Celeriac is such a versatile veg. You can roast it, pan fry it, make it into soup or serve it raw like this salad recipe. Having grown up in South Africa I had never heard of it until I arrived in the UK and now I’m slightly obsessed with celeriac. It’s got such a fresh…
White bean and pesto dip
I LOVE a chip and dip. It’s a thing. Dip something salty and crunchy into something smooth and creamy. Hmmmmmmm…. Recently I’ve found that you just can’t buy anything other than humous in the supermarket. Not quite the same. So I decided to make my own dip and it is GOOD! Ingredients: 1 can of…
Broccoli and cauliflower soup
This is such a delicious soup and so easy to make, not to mention cheap. Serves between 2 and 4 depending on whether you’re serving as a starter or a main course. Ingredients: 900g fresh or frozen broccoli and/or cauliflower – I’ve used both in this recipe but you can use one or the other A…
Lamb and green bean bredie (stew)
This is a family recipe. Very South African. As a child it wasn’t my favourite but now I LOVE it! My Gran used to make it, my Mom makes it and I’m proud to say that it’s still a family favourite. I vary the original recipe only slightly by adding a couple of tomatoes, these…
Slow cooked pork and fennel with apple and cider
This is a great slow cooked pork recipe, the pork, fennel, sage and apple combo is a match made in heaven. I used pork fillet (tenderloin), cut into bite sized pieces but you can use pork shoulder if you let the pot simmer for a bit longer, about 20 minutes longer than if you’re using…
Potted prawns with hot smoked salmon
This is the perfect starter for a dinner party. Really, REALLY easy to make (i.e. assemble) and it always goes down well. What makes it even better is that it can be made ahead of time if kept in the fridge, just take it out about 20 – 30 minutes before serving so that the…
Creamy baked ravioli and smoked haddock
This is a variation on a recipe I’ve made before (Baked ravioli with cauliflower white sauce) but instead of a tomato based sauce I’ve used my creamy cauliflower white sauce. To mix it up a bit I’ve added some frozen peas and smoked haddock. Serves 2 Ingredients: See cauliflower white sauce recipe 1 bag of…
Mediterranean beef stew
This is something that I’ve been making for at least 15 years now, I saw the recipe in a magazine and have made my own adaptions over the years. It’s a really tasty, warming dish that can be served with pasta, rice, mashed potato, gnocchi or even just a crusty bread roll to scrape up…
Fennel salad with cucumber and red onion
This is a fantastically crunchy salad that can be enjoyed with pork or chicken, great as an alternative salad at barbeques. 1 or 2 fennel bulbs (depending on how many people you’re serving) Half a red onion, finely sliced Half to 1 whole cucumber, peeled and sliced (again, use as much as you require) For…
Cabbage, mince and tomato one pot wonder
This is another one pot wonder. A really lean, tasty and healthy dish. Enjoy with rice, topped on a baked potato, with crusty bread or just on it’s own as a low carb meal. Serves 4 Ingredients: 500g shredded cabbage 750g lean beef mince 1 or 2 cans of chopped tomatoes (depending on how juicy…
“Creamed” spinach
This is another one of my seriously easy cheat recipes. Simple and healthy, once again I have used one of my favourite “seasonings”, parmesan cheese. 200g frozen spinach 2 tablespoons of low fat natural yoghurt 2 tablespoons greated parmesan Salt and pepper to taste Cook the spinach according to the instructions, I put mine in…
Healthy baked and crumbed chicken thighs
I’ve already shared my recipe for traditional Chicken Milanese (i.e. crumbed chicken breasts) but this is the low fat, “low” mess version. Serves 2 4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, you can also use mini chicken breasts 3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons grated parmesan 2 teaspoons of fresh herbs, I used oregano but you can…
Left over pasta frittata
This is a great brunch idea, or a “cook once, eat twice” type idea too. Ideal for a mid week dinner served with a salad or just on its own. Serves 2/3 – add more eggs to serve 4 people Left over pasta, any type really, I’ve used spaghetti but you can even use penne…
Hidden Veg Mince
This is a very standard issue beef mince sauce. All I’ve done is add a few more veggies to stretch it out, make it tastier and HIDE them from children who don’t like to eat their veg! The secret to getting this to taste extra special is to allow it to cook for at least…
Baked ravioli with cauliflower white sauce
This has got to be one of the easiest pasta al forno dishes out there. Once you’ve made the white sauce this is really just an assembly job. So easy, so delicious AND the sauce is a healthy alternative to a white sauce, just as creamy but loaded with veg. If you haven’t made the…
Cauliflower White Sauce
This is a fab cheats’ béchamel / white sauce. A quick and simple white sauce that’s healthy; a great hidden veg recipe! Use for all sorts of baked pasta’s such as lasagne, ravioli, cannelloni and obviously, for broccoli and/or cauliflower cheese bake. 1 cauliflower 1 pint of milk 100g grated parmesan 100g cheddar cheese (optional) 1 teaspoon of mustard…
Marinated beef steaks
This is another one of those really easy recipes; it’s actually not really a recipe at all ;-). Steak is great on its own with salt and pepper but if you leave these pieces of steak for long enough in the marinade (at least 2 hours) it just adds so much to the flavour. These are…
Tomato salad…. so simple… yet so effective
You might question why it’s even necessary to write this up as a recipe because it really is so simple. It’s another one I’ve taken from my mom in law and adapted ever so slightly and I think it’s worth sharing. Firstly, because it is just so good and secondly, because whenever I make this, everyone…
Turkey and apple polpette (meatballs)
These are so savoury yet sweet and tasty, much healthier than other types of meatballs as turkey is so low in fat. The apple combination is perfect, you wouldn’t know it was there but it works so well. I recently made these as part of a “finger food” selection at a party, hence the large…
Lemon, garlic and herb chicken thighs
This is a really low effort recipe, great for a barbeque but you do need time for the meat to marinate well. Serves 4 4 – 6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs 2 tablespoons olive oil Handful of chopped fresh herbs, I tend to use coriander and/or oregano Juice of 1 lemon 2 or 3 tablespoons…
Salsa di pomodoro (home made tomato pasta sauce)
My mother in law makes her own tomato sauce from the tomatoes that are grown on the family farm and each year she harvests tomatoes to make sauces, passatas and sun dried tomatoes. The family will eat these sauces throughout the year until the next summer. This is my version of my mother in law’s…
White fish and bean gratin (with a lemon and parmesan herb crust)
This is a really wholesome, healthy and filling meal. I just love basa fillets, also known as river cobbler but you can use any white fish fillets or loins or even smoked haddock if you prefer. I also use frozen spinach here, it’s a life changer, packaged in small portions it cooks just as well…
Butternut soup
This is definitely a winter warmer favourite of mine. Really easy to make and so full of flavour. I use parmesan in this recipe, it makes all the difference in terms of seasoning. I add a pot of plain yoghurt or you could use soft cheese or creme fraiche; this adds a bit of acidity…
Pasta e fagioli (pasta with beans)
This is one of my husband’s favourite recipes. I learned to cook this dish by watching my mother in law and obviously by sampling the finished product myself. I’ve adapted the recipe slightly by using stock, my mother in law would just use water and allow the flavours from the veg to create their own…
It's my kitchen... 