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simple tuna puttanesca spaghetti.



An easy midweek meal combining my love of seafood, pasta and olives. The classic puttanesca. With wholemeal spaghetti, a tomato based sauce and a hint of chilli, this slightly salty pasta dish can be speedily made up of food cupboard essentials. It's not exactly the most authentic puttanesca recipe either, but it's my interpretation. Perfect for those days where you fancy a bit of comfort food but "you've got nothing in".



pan fried lamb steaks with rosemary & mint butter and cous cous.


Founded in the beautiful region of Tuscany, Bertolli pride themselves on their love of authentic Italian cooking and great quality ingredients. Their latest addition, Bertolli with Butter and Olive Oil, is a rich blend of butter and specially selected olive oil. From everyday cooks to seasoned chefs, the new addition to the Bertolli family is the ideal fridge staple. 

The high burn point makes it perfect for pan frying and making sauces - however you prefer to get creative in the kitchen! The versatile butter block gives the subtle taste of butter whilst being able to withstand hot temperatures without burning. So I put it to the test with a recipe which combines all of these – pan fried lamb leg steaks, buttery vegetable cous cous and a homemade fresh mint and rosemary butter to finish. So how did I get on


parma ham wrapped steak with parmigiano reggiano potatoes


When you add Parmigiano Reggiano to a dish, for me it evokes feelings of luxury and authenticy. Not many Italian dishes I make now don’t include it, whether it’s stirred into a glossy Carbonara sauce, shaved onto a salad or the finishing touches on my favourite pasta dishes. But I wanted to try something new, how would it fare alongside a beautifully cooked fillet steak, with juicy tomatoes and Parmigiano Reggiano roasted potatoes. And of course, Parma ham from the same region. Unsurprisingly, it uplifted the classic steak and chips to a new level, feeling like an indulgent date night dish, or one to try at the weekend or special occasion. 


If you aren’t already familiar, Parmigiano Reggiano is a traditional cheese dating back hundreds of years. But it was in 2008 that the European courts decreed that it is the only cheese legally allowed to be called Parmesan, down to it’s DPO status and Parma-Reggio origin. From the cheesemaker right through to the delis, the famous cheese is said to be “made” not “produced.” The time and care taken to create such a distinct flavour shows too - I rarely add salt to any dishes when I know I’m using Parmigiano Reggiano as an ingredient, as the salty and piquant notes sing for themselves.