Potato Salad is a must at any BBQ, picnic or garden party. It's so quick and easy to make and is absolutely delicious with quiche, salad, meats and vegetables. You can, of course, use regular potatoes. But I think the tinned new potatoes taste really nice, and as there's no washing, peeling or chopping, they … Continue reading Vegan Potato Salad
I love an omelette. Packed with protein and veg, it's such a good start to the day; especially if you wash it down with a glass of orange juice to make sure you absorb as much iron as you can. (See my post How To Be A Healthy Pesky/Veggie/Vegan for more info on this if … Continue reading Cheese, Tomato and Chive Omelette
This, in my opinion, is the perfect evening meal for a cold, wet November night. Especially if you serve it with a bottle of Cobra Beer and a mountain of sides. Tikka Masala, though served at most Indian restaurants and takeaways in the UK, isn't actually an Indian dish. It was invented in Britain to … Continue reading Paneer Tikka Masala
A couple of years ago, my husband and I went to Mexico on holiday. The food was good at the hotel, though it was all aimed at tourists. There was a vast difference between the 'posh' version of Mexican food we were served in the hotel, and the street food we ate in the towns … Continue reading Refried Beans
My husband and I have holidayed in Greece many times. The first time, we were in our early 20's and were just looking for some low lost sun, but we fell in love with the food, the wine, the views, the weather and the people. We've never been back to the same place twice, each … Continue reading Santorini Scrambled Eggs
This is a favourite weekend breakfast for me - a fat slice of crusty bread, lightly toasted, with Smashed Avocado slathered on it, topped with a veggie sausage pattie or a slice of cheese and a runny fried egg. Heaven! The Smashed Avocado recipe is vegan, so of course, serve it with whatever you like … Continue reading Smashed Avocado
I love roasted butternut squash. I usually chop a full squash into chunks and roast it in oil, seasoning and garlic, then keep it in an air-tight container in my fridge. I can then add it to pasta dishes or use it top pizza with, or microwave it for a few mins so it's hot … Continue reading Butternut Squash and Bean Bake
Next up for Halloween - Meringues. Crisp on the outside, marshmallowy on the inside, light, sweet and impressive when served at a party. They're traditionally served with whipped cream and fresh fruit, but these cute little Meringue Ghosts are dipped in white chocolate and crushed pistachios. They're the perfect sweet treat to serve at a … Continue reading Meringue Ghosts
This recipe has been adapted from my ancient cookery book The Dairy Book of Home Cookery (see my About Page for more info) Sometimes, the old recipes are the best, and this one is fantastic. I've just updated it with extra herbs and flavours, and wow! It doesn't look much, but it tastes so good! … Continue reading Haddock Bake
OK, so I know what you're thinking, but jelly (or jello, for my friends on the other side of the pond) is definitely NOT just for kids; especially not this one! Made with fresh fruit, Pimms and prosecco, it's the perfect dessert to eat outside, in the sunshine, watching Wimbledon . Weather you're a tennis … Continue reading Wimbledon Jelly
When I was 11 or 12, I attended a BBQ at a family friend's house. We didn't have a BBQ at home, so this was a real treat, and I couldn't believe it when she lifted the lid and showed me rows of jacket potatoes and corn on the cob cooking on the grill. Up … Continue reading BBQ Corn on the Cob
Coleslaw is a firm favourite in our house, and a staple dish at any BBQ, buffet or party. It goes with pretty much every savoury dish (even sausage and brown sauce sandwiches - try it!) and its so quick and easy to make yourself. Normally, coleslaw is made using white cabbage, but I've used red … Continue reading Pink Coleslaw
This recipe is adapted from a Golden Coconut Pyramids recipe in my very old Dairy Book of Home Cookery (see my About Page for more info). I was making meringues for a special Easter recipe I'm developing, and the Coconut Pyramids was right next to the meringues in the book and it caught my attention. … Continue reading Flourless Almond Biscuits
Up until 2016, I was convinced I didn't like mushrooms. They were just slimy, horrible things that were snuck into almost all vegetarian meals without my permission. Then, my now husband and I went to Edinburgh for the weekend with some friends, where we ended up having dinner in a lovely Italian restaurant. Back then, … Continue reading Creamy Garlic Mushrooms
Sometimes I can work at a recipe for weeks, making it over and over again, changing it slightly each time until I'm happy with it. And sometimes I can chuck a load of ingredients in a pan, throw chocolate on top and it turns out better than I ever expected. This is one of those … Continue reading Choconut Treats
There's nothing more comforting on a cold, wet, winter's day than a steaming bowl of hot tomato soup. You can, of course, buy very good tinned soups, but if like me, you get a lot of joy, and take a lot of pride in cooking things from scratch, then you'll enjoy making your own. And … Continue reading Easy Homemade Tomato Soup
I love nachos, they make a great sharing starter for a dinner party, or a buffet item at a party, as they're really quick and easy to make, and can be altered easily to suit everyone's tastes. But they're usually served piled up in a heap with the toppings dolloped on top. This looks good, … Continue reading Oven Baked Nachos
Up until I was in my late 20's, I'd always cooked scrambled eggs in the microwave. It was just the way I'd been taught to make it as a kid, and it had never crossed my mind to try cooking it in a pan. I would beat a couple of eggs together with a pinch … Continue reading Mushroom Scrambled Eggs
I used to work as a waitress in a lovely little local pub. All their food was freshly made and sourced locally and as a result, it was always busy. One of the dishes they served was a Cheesy Broccoli Bake. It was a popular dish consisting of potato, onion and broccoli cooked in a … Continue reading Brassica Bake
My inspiration for this dish came from a recipe I came upon by chance on Pinterest quite a few years ago. The recipe was Pumpkin, Spinach and Walnut Spaghetti by a blogger called Lazy Cat Kitchen. It was a simple recipe - just lemon juice and zest, chilli flakes, garlic, salt and pepper to accompany … Continue reading Pumpkin and Sage Rigatoni
These chickpeas are really quick and easy to prepare, and they taste fantastic. I like them on a wrap with lettuce, red onion and a squeeze of mayonnaise or with a simple mixed salad for an easy, tasty lunch. They would also make a great starter mixed with chopped fresh tomatoes and served hot on … Continue reading Spiced Chickpeas
My husband and I used to live in Carlisle, in the very North of England, and there was a Thai restaurant there that we loved. Usually when we eat out I like to try something new, but here I would order exactly the same thing every time - Sticky Tofu Noodles to start, then Sweet … Continue reading Chinese Tofu With Fried Rice
We have had some beautiful weather in the UK this week. It's been hotter than parts of the Mediterranean on some days and if we weren't still in lockdown there would've been garden parties and family BBQs happening up and down the country. We did get our BBQ out and the husband and I have … Continue reading Barbecued or Oven Baked Feta
I've made Garlic Mayo Dips for years, each time altering the recipe slightly; and this version is by far the best I've ever tasted. It's smooth, creamy and has a definite garlic kick but without being overbearing. It's also really quick and easy to make and needs only 5 ingredients. Serve this dip with a … Continue reading The Best Garlic Mayo Dip
I have spent years developing this recipe. Every winter I give it another go, changing the recipe each time, and each time it was a bit . . . meh. I knew it would work eventually, sausages, leeks, onions, gravy, what can go wrong? Turns out, when you're using vegetarian sausages, it's harder than you … Continue reading Veggie Sausage Casserole
Happy new year everyone! Have you eaten and drank far too much over the festive period? Have you reverted back to your teenage years of happily grazing on junk food all day and forgoing proper meals? Of lazing about in your pyjamas all day and watching films? Me to! It's been great, but - sigh … Continue reading Veggie Mince for Tatties
I make Pumpkin soup every October, I love it. It's really easy to make, tasty, comforting and this recipe makes a big batch which I freeze in portions and work my way through throughout the month. There is a great pumpkin soup recipe in my Vegetarian Cookery book (see my About page for more info) … Continue reading Pumpkin and Red Pepper Soup
When I was a teenager I was convinced I didn't like aubergines. They were just slimy black bits I'd get in takeaway curries sometimes that would be picked out and put to one side in disgust. Then I went to Italy for a holiday and experienced how they should be; and I was a total … Continue reading Aubergine (Egg Plant) And Courgette Bake
A Bloody Mary is one of the most famous cocktails in the world. Traditionally consisting of tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce or Tabasco and served with a stick of celery, it's one of the easiest cocktails to make at home, and one that lends itself really well to becoming a delicious, easy to make sauce. … Continue reading Pan Fried Prawns in a Bloody Mary Sauce
I have this yummy omelette for breakfast 2 or 3 times a week. I always try to start my day with eggs as they are full of iron and us veggies and peskies have to keep a close eye on our iron count to make sure we have the energy we need every day without … Continue reading Super Tasty Mushroom Omelette
This simple recipe makes a yummy, tangy, sweet curd that is great in cakes, biscuits and pastries. There's no need for a thermometer or any special equipment or ingredients and unlike jam making, the mixture shouldn't boil, so there's no molten sugar spitting at you. It also makes a lovely homemade gift. Pour into a … Continue reading Easy Lime Curd
These delicious little orange boats are perfect as a starter or a lunch served with salad. They re-heat well in the microwave, though the skins do loose their crispness, they don't loose any flavour. Stuffed potato skins are served at a lot of restaurants now and they're usually white potatoes stuffed with bacon or ham … Continue reading Sour Cream and Chive Sweet Potato Skins
In the first home my now husband and I bought together, I created a little veg patch in a sunny corner of the garden. It wasn't big, but it was enough for me to catch the gardening bug. The first year, I decided to plant some courgettes as they are notoriously easy and perfect for … Continue reading Caramelised Courgettes/Zucchini
Patatas Bravas is a Spanish tapas dish consisting of fried potatoes in a spicy tomato based sauce. Quite often in restaurants the sauce is served on top of the potatoes. This looks pretty, but you end up left with dry potatoes at the bottom of the bowl as everyone takes the ones with the delicious … Continue reading Patatas Bravas
Does anyone remember a TV program that was on in the mid 00's called Cook Yourself Thin? It created healthier versions of favourite dishes for people who were trying to loose weight. I really enjoyed it, and this recipe is from it. It's not 'healthy' as such, but it doesn't include any cream or sugars, … Continue reading No Cream Chocolate Truffles
The packet spice mixes you can buy at the supermarkets are great. They take all the guess work out of mixing your spices and they always have recipe suggestions on the back. However, I never feel like there's enough veg in these recipes. 1 tin of chopped tomatoes and 1 tin of kidney beans, like … Continue reading Meat Free Chilli Con Carne
Everybody loves a roast potato don't they? But who can be bothered to faff about with boiling them until they're cooked but not falling apart and then having molten fat spitting at you while you're trying to transfer them into a hot roasting tray? No wonder we usually only bother on a Sunday. Well this … Continue reading Easy Garlic and Herb Roast Potatoes
Curly Kale is a fantastic, underappreciated veg. It's similar to cabbage but with a subtler flavour and it's packed full of Iron and nutrients. It's pretty versatile too and can be eaten raw (see my Kale and Broccoli Coleslaw) or boiled and served with a Sunday roast like you would with cabbage. However, this recipe … Continue reading Breakfast Kale
Briam is a tomato based Greek casserole that just happens to be vegan. We aren't trying to fake meaty flavours here, we let the gorgeous Mediterranean veg show off it's true potential with a few helpful herbs to take the flavour to the next level. It is one of my favourite dishes, as it is … Continue reading Briam
I first had broccoli in coleslaw at a friend's wedding a few years ago, and I'll be honest, I was dubious. Growing up in the North West of England in the 90's, broccoli was something that was boiled until it was mushy and then smothered in gravy. However, the catering staff had gone out of … Continue reading Kale And Broccoli Coleslaw
My husband's family quite often visit us on a Sunday and they usually arrive around 10 or 11am. We wont have had anything to eat before they arrive as we're either having a lie in or running round tidying up ready for them (usually the latter). So when they arrive, we're getting pretty hungry and … Continue reading Eggs In Hell
These spiced wedges are so simple and easy to make and they always go down a treat. I serve them at pretty much every gathering we host, as a 'filler dish' - not the star of the show, but something to fill people up with if I haven't quite made enough food. (Which never happens, … Continue reading Spiced Wedges
Pesky Recipes 