Add some gourmet to your simple pesto pasta

I love pesto pasta and it's simplicity and comforting flavours that hug you with every bite.
When making it at home, it's quite simple - cook pasta, add store bought pesto, stir, eat.

But when wanting to be a little more inventive - there are a few little extras that will really push this dish even further up the list of favourites.

Panfried Capers - oh yes people, this is amazing - adding saltiness and bite to the pesto flavour.
Panfried Peas - delicious and so simple to throw in - the sweetness of the peas against the saltiness of the capers is perfection.
Diced tomatoes - cos all Italian dishes need them right?

Throw in a big splash of chilli oil and there you go - making a simple "sauce in a jar" dish into something a little more gourmet!

Winter weather comforts

Veggie mince chili with brown basmati rice topped with tomatoes, coriander and feta

When it gets cold outside we all wanna be warm on the inside! This is delicious and hits the spot when the winter weather starts to return.

Chili:
Quorn mince meat - a great way to create popular and favourite dishes while being a vegetarian
A tin of red kidney beans
A tin of Heinz tomato soup
Garlic
Onion
Smoked Chipotle
Chilli flakes

In some light oil, fry the garlic and onion, add in the kidney beans and Quorn mince - once the mix is heated through and combined well, season with salt/pepper, Smoked Chiptole and Chilli flakes. Mix in  the Heinz soup slowly (don't add to much as it can get runny) and allow to simmer for 10-15 mins.
Top with chopped plum tomatoes, chopped coriander and crumbled feta. Delicious!

Comfort food bliss

I invented this deliciousness about a year ago. The autumn London nights meant I needed something wholesome and warm to keep me company on the couch. This is amazingly easy and cheap too which is always a plus! The base of the sauce is Heinz Tomato soup, with whom I have an incredible love affair with.

1 can Heinz tomato soup - heat in a saucepan
add 1 cup of conchigliette pasta shells (very tiny and easy to cook in the soup base)
once the mix starts to thicken and the pasta starts to cook through, add chilli flakes.
Stir in a handful of parmesan to the mix, this will make it more creamy and adds flavour.

Once it's cooked through, serve with a topping of parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of chilli flakes.

You're Welcome.