Aduki Bean & Coconut Curried Stew

This great vegetarian main dish is full of beans!

Without a doubt, this Aduki Bean & Coconut Curried Stew is one of the best vegetarian/vegan curries in my opinion - and everyone in my meat-eating household agrees!

It's a curry that never disappoints. You won't miss the lack of meat either - it's just so satisfying. Plus, I like an easy life, so if everyone enjoys and eats all their dinner - I'm a happy Mother Cooker!

Aduki beans are a little gem. They are smaller than haricot beans (familiar kiddy favourite - Baked Beans), so I call them baby beans! I also add a whole load of grated veg into this curry. No one knows - and they all yum it up!

The coconut milk makes the dish lovely and creamy. It's also a fantastic store-cupboard meal that's great for a meat-free Mondays. Very cheap and very nutritious.

Feel free to add some fresh chilli for a bit of a kick. I leave it out whilst the kids are young. Of course, if you are a vegan - leave out the yoghurt.

Autumnal Healthy Beef Stew

It's autumn! Time to make an easy beef stew!

I think the ultimate British comfort food is beef stew. There's nothing as warming and comforting as a hearty stew that's been cooking all day long, but I want a bit of a change from the traditional, British stew - it's just a bit too stodgy. 

I've developed this Autumnal Healthy Beef Stew to be a bit lighter and more nourishing. I used to always thicken my stews by adding flour to the pot before adding the stock (and usually some form of booze - like wine or beer). But I was looking for something less heavy that doesn't require roast potatoes and a giant Yorkshire pudding! This stew is thickened with red and green lentils. I like it quite soup-like too.

How to cook perfect quinoa - TUTORIAL

Quinoa is a true super food.

But what is the best way to cook it? I'll show you how in my easy-to-follow tutorial: How to cook perfect quinoa.

Quinoa is a bit of an obsession of mine. Yes, we've all heard that it's healthy and all that, and I'd tried it before and hadn't been that keen to be honest. It was stodgy, bitter and not all-too pleasant.

Quinoa is a seed, so it's perfect for people who find gluten a problem - because it doesn't contain any. It's also very high in protein and has a low GI.

Now I don't like to punish myself all in the name of a super food. I'm not going to eat something that isn't truly delicious just because it's good for me.

But I'm tenacious. So I kept on trying...and trying. And I've found my perfect way to cook quinoa. And it's easy!

Here's what you need to do...

Avocado, Brazil & Cashew Nut Pesto

Need a healthy family meal?

You can't go wrong with this healthy pasta sauce!

Kids can be fussy eaters. I know, I have three of them (well, they're not that fussy - really!). One day they will eat something and then the next day, it's all change! So when you mention avocado on pasta, you'd think they would flat out refuse to take part in that sort of carry on. And I'm sure if you mentioned a vegan pasta dish for dinner - to all those carnivores out there, they would laugh in your face. But this recipe is better than the best pesto you will ever have tried. And that's a big claim.

Now the kids are back at school, I'm always looking for a recipe to save time in the evening. This Avocado, Brazil & Cashew Nut Pesto is perfect. I was going to add some broccoli and courgette too, but I ran out of time!

My eldest son has been begging us for three years now to go back to having school meals. So after all his begging and Mr Mean starting a new job that means he is absent during the morning 'get ready for school' routine, we agreed!

How To Make Nigella's Soft White Dinner Rolls

I've made Nigella Lawson's Soft White Dinner Rolls from Nigella's website many times now and they are always lovely. The children adore these little rolls that are super hard to resist. They are a real treat with a bowl of hot soup or made into little sandwich rolls - perfect for packed lunches or picnics. I love these toasted with butter and jam. Yum!

Vegetable Korma

I love to make a good curry, and I never really use meat any more. Curries are a great vegetarian option because there are just so many flavours in them. I promise - you will never miss meat in a curry!

This Vegetable Korma is also a great budget saving recipe. No meat = cheap! Korma is a great vegetarian dish, because it has nuts in it to make it creamy, but they are a super source of protein too.

The kids love this dish. Korma's are pretty inoffensive as far as curries go, so this one is bound to be a kiddy hit. And it means they are eating a load of veg too. Of course, if you just can't go without meat, feel free to add some chicken thighs before you add the carrots.

Catherine's Famous Lentil Bake

Healthy Vegetarian Lentil Recipe

A lentil bake makes for a great inexpensive family meal. 

This is Catherine's Famous Lentil Bake Recipe. It could also be known as a Lentil Hotpot, but however you describe it - it's a great vegetarian dish and famous throughout Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and probably Norfolk! Catherine is my friend from school (not my school, but our children's school!). We spend hours yacking about food at the school gates - and why not? We all need some inspiration.

My weekly Bean Stew is wearing a little thin now. Don't get me wrong - it's a tasty supper dish, but the kids are getting a little bit bored now. Catherine mentioned her Lentil Bake the other day and it sounded like a super yummy mid-week meal, so I thought I'd give it a try. She also told me how she's been making it for years and it's always a winner!

Tuna Pasta Salad

I haven't got much time for anything at the moment. I certainly haven't got time to be standing cooking for hours on a weekday at all. What with little babies needing my undivided attention, children needing to be picked up, the ever-growing mountain of washing and cleaning, and my heavy boxing training schedule - I should be the perfect candidate for a takeaway lifestyle. But that ain't ever gonna happen! So I need some cheeky recipes that I can make in advance or only take a few minutes to throw together.

Let me indroduce you to my little friend - The Tuna Pasta Salad. It's so easy to make, it can be made in advance and popped in the fridge, and everyone loves it. Job done. Can I have a mummy prize please?

Roasted Vegetable Enchillada Bake

I came across this recipe thanks to Two Peas & Their Pod. It is a super tasty dish and great for using up all those old vegetables you might have. I made a big batch of red enchillada sauce one afternoon and froze it to save time. I also roasted the veg the night before, so it was just a case of putting everything together and putting it in the oven. Here's their recipe...

How To Make Yorkshire Pudding

I've been making Yorkshire Puddings for years now, as I should be too, being a Yorkshire lass. But they really are pretty easy to make - easier than going to the supermarket and buying that muck from the freezer section!