Recipes

Can you ever have enough hummus recipes? If you’re a supporter of this tawny Middle Eastern dip, the answer is a resolute, no. These are my favourite five hummus recipes on the blog. Hummus is like your everyday jeans. It doesn’t have a season. It’s an all year thing. Besides the addictive tahini taste and…

With most of us still working from home, we’re more likely to make time for breakfast. Having a few wholesome, make ahead options up your sleeve will help keep even the fussiest breakfast eaters happy. Whether it’s breakfast for one, two or many, here are a bunch of healthy weekday breakfast recipes that will see…

This is how I love to eat. Flamboyantly colourful food with convincing flavours and lively personality. Whether you choose to serve this quinoa detox crunch bowl alongside grilled kebabs hot off the coals, or as part of a vegetarian main, good salads are  summer essentials. Proof that healthy and delicious coexist. The success of whole bowl…

Chickpeas are princely pantry cupboard staples. With their nutty taste and creamy texture, their potential reaches far beyond just hummus. If you find yourself stuck in the hummus rut which, let’s be honest, is not the worst place to be stranded, here are ten ridiculously delicious chickpea recipes that celebrates the versatility of these creamy…

With the top 10 dinner recipes done and dusted, here are your favourite bakes and desserts from 2020. They’re a motley crew of biscuits, buns, tarts and pudding. Some are quick sweet comforts while others, like these  Crème pâtissière summer berry tarts, may need a little more than care than a swift mix and bake. They’re…

Surprisingly, the most popular blog posts for 2020 were meat recipes. The top six slots belonged to lamb, beef, pork and chicken. Flecked in between were casual family style pastas and several plant-centred recipes. To see what’s been spluttering away on stovetops and roasting in ovens across the world, here are the Top ten dinner…

Lockdown 2020  fostered the iconic rise of Banana bread, Sourdough and Dalgona coffee. We reinvented breakfast pancakes (pancake cereal) and tucked into cheesy pan-pizzas. While most trends are transient, several remain imbedded as all time favourites. As for me and my household, banana bread is as good as family. Not matter how much we bake,…

While our New Year’s celebrations will be bear little resemblance to previous festivities, staying in, home and safe needn’t mean a chip and dip affair. I’ve bundled together a few of my favourite appetizers, some that can be made ahead and stashed in the fridge. If you’re planning on a cheese board, I’d definitely make the…

Deciding on a dessert or, as is most often the case, the plural there-of,  is for me the most challenging part of the festive menu. Which is why I make several, maybe more? For traditionalists, there’s always a warm baked pud, a corrupt chocolate tart and, something light and fruity. As wreathing food is customary,…

There’s a regal-ness to lamb that speaks of tradition and lavish celebration. It signifies generosity and extends open-handed hospitality. Although our festivities might be smaller and more intimate this year, roast lamb uphold its glorious reputation as the feasting table’s centrepiece. Because of my great love-affair with Middle Eastern food, I’ll be making Roast lamb…

Whether you love steamy baked puddings or chilled desserts that can be made well ahead of time, here are Ten Great Christmas Dessert Recipes to make you smile.  As voted by friends and family, this Milk Tart cheesecake  remains a favourite on the dessert table. From the moment you slice into its satiny softness, you’ll be…

Perhaps Italy’s most famous apéritif, the Classic Aperol Spritz. Typically, more dry than sweet with complex herbal notes to balance the sweetness of vanilla and slightly bitter orange bite. If the idea of  basking in Italian sunshine sounds appealing, this summery cocktail may help. Fittingly, I fell in love with Aperol spritz in Italy. Bologna,…

Serendipitously, my career started in fashion design. Thirty-five years later and I’m working with fabric once again. I’m delighted to announce the launch of The Bibby’s Kitchen Cooks’ Collection. As 2021 unfolds, we’ll be adding bespoke handmade pieces and small-batch products to our Kitchen Essentials. The Classic Country Apron is made from 100% linen, with…

It’s nearly midnight here, so I have fewer words on the tip of my tongue than usual, other than to tell you how these cheesy twists came about. And, why they stand head and shoulders above other straws. After last week’s cooking class, my first since the start of covid, was a riot of happiness. We celebrated being able to gather together, sharing unconventionally good food and rowdy table gossip. I was left with a smidge of harissa olive tapenade and an extra roll of puff pastry. Don’t be put off if you don’t have harissa tapenade. Any tapenade will work, really. Basil or sundried tomato pesto are also delicious. It’s a no-rules kind of recipe that doesn’t mind fiddling.

While this festive season is different from any that have gone before, cookie baking therapy remains a comforting constant. I’ve selected a handful of holiday cookie recipes for all those stay at home bake days when you’re craving the smell of sugary brown butter. Whether you’re filling the cookie jar or making edible gifts for…

Trifle has come a long way since its modest beginnings. Traditionally, trifle was a casual assembly of luminous instant jelly, tinned fruit, custard and whipped cream. Despite a demure past, trifle has evolved into a flamboyant combination of everything you could possibly hope for in a festive pud. Today’s Black Forest Chocolate Mousse Trifle is…

There are scalloped potato recipes and then there are these garlic cream scalloped potatoes. The sauce is unctuously smooth, with a mellow garlicky-ness that flatters rather than overwhelms. Blistered until soufflé-like and yieldingly soft, I think it might just be the ultimate potato bake. What makes a good potato bake? It could be plenty of…

Of all the brownies I’ve made over the years, these Blueberry brownies are the most made, loved and requested recipe of them all. I made them for a healthy baking class several years back and we still love it, especially in summer when blueberries are in season, although frozen berries can will bridge a seasonal…

Pavlova is pure dessert escapism. All that crispy on the outside, chewy in the middle marshmallow trappings that are impossible to resist. Layered with vanilla yoghurt cream, tart raspberries and Turkish delight nuggets, this Persian Pavlova dips into the exoticism of the Middle East. Rosewater and cardamom rounds out the flavours with subtle skill. Besides…

Apart from casually stirring an onion or two until sweet, glossy and collapsed, there’s hardly any effort needed to make this Chicken and tarragon cream pasta. The sauce is a familiar one. White wine and cream with fresh tarragon for a peppery liquorice-ness that’s bright, bordering on bitter. It counters the richness of the creamy…

Chocolate is the ultimate dessert trump card. It’s flawlessly smooth, rich and evocatively indulgent. In support of the world’s most loved bean, here are ten sensational national chocolate day recipes to sweeten the day. Over the past 6 years of blogging, this simple but by no means unimpressive no-bake chocolate walnut tart, has been a…

Yesterday was World Pasta Day. To celebrate the glorious life of slippery noodles and cheese, I’ve bundled together fifteen World Pasta Day recipes. From easy 10 minute stove top pastas to cheesy oven bakes, the recipes are pure Italian-style comfort food. For my Green Pesto Pasta I add fresh garden peas, courgette spaghetti and roast cherry…

If you’re a regular visitor to the blog you’ll know, we’re not shy when it comes to dessert. While no one really needs dessert, it’s the ‘wow’ that brings memorable closure to any meal. As much as first impressions are lasting, so too is the lingering taste of something joyously sweet that dances on the tongue….

There’s nothing that says summer quite like strawberries and cream. And when it comes casual summer desserts, ice cream and frozen yoghurt are the  frozen support you need for relaxed summer entertaining. My roasted strawberry frozen yoghurt is bright and fruity, with puddles of jammy strawberries swirled throughout. It doesn’t really need a cookie to complete…

Next week I’ll be sharing a rather special recipe that calls for home-baked cookies. These crisp coconut cookies will be perfect for then. In case you missed our conversation on the difference between cookies and biscuits here’s a quick recap. Cookies are generally crisp and golden around the edges with a soft, chewy centre. The character…

Diana Henry thought it worth dedicating an entire book to chicken recipes for every day and every mood. Julia Childs believes one can judge a good cook by the quality of his or hers roast chicken and, Ina Garten says she can do it in her sleep. Roast the perfect chicken, that is. Besides being in…

It took five attempts to arrive at what I think is possibly the best lemon drizzle cake I’ve ever made. You might be thinking, how hard can it be? Surely not? In my defense, it is not as if I haven’t made a lemon drizzle before, but a yoghurt lemon drizzle cake with a plush…

Dessert is that little something sweet at the end of a glorious gathering that lingers deliciously in the mouth. Here are ten Heritage Day dessert recipes that will elicit a few oohs and aahs from your guests, most of which, can be prepared ahead of time. This Milk Tart Mousse Eton Mess is from the…

It’s easy to be intimidated when you hear, sous vide. It is in fact, the easiest and most accurate way to ensure your meat is cooked to perfection, especially when it comes to tricky cuts like fillet or lamb. Translated from French, sous vide means ‘under vacuum’. And to show you just how simple this…

If you’re heading outdoors next week to celebrate with family or catching up with friends, here are some of my most loved and regularly made Salads and Sides for Heritage Day. Once you’ve made a Life changing Wild rice salad, you’ll be hooked. Simple ingredients and exuberant greens that go with just about anything. If you’re…

To help make this Heritage Day deliciously memorable, I’ve bundled together my top picks of what to cook, make and bake. Whether you’re gathering indoors for your mother’s signature home-cooked dish or heading outdoors to light the fire, here are a few of my go-to Heritage Day Meat recipes that never let me down. Bredie is…

  Baked donuts are a quick and fuss-free alternative to deep-frying. There’s no yeasted dough, kneading or extended proofing, just a straight forward mix of wet and dry ingredients. In keeping with tradition, these Jammy Strawberry Yoghurt Donuts have a delicate swirl of homemade strawberry jam laced through the batter. They smell like strawberry cream milkshakes and…

When you’re testing a new recipe and the room goes quiet, you realise you’ve stumbled onto something truly remarkable. There are some recipes that are worth going wild for. This Pretzel Brownie S’mores Cake is one such recipe. If you’re a regular visitor to the blog you will know, we’re not shy with our chocolate…

  It’s been exactly 6 years since I published my first blog post. I still remember how daunting it felt to hit the Publish key. We celebrated the occasion with cake, a simple raspberry vanilla cake with buttercream frosting and fresh flowers. Today we’re doing the same with one of my most loved cake recipes, a…

I can’t think of a more delicious closure to winter than Sticky Fig and Walnut Pudding. It could be a distant cousin to our much loved South African favourite, Malva pudding, but with softened figgy bits and toasted walnuts. Once baked, the chestnut sponge is thoroughly drenched with a nutty butterscotch sauce. It’s irresistibly sweet…

Initially, these Ras el Hanout Meatballs were headed for the Ebook. In the end, choosing which recipes to include came down to space. It seems a common problem when publishing a cookbook. Over catering? So here they are then. For meatball lovers, because there are many of us. Offer them with flatbreads  or heavily herbed…

Dessert could be considered slightly posh. Pudding however, is more approachable, the kind of bring to the table, help yourself affair. And because most of us are still cocooning indoors with comfort food and winter woollens, today we’re passing around the pudding bowls and dishing up these Five Swoony Baked Pudding Recipes. The recipe for…

It seems Spring salads and sandals will have to wait. Hopefully this is the last of winter’s cold shoulder. In the meantime, here are Seven delicious curry recipes to keep you company. Don’t skimp on the naan. You’re going to need it. Next to Butter chicken curry and Tikka masala, chicken korma is one of the…

Despite its peasant roots, Pasta e Faglioli is a triumph of frugal Italian cooking. The recipe is from my new Ebook, Beautiful Home Food. The literal translation meaning, pasta and beans. It is generous and very Italian, straddling the divide between soup and stew. You might even mistake it for a sturdy minestrone. The recipe…

The recipe for this smooth roasted carrot hummus is from Sophia Lindop’s new cookbook, Going Home. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to cook. It’s colourful and beautifully honest, filled with food and stories from Lebanon, a country gleaming with hopeful optimism, casting off the ravages of war and slowly creeping its…

While not difficult at all, a classic risotto requires a watchful eye and constant attention. The reward? A pearly-grained bowl of Milanese comfort. The dish itself is simple but with a soft buttery texture that ripples gently when done well. Here, I’ve replaced traditional carnaroli or arborio rice with barley. Pearled barley has a slightly…

The best hot chocolate I’ve had was at Angelina’s in Paris, the famous tea shop on Rue de Rivoli. They’re famous for the richest hot chocolate, served in polished silver coffee pots, a bowl of whipped cream on the side and, a glass water to restore balance. And if you’re brave, you quietly whisper your order…

Tomorrow is publishing day for my new Ebook! I cannot wait to share what’s been happening in the kitchen for the past four months. In the meantime, here is one of my most loved roast butternut and sweet potato soup recipes that just missed making it into my first book. It’s easy, plant-based and completely…

It’s not often that I strongly suggest, and by that I mean, implore, that you make a recipe. But. These Cape Malay chicken meatballs are not to be missed.  I made them for Sunday lunch. By Monday, I was ready to make them again. In the 6 years of blogging, meatballs, chicken and cake, have…

This Sunday we’ll be staying in and roasting our way to the table with a host of Delicious recipes for Father’s Day. I’ve gathered some of my most popular roasts, casual casseroles and corruptively rich puds that hopefully will illicit delight and deep gratitude for all we have, blurring the discontent for that which we…

  Pear and Treacle Sponge Pudding Serves 16-18 If ever there was a dessert that exuded autumnal comfort, this syrupy Pear and Treacle sponge pudding is it. It plays on the luscious stickiness of a classic treacle tart and turns it into a warm spongy pudding. Served with homemade custard, it’s rather splendid. And if you’re…

The recipe for tonight’s Chicken and Cauliflower Korma is the work of mere minutes. It’s the kind of food you want to make when you need everything to happen in one pot. No fancy cooking, just good food, made simple. And because we all need short-cut support every now and then, we’re leaning on a…

Spring rolls are famous all across India and South East Asia. In Chinese culture, these cylindrical nuggets symbolise wealth and are eaten in Spring to welcome the new season. A dipping sauce isn’t essential but does offer a lively contrast to the crispy fried pastry. There are certain pastries that should always be homemade, like…

For everyone who’s sweet tooth needs regular appeasing, I’ve hand-picked a few of the most popular Healthy Sweet Treat Recipes on the blog into one post. The recipes are mostly refined-sugar free, relying on dates and other wholesome bits and bobs to deliver on blissful expectation. This Mandarin Vegan Fudge with toasted almond nibs is…

I probably shouldn’t admit to this, but when I left home, I could only make two things well. One was condensed milk cookies and the other, lasagna. I practised them often, the first to appease my sweet tooth and see me through exam stresses, the latter, because who doesn’t love a good lasagna? Thirty years…

This year, Mother’s Day will look different to any other. Distance is the unwelcome guest at the table. Although we’ve become accustomed to restrictive affections and words a diluted substitute for human touch. If the world were normal, we’d all be gathered together to celebrate our mothers, the nurturers and peacemakers, the glue that bonds…

  As lockdown becomes increasingly challenging and the stack of dishes the best exhibit of organic growth, easy food becomes more and more attractive. I made this Simple roast Napoletana Pasta a couple of weeks ago, near the beginning of our stay at home season. I think it might be in the top three best…

The recipe for this Classic carrot cake is from Astrid Field’s debut cookbook, High Tea at Home. It’s a sprawlingly pretty baking book filled with sweet indulgences for every occasion, each recipe reflective of Astrid’s impeccable skill and artistry as a baker extraordinaire. I wrestled with which recipe to bake first. I’m naturally biased toward fruit…

Comfort food reminds us of home, the food our mothers cooked on the fly, without recipe cards and formal instructions. Mostly, these recipes were unfussy and simple, the kind of food eaten around the kitchen table, served up with lively banter and emotional unpacking of everyday life. Comfort food falls into one of two categories….

Here is how this Quick Lemon and Herb chicken came to be. Last week I posted a Q&A on my Instagram stories along with a box of Lemongold seedless lemons. Given the choice, I asked which you’d prefer –  a savoury or sweet recipe with lemons being the heroes. Savoury won. Personally, I thought it…

If you’re suffering from sourdough bread envy, as most first time sourdough bakers are, this post is for you. Baking a boss sourdough requires skill, intuitive judgement and time. Plenty time. Not a casual four week on then off-again fling. While we’re nurturing our starter children who are either ravenously hungry, overfed, too hot, hyperactive…

Here are Twenty Easter Recipes to make this year’s Easter celebration memorably delicious and uncomplicated. From pillowy soft hot cross buns, to lamb roasts, hot pots and swoon-able chocolate desserts. I’ve also included a spicy hot cross bun soda bread that sidelines the need for yeast. Although a Lockdown Easter looks decidedly different, there is…

Growing up I remember eating pickled fish from a can. We’d have it throughout the year, not specifically just at Easter time. Mostly, it was a Saturday lunch thing, or Sunday evening when no one could be bothered to cook but felt peckish enough for a savoury bite. We ate it with buttered toast, maybe…

If you’ve been on a baking binge like the rest of the world, chances are you have a couple of loaves under your belt. Figuratively, that is.  These honey butter hot cross buns should be next on your list. They’re basically a sweet bread enriched with butter and egg. I’ve made them extra spicy with…

The criteria for a good cookie differs from person to person. For some, this means fork-stamped peanut butter crumbles with a snappy texture, while for others, it needs to flaunts golden edges with molten chocolate pools to make it proper. Some cookies are destined to be milk dippers while others are best with a cup…

Several months ago I posted the recipe for an Overnight ciabatta bread on the blog. It’s one of eight easy recipes from The Breaded Table chapter of my cookbook, Bibby’s Kitchen. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve received a stream of messages and requests for similar bread recipes that are un-intimidating and doable. With…

Banana bread is having a moment. Not surprising, really. It’s a quiet charmer, transporting us back to a time when making magic with simple ingredients and fruit bowl survivors was the way our mothers baked. Over the past couple of weeks, there’s been a surge of baking all over the world. What is vividly clear in…

As a fully-fledged cookie eater, here is my takeout from years of vigorous testing. You can be miserable before eating a cookie, and maybe even slightly so after, but the space in between is unhinged with happiness. These Chocolate chip nougat cookies won’t change the world, but they will, if only for the briefest moment,…

This simple pesto pasta is the first recipe in my new series – Easy Food. The aim is simplicity, no fuss, just straightforward deliciousness with minimal ingredients. For the most part, we’ll summons Pantry Staples to do the heavy lifting. Think pastes, spice rubs and dormant fridge heroes longing for their moment in the spotlight….

As promised, here is my Ginger and turmeric chickpea stew. It’s wholesome and hearty with an ochre-gold coconut sauce, the kind that encourages torn bread to dip and mop your way to the end. Or, serve with wild rice and creamy yoghurt. As with most stews and curries,  the complexity of flavours ease and mature…

Following on from last week’s Ten chicken recipes series, here are my top Ten soup recipes for staying in. Judging from the response, I take it that most of you, like me, are spending more time in the kitchen than ever before. Over the past week, I’ve gather together all my pantry staples and here…

No one could ever have imagined that social distancing, self-isolation and quarantine would be defining words for 2020. As much as this is a world issue, flattening the curve and the eventual eradication of COVID-19 lies within our response and contribution as individuals to support the collective. The advice is simple yet counter culture –…

There are sweet potatoes and then there are these Paprika roast sweet potatoes. A sweet potato is a thing of joy, not fancy or finicky to cook, either. Needing little more than a decent slick of oil and some uplifting flavourings, they’re easily transformed from everyday common to absolutely fabulous. Glistening with character and bright…

Yesterday I posted a collection of pancake recipes in anticipation of Shrove Tuesday. Today is officially pancake day, so I thought I’d share another quick blender recipe to add to the blog’s ever-growing list. They’re the fluffiest ricotta pancakes. I’d say they taste like cloudy vanilla cream sponges, tinged with honey. We ate them in…

Personally, I don’t think there needs to be a commemorative to remind us to eat pancakes. In fact, any day that starts with pancakes is bound to be good. Mostly, weekends are the best time to do the flip. Not because pancakes are complicated or difficult to make, but they do require a pinch of…

There are some recipes that are outright winners. They don’t have to try very hard, they’re just naturally gifted, easy and worth getting excited about. This life changing wild rice salad is one of them. It’s the kind of recipe you can make off the top of your head. And, once you’ve made it, you…

One of the best cupcakes I’ve ever eaten was at Magnolia’s Bakery in New York City. Whether it was the actual cupcake – red velvet with classic cream cheese frosting – or the fact that I was standing in the bakery made famous by the Sex in the City, is hard to say. The experience…

Gathering to eat is one of life’s greatest joys, be it simple food or resplendent feasts. This spinach and leek spanakoita facilitates communal eating and demands to be shared. The recipe is from West Coast Wander, authored and photographed by the talented Georgia East, creator of the beautiful East After Noon blog. It’s epically good, every…

Well hello there. Welcome to 2020! It’s so good to be back. I hope you’re rested and ready for another year of good food and delicious gatherings. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be looking at food trends, what’s new and happening on tables around the world and, whether they are flash in the…

There are three rules to a successful holiday pudding. It needs to be simple, convincingly sweet and graced with a splurge of excessiveness. I think this Peppermint crisp pudding pie fits the bill effortlessly. It’s a make-ahead dessert that takes no time at all to throw together but will no doubt, rouse delight. It’s the…

From the recently published Bibby’s Kitchen Cookbook, here are five spectacular Festive bakes, from sticky cinnamon rolls to pull-apart star bread.

If you’re still debating the centrepiece for your festive gathering, these ten roast recipes for the holidays offers rich rewards. This year, as per my daughter Sabrina’s request, I’ll be serving her favourite maple glazed gammon with burgundy plum sauce. Gammon remains one of the most popular roasts for special occasions and holiday gatherings. If you…

If you’re looking for the Best holiday dessert recipes, here is a collection of showstopping favourites, from trifle to sticky toffee puddings!

There are no secret recipes in our family. Everything that could be regarded as sacred has been poured into the Cookbook. The recipe for this corruptively decadent Chocolate and Pear Malva Pudding with hazelnut cookie crumble is one of them. It’s our inescapable, sweet-toothed nemesis. It comes with a disclaimer, for obvious reasons! For those…

In Italy, ciabatta is the customary table bread, most often eaten with a splash of grassy olive oil. No balsamic, mind you. Just the oil. It also happens to remedy many saucy situations, like bowl mopping. Day old ciabatta can also be repurposed for panzanella salad, to thicken soups or to make crunchy pangrattato crumbs…

Comfort food evokes both sentiment and nostalgia. It could remind you of home or your mother’s cooking. Most times, these ‘comforts’ involve carbs or sugar. If severely gripped, it probably means a bit of both. I still recall my mother’s savoury meatballs being amongst the most wrestled for dish on the supper table. Some 40 years…

Eating outside is one of summer’s simplest pleasures. It’s as if the flavours become more intense, almost brighter. When the air smells of jasmine blossoms, we head outdoors for unhurried lunches and dusky casual suppers. There are few things I love more than shared gatherings and a simple table laden with beautiful food – crusty…

I’m not entirely sure whether this Honey Pannacotta cake with Rosé jelly is in fact a pudding masquerading as a cake or vice versa. Either way, I’m completely smitten. I think you will be too. From the sour cream coconut cake to the chocolate and honey pannacotta, every mouthful encapsulates the sweet promise of spring. If farm…

Two years of intense fervour pressed into 224 pages – The Bibby’s Kitchen Cookbook, inked and bound. It feels weighty. Running my hands over the smooth charcoal cover, I linger, reflecting on the journey of crafting words and fashioning food, a creative narrative that tells of my unassailable love story with food. The pages, unblemished…

Here are Twenty recipes to make Heritage Day delicious. From freshly baked breads to corruptive desserts and everything in between. It’s crammed with good food, the kind that tastes infinitely better when shared with openhandedness and generosity. There’s nothing like the smell of homemade bread. I love it hot out the oven, the crusted ends broken…

Everyone has a collection of secret recipes, the hand-written kind, passed on by either a family member or really a good friend who doesn’t mind spilling the beans. In amongst the hand-me-downs, is my mother’s recipe for a soft-set crustless milk tart that’s almost curd-like in the centre with a whispery wobble that reassures it’s going…

The Italians are masters at cooking simply. With only a handful of ingredients, they can elicit groans of contentment. This linguine with shrimp and fresh tomato sauce is testament to how clean flavours can sing without much coercing. The recipe comes by way of Fatti’s & Moni’s new Bellisimo Linguine. I’ve slipped in one or two…

Hello again! I know it’s been a little quiet around here lately. Between planning my Cookbook launches, working on some exciting new collaborations and the September cooking classes, I’ve fallen a little behind with sharing recipes on the blog. Hopefully these Greek-style burgers will make up for the absence? They taste like summer – bright…

There is something about bread buns that sound home-spun, almost ordinary. And yet, these floured milk bread buns are irresistibly soft with just the slightest whisper of milky sweetness. Because of their gentle character, they can be anything – from burger buns to pillowy dinner rolls. You’re going to love them! Contrary to the vilification…

We don’t order in often, but when we do, it’s usually curry from our favourite Indian restaurant – Chicken korma x two, one Lamb Jal Frezi and a medium hot Chicken Tikka Masala. Plus buttered naan, of course. It comes with heaps of basmati rice, whether you like it or not. With the leftovers, we…

Like with most baked puddings, this blueberry chocolate self saucing pudding promises sweet comfort. It is, as you see it. Devilish dark chocolate sauce, craggy topped cake and a handful of virtuous juicy blueberries. Almost everyone I know has a self-saucing pudding recipe, either passed on by their mothers or given to them by a friend…

Like with my chicken and leek casserole, which happens to be one of the top five most popular recipes on the blog, I see another winner chicken dinner happening here. This Rosemary and Bacon Chicken has all the makings of a family favourite – succulent chicken, creamy sauce, sundried tomatoes and crispy bacon bits for…

Trifle is a very honest dessert. There’s nothing hidden, the whole of which, is greater than the sum of its parts. Layer upon layer of unpretentious elegance, its crowning adornments rich with promise. A respectable trifle needs a couple of things to make it memorable – homemade jelly, cake, custard and cream. And of course, a…

If you’re looking for a chocolate cake that’s spiked with character and a little unusual, this red wine and olive oil chocolate cake is stellar. I’ve made it four different ways, each time tweaking the recipe until the results were convincingly good. The ganache is opulent and rich, its darkness relieved by a nearly burnt…

This Sunday is World Chocolate Day. Good news if you’re a chocolate lover, although as a committed fan of the cocoa bean, I hardly need a reason to celebrate its sultry powers. Here are ten swoon worthy chocolate recipes to sweeten your weekend. This luxuriously rich Baked blackberry chocolate fondant tart is a good place to…

I think of soup as the quintessential winter food. Soups are mostly an easy one pot affair, and wholesome, the kind of food that needs little else other than good bread for dunking to make it a complete meal-in-a-bowl. For this roast sweet pepper soup, I’ve added a colourful chorizo and corn salsa.  I start…

A simple head of cauliflower turned into a creamy cauliflower Mac and Cheese. If this sounds like your kind of easy, chances are you’re going to love this simplified pasta bake. There are endless versions of Mac and Cheese, most of which, are made using a classic cheese or béchamel sauce. This one is slightly…

Some of the most popular recipes on the blog are meatballs, from a Spanish inspired recipe to creamy Swedish meatballs and local favourite, North African meatballs. I’m confident that Ottolenghi’s ricotta and oregano meatballs will soon be a regular at your dinner table, too. In his latest cookbook, Simple, Ottolenghi assures us that these meatballs…

There’s a weekend of feasting ahead. Here are twenty Father’s Day lunch and brunch recipes that will set you up for the day. From eating in pyjamas to a sprawling lunch and late afternoon tea, there’s something to suit every occasion. Chicken loves herbs. It’s especially good with the woody aromas of rosemary and sage….

Next to butter chicken curry and tikka masala, chicken korma is one of the most popular curries. It’s not hard to see why. The sauce, while pale, is unctuously rich and fragrant. Blistered roti is requisite, as is something sharp and bright to oppose the creaminess of this dish. I’ve included an easy minted coriander…

This is what happens when you spend too much time in the kitchen. You start playing with the classics and end up with possibly the best cookie crumble sticky toffee pudding ever. Imagine buttery pecan cookies strewn over a toffee sauce-soaked date pudding. Virtuous, it certainly isn’t. Dessert of your dreams? Absolutely. I’ve been making…

There are more butternut soup recipes than you can swing a stick at. And yet, it remains one of the most loved soup  recipes. I’ve lost count of how many versions I’ve made. This roast butternut soup with chickpeas and leeks is the latest. It has heaps of personality with sweet caramelised leeks and onions….

This Ostrich Stroganoff with porcini mushrooms is immensely satisfying, succulent and tender. The sauce is dark and autumnal, with deep savoury notes. I’ve turned it into a sort of cottage pie with fluffy mashed potato topping. It’s good food that tastes like home. Growing up, we ate it often. My mother kept the recipe in…

As with most special occasions, we celebrate with cake. There’s something magical that happens when the cake arrives. To be honest, there’s always cake in our house. Most often it’s a homely loaf, like say a simple banana bread. For birthdays and Mother’s Day though, a cake that stirs a flicker of excitement, is requisite….

These silky chocolate pots are as comfortable being dessert as they are, filling in for breakfast smoothies. When I need to pull a ‘sweet’ rabbit out of a hat, these avocado chocolate mousse pots are it. The recipe comes together with pantry and fruit bowl ingredients. Hardly challenging but with rich rewards. I’m a huge fan…

It’s bittersweet, dark and deep-set. For serious chocolate lovers, 70% is the magic number. There’s 400 grams of magic in my recipe for the nuttiest chocolate bark. And heaps of nuts. To off-set the roasted darkness, I’ve added glib handfuls of tart berries. Bark is a casual affair. It’s rustic appearance is in keeping with…

When it comes to celebrations, there’s nothing quite like lamb to mark the occasion. This Easter, I’m making a North African lamb knuckle Bredie in place of a more traditional roast leg of lamb. As the days become shorter and air just a little more brittle, I’m drawn to hearty casseroles that offer comfort and…

Despite good intentions, I have yet to post a recipe for traditional hot cross buns. My compromise? This spicy hot cross bun soda bread. I think it’s the bees knees, really. It’s rugged crust hides a tender, scone-like crumb. Slathered with butter, it’s even better. Soda bread is one of the quickest ways to make a…

There’s nothing like the smell of homemade bread. I love it hot out the oven, the crusty end bits broken off, eaten warm with slick of olive oil or salted butter. Adding to the charm of this twisted olive bread is it’s shape and the woody aroma of rosemary. It feels very Italian. I made…

Roast chicken is one of the best things you can cook. Coated in a lemon and herb sauce, this buttered roast chicken is going to be a family favourite!

I love this kind of food. Rustic and full of flavour, with only a handful of ingredients and even fewer steps. These cumin roast sweet potatoes are my new Monday night staple. They’re not needy of additions, but who can argue with a pale tahini sauce? I finish this hot roast salad with toasty salt…

In five years of blogging, I’ve never posted a recipe with one ingredient. If only all recipes could be this easy. It’s a cheek to call it a recipe, really, but I wanted to share it as a precursor to my next post. So, if you want to know how to make tahini, you’re in…

Slicked with a garlicky ginger glaze, these soy chicken drumsticks are probably going to cause stir around the dinner table. The flavours balance perfectly between salt, sweet, sour and heat with a sticky sauce that clings with intent. I made a tray of 8, which hardly touched sides. Next time I’ll make more. Chicken has…

Most no-churn ice cream recipes start with condensed milk as a base. This one’s no different. Giving it true South African charisma, I’m adding a shot of espresso and lightly crushed muesli rusks. It tastes similar to sweet Thai coffee but with chewy bits of baked buttermilk crumbs.    The recipe applaudes simpliification by short-cutting…

Food 52’s latest book, Genius Desserts claims it will change the way you bake. If this Brazilian carrot cake is anything to go by, there’ll be at least 100 trusty reasons to get mixing. The recipes side-step convention with some quirky yet successful methods that come by way of repetitive testing. Initially I struggled to get…

My spinach and quinoa buddha bowl is crammed with wholesome foods that nourish and restore balance. The tahini sauce adds a nutty richness that’s irresistibly good!

My spinach and chickpea pasta is made from basic pantry ingredients. The recipe is simple and super healthy!

The recipe for this creamy white bean hummus is super simple and completely delicious. I’ve topped it with sumac roasted candied tomatoes.

You’d never guess these tahini breakfast cookies are healthy or vegan, they’re that good! Fudgy, wholesome and super simple to make.

This is the best tomato galette. With a basil oil drizzle, it tastes pure Italian!

If you have eggs in the fridge, there’s meal potential right there. They’re good for breakfast or dinner, whether you poach, scramble or fry them. As far as one pan dishes go, shakshuka is one of the best places for an egg to land. I’ve decided to give my Chorizo Shakshuka a Spanish slant by…

Tacos are summer’s best food parcels. They happily accept a host of flavourful fillings. Slathered with avo cream, crunchy lettuce and a zingy salsa, these Harissa chicken tacos are best eaten, poolside, with something icy to wash them down. With all this deliciousness wrapped in warm tortillas, it’s easy to see why Mexican food continues…

After the hugely popular Sticky toffee pudding Christmas cake I made for Food Lovers, there was plenty of dried fruit left over. At this time of year, there’s no shortage of recipe inspiration for festive fruit mixes, but I was keen to try something a little different. It’s then that I remembered a boozy fruit…

Vanilla spice linzer cookies remind me of Jolly Jammers, only a little more delicate and refined. Jammers were my girls’ favourite cookies growing up. They’d sit outside on a picnic blanket in the shade of the wild olive tree, dipping smiley faced rounds into cold milk. The simple pleasures of childhood – milk and cookies….

Come December, a few short cuts to relaxed entertaining are always welcome. Deciding on the menu can sometimes be more stressful than the cooking itself, which is why this cheat’s risotto is a nifty trick to have up your sleeve. Like all well-behaved food, it looks after itself. Ten minutes and you’ll be gliding out…

Learn how to make the best pan banging halva chocolate chip cookies on Bibbyskitchen | Bibbyskitchen @36.com | Holiday baking and cookies |

Come November, things go a little haywire. Maybe it’s just me? Working my way through hundreds of recipes for the cookbook along with my Christmas cooking classes, ‘what to make for supper’ plummets towards the bottom of my list. I’m tempted to do a Marie Antoinette and feed them cake from the day’s shoot, but…

There are two kinds of people in this world. Non-Christmas cake eaters and those who so besotted that they do Christmas twice. Once in July and again in December. I’m with the latter, lover of all things fruity – mince pies, steamed pudding and a good old brandy-ied up fruit cake. Underneath these white capped…

To satisfy those cravings, we’re making Almond Butter Oat Snack Balls. They’re as easy to eat as they are to make. Judging by the way they disappeared after the shoot (okay, some went missing during, as well), they were a huge success! Packed with oats, almond butter and coconut, they’re irresistibly more-ish. You might need to…

I’ve taken one of the blog’s most loved casseroles and turned it into a chicken and leek pie. With all the flavours that made this recipe so popular and some frozen peas, it’s a comforting midweek supper. I use ready-made all butter puff because we’re doing it the easy way. It’s kind of old fashioned…

I recently spent six unforgettable days in Charroux, a charming Medieval village in France. This is Part 2 of a Cook’s tour, expertly hosted by chef and author, Marlene van der Westhuizen. If you missed the first instalment, HERE’S the link to catch up. Today, we’re taking an early morning stroll through the slumbering village,…

I’m so excited to share the recipe for this Milk and honey cake with you today. It’s about a very special birthday (four years of blogging!), a layered sponge cake filled with plum mousse and The Bibby’s Kitchen Cookbook. So much to celebrate! Yes, there’s a cookbook in the pipeline and it’s going to be…

Who wouldn’t love waking up to a stack of these Choc-chip pumpkin pancakes? They’re not for everyday, but weekends, holidays and pyjama days wouldn’t be the same without a pillowy stack of pancakes. I’m thrilled with how these pancakes turned out. The marriage of chocolate and vegetables has never been sweeter! The first pancake never…

Does the world really need another banana bread recipe? As long as there are a bunch of bananas looking to be upscaled, I think it’s safe to say, we’re in business. If you fancy a change from complicated layered cakes, a simple loaf that exudes nostalgia, is what’s needed. Considering the growing collection of banana…

This Courgette and ciabatta frittata is the first recipe I’m cooking from Ottolenghi’s latest cookbook, Simple. If you’re the type of cook that prefers uncomplicated rather than an challenging, this book should be on your kitchen counter. The cover echo’s the content. No frills, just a bright yellow lemon, That’s it. You can’t miss it!…

Learn how to cook the perfect beef fillet. In this post, I share my recipe for the perfect roast fillet of beef with red wine sauce & horseradish cream.

When it ‘cooks perfectly every time’, you simply know it has to be Tastic. Today’s Wild rice salad recipe is just in time for Heritage day, a national celebration that honours our cultural roots and the generational food that’s kept us well-fed and happily gathered around the table. As part of Heritage day celebrations, I…

Every Heritage day, I love to rattle the peppermint crisp tart cage in an attempt to breathe new life into, what’s arguably, one of South Africa’s most loved desserts. Several years ago I made this cake and needless to say, it won the hearts of pudding fans across the land. This year, I making a Oreo…

Casseroles are essentially stews cooked slowly in the oven, which would mean this quick pesto cream chicken casserole is a short cut version. It tastes as good, but the slow-oven cooking is replaced with a quick stove-top method. It takes 25 minutes, tops. Monday needs this dish. My fridge is always filled with jars of pastes…

When your perfect weekend away involves farm to table feasts, magical gardens and secluded vitality pools tucked away behind bamboo hedges, chances are, you’re at Babylonstoren. Considered one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Cape, the hay-filled signage at the entrance points at the plant-centred philosophy. This past weekend, I spent two blissful…

If there’s one brownie recipe you simply have to try, it’s these healthy dark chocolate brownies with piles of fresh berries and a rich chocolate drizzle!

Tucked away in the quiet medieval town of Charroux lies Bagatelle, home to Marlene van der Westhuizen, chef, cookbook author and Cook’s tour host, par excelllence. Arriving at Vichy station on a warm summer’s day, our group of eight stood ready to embrace the culture, food and regional wines that make France one of the most…

  With its spectacular leafy green colour and complexity of summery tastes, this Wild Rice Chicken salad with avocado is sure to become a household favourite. It shouts fresh and wholesome with vibrant flavour, promising to transforming what used to be casual sides into main meal fare. This salad celebrates grains and plant-based produce that…

This past weekend was dominated by sport. Flitting between Moscow and London, we spent a chilly weekend indoors, wrapped in woollens with the fire crackling lazily at our feet. While Wimbledon spectators wiped their brows and fanned the air, Joburg was anything but warm. For times such as this, internal warmth is always a good…

Having just returned from the briefest week in the French countryside, I find myself longing for balmy summer evening walks along quiet lanes and the juiciest, lightly perfumed summer fruits. For now though, I’m content to wrap up warmly, make all the wholesome soups that I longed to eat in summer and perhaps, console myself with…

Looking for the best dark chocolate mousse cake recipe? This recipe won first prize. Filled with a rich white chocolate mousse, it’s a clear winner.

It started 30 years ago, about the same time as my first visit to Israel. Unsure of what food to expect on a Kibbutz, I figured snacks would come in handy, which saw me cramming granola bars into my luggage. Turned out, I was right. Granola bars are always a good idea. And these granola…

Everything about these Green tea apple muffins is centred around wholesome goodness. The recipe calls for 5 apples. That’s five good reasons to whip up a batch of these spelt muffins for the week ahead. If the good doctor recommends an apple a day, then this is my medicine of choice. Baking with fruit is…

Soup speaks of cozy comfort, a kind of food respite that nods at casual suppers and informal gatherings. And when nothing other than hearty warmth will do, this Harira vegetable soup is sure to quell a wintery hunger. Although traditionally made with lamb and eaten during Ramadan, to break the fast, I’ve given it a…

As winter edges closer, we turn towards foods that provide comfort and warmth. And there’s nothing I love more than a pot of steaming soup spluttering away on the stove. Here are six wholesome soup recipes to ease into winter. A simple sundried tomato soup. It’s uncomplicated, clean on the palate and very tomatoey. To…

“At first encounter the Karoo may seem arid, desolate and unforgiving, but to those who know it, it is a land of secret beauty and infinite variety.” ― Eve Palmer, Plains of Camdeboo: The Classic Book of the Karoo It’s this, and so much more. Stark yet fiercely beautiful, with a quiet charm that seduces,…

If you close your eyes what do you taste? How’s does it feel? Is it smoother, richer, creamier and infinitely more buttery? If your answer on all scores is a definite yes, then chances are you’re doing a Lurpak butter taste test. And what better way to celebrate this Danish butter than with an apple…

The first time I made this Sesame and Liquorice ice cream I knew we were going to be friends, Firstly because it’s a ridiculously easy no churn recipe and is quite unike anything I’ve ever tasted. Made with the usual suspects – condensed milk, cream and vanilla, but then, a generous handful of speckle black…

The recipe for this minted pea hummus comes from Melissa Delport’s new book, Whole. Last week I attended the Johannesburg book launch and this was one of many sharing bowls on the tasting table. While not usually one to rave about ‘function’ food, this harvest table was a colour-fest of plant centred food, the kind…

I’m thinking of writing a book called Blenders and Bananas. One whole chapter will be dedicated to banana bread, another to banana breakfasts and a third, to sweet and savoury recipes like this Cape Malay curry with roasted bananas.  But first, let’s talk about this Peanut butter banana bread. In my first year of food blogging, I…

Each day I’m grateful for the work that I get to do. It’s a dream job, really. Dream food, cook, shoot, eat and repeat. There’s no other creative space I’d rather be in than food. There are however days when I need to get in and out of the kitchen as fast as possible. I’m…

While not an avid follower of food trends, I have to admit that when I initially scanned through the list of what’s hot for 2018, it immediately got a thumbs up from me. It favours aspirational food goals and mindful choices, rather than bizarre ingredients that offer little substance and scant flavour. Prompted by the…

Whether you celebrate Easter with a relaxed breakfast or gathered around the table for a traditional Sunday lunch, here’s my best Easter recipes for brunch or lunch. There’s sure to be something feast-worthy to keep everyone happy. From nourishing breakfast bowls to the best roast leg of lamb, not forgetting something sweet to satisfy dark…

Some might say that a good hot cross bun needs nothing more than a slick of butter and a hot cup of tea. Maybe, but hot cross bun pavlovas with red wine figs sound pretty tempting, too. The outside is crisp and splintery, the centres, chewy and smelling like buns. I love mine topped with…

If you’d rather be out foraging for Easter eggs than proofing dough, these quick hot cross bun scroll scones are for you. So what are hot cross bun scroll scones, you ask? Simple. All your favourite hot cross bun flavours rolled into one, with a sweet vanilla cream drizzle. The scone crumb is feathery light…

The recipe for this Easy tuna bake comes from Tamsin Snyman’s cookbook, Seven Colours with fish. As the name promises, it’s colourful and packed with a host of creative recipes that celebrate deliciously vibrant food. Seven colours is a South African term used to describe the ideal plate of food, made up of no less…

On this year’s list of coolest liquid trends we find out how sherry finally managed to shake off its dusty image, celebrate local hero, rooibos tea and see the rise of the mocktail. More about the sherry later, but today we’re taking a refreshing dip into the latter with this tipple-free, Mocktail Rooibos Sangria. Poised…

Do we really need an excuse to eat pancakes? Not ever, but thanks to Shrove Tuesday, it’s officially pancake scoffing day. Whether you like them puffy and light, drizzled with maple syrup and stacked with bacon, or skinny and flat and smeared with Nutella, here are a bunch of recipes to get you flipping out…

Growing up, my favourite ice cream flavour was Neapolitan. Made popular by ice cream makers in Paris at the beginning of the 19th century, this multi-coloured frozen dessert was moulded into blocks and served in slices.  After an extended separation due to excess, I thought it time to revisit my childhood love with these Neapolitan…

Whether you’re a committed avo fan or just an occasional avocado eater, there’s no way around it. Avo toast now ranks in the upper echelons of the breakfast world. It moves in the same hallowed circles as bacon and eggs, cornflakes and everyone’s favourite weekend treat, the pancake. While avo toast is nothing new, the…

Looking for an easy chicken casserole recipe that the whole family will love? This Tarragon cream chicken with pink peppercorns will become a new favourite.

Flatbreads are the best casual food carriers. With summer comes a bounty of vividly red tomatoes. I simply had to share the recipe for this Ricotta and tomato flatbread. I serve it with sumac and herb oil. The crust is crisp with a lemony ricotta cream and roast heirloom tomatoes. Once the tomatoes are blistered and puckered,…

It’s been close on thirty years since my falafel initiation in Jerusalem. In hindsight, backpacking through Israel just weeks before the Gulf war broke out might not have been the smartest move. I’ll chalk it down to youthful ignorance. Our lodgings in a ruinous hostel situated in the Arab quarter was less than rudimentary and…

  Well hello there! Welcome back. Here’s to a new year, filled with memorable food and fresh ideas to keep you inspired and up to date with what’s cooking in kitchens around the world. After an indulgent season holiday treats, we’ll keeping it light, fresh and easy starting with these sweet toppings for toast. It’s…

Five incredibly good Christmas Roasts I always think of November as a baking month. What to make, bake or ice for the holidays is high on the agenda. By now the cookie jars should be filled and the dessert course well taken care of. But what about the main event? To make hosting Christmas dinner…

Panforte is synonymous with Christmas and although this Tuscan spiced fruitcake is sold throughout the year in Italy, I make it every Christmas, along with sticky cinnamon rolls and mince pies. This year however, I’m making Ottolenghi’s version from his new book, Sweet. Well sort of. I towed the line with the Anzac biscuits and…

Following on from yesterday’s Anzac biscuit post, this is my second recipe from Sweet by Ottolenghi and Helen Goh. Soft gingerbread tile cookies. Before buying the book, I didn’t know there was such a thing as cookie tiles. Just goes to show. You learn something new everyday. These edible tiles are glossed with a rum…

If there’s one biscuit recipe you have to make this holiday, it’s Ottolenghi’s Anzac biscuits from his new baking book, Sweet. They’re ridiculously good!

Roast Cauliflower cheese has been a regular at our family dinner table for as long as I can remember. No Sunday lunch worth its salt would be without this stalwart of British cooking. As trends go, whole roast cauliflower is the new way to cook this versatile vegetable with a host of flavour to spruce…

Pavlova Christmas tree stack After the roast, dessert is the most hotly debated subject of what to serve at Christmas gatherings. To keep everyone blissfully happy and satisfied, I usually go a little overboard and make at least four to choose from. Included on the list is a South African favourite, Malva pudding, at least…

Strawberry and Limoncello mojitos taste summer in Amalfi. They’re bright and lively, with a sparkly personality and vivavious character. With its deep coral hue and fruity flavour, this smoking mojitos are eyebrows-raisers. At a recent cooking class, we made a summer berry preserve with rosemary and lemon. As usual, there were a few doubts as…

This is Eggnog like you’ve never tasted before. Honey and Roooibos Eggnog. I had it for breakfast this morning instead of egg on toast and I’m already feeling more positive about the December chaos. It’s got egg and milk so doesn’t fall too short of breakfast fare. What makes it really interesting though, is the…

This Buddha Bowl Harvest board epitomises everything I love most about food. Central to almost all sensory food is vibrancy, texture and flavour. What makes food even more memorable is the simple act of sharing plates and this board is built for sharing. I call it joyful food. It nourishes, feeds and restores. Instead of…

This nectarine tart with thyme and honey butter drizzle was developed in collaboration for BBC Lifestyle and the Great South African Bake Off.

When BBC Lifestyle asked me to contribute two recipes to coincide with the latest series of the Great South African Bake Off, I immediately said yes. Who wouldn’t? There’s nothing I love more than the magic of bowl and batter. Thinking I’d make something fantastical and impressive, I felt quite deflated when I read the brief….

These Neiman Markus peanut butter cookies are the kind you’re likely to find in grandma’s cookie jar. With their fork printed tops, they’re homely, old fashioned baking. Whether you prefer a soft cookie texture or a tea-dunking crispness, they’re seriously moreish. I’ve been meaning to share this recipe since last year but somehow it slipped…

. Baked pasta dishes speak of comfort and homeliness and this pastitsio is testament to both. Ever since I first made Rick Stein’s version from his book, Mediterranean Escapes, this Greek pasta bake has been a firm favourite at our table. I suppose you could say pastitsio is the Greek version of the more well…

The holiday season is just around the corner which means it’s time to muddle cocktails and serve up the tastiest savoury snacks. A tray of these cumin lamb kofta phyllo pastries are just the ticket to impress your family and friends. As a cook, there are few challenges to which I’ll admit defeat, phyllo making being…

If you like easy summer desserts and cocktails, my strawberry and gin  ice cream is for you. It tastes like summer holidays. Inspired by my recent trip to Italy where there almost as many gelateria as there are coffee shops, gelato is everyone’s favourite summer indulgence. There’s no shortage of flavours either. From peach bellini, avocado…

Yesterday was World Vegetarian Day. In case you missed it, here’s a nourishing veggie bowl for a simple Midweek supper. Perfect for evenings when you don’t have loads of time but still want wholesome goodness. This is my favourite kind of food. I love everything about this roast Butternut tikka masala curry. Heaps of colourful…

I love how a handful of ingredients can turn into something so exquisitely delicious. If you’re even vaguely obsessed with donuts but can’t quite get yourself to deep-fry, these chewy no-bake mini donuts are the bees knees. I made a test batch last week and they disappeared before you could say, hole in the middle….

There are so many reasons to love these roast aubergines, not least of which is the miso and tahini dressing. It’s pares well with just about anything. I’d waver to say, it has the potential to drag even the most miserable of salads back to life. Underpinned with the unmistakably nutty taste of tahini, this…

If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you’ll know that Cake Friday is a Bibbyskitchen tradition. This Friday is particularly special. It’s the first day of Spring and the blog’s 3rd birthday. Both 1st and 2nd birthdays passed without ceremony, but no 3 is lucky. It gets a cake! And what better than…

I have a rather special post planned for Friday but you’ll need this easy granadilla curd to make it. Fruit curds are the kind of kitchen pantry staples our grandmothers would make from memory, with just a handful of ingredients. They’re brilliant kitchen basics and versatile enough for a host of delicious sweet treats. I…

Bologna is ruggedly elegant and in the true sense of the word, convivial to the extreme. My first visit to this vibrant city was a complete surprise and I loved it, from the first plateful of ragu stuffed tortellini to the last lick of creamy gelato. Absolute food heaven! I think it’s safe to say…

In September we’ll be kicking off our Summer cooking classes with food that synonymous with conviviality. Of course, it can only be Italian. I’m taking inspiration from my recent visit to Bologna. You can read about it HERE. In preparation for the classes, there’s a fair amount of recipe testing, (and eating) involved. Only the…

If you’re a fan of pasta, you’re going to love this Lemon cream mushroom tagliatelle pasta! An Easy Bibbyskitchen family favourite.

What better way to ease into a new week than with cake? And it’s not just any cake. It’s the best healthy carrot cake I’ve ever made. As a committed cake-tester, I have to say, this one ticked all the cake boxes. Frosted with thick Greek yoghurt and a citrusy honey glaze, it will impress even…

My ideal pick-me-up breakfast includes coffee, chocolate and nut butter. Turns out, this Peanut Butter Chocolate Smoothie has all three. For mornings when you need a boost, this easy chocolate smoothie will happily stand in the gap. Lately I’ve been using avocado in both sweet and savoury dishes. These nutritious fruits are nutrient dense and lend a…

nspired by the proudly South African mandarins, here’s a quick and easy recipe for a Chinese mandarin chicken tray bake with heirloom carrots and cashews.

There aren’t many deep fried recipes on this blog, for obvious reasons, but when we’re talking donuts, I’m willing to take one for the team. Stuffed with juicy apple pieces and double-dipped in a vanilla cream glaze, these apple fritter donuts are rather special. As with most donuts, they’re best eaten on the day they’re…

Stuffed cabbage, often referred to as ‘Oumens or oumas onder komberse’, is given a healthy makeover with the addition of current ‘it’ grain, freekeh. Slow-baked in a light tomato sauce until the meat is succulently tender, this is comfort food with benefits. Made famous by the Cape Malay community, there are more recipes for stuffed…

If you’re gathering the clan this weekend and staying in for a home cooked Father’s Day lunch, I have a pocket full of hearty meat dishes that are pan-moppingly good. Here’s a collection of my Top 5 Meat recipes that are sure to impress the dads and everyone else seated around the table. I’ve included…

Ottolenghi claims this Middle Eastern paste as a must have kitchen staple. Here’s my recipe for the best healthy cashew and tahini bliss balls.

‘Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer’ Anonymous. Food is very clever. Wordlessly, it reflects our cultural uniqueness, bridging divides and connecting us through the simple act of sharing plates. And there’s nothing quite like exploring the world of food to discover these fascinating diversities. Whether I’m travelling locally or abroad, food markets…

How to make healthy zucchini brownies with a rich and creamy chocolate avocado rosting. Visit Bibbyskitchen blog for the recipe.

Inspired by Jan Hendrik’s Leftover Mondays initiative, here’s how to turn Sunday lunch leftovers into a Monday night soup to be savoured. What could easily have ended up as waste is effortlessly transformed into an autumnal bowl of gleaming amber soup. Being informed about food waste can and should alter the way in which we…

What could be better than barbecue meatballs? Barbecue Meatballs in bacon gravy. Yes, there’s bacon in the gravy! This recipe is all about comfort food, the kind of food we loved eating as kids. Some of the most popular recipes on the blog involve meatballs, like these North African Chermoula meatballs and my personal favourite,…

Combining two of South Africa’s favourite desserts into one show stopping cake – Get the recipe for my milk tart pancake mille-feuille on Bibbyskitchen.

Here are some of my most favourite Mother’s Day Recipes. There’s no better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than gathering together. We’re bringing colour to the table with a South African inspired table-scape. On the food side, there’s Paloma Mimosa cocktails, savoury nibbles, meaty roasts and a butternut Bobotie that’ll have vegetarians and meat-eaters licking…

Last week we spoke about how the former generation were adept at turning a handful of basic ingredients into a meal fit for a king. This fennel and cannellini bean stew is testament to how a handful of pantry staples can be transformed into healthy and wholesome recipes. Beans are possibly one of the most…

Combining two traditional South African family favourites into one delicious supper! These chicken a la king filled parsley pancakes are a winning combo!

NutriDay wants to help South Africa celebrate breakfast, everyday! And since breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, I’ve used their creamy yoghurt to make the best healthy wholemeal pancakes that are so worth getting up for. My fridge is always stocked with yoghurts, plain and fruited. It’s convenient, smart snack food for my…

I love all celebrations, be it birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, in fact any occasion that involves people and food. The sense of togetherness that comes with sharing conversation and good food around the table is one of life’s simple pleasures. This complete Easter recipe round-up includes a hole host of ideas for lazy breakfast – brunches…

Traditional South African Pickled fish Pickled fish is most often eaten at Easter. This year I’m making my first ever Traditional South African pickled fish. The recipe is loosely put together, guided by my mother Magdaleen van Wyk’s book, Cooking The South African. I’ve meddled with the ingredients because that’s what cooks do best. I’m…

Apparently nine out of ten chocoholics are women. Really? If you are one of the nine, you’re on the right page. As far as celebrations go, Easter is the perfect occasion to usher in some colourful frivolity. A Chocolate Easter egg surprise cake is how to do it. Personally, I love surprises, especially when they…

  No bake chocolate cookie cups don’t need selling. When you’re this charming, who needs promoting? We’re slightly obsessed with these. They’re treats with benefits. We like them with chocolate splodges and maybe some dried berries pressed on top. Goji and blueberries are excellent. The idea for these no bake cookie cups came from Food Network’s…

It’s no surprise that bowl food continues its upward spiral as one of the most revolutionary ways to eat. This pale pistachio-green Matcha bircher muesli is my latest obsession. What’s not to love? Looking at the benefits it’s clear to see why it can easily become a new favourite breakfast. For food bloggers, bowl food…

To make weekday breakfast easier and wholesome, I make a large batch of everyday nut and honey granola. Using whole rolled oats with free-handed measures of nuts and dried fruit, makes this recipe versatile and easy. We eat it like a snack, tossed into parfaits or as toppings for breakfast muffins. Often Skylar and I…

As part of an informal research for a recent food blogger’s challenge, I conducted a quick Q & A with kids to find out what’s their all time favourite food. No surprises here. Pasta won hands down. With this in mind I think it’s time for another pasta recipe. Tonight we’re rose-rolling it with these…

  If you’ve ever foraged for truffles you’ll know these pungent nuggets are rugged and haphazardly shaped, much like these chili chocolate truffles. Hidden beneath the dusty cocoa exterior lies a velveted dark chocolate centre, spiked with just a hint of chili. They’re luxuriously rich and just about the easiest DIY Valentine’s gift. You might…

This spicy beef stir fry with sweet peppers and egg noodles is the quickest way route to easy, at home take-outs. It’s vibrant, super-simple food with heaps of flavour and fresh crunchy vegetables. Week night supper prep has to be speedy. Stir fries are easy to make, but with a fare bit of chopping. The secret…

  Mexican party jars for lunch anyone? Salad jars don’t lie. What you see is what you get – layer upon layer of exuberantly colourful vegetables, swirly pasta and smoked chicken with a zingy chipotle mayo dressing. January and February are scorchers in South Africa, so we’re keeping it light with a make-ahead smoked chicken pasta…

Don’t you just love recipes that require a blender and a bowl? Absolutely. Today we’re playing it cool and simple with a chilled cucumber soup, bejewelled with a cheeky grape and watermelon salsa. Pale pistachio pools of rehydration. As always, using fresh local ingredients results in the best tasting food and what better than summery…

For a healthy, make ahead breakfast these tropical chia pudding pots are delicious for dessert or breakfasts and loaded with superfoods chia & coconut milk

To ease us into January we’re rustling up a mouthwatering Mediterranean tuna salad that supports good health and takes virtually no time to prepare. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll also be taking a look at Food trends – what the world is eating and why? Are these trends flighty food diversions or will…

  Deciding which dishes to include on my Christmas feast menu is sometimes more stressful than actually cooking it. With an ever growing collection of cookbook recipes and glossy covered Christmas editions to choose from, it’s easy to see why a dreaded food-paralysis can tighten it’s stealthy grip on good cheer, leaving one completely befuddled….

What exactly is miso and why the fuss? Made from fermented soya beans with a peanut butter-like texture, this Japanese paste has gained cult status amongst world class chefs and avid cooks. Its unique umami flavour adds a distinctive taste to savoury dishes and plays masterfully at stimulating the palate in prolifically charactered desserts. Today…

Speculaas are spiced shortbread biscuits, typically imprinted with a decorative image. They’re buttery and rich with a snappy crsip texture. The smell of ginger, cinnamon and cloves is irresistible. Originating in the Netherlands and neighbouring Belgium, speculaas biscuits are baked in honour of St Nicholas’ Day. If you like any sort of donut, I think…

Traditionally, proper Christmas fruit cake baking should commence at least 6 weeks in advance or better yet, 12 weeks before Santa  arrives. If like me you’ve missed the deadline, this No-bake Christmas fruit cake will help you out of a tight spot. There are scores of benefits to making this Christmas cake, the least of which…

This baked blackberry chocolate fondant tart is my contribution to The Great South African Bake Off’s  #tartweek. When asked to create a dessert recipe using chocolate as the main ingredient, I finally settled on this baked chocolate dessert. If you’re a keen baker, chances are you’ve been glued to BBC Lifestyle on Tuesday nights, watching local…

Preserving speaks of capturing the essence of summer’s bounty. For me, there is nothing more nostalgic then preserving ripe summer fruits to enjoy in the long winter months ahead. While this practice might seem old school, the reward is truly satisfying. Besides the obvious reward of stocking the larder, preserves are the perfect edible gift….

If you love chocolate, rum and raisin ice cream and uncomplicated recipes, this rum and raisin chocolate salami is for you! Made with leftover fruit cake and free measures of nuts and dried fruit, it’s a doddle to throw together and the perfect cook’s gift to share with food-loving friends. From the outside it looks…

Following my recent trip to France, I’ve had numerous requests for French inspired recipes. And what could be more French than Crème pâtissière summer berry tarts?  They’re the darlings of local Patisserie windows. This classic pairing of buttery pastry with velvety custard and seasonal fruit is requisite to any baker’s repertoire. Crucial to the success…

This is my recipe for the ultimate creamy Swedish meatballs with mushrooms. Learn how to make this delicious and easy comfort food on the Bibbysktichen blog

Last week a mystery box arrived at my kitchen door, courtesy of Food 24. It contained a handful of Woolworths baking ingredients – chickpea flour, vanilla extract and cashew nuts. My first thoughts were to make these gluten free cashew nut brownies. If you’re in it for good health, look no further than these densechocolate brownies with…

Using a good Spice rub and marinating can mean the difference between a good piece of meat and in this instance, the best beef fillet ever! Spice rubs are my go-to ingredient when it comes to imparting flavour into meats bound for the coals. In the cooler months when comfort is king, my trusty cast iron…

Bowl food has taken the world by storm. From breakfast bowls to nourishing buddha bowls, this trendy new way of eating has Instagram flooded with curated masterpieces. Deciding whether Avocado chocolate breakfast mousse is best suited for early mornings or an after dinner dessert, is your call. It easily rivals a good chocolate mousse. There’s no end to…

The best 10-Minute pan fried Greek chicken breasts, sautéed in lemon, rosemary and garlic olive oil – easy chicken recipes for healthy suppers!

My Gluten free zucchini seed bread is as delicious as it is quick and easy. Low in carbohydrates, flourless and versatile. I’ve added grated zucchini and a vibrant basil pesto for flavour. It makes excellent breakfast toast. Growing up there were two bread options – white or brown. That’s it. Today, supermarket shelves and bakeries…

Named after 19th century pastry chef Madeleine Paulmier, these Pumpkin madeleines with caramel drizzle are light and fluffy with a rich buttery crumb. I think of madeleines as miniature sponge cakes without the fuss or frosting. And because October is pumpkin month, they come with cinnamon spice and all things nice. Mixed into batters, pumpkin adds wonderful…

  “The qualities of an exceptional cook are akin to those of a successful tightrope walker: an abiding passion for the task, courage to go out on a limb and an impeccable sense of balance.” Bryan Miller, from “The New York Times”, February 23, 1983      Meeting Jan at a dinner hosted by the…

Although Massaman curry is generally accepted as an authentic Thai dish, this fragrant curry is peppered with influences from both Malay and Indian cuisines. Interlaced with the distinctive taste of lemongrass, there are a host of fragrant spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and star anise that work together to make this one of the world’s…

Never being one to pass up on an opportunity to work with innovative food creatives, I’m thrilled to be partnering with Faithful to Nature for today’s epic family feast! As South Africa’s largest online organic shop, FTN’s extensive range of natural and organic products make eating healthy a breeze. With over 11 000 products to…

  September is Heritage month and what could be more traditional than Bobotie? Tweaked to perfection by The Cape Malay community, this South African household favourite has been on our tables since the 1800’s. Although originally made with pork or beef, my vegetarian roast butternut and lentil bobotie has all the flavours you’d expect from…

September 24th is Heritage Day. As sun-loving South Africans, we hardly need an excuse to head outdoors to light the fires. For everyone who loves cooking over the coals, here is my Heritage Day recipe round up of what to eat this weekend. I know you’re supposed to begin with the savoury stuff, but today…

Open fire cooking is an age old form of preparing food. According to anthropologist Richard Wrangham, this ancient practice was as basic as throwing meat straight into the fire. Possibly the original version of Steers flame grilled? When it comes to fire-food, Lemon and herb chicken kebabs are my go to recipe. As a nation,…

As a nation of flavour seeking eaters, this is the ultimate Lamb curry, made with Peppadew Mango Atchar. A sensational recipe for all curry-lovers!

These lemon curd yoghurt creams with syrupy summer berries are ridiculously good. With only 6 ingredients and 5 minutes, dessert is done.

There’s something about roasted peanuts that are irresistible. It’s also one of those unglamorous yet versatile pantry ingredients that can is equally at home in savoury or sweet dishes. Think satays, peanut butter bliss balls, smoothies, cookies. Endless options, really. For today’s recipes, we’re making an addictively good Roasted peanut hummus. I like to serve it with a…

  They’re not only good for breakfast, lunch and dinner but loved for their versatility in both savoury and sweet dishes. Yes, we’re all about eggs today. If you have eggs in the fridge, a quick and nutritious meal is not far off. On the table we have this roast butternut and blue cheese frittata…

The Good Food and Wine show dominates the July Food calendar in Johannesburg. It’s all about food what we should be drinking with it. Pulling in the crowds were a group of passionate chefs and culinary creatives who constantly inspire new ways of cooking and eating. There’s no doubt as to the popularity of Masterchef,…

  I’m on a mission and it’s called – How to make healthy look HOT! Hopefully after this post, you’ll be signing up….  Not only is breakfast the most important meal of the day, but it’s also the most fun. Liquorice All Sorts used the slogan ‘play with our food.’ Good advice. So I did. While…

Middle Eastern cakes are known for their dense nutty texture and sweet soaking syrups. This is my version of a Semolina orange cake with rosemary syrup.

Learn how to make the World’s most expensive saffron arancini with spicy chorizo, molten mozzarella centres and crispy panko crumbs. The ulitmate arancini!

I’ve made roast chicken more times than I can remember, but never before with chakalaka. The idea was sparked by a recent cook-off at the Capsicum culinary school. Cooking in pairs, we were challenged to recreate an Asian inspired dish, expertly prepared by Jodi-Ann Pearton, but with an African twist. The only ingredients to choose…

They’re like Millionaire’s Shortbread, but with sticky toffee apples and a buttery biscuit base. I think salted chocolate is always a good idea, so there’s that too. If you’re familiar with Nigella’s girdle-buster pie, I think you might get the idea of where we’re going with these salted chocolate toffee apple bars. Salted chocolate toffee apple…

Chili con carne originates from the western frontier. Dating back to 1850 when dried beef, suet, chili and salt were pounded into beef bricks. These meaty building blocks, also known as trail food, were reconstituted in pots of boiling water. It has since evolved into the hugely popular Tex-Mex food culture. Claims as to the genuine bowl…

This is undoubtely the most indulgent dessert on the Bibbyskitchen blog. Learn how to make the ultimate no-bake caramel walnut chocolate tart.

After last week’s chocolate affair, I felt it only proper to redeem myself with this Everything in Vegetable Soup. Besides it’s wholesome character, it is the ultimate fridge clear recipe. The bright green pesto swirls are optional but deliciously fresh and punchy. This soup is a joy. It will have you ladling-up seconds. If you’re…

These Puff pastry S’mores waffles are the best quick kitchen hack to get your S’more fixing. You’re three ingredients away from S’moreliciousness. Let me just say, it’s kind of messy, but hands down the most fun I’ve had in the kitchen with a waffle maker. There’s a fair bit of oozy marshmallow and molten chocolate that…

Our kitchen is the most used room in the house and never more so than during the long winter months. It’s also my food office. A busy space where recipes are tested and meals are shared around the table. On the far side of the kitchen is the fireplace. Keeping the fire going throughout the…

Winter food has a colour and it’s brown. About this time every year I glance over my recent posts. While they offer cosy respite from the chilly winter weather, I start craving colour….And cake. Admittedly, there’s nothing more comforting than steaming bowls of soup and hearty casseroles, but the joy of these vintage vanilla cupcakes…

Malva pudding must be one of South Africa’s most loved puddings. In a recent survey, it was voted the nation’s favourite baked pud. With a warm milky syrup seeping through the sponge, every spoonful is saturated with sweet nostalgia. This is the pudding I grew up on. With numerous requests for a Malva pudding recipe, I thought…

Food is central to the way in which we celebrate life, whether it marks a religious feast or a casual gathering with friends and family. Often what we share around the table is less important than the spirit in which it’s offered, although bringing a roast to the table is always special. Favoured for its…

There’s a newcomer to The Breakfast club and it’s one that I’m completely obsessed with – Waffles. Popular in the 80’s as a diner special that came with soft-scoop vanilla ice cream and squeezy bottles of neon coloured sauces. With unusual combinations like Matcha and pumpkin pie, the waffle is back! Today we’re all about these…

I’m really excited about this Mexican chipotle chicken casserole for two reasons. Because – Mexican food! And secondly, it’s the first recipe in a series of dishes that showcase the versatility of molasses sugars in savoury foods. Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be partnering with Natura Sugars. Their range of unrefined sugars are completely…

These gluten-free black bean brownie S’mores are filled with dark chocolate ganache and topped with meringue. They’re healthy and super easy to make.

If you find yourself in hibernation mode with a crackling fire to warm your toes and a ruby red in hand, this hearty slow-braised Red Wine Oxtail has your name on it. Oxtail is the ultimate weekend food. A time for slow cooking and lazy lunches shared with good friends and restorative conversations. Ever since…

Sometimes all you need is a cookie. Kids understand this concept better than anyone and they know about cookies. Despite the vast collection of cookbooks crammed onto my bookshelves, there’s only handful of favourite biscuit and cookie recipes that revisit with habitual confidence. These brown butter chocolate chip cookies is one of them. They’re easy and…

  June 2nd is Italian National Day – Festa della Repubblica. This day commemorates the referendum of 1946 when the Italian population was called upon to decide upon a newly structured government after the Second World War. In the spirit of all that falls under the red, white and green flag, here’s a menu that’ll…

Autumn remains my favourite time of year. I’m easily drawn to the warmth of our kitchen, pulling chairs in closer to huddle around the hearth with steaming bowls of soup. Easing us into soup season, I’ve made this simple sundried tomato soup. It’s uncomplicated and clean. It tastes of vine ripened tomatoes – slightly tart…

What is it about a muffin that has us so charmed? Let’s be honest. It’s really just a tiny cake without the frosting. Either way, muffins are the go to sweet treat for breakfast or brunch. Over the years, I’ve made my fare share of muffins. These blueberry coconut crumble muffins are the latest addition….

  Gone are the days when peanut butter was only good for palate-cloying end of month school sarmies. It’s flaunting a brand new image and showing up in everything from power blasting smoothies and bakes, to that lip-smackingly yum peanut butter satay dipping sauce. The world’s favourite nut butter is the star performer in these peanut…

I love a one pan supper and this Coconut cream chicken bake with butternut, freekeh and spinach is my latest time saving recipe. Topped with a zucchini tzatziki and toasted coconut flakes, I’m sure it’ll soon become a family favourite. I’m using Freekeh in this Korma coconut cream curry. If you’re not yet familiar with this…

I’ve always secretly harboured the hope that somewhere within the family tree, there’d be traces of Indian, Spanish, Italian or even Middle Eastern roots. This would go to supporting my bias towards the bold flavours that typify these cuisines. Sadly, no luck. That said, on the menu tonight is a mouthwatering Spanish chicken pie with…

All those in favour of churros for breakfast, raise those hands! If you think a grapefruit mimosa should be on every breakfast menu across the land, raise the other hand! If you’re already nodding your head, we’re on the same bus…… Does the thought of deep-fry and hot oil leave you cold? Are you tired…

SAMFA, the South African Mushroom’s Farmers’ Association, is committed to increasing plant-based nutrition while simultaneously lessening the demand for animal protein. They’ve introduced the #Blendability concept, the aim of which is to replace 50% of the meat content of a dish with equal quantities mushrooms. Clever right? What’s even more ingenious is that if you do…

‘There are three tasty morsels – figs, peaches and melons’.  Sicilian proverb  I’d planned to include the recipe for these roasted figs with gorgonzola cream in one of my Italian cooking classes. As it happened, the menu was too full and it was shelved to a later date. Needless to say, there were many disappointed…

  I’m fascinated by the way in which food can sketch a story from times past and bring to life customs of ancient civilisations. Food speaks its own dialect that transcends cultures and borders. As the world becomes increasingly advanced and interconnected with demands for instant everything, there seems to be an equally strong move…

Make your own buns at home with this easy recipe for spelt hamburger buns – they’re healthy and incredibly delicious! Get the recipe on Bibbyskitchen.

With over 50 000 Instagram likes, this chocolate cheesecake with salted caramel is one of the best baked cheesecake recipes. Only on Bibbyskitchen at 36.com

If you’re looking for a bread recipe that’s quick and simple, these Easy yoghurt flatbreads are the ones to make. In Middle Eastern cooking, they’re often used to scoop up sauces and stews, or eaten at breakfast, dipped into sweet milky tea. I use them for wraps, flatbread pizzas or served with dips and spreads. If…

The original Bibby’s Shepherd’s pie recipe made with succulent chunks of leftover roast lamb and garden vegetables, topped with creamy mashed potatoes. 

Dates are a staple in my kitchen. I love them for their caramel-ish taste and sticky texture. They’re especially good with thick Greek yoghurt and a drizzle of honey. They’re also one of the key ingredients in this Matcha date fudge. I can think of at least a dozen good uses for this Middle Eastern…

Matt Preston sparked this whole affair. Referring of course to kitchen hacks. He managed to make the casual weekend baker look like a bread master. If the thought of sourdough starters and kneading have you rushing off to the nearest bakery, this no prove hot cross bun bread is the answer. Filled with the warming…

Lamb is synonymous with Easter. It’s also the perfect time to invite friends and family to gather around the table. What better than celebrating with a roast? Marinated overnight in garlic and earthy spices, this slow roast lamb shawarma is worth getting excited about. The meat is meltingly tender with a jammy onion gravy playing…

Oven-roasted chicken satays smothered in a coconut cream sauce with peanut butter, ginger and Thai curry paste, topped with salty peanuts and spring onions.

If you’re looking for donuts without the guilt, these baked apple matcha donuts are just the ticket. With matcha green tea, almond meal, coconut oil and pureed apple, they’re treats with benefits. And what’s a donut without a decent dunking? Each year we see new and exciting food trends emerging. Of course taste and flavour are…

Broccoli chicken casserole is family-style comfort food. Growing up, it was one of the dishes my mother made often. It’s honest food, the sort that both children and grown ups are happy to eat. I’ve started adding pan-fried cauliflower to mine, along with the broccoli. The cheesy sauce and parmesan crumble topping makes it a winning…

These butternut flatbreads are vibrantly colourful and sure to debunk any thoughts of flavourless Meatfree Monday meals. To off-set the sweetness of the beetroot, goat’s cheese is a lovely addition. You can of course use a good salty feta, if you like.   Butternut is one of my favourite vegetables, not only for taste, but also…

An easy recipe for the best milk-soaked chocolate sheet cake, with sticky chocolate sponge, glossy chocolate ganache frosting and toasted hazelnuts. 

If you’re a Marmite or Vegemite fan, these cheesy snack balls are coming right at you! Rather small yes, but they pack a full scale flavour punch. If Marmite and cheese sandwiches were a regular in your lunch box, you’ll know all about this happy union. Made with a handful of pantry cupboard staples, these…

  Often the combination of the most unlikely ingredients can turn out to be surprisingly good. Conventional food rules tell us that fish and cheese shouldn’t be seen keeping company on the same plate. Prepare to be charmed by this Prawn bake with crumbly feta. Deconstructed, here’s what’s happening. A simple tomato and oregano sauce, succulent…

A luxuriously rich and hearty pork and shallot casserole with a medley of mushroom, smothered in sage and marsala cream sauce. A Bibbyskitchen recipe

Since I made this Matcha and coconut granola, I haven’t stopped snacking on it. It’s addictively good. Refined sugar and gluten-free, guilt-free and Banting friendly. Whether you choose to eat it by the handful as an in-between snack or as a topping for yoghurt or smoothies, it’s golden crunch is irresistible. Matcha tea has super-powers. For…

  Chicken cacciatore, a classic Tuscan dish also known as Hunter’s stew, gets a quick remake and is on the table in less than 30 minutes. Traditionally made using pigeon, guinea fowl, rabbit or chicken, all depending on the catch of the day. Slow cooked in a heavy cauldron, hung over a smouldering fire required time and…

The first yoghurt cake I made was Nigella’s yoghurt pot cake.  Simplicity is its best feature. And the crumb. Tender and light with a tangy richness that reassuringly yoghurt-y. There’s nothing complicated or challenging about a Bundt either, devoid of layers and fussy frosting. My Greek yoghurt cake is drenched with a granadilla syrup. The tastes is…

Sheet pan roasted cauliflower Mac and cheese with parmesan, walnut and herb crumble topping – the best mac and cheese ever, with extra crunchy toppings!

When I need an easy dessert for hot summer days that’s light and fruity,  I love making these decadent Chocolate and blueberry smoothie pots. Made with frozen bananas and blueberries they blur the line between dessert and breakfast. A word on Acai Acai berries are native to the Amazon region where they are considered a…

  A knobble-topped rocky road to crumble resistances and weaken the knees. You don’t see this amount of sweet temptation everyday, but then again it is the season to be jolly and this is ridiculously jovial. It’s caution to the wind and full steam ahead with sultry dark chocolate, itsy-bitsy teenie-weenie marshmallows puffs, tea biscuits,…

My plans of leisure away from this screen have been sidelined by these. A relaxed morning of pastry making resulted in these charming cookie cutter Christmas mince pies. After casually posting a quick pic on Instagram, there was a flood of requests for the recipe so I simply had to share it here. They make the most…

Frosted summer berries, ruby jelly and a dreamy layer of vanilla pannacotta. Usher in a touch of glam this Christmas with this Sparkling grape jelly pannacotta. Irresistibly light with a tender wobble. Made from bubbly red Grapetiser and Crème de cassis, the jelly provides a sparkling contrast to the rich vanilla pannacotta. Jelly and custard…

  Tapas sounds great, right? Throw in the word bar and we’ll possibly have a few more enthusiastic followers. Include portable and this party is happening! Entertaining is so much easier with these make ahead bite-sized appetisers. Whether you’re hosting Christmas dinner or gathering with friends for a casual drinks party, this platter of punchy Mediterranean…

Offering solace from a week of sweet Christmas bakes, we’re tucking into a pan of Moorish Spanish meatballs for savoury relief. Think of it as a one-pan tapas supper. In the midst of whipping up berry jellies, pannacotta puds and caramel date slices, dinner inspiration was rather lacking. What I really needed was something easy that…

  I love the word truffle. It’s short yet weighty, not in mass but with the promise of intense luxury. Let’s say it again then. Truffle. At the root of repetition is subliminal advertising and that’s exactly what’s happening here. Without arrogance, I consider myself somewhat of a truffle expert based solely on the volume…

Christmas has a distinctive aroma. It smells of warming spices and buttery bakes. And what could be more Christmasy than a tin of homemade ginger and oat shortbread? Having just returned from Ireland, I have a host of fabulous recipes lined up to help make your holiday season easier and utterly delicious. With Dublin weather being…

A deliciously sticky and convenient tray roast dinner – South African Chutney Chicken. With a spicy ginger and chutney marinade, plump apricots and caramelised onions, it’s no surprise that this South African classic remains a firm favourite. Head on over to Food 24 for this finger-lickingly good recipe.      

  The six ingredient fix Strawberries and cream What’s all the fuss about Puff? Keep it simple The berry best of summer! Berries – crimson, scarlet and blue, pillowy lemon curd cream and buttery puff. The quintessential 6-Ingredient summer berry tart. Essential for relaxed al fresco feasting, it doesn’t get much simpler than this. Several…

  Clean and uncomplicated. Packed with nutritional super-powers, this textural quinoa salad bowl is given a flavour boost with fried halloumi. Light and fresh, yet completely satisfying. Made with equal quantities red and white quinoa, flash-fried chard, roasted pumpkin seeds and of course, everyone’s favourite cheese, fried halloumi. The dressing is a quick shake-up in…

There are more milk tart recipes than you can swing a stick at. Growing up, my Mother’s crustless milk tart made was made with such regularity yet we loved it as much as the first time we met with it’s wobbly soft custard-ness. It’s her go-to recipe for last minute guests or Sunday afternoon tea. Being…