It being summertime here in the UK, we’ve been thinking a lot about picnics lately. We’ve noticed that the shops are full of flaccid pies, dreary dips and limp salads, all purporting to be ‘perfect for picnics’. Psht, they’re messing with us! Homemade picnics win by miles. That said, you don’t have to do it…
Ras el Hanout Veg Quiche with Feta and Caramelised Onions
Perfect Picnic Provisions! Quiche is robust enough to cart about anywhere, and the ras el hanout adds an edge to make it an elegant addition to a spread. We made this to have after the Castle Howard 10K, knowing that the protein in the eggs and pastry would be fantastic for our recovery. I’d imagine…
Sweet Potato and Spring Onion Soup
Ever have those days when you think the cupboard is bare and it turns out it’s not nutritionally naked at all but bursting full of good-for-you tastiness? I had one such recently, thumping a couple of sweet potatoes on the worktop and wondering what on earth I was going to do with them this time….
Leek and Celery Barlotto with Goats’ Cheese and Lemon Thyme
We’re doing the Edinburgh Half Marathon soon so we’ve been experimenting to come up with delicious carbo-loading dishes. This Leek and Celery Barlotto with Lemon Thyme is a winner. As we’ve said before, we love a risotto but get frustrated by the faff of all that stirring, checking, slowly adding stock etc. We like to keep…
Quinoa with Courgette, Feta and Sumac
This meal is a great showcase for National Vegetarian Week, showing that veggie eating doesn’t need to be a pastiche of your traditional meaty dinner with a “star of the show”. In fact, I had some trouble naming this recipe. None of the ingredients is really ‘with’ the other ones – they all take centre stage,…
Tofu Tikka Masala
I strongly believe that cuisine is like language – living, and ever changing. Orthodoxy has no place in my kitchen. The quest for “the authentic ratatouille/baba ganoush/tikka masala” is not that interesting. I’d prefer to have the best one! Besides, playing by the book is not as much fun as a bit of experimentation. (I…
Vegetarian Kedgeree with Smoked Tofu
Training can be hard work but it also provides a great excuse to get creative with tasty, runner- friendly dinners, such as this vegetarian twist on a classic kedgeree. Traditional kedgeree uses smoked fish. Traditional vegetarian kedgeree doesn’t used smoked anything. Upshot? Vegetarian kedgeree is usually rubbish. Sad but true. Not this time, though! No, no,…
Cabbage and Caraway Soup
When I was a Veggie-Toddler, my mum used to make something for me with caraway. At least, I’m sure of it, because when I started frying this up, I had a Proustian moment, and the earthy smell transported me back our our teeny flat where I had stuck Babar transfers wherever I thought she wouldn’t…
Aubergine and Pomegranate Stew
I’m not a big one for faffing about with fancy ingredients. Fresh is great, trendy not so much. Then I came across a bottle of pomegranate paste in a Middle Eastern food shop and had to have a word with myself. OK, I thought, these things might be fads for TV chefs but they’re staples…
Stuffed Butternut Squash
We have some great recipes for squash on the blog. Our Best Roasted Butternut Squash Ever is a real winner, mainly because it’s name tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Our Spicy Butternut Squash Soup With Paneer Croutons is also delicious and hugely popular. And the all-time favourite recipe with…
Black Urad Dahl Balls with Lime and Mint Dressing
After running 96 miles along the West Highland Way last summer, all I could think about was food. Seriously, aching muscles count for nothing when you’re that hungry! We (my running buddy, Sarah Leitch, and I) went for the ultimate recovery curry at Mother India in Glasgow. You won’t be surprised to hear that it…
Irresistible Tahini-Miso Dressing
In my own words, I used to be a complete “peanut-butter head”, eating about a jar a week on everything, from sliced apples to porridge. The thought of being without a jar filled me with dread, so much so that I would take it to hotels when I was working away. And yet, I haven’t…