Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

We have a house rule - we must always have the ingredients for spaghetti alla puttanesca in the flat, at all times. Due to the fact that the only fresh ingredients you really need for this recipe are cherry tomatoes and basil, it makes it a pretty easy feat (if I can keep my basil plant alive that is). 

Asian Salmon with Rice Noodle Stir Fry

Asian cuisine – you can’t escape it. And who would want to? Not only is London getting more and more up to speed on some of the most wonderful cuisines from across the world (E.g. Bao, Pho, Bibimbap to name a few in London) but home cooks are now attempting recipes a little further outside their comfort box – because we can! Not only do we now have access to the brains of millions of chefs and home cooks across our dear world wide web, but we have access to the right ingredients too (without having to tackle tourists for them in China Town), thanks to some wonderful Asian supermarkets popping up around town.

Asian Pulled Chicken Sliders

Sliders are basically a way to make it ok to eat more than one burger. It’s true. The mentality is roughly: “One big burger? Alright but I feel like a bit of a porker”,  “3 sliders? Oh they’re only little! Practically a canapé!”

Fennel & Prawn salad with crispy Prosciutto

Imagine surf and turf but in its lightest and tangiest form. I'm not talking a mountain of steak and lobster here, I'm referring to a colourful, crispy, lemony collaboration between prosciutto and king prawns. In 15 minutes. I've mentioned this before, but it's my ongoing desire to make healthy food taste indulgent (and look jazzy). If you feel like you're eating a plate of rabbit food, it's not exactly going to fill you up and leave you satisfied is it?

Pasta with spicy cauliflower crumbs & purple sprouting broccoli

I've got into this habit of adding crispy sourdough crumbs to my pasta. Especially when mixed with spices such as chili and garlic, it adds a beautiful flavour as well as a magnificent crunch. I realise, however, that this is adding delicious carb to delicious carb and it would be in my waitsline's favour to look at other options once in a while. Hence the cauliflower. 

Thai Basil Chicken {Pad kra pao gai / ผัดกระเพราไก่}

Pad kra pao gai - ผัดกระเพราไก่

If you've had the pleasure of visiting Thailand, you'll know that one of the most wonderful things about it is the food. This particular dish, alongside pad see ew (to be continued...), is an absolute favourite. Alongside spaghetti oilo e aglio and this roasted salmon, thai basil chicken is a staple in our household and gets made at least once a fortnight.

Cottage style pea & bacon soup

I had the pleasure of staying in a gorgeous cottage in Lustleigh, Devon this weekend and spent the majority of the time warming my feet by a roaring fire. 

Rösti - two ways

1. Rösti with smoked salmon, avocado & dill crème fraîche
2. Rösti cakes with bacon, fried egg & roasted cherry tomatoes

Having recently visited Bad Wiessee, a picturesque Bavarian town at the foot of the Alps, I have developed a keen interest in not only hearty Bavarian cuisine, but also an incredibly simple and delicious Alpine favourite, rösti. As Felicity Cloake confirms here, it is not as easy as you might think to track down a universal recipe for this golden, crispy Swiss cuisine.

Winter Slaw with Thai Peanut Dressing

About two years ago I went for dinner at a dear friends house and she served me this. Or something like this, it was peanutty red cabbage, that's for sure. It has stuck with me since then as such a beautiful merging of English and Thai with a sprinkling of Christmas (the red cabbage). I'm sure that's what she was going for.

Roasted salmon, proscuitto & vegetables with caper and basil mayonnaise

I'm going to be straightforward about this one. If you're looking for something delicious, healthy, easy, crispy, flavorful, darn even gluten free - then you have your winner here. 

This is a one tray dish. And you cook it for 10 minutes. 

Crunchy seeds with soy sauce & chilli

This is one of those.... recipes? foody bits... snacks? that I don't even think about. I make these as a snack, for salads, for veg, to dip things into and just have a pot of them ready at home. The last dinner party where they were present (as a salad topping), a guest munched the whole pot, post dinner. MOREISH I TELL YOU!

Crispy Asian chicken thighs

This is my Mum's recipe, so you know it's going to be good. Alongside the lovely English classics such as cottage pies and Sunday roasts, my wonderful Ma has a magnificent repertoire of Asian recipes. 

Fattoush with feta

You've probably only had fattoush at Lebanese restaurants as part of an elaborate mezze spread (or perhaps that's just me who's been missing out) but I'd like to inform you that it makes a wonderful main. With some feta thrown in. And it's easy to make.

Tartines - 3 ways

Working at a Bakery, I am lucky enough to have access to the most incredible breads. To the exasperation of those I have the pleasure of eating with, I have become a complete and utter bread snob. I talk more about open crumbs, crackling crusts and proving dough than I should like to admit. It's just, when the topic has risen, I knead to make sure I prove my point. I don't want to be too floury on the topic, but I can't let my friends bread knowledge go a-rye. It is, after all, how I bring in the dough.

Pasta with Sicilian pesto and sundried tomato & pine nut salad

I BOUGHT A MAGIMIX! There, it's out. I'm so excited. All the whizzing.... pureeing... chopping... grating.... An endless world I am yet to explore. It has pride of place and is now taking up the majority of my very small kitchen, so I think we're going to have to get to know each other fairly quickly. 

Summer Puff Pastry Tarts

Parma ham, roasted tomato and baby leaves tart with mascarpone and capers

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Watching the fantastic men's singles Wimbledon final I wanted to eat something that didn't require too much cooking to tear me away from the telly. Something light, Summery and delicious enough for the likes of Wimbledon folk. Having already gorged myself on strawberries and whipped cream the previous weekend (I got over-excited), I went for puff pastry tarts. Obviously.

Chargrilled asparagus, courgette & halloumi with roasted tomatoes and basil oil

You probably think I have an obsession by now (and you might be right) but here is another of Ottolenghi’s creations. I ate this salad recently at an event and have been dreaming about it ever since. After much googling I discovered that it was not a chef original (as I was deceptively told) but an Ottolenghi. Of course it was.

Roasted butternut squash and red onion with tahini and za'atar

I wanted something colourful and summery that fits into the vegetarian category (I know, don't be too alarmed) but that also keeps hunger locked up until the next decent bacon fix. Not an easy task, I must say. Of course my main man Ottolenghi came prancing over the hills, as he often does, with another wonderous answer to all my vegetable questions. 

Beetroot, Fennel, Mint & Feta Salad

This is the type of salad that yells "SPRING IS HERE!" right in your face. In a good way. Provided you don't get overexcited and mix it all too vigorously and get beetroot juice everywhere, it is a beautiful, tasty and healthy salad.

Homemade sweet & sour pickles

So I have discovered that these are also referred to as bread and butter pickles. After a bit of a google, I learned that this has nothing to do with how you actually use the pickle and is just a confusing name, hence the use of 'sweet and sour' above. I'm not out to confuse you, only feed you.