Food & Drink

Lois Barnes Fri, 24th Oct 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Baking, Dessert

Christmas is just around the corner, so we’ve given our trusty brownie recipe a seasonal festive twist and added dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. These fudgy, indulgent treats are perfect for serving with a cuppa when family and... Christmas is just around the corner, so we’ve given our trusty brownie recipe a seasonal festive twist and added dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. These fudgy, indulgent treats are perfect for serving with a cuppa when family and... Christmas is just around the corner, so we’ve given our trusty brownie recipe a seasonal festive twist and added dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. These fudgy, indulgent treats are perfect for serving with a cuppa when family and...

Lois Barnes Tue, 23rd Sep 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-free

Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration for a simple mid-week meal that doesn’t require much effort. This dish does just the trick. The combination of garlic, olive oil and basil works perfectly with the roasted vegetables to give you a... Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration for a simple mid-week meal that doesn’t require much effort. This dish does just the trick. The combination of garlic, olive oil and basil works perfectly with the roasted vegetables to give you a... Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration for a simple mid-week meal that doesn’t require much effort. This dish does just the trick. The combination of garlic, olive oil and basil works perfectly with the roasted vegetables to give you a...

Lois Barnes Sat, 23rd Aug 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Baking, Vegetarian, Dessert

Crumbly, zingy and deliciously moreish, these citrus-flavoured flapjacks will have you coming back for more... and more! With a triple hit of lemon – zest in the oats, followed by a layer of lemon curd, then topped with lemon juice icing... Crumbly, zingy and deliciously moreish, these citrus-flavoured flapjacks will have you coming back for more... and more! With a triple hit of lemon – zest in the oats, followed by a layer of lemon curd, then topped with lemon juice icing... Crumbly, zingy and deliciously moreish, these citrus-flavoured flapjacks will have you coming back for more... and more! With a triple hit of lemon – zest in the oats, followed by a layer of lemon curd, then topped with lemon juice icing...

Helen Kingscott Tue, 22nd Jul 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Dessert

This elegant dessert is ideal for summer entertaining or a sunny weekend treat. Ingredients (serves 8-10): 4 large ripe mangoes 1 tbsp lemon juice 480ml double cream 200g granulated sugar (plus 1 tbsp for the purée) 3 tsp powdered... This elegant dessert is ideal for summer entertaining or a sunny weekend treat. Ingredients (serves 8-10): 4 large ripe mangoes 1 tbsp lemon juice 480ml double cream 200g granulated sugar (plus 1 tbsp for the purée) 3 tsp powdered... This elegant dessert is ideal for summer entertaining or a sunny weekend treat. Ingredients (serves 8-10): 4 large ripe mangoes 1 tbsp lemon juice 480ml double cream 200g granulated sugar (plus 1 tbsp for the purée) 3 tsp powdered...

Lois Barnes Mon, 21st Jul 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-free

Gone are the days when a salad consisted of lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Boring salads are out, and fresh, vibrant, flavourful salads are in. You may have heard of the 30 plants challenge whereby we are encouraged to consume 30 different plants... Gone are the days when a salad consisted of lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Boring salads are out, and fresh, vibrant, flavourful salads are in. You may have heard of the 30 plants challenge whereby we are encouraged to consume 30 different plants... Gone are the days when a salad consisted of lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Boring salads are out, and fresh, vibrant, flavourful salads are in. You may have heard of the 30 plants challenge whereby we are encouraged to consume 30 different plants...

Lois Barnes Sun, 20th Jul 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-free, Batch cooking

Last month, I shared my husband's recipe for a slow cooker chilli con carne that he batch cooked, so this month I'm sharing my vegetarian (vegan) version. With different dietary requirements, we find it works well to batch cook our own... Last month, I shared my husband's recipe for a slow cooker chilli con carne that he batch cooked, so this month I'm sharing my vegetarian (vegan) version. With different dietary requirements, we find it works well to batch cook our own... Last month, I shared my husband's recipe for a slow cooker chilli con carne that he batch cooked, so this month I'm sharing my vegetarian (vegan) version. With different dietary requirements, we find it works well to batch cook our own...

Lois Barnes Sat, 19th Jul 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Baking, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-free, Dessert

It had never occurred to me to use strawberries in a crumble before. I regularly make apple or blackberry and apple crumbles, occasionally a pear crumble, and I've even made a peach crumble (which was delicious, by the way), but I've never made one... It had never occurred to me to use strawberries in a crumble before. I regularly make apple or blackberry and apple crumbles, occasionally a pear crumble, and I've even made a peach crumble (which was delicious, by the way), but I've never made one... It had never occurred to me to use strawberries in a crumble before. I regularly make apple or blackberry and apple crumbles, occasionally a pear crumble, and I've even made a peach crumble (which was delicious, by the way), but I've never made one...

Lois Barnes Mon, 23rd Jun 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Meat, Batch cooking, Slow cooker

We’re big fans of batch cooking in our house. With both of us working and a little one to look after, having a freezer full of ‘easy’, ready-to-go meals that we can dip into a couple of times week helps to make life run more... We’re big fans of batch cooking in our house. With both of us working and a little one to look after, having a freezer full of ‘easy’, ready-to-go meals that we can dip into a couple of times week helps to make life run more... We’re big fans of batch cooking in our house. With both of us working and a little one to look after, having a freezer full of ‘easy’, ready-to-go meals that we can dip into a couple of times week helps to make life run more...

Lois Barnes Sun, 22nd Jun 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-free, Weaning

Most parents will know the struggle of getting their children to eat vegetables, and if you have a fussy eater like I do, you have my deepest sympathies! Weaning hasn't been an easy journey with my toddler, with plenty of rejection and food thrown... Most parents will know the struggle of getting their children to eat vegetables, and if you have a fussy eater like I do, you have my deepest sympathies! Weaning hasn't been an easy journey with my toddler, with plenty of rejection and food thrown... Most parents will know the struggle of getting their children to eat vegetables, and if you have a fussy eater like I do, you have my deepest sympathies! Weaning hasn't been an easy journey with my toddler, with plenty of rejection and food thrown...

Lois Barnes Wed, 21st May 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Weaning

You don’t get much simpler finger food than a veggie fritter and these are particularly tasty as we’re using two sweet vegetables. This recipe is great for toddlers with intolerances as it’s vegan and gluten-free, although you... You don’t get much simpler finger food than a veggie fritter and these are particularly tasty as we’re using two sweet vegetables. This recipe is great for toddlers with intolerances as it’s vegan and gluten-free, although you... You don’t get much simpler finger food than a veggie fritter and these are particularly tasty as we’re using two sweet vegetables. This recipe is great for toddlers with intolerances as it’s vegan and gluten-free, although you...

Lois Barnes Tue, 20th May 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Baking, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-free

My son loves bananas. He’d probably eat a whole bunch every day if I let him, which means I usually end up buying at least a dozen every week with the food shop. If any of the bananas go a bit over-ripe, they normally end up being baked... My son loves bananas. He’d probably eat a whole bunch every day if I let him, which means I usually end up buying at least a dozen every week with the food shop. If any of the bananas go a bit over-ripe, they normally end up being baked... My son loves bananas. He’d probably eat a whole bunch every day if I let him, which means I usually end up buying at least a dozen every week with the food shop. If any of the bananas go a bit over-ripe, they normally end up being baked...

Lois Barnes Sun, 18th May 2025 at 09:00 Recipes, Baking, Vegan, Dairy-free, Weaning, Batch cooking

These four-ingredient oaty cookies are a perfectly simple yet wholesome snack for toddlers and young children. Made with naturally sweet banana and carrot, creamy peanut butter, and hearty oats, they’re soft, nutritious, and free... These four-ingredient oaty cookies are a perfectly simple yet wholesome snack for toddlers and young children. Made with naturally sweet banana and carrot, creamy peanut butter, and hearty oats, they’re soft, nutritious, and free... These four-ingredient oaty cookies are a perfectly simple yet wholesome snack for toddlers and young children. Made with naturally sweet banana and carrot, creamy peanut butter, and hearty oats, they’re soft, nutritious, and free...