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?

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.

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!

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. 

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.

Ottolenghi's Green Couscous

Couscous is lovely, of course, but I really feel you have to make an extra special effort to get a couscous dish that stands on its own. Couscous requires you to go that extra mile to avoid flavourless clumps and a side dish untouched. The effort is, however, worth it. 

Two salads: Marinated Mozzarella & Tangy Cucumber

These beautiful and tastalicious salads are getting us ready for spring time, let alone summer BBQ's. I must confess I ate these for lunch and didn't even have a main (they are that good) but just imagine them next to a burger. Or a sausage. Or a lovely rib. Yes.

Crunchy Bacon & Blue Cheese Salad

This is one of those salads you eat when you need a health kick but you aren't quite ready to entirely sacrifice indulgence. 

Tangy Pasta Salad

I don't know about you but I need a meat break. I'm taking this opportunity in between Christmas and New Years Eve to come up for air. If you're wondering where I've been swimming, it's in a sea of the most amazing Christmas food: chocolate oranges, pigs, cows and turkey's galore, topped with all the trimmings. Even brussels sprouts. Especially bacon.

Quinoa salad with balsamic glazed carrots and halloumi

Having been gorging a little on totally delicious and bum enhancing (not in the good way) food at a wonderfully elaborate thanksgiving dinner this week, I figured it was time to have a wander down the healthy path and say hello to some superfoods. Obviously i'm going to sneak a little cheese into my handbag (actually a hemp backpack would probably be more apt for this journey).

Warm Chorizo & Mozzarella Salad

So it's not bacon...but it's still Pig. It counts.