king prawn chop suey

I love a retro classic and Chop Suey is actually an American/Chinese dish where the ingredients are all stir fried together and it’s served with rice or noodles on the side. It’s packed with veg, super healthy and has the delicious Asian flavours that I adore. You can use this recipe loosely as a guide and add other veg you might want to use up in the fridge.

Continue reading

pasta allo scarpariello

This delicious pasta recipe is like a creamy, spicy, cheesy version of a classic sugo recipe.It’s a great meat free dinner or dinner party dish, with a salad. You can make it with any pasta you fancy but it works particularly well with a big ass chunky pasta. I made it with papadelle, but also look forward to making it with manicotti, calamarata or any large pasta.

Continue reading

easy chocolate fondant torte

this cake looks more like a tart without the pastry than a cake, but because it’s so rich and chocolatey it’s perfect. It’s really fondanty and crisp on the outside. You can also make a dairy free and/or a gluten free version too if you prefer. It’s delicious with red berries and vanilla ice cream or with whatever you prefer and it’s all from store cupboard ingredients.

Continue reading

pignoli breakfast biscuits

These soft nutty lemony Sicilian biscuits are served at breakfast in Italy with an espresso and are really popular at special holidays like Christmas and Easter. I like them all year round for breakfast with my coffee or after dinner when I fancy something sweet.

Continue reading

pasta alla norma

This is the classic delicious Sicilian aubergine Pasta Alla Norma recipe, which from everything I have read, was first created in the 1700’s in Catania in Sicily and was so delicious that it was compared to the beautiful opera Norma and thus named. Its a good store cupboard supper, and I’ve also served it up at dinner parties with a crisp green salad.

Continue reading

rhubarb cocktail

I made these cocktails last night with my homemade rhubarb syrup which I served with gin (or vodka if you prefer) and sparkling water on ice… they were deliciously perfumed with the rhubarb which is the most gorgeous colour. If you prefer you can leave the alcohol out and have a delicious mocktail instead, pour it over ice cream or you can keep it in fridge as a cordial.

Continue reading

pasta with zucchini and prawns

This Italian recipe is so delicious and packed with all the summery flavours. I use frozen raw jumbo king prawns (shell on) from the supermarket (Sainsbury’s) that I thaw first, fresh ones are great if you prefer. I could eat this every day as I really love it…

Continue reading

italian vanilla breakfast biscuits

These crunchy vanilla biscuits are eaten with a coffee at breakfast time and are very vanillary and crunchy and delicious dipped in the coffee. They are not too sweet and great to make with kids. You can also add the zest of a lemon if you fancy.

Continue reading

dark chocolate pannacotta

This self saucing recipe is a dairy free take on Black Forest gateau which is a favourite pudding of mine. It’s really silky smooth, rich and chocolatey and is great on its own or with whipped cream if you are not dairy free or with dairy free vanilla ice cream. The decorations are optional, or you can customise it with whatever you fancy like fresh berries.

Continue reading

vanilla pannacotta

This dairy free recipe for pannacotta is really silky and creamy and it has the delicious flavours of lemon zest and bourbon vanilla. It’s easier to make than you think and you can make it the day before and store it in the fridge till you want to serve it. Perfect as a refreshing light pudding at the end of a heavy meal. You can serve it on its own with my cranberry sauce or with fresh berries or whatever you fancy.

Continue reading