As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, many of us are looking for ways to save money where we can. Food shops are one of the main things that have become more expensive in recent years – so are there any easy ways to save a bit of cash in the kitchen? Chefs are on hand to share their top money-saving tips… Make simple swaps Suzanne Mulholland, author of The Batch Lady: Cooking On A Budget (HQ, £22) recommends letting go of loyalty to brand names. For example, she says: “You’re not going to notice a difference in flour – yet it’s about a fifth of the price of a branded one.” Mulholland continues: “If you love to eat haddock, then buy hake instead. If you like to eat cod, buy coley instead – monkfish? Buy seacat. These are all very similar fishes, but they’re just not the most popular ones everybody else buys. “You wouldn’t actually notice the difference between eating a different type of fish, because hake is very much like haddock – yet because it’s not that popular, it’s half the price. It’s also locally sourced, because these are all British fish.” Maunika Gowardhan, author of Tandoori Home Cooking (Hardie Grant, £25), also advocates cost-effective swaps. “If it’s a chicken recipe, I normally use chicken thighs over chicken breasts,” she says. “It’s a cheaper cut of meat, and it’s a more flavourful cut of meat.” If you’re a keen baker, The Great British Bake Off’s Kim-Joy (Bake Me A Cat, Quadrille, £16.99) has a top tip for you. As butter “has become so much more expensive”, she recommends “using more vegetable oil in baking”. Make a plan “Most people are cooking blindly,” says chef Max La Manna (You Can Cook This!, Ebury Publishing, £22), “Pulling ingredients together and cooking – they do the same when they go to a supermarket, they buy ingredients – and a lot of waste happens when people don’t have a plan.” La Manna’s top tip is firstly “cook the food you already have before you go out and buy more”. After that, it’s all about making a plan. “Shop smarter,” says La Manna. “Create lists when you go to the supermarket, and stick to that list.” Make your ingredients last longer Throwing away produce that’s gone off is money down the drain – so La Manna is keen for us all to make ingredients last longer. “You can extend the shelf life of ingredients – for instance, most people throw away bag salad or herbs,” he says. “What I do with my bag salad, once I bring it home I’ll wash it and also let it sit in cold water – because it firms up and it gets crisp and it stays fresh a little longer.” Once he’s washed the salad, he divides the bag of leaves – putting half in a container in a tea towel (“to absorb some of the moisture”) and use within the next three or four days. “The other half I cook in hot water – blanch it really quickly, squeeze out the water, then I have this kind of pre-cooked spinach. Roll that up tightly, place it in the freezer and then when I need something in a week’s time – a stew, a soup, a curry, a stir-fry – pop those in.” You can also reduce waste by knowing how to store all your other produce properly. “That’s where a lot of waste is coming in, people put ingredients away, they turn their back and the food’s already gone bad,” says La Manna. “Know how to store your produce and where to store it – potatoes should be kept in a cupboard somewhere dry, dark, cool but well-ventilated so they don’t begin to sprout. Same thing with onions. Bananas like to have their own space – bananas don’t like to be with other ingredients, because they release a chemical and will ripen quicker.” Instead of throwing away bananas on the turn, La Manna says: “It’s great for the freezer, [or] use them in smoothies. Use them as a batter for cupcakes or cakes.” Use every part of your ingredients “With Chinese food, there really is a ‘no waste’ policy,” says Kwoklyn Wan (One Wok, One Pot, Quadrille, £16.99) – and he suggests this ethos could help you save money in the kitchen. “Even when you peel your onions, use the onion skin in the stock” – along with anything else you might normally throw away, such as the top ends of carrots or fish heads. “That’s so important – if people learn to use every part of that ingredient… You can have a fantastic dish with all the best bits, and at the end of it, you’ve got this fantastic soup base. All you’ve got to do is add really cheap noodles into it, and maybe a few veggies and tofu, some chicken – whatever. “You’ve got this lovely broth – and that’s your next meal completely free, or near enough.” Be smart with your ingredients Most of us are guilty of buying an exciting-sounding ingredient for our store cupboard and only using it once. If you really want to save money in the kitchen, it’s all about being smart with what you buy – and making sure you’re going to use it a lot. Lydia Vernon, co-author of Caught Snackin’ (Hamlyn, £20), says that on Caught Snackin’s wildly popular TikTok channel,”we like to keep with the same ingredients for each recipe. “We stay around things like mixed herbs, garlic powder, plain flour – those kind of staples you have in your cupboard all the time, which are going to be cost-effective.” Food writer Gurdeep Loyal (Mother Tongue, Fourth Estate, £26) takes this one step further, saying: “My advice would be to equip your pantry with four or five very flavour-forward ingredients – things such as tamarind paste, things such as brown miso, things such as fennel seeds, for example, or something like tandoori masala powder. “Because these four or five pantry staples can transform anything really simple and basic – just adding a spoonful of this is going to amplify your cooking into hundreds of different directions. “It means you can use very basic supermarket staples, then turn them into something incredible” – without having to spend money on fancy new ingredients every week. Read More The dish that defines me: Mallini Kannan’s baked honey-soy salmon Breakfast for dinner and four other things you should cook this week Money-saving chilli con carne that absolutely slaps with flavour How to pimp up your instant ramen (and save money) Do it for the Gram: Speedy but spectacular goat’s cheese linguine Where to find the best Guinness in London – and how to spot a bad one

This is a versatile dish that you can pair with many different things; have it with rice, smother it over fries, put it on a hot dog, pour it over a jacket spud or just use it as a dip for tortilla chips,” says Mitch Lane, author of Feed Your Family For Under A Fiver. “It can be frozen as well, so it’s great for saving time while meal prepping! I use store-bought chilli con carne seasoning, but if you have a lot of spices in your cupboard (cumin, chilli powder, paprika, cumin seeds) then you’re on to a winner. This is so simple and it absolutely slaps with flavour.” Chilli con carne Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 tsp vegetable or olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 green chillies, finely chopped, plus 1 to serve 500g minced beef 41g packet of chilli con carne seasoning 400g tin chopped tomatoes 130g tin kidney beans, drained 300ml beef stock (made with a stock cube) Salt and pepper Method: 1. Put a pan on a medium heat and add the oil and the onion and soften for three to four minutes. Add the garlic and chillies and continue to cook for a further two minutes. If you’re not keen on a lot of spice just use one chilli and remove the seeds. 2. Add the mince and break it up with the back of a spoon, ensuring that there’s no big lumps. Cook the meat until it’s nice and brown. Be generous with the salt and pepper and then add the chilli con carne seasoning. Mix well. 3. Add the tomatoes and kidney beans and stir. Then pour in the beef stock and simmer for 30 minutes. The simmering is very important (it’s like a fine wine that gets better with age). 4. Serve with sliced chilli. ‘Feed Your Family For Under A Fiver’ by Mitch Lane (Thorsons, £16.99). Read More The dish that defines me: Mallini Kannan’s baked honey-soy salmon Breakfast for dinner and four other things you should cook this week How to save money in the kitchen according to top chefs How to pimp up your instant ramen (and save money) Do it for the Gram: Speedy but spectacular goat’s cheese linguine Where to find the best Guinness in London – and how to spot a bad one

This vibrantly green pasta recipe is one of my favourites in the book,” says Mimi Harrison, author of Beat The Budget. “Not only is it bright and Instagrammable, it’s also so delicious. The frozen spinach is reasonably priced and you don’t have to worry about it going off in the fridge. And the goat’s cheese provides creaminess, acidity and tang, all in one ingredient (hello, cost-effective!). “This is ideal for a speedy meal when you’re in a rush, or to serve to friends at a dinner party when you don’t want to spend half the night in the kitchen.” Goat’s cheese, spinach and basil linguine Serves: 5 Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, diced 500g linguine 3 garlic cloves, finely grated 160g frozen spinach 125g goat’s cheese 30g fresh basil Salt and pepper to taste Chilli flakes (optional) Method: 1. Set a non-stick pan over a medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and gently fry for four minutes. 2. Meanwhile, set a large pan of salted water over a medium heat and bring to a boil. Add the linguine and cook for two minutes less than the packet cooking time. 3. While the pasta is cooking and once the onions have softened, add the garlic to fry for a minute before adding the frozen spinach to the pan, along with 400 millilitres of the starchy pasta water. Increase the heat and cook the spinach and onion mix until the pasta is ready. 4. Add the spinach and onion mix to a blender with half of the goat’s cheese and the basil and blitz until smooth. 5. Drain the linguine and transfer back to the pan. Pour over the blended sauce and continue to cook over a low\medium heat. 6. After about two minutes, the sauce should thicken and coat the linguine. Serve with a sprinkle of any remaining goat’s cheese and a pinch of salt and pepper. Optionally, top with chilli flakes if you love a little heat. ‘Beat The Budget’ by Mimi Harrison (Ebury Press, £16.99). Read More The dish that defines me: Mallini Kannan’s baked honey-soy salmon Breakfast for dinner and four other things you should cook this week How to save money in the kitchen according to top chefs Money-saving chilli con carne that absolutely slaps with flavour How to pimp up your instant ramen (and save money) Where to find the best Guinness in London – and how to spot a bad one

There is something so wonderfully comforting about a bowl of ramen noodles, whatever the season,” says chef and TV presenter Shivi Ramoutar, author of Cook Clever. “This version uses packet ramen – don’t turn your nose up at it; I assure you that with the added flavours, veg and protein, it becomes something spectacular and amazingly easy to accomplish. This is one to elevate to your heart’s content – you really can’t go too OTT with this. Have it slurpy or dry as you like.” Pimped packet ramen Serves: 2 Ingredients: For the base: 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil 1 spring onion (white bulb discarded), snipped 1 tsp garlic purée 2 mugs of boiling water 2 packets of ramen noodles (or any other instant noodles) OR 300g ready cooked noodles and 1 chicken stock cube, crumbled OR 300g ready cooked noodles and 2 sachets of miso soup mix For the protein (choose from): 1 mug of frozen, fresh or cooked chicken strips 1 mug of frozen, fresh or cooked seafood 1 mug of frozen or fresh gyoza dumplings ½ block of firm tofu, broken into smaller pieces For the veg: 250g packet of pak choi, leaves separated ½ mug of frozen vegetables Toppers (choose as many as you like): Soft-boiled egg halves Drizzles of chilli oil 1 tbsp sesame seeds Fresh coriander sprigs Fresh chillies Kimchi Drizzles of sriracha Method: 1. Heat the oil in a small saucepan over a medium heat and cook the spring onion and garlic purée for a couple minutes, stirring often until aromatic. 2. Add the boiling water, along with the dried noodles and their flavour sachets, or the cooked noodles with the crumbled stock cube or the miso soup sachets. Stir together and cook for a minute or two until the liquid is mostly absorbed. 3. Add your chosen protein and the veg and cook until the protein is just cooked through, about five minutes or so. If you are using fresh chicken or seafood it will take less time. If using tofu, add in the last few minutes so it doesn’t disintegrate. 4. Serve into bowls and go crazy with the toppers. ‘Cook Clever: One Chop, No Waste, All Taste’ by Shivi Ramoutar (HarperCollins, £20). Read More The dish that defines me: Mallini Kannan’s baked honey-soy salmon Breakfast for dinner and four other things you should cook this week How to save money in the kitchen according to top chefs Money-saving chilli con carne that absolutely slaps with flavour Do it for the Gram: Speedy but spectacular goat’s cheese linguine Where to find the best Guinness in London – and how to spot a bad one

Settle your sweet tooth (and build some alliances in the process) with this all-new cookbook inspired by 'The Settlers of Catan.'

Nestlé USA is recalling a “limited quantity” of its Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough “break and bake” after fragmented pieces of wood were found in some packages. On 10 August, the food and drink corporation announced the news in a press release published on its website. According to the company, it had identified two batches of the 16.5 oz product produced on 24 and 25 April as being the reason for the recall, “due to the potential presence of wood fragments”. “This recall does not involve any other Nestlé Toll House products, including other varieties of refrigerated cookie dough in ‘break and bake’ bars, rolls, or tubs, or Edible cookie dough,” the statement read. Nestlé directed consumers’ attention to the recalled batch codes to avoid, both 16.5 oz bags with 311457531K or 311557534K. The company warned people who have already purchased these batches to “not prepare or consume the product” and urged them to “return the product to the retailer where it was purchased for a replacement or refund”. There have been no reported injuries or illnesses related to the recall, according to the confectioners. “We are taking this action out of an abundance of caution after a small number of consumers contacted Nestlé USA about this issue,” the release proclaimed. “The quality, safety and integrity of our products remain our number one priority. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this action represents to both our consumers and retail customers.” Nestlé also said it is in contact with the US Drug and Food Administration (FDA) about the recall, according to their press release. Anyone in need of support or with any further questions is encouraged to contact the company’s customer service line at (800) 681-1678 Monday through Friday, between 9am and 6pm ET. The recall comes after Nestlé voluntarily recalled its Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Fudge Filling because of the “potential presence of white plastic pieces” in October of 2022. The Independent has contacted Nestlé for further comment. Read More Advocates sue federal government for failing to ban imports of cocoa harvested by children Sugary cereals and yoghurts must remove child-friendly packaging – health group Nestle reveals reason behind price increase of its most popular chocolate bar

Chloe Bailey was left in distress after she recently accidentally ate a beef burger, interrupting 10 years of dedicated veganism. The singer, 25, and her younger sister Halle Bailey, 23, have both been vegans for the last decade and have been outspoken about their dietary choices. However, Chloe revealed in an Instagram Live stream that she was mistakenly served red meat instead of a plant-based Beyond Meat burger over the weekend, just before attending Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia. According to Chloe, the incident occurred on Saturday (12 August) after she ordered burgers for her and Halle in the hotel they were staying in before the show. She told fans: “So I called to get a Beyond Burger for sis and I like usual. Specified that it’s vegan, no butter on the bun, nothing like that. “So we get the burgers, I’m getting out of the shower… and she’s eating the burger and she’s like, ‘Are you sure this is Beyond?’” Confident in her ordering, Chloe said it was. However, when she took a bite of the burger herself, she realised something was wrong. The “Do It” singer continued: “I touched the patty and smelled it and was like, ‘Of course it’s Beyond, yeah’. So I finish getting dressed, I take a bite and the juice dripping from the burger is not like a Beyond burger. I just knew it was not a fake burger. “The one bite I took and I just knew. Immediately I said, ‘This doesn’t feel right’.” She quickly rang the hotel’s front desk to ask if they delivered vegan burgers to her hotel room. However, the concierge’s answer horrified her. “He said, ‘No, they’re brand burgers’. I said, ‘Brand burgers? I said Beyond burgers’. I don’t even know what a brand burger is,” she told fans on the livestream. “Immediately I’m losing my s***. I gobbled down a whole can of Sprite. Halle’s laughing at me because I’m crying. This is right before the concert yesterday. I’m crying, Halle’s just laughing so hard at me because I’m freaking out. “I’ve been vegan for 10 years. I have not consumed any red meat for 10 years,” Chloe added. The clip was shared on the celebrity news Instagram account The Shade Room, and prompted sympathy from other vegetarian and vegan fans. “I’m vegetarian and it’s definitely hard to tell the difference sometimes but you know the taste of real meat and that stomach ache ain’t no joke,” one person commented. Another said: “My first time eating meat after a full vegan diet, my stomach… revolted.” Halle said in a 2017 interview with Complex that the sisters went vegan because of their mother. She explained: “One day, she was like, ‘I’m gonna try to be vegetarian for a week. You can join me if you’d like’. We started the week with her and just never went back.” In an awkward red carpet exchange at the premiere of live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, Halle was asked who she would choose to eat between Flounder and Sebastian. In the film, Flounder is a fish and Sebastian is a crab. She responded: “I would not eat either of them. They’re my friends." Read More The millionaire smuggled out of Japan in a box: Was Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn a victim or a villain? Husband ‘ruins’ dinner because of his wife’s typo: ‘The worst kind of control freak’ Billy Porter hits out at Harry Styles and Anna Wintour over Vogue cover: ‘You’re using my community’ Foodies forced to eat their own words after trick ‘gourmet’ meal Michelin-starred chef Michael O’Hare puts Skittle twist on classic desserts The dish that defines me: Mallini Kannan’s baked honey-soy salmon

Defining Dishes is a new Indyeats column that explores the significance of food at key moments in our lives. From recipes that have been passed down for generations, to flavours that hold a special place in our hearts, food shapes every part of our lives in ways we might not have ever imagined. I came up with this baked honey-soy salmon dish in the first flat I ever had all to myself, as a master’s student in Stirling, Scotland. I think that’s what makes me feel most proud of it, because it was the first thing I made that made me truly feel like an adult. I was 25 and had been living away from home in Malaysia for nearly five years, and although I never really cooked with fish, I was really craving it, particularly Chinese steamed fish. Salmon was relatively cheap in Scotland, but I always felt that there was something about cooking fish that was very intimidating. It felt like it was too fancy for me. I also feel like it’s still socially acceptable to eat overcooked, dry chicken breast, but eating overcooked fish is just much more unpleasant and no one wants that. But something came over me one day when I saw a fresh salmon fillet with a really good discount in the Tesco clearance aisle. Maybe that should tell you something about me – I don’t know if others would consider that safe – but it looked good and I said, “You know what, maybe today’s the day”. At the time, it so happened that honey-soy salmon was really trending, I had seen it all over the place. I didn’t Google a recipe, I just sort of figured out what flavours could be good on a piece of fish. I made a sauce using soy sauce, Chinese cooking wine and maple syrup (which was gifted to me by one of my very nice friends), poured it on top of the fish and shoved it in the oven, because I didn’t have a steamer then. I did look up how long to cook it for, and Google said 20 minutes. I ate it with steamed rice and to my delight, surprise and relief, it was absolutely delicious. I felt really good about it. It was a real level-up moment in my life. It was the first time I had made a difficult dish, even though the actual labour wasn’t difficult at all and it is essentially a very simple dish. It made me feel like I could do it; I could make grown-up food. At the time, I was 24 or 25-years-old and I had been living away from home for some time, but never without housemates. So I was truly on my own. It was a revelation to realise that I could make Chinese food like this at home. I come from a Malaysian-Indian family. We don’t steam much of anything and so if I wanted steamed fish, I’d have to go to a Chinese restaurant. But now, I didn’t really have to. After that, it became my hyper-fixation meal. I just couldn’t get enough of it and made it all the time – at the peak of my fixation, I ate it three times a week. But I did learn that it does not make for good leftovers. It must be eaten on the day it’s made, otherwise the fishy smell gets a bit unappealing. Once I learned that, I ate it about once a week, and each time I’d experiment with it. I learned the importance of adding aromatics like garlic, ginger, spring onions, coriander and chili. But the key motivator to my experiments was laziness. Could I get away with not slicing things up? What if I don’t want to turn the stove on? How can I cut corners? No matter what kind of nonsense I threw at it, it has always turned out reliably good. The first time I cooked the dish for someone else was when my parents came to visit me from Malaysia. We had just returned from a trip, and they were staying in my flat for a week and it was the first time they came to a place that was truly mine. I remember very clearly cooking the salmon for them because a couple of friends had invited me out to the pub that night and I wanted to go, but I didn’t want to order takeaway for my parents – they were at that stage in their holiday when all Asian parents get grumpy because they haven’t had rice in three days and it was paramount that they ate some immediately. I had 30 minutes before I had to get going to the pub, and I figured that I knew how to cook this dish so well by now that I could get it done in 20 minutes. However, it was also the first time I had scaled a fish. Before, I just cooked the fish with scales and all, I didn’t even realise you had to take them off. For some reason, this time I decided I needed to scale this slab of salmon. I read one Google-recommended article and was like: “Let’s go.” What they don’t tell you is that scales fly. They go absolutely everywhere. And there’s a kind of black coating, like a slime, on the fish that will also go everywhere. I remember my parents peeking their head around the kitchen door to ask if everything was OK, and me just barking: “YA IT’S FINE.” I had to get that thing in the oven NOW, so it had to happen. And you know what? It turned out great. This was the second dish I’ve made for my parents that they’ve said: “Oh, wow.” The first time was for a prawn curry, but this was special because they were so impressed by the efficiency of it and also, it was the first time they realised that wow, I’m an adult, I’ve figured it out. They were used to me making good food, but this was the first practical dish; it’s not me sitting in the kitchen, having to cut a mountain of onions and pounding galangal. Last year, after I moved to Virginia to be with my husband, I made it for him for the first time. It feels really nice to share this part of me with him. It was a piece of myself that I figured out on my own, before married life, and it feels really significant because it was my independence dish. I want everybody to make it. However, I have a bone to pick with fishmongers in the UK. I want to know why they don’t scale the fish you buy unless they’re asked. Surely nobody wants to eat the scales? Just scale it please, thank you very much. And if any readers have suggestions for how I can make my baked salmon skin crispy, I would very much like to know. I still haven’t figured that part out yet. Mallini Kannan is a communications specialist from Malaysia, who now lives in the US with her husband. She still cooks this dish every week. Read More The dish that defines me: Frank Yeung’s prawn wontons The dish that defines me: Alex Outhwaite’s Vietnamese bun cha The dish that defines me: Eddie Huang’s Taiwanese beef noodle soup Breakfast for dinner and four other things you should cook this week Where to find the best Guinness in London – and how to spot a bad one How sizzling kitchen drama The Bear is spicing up the dating game for chefs

Many elements of Restaurante Botín in Madrid date back to when it opened in 1725, including the fire in the oven.

Breakfast for dinner is a ritual I firmly believe should be participated in at least once a week and protected at all costs. The “most important meal of the day” is also the most contentious – debates still rage on what you should eat, when you should eat it, whether you should eat it at all. To which I say: be damned! Eat whatever you want, whenever you want. As a strictly savoury supporter, you won’t find me indulging in overly sweet pastries come dinnertime, but you will often find me whipping up mushroom crepes, toast with all the toppings or, as below, omelettes. In August, when tomatoes and peppers and courgettes and all the other colourful things are at their best, a summer garden omelette is the perfect way to start – or end – your day on a seasonal note. Speaking of summer’s bounty, other recipes in this week’s meal plan include a stir-fry with in-season courgette and sweetcorn, which makes for a quick, satisfying and veggie-packed meal for any day of the week. Equally light and bright is the bruschetta chicken delight or the grilled honey-lime pork chops with mango salsa, which celebrate the flavours of summer but are by no means restricted to the season. For something a little heartier, one-pan rice with prawns and salsa verde is easy to make, offers up serious flavour and, more importantly, saves on washing up. Summer garden omelette Bursting with a medley of fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs, this omelette is a perfect way to start (or end) your day on a sunny note. The combination of colourful bell peppers, courgette, tomatoes and fragrant basil creates a symphony of tastes that’s as visually appealing as it is delicious. With a hint of melted cheddar cheese and a fluffy egg base, this omelette is a celebration of seasonal produce. Serves: 2 Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 4 large eggs ¼ cup (60 ml) milk Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tablespoon butter ½ red bell pepper, diced ½ yellow bell pepper, diced ½ small red onion, finely chopped 1 small courgette, diced 1 small tomato, seeded and diced ¼ cup (30g) grated cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped Method: Crack the eggs into a bowl, add the milk, a pinch of salt and a dash of pepper. Whisk the mixture until well combined. Set aside. Prepare all the vegetables by washing, peeling and dicing as needed. Keep them ready for cooking. Grate the cheddar cheese and set it aside. Chop the fresh basil and set it aside as well. In a non-stick frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced red and yellow bell peppers, chopped red onion and diced courgette. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes until the vegetables start to soften. Add the diced tomatoes to the pan and cook for an additional 2 minutes. This helps to remove excess moisture from the tomatoes. Give the egg mixture a final whisk and pour it evenly over the sautéed vegetables in the pan. Allow the omelette to cook undisturbed for a few minutes until the edges start to set. Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese evenly over one half of the omelette. Sprinkle the chopped fresh basil over the cheese. Using a spatula, carefully fold the other half of the omelette over the cheese and basil side, creating a half-moon shape. Let the omelette cook for another 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and the omelette is cooked through but still slightly moist in the center. Gently slide the omelette onto a serving plate. You can garnish with additional fresh basil if desired. Serve the summer garden omelette with a side of toast or a fresh salad for a delightful summer breakfast or brunch. Zesty courgette and sweetcorn noodle stir-fry This dish is a harmonious blend of tender courgette, crisp sweetcorn and flavourful noodles, all brought together with a tangy sauce. Quick to prepare and bursting with fresh, vibrant ingredients, this recipe is perfect for those seeking a delicious and wholesome meal. Serves: 2 Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 200g egg noodles 2 medium courgettes, julienned or spiralised 1 cup sweetcorn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 red chilli, finely chopped (adjust to taste) 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 teaspoon brown sugar Salt and pepper, to taste Fresh coriander, chopped, for garnish Lime wedges, for serving Method: Cook the egg noodles according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar and a pinch of black pepper. Set the sauce aside. Heat the vegetable oil in a large wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic, chopped red chilli and grated ginger. Stir-fry for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the julienned or spiralized courgettes to the pan. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften but still retain some crunch. Add the sweetcorn kernels to the pan and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cooked egg noodles to the pan. Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles and vegetables. Gently toss everything together to ensure the noodles and vegetables are evenly coated with the sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavours to meld. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt, if needed. Remember that soy sauce is already salty, so be cautious. Remove the pan from the heat and garnish with chopped fresh coriander. Divide the courgette and sweetcorn noodle stir-fry between two plates. Serve with lime wedges on the side for an extra zesty kick. Bruschetta chicken delight This dish combines succulent grilled chicken with the fresh and zesty taste of classic bruschetta toppings. The marriage of juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil and tangy balsamic glaze atop tender chicken breasts creates a summery dish that’s sure to impress. Serves: 2 Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste 2 large ripe tomatoes, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze or reduction 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a kick) ½ baguette, sliced diagonally Fresh basil leaves, for garnish Method: Rub the chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper on both sides. Place the chicken in a zip-top bag or a shallow dish and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes while you prepare the other components. In a bowl, combine the diced tomatoes, minced garlic, sliced basil leaves, balsamic vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil and red pepper flakes (if using). Mix well and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set the bruschetta topping aside. Preheat your grill or a grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the marinated chicken breasts for about 6-8 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches 75C and the chicken is cooked through. Cooking time may vary based on the thickness of the chicken breasts. While the chicken is grilling, brush the baguette slices with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Toast the baguette slices on the grill for about 1-2 minutes on each side, until they’re golden and crisp. Set aside. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the grill and let it rest for a couple of minutes before slicing. Place a grilled chicken breast on each plate. Top the chicken with a generous amount of the bruschetta topping, allowing the juices to mingle with the chicken. Drizzle balsamic glaze or reduction over the chicken and bruschetta. Garnish with fresh basil leaves for an extra burst of flavour and visual appeal. Serve the bruschetta chicken delight with the toasted baguette slices on the side for a complete and delightful meal. One-pan salsa verde prawns with rice This vibrant dish combines succulent prawns with the zesty allure of salsa verde, all cooked together in a single pan. With the added bonus of rice soaking up the delicious juices, this recipe promises a quick, satisfying and tantalising meal that’ll become a staple in your kitchen. Serves: 2 Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: 200g raw prawns, peeled and deveined 1 cup long-grain rice 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth ½ cup salsa verde (shop-bought or homemade) 1 teaspoon cumin Salt and pepper, to taste Juice of 1 lime Fresh coriander, chopped, for garnish Method: Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside. Pat the prawns dry with paper towels and season them with a pinch of salt, pepper and cumin. In a large pan or frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the rinsed rice and cook for 1-2 minutes, allowing the rice to absorb some of the flavours. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and salsa verde. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan with a lid and let the rice cook for about 15-18 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid. Once the rice is almost cooked, gently nestle the seasoned prawns into the rice mixture. Cover the pan again and let the prawns cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until they turn pink and opaque. The cooking time will depend on the size of the prawns. Squeeze the lime juice over the cooked prawns and rice. Sprinkle freshly chopped coriander (cilantro) over the dish for a burst of fresh flavour. Serve directly from the pan, offering a vibrant and satisfying meal in just one dish. Grilled honey-lime pork chops with mango salsa These succulent pork chops are marinated in a zesty honey-lime mixture, then perfectly grilled to create a delightful balance of sweet and tangy flavours. Topped with a vibrant mango salsa, this dish is a burst of tropical goodness that encapsulates the essence of the season. Serves: 2 Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 2 bone-in pork chops Zest and juice of 1 lime 3 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon ground cumin Salt and pepper, to taste For the mango salsa: 1 ripe mango, peeled, pitted and diced ¼ red onion, finely chopped ½ red bell pepper, diced ½ jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and finely chopped (adjust to taste) Juice of 1 lime 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped Salt, to taste Method: In a bowl, whisk together the lime zest, lime juice, honey, olive oil, ground cumin, salt and pepper to create the marinade. Place the pork chops in a shallow dish or a zip-top bag and pour the marinade over them. Ensure the pork chops are evenly coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator. In a bowl, combine the diced mango, finely chopped red onion, diced red bell pepper, chopped jalapeno pepper, lime juice and chopped fresh coriander. Season the salsa with a pinch of salt and gently mix everything together. Set the salsa aside. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Remove the pork chops from the marinade, allowing any excess to drip off. Grill the pork chops for about 6-8 minutes on each side, or until they reach an internal temperature of 63C and are cooked through. Cooking time may vary based on the thickness of the pork chops. Once cooked, remove the pork chops from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Place a grilled pork chop on each plate. Top each pork chop with a generous spoonful of the mango salsa, allowing the vibrant flavours to mingle. Serve alongside your favourite summer sides, such as grilled vegetables or a fresh salad. 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Chloe Bailey was left in distress after she recently accidentally ate a beef burger, interrupting 10 years of dedicated veganism. The Little Mermaid star, 25, and her younger sister Halle Bailey, 23, have both been vegans for the last decade and have been outspoken about their dietary choices. However, Chloe revealed in an Instagram Live stream that she was mistakenly served red meat instead of a plant-based Beyond Meat burger over the weekend, just before attending Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia. According to Chloe, the incident occurred on Saturday (12 August) after she ordered burgers for her and Halle in the hotel they were staying in before the show. She told fans: “So I called to get a Beyond Burger for sis and I like usual. Specified that it’s vegan, no butter on the bun, nothing like that. “So we get the burgers, I’m getting out of the shower… and she’s eating the burger and she’s like, ‘Are you sure this is Beyond?’” Confident in her ordering, Chloe said it was. However, when she took a bite of the burger herself, she realised something was wrong. The “Do It” singer continued: “I touched the patty and smelled it and was like, ‘Of course it’s Beyond, yeah’. So I finish getting dressed, I take a bite and the juice dripping from the burger is not like a Beyond burger. I just knew it was not a fake burger. “The one bite I took and I just knew. Immediately I said, ‘This doesn’t feel right’.” She quickly rang the hotel’s front desk to ask if they delivered vegan burgers to her hotel room. However, the concierge’s answer horrified her. “He said, ‘No, they’re brand burgers’. I said, ‘Brand burgers? I said Beyond burgers’. I don’t even know what a brand burger is,” she told fans on the livestream. “Immediately I’m losing my s***. I gobbled down a whole can of Sprite. Halle’s laughing at me because I’m crying. This is right before the concert yesterday. I’m crying, Halle’s just laughing so hard at me because I’m freaking out. “I’ve been vegan for 10 years. I have not consumed any red meat for 10 years,” Chloe added. The clip was shared on the celebrity news Instagram account The Shade Room, and prompted sympathy from other vegetarian and vegan fans. “I’m vegetarian and it’s definitely hard to tell the difference sometimes but you know the taste of real meat and that stomach ache ain’t no joke,” one person commented. Another said: “My first time eating meat after a full vegan diet, my stomach… revolted.” Halle said in a 2017 interview with Complex that the sisters went vegan because of their mother. She explained: “One day, she was like, ‘I’m gonna try to be vegetarian for a week. You can join me if you’d like’. We started the week with her and just never went back.” In an awkward red carpet exchange at the premiere of live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, Halle was asked who she would choose to eat between Flounder and Sebastian. In the film, Flounder is a fish and Sebastian is a crab. She responded: “I would not eat either of them. They’re my friends." Read More The millionaire smuggled out of Japan in a box: Was Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn a victim or a villain? Husband ‘ruins’ dinner because of his wife’s typo: ‘The worst kind of control freak’ Billy Porter hits out at Harry Styles and Anna Wintour over Vogue cover: ‘You’re using my community’ How sizzling kitchen drama The Bear is spicing up the dating game for chefs Mick Fleetwood says his Hawaii restaurant was ‘lost’ in devastating Maui wildfires Where to find the best Guinness in London – and how to spot a bad one

When the Arizona Food Bank Network received a call that Taylor Swift wanted to make a hefty donation to the charity as she kicked off her Eras tour in the state, some staffers thought it was a prank.