This soup, though a little hard work, is as filling as anything and is a perfect candidate for making spicy, and therefore even more filling. Lentils are a wonder really, there is little I love more than Dhal and Rice, and they are stuffed full of most things that you need. The addition of roasted squash and other veg, just makes this spot on. This recipe produces a very heavy soup that I strongly suggest you add water to when you reheat – works perfectly. Ingredients Couple of cups of lentils Chicken Stock (or veg) One butternut squash or pumpkin, skinned and chopped finely chopped garlic 1 teaspoon of curry paste or powder, or make your own. 4 carrots… »

Right, here we go with the first soup I cooked my partner. It is very difficult to go wrong with anything that has carrots and tomatoes in it, to be honest, especially if influenced by the gorgeous people round the med. This soup would be as equally at home in Tuscany as Spain, probably, but more important, it is a good, easy mainstay of your Soup Diet. Like anything this is always at its best fresh, but it freezes quiet happily, so make as much as you like. Here is what I did in a very large saucepan, but remember, you can vary the quantities – just treat this as a rough guide. Ingredients 1 large onion, finely chopped… »

Over the last week or so I have been cooking for my partner soups to allow her to diet as easily as possible. The theory is that a soup can be made to feel filling while being low in calories and high in good stuff. This has been fine and in her first week she has lost 8 pounds in weight! The trouble is that all her work colleagues now want my soups as well, and my partner has put her foot well and truly down and said I am not cooking for the whole office, even though they are quite prepared to pay! But there is no reason why they cant have the recipe is there? Well, that may… »

Well, the Imam Fainted. That is what Imam Bayaldi means and certainly, many people find this a heavenly dish. Quite why the Imam Fainted is open to speculation, though it may have been at the cost of all that olive oil! However, it was also the third main dish of my recent family dinner and accompanied the Lamb in a Pot and Porchetta, and everyone looked pretty conscious last I checked. Imam Bayildi has its origins at the Eastern end of the Mediterranean, and is especially associated with the middle east; though you can find it throughout the region. Like many wonderful dishes it is simplicity itself, relying… »

Many places in India, especially certain religious sites, are very generous and will feed for free any passing stranger – though helping with the washing up is a nice gesture! For obvious reasons the food is often very cheap and basic, but can be alarmingly tasty! Here is my take on a great and cheapo favourite – Dahl and Rice. I have cooked this regularly through my life, both when flush with cash or completely broke. You can go stuff your chocolate – THIS is the ultimate comfort food! As usual, I have left some of the quantities a little vague – well, you will make this better if you play around with it a little. It can be a… »

The Lamb and the Porchetta I must, before I forget, carry on with the recipes from my family get together the other week.  Yesterday I hopefully made you drool over the prospect of fine British Lamb cooked in wine and tomatoes for many, many hours till it simply slid off the bone. At the meal we had two meat dishes, for I am a firm believer that the best meals has not one meat offering but two. And the other dish to grace the table was the wonderful and succulent Italian Porchetta; rolled and roasted belly of pork. Many British families go into reverse gear when you mention belly… »