EACH WEEK, WE ask a home cook about the dishes they’ve been whipping up of late – from simple suppers to lavish lunches.
This week, family cook Cian Hawes shared five of his favourite flavour-packed dishes, from French toast to homemade pasta.
Cian’s ethos is “eating a balanced, healthy died with seasonal produce.” Everything he makes is from scratch, and he grows his own fruit and vegetables.
Dad to seven-year-old Rowan, Cian tries to get his son involved “as much as possible”, too.
1. A favourite French toast: I don’t have a sweet tooth at all, but this is one of my son’s favourite breakfasts. He loves having this at the weekends and particularly likes the process of making the French toast. We add bacon, strawberries and maple syrup for extra sweetness. It’s quick, simple and delicious.
2. Simple shakshuka: I love a hearty breakfast and this Middle Eastern staple is a favourite of mine. It is basically eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, peppers and spices. I always add in a bit of harissa for an extra kick.
I usually serve it with homemade flatbreads (if I have the time) or toasted pittas and hummus. We make hummus once or twice a week so there is always some in the fridge. It’s quick to prepare and will keep you going for hours. It also makes a great lunch.
3. Throw-together salads: I’m not at home during the week so my daily lunches need to be made in advance. Usually on Sundays I will make up a few different salads from whatever veggies we have and stick them in the fridge. Then in the morning I will make up a selection of these to bring into work with me.
I usually bring a piece of fish and a couple of eggs too. More often than not topped off with pesto, harissa and hummus!
4. Spinach stuffed pasta with a chorizo crumb: I have a bit more time to be creative with our lunch menu at the weekends. My son loves the process of making pasta from scratch so we try to do it every couple of weeks.
This is spinach and ricotta stuffed pasta with basil oil, pesto, a chorizo crumb, fresh herbs and olives. It’s great as a lunch or even as a starter.
5. ‘Clean out the fridge’ soup: We often have a roast of some sort on a Saturday or Sunday during the cold winter months. Whatever it is, the bones get turned into a broth on Sunday evening in preparation for Monday’s soup.
Then on Monday I clean out the fridge of all the odds and ends of veggies from the previous week to make the ultimate immune system-boosting soup. It usually gets loaded with garlic, ginger and turmeric too to fight off any nasties that might be floating around. I cannot remember the last time I was sick or had a cold and I’m putting it down to this beast!
Are you a food lover? Do you enjoy trying new recipes – or do you have old favourites that you stand by? If so, we want to hear from you! Email amy@thejournal.ie for a chance to be featured in our Food Envy series.
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