Charred courgette and corn salad - Vegan, Df and GF

Start the way we mean to continue i reckon... This is simple to make but fun and interesting. The courgette is peeled into strips that are seasoned and charred and then set aside, the corn is shucked off the cob and charred also, some cannelini beans warmed through, with a summery pesto of basil and cashew to dress the lot. Yum and Yum!

Orzo with roasted tomato - Vegan, DF and can be GF 

The orzo is not GF obviously, but brown rice or buckwheat groats are a simple substitution. The tomatoes are roasted, then some of them are mashed into a rough sauce with roasted garlic, the orzo is cooked and added to the caramelised tomatoes with some lemon rind, some parsley; then you plate and sprinkle with Dukkah. This will only take you about half an hour and the flavours are big and bright!

Buckwheat with summer veg - Vegan, DF and GF

I put this together for dinner last night and it was really good, so i decided to share ... i toasted the buckwheat and then simmered it in veg stock. In the meantime i sauteed red onion, then courgette and corn and red pepper. Drained the buckwheat, added it in... some S & P. That's pretty much it really. The contrasting textures are interesting and it's very good the next day for lunch also... (am eating it as i write)

Tomato and courgette halloumi bake - Vegetarian, GF

Again this is very simple to make, has lots of layers of flavour and texture. You could team it up with new potatoes or some good bread to make dinner super easy. it has layers of red onion, courgette, mushroom, diced tomato, sliced tomato, and sliced halloumi.

Chicken with cardamom rice - DF and GF

Middle Eastern flavours to the fore here - cloves, cardamom and cinnamon macerate with the chicken pieces then flavour the rice as the whole lot cooks together in a covered frypan. The chicken juices and spices flavour the rice, the steam makes the chicken super tender as it cooks... is a very good time. Because the recipe uses chicken thighs rather than whole chicken it cooks quicker, but the flavours are nicely deep and complex. Is a very good time. 

Lamb, apricot and fennel meatballs - GF and can be DF

The yoghurt dressing is optional after all...some more Middle Eastern flavours here but brighter - dried apricots, turmeric and fennel seeds  are worked through the lamb mince and then you form the mixture into golfball sized bites. The dressing of yoghurt and either lemon or olive oil finishes itr off with an extra zing.