Baked Maple & Chilli Halloumi

A delicious accompaniment to a cheeky summer salad, a perfect balance of sticky and gooey with so much flavour that the chilli just finishes off with a spicy kick.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 225g halloumi, drained and patted dry
• 1 fresh chilli, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 sprig of thyme- leaves only

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 190°.
2. Slice the halloumi into equal slices and place into a baking tray.
3. In a bowl, put the chilli, oil, maple, lemon and thyme and mix together.
4. Pour the marinade over the halloumi and place in the oven. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. (Baste the cheese every 5 minutes or so with the maple juices.)

Serve immediately.

Enjoy 🙂

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Chilled Cucumber Soup

Delicious, chilled and cucumber perfectly sums up this weeks recipe. Even though the rainy wet weather has returned it has been incredibly humid and still rather warm. The feeling of having a warm hot meal still doesn’t tickle my taste buds and so this cucumber concoction is the way to go. Personally I think that cucumbers are underrated and can be so versatile and refreshing. An ingredient that is readily available all year round and can make such a simple dish so tasty.

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, deseeded and roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 shallot, roughly chopped
• 1 garlic clove
• 1tsp dried mint
• 1tbsp lime juice
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1 tbsp yogurt
• Salt
• Pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil (for serving)

Method:

1. Put all ingredients into a blender and blitz until smooth.
2. Leave in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
3. Upon serving drizzle a little extra olive oil.

Apricot & Feta Couscous

Happy weekend you lovely people! It’s a beautiful day, a fantastic time to be out and enjoy the glorious weather. This weeks recipe is just what you need for a light and refreshing meal or even side dish, full of flavour and perfect if you are going for a picnic or having some friends over for lunch in the garden.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 100g couscous
• 100ml boiling water
• 70g dried soft apricots, cut into small pieces
• 100g feta cheese, cut into small chunks
• 2 tbsp seed mix (the one I used included: sunflower, pumpkin, hemp seeds and golden linseed)
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Crushed black pepper

Method:

1. Start by placing the couscous in a heatproof bowl. Pour in the boiling water, cover with cling film and leave for 5-10 minutes.
2. In the meantime make the dressing by mixing the olive oil, maple syrup and lemon together in a another bowl.
3. Fluff the couscous with a fork (and move to the dish or bowl you desire), add the apricots, feta and seeds and season with crushed black pepper.
4. Drizzle over the dressing and give it a good mix.

Enjoy 🙂

Herby White Beans

Fantastic as a lunch meal for this absolutely glorious weather at the moment; finally some real good weather. Perfectly delicious straight off the stove or can be eaten later when chilled. A little cheeky tip, when you have removed the pan from the heat, smash some of the beans with the back of a spoon, as it provides an added texture and I find that it absorbs the juice for those bonus flavour bombs in every bite.

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 1 can (400g) white or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 garlic clove, grated
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 small handful fresh basil, finely chopped
• 200ml vegetable stock
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Extra virgin olive oil

Method:

1. Start by frying the garlic in the olive oil for a minute.
2. Add the beans and cook for a further minute.
3. Season with black pepper, pour in the stock, mix thoroughly and leave to simmer for 3-4 minutes on medium-high heat.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and add the basil, parsley and lemon.
5. Serve in a dish and drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil on top.

Enjoy 🙂