Stuffed Capsicum, Thought Aloud

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: recipes are templates, not a strict set of instructions.
This past week I was reminded of that as I set out to make a do-ahead vegetable side. Summer is technically here, and I wanted the easy nonchalance of a casual Sunday lunch on the terrace.

The Spoon Test: Learning to Trust Your Palate

a pale blue bowl that has some rice, vegetables and a curry

If I had to name one habit that makes the biggest difference in how I cook, it wouldn’t be knife skills, fancy equipment, or even the quality of the ingredients. It would be this: tasting as I go.

From Peas to Philosophy: The Art of the Tweak

There’s a school of thought that treats recipes as sacred texts — immutable, untouchable, to be followed exactly lest your dinner collapse in shame. I am not enrolled at that school. I transferred long ago to the far more chaotic (and frankly more fun) institution of Recipes as Templates.

Katsu, Curry, and Omurice: The Case for Fusion

Somewhere along the way, fusion became a bad word. It used to mean excitement, creativity on a plate, and borders blurred in the best way. When did fusion lose its charm?

Nigella, Delia, and Grease-Stained Pages

photo of a brown round cake on a yellow plate with a cookbook in the background

I’m revisiting my own well-loved cookbooks — Nigella’s for pure comfort, and Delia Smith’s Complete Cookery Course for nostalgia. There’s also a small-batch recipe for Oatmeal Parkin, the kind of sticky ginger cake that makes rainy days something to look forward to. Put the kettle on, and let’s talk about flour, memory, and finding joy in the bake.

Cabbage: The Humble Powerhouse of the Vegetable World

Unfortunately, cabbage has a reputation problem. Too many people first meet it boiled beyond recognition, limp and overtly sulfurous. But when prepared with a little care, cabbage delivers main character vibes in spades.

A Reluctant Eater’s Guide to Surviving Breakfast

a pan with cooked eggs and tomatoes with cheesy crunchy pita crisps

I’ve always struggled with breakfast. Even now, as I sit down to write this, it’s 10:40am and the only reason I’m eating now is because we’re going out for a 1pm lunch. If I skip food until then, I will be very unpleasant to be around.

Dinner in a Hurry: Quick Fixes, Clever Shortcuts, and the Ingredient That Matters Most

photo of a baked cheesy and tomato meatballs in a round dish on a wooden board background

From microwaved eggs exploding on the ceiling to lasagne that takes all day and leaves me too tired to eat it… I’ve been rethinking how we cook when we’re in a hurry. Spoiler: flavour doesn’t have to be sacrificed.

Small Touches, Big Impact: Quick Wins for Tired Cooks

photo of a brightly coloured salad topped with green herbs and red onion rings

Some days cooking feels like a slog and you need a little something extra to make your meal sing. The good news is you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen – or restaurant-grade equipment – to create that sense of “oof, that’s special.”

5 Recipe Green Flags: What I Look for Before I Cook Anything

There’s something magical about a good recipe. It’s more than a list of ingredients and steps. As a food writer and home cook, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what makes a recipe worth coming back to.

Decoding Common Kitchen Terms

photo of a selection of cookbooks and food writing

I’ve been teaching a friend some basic recipes and it strikes me that very often those in the food and hospitality industries forget that not everyone understands their language. Did you watch The Bear and now you say “Behind!” when in your own kitchen? Do you know why?

Lasagne Love Letter

photo of a golden brown cooked lasagne in an oven dish with salad in the background

Generally, I’ll make the bechamel and the ragu ahead of time and assemble the whole thing whilst it’s cold. You choose what suits you. Chunking the workload is more achievable for me most days but if I’m in the mood, I can get it done in a day. Yes, it’s a project but then I never promised otherwise.