Recipes to Nourish the Body & Soul

This is one of my go-to dishes for dinner parties. It's an absolute crowd-pleaser (if you like lamb of course) and it's super easy to make with minimal time actually cooking (don't be discouraged by the length of the recipe or method - the steps are simple) and zero time once your guests arrive. The melt-in-the-mouth lamb is a delicious contrast to the almonds and chickpeas and is complimented by the sweetness of the prunes. This was hands down one of my favourite dishes when I travelled Morocco so of course I had to come up with my own version!

Sweet, decadent, indulgent and entirely devoid of processed sugar - meet your new favourite after dinner treat (or anytime treat really...). These truffles are quick, easy, use very basic kitchen tools and contain only a handful of ingredients. Don't worry about these tasting like your typical date & nut bar - they don't. The main flavours coming through are the dark chocolate and sea salt with the dates just delivering natural sweetness and the almond butter adding some creamy indulgence. They also keep well in the fridge so are a great make ahead treat for your next party, although I personally struggle to keep my hands off them long enough to share ;-)

This jam is absolutely worth the hours of picking blackberries in the fields! It is the perfect friend to your breakfast toast or pancakes, a game-changer on your cheeseboard and even delicious in a rich gravy to go with game later on in the year. It also makes the perfect little gift as it's hardly your average supermarket jam - in fact I have been looking for it in delis since I came up with the recipe and have yet to find it. It's far easier than it seems, the only tricky bit is picking all the spices out ;-)

Cauliflower is an amazing vegetable! It is high in B-vitamins and contains antioxidants and phytonutrients that are able to protect against cancer. It also contains lot of fibre which can enhance weight loss and digestion, plus choline - essential for learning and memory. So it's a pretty cool ingredient, but we often either just steam it (bit boring) or cover it in cheese (tasty at times, probs negates the benefits on a regular basis). Matching it with earthy parsnip (another great source of fibre plus vitamins c, k and folate) creates a super creamy texture and also supports provides a deeper flavour without overpowering. Throw in some warming spices and you have the perfect superfood winter soup.

I love apples! There was a period in my life when I couldn't eat them for allergy reasons and it made me sad every day. They are so versatile and make a great, healthy and transportable snack. This recipe offers one option to preserve apples beyond the autumn season and combines classic flavours that just work well together. The cinnamon brings a warmth that is perfect in the colder months and the amaretto adds a nutty, buttery hint. The alcohol burns off so this is perfect for all ages, at breakfast as much as on a cheese board!

Delicious, quick, super easy and waaaayyy cheaper than all the energy balls available commercially!
These make an awesome mid-Afternoon snack to keep hunger at bay and the zesty lemon adds a bit of a taste of sunny days!

If you are after a delicious and light, Asian-inspired summer dish, then look no further than my Miso & Sesame Mushrooms with a veggie stir fry. It's vegan but has a surprisingly meaty texture that won't disappoint even those with a carnivorous preference.

These are perfect for those moments when you just need a sweet treat, but don't want to fill your body with processed sugars and preservatives. Using only the natural sweetness of dates these moorish bites work well on their own or with a cup of tea/coffee as an afternoon treat. They're also higher in plant protein than your average, shop-bought snack and with only a handful of ingredients you can pronounce you know exactly what you are eating! Plus, they take less than 15 minutes to whip up and use minimal equipment so what's not to like?

Raspberries are my absolute favourites in the berry family; I will happily sit and eat a whole box for dessert. This recipe is the perfect way to elongate a relatively short season and it incorporates yet another Summer highlight - fragrant lavender. If you like either, you’ll enjoy this; if you love both, this will be heaven! 💓
Top tip: add the lavender infusion slowly spoon by spoon and check on scent level and flavour; otherwise it can overpower quickly.

This is one of my go to favourites: it's so simple, minimal effort and I usually have all the ingredients in. It's also adaptable to your preferences - swap out some of the spices or make it non-vegan by adding dairy. For a warming, nutritious lunch that still lets you get on with you day, look no further than this soup!

Who doesn't love a good chilli?! It's warming, filling, comforting and can be served with pretty much anything (or on its own). I make mine with a couple of less common additions like cocoa powder and port (which actually features in a lot of my tomato-based recipes) to make it extra rich! One of the things I love most about this is the low level of effort - the step by step means you do most of your prep as you go and once it's in the oven it needs minimal attention which means more time for fun stuff! I love to serve mine on a baked sweet potato with a bit of corn, avocado and a dollop of coconut yoghurt.

Who doesn't love a sprinkle of granola - on yoghurt, fruit or just as a snack on its own (is that really weird?)? The problem I have always had with it is the amount of sugar in the commercial versions so I decided to come up with my own low-sugar version. Rather than relying on sweetness for flavour, the depth in this recipe comes from toasting the mix and additionally it packs in a high amount of plant-based protein. Delicious AND healthy - well if that isn't a winner I don't know what is.

I love a good salad bowl for lunch, but it can feel a bit unsatisfying when the weather turns colder and wetter and comfort becomes priority. This is a delicious seasonal option that easily transitions you from light and airy summer salads to richer and earthier autumnal ones. It uses seasonal ingredients and like so many of my recipes can be easily converted to non-vegan by adding feta cheese or some roasted meat. And I promise you - those seeds will be a hit!

If you too don't have spare time to make breakfast in the morning but also think that most Bircher muesli/overnight oat concoctions you can buy in stores are both expensive and a bit...well..average then this is your solution. I promise this takes not more than five minutes to stir together in the evening (even after a couple of glasses of wine) and as it's mixed in its container there's basically no washing up either! The chia and pumpkin seeds add some healthy protein whilst the oats provide slow-release carbs that keep you going. Cheap, quick, healthy and tasty - what more can you expect from your breakfast?

OK, I admit this one is a far cry from my easy and quick recipes, but I promise it is worth the effort! This tangy and sweet, syrupy yet chunky chutney makes a great seasonal alternative to classic cheeseboard choices (think red onion chutney) and it's not one you can easily find on a local supermarket shelf making it an ideal foodie present. It also make an awesome addition to a sourdough cheese toastie, if that is your thing ;-)

When the days get shorter and the temperature drops there are few things more warming and comforting than a good soup! This one is oh so simple to make with just a few ingredients, but is absolutely delicious. Plus it's really versatile - just add your favourite protein or grain to make it a little more filling. I used leftover roast chicken recently, but you could also add fried tofu or boiled pearl barley.

This is my go to for a warming breakfast. Served with banana, berries and some honey (or any fruit, or granola, or maple syrup...the options are endless really) this is so comforting and yet so light. Plus it's vegetable-based so it packs in a double-whammy of vitamins and the fresh ginger adds both spice and an immunity boost. It's the ultimate combination of comfort and health! But the amazingness doesn't stop there - it also makes a great savoury dish topped with my Miso Mushrooms, cooked chicken, a veg medley....you get the idea, it's incredibly versatile and therefore makes the perfect batch cook option meaning it also saves you precious time. AMAZING!!! Go make it now and thank me later.

I love a quick mid-week pasta and pesto is a great option, but I often find the jarred stuff too rich and oily. This is my lighter version - still as tasty and versatile but just that little bit better for you. For those that are less in favour of leaves it’s a super easy way to pack in more greens (spinach works well alongside or instead of kale) and you can experiment with nut varieties including the more traditional pine variety (toast those to bring out the flavour).

This jam is one of my favourites to make in spring and early summer. It’s oh so sweet but the warming undertones of ginger make it perfect for those mornings when it’s still a bit chilly. Like right now…Or store it and do a little happy dance 💃🏻 when you find a jar in the cupboard come autumn 😀
Don’t be scared, it’s super simple to make - give it a go and let me know the results!

Bread is one of my favourite things in the world - both eating and making it. I find the repetitive motion of the kneading really therapeutic, but some days call for a quick loaf and soda bread is my go to. Problem: with many people nowadays being wheat or gluten intolerant the traditional wheat-based dough doesn’t work. So I set out to create an alternative that would be just as easy, quick, only uses ingredients you can find in your local shop and is still delicious! Best served slightly warm with salted butter 😋 (it also keeps for a couple of days and toasts well)

Love a Lavender Latte but think you have to pay an expensive coffee shop for the pleasure? Think again! This is a super simple and super tasty recipe for your own lavender syrup. Bonus if you can harvest the lavender from your own or wild plants. Add it to your hot or cold latte, over ice cream, into soda water... Pure joy in a bottle (if you like lavender that is).

OK, full disclosure. There is nothing traditionally healthy about this, but I ALWAYS believe that homemade is better - and healthier - than shop-bought so in my head this is still good for you. Plus it's fruit, just with an additional secret ingredient ;-) Realistically it is super-indulgent, unbelievably tasty and my go-to for those 'I basically have no time, but need a crowdpleaser dessert' moments. It's beautiful in its simplicity, but never fails to surprise leaving you with only one difficult question: custard or ice cream?

This soup has got it all! Deliciously thick and creamy but with a spicy kick it makes a super satisfying meal that also warms you through on a cold day. As if this wasn't enough it's also packed with immunity-boosting ginger and turmeric, antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin A and full of fibre to keep your system active. Healthy, warming and full of flavour - what more could you want on a cold winter day?

These are hands down the most delicious, rich and indulgent chocolate brownies I have ever eaten - and I don't even love brownies! I've been making them for years, it's my go-to recipe for bake sales, parties or just an afternoon treat with a friend. The best thing about them (aside from the taste of course) is that the recipe is super simple and pretty much foolproof, plus they are easy on the clean up as you're mixing everything in one pan.

PS: These don't exactly win a prize for healthiest snack, but that doesn't mean they don't have a place in life. I still consider them healthier than anything store-bought because they're homemade so you know there aren't any preservatives or additives. But more importantly they will bring you immense joy and that is important for health.

This makes for a great and super nourishing Summer dinner. Packed with nutrients and vitamins from the pesto and seasonal vegetables this pasta dish is both healthy and hearty at the same and totally hits the spot for me after a day of running, yoga, paddle boarding and generally being active. Try to get the herbs and squash on the same day as making this so they're really fresh - in full transparency: I made up this recipe when my patio garden was over-producing everything and I needed to harvest ;-)