You have been evicted.
The offender in question was a rib of beef that had been languishing in the freezer for longer than intended. You see, roasts don’t get much of a look in round these parts (I know, call myself English? Tut tut).
Read moreChicken Caesar salad
Love those leftovers.
This is my favourite way to use up precious leftover chicken from a Sunday roast.
Read moreGreen Caesar crab salad
Room for one more.
I love salsas, sauces and dressings I can drizzle on to things or dip things in to. You’ll find some of my favourites here on my site, like Bloody Mary (great with croquettes), coriander salsa (great on salads), rocket and walnut pesto (great on sarnies), and romesco (great with nuggets), and now I have a new one to add to the list; green Caesar, and it’s great on all of the above.
Read moreSummery orzo pasta salad
Wiping the winter cobwebs away.
As the weather starts to warm up, salads naturally put in more of a mealtime appearance. But while tasty, I’m rarely content with leaves alone, preferring to add a few grains that can bring texture, make a meal go further and keep me fuller for longer.
Read moreRoasted cauliflower and puy lentil salad
Not all salads need to be green.
When I cottoned on to the fact that salads don’t have to be leaf based, my healthier eating options opened up a whole load more.
Read moreCourgette noodle salad perfect for BBQ’s
I was asked recently to ‘do a bit of food’ for a pitch at work.
In the space of a week it managed to go from a couple of sample dishes using the clients produce to a 5 dish lunch for 15 people. Cooked on the roof. On an industrial BBQ. In 28 degree heat. No pressure then.
Read moreSeared lamb leg and herb salad
Thrifty lamb leg steaks make a delicious meal.
And they’re quick to cook, unlike roasting a leg of lamb — though far be it for me to try to separate anyone from their Sunday dinner.
Read moreLarb gai — minced chicken salad
In pursuit of perfection.
This is my favourite Thai salad. I love it more than the seared beef noodle one and more than the green papaya one, which means it is utterly delicious.
Read moreProtein packed salmon salad
The greatness of grains.
Good for your tummy, protein levels and wallet, I’m becoming ever more partial to meals involving different grains and pulses. A particular snack pot in Pret being one I’ve grown fond of recently; quinoa, red rice, salmon and peas under a squeeze of lemon. It’s a healthy little bite that perks up my brain when I’m flagging in the office mid afternoon, but you really don’t get much for your money.
Read moreFilled and grilled avocados
One of nature’s jewels.
The classic way to eat an avocado has got to be to pack it full of prawns in marie rose sauce. I must have had this 1970’s treat a hundred times courtesy of my beloved grandma. I ate it so often as a child that to this day whenever I visit her she makes sure to have one or two avocados in for me to scoff. That and a pork pie, but that’s another story.
Read moreSous vide Thai beef cheek noodle salad
A fashionable cut that’s still affordable.
The beautiful beef cheek lends itself to long, gentle cooking, and is a thing of majesty when slow cooked or casseroled. Add either some beer or wine, stock and vegetables and you can easily create winter one-pot dishes of delight on a budget.
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Cajun trout with black bean and avocado salad
Fast, delicious, adventurous.
It doesn’t have to take long to make tasty dishes full of world flavours. Rich and fatty fish fillets like trout or salmon are ideal for cooking quickly and briefly in a very hot oven, sprinkled with herbs and spices.
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