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

salmon rosti noodles.

Happy Lunar New Year - 2025 the Year of the Snake! I love creating Chinese inspired recipes and this one is no different. It actually came about by accident when I only had one salmon fillet and wanted to make it stretch into a noodle dish to use some stir fry veg, mushrooms, coriander and spring onions. To make the salmon work for two meals, I used a large potato to make some delicious Chinese style salmon rostis to go with vegetable noodles. Can you believe one salmon fillet yielded four rostis? A recipe I'll make again and again for sure.

monkfish wrapped in parma ham with a black olive and tomato risotto.

A wholesome but light fish dish, perfect for the beginnings of Autumn. As part of my second recipe featuring Parma ham, I've put together a seafood and prosciutto ensemble, on a bed of black olive and tomato risotto. My first recipe, Parma ham, ricotta and basil bruschetta, showcased a delicate starter or canapé idea which would be perfect for party guests or a weekend lunch.

This risotto recipe is particularly great for a dinner party main, where you can make ahead the monkfish wrapped in prosciutto di Parma, allowing the Mediterranean inspired risotto to bubble away on the stove.

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.

baked dill salmon with beetroot risotto.

A tasty and wholesome dish for seafood lovers. Salmon, dill and beetroot go hand in hand, so I thought it was about time I made something with them again. When I have extra time at the weekend I love to slowly stir a risotto, simmering away. So I thought I'd bring these ingredients together in a vibrant risotto, for a recipe that is a great source of protein, iron, energy and also goes towards your five a day.

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".

king prawn and vegetable pilaf.

A really simple seafood recipe which is light, healthy and flavoursome. Above all, it's really easy to rustle up. There are lots of interpretations of the pilaf, ranging from Central Asian or Middle Eastern areas, namely Turkish to Persian. It's said that one of the best interpretations of a pilaf is found in the best Emiriti restaurants of Dubai, where saffron, turmeric, cinnamon, thyme and cardamom season the likes of machboos, shakshuka, pilaf and curries, with great recommendations from Square Meal UAE. Al Fanar, Zaroob and Seven Sands sound particularly appealing, serving up the likes of Emirati pancakes, manakeesh flatbreads and lamb machboos, as well a mouthwatering desserts showcasing the traditional flavours of dates, saffron and cardamom.

In simple terms, what defines a pilaf from a Spanish paella or Indian biriyani for me is the use of rice and choice of ingredients. So this cheat recipe uses the likes of warming cardamom, cinnamon, lemon, turmeric and cumin for that distinctive colour and flavour of the Middle East. I've read they sometimes feature saffron too, if you're feeling fancy.

baked spinach arancini stuffed with mozzarella cheese.

Arancini; a resourceful (and delicious) way to use up leftover risotto. There isn't often leftover risotto in my house, so in this case I deliberately made too much and used a lot of will power to save it until the next day. Plus, you only need two extra ingredients to make them - flour and cheese. This simple baked arancini recipe is made from a simple spinach, onion and white wine risotto, before being stuffed by mini mozzarella balls and cooked until golden. My theory is, if they aren't deep fried then you're allowed to have more cheese...

pigs in blankets mac 'n' cheese.

Now we’ve opened the first door of our advert calendar, dropped a few hints about pressies and booked that wreath making class. Is it finally December? The season for all things jolly, decking the halls and jingling bells. With that comes some of the best food back in the supermarkets too. Sprouts? Love them. Chocolate log? Can’t get enough. Pigs in blankets? An absolute must.

But when you aren’t conjuring up your Christmas roast, how else can you enjoy some classic pigs in blankets. I’ve created a festive twist on an American classic with this Pigs In Blankets Mac 'n' Cheese recipe. What more could you want in your macaroni cheese than extra little morsels of sausages wrapped in bacon? Bliss. Plus, it’s a great way to use up leftover cheese board too. Not that there is ever any leftover cheese in our household…

roast broccoli, tomato and feta salad.

A warm, vegetarian salad made up of crispy roast broccoli, charred tomatoes, red pesto Quorn pieces and crumbled feta. Packed with goodness, this filling dish works as a midweek main, side dish or lunch box favourite. I roasted ahead the broccoli, tomatoes and Quorn with a drizzle of good quality oil, cracked black pepper and sea salt, and then tossed together the other ingredients right before eating. Super quick, super easy.

autumn potato salad.

I love Autumn. Warm colours, russet tones and those sunny but crisp, chilly mornings. Today I'm embracing the season with both hands (knife and fork in tow) with this Autumn potato salad recipe. Showcasing Albert Bartlett's Apache potato, the reddish, orange skin lends itself to the October colour palette. Not only do they look like chestnuts, the taste is rich like them too. A buttery and slightly sweet potato with a waxy texture. I loved simply roasting these up with vibrant carrots, red peppers, tomatoes and smoky chunks of chorizo before sprinkling with fresh flat leaf parsley. A really homely and welcoming dish, which is easy to rustle up.

thai prawn massaman salad.

A fragrant and colourful salad perfect for these brighter evenings. A lighter option to your usual noodle dish, this Thai inspired salad brings together vibrant, crunchy veg with juicy king prawns. Enjoy as a light main dish, as a side or even as part of a BBQ banquet.

slow cooker peanut butter pulled pork.

A super simple slow cooker recipe embracing the rich flavours of peanut butter with tender pulled pork. Perfect alongside a superfood salad, with your favourite flatbreads or on top of nachos with all the guacamole, sour cream and salsa. It's a really easy recipe to slow cook during the day, ready to tuck into later on, as well as great for being made ahead for a delicious feast or comforting midweek meal. I served mine with flatbreads, tomato and beetroot salad, peanut sauce and mint yoghurt. But the rest, is up to you.

smoked salmon, ricotta and asparagus tart.

Although the weather can't make it's mind up, Spring is finally in full swing. And that means one of my favourite ingredients is in season... asparagus. Perfect with seafood and fish, the colourful asparagus adds an extra something to this smoked salmon and ricotta puff pastry tart. It's super quick and easy to make too; you can have it for a light lunch, make ahead for picnics or for dinner with a side salad. Tulips optional.

say hello to tiger prawn and chorizo spaghetti with fresh vine tomatoes.

HelloFresh has taken the UK by storm with their fresh, flexible and friendly approach to food. Encouraging seasoned cooks to challenge their tastebuds and newbie foodies to try cooking at home, the ingredients are pre-portioned with recipes cards to make midweek meals and weekend treats as easy as they can be. You simply customise your weekly menu and choose your delivery time to cook your favourite seasonal food from scratch.

When HelloFresh got in touch to try out one of their recipes (believe me, it was a tricky decision) I went for one of my favourite flavour combinations. Smoky chorizo and seafood! Tiger Prawn and Chorizo Spaghetti with Fresh Vine Tomatoes, to be precise.

There's a little story behind this one too. This was inspired by Head Chef Patrick's trips to a little Spanish eatery in Borough Market, where he became best friends with the head chef and started to work in the kitchen at weekends. Like me, his favourite recipes included the beautiful Iberican combination of seafood and chorizo. Who can blame him? In just 25 minutes, here's how you can make it too.

slow cooked beef with gnocchi.

A wholesome, comforting beef recipe which is super simple to make and won't break the bank either. This season, Red Tractor and Simply Beef & Lamb are leading the #LivePeasant campaign to encourage every day home cooks to embrace a more simple, rustic approach to cooking. Stew and casserole recipes are at the heart of the campaign, making affordable cuts of beef and lamb tender and tasty using traditional one-pot methods. 

This slow cooked beef recipe is teamed with warming cinnamon, spicy cayenne pepper and smoky paprika before being stirred through with gnocchi and topped with fresh parsley. Just perfect!

cheesy pumpkin pasta bake.

A comforting recipe that encompasses three of my favourite things; Autumn, pasta and cheese. This super simple seasonal dish only requires a few ingredients, and can be made with butternut squash once the pumpkin season is over. Perfect to make or bake ahead and eat over a few days, simply warming up for a welcoming midweek meal. Heavenly, autumnal and just a tiny bit indulgent as it actually features low fat Quark. Plus, whats wrong with a little extra cheese when you're getting your five a day, right? Balance.

aubergine, paneer & sweet red pepper curry.

A super easy curry to make-ahead as a midweek meal, or simmer away on a weekend. This medium spiced vegetarian curry doesn't really have an origin as such. I was influenced by Indian and Thai flavours but on the whole it's pretty made up - why not eh! With a tomato base, the paneer and deliciously softened vegetables are flavoured with the likes of lime, red chillies, ginger, garam masala and fresh coriander. The dish is finished off with a crunch of peanuts and extra lime juice. I ate it with chopsticks just because it made the paneer fun to skewer, but there really are no rules here. If you're a fan of tikka masala and red Thai curries, you might just like this too.

my ultimate comfort bolognese.

A comforting Italian inspired bolognese recipe, ideal to batch cook for an easy midweek meal. Combining pork and beef mince, this hearty recipe goes towards your five a day with sweet, softened red peppers and slightly salty black olives. Serve up with your favourite pasta and a good grating of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Though for me it has to be spaghetti. Classic.