These are the recipes that I’ve been collecting over the years. All of them are in my roster of regular recipes and I like them all.
I have a few axioms which all my recipes must abide to. These are:
- I don’t believe in recipes which take more than two pans, a baking tray, and a mixing bowl. If it takes anything more, then I can’t be bothered. That much cleaning is a waste of life.
- You can cook anything in a wok, including shepherd’s pie. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.
- If I’m spending over an hour chopping and cooking, then I have to get at least three meals out of it. Frozen leftovers are what keep my waistline from rivalling the circumference of Pluto.
- “Fat-free” is just a synonym for “crap.” Get the decent stuff and just use less.
My general rule of thumb is that no recipe should take more than two pans and an oven dish to cook. Some may be exceptions to this rule, but I like a lot of one-pot meals (or one-pot plus rice). I cook almost everything in my wok, even Shepherd’s Pie, and I highly recommend a wooden spoon with a point on it to help at scraping the sides down.
Where possible, I have found links to the original versions of these recipes, since most of my recipes are from online. I’ve adjusted some of them to fit to my taste (which is often by happy accident).
Curries
Halloumi Curry
This curry is like someone described a tikka masala over the phone. Definitely recognisable, but less tomatoey (like I prefer). And it uses halloumi, which is always a win.
Keema and Chickpea Curry
This is a nice curry if you’re looking for a more substantial curry, rather than one with a sauce.
Pineapple Chicken
This is one of my favourite recipes. It’s quite a sweet curry with a nice amount of sauce (perfect for naan).
Pasta
Crème Fraîche Pasta
This is an imaginatively named recipe which my mother gave me. It can be thrown together in about 40 minutes whilst still tasting really great.
Whilst some might consider this sacrilegious, I quite like it. I don’t like tomatoes, and I’ve accepted this shortcoming within myself. Thusly, I have found a lasagne that is tomato-free.
Tuna Pasta Bake
This is a perfect, hearty meal for when you want something cheesy and creamy which also has a decent selection of veg.
Soups
Carrot and Ginger Soup
This is a very simple soup which requires fairly minimal effort beyond the chopping. It has a sweetness from the carrots and a heat from the ginger which I love.
Chicken Soup
Also known as Jewish Penicillin, there is no malady nor ailment which this soup cannot cure. From flu, to amputation, to global warming*, this soup fixes it all. It’s also really nice.
Gammon and Potato Soup
This is a creamy, nice substantial soup, perfect for any leftover gammon joint meat.
Slow Cooker
Shredded Honey and Garlic Chicken
This is a very garlic-y dish that uses a slow cooker to get really nicely moist chicken. It’s a bit of work towards the end, but totally worth it if you ask me.
Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
A really hearty and filling meal, with a very rich gravy. Perfect for a cold winter day, and easy to stick on to cook throughout the day.
Desserts
White Chocolate Cheesecake
So cheesecake is amazing, an undisputed fact. But this cheesecake has a sweet edge which compliments the vanilla perfectly. I ad-libbed this recipe, and I fell in love.
Sides
Breadmaker Focaccia
For when you want something to go with your soup that’s just a little more extra than normal bread.
Salt and Pepper Croutons
These are brilliant accompaniments to soup or salad, and a brilliant way to use up crusts (when you don’t have my Dad to do it for you).
Tom James 