Tana Ramsay - Tana Ramsays Real Family Food Delicious Recipes for Everyday Occasions

Even so, I believe that food can play another, almost more important, part in our lives. It can bring us together, slow us down and let us catch up with each other as we rush through the week. Some of the happiest moments of my life have been around the table sharing good food, and the times I treasure most with my family are when we are all together doing just that. This must be why I associate certain foods and dishes with different people and places. For example, blueberry muffins always make me think of my sister as shes so addicted to them, calamari bring back memories of baking hot holidays in the south of France, and the smell of Moroccan lamb cooking takes me right back to Sunday mornings in the kitchen with my mum. Its memories like these that make me smile.

Its a bit like a song making you think of someone. Im willing to bet that different foods conjure up different memories for you too. Food brings people together, especially families. The more we can get together around the table and share each others company, the closer and more strongly knit we can become even on the days when nobody can agree on anything! With this in mind, Ive tried to organize the recipes in this book around everyday social occasions from hurried weekday breakfasts and leisurely family get-togethers to picnics in parks and casual lunches with friends. For example, Breakfasts and Brunches has some very quick and easy ideas to put together during the week, as well as other more leisurely brunch options for lazy Saturday or Sunday mornings when you cant be bothered to get out of your pyjamas. Similarly, Food in a Flash is designed for frantic evenings when everybody is piling through the door and clamouring for dinner, your attention and general sanity.

By contrast, Laid-back Suppers is for those evenings when you have a little more time on your hands. Most of these take slightly more time to prepare, but once theyre in the oven you can usually leave them to take care of themselves. Probably my favourite section is Picnics and Treats. My kids like nothing more than eating outside, and Im pretty sure that some of their best food memories must be tied up in outdoor parties with family and friends. Vegetables are arguably not an event in themselves, but I know that sometimes they can feel like one! Children have a tendency to dig in their heels over allowing one or two peas to fall on their plates, let alone finishing them up. My lot still need encouragement when it comes to eating their greens, but Ive always tried to see it as a positive challenge and, with a bit of trial and error, Ive found ways to make them think that vegetables are okay after all.

Hopefully, theyll go down well with your family too. Whilst were on the subject of experimentation, the section of recipes called Try Something Different is designed to let you and your family do just that. Again, its not, strictly speaking, organized around an occasion, but its designed to encourage your children to enjoy different food flavours so that if you go out for dinner, either to different styles of restaurant or abroad on holiday, theyre not fazed by what arrives on their plates. For the days when youve got the in-laws descending on you in droves, the recipes in Big Family Lunches should be able to help you stay calm amidst the general chaos. Most of these can be prepared in advance and then left in the oven or pot to cook, so you should end up having plenty of time to get ready yourself. Serve these with one or two of the vegetable side dishes in Vegetable Temptations and follow up with one of the Devilish Desserts and you cant fail to impress! Finally, you may notice that Ive tended not to recommend what you should eat with what, for example which side dishes should be eaten with which main courses, or which desserts works best with which lunches (unless I have a real favourite).

Ive done this deliberately as I believe you should be able to eat anything you like in whatever combination you like. I think weve become too worried about doing everything right and getting everything officially perfect. Lifes too short! We need to relax and trust our instincts more. I think this is how we can learn the most about food and cooking, and its certainly how I learnt. Besides, if I worried the whole time about being perfect, then Gordon would never get fed at all! So trust yourself, relax and enjoy bringing your family together again and again with simple, satisfying food. This book includes reference to nuts and recipes including nuts, nut derivatives and nut oils. This book includes reference to nuts and recipes including nuts, nut derivatives and nut oils.

Avoid if you have a known allergic reaction. Pregnant and nursing mothers, invalids, the elderly, children and babies may be potentially vulnerable to nut allergies and should therefore avoid nuts, nut derivatives and nut oils.

Weekdays always go past in a blur. If Im not rushing out the door to get the kids to school on time, Im trying to figure out where Im meant to be next. By the time it gets to the weekend, there is nothing I like more than a long lazy morning.
The children have finally got the hang of lie-ins, so when we eventually get downstairs (still in our pyjamas of course) were all ready for a hearty breakfast. These are the mornings I treasure the most with my family. Yoghurt and berry crunchPorridge with almond roasted peachesOat and blueberry muffinsPecan and bran banana muffinsBacon and egg muffinsGrilled mackerel on toastAvocado, bacon and roasted tomato sandwichCinnamon eggy bread soldiers with yoghurt, raisins and honeySalmon and dill frittataSmoked haddock potsCroque MadameSmoked salmon, cream cheese and scrambled egg bagelsHomemade bagels