Sausages with Aubergine and Halloumi Salad

This could easily be a vegetarian recipe, as it is filling enough without the sausages.

Recipe
Fry or grill the sausages.
Prepare the aubergine by slicing, sprinkling with salt, then rinsing. Put slices under the grill.
Cut halloumi cheese into small sections.
Slice up a few spring onions, or 1 small red onion, and a few mushrooms. Add these to the frying pan with the sausages (or to a baking tray). You could potentially add a chopped up red pepper as well.
Turn the aubergine over and add the halloumi as a topping. You can also add a slice of tomato to make a stack.
Prepare an iceberg lettuce and slice into thin strips.
Serve with lettuce as a base, then your aubergine stacks, and your mushrooms, sausages and onions on the side of the plate.

The Art of Meal Planning

Ok, so I've come under fire from various quarters about the fact that I plan all our meals week by week and I use my ultimate 10 week meal planner as a basis to work from.

Yes, it's geeky. Yes, it's organised. But I do it for good reasons:

1. I know exactly what to buy at the supermarket.
2. I don't waste food.
3. I make sure we eat a good range of meals.
4. I aim for 2 veggie meals a week. It's cheaper and better for the planet.
5. I can plan to use up anything in the freezer.

Obviously, you have to be flexible. If you go to the supermarket and there's a special offer on a whole chicken, then it's probably worth buying it, doing a Sunday roast then using up the leftover chicken with a couple of chicken recipes during the week. Nothing ground-breaking there.

But, perhaps on a more serious note, I get really concerned when I'm teaching kids in school who just do not eat properly. Their parents don't take responsibility for making sure they eat a healthy, balanced diet, and many of us as adults are so busy with our working lives that we de-prioritise cooking good food, and end up existing on take-aways and ready meals. Health-wise this a huge concern, but also socially, morally...

Sorry I'll get off my soap box now. Thanks for listening :)

Fish and Lemon Risotto

This is my favourite fish recipe, as I'm not a huge fan of seafood. I usually buy frozen breaded haddock.

Recipe
Heat oven to 220 degrees and put fish pieces in.
Heat olive oil in a non stick pan and fry 1 onion. Add 2-4 tbsp lemon juice.
Add a clove of garlic.
Add 150g arborio rice.
Make up 3/4 pint veg stock and add it slowly, stirring constantly.
Add a dash of white wine.
Turn the fish over after 15 mins.
Season the risotto with black pepper.
About 5 mins before serving, add two handfuls of rocket into the risotto and stir in.
Garnish with parmesan and fresh rocket.
Variation: use peas instead of rocket. It's cheaper, but you lose the peppery flavour.

Pasta with Tomato Sauce

I have many fond memories of making this several times a week whilst I was in Uni!

Recipe
Cut up bacon rashers into strips (around 2 rashers per person). Fry until beginning to brown.
Put the pasta on to boil- I recommend Fusilli (twists).
Add 1 chopped up red onion, 1 clove garlic.
Add 2 chopped red peppers and a handful of mushrooms.
Add a tin of tomatoes.
Season with black pepper, oregano and basil (fresh if poss).
Serve pasta with the sauce poured over it.

Posh Pizza

Well not really that posh, but the final product looks impressive.

Recipe
Use a proper pizza base or just a low-cost supermarket cheese & tomato.
Chop up 1 green pepper into small, cubed pieces and arrange over pizza.
Shake over some oregano and black pepper.
Add some pieces of hand-torn cooked chicken (leftovers ideal here).
Add a few sun-dried tomatoes, and more tomato puree if needed.
Slice a round goats cheese up and spread them over the top.
Finally, add some fresh basil leaves to garnish.
Bake in the oven at 200 degrees for around 15 mins.
Serve with green salad.

Note: It is really worth buying a basil plant. They're readily available at a supermarket and usually about a pound. They last as long you water them regularly and put them on the windowsill. The smell is gorgeous!

Blackberry Cake

This year I had enough blackberries to make this recipe twice- the first time, I made fairy cakes, the second time I just made a loaf cake. Both worked well but the loaf cake perhaps looked more presentable. But that's because I can never be bothered to decorate fairy cakes.

What I really liked about this recipe (it's from a BBC Good Food Cakes & Bakes book) is that you buy a 150ml pot of natural yoghurt, and use the pot as a measurement throughout. Nice and easy!

Recipe
Prepare the blackberries by soaking them in salty water, and picking through them individually to check for maggots. Leaving them overnight in the fridge is fine, but any longer than that and they tend to harden and lose their juiciness.

Preheat oven to 190 degrees and line tin with cake cases (if making fairy cakes).
Put 150ml natural yoghurt into a bowl, then use the carton to measure out 1 pot sugar, 1 pot oil, and then add 2 eggs. Whisk till combined.
Add 2 pots self-raising flour and 185g blackberries. Fold in, but don't overmix. The blackberries will crush and turn everything purple.
Fill each cake case or your loaf tin and bake (20 mins for cakes, 1 hr for loaf tin).
Unless you have a big family or a party, I would freeze the cakes in batches as they will go mouldy very quickly.

You could also decorate with icing, a few blackberries, or melted chocolate. If you can be bothered.

Banana Bread

Does this count as one of your 5 a day?

Recipe
Cream 125g butter and 175g brown sugar.
Add 2 eggs.
Sift in 140g plain flour with 1 tsp bicarb of soda and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
Mix in 125ml milk, then add 140g more flour.
Mash 3 bananas in a bowl and fold in.
Bake in a loaf tin for around 1 hr at 180 degrees. Skewer needs to come out clean. Cover top with foil if it browns too quickly.
Allow to cool in tin for 20 mins before turning out.
Variation: Add Vanilla essence and 75g walnuts.

Ginger cake

This is deliciously rich and gorgeous. Can't beat it!

Recipe
Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
Sift 225g self raising flour, 2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp nutmeg into a bowl.
Place 125g butter with 150g brown sugar and beat. Add 2 eggs, beat, then add 120g black treacle, and beat.
Fold flour mixture in, alternating with 75g natural yoghurt or creme fraiche.
Bake in a loaf tin for 30-50 mins.

Pikelets

A taste from the past! My great aunt used to make these and they were delicious spread with butter. They are a form of pancake but more like Scotch pancakes than Shrove Tuesday variety! I think these could count as savoury -perfect for afternoon tea- but I guess technically they are a form of cake. I don't know. Anyway, these quantities suit 4 hungry people. You'll be surprised at how many of these you can put away.

Recipe
Sift 150g self raising flour with 1 tbsp sugar. Add a pinch of salt.
Whisk 185ml milk and 1 egg, then add to dry ingredients, whisking until smooth.
Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Brush with a little melted butter.
Drop a few level tablespoons of the mixture into the pan and cook for 30 sec until it bubbles. Turn over and cook for 1 min till golden.

Carrot, apple & raisin cake

This cake contains no egg and is good for using up old apples.

Recipe
Mix 225g self raising flour with 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp cinnamon.
In a separate bowl mix 5 tbsp veg oil, 4 tbsp orange juice & 140g light brown sugar.
Prepare 1 medium apple and 140g carrot. Add to flour, along with orange mix.
Add 85g raisins.
The mixture will be dry so you need to knead it together.
Press into a loaf tin and bake at 160 degrees for one hour.
Variation: add 50g pumpkin seeds.

10 Week Meal Planner

Obsessive-compulsive? Maybe. But this 10 week meal planner provides an excellent starting point when I write my shopping list every week. A lot of the meals use up leftovers the next day, and some recipes say (double) to indicate that you make double quantities and use the rest in another dish later in the week.
I have been mocked for this, but I stand by it! There IS flexibility to swap meals around and change it if you have friends round. This possibly may change your life...

Week 1

Spaghetti bolognaise (double)
Fajitas (using leftovers)
Lentil and bacon broth
Chicken curry
Curried bean risotto
Cajun red bean soup
Doner kebabs
Steamed fish with black bean sauce

Week 2
Pork and sweet potato
Fish and lemon risotto
Chilli black bean stew (double)
Beef adobo
Mushroom tagliatelle
Lentil & veg cottage pie
Chicken and pepper tortillas

Week 3
Tomato and chicken pilaf
Lemon chicken cous cous
Chickpea and spinach curry
Cod and saffron wild rice
Tomato and feta potato salad
Bacon and pea pasta
Moroccan stew
Poached chicken with pesto

Week 4
Beef and courgette burgers
Peppers, pork and mash
Mexican bean melt
Bacon, peppers and pasta in tomato sauce
Chunky pistou
Stir fry mince

Week 5
Hungarian goulash
Vegetarian lasagne
Sweet and sour turkey
Potato, parsnip and butter bean soup
Picadillo
5 spice veg stir fry
Bacon risotto

Week 6
Ginger chicken
Tomato and lentil soup
Chicken risotto
Chilli con carne
Goats cheese and grilled veg and salad
Vegetable stir fry
Sausage, pea and feta salad
Satay beef in lettuce

Week 7
Mediterranean chicken
Leek and broccoli bake
Chicken and veg hotpot
Lentil casserole
Veggie Pizza
Ratatouille with penne
Grilled chicken with pasta salad

Week 8
Mince rissoles with mushroom sauce and vegetables
Beef stroganoff
Pork steaks with redcurrant jelly sauce
Chicken casserole
Honey chilli chicken stirfry
Broad bean and bacon risotto
Couscous halloumi baked peppers
Pasta, avocado and mint bean salad

Week 9
Chickpea and chorizo soup
Beef casserole
Penne cheese and bacon bake
Penne and beef ragu
Chicken celeriac mushroom bake
Tarragon chicken with flagolet beans
Keema curry with beef mince
Pesto mushroom and asparagus tart

Week 10
Aromatic masala mince
Beefy jacket potatoes
Spiced chickpea and veg soup
Gnocchi with spinach and broccoli sauce
Spicy enchiladas
Pork chops with creamy apple sauce
Bonfire chilli
Spiced lamb with aubergine and chickpeas

Victoria Sponge

This will serve two small round cake tins.

Cream 100g butter with 150g sugar. I use soft unrefined brown sugar, but I did get a bit of a slap on the wrist for this in a bake-off as Victoria Sponge is not supposed to be 'dark'.
Add 2 eggs and 175ml milk.
Stir in 200g self raising flour.
Divide into two sandwich tins for 20 mins at 180 degrees.
It's done when it springs to the touch. Don't overdo it, it's meant to look pale.
Put to cool on a cooling rack, but don't leave it too long. Move the bottom cake onto a plate, spread with jam, then place the other cake on top.
Eat warm with a cup of tea!
If you want to be really perfectionist, sieve some icing sugar on top.

Remember to grease the tins well so you don't get crumbly cake.

Chocca Mocca Cake

This is a long-standing favourite of mine, but I have no idea where I originally found this recipe! The version pictured is my birthday-cake version, which is just decorated with icing sugar made up with cocoa powder and water to give it a chocolate flavour, and chocolate buttons.
Cream 175g butter and 175g brown sugar (unrefined if poss; I used molasses here as it gives such a lovely dark colour and rich flavour).
Beat in 2 eggs, 2 tbsp golden syrup, and 4 tbsp milk.
Make a paste in a mug of 2 tsp coffee and 2 tbsp cocoa with just enough hot water to mix it thoroughly (between 2-4 tbsp). Add this to the bowl and mix in.
Fold in 200g self raising flour.
Bake at 160 degrees for around an hour. I like a round tin for this one.
Use the clean skewer test to see when it's done, and put foil on top if it starts crusting and burning.

Fruit cake

Recipe

Cream 225g butter and 175g sugar (I always use unrefined sugar, it's much better for you. Even better if it's Fair Trade- Sainsburys have the best range).
Break 3 large eggs into the bowl and mix in well.
Add 200g dried fruit and 1 tsp cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg.
Add 250g self-raising flour, a little at a time. Mix in well.
Spoon into a loaf tin, and cook at 170 degrees for around an hour.
You'll know it's done when you skewer it with a knife and it comes out clean. If you test it and the knife comes out mostly clean, turn the heat off and leave it in the oven for another 15 mins, and it should be done by then.
If the top burns prematurely, place some foil over the top while it is still cooking.

Creamy Tagliatelle

This is just irresistible!

Recipe
Fry up 2 rashers of bacon per person, cut into strips.
Put tagliatelle on to boil (100g per person).
Add onion, garlic and chopped mushrooms to the bacon once it's browned.
Drain tagliatelle when 'al dente' (after around 7 mins) and pour into the main pan.
Add 100 ml cream or a few spoons of creme fraiche and a pinch of parsley.
Toss well.
Serve with parmesan.

Chilli Black Bean Stew (V)

A real winter warmer!

Recipe
Soak black beans (250g) overnight.
Drain and rinse them. Boil for 10 mins uncovered, then drain.
Fry 1 onion, 2 cubed carrots, 2-3 sticks of celery and 2 cloves garlic.
Stir in 1 tsp cumin and 1 tsp chilli powder- more if you like it spicy.
Add 1 tin tomatoes, 1/2 pint veg stock, 1 tbsp brown sugar and pepper.
Bring to boil then add the black beans. Put in the slow cooker OR simmer for at least 40 mins.
Put rice on.
Make avocado salsa by dicing an avocado and mixing it with the juice of 1 lime, 2 chopped tomatoes, 1/2 red onion and a pinch of coriander.
Serve up with bread on the table.

Chunky Pistou (V)

Another one that works well in a slow cooker.

Fry 1 onion, diced potato, 1 cubed carrot and 1 clove garlic.
Add 1 tin haricot beans, hot veg stock (500ml - 1 pint) and 2 tsp pesto.
Put in slow cooker here if using one.
Add broccoli, green beans and 2 chopped tomatoes 20 mins before serving.
Serve with pesto, basil and Parmesan, and chunky white bread.

Cajun red bean soup (V)

Great for using up leftovers. I did this in my pressure cooker recently and it worked well, but you can use a slow cooker too. Keeps well in the fridge.

Recipe
Fry 1 onion, 1 red pepper, 1 cubed carrot, diced potato and a clove of garlic.
Add 2 tsp Cajun spice, 1 tin tomatoes, 1 tin kidney beans, 1 tbsp brown sugar, salt and pepper. Add veg stock as appropriate, according to how thick you want your soup to be. Bring to the boil.
Either- simmer until veg are tender
Or- put in slow cooker on low (make sure you have enough liquid in there- you'd certainly need 500ml stock)
Or- put in pressure cooker for 10-15 mins.
Serve with bread and butter- classic!

Variation- Add green beans/broad beans. Add a tin of Heinz tomato soup to thicken and add sweet flavour.

Goats Cheese and Mediterranean Veg (V)

Buy the Somerset round goats cheese as it slices easily.

Recipe
Chop up 1-2 red/green peppers, a handful of mushrooms, 1 red onion and a clove of garlic and put on a baking tray under the grill. Remember to turn once and don't leave them too long- they will burn!
Measure out cous cous into a bowl, add boiling water and leave for 5 mins.
Slice up fresh white French bread and toast lightly under the grill, with a slice of goats cheese on top.
Arrange plates with Bistro salad or rocket, add grilled veg, cous cous and drizzle with lemon juice. Put bread on a side plate.

Tomato, feta and potato salad

There is a gorgeous combination of flavours here, love it every time!

Recipe
Put new potatoes on to boil (2-3 per person).
Fry some bacon rashers (2 per person) till browned and crispy.
Add a chopped red onion.
Prepare a round lettuce by coring, cutting into strips then washing thoroughly in a colander.
Slice a handful of cherry tomatoes and peel and chop up an avocado.
Chop up feta cheese into small chunks.
In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Cut the new potatoes in half as you add them.
Sprinkle lemon juice over the salad and some black pepper.
Serve up with crusty white bread.
Variation: add olives, leftover spinach, asparagus (if you're feeling indulgent, it's expensive), olive oil, capers, basil leaves.

Chickpea and spinach curry (V)

A great vegetarian recipe, and shouldn't take more than 20 mins.

Recipe
Fry 1 onion and put rice on to boil.
Add a tin of chickpeas and a jar of tikka masala sauce.
Add fresh spinach, a handful at a time, and allow it to wilt down.
Serve with naan bread.
Variation: add diced potato, cubed carrot or green pepper.

Mexican Bean Melt (V)

A great vegetarian recipe, very filling.

Recipe
Fry 1 red onion and 1 red pepper and 1 green pepper till lightly browned.
Add 1 tin kidney beans and 2 chopped tomatoes.
Spoon the mixture onto a flour tortilla, grate some cheddar, then fold the tortilla over and bake in the oven for 10 mins at 180 degrees.
Serve with green salad.

Spicy Rice & Beans (V)

A Vegetarian favourite of mine.

Fry an onion, 1 clove garlic, 1 tsp chilli powder, 1 tbsp curry powder and 100g rice. Cook for 1 min. (Note- I recommend arborio, but you can also use basmati or long grain).
Mix in a tin of butter beans or cannellini beans (400g).
Add 500ml veg stock and season (gradually if arborio rice).
Simmer for 30 mins.
Add peas for the final 5 mins.
Serve with a bowl of 140g natural yoghurt, 3 tbsp mango chutney, fresh mint, salt and pepper all mixed together.

Bacon risotto

Simple but delicious.

Recipe
Chop bacon (2 rashers per person) into strips and fry until browning.
Add 1 chopped onion or leek (make sure you wash it thoroughly in a colander) and 1 clove garlic.
Add 150g arborio rice.
Mix up 1 pint of chicken stock and add gradually (you may not need all of it).
Add a dash of white wine and a pinch of parsley and black pepper.
Add 1 chopped tomato towards the end (or a few halved cherry tomatoes), and stir in some spinach.
Serve with parmesan.

Poached Chicken and Pesto

An unusual method, but the flavours are well worth it!

Recipe
Place 500ml chicken stock in a saucepan with 100ml white wine, 1 tbsp thyme and a dash of lemon juice.
Add fennel, halved, and boil for 3-5 mins. Add chicken pieces, and once cooked, add 1 parsnip and 1 carrot, cut into long strips.
Simmer for 10-15 mins.
Serve with green pesto and freshly baked baguette. Drizzle just a little stock- you don't need all of it!

Bacon & Pea Pasta

Inspired by Jamie Oliver.

Recipe (serves 2)
Put 200g conchiglie (shell) pasta on to boil.
Cut up 4 rashers of bacon into strips and fry. Once browning, add 1 onion and 1 clove garlic.
Add chopped mushrooms and two handfuls of frozen peas.
Drain pasta when 'al dente', and add it to the bacon mix.
Stir in 2-3 tbsp creme fraiche and 1 beaten egg. Turn the hob off, but keep the pan there.
Add a dash of mint and mix well.

Cottage Pie

Nothing like a bit of English farmhouse cooking!

Recipe
Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
Cook split red lentils in a small pan according to instructions (around 75-120g).
Boil potatoes, ready for mashing.
Brown beef mince, then add onion, garlic, celery and carrot.
Add 2 tbsp sun-dried tomato pesto, 260g tomato passata and 1 tbsp thyme. Simmer for 15 mins.
Stir in the lentils, once cooked, including the water they were cooked in.
Crumble a beef stock cube into the mix.
Season then transfer to a baking dish.
Mash the potatoes (use 100g butter and 125ml milk and 2 egg yolks to make it really creamy) then spread them over the mince mix.
Grate cheese on the top and bake in the oven until the cheese turns golden brown.

Pork and Peppers Casserole

This is another slow cooker recipe, but it could equally be made as a casserole in the oven.

Recipe
Brown pork steaks (1 per person), then add 1 onion, 2 cubed red/yellow peppers, 1 stick of celery and 1 clove garlic.
Stir in 2 tbsp flour, then add a tin of tomatoes. Add 200ml chicken stock, 1 tbsp thyme, salt and pepper.
Bring to boil, then put in the slow cooker for 8-10 hours.
Serve with mashed potato.

Pork and Sweet Potato

This is a great slow cooker recipe.

Fry pork steaks (1 per person) till browned. Add 1 onion and 2 cloves of garlic, and 2 tbsp flour.
Stir in 3/4 pint chicken stock, 1 tin tomatoes, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp mixed spice, a pinch of chilli powder and season with salt and pepper.
Bring to boil, then put it all into the slow cooker.
Add 1 cooking apple (diced) and 2 large sweet potatoes (diced).
Cook on high for 7-8 hours.
Served with mashed potatoes.

Beef Adobo

This is a Philippino dish with absolutely gorgeous flavours. It's fantastic in the slow cooker, left to simmer all day and infuse your house with sweet fragrance.

Recipe
Brown stewing steak (around 500g), then add 1 onion and 2 cloves garlic. Stir in 2 tbsp flour, then mix in 3/4 pint beef stock gradually. Add 4 tbsp soy sauce, 4 tbsp wine vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
Bring to boil then put everything in the slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours.
Before serving, stir in juice of 1 lime.
Serve with rice and carrot sticks.
Variation: add carrot and celery into the slow cooker.

Picadillo

I discovered this amazing dish during a stay in America, and there is nothing quite like the mixture of sweetness and the deep texture of the black beans. But don't forget to soak them!

Recipe (Vegetarian)
Soak black beans in cold water overnight (around 150-200g).
Boil them uncovered for 10 min, then put them on to simmer for 30 min. Add salt liberally.
Fry 1 onion, 1-2 cloves garlic, 1 fresh chilli or 1 tbsp chilli powder, 1 cubed carrot and 2 cubed peppers till softened.
Add a tin of tomatoes, pepper, a handful of raisins, a dash of cinnamon, and 2 tbsp wine vinegar. Simmer.
Cook rice.
Add the black beans into the main pan.
Serve with sliced banana or pineapple.

Variation: Make this a meaty dish with beef mince.
Serve with wraps, tortilla-style.
Serve with guacamole.

Chicken risotto

This is such a homely meal, and it's great all year round. Don't be tempted to economize by using cheaper rice- the arborio is well worth it!

Recipe
Melt 15g butter in a non-stick pan.
Fry 2 cubed chicken breasts until lightly brown. Add 1 onion, 1 garlic clove and 1 tsp chilli powder. Fry for 5-7 mins until onion is soft.
Add 150g arborio rice and cubed carrot. Prepare ¾ pint chicken stock and add slowly, stirring constantly and letting liquid be absorbed before adding more. Expect this to take 20 mins.
When the rice is creamy but firm, serve with Parmesan.
Variation: Add broccoli, or peas.

Ginger Chicken

This is a lovely recipe, originally from a Student Cookbook. The gingernut biscuits are a surprising twist, but work really well.

Recipe
Fry chicken breast pieces then remove.
Fry 2 cloves of garlic and 4 tomatoes, chopped.
In a jug, place 2 gingernut biscuits, broken up, then add ½ pint chicken stock with a pinch of chilli powder. Mash the biscuits and mix thoroughly. Pour into pan with garlic and tomatoes.
Add the chicken and simmer for 10 mins.
Add 2 tbsp tequila or sherry and 3 tbsp pine nuts.
Serve with rice/ tortilla chips.

Sweet & Sour Turkey

A tasty and economical meal- no need for takeaway!

Recipe
Make the sauce in a small pan: 1 ½ tbsp light soy sauce, 1 heaped tsp tomato puree, 2 tsps flour, 3 tbsp pineapple juice, 2 tbsp wine vinegar, 1 tsp brown sugar. Add water sparingly, as needed. Boil, then simmer to thicken.
Stirfry 1 onion, then add turkey chunks.
Put the rice on to boil here.
Add 1 red or yellow pepper and a handful of mushrooms to the turkey pan. Add the sauce into this pan.
Variation: pineapple juice can be replaced with orange juice.
You can serve it with noodles.

Hungarian Goulash

This makes a really flavoursome meal, and I like to use the slow cooker to get the meat really tender.

Recipe
Fry 1 onion, 1-2 green peppers, 1 carrot and 2 celery sticks in a saucepan.
Add 225g stewing steak (tossed in flour) and fry till browned.
Add 1 tsp paprika, 2 tbsp tomato puree, a pinch of nutmeg and 2 tsp mixed herbs.
Add ¼ pint beef stock, a can of tomatoes, a dash of red wine and 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce.
Boil then bake as a casserole/ put in the slow cooker med-high for 6-8 hours.
Serve with rice.

Lentil & Bacon Broth

Perfect all year round, but particularly good as a winter warmer. These quantities will serve 4-6 people, depending on their appetite! I usually make a big pot, then keep leftovers for another night and even freeze in batches.

Recipe
Melt 28g butter into a saucepan and fry 4-6 rashers of bacon, 1 onion, 2 carrots and 2-3 celery sticks.
Add 140g red split lentils and 1 ¾ pint chicken stock, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp parsley, pepper.
Bring to boil, then simmer for 45 mins- 1 hr.
Serve with hot white rolls or baguette.
Variation: use leek instead of onion. Could also be tasty with oats.