200g caster sugar
100g whole almonds roughly chopped
100g dried apricots roughly chopped
zest of 1 orange, juice of 1/2 orange
1 tsp baking powder
250g plain flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 tbsp milk

You will need 2 large greased baking trays.

Preheat the oven to 170 (fan), 190 or gas mark 5.
Reserve 2 tsp caster sugar and put the rest in a bowl with the almonds, apricots, zest, baking powder and all but 2 tbsp of the flour and mix.
Add the egg and juice and mix into a soft dough.
Sprinkle the reserved flour onto a work surface and divide the dough into 4 (or 2 for large biscotti).
Roll a quarter (or half) the dough in the flour and shape into a sausage about 24 cm long. Repeat to make 4 (or 2) in total.
Place 2 sausages (or 1) on each baking tray.
Brush all over with milk and sprinkle with the reserved sugar.
Bake in the oven for 15-20 mins until lightly golden.
Remove from the oven and reduce the temp to 130 (fan), 150 or gas mark 2.
When the biscotti is cool enough to handle (about 5 mins), cut each one with a serrated knife into 12 slices about 1cm thick.
Return to the trays (clean and re-grease if necessary) and bake for a further 15 mins or until lightly golden.
Remove from the tray once cooled and enjoy with a proper Italian coffee!

Serves 6

600g new pototoes, whole with skins still on (could also use old potatoes or peeled sweet potatoes)
1 onion, diced
2 cloves, garlic crushed
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2 yellow pepper, diced
2 courgettes, chopped
150g sweetcorn kernels
2 fresh chillis, finely chopped (or use chilli powder/flakes if you don’t have fresh)
400g tin of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
400g tin of chopped tomatoes
200ml (approx) passata
1 vegetable stock cube
1 tsp sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsp grated low fat cheddar (I used Weight Watchers)

You’ll need a large shallow ovenproof dish for this.

In a saucepan, cover the whole new potatoes with water and bring to the boil, then simmer for about 15 mins until just under cooked. Drain and leave to cool a little.
In the meantime, spray a pan with a little oil and add the onion, garlic and peppers and cook for a few minutes with the lid on until softened.
Add the courgettes, sweetcorn and chillis and cook for a few more minutes to soften a little.
Add the kidney beans, tomatoes, passata, stock cube, sugar, salt and pepper and simmer for about 10 mins.
Preheat the oven on to 160 degrees fan forced.
Check the sauce for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
Pour the sauce into a large ovenproof dish.
Cut the new potatoes into wedges and scatter them randomly onto the sauce (i.e some with skin side up, some not) and spray with a little spray oil, then season with salt and pepper.
Place in the preheated oven and cook for about 40 mins.
Take dish out of the oven and sprinkle with the cheese and place back into the oven for another 5 mins.
Serve with a large salad. Delicious and healthy!

If using old potatoes, you could slice them instead of doing wedges. If using sweet potatoes, you could mash instead of wedges.

Makes at least 16 – you choose how big you want them!

1 x 397g can 97% fat free condensed milk
250g rolled oats (not instant)
75g shredded or dessicated coconut
100g dried cranberries or any dried berries of your choice (or a mixture)
150g mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower and sesame)

Preheat oven to 130 degrees/gas mark 1/2 and line a 23x33x4cm baking tin with baking parchment or paper.
Warm the condensed milk in a large pan.
Mix together all the other ingredients and then add the warmed condensed milk.
Spread the mixture into the tin and press down with a spatula or use your hands.
Bake for 1 hour and let it cool for 15 mins.
Slice into chunks.
Apparently they store well too (I wouldn’t know as they disappear very quickly!)

Serves 4/6 generously

3 sweet potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
1 large red pepper, cut into chunks
1 large green pepper, cut into chunks
1 large yellow pepper, cut into chunks
2 courgettes, thickly sliced
8oz or 200g bulgar wheat

For the dressing:
1 garlic clove crushed
50ml extra virgin olive oil
50ml balsamic vinegar
squeeze of clear honey (about 2 tablespoons)
salt and pepper

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees.
Drizzle some olive oil in a large baking tray and add the vegetables, tossing in the oil. Place in the oven and bake for about 45-50 mins, giving them a shake every so often.
Place bulgar wheat in a large bowl and pour boiling water over to more than cover – leave to soak.
In the meantime make the dressing by mixing ingredients together, season to taste.
When the roasted veg are ready, drain the bulgar wheat in a sieve squeezing out any liquid by pressing with the back of spoon.
Add the roasted veg and dressing to the bulgar wheat and mix thoroughly – add more salt and pepper if needed.

Serves 4 or 8

4 courgettes (whole or cut in half in the middle)
4 teaspoons green pesto
1/3 block feta cheese
4 teaspoons toasted pine nuts (optional)
Salt and pepper

Line a small pan with foil and give it a light spray with oil.
Cut a v-shaped groove in the courgette lengthways to give you a recess of about 1cm deep.
Fill the recess with pesto and then cut the feta into long slices to fit the recess.
Sprinkle with pine nuts (if using).
Place on the baking tray and then grind salt and pepper over.
Cover with foil and place into the BBQ or in the oven for about 20 mins or so until they have gone soft.

Serves 4 as a side

2 heaped tablespoons sultanas
3 large carrots, grated
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 heaped tablespoon toasted seeds (I use pine nuts, sesame, sunflower and pumpkin)
1 spring onion, finely sliced
1 tablespoon fresh coriander, chopped
1 red chilli, finely chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

Plump the sultanas in hot water for 5 mins and then drain.

Mix everything else together thoroughly and season well.

Only put the lemon juice and olive oil on when you are ready to serve – mix well. So many gorgeous flavours here – I’m sure it will become a favourite!

Serves 6-8 as a side dish

200g brown basmati rice
125g frozen peas, defrosted
100g frozen broad beans, defrosted
2 spring onions, thinly sliced
2 large or 6 cherry tomatoes, chopped
2 tablespoons toasted seeds – pine nut, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame
2 tablespoons fresh coriander, chopped
salt and pepper

For the dressing:

1 red chilli, chopped very fine
3cm root ginger, grated
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons lime juice (one lime should do it)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)

Cook the rice according to packet instructions – usually takes between 40-45 mins.

Place the frozen peas and broad beans in a colander and run cold water over them to help them defrost.

Make the dressing by mixing all the ingredients together and then set aside to infuse.

Add the spring onions, tomatoes, peas and broad beans to a large bowl.

When the rice is ready, place into a sieve and run it under cold water to cool.

Add the rice to the bowl, pour in the dressing and add the chopped coriander – mix thoroughly. Season to taste.

Quickly toast the seeds in a frying pan over a medium heat, stirring often to prevent burning.

Sprinkle the toasted seeds over the top of the rice and serve. Yum!

Makes enough for 4 to 6 hungry people

130g brown lentils
1 heaped teaspoon vegetable bouillon stock powder
1 x 400g tin of chickpeas
1 large red onion, diced
1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
1 heaped teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons harissa paste
1.5 tablespoons lemon juice
50g white basmati rice
2 tablespoons plain flour
handful of flat leaf parsley, chopped
salt and pepper

Soak the lentils in cold water for one hour and then drain.

Drain the chickpeas, place in a large pan and cover with 1.5 litres water and the stock powder. Add the onions and bring to the boil.

Add the tomatoes, lentils, garam masala, turmeric and harissa – cook for 20 mins until lentils are tender.

Add the rice and cook for a further 10 mins.

Meanwhile, gradually mix the flour with 4 tablespoons of water and then add 4 tablespoons of stock from the soup.

Add the lemon juice and gradually stir in the flour mixture – make sure that the soup is not boiling at this point.

Add the parsley, salt and pepper and give it a good stir. Have a taste and adjust any seasoning as necessary.

Absolutely delicious! I think it would also be fantastic with a lamb shank or two added and simmered for a couple of hours to make a really hearty stew – will be trying this very soon!

Serves 4

1/4 white cabbage shredded
1/4 chinese cabbage
1 large carrot coarsely grated
1/2 red pepper cut into fine strips (julienne)
1/2 red onion finely sliced

For the dressing:
1/2 cup sweet chilli sauce
dash of fish sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Place all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix thoroughly – remember to add the dressing later if you are not serving immediately :0)

Serves 6

1 onion finely chopped
225g or 8oz leeks halved lengthways and then sliced
225g or 8oz carrots diced
1 tablespoon ground cumin
175g or 6oz red lentils, rinsed
1.2 litres or 2 pints vegetable stock
1 teaspoon mixed herbs
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
2 tablespoons tomato puree
salt and pepper

Spray a large saucepan with a little oil and then fry the onion and leeks for 3-4 mins.

Add the carrots, cumin, lentils and vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Then add the herbs and chili powder.

Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 mins until the lentils and vegetables are tender.

Stir in the tomato puree and season well with salt and pepper. Have a quick taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Healthy and delicious!