I’ve been making this chilli for years, and it’s one of our favourite things to eat when it’s a bit cold and grey out (so nine months out of the year in Scotland). You’ll get much better results soaking and cooking dried beans instead of using tinned, but if you’re in a hurry, tinned beans…
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I am obsessed with roast dinners at the moment. Maybe it’s the change of season, but I am seriously craving stodge – mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings – anything carby and comforting that can be paired with my favourite roast, and I’m after a rich, delicious gravy to top all of this lovely food.…
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I’d always assumed that giving up meat would mean giving up traditional meals that I’ve loved since childhood. How could I enjoy a roast dinner without a roast? I’d tried a vegetarian roast from a rather popular brand, but didn’t like it, and while there are loads of good veggie burgers on the market, none…
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For the past couple of years, I’ve been a ‘flexitarian’. Being married to a vegetarian means I eat many vegetarian meals, and became quite adept at cooking them, too. Over the last year, I found myself eating less and less meat until one day I decided not to bother with it anymore. My timing could…
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I’ve been taking a little break from writing over the summer – mainly because it’s hot and I’m lazy. But I wanted to share this amazing YouTube channel with those of you who enjoy food and cooking. It’s called Wife’s Cuisine and it’s gorgeous. The channel will appeal to anyone who loves to prepare and…
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This is one of the easiest make-ahead breakfasts around, and it’s incredibly nourishing and delicious. You can easily scale this recipe up as it keeps well in the refrigerator for up to a week. Do use salted peanuts for your garnish. Trust me – it’s a lovely counterbalance to the sweetness of the banana and…
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Vegan meals don’t need to be time consuming or a faff. With just a few ingredients, it’s easy to put together a nutritious, delicious and satisfying dinner. This recipe is my go-to when I’m tired or just can’t be bothered, and is the epitome of what I like to call ‘jazz recipes’. ‘Jazz’, because it’s…
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A couple of Christmases ago, I took it upon myself to try every mince pie on the market to see which one was best. Iceland’s offering was the clear winner, and even though I can’t even look at a mince pie now, I still remember being super-impressed by their attention to detail – crumbly, buttery…
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It’s been quite warm in Scotland these last couple of weeks, and the last thing I want to think about is food. So what do you eat when you can’t be bothered? I suggest something than is just as delicious at room temperature as it is when it’s hot. This simple recipe needs only a…
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I had the good fortune to spend a summer in Spain a few years ago, and I learned to make this version of gazpacho there. It’s a lovely, relaxed dish to have when the weather is hot and you can’t face turning on your oven or cooker. The secret to the authenticity of this recipe…
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My husband and I have been working on making the perfect veggie burger, and while we’ve found a few good recipes, none were perfect. So we’ve come up with our own. The burger we’ve created had the added benefit of being vegan. It’s also quite high in protein. Full disclosure: it’s a bit of a…
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I don’t tend to make resolutions – especially in January. It’s so dark and cold, and I don’t feel like making major life changes. Instead, I try to make tiny changes that make a big difference to my health and well-being. Some haven’t stuck, but a few have. So here is a list of easy…
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It’s hard not to feel happy when standing this close to so many glasses of gin.
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My friend and I had the good fortune of attending a gin tasting at a wine and spirits shop called Wood Winters. We were treated to eight different gins and instructed how to sample and appreciate them. Most were good, some were ok, and one was spectacular. My friend and I both left with a…
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Nights are drawing in and the morning air is noticeably cooler. As much as I don’t want to admit it, summer is coming to an end. While most of September is technically summer, autumn is arriving. While I’m never in a hurry to see summer go, I do love the fall – I can wear…
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Fig and Pen 