This beautiful dish originates from Russia & is a great idea for a week night dinner, as it only takes 15-20 minutes to make. It is also very easy to convert it to a vegan dish by simply increasing the quantity of mushrooms to 700gr, & although I used oyster mushrooms for my dish, you can use a variety of different mushrooms to make it even more interesting. For the vegan version, simply add the flour to the mushrooms followed by vegetable stock, and the rest of the ingredien

A 'timbale', in French cuisine, is a baked dished that is enveloped in a crust, be it pastry, breadcrumbs, or in this case, slices of aubergine. What a great way to add extra vegetables to a pasta dish! 4 Servings Ingredients: 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 1 stalk of celery, finely chopped 250gr minced beef or veal 10cl white wine 30cl tomato sauce 1 tbsp concentrated tomato paste 2 tsp oregano 1 tsp cayenne pepper or chilli powder 2 bay leaves 20

Its that time of year when stews & soups are the perfect meal to warm your cockles. I was inspired to create a Mexican style stew combining typical ingredients used in Mexican cuisine & a spicy kick from a Chipotle based chilli sauce. This smoky chilli truly has a unique flavour that will make any dish stand out. I served this stew with rustic buttered bread, grated cheddar, jalapeno chillies & an alternative version of guacamole. 4 Servings Ingredients for the Stew: 1 large

This marvellous, classic stew from England brings out all the best of British cuisine and is a dish that falls perfectly into the 'comfort food' category. In England, they traditionally use an ingredient called 'suet' when making the dumplings. Suet is made from the hard, white fat that surrounds the kidneys of sheep or cows &, historically, has been a common ingredient in many sweet & savoury dishes in British cuisine. Being that I live in France, suet is not an ingredient I

This healthy bread is a great breakfast option for adults & children alike. It can be eaten as it is or with a thin layer of jam. 1 Loaf Ingredients: 2 eggs 50gr sugar 3 ripe bananas (the riper, the better!) 130gr Greek yogurt 210gr flour 1 tsp baking powder 2 tbsp chocolate chips 50gr raw oats Instructions: Heat oven to 180c for fan assisted ovens & 200c for traditional ovens. In a large bowl, beat the eggs & sugar together for 2 minutes. Peel the bananas & mash with a fork.

It makes me wince when people chop off the stalks or base of a broccoli and discard it. I absolutely love this part of broccoli. Simply remove the rough outside layer and you will find smooth, much softer flesh inside that is tasty and perfect for stir-fries. This recipe is easy to make & packed with goodness. It is great as a side dish with teriyaki salmon (you can search for this recipe in the search box above). You can even add noodles & chicken for a 1 wok meal. Simply b

This is a French classic that is known worldwide and this is the traditional recipe, though there are many simpler versions out there that yield great results without as many steps. One thing I would recommend you do not skip is the overnight marinade, as this really tenderises the meat & adds deep flavour to the dish. I have added to end of this page, a simpler version you may like to try if you are short on time or patience, though I cannot guarantee it will be as good as t

This fabulous dish can be made with other meat cuts designed for roasting. It is rich, luscious & the perfect Sunday meal on a rainy autumn day. I find it best accompanied by roasted potatoes. 4 Servings Ingredients: 1 large pork shank (1-1.5kg) 1 medium butternut squash, cut into large cubes 1 red onion, quartered 80gr honey 5 tbsp soy sauce 4 tbsp Worchester Sauce 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp ground pink peppercorns Instructions: Place the pork shank in a large pot & cover with cold

I do love a takeaway, though, living in the French countryside, we have few options available and even less that will deliver. Being a lover of Asian food, I like to recreate some of my favourite takeaway dishes at home, this one being a winner all around and thoroughly enjoyed by my family. I have used re-hydrated Chinese mushroom & jarred baby corn in this version though you can pretty much add what you like, such as carrot ribbons, tinned bamboo shoots or soy bean sprouts.

This beautiful West African peanut stew originates from Mali but is very popular in Senegal and other West African countries. It can at...

At home we try to go meat-free once a week, so I'm always looking for tasty vegan dishes to try out. This is one of my favourites & it's...

What can I say about this incredible stew that contains 8 different vegetables & is simply divine! Each year I grow white chard in my...

This cake is one of the most comforting out there. The combination of apples & almond is match made in heaven. Enjoy with fresh cream or...

This delicious sauce is well known across France, famous for its association with fish. Both tangy & creamy, it really is the perfect...

This salad is originally from Russia, named after its creator, Lucien Olivier. I believe the original salad contains peas rather than...

I just love aubergine. It is one of my favourite vegetables & is delicious prepared in so many varied ways such as stuffed & roasted,...

With autumn on its way and my vegetable garden at its most productive, soups are a great way to use up surplus vegetables & create a...

Its that time of year! My squash plant has started yielding some beautiful butternuts, a vegetable that I absolutely love. It can be mashed, roasted, stuffed & baked. It is also a great vegan option to replace meat & is often used in curries. This recipe is a classic butternut soup; just what the body needs when autumn is on its way & the temperatures are beginning to drop. Simply replace the butter with a vegan butter & drop the cream at the end if you would like to make a v

This dish is a beautiful addition to wraps and pitta bread with grilled meat, fish or a vegan alternative, and is a wonderful dip to...

This recipe can be made with any type of plum though mirabelle plums are very famous in France due to their sweet flavour. For this...