Serves 4

75g or 3oz mixed dried fruit
150ml or 1/4 pint apple juice
115g or 4oz stale brown or white bread diced
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1 large banana, sliced
150ml or 1/4 pint skimmed milk
1 tablespoon demerara sugar

Preheat the oven to 180 fan forced.

Place the dried fruit into a small pan with the apple juice and bring to the boil.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the bread, spice and banana. Spoon the mixture into a shallow 1.2 litre/ 2 pint ovenproof dish and pour over the milk.

Sprinkle with the demerara sugar and bake for 25-30 mins until firm and golden brown. A great winter warmer!

Serves 4

225g or 8oz farfalle pasta (bows)
175g or 6oz green beans trimmed
2 smoked mackerel fillets
115g or 4oz cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon capers
25g or 1oz pitted black olives
4 eggs

Dressing:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove crushed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
salt and pepper

Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, then drain and rinse well with cold water.

Place the eggs into a pan of boiling water and let them simmer for 8 mins so that they are not completely hard boiled. Then place the pan under running cold water for a few minutes and allow the eggs to sit in the cold water.

Cook the green beans in boiling water for 4-5 mins so that they are al dente, then drain and rinse in cold water.

Divide the pasta between 4 plates and then break up the mackerel into bite-size pieces and place on top of the pasta.

Then arrange the green beans on top, scattering the tomatoes, capers and olives over.

Remove the shells from the eggs and divide each into quarters and arrange on top.

Prepare the dressing by mixing all the dressing ingredients together and give it a taste to check the seasoning and adjust if needed.

Drizzle the dressing between the salad plates and finish each with a grind of black pepper. Fresh and delicious!

This would also make a great lunch to take to work or for a picnic.

Serves 6

1 and 1/4 cups pitted dates
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 and 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 and 1/2 tablespoons reduced fat spread
2 egg whites - try an egg yolker if you find separating eggs difficult!
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the sauce:
3 teaspoons dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons golden syrup
2 tablespoons reduced fat ricotta cheese

Heat the oven to 170 fan forced and lightly grease a 20cm square cake tin and line with baking paper or alternatively use a silicone mould.

Roughly chop the dates and place in a small pan with 3/4 cup of water. Bring to the boil and then simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Then add the bicarbonate of soda.

Place flour, sugar, spread, egg whites and vanilla in a bowl and beat until blended. Add the date mixture and then pour into the cake tin and level the surface.

Bake for 30-40 mins - it is ready when a skewer comes out clean.

To make the sauce, place the sugar, syrup, and reduced fat ricotta into a pan and heat until melted and smooth.

Cut the pudding into 6 portions and serve with the sauce poured over and low fat ice cream if desired (and who wouldn’t?!)

Serves 4

250g or 10oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and all moisture squeezed out
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
450g or 1lb cooked chicken breast, diced
4 sheets no pre-cook lasagne sheet
1.5 teaspoons cornflour mixed with a little water
1 vegetable stock cube
425ml or 15 fl oz skimmed milk
4 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

Tomato sauce:
1 onion chopped
2 garlic cloves crushed
400g or 14oz can chopped tomatoes
1/2 pint passata (sieved tomatoes)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon tomato puree
1 teaspoon mixed herbs
salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 180 fan forced.

Heat a large saucepan and spray lightly with oil. Add the onion and garlic and let it cook for 5 mins to soften. Then add the tomatoes, passata, sugar, herbs, tomato puree, salt and pepper and let the sauce simmer for 15 mins.

Lay the spinach on the bottom of an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle with nutmeg and season.

Arrange the chicken over the spinach and then pour over half of the tomato sauce. Place the lasagne sheets on top and then pour over the remaining tomato sauce.

Pour the skimmed milk into a non-stick pan and bring to the boil, then add the cornflour and water mixture stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Crumble the stock cube into the sauce and season with salt and pepper - mix well.

Pour the white sauce over the lasagne and then sprinkle the parmesan over.

Bake for 30 mins until golden.

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 4

4 skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 rounded tablespoon curry paste - I always use Pataks Lemon and Coriander Tikka Masala paste
1/4 pint low fat natural yogurt
1/2 red pepper cut into chunks
1/2 green pepper cut into chunks
8 wooden skewers soaked in warm water for 30 mins

Place the chicken, curry paste and yogurt into a bowl and mix well. Place in the fridge and let it marinate for an hour.

Get your BBQ going or pre-heat your health grill

Thread the chicken and peppers onto the pre-soaked skewers and then place on the BBQ or health grill for 5-10 mins until cooked through.

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!

Makes 12 large cookies

125g or 5oz dark chocolate 70% cocoa solids
150g or 6oz flour
30g or 1oz cocoa
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
125g or 5oz butter
75g or 3oz light brown sugar
50g or 2oz white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg cold from the fridge
100g chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 160 fan forced and line 2 baking sheets with baking paper.

Place the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl and place over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure that the bowl does not touch the water.

Put the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a bowl.

Cream the butter and sugars into another bowl and then add the melted chocolate and mix - Nigella uses her food mixer here!

Beat in the vanilla extract and the cold egg, and then add the dried ingredients and chocolate chips.

Place 12 equal sized mounds of cookie dough onto the baking sheets - about 6cm apart. Do no flatten them!

Cook for 18 mins - test with a skewer and it should come out semi-clean not wet - if it does give them a couple more minutes.

Leave to cool slightly on the baking sheets for 4-5 mins and then transfer to a cooling rack. Yum!

2 cups rice bubbles

1/2 cup desiccated coconut

1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots

1/4 cup sultanas

350g white chocolate, chopped and melted … Sharon recommends Cadbury’s Dream

Line 2 x 12 hole deep mini muffin pans with paper cases.

In a large bowl combine rice bubbles, coconut, apricot and sultanas.

Place the chocolate into a heatproof bowl and put the bowl over a pan of boiling water to melt the chocolate.

Mix melted chocolate into the dry ingredients and then spoon the mixture into cases and chill for 1-2 hours.

Remove from paper and pop into mouth!

Serves 4

4 lamb shanks - trim off any fat if you can

1 onion finely chopped

2 cloves garlic crushed

several good sprigs fresh rosemary

300ml lamb stock

300ml red wine

400g or 14oz tin chopped tomatoes

salt and pepper

1 tablespoon cornflour mixed with a little water

For the mash:

4  medium-sized sweet pototoes peeled and chopped into cubes

salt and pepper

Pre-heat oven to 160 fan forced.

Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and spray with oil. Add the onions and garlic and fry for a few minutes until soft.

Place the shanks into a large casserole dish - I usually use a cast iron casserole with a lid.

Mix the stock, wine and tinned tomatoes together and then add the cooked onion and garlic and the pieces of rosemary. Season with salt and pepper. Pour this over the lamb shanks.

Cover and place in the oven. I usually check on the shanks every half an hour or so to turn them in the sauce to ensure they don’t dry out.

The shanks need to be in the oven for at least 2 hours. An extra hour wouldn’t hurt though! The meat needs to be falling off the bone and melt-in-you-mouth tender.

The mash only takes about 10-15 minutes to make. Simply cover the sweet potatoes with water and bring to the boil then let them simmer until tender. Drain well, then mash and season with salt and pepper (add some butter here if you wish but I don’t think it needs it).

Once you are ready to serve, remove the shanks from the sauce and cover them with foil to keep warm.

If using cast iron casserole dish, place it with the gravy on the hob (if using a ceramic dish, pour the gravy into a saucepan). Bring the gravy to a simmer and add the cornflour stirring constantly to thicken. If the gravy is too thick, just add a little water. Have a taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Now divide the mash onto four plates or deep dinner plates. Place a lamb shank on the top of each and then drizzle the gravy over and around the plate or dish. Serve with a side dish of green beans if desired. Delicious!