Main Meals Archives - Page 2 of 10

The best stuffing recipe and other dishes to accompany your Christmas dinner

December 18, 2024/0 Comments/in BLOG, Christmas recipes, Main Meals, RECIPES, Veggies /by English Mum

I usually do a reeeally big roundup just before Christmas on everything Christmas dinner-related, like timings, turkey, sprouts, etc, but sometimes I think maybe those big posts are a bit difficult to read as you have to scroll for half a mile before you reach the bit you’re really interested in. So this time I thought I’d have a little chat about the best side dishes to accompany your Christmas dinner in a separate, smaller post. I really don’t think you need a gazillion different sides for the big day. I did have a quick Google to see what other people serve with their turkey and apparently if you’re Jamie Oliver that’s anything from creamed spinach to fried rice with kale and some other stuff in it. Of course, it’s totally up to you, but I often feel like it’s best to concentrate on doing two or three things really well - it cuts down the hassle for the cook and keeps your oven a bit less cluttered too. So here goes then with the best stuffing recipe and other dishes to accompany your Christmas dinner.

The FoodSaver zero waste challenge

November 9, 2024/0 Comments/in BLOG, Eco/sustainable/plastic free, LIFE & STYLE, Main Meals, RECIPES, Starters, soups and nibbles /by English Mum

Food waste is a huge bugbear of mine (did you know that here in the west, a recent survey* found that we waste between 95 and 115 kg of food every year?). As you know, although I’m not perfect, I’m really interested in working towards our household being much more sustainable, and food waste is a big part of this. Whether it’s throwing out squishy fruit or that slightly soft half a red pepper, I’m often guilty of not trying hard enough (or not being creative enough) to reduce our food waste. So what can we do about it? Well, for one thing I’ve stopped buying bagged salads, which seem to be one of the things most likely to go off. I also freeze a lot of stuff I don’t use, but it’s often not convenient/not possible to then defrost something when you need it. Step forward FoodSaver, who contacted me with a zero waste challenge that I couldn’t resist having a crack at.

The only recipe for chicken fajitas you’ll ever need

November 3, 2024/0 Comments/in BLOG, Main Meals, Meat, RECIPES, Student staples, Suppers /by English Mum

Chicken fajitas are one of our all time favourite dinners. They’re brilliant for a quick family supper, but they’re also great if you’re feeding a crowd - you can posh them up a bit with some delicious fresh tomato salsa and some homemade guacamole, plus a dollop of sour cream too if you like (we like the sour cream and chive dip you get in the supermarket). Charlie makes them a lot at uni as you can make a little bit of chicken go quite a long way, but of course you can use steak, or even some firm white fish. I keep the seasoning really simple, but as usual, feel free to experiment. Here’s my favourite recipe for chicken fajitas!

Belvoir beef pie with blueberry and blackbcurrant

Beef pie with blueberry and blackcurrant cordial

October 11, 2024/0 Comments/in BLOG, Main Meals, Meat, RECIPES, Student staples, Veggies /by English Mum

So if you’ve been around these parts before, you’ll know that I’ve been working with Belvoir to create some deliciously warming autumnal recipes. It’s been such fun testing, tasting and cooking, and I really think that this beef pie using Belvoir’s Blueberry & Blackcurrant Cordial is my favourite. Of course, now is the perfect time for pies, and we took inspiration from Scandinavian cuisine, which has long embraced the concept of pairing the sweet, flavour-packed berry with savoury meat dishes. The cordial gives a delicious depth of flavour and a background sweetness to this perfect, autumn pie. Serve with piles of creamy mash, and my current obsession: carrots roasted with a little chilli, maple and lime.

Lime and lemongrass noodle soup

October 4, 2024/0 Comments/in BLOG, Fish, Healthy recipes, Main Meals, Pasta, rice and noodles, RECIPES, Suppers, Vegetarian/vegan /by English Mum

Last week I mentioned that I’ve been working with Belvoir to create some deliciously warming autumnal recipes. One of the things I really enjoy about recipe development is playing with flavours. I put something in, cook the recipe, taste it, then maybe I’ll cook it again without it, just to see if it really does enhance the finished dish. This lime and lemongrass noodle soup is a classic example. The Lime and Lemongrass Cordial is a summer favourite in this house - it’s fresh and aromatic and we love it splashed into fizzy water with a load of ice cubes. We thought the flavour would work well in something Asian-inspired, but I wasn’t prepared for the difference the relatively small amount of cordial made to the end result. I find now that whenever I’m cooking anything that needs a citrussy, herbal lift, I reach for this cordial, which pleases me as it turns a summer favourite into an all-year-rounder. This gorgeous, flavoursome noodle soup is just perfect for autumnal days and as it’s really quick to make, it’s great for a warming, after work supper.

How to make the best spaghetti and meatballs with tomato balsamic sauce

August 16, 2024/0 Comments/in BLOG, Main Meals, Meat, Pasta, rice and noodles, RECIPES, Sauces, Student staples, Suppers /by English Mum

Spaghetti and meatballs is one of our favourite family dinners (‘spagerder!’). You just can’t beat tender, savoury meatballs in a silky tomato sauce with mounds of freshly cooked pasta. Of course, there are a hundred different variations out there: some meatballs use pork and beef, some add Parmigiano to the mixture, some bake, some cook in the sauce… the possibilities are endless. My take on it uses a pretty standard beef meatball, baked in the oven first, then cooked in a rich tomato sauce with a hint of sweetness from the balsamic vinegar and a hint of chilli spice too. Of course you can use a jar of tomato sauce, which I often do too, and linguine instead of spaghetti if you don’t have it. Here, then, especially for you, is my own, well-loved recipe for spaghetti and meatballs with tomato balsamic sauce.

Easy spiced lamb kofta meatballs

July 19, 2024/0 Comments/in BLOG, Main Meals, Meat, RECIPES, Sauces, Student staples, Suppers /by English Mum

I love to travel, but it’s also really lovely to get home and do a bit of nesting. I miss being in our kitchen, cooking for everyone while we all chat, catch up and have a giggle - there’s nothing quite like a house full of people (and quite a bit of mess at the moment - I need to do some decluttering). Charlie is home from uni and Sam has finished uni (I’m so old!) so doing a bit of part time stuff until he can get something more permanent, so often there’ll be all of us - plus girlfriends and often the odd friend too. I love it. The more the merrier, and these easy spiced lamb kofta meatballs are perfect for feeding a crowd. I guess you wouldn’t really look at meatballs as sunny day food, but, if you’re anything like me, there’s only so many salads you can eat when the weather is warm.
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Coconut chilli prawn noodles

June 14, 2024/0 Comments/in BLOG, Fish, Healthy recipes, Main Meals, Meat, Pasta, rice and noodles, RECIPES, Student staples, Vegetarian/vegan, Veggies /by English Mum

I think finding something delicious to cook for dinner midweek is one of my biggest challenges. I love these coconut chilli prawn noodles because the basic recipe can be adapted to suit so many different tastes. If you’re a meat eater, you can swap the prawns for chicken, and if you’re a veggie you can leave them out and add things like mushrooms, sliced peppers and sliced green beans (of course, you can still do that anyway). That’s the beauty of this dish. It’s also fab for using up leftovers as you can basically bung any old thing in and it will still taste delicious. It’s also one of those recipes where most of the ingredients can be kept in the cupboard and/or freezer for when you’ve got nothing in. When I buy red chillis, I’ll often freeze any that I think I won’t use and you can basically grate them straight into the dish. The same goes for ginger too. Here’s the basic recipe:

Haddock and cheddar tart: pescatarian perfection

June 9, 2024/0 Comments/in BLOG, Fish, Main Meals, RECIPES, Vegetarian/vegan, Veggies /by English Mum

One of the things I’ve really enjoyed since becoming pescatarian is that it’s made me a lot more creative when it comes to choosing what’s for dinner. No more shoving chicken breasts in the oven (which I was guilty of - albeit with different coatings - at least twice a week). I’ve been enjoying reading cookery books and blogs and getting loads of inspiration, and as I’m a pie lover, I thought I would have a go at a more summery version using some smoked haddock I had in the freezer. I’m not usually a cheese with fish fan (I have a long standing debate with a friend about a particularly noxious prawn and feta dish that he loves but I think smells like vomit - sorry), but this haddock and cheddar tart is an exception: the sharp cheese works well with the smoky fish.

Breaded baked barbecue cauliflower

May 17, 2024/0 Comments/in BLOG, Healthy recipes, Main Meals, RECIPES, Vegetarian/vegan, Veggies /by English Mum

So, this week I told you about all the thoughts swirling around in my head about eating meat and why I’m pondering becoming a pescatarian (I haven’t eaten any meat since then, but I still feel that I could forget and go into a restaurant and say ‘I’ll have the steak please’ without even thinking twice). The upside of all this angst is that I’ve been searching around for delicious meat-free recipes to share with the family and I have to say, this one is delicious. In fact, Charlie made my day by saying ‘wow, this is the first time in my whole life I’ve wanted to ask for more cauliflower’! All I did was dip cauliflower in egg and roll in flavoured breadcrumbs, exactly as I would chicken, and then served it with our favourite barbecue sauce (if you can’t be bothered to make the sauce, you could just serve it with bottled sweet chilli) but honestly, whichever way you serve it, it’s a life changer.

Deliciously simple empanadas

April 26, 2025/0 Comments/in BLOG, Main Meals, Meat, RECIPES, Starters, soups and nibbles /by English Mum

We tend to go through different little food fads in our house. A while ago it was home made pizzas, then it was a gazillion iterations of coconut based curries, and now we’re addicted to empanadas. Think of empanadas as delicious little spiced Cornish pasties. You’ll find them all over Latin America and Spain, stuffed with all sorts of delicious fillings. I tend to fill mine with a dry-ish version of my normal chilli mixture. If you want to go all technical and make proper Chilean empanadas de pino, you’ll need to add raisins, chopped boiled eggs and olives, which, as you can imagine is a stretch too far for the fussier ones in my family, so I stick to a spicy minced beef filling. The dough for these deliciously simple empanadas is fab: really easy to work with and really forgiving - no resting necessary.

Slow cooked chicken leg soup

March 28, 2025/0 Comments/in BLOG, Healthy recipes, Main Meals, Meat, RECIPES, Starters, soups and nibbles, Veggies /by English Mum

As the parents of two young lads, one of the charities very close to our hearts is Centre Point, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity. Centre Point has recently launched a new fundraising initiative, The Big Broth. It’s a competition to find a new and exciting soup recipe. The winning recipe will be put into production by Yorkshire Provender this autumn with 20p from every pot sold going straight back into funding Centre Point’s work with the young homeless in London and other major UK cities. The competition closes very soon (end of this month) and they’re keen to get as many entries in as possible, so if you have a favourite soup recipe, please please take five minutes to enter the competition. It’s such a worthy cause. I’ve entered our new favourite, a slow cooked chicken leg soup which is deliciously warm and tasty, perfect for chilly days or to perk up anyone feeling under the weather.

Spiced vegetable, coconut and mackerel stew

March 1, 2025/0 Comments/in BLOG, Fish, Healthy recipes, Main Meals, RECIPES, Student staples /by English Mum

One of my biggest challenges is finding things to cook on those days where I’m just rushed off my feet. Often, especially if I’m working on something I’m really enjoying, the boys or Mr E will walk through the door and I’ll realise that I haven’t even had any lunch, let alone worked out what’s for tea. I think it’s really important to have a stock of a few store cupboard essentials that will enable you to quickly whip up a couple of simple, nutritious meals without thinking too hard about it. When Princes sent me the video (see below) for the Moroccan mackerel rice, I couldn’t wait to give it a go - it literally is ready in minutes, and it’s delicious too. I’ve found myself making it quite often for a quick and easy lunch, and we’ve experimented with several of the varieties (my favourite is still the mackerel fillets in a Moroccan style sauce with apricot purée though). The mackerel is skinless and boneless and available in some delicious sauces, so all you have to do is find some quick carbs and veggies to go with it, et voila. Princes also challenged me to come up with my own quick and easy dish using Princes Mackerel. This spiced vegetable, coconut and mackerel stew is warm and comforting and as it’s all made in one saucepan there’s minimal washing up too. I often make this when I’ve got leftover veggies to use up: it’s great with potato, broccoli and carrots too.

New Cook Well from Waitrose, and a 50% discount off your first order

February 22, 2025/0 Comments/in BLOG, Fish, Healthy recipes, Main Meals, Meat, RECIPES /by English Mum

I never know how I feel about recipe boxes. I’ve had some good, and I’ve had some very, very bad (think teeny portions and an absolute ton of unnecessary packaging to get rid of). Recently Waitrose have joined the (dinner) party by launching their own recipe box delivery service. Cook Well from Waitrose delivers fresh, portioned ingredients straight to the door. All the meals are approved by a Waitrose nutritionist and most have at least two of your five fruit and veg a day. There’s quite a decent range of dishes, including a range of vegetarian and pescatarian recipes as well as meat options. Waitrose very kindly asked me if I’d like to give Cook Well a go, so I chose three dishes to try out. Here’s how I got on.

Moroccan spiced hummus with roasted chickpeas

February 15, 2025/0 Comments/in BLOG, Healthy recipes, Main Meals, RECIPES, Starters, soups and nibbles, Student staples, Vegetarian/vegan, Veggies /by English Mum

You may remember a little while ago, I told you about my favourite little gadget, the Breville Blend Active Pro. It’s perfect for smoothies, purées and sauces because it’s small and neat, but I’ve often thought how nice it would be to have a bit of a bigger receptacle (is that the right word?) so I could use it for soups and stuff like that without having to haul out my enormous blender/liquidiser. Well, happy days are here, because there’s now a fab new Blend Active accessory pack which includes a whole bunch of attachments that allow it to do loads more stuff: whip cream, process larger amounts of food, grind herbs, and even juice fruit! Breville set me a little challenge to come up with a delicious hummus recipe using the Blend Active Pro and new accessory pack, and I had great fun playing with flavours. I think you’ll like this Moroccan spiced hummus with spiced roasted chickpeas - and I’m still thinking about ways to make it even more delicious (see notes at the end).

Staying INin with The Supper Club range, new from Sainsbury’s

February 6, 2025/0 Comments/in BLOG, Home, LIFE & STYLE, Main Meals, Meat, RECIPES /by English Mum

Picture the scene: it’s Friday night, we’ve both had a hectic week and we’re slumped, finally, in front of the TV, bra off (me), joggers on (him), and both boys out with friends. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to head out to dinner together, just the two of us. We discuss options and various restaurants we quite fancy, but it would mean getting dressed and putting make up on and driving/taxis and whatever and there’s a good film we both fancy on the telly, and delicious wine in the rack. What to do? We don’t have the luxury of many takeaways that deliver here, plus that option can be expensive (and frankly not always great), and although I love to cook, sometimes the thought of getting creative in the kitchen when I just want to chat and sip wine with Jim while we catch up after a busy week means I’d love an easier, but still delicious alternative. This week we’ve been trying The Supper Club range, a collection of premium luxury ready meals new to Sainsbury’s, so we popped the Red Thai Chicken Curry in the oven instead.