With the Six Nations ongoing Guinness is on the mind. While I’m not a massive fan of a pint myself, it works really well in this rich, comforting beef stew. A little dark chocolate adds slight sweetness to the rich sauce, while some herby potato dumplings with salty pancetta soak up all the yummy flavours and add a whole other level of comfort. Super easy to make and perfect for a Sunday dinner.

A healthy and tasty chicken korma for a Sunday night. The butternut squash adds a lovely sweetness to the sauce and soaks up the spices really well. Adding the chicken to the simmering sauce towards the end means it doesn’t dry out and stays soft and tender. Some ground almonds gives a nutty creaminess which you want from a korma and some crunchy stir fried beans with garlic, shallots, nigella seeds and toasted almonds gives colour and texture. Some flatbreads, naan, chapatis or fluffy rice are the perfect sides.

This crispy panko salmon is the perfect weeknight dinner, is super quick to throw together and is a great way to use up some stale sourdough you might have hanging around in the cupboard (or you can just use panko instead). The breadcrumbs are mixed with some spices, lemon zest and parsley to give a lovely crispy topping to the salmon which has a thin layer of dijon mustard across the top. Paired with a punchy sundried tomato yoghurt and fresh bulgur salad packed with plenty of fresh mint, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers, this is a healthy dinner which will satisfy all tastebuds.

These greek chicken burgers have all the flavours of a chicken souvlaki but in healthier form. The chicken burgers are made with plenty of fresh herbs, garlic, lemon, oregano, cumin and paprika and the baked sweet potatoes with a hit of lime and salty feta are so moreish. You could of course have them with pitta breads or in a burger bun, but little gem lettuce leaves are another alternative for some crunch and texture. Healthy, filling and super tasty.

Inspired by Nigella Lawson’s Rocky Road Crunch Bars, this is my grownup version of rocky road - grown up thanks to a lil rum amongst lots of other goodies. Ridiculously easy and so so moreish - if you take these to the office or just keep them in the fridge at home for whenever you need a sweet treat, you will be everyone’s friend I promise.

This pesto recipe is a great one for nut-allergies as it uses sunflower seeds instead of pine nuts. The texture and flavour is just the same as other pesto recipes (some might say actually more tasty) and its so versatile. You can add it on pizzas, stir it through risottos, or use it as a topping for hummus. The possibilities are endless.

Roast leg of lamb is always a winner. Although it is a pricier cut, it really does go a long way and you can do a lot with leftover lamb. For me, lamb goes so so well with the creamy richness of dauphinois potatoes and some simply steamed green veg on the side. Anchovies, garlic and rosemary are a marriage made in heaven and with a sweet but umami rich redcurrant jus with marmite, red wine and Worcestershire sauce, this is Sunday comfort food heaven.

I’m a big fan of a roasted veg salad and this one is one of my go-to’s. The combination of the spiced, charred vegetables with the nutty freshness of the green tahini dressing is so tasty and some sweet raisins and toasted almonds add more flavour and texture. It’s a great lunchbox salad and very affordable too. It can also be made vegan very easily by using dairy free yoghurt in the dressing.

You just can’t beat a chicken parm. Soft chicken breasts stuffed with mozzarella, sundried tomatoes and basil, wrapped in salty parma ham, topped with cheesy, lemony, herby breadcrumbs and served with a rich tomato sauce and fresh rocket salad - it is ultimate comfort food. Kids will love it, adults will love it, its just one of those dishes which is a total crowdpleaser. Perfect for a midweek dinner but also tasty enough that people would be delighted to be served it at a dinner party, it’s just too good.

I haven’t posted a dessert recipe in a while so thought I’d share this recipe which is one of my all time favourites. We had it at New Year and I’ve also made it for several private dinner parties. It’s a great one to make ahead and can just be reheated to service. The pastry is made in a food processor which makes it much easier, quicker and it happens to be delicious. I served it with stem ginger custard but creme fraiche would work just as well. The sweet jamminess of the figs, the citrus hit of the orange, the nuttiness of the almond frangipane, the buttery pastry, and slight boozy hit of the cointreau are all a match made in heaven.

This is one of my favourite things to make when I have people over for dinner. Everything can be prepared in advance and ready to go and all served in the middle of the table for everyone to get stuck into. The slow cooked pork with chipotle, orange, cinnamon, and star anise is so full of flavour and just melts in the mouth. All the other elements add plenty of different flavours and textures to make sure that every mouthful is a proper taste sensation. Can’t wait to share the recipe for this one tomorrow - this is one you’re going to need to save. Would make a fabulous dinner for in-between Christmas and New Year as well when everyone needs a bit of spice.

Baking fish with a breadcrumb topping is one of my favourite ways to eat it. It’s great for a dinner party - not only does it avoid any fishy frying smells in the kitchen (not ideal when you have people over) you can also prepare it in advance and just whack it in whenever you’re ready to eat. There is much less danger of drying out the flesh than when you fry it over a high heat so the flesh stays lovely and moist while the breadcrumb topping gives texture and crunch.

Everyone loves a scone and I thought it had been a while since I posted a baking recipe.  I made these a few weeks ago and they were a big hit. They also freeze really well so you can make a big batch and always have them handy if you have a surprise visit in the future. I added vanilla, orange zest and plenty of sultanas to mine and obviously, they have to be served with lashings of raspberry jam (always, always raspberry) and clotted cream. I won’t get into the order they should be put on (although its clear from the pictures what my preference is…)

This is one of my most favourite bowls of comfort food. You don’t even need the salmon on top, the recipe for the dahl and tomatoes are worth trying on their own with some naan and flatbreads but a piece of slightly charred salmon which is lovely and soft on the inside does go so well. It would also work really well with chicken. There are a lot of spices in the dahl but it just means you end up with maximum depth of flavour and if you double up the recipe it will last you all week and also freeze really well. A healthy, filling and flavoursome dish which will brighten up any rainy day and a bargain at just £2 per portion.

Inspired by a recent brunch at Urban Angel on Hanover Street in Edinburgh, this recipe has become a slight obsession. Perfect for brunch, lunch or a light dinner, it is a healthy dish full of texture and some of my favourite flavours. It’s also super easy to pull together last minute and chances are you will have most of the ingredients in your cupboard already.

I love a traditional Sunday roast, but sometimes, a comforting curry is just what you need to set you up for the week. This recipe will feed an army at a really low cost. Great for a dinner party and also ideal for freezing and keeping on hand whenever you’re in need of an emergency meal fast. I have priced this out to include the rice but not the naan breads which I’ll post as a separate recipe. Lamb shanks are such a good cut of meat - not only are they delicious, but they go such a long way and the bones add so much flavour. As with most rich meat dishes this also really benefits from a night in the fridge.

If you need a little bit of inspiration for a meat free meal, why not give these courgette and halloumi fritters a go. Everyone loves a fritter, and with salty halloumi, warming spices, plenty of fresh herbs, lemon and garlic, these are really tasty and quick to whip up. Feta would also work really well. Some cooling mint tzatziki, fruity pomegranates and nutty toasted pistachios add more texture and flavour. These will become a staple in your house as they have in ours. They would also be a great addition to any big mezze spread.

Sometimes you just need a big ol’ slice of cake. And for me, coffee and walnut cake will always be a winner. My recipe is a slightly spiced version full of plenty of espresso so you get that coffee hit. Walnuts are in both the sponge and on top so you also get that lovely nutty flavour. Perfect at any time of day with a cup of tea or coffee of course.

Roast chicken is up there with one of my ultimate comfort food meals. But sometimes it’s nice to have a lighter version. This recipe is full of freshness and in season ingredients. With a simple lemon, garlic, anchovy and herb marinade, and some roasted fennel and shallots, you get lovely chicken juices to drizzle over the top once it’s ready. A zingy green sauce made with pea shoots, capers, lemon and plenty of fresh herbs it brings everything to life. I tried out a slightly different recipe to my usual goose fat roasties by adding a rosemary parmesan salt during the last five minutes of roasting which I am always going to do from now on. Some simple stir fried greens on the side completes this summer roast feast.

This is such a tasty and comforting recipe. It doesn’t have too many ingredients and they are all easy to access. The peanut sauce is so moreish with lots of yummy soy, ginger and garlic. Crunchy roasted peanuts, sliced chilli and fresh lime all add more layers of flavour and texture. Pork mince is so underrated - it’s cheap, tasty and healthy and should be used more in my opinion.