Use a wide, shallow casserole or baking tray so that the vegetables roast evenly.
Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C (340 degrees F)

3.5 oz (100g) leeks diagonally sliced
3.5 oz (100g) parsnips
5 oz (150g) Sweet potato
5 oz (150g) celeriac
7 oz (200g) thinly sliced red onion
3.5 oz (100g) carrot
3.5 oz (100g) beetroot
4 whole cloves of garlic (keep skin intact)
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
5 tablespoons olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
1x 13 oz (400g) tin chick-peas, drained and rinsed
Drizzle of lemon juice and olive oil

Cut all the vegetable except the onion an leeks into even sized chunks.
Put them into the casserole/baking tray with the garlic and the caraway seeds.
Toss them in the olive oil to coat them and season with the black pepper.
Roast for about 1 hour, turning occasionally.
When almost done, fold in the rinsed and drained chickpeas and return to the oven for a further 10 minutes.

Before serving, drizzle with a little more olive oil and lemon juice to taste and serve.

Ingredients:
2 tsp fennel seeds
1 Tbs freshly chopped oregano
1 garlic clove peeled and crushed
salt & freshly ground pepper
4 chicken quarters
1/2 lemon finely sliced
1 fennel bulb trimmed
2 tsp olive oil
4 plum tomatoes
25g/1 oz stoned green olives

For the rice:
225g/8 oz long grain rice I usually use a blend of different ‘rices’. My favorite is a brown basmati and wild rice mix.
finely grated rind and juice of 1/2 lemon
150ml orange juice
450ml/3/4 pint boiling chicken or vegetable stock

To garnish:
fennel fronds
orange slices

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees C/ 400 degrees F/ Gas mark 6.
Gently crush fennel seeds, mix with oregano, garlic, salt and pepper.
Place between the skin and flesh of the chicken breasts, carefully do not to tear the skin. Arrange the lemon slices on top of the chicken.

2. Cut fennel into 8 wedges. Place on baking tray with the chicken. Lightly brush the fennel with the oil. Cook the chicken and fennel on the top shelf of the preheated oven for 10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, place rice in a 2.3l/4 pint ovenproof dish. Stir in the lemon rind and juice, orange juice and stock. Cover with a lid and place on the middle shelf of the oven

4 Reduce the oven temperature to 160 degrees C/ 350 degrees F/ Gas mark 4. Cook the chicken for 40 minutes more, turning the fennel wedges and lemon slices once. Deseed and chop the tomatoes. Add to the tray and cook for 5-10 minutes. Remove from oven.

5. When cooled slightly, remove chicken skin and discard. Garnish with fennel fronds, orange slices and serve

6. Fluff rice, and sprinkle stoned olives over dish. Garnish with fennel fronds, orange slices

This is a dish to exhibit the meatiness and sweet flavours of tuna. In this simple recipe, all the flavours compliment each other perfectly. There are some zingy sweet-sour notes played by the vinegar, lime and sugar.

4tbsp olive oil
4 shallots, finely chopped
1 red pepper and 1 yellow pepper, stem, ribs and seeds removed
1tbsp red wine vinegar
1 firm dark green lime, grated rind (no pith) and 2tsp juice
2tsp sugar
4 firm, ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tuna steaks, weighing about 175g each
about 16 basil leaves, torn up

Heat half the oil in a medium saucepan and soften the shallots in it for 5 minutes. Cut the peppers into 1cm dice, add to the pan and cook gently, covered, for 10 minutes. Add the vinegar, lime rind, lime juice and sugar. Cook a further 5 minutes, uncover and let the liquid evaporate. This should only take 1-2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook under the lid for a further 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and season lightly with salt. You can make this ahead up to this point.

Meanwhile, heat the grilling pan to very hot. Brush the steaks with some of the remaining oil, season with salt and pepper, and cook for a couple of minutes each side, depending on how thick they are. This would be sufficient for a thickness of 15mm. Tuna is much better cooked rare, like (beef) steak.

Have the sauce very hot and stir in the basil leaves. Place a tuna steak on each of 4 plates and pour the sauce around, finishing off with the remaining olive oil.

Perfect with salad or steamed greens.

Roasted vegetables with a twist.

Ingredients

1 small butternut squash, cubed
2 red bell peppers, seeded and diced
1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
3 baking potatoes, cubed
1 red onion, quartered
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
In a large bowl, combine the squash, red bell peppers, sweet potato, and potatoes. Separate the red onion quarters into pieces, and add them to the mixture.
In a small bowl, stir together thyme, rosemary, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Toss with vegetables until they are coated. Spread evenly on a large roasting pan.
Roast for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring every 10 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked through and browned.

Quick Beef Stroganoff

3 minute steaks, cut into 1/2 inch strips
2 Tablespoons oil
1 onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed (optional)
1 can of mushroom soup
1 cup plain yogurt
3 ounce can of mushrooms
2 Tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Brown the steak strips in the oil. Add the onion and garlic. Stir fry for 5 minutes until onion is translucent. Combine remaining ingredients, add to meat. Heat on low temperature until flavors blend. (Do not boil.) Serve this easy quick Beef Stroganoff over a melody of steamed green vegetables.

Directions
Heat 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 or 3 strips lemon zest and 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, 3 minutes. Meanwhile, cook 1 head broccoli florets and 1 sliced carrot in boiling salted water, 3 minutes. Drain and toss with the lemon oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and salt and pepper.

Any kind of fish, wrap it in a foil parcel with a chopped up pepper, some mushrooms and any other veg you like, dash of olive oil and bung in some soy sauce and a tablespoon of Piri Piri spice or Tabasco . Bung it in the oven for 25 mins.

Spicy salmon and steamed veg, DONE!

Quick chicken and pepper stir fry

Green pepper x 1
Red onion(s) x 2
Red pepper x 1
Quinoa x 200 gram(s) (remember that this is a protein).
Yellow pepper x 1
Skinless chicken breast x 4 fillets
Cashews x 1 gram(s)
Sunflower oil x 1 tbsp
Soy sauce x 2 tspn
1. Cook the Quinoa according to the pack instructions.
2. While the Quinoa is cooking, heat the oil in a large pan or wok, and add the sliced onion and chicken, cooking for 5 min.
3. Add the remaining vegetables and cashew nuts to the pan and stir.
4. Add a little water and a dash of soy sauce to flavour.
5. Continue to stir until vegetables start to soften a little.
6. Drain the cooked quinoa and serve with the stir fry.

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:
1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts
1/4 cup olive oil
2-4 cloves garlic - minced or chopped very finely
1 lemon - seeds removed, sliced thin
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F/ 190 degrees C.
Wash the Brussels sprouts, cut off the ends, and remove any discolored, outer leaves.
Cut smaller Brussels sprouts into halves and larger ones into quarters.
Place the Brussels sprouts into a large bowl and toss them with the olive oil and minced or finely chopped garlic.
Spread the Brussels sprouts onto a baking sheet and season with the salt and pepper.
Tuck the lemon slices in between the Brussels sprouts.
Bake for 40 minutes, or until the Brussels sprouts are cooked through, and begin to caramelize.

Adjust the amount of garlic, salt and pepper used in this recipe, according to personal taste.
For a slightly spicy version, toss in a bit of red pepper flakes, or a few shakes of hot pepper sauce, before placing the Brussels sprouts in the oven.

SPICY LENTIL SOUP

Ingredients
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
l litre (4 cups) vegetable stock
300g 1.5 cups red lentils
1 can chopped tomatoes
fresh corianderand plain low-fat yogurt to serve (optional)

Method

Put the onion, garlic and lentils in a pan. Sprinkle over the ground spices and stir to mix.
Pour over the hot stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and cook for a further 10-15 minutes, until the lentils have softened.
Blend the soup. If you wish, garnish with a swirl of yogurt and a scattering of fresh chopped corianderleaves on each bowl to serve.