Making your own spice mixes is a great way to save money – and avoid the additives and fillers in many store-bought spice blends and packet mixes. And it doesn’t require a load of fancy ingredients, either. My spice collection is literally 20 jars and that’s it. With those I can create a variety of different blends for a whole range of different cuisines. Just like this Mexican Spice Mix, which is an absolute staple in our house.
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As we head towards Christmas, I know many of you are looking for recipes to make the day easier. How about making the day a little healthier too? This dessert pizza, with its delicious rainbow fruit topping, has all the appeal of a fruit-laden pavlova, without the sugar crash that comes after!
You can easily cook up the wholesome base in advance, ready to top with cream cheese and all that beautiful summer fruit. The kids and grown ups alike will love it!
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Tray-bakes are a favourite in our house, and they are super popular with the community of my Meal Plan Membership, too. It doesn’t get much easier than popping veggies and protein on a tray with some kind of delicious sauce or marinade, then letting the oven do its thing while your hands stay free to do something else.
This tray-bake combines all the classic Mediterranean ingredients to create big flavour and has proven to be a winner dinner in many households.
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A delicious way to start the day – perfect for warm summer mornings. So easy to whizz up, and packed with veggies, fruit and good fats. Trust me – your kids will have no idea there’s zucchini in this. And even when you tell them – it makes the smoothie so deliciously creamy they’ll ask for it again!
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To help you keep things simple, but still delicious over the holidays, today I’m sharing with you my three favourite side salads to serve on our Christmas table. Each of them only has three core ingredients, and the dressings all use the same pantry staple ingredients, so you won’t be buying things you’ll never use again. They can all be easily multiplied to make big batches to serve a crowd, and they are all fabulous to make if you need to take a plate to a gathering over the festive season. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do in our family.
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Everybody loves a brownie, right? This version has the bonus of some sweet potato added in to make you feel smug, and it also adds to the richness and fudgy texture. These brownies are super fast to whip up and are a perfect way to use up some leftover sweet potato. A perfect quick dessert or after school treat.
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Last fortnight, I shared by Cheese & Chive Spelt Scones recipe, but by popular demand on my Instagram stories, I’m now doubling down on scones with my sweet pumpkin version.
My kids absolutely love these for afternoon tea or in their lunchboxes. I love that they get a little bit of extra veg in their day and it’s a great way to use up that random wedge of pumpkin hanging out in the fridge. In fact, if I find myself with some pumpkin and no plan to use it, I steam and freeze it in one cup portions ready to thaw and use in this exact recipe.
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I absolutely love scones. And while there’s not much that beats a warm fluffy scone fresh from the oven, topped with jam and loads of freshly whipped cream, the savoury version is pretty good too. These cheesy delights are quick to mix and bake. Cheese & Chive spelt scones make a perfect afternoon tea or lunchbox snack. They are also fantastic served as part of a ploughman’s lunch board with cheeses, pickles and cold meats, or as a delicious side to a bowl of warm soup.
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My love for traybakes runs deep. Chop some meat and veg, add some flavour, whack it all on a tray and put it in the oven. Job done. What’s not to love about that type of cooking method? That’s how easy this gnocchi traybake is.
I shared this recipe recently as part of my One Pan Wonder Week challenge and it got some rave reviews. It makes the most simple and tasty dinner – a delicious combination of gnocchi, chorizo and fresh veggies, sprinkled with parmesan. It’s the ultimate in family-friendly easy comfort food. Perfect on those days where you just can’t be bothered, but you know you still have to feed everyone.
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Granola makes for a delicious start to the day. It’s a great way to pack in wholegrains, seeds and nuts for a healthy dose of fibre, protein and good fats. But store-bought granolas can be expensive. And they often pack a pretty hefty sugar and oil punch too. So making your own is a great way to adapt it to your tastes and make it just that little bit better for you.
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