful smoky depth of flavour. And the end additions give it freshness and texture. This soup freezes beautifully, making it great for lunch or...
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eggplant polpette with speedy tomato basil sauce
Meatless meatballs, aubergine balls, vegetarian balls – I struggled a bit to name this recipe. Anyhow, I’ve settled on eggplant polpette. Eggplant because I taught it first in my cooking classes in California, polpette because, well, ‘balls’ is only ever going to get one reaction. If you don’t like aubergine or eggplant I bet you’ll...
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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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white bean, kale and Parmesan soup
This white bean, kale and Parmesan soup has been upping my and my boys’ veg quota all week. We got back from two lovely weeks on holiday in New England on Sunday. I don’t know about you but I always come back from holiday wanting to force-feed myself with veg. I try my best when...
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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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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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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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addictive crunchy chickpeas [garbanzo]
These addictive crunchy chickpeas are my new obsession. Either roast them alongside vegetables (cauliflower, carrots, brussel sprouts are all good). Or follow the recipe below and add them to salads, serve them with drinks or have them as a healthy snack. They add a delicious crunch to pitta and houmus. If you are Stateside you’ll...
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homemade dukkah – the easy way to add fragrant crunch to your meals
When you’re looking for your food to be balanced and interesting to eat, you need to add different textures and flavours. I talk more about the principle of flavour and texture balancing here. One of my favourite ways to add crunch is to add some toasted nuts or seeds to my meals. Homemade dukkah is...
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you say tomato sauce – never buy a jar of pasta sauce again
Every time I go to the supermarket and see the shelves upon shelves of tomato sauce I want to stage a protest, but my English reserve (and crazy lady side) means I only rant in my own head rather than out loud. I know those jars are a staple of most people’s weekly shopping trips,...
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stock or broth – the easy way to make your own liquid gold
If you make soups, stews, risotto or pho, homemade stock is a game changer. It is so simple to make from things you would usually throw away. Once you get into the habit of making your own you’ll never look back. Your food will taste better, you’ll save money, and your health will benefit. Homemade...
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21 days of nourishing, healthy, clean food – a plan and some recipes
If like me you are starting the month feeling not quite as healthy or balanced as you’d like, join me in a 21 day re-nourish and re-balance plan. Join in and get up to the minute motivation on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and you’ll be able to share tips and keep motivated to eat better...
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end of the week veggie stew
The week before I fly home to England from California I always go into an extra crazy vegetable eating and juicing mission and this veggie stew is perfect. It is my attempt to pack in as many vitamins and antioxidants so we are ready to fight off any bugs flying around inside of the plane. ...
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tomato and courgette soup
Given my obvious love of tomatoes, I get positively delirious at this time of year when they are piling up all around me and at their absolute best. We just got back from a two week holiday to find our garden overflowing with perfectly ripe tomatoes and courgettes (zucchini). Very handy as I came back...
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Julie’s lentil, carrot, tomato soup
Growing up this was a pretty-much weekly item on our menu. My Mum, Julie, embraced lentil eating in the 80s along with her perm and shoulder pads. So I’m naming this as Julie’s lentil, carrot, tomato soup for her. The hair and fashions have changed but this remains a favourite in our family. She is...
recipe15 minute squash soup with chestnut gnocchi – a Jamie Oliver inspired dinner
I bought Jamie Oliver’s new book “Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals” when I was back in the UK. I’m awful for buying new cook books, reading them then leaving them on the shelf, so my new year’s resolution is to cook from one book a month and try two recipes a week from it. So far...
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a cup of cauliflower and kale soup
I feel cauliflower is often overlooked but I’m increasingly using it to give the creaminess I want in soups without having to use cream or potatoes. This cauliflower and kale soup is easy peasy to make and tastes gorgeous whilst being super-virtuous. I made a big batch and froze some for lunches. My Grandma, Myra,...
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