One Dish Dinner: Chicken, Fennel and Cannellini Beans

Who doesn't love a one-dish wonder?

Butternut and Beetroot Tart with a Feta and Nut Cream

Valentines Day is fast approaching and with that a world of disappointment for the thousands that forgot, didn't getting a reservation, or just didn't plan it right. Restaurants will be packed to the rafters so why no spoil your someone special with a beautiful dinner at home? Get a good bottle of wine (a slightly wooded chenin or chardonnay would go down a treat with this), a big bunch of flowers and you're golden!

This is my final phyllo recipe in conjunction with Mediterranean Delicacies for their #PhabPhyllo campaign. And I think this final recipe might be my favourite: the combination of the feta, cream and nuts is deliciously rich and pairs beautifully with the sweet butternut, slightly tart beetroot and crispy phyllo. If you can't fathom eating strictly vegetarian then pair this with some lemon and herb chicken breasts...I'm sure you could get creative and shape those into heart too ;) 

Mushroom, Asparagus and Feta Parcels

My latest #PhabPhyllo recipe in conjunction with Mediterranean Delicacies is all about veggies: these little parcels are simple and delicious. They also make for great lunch box fillers. You can substitute the asparagus for tenderstem broccoli if it's not in season. Happy #MeatFreeMonday

Sweetcorn, Coriander and Spring Onion Fritters

Breakfast for 4 done. It's vegetarian, but will go down a treat with some crispy streaky bacon ;)

Nectarine, Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

Happy New Year! Healthy needn't be boring and salads needn't include lettuce. This is a tweak to the traditional caprese with nectarines, avo and pumpkin seeds - the seeds give it great texture and you can use any seeds you like...or, if you're feeling flush, throw some toasted pine nuts on there.

Baked Feta Phyllo Parcels

The perfect starter. I'm a fan of cheese in every form, but baked cheese is right there at the top. When you bake feta, it doesn't melt but rather softens to a delicate sponge, similar to holloumi. Wrapping it  in crisp phyllo and serving it with honey, a squeeze of lime and fresh mint just makes this simple little number irresistible. This is my 4th #PhabPhyllo recipe for the wonderful Mediterranean Delicacies - a company I just love working with because of the quality of their products.

Easy Chicken Curry

I wanted to come up with the simplest, tastiest chicken curry possible and this is it. The key to keeping the chicken succulent is to turn the heat right down so that you're softly poaching the chicken strips rather than boiling them in the sauce, this way you don't have to marinate the chicken. 

Halva Mousse in Phyllo Cups

This is one of the easiest and quickest desserts I've ever come up with. I created them for Mediterranean Delicacies (whom I collaborate with often). The phyllo cups take a little time to make, but you can make them days in advance and just keep them in an airtight container. The mousse can also be frozen and served as a semifreddo which I love! Either way it's delish - so it's up to you...

Spiced Bulgar Wheat and Chickpea Salad

The perfect winter's salad: wholesome and moreish with not even a smidgen of lettuce.

Easy Coconut Chicken Strips

I was in the shops the other day thinking of what to make for dinner and nothing was inspiring me. I tend to flock towards the chicken section in times like these as I know I'll find something I can work with. I often coat chicken breasts in sesame seeds as I find it keeps them moist and adds a lovely nuttiness, simple but effective. This was my plan.

I got home and realised I had no sesame seeds, but I did have some desiccated coconut...interesting...I decided to go with it and it turned out to be deliciously different. I've subsequently made coconut chicken pieces for catering functions and people adore them. You can serve them as a canapé with the dipping sauce or alternatively with a herb salad as a main, using the dipping sauce as a dressing.

Aubergine, Fennel and Pomegranate Salad

My obsession with pomegranates continues. This is by no means a new, or an original, idea. Ottolenghi in style, with a few quirks added by me - I just love it. The addition of fennel lightens it all and the dressing brings it together. Enjoy.

Easy Gazpacho

Purists will most likely roll their eyes at my recipe, but the problem with South African tomatoes is that they lack the intensity and sweetness of Spanish tomatoes, thus the reason for my using rosa tomatoes instead. Using rosa tomatoes, being meatier than your average tomato, means I don't add bread to the recipe as I feel the soup is thick enough as is. 

Easy Baked Mushroom and Beef Samosas

These are a deliciously healthy alternative to the fried samosa; baking rather than deep frying and using phyllo pastry instead of samosa pastry, plus using half mushrooms to beef mince means less calories, but even better taste - it's all about #Blendability

Tomato and Pomegranate salad

I borrowed this idea from the marvelous Robyn Maclarty whose blog Koek is a favourite of mine. I've tweaked her idea somewhat and made it to go alongside some simple fried chicken breasts and sweet potatoes. It's humorously Christmassy for this time of year, but it's a healthy Christmassy recipe for those who want to plan way, way ahead or for those, like me, just like bright, summery salads :)

Tomato tart

I descended upon Woolworths the other day and stumbled across a new product of theirs - a 1kg box of exotic tomatoes, the box had: yellow, pink, vine, tiger striped and cœur du bœuf (heart of beef) tomatoes - which to me was like finding a little treasure box of goodies! So I thought for a minute about what I might make - I wanted to make something that would show off all their beautiful colours and shapes - so I bought a roll of (all butter) puff pastry and set to work making a simple but seriously tasty tart.

I also bought some ripe brie, watercress and rocket to go with it. If you can't buy exotic tomotoes then you can just use a mixture of cherry and rosa tomatoes.