I mentioned the superb, top-grade lamb mince from James F and James M of Field & Flower in my newsletter last week and this reminded me of my Spiced Lamb Salad which I haven’t made in quite a while. Just how ridiculous is it that I seem to forget some of the recipes that I worked so long and so hard to get them just right!

When you look at the recipe, you could argue that the nut, seed and spice mix is slightly time-consuming (you can make it way ahead and keep it in the fridge, so don’t fret) but when the lean lamb is coated in it and served alongside the creamy feta cheese, the couscous, lots of watercress and the oh-so-sweet chunks of watermelon it is ONE JOYFUL AND FILLING SALAD! And, on a ‘nutrition-y note’ - a cracking good balance of protein, essential fats, fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Yes, I know that they don’t necessarily ‘fit’ with a soup/nutrition blog but they are so very hard to resist! James of the Portugalist website sums it up very nicely… “This pastry is quite simply perfection in two bites.” I am going to let him tell you about the history of pastéis de nata because he grew up in Portugal and he tells it way better than me!

You have really got to try one, it has got to be a Portuguese-owned bakery and it has to be baked fresh that very morning - no ‘second day’ pastéis de nata - no way! And best ever, those that are still warm, straight from the oven - heaven in two bites (or perhaps three!)

And if you are in Lagos in Western Algarve look no further than Gomba Pastelaria on Rua Dom Vasco da Gama (just past the back of the bus station, two doors past the equally-fine butcher’s shop - Talho Lusitano). And btw: they also do a Coffee and Walnut Cake to die for!

I suppose it goes way back to those slippery, little noodles in Knorr’s Chicken Noodle Soup? I don’t think I have ever come across a single person who was growing up in the 60’s who didn’t delight in that deliciously-lovely ‘powdered’ soup that only needed some water to make it come alive - with oodles of noodles!

Sadly, I have just had a look at the ingredients and they weren’t really proper noodles at all! Maltodextrin, EGG pasta [durum WHEAT semolina, dried EGG white, dried EGG yolk] (23%), potato starch, salt, flavourings (contain EGG, WHEAT, BARLEY), chicken (2.5%), sugar, chicken fat (2.5%), onion powder, yeast extract, citric acid, turmeric, parsley, antioxidant (extracts of rosemary). Oh well, didn’t seem to do us too much harm and perhaps gave us a taste of just why noodles are the business (especially in soups)!

It is hard to put into words just how utterly delicious my Thai Prawn Noodle Soup is … as I say in the intro, it is all about the spice paste right at the offset. I use one of those little spice-grinders and it makes light work of the process and your soup can be ready in less than half an hour!

Instead of the prawns, you can substitute cooked and shredded chicken or duck, strips of salmon, cubes of tofu or just a few diced spring onions, spinach or bok choy.

Ideally, the purpose of a snack is to keep us nourished and ‘on our toes’ until our next meal - SO - it should be occasional, small, tasty, nutritious, filling, fresh, transportable and quick - and preferably, it should NOT be a response to a sugar craving, an answer to boredom or a totally mindless moment! That’s when most of us come undone and somehow or another, the pounds start accumulating around our waistline!

To get the maximum nourishment from the said snack, perhaps you might like to download my suggestions, stick those you fancy on your mobile phone which may become your ‘go to’ and hopefully never find yourself in that place where a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar are the only options!

Now… the way I see it is … if grilled flat, fresh mushrooms, just-ripe avocados, smoked salmon from fish so fresh even through the smoking you can detect it and a runny, free-range organic egg are your thing - you have just happened upon the very best combination - ever!

I played around with this recipe for some considerable time and my premis was to have ‘no bread of any sort ’ to pile the other delightful ingredients upon (I suppose I must have been appealing the the ‘paleo lot’ or the ‘intermittent fasting lot’ or the ‘gluten intolerant lot’ - or dear alone knows who else!) But I certainly was not appealing to those that somehow or other believe that those foods that are rich in Omega fats (particularly Omega 3 fats) are ‘fattening’ and should be limited! Honestly, you can almost feel your nails growing, your bone mass intensifying, your heart strengthening, your hair taking on a beautiful shine and your power and energy spilling over as you savour every bite!

It has to be said - I am rather pleased with this wonderfully-filling and really health-giving dish and I would love you to try it and let me know if you have any further variations on my theme. Sometime I substitute smoked ham for the smoked salmon AND balance two poached eggs on top! - risk-taker or what??

You know those cookbooks that ask anybody and everybody in the surrounding area to donate their favourite and ‘best kept secret’ recipes to be included to make some dosh for a chosen charity? Well, I am a sucker for them all - you just know that Mrs S from Bonnyrigg or Mrs T from Borehamwood are simply not going to pitch in something they are not quite sure of, and, you often get loads of those ones entitled: ‘My Gran’s Best Ever Fruit Scones’ or ‘My Nan’s Fabulous Venison Stew’.

Oh yes, I am right there with my wallet and supporting the said charity! And one in particular I have to mention is a Canadian project called Fare for Friends which was in aid of a refuge for abused women in Ontario which one of my very dear friends, Chrissie, gave me over 30 years ago when she was living in Canada. There are at least 20 or more recipes in this little book that I cook on a regular basis (I think ‘Eleanor’s Egg Caviar’ and ‘Bacon Stuffed Avocados’ may well have appeared in one or more of my books!)

And here is one - Curried Broccoli Soup - the lady who donated the recipe (no name, sadly) thought it was a perfect start to a dinner party but I just make it whenever I have a rather large bunch of broccoli lurking in the fridge or broccoli screams at me from the veg section!

I have explained about the saturated fat content in the pdf of the recipe but please don’t judge me too harshly when I go for the full fat version - it is only occasionally and it is so good!

Spinach is a vegetable that belongs to the Amaranthaceae family of plants and is closely related to beets, swiss chard and quinoa and if any of you have purchased any of my books, you will note that my recipes include rather many of the Amaranthaceae family!

They all boast a high amount of vitamin A, vitamin K and folate, along with a number of other important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for a low amount of calories and they can help improve a number of health conditions and have been shown to boost immunity, defend against heart disease, keep your skin healthy and preserve cognitive function. Nice one!

This recipe, my Quinoa Vegetable Bake has been a real hit with my readers and my friends and includes both spinach and quinoa. Most also tell me that it is a serious crowd-pleaser and has become a real regular in their diet as it is so very easy to cobble together and is fabulously tasty - you may want to join the list of growing fans!