What's your favourite dish to bring to a friend's?
A pumpkin, lentil and parmesan salad. It travels well for a start, but also works as a side dish or could be a main for lunch. It just involves big crescents of maple syrup roasted pumpkin, cooked lentils, handfuls of rocket (or baby spinach leaves), sultanas and crumbled parmesan. Add a dressing with some lemon and balsamic vinegar and its heavenly.
When in a hurry, what's your go-to dinner?
My easiest, “I’m in a rush” meal, that is also delicious by the way, would be a mushroom pasta. I prefer linguini but you could make it with any pasta or even noodles you have to hand. I just stir fry whatever mushrooms I have with some garlic and thyme (dried forms if I don’t have fresh) in some butter. Then I add some sherry vinegar, black pepper, sea salt, and a couple of tablespoons of crème fraiche if I have it to hand. Once the pasta is done I add it to the stir fry pan and mix it through. Top it off with some parmesan (yes, I love parmesan) and you’ve got a really tasty and nutritious meal in about 10-15 minutes.
After a long day, what summer drink or ritual hits the spot?
I’m a coffee lover and if it’s not too late and I haven’t exceeded my caffeine limit for the day, I love a cold brewed coffee (that I make using my own drip filter). When I say cold, I mean really cold, totally chilled and I add some ice cubes, sometimes a twist of lemon, and sit on my deck watching the waves curl in. You can’t carry cares with you when you sip cold brewed coffee and contemplate the ocean’s depths.
