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apple snow with blackberry ripple
Faced with piles of blackberries from a recent walk and a bag of Bramley cooking apples from my Mum’s tree, I felt myself lean towards my default blackberry and apple crumble. But then I remembered the cloud-eating joy of apple snow and wondered if it was still as good as I remembered. It was. Better...
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roasted cauliflower salad two ways
I love the bulk that roasted cauliflower adds to a meal. Most children and adult cauli-phobes find that they enjoy cauliflower and broccoli (its greener cousin) when it is roasted rather than steamed or boiled. That’s because roasting vegetables intensifies their natural sweetness by forcing the moisture out. These two salads are hearty enough as...
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black bean burgers
These protein-packed black bean burgers are one of our favourite meat-free Monday dinners. I know they don’t sound like something you can immediately imagine eating, because they do sound a bit too vegan. But trust me, they’re delicious. They pass the carnivore husband and suspicious child test with flying colours, but I love them because...
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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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brown rice – perfect every time
One of the most frequent questions I get in class is how to make perfect brown rice. So many people invest in space-hogging contraptions or end up with sticky over-cooked rice. My first tip is to stop following the instructions on the packet, because this easy-peasy method gives you perfect rice every time with minimal...
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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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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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Lemony mushroom ragu on oozy polenta with kale pesto
This Lemony mushroom ragu on oozy polenta with kale pesto is a 20 minute dinner in a bowl that oozes Italian deliciousness and will win over even the most avid meat eater. The polenta is comforting, the mushrooms are meaty and umami rich. The pesto adds freshness and helps get some healthy greens into even the...
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cousotto – the speediest of speedy dinners
Parents of small children lean in now. Purists please look away. This cousotto is the perfect recipe when you get in late and need to get food into mouths fast without resorting to packets. I’ve made various versions of this since my boys were teeny. They and I still love it. We call it ‘cous-otto’...
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15 minute Thai basil stir fry
This recipe for a 15 minute Thai basil stir fry is one I’ve taught in my classes for a few years and it never fails to get people excited. In fact, I love this recipe so much I’ve made a video of me making it, showing you all the tips and tricks so you can cook...
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coconut brown rice pudding with salted coconut caramel
I’m always on the look out for a dessert that will make my boys feel like I’m indulging them but is healthy enough to dish out midweek on a regular basis. And, I’m sure you know by now that I’m also always looking for ways to make a recipe quicker and more delicious so that...
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fragrant sweet potato and black bean chilli
This sweet potato and black bean chilli what I reach to when I feel we need to re-set our eating a bit. It is easy to make, comforting to eat and works for my whole family. It is even better the day after you make it as the flavours mellow together. This one-pan dish is great...
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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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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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gem’s gorgeous granola
When you learn how easy it is to whip up a batch of this gem’s gorgeous granola you’ll be a convert. This version is much lower in sugar and oil than many store bought varieties and is full of nutritious ingredients. It is also about a quarter of the price of shop-bought granola. And everyone...
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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. Roasted cauliflower is such a handy addition to meals. It has just the right amount of stodge to replace piles of rice and bread with...
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sweet, salty and bright Brussels sprouts
Until relatively recently, I, like most Brits, had a slightly unfair view of the possibilities presented by a Brussels sprout. I also had been spelling them wrong for years, missing the ‘s’ off the end of Brussel. Sorry about that. I know so many people don’t like them and that’s because they’ve only had them...
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