Vegetable Curry with Couscous

I made this amazing meal with my best friend Rebecca when she came to visit me at my home away from home in Dublin. It was completely a joint effort, the two of us standing over the stove, directing each other.

We started with 3 cloves of smashed garlic and a diced white onion, sautéed in some olive oil. We left threw in a cubed aubergine, sliced red peppers and three diced tomatoes. Once all the vegetables have simmered down, we added ground coriander, cumin seeds, ground ginger, paprika, and a teaspoon of curry powder. Adding in a tin of chickpeas, we also some Alpro soya cream, creating a creamy based curry. Serve with freshly chopped coriander.

We fluffed up some couscous, by adding one part couscous to two parts boiling water and left to cover with a tea towel for 10 minutes or until swollen. Run through some chopped coriander, olive oil and seasoning for extra flavour.

This was a winner, the meal and the company was definitely enjoyed!

Eggplant and bean casserole with basmati rice

This delicious dish is perfect for that cold autumn night when you want something comforting to fill your tummy.

Diced eggplant is mixed with some garlic, onion and tomatoes to create a the base of the casserole. Stir in a dollop of tomato paste to the mix. Add in a tin of kidney beans, some ground coriander and paprika for taste. Allow the mix to simmer for about 15 mins, this brings all the flavours together. Serve with steamed basmati rice, add more chilli flakes or salt for taste.

Simple, healthy and nutritious!

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!