Tana Ramsay’s Real Family Food: Delicious Recipes for Everyday Occasions

Finally, you may notice that I’ve 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). I’ve done this deliberately as I believe you should be able to eat anything you like in whatever combination you like. I think we’ve become too worried about doing everything right and getting everything officially perfect. Life’s 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 it’s 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. In years to come they’ll have all sorts of amazing memories tied up with the food you cooked and the times you shared together.

Breakfasts and Brunches (#ulink_396b8f34-6094-5946-b7c3-3f408b923c3a)

Weekdays always go past in a blur. If I’m not rushing out the door to get the kids to school on time, I’m trying to figure out where I’m 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) we’re all ready for a hearty breakfast. These are the mornings I treasure the most with my family.

Yoghurt and berry crunch

Porridge with almond roasted peaches

Oat and blueberry muffins

Pecan and bran banana muffins

Bacon and egg muffins

Grilled mackerel on toast

Avocado, bacon and roasted tomato sandwich

Cinnamon eggy bread soldiers with yoghurt, raisins and honey

Salmon and dill frittata

Smoked haddock pots

Croque Madame

Smoked salmon, cream cheese and scrambled egg bagels

Homemade bagels

yoghurt and berry crunch (#ulink_82b2d4be-3861-50e5-85cb-39f6065ecec2)

I make these in little glass tumblers from Ikea as they tend to bounce when dropped and are fabulously childproof!

370g/13oz frozen berries

1 tbsp brown sugar

10 digestive biscuits

370g/13oz Greek yoghurt

1 Place the berries in a small saucepan with the sugar and cook over a low heat until they become a soft, pulpy mess. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

2 Crush the digestive biscuits with the back of a spoon.

3 Place a 1cm/½ inch layer of crushed digestives into the bottom of each glass. Spoon 1cm/½ inch of the Greek yoghurt on top, followed by 1cm/½ inch of the fruit. Repeat this so you have 6 layers in total (2 of each). Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.

Makes: 4 × 100ml/4fl oz tumblers

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 10–15 minutes

TIP

To save time, cook the berries the day before you need them.

porridge with almond-roasted peaches (#ulink_3e52e13c-dc4b-58e8-b83c-8f72f1abd548)

This is really easy to make before school while the children are getting dressed. Perfect for a winter morning pick-me-up.

25g/1oz butter

4 peaches, halved, stones removed

25g/1oz soft brown sugar

75g/3oz flaked almonds

100g/4oz porridge oats

600ml/1 pint whole milk

300ml/11fl oz water

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/GM4.

2 Generously butter a small ovenproof dish and arrange the peaches in it, cut side uppermost. It should be quite a snug fit, with the peaches bumping up against each other. Place in the oven and set the timer for 7 minutes.

3 Mix together the soft brown sugar and flaked almonds and put to one side.

4 Put the oats, milk and water into a medium-sized saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring all the time. Turn down the heat and simmer for about 7 minutes until the porridge is thick and creamy.

5 When the oven timer beeps, sprinkle the peaches with the almonds and sugar and return to the oven for a further 10 minutes.

6 Divide the porridge between 4 bowls and arrange 2 peach halves on top of each. Spoon over the syrupy almonds and serve immediately.

Serves: 4 children

Prep time: 20 minutes, depending on ripeness of peaches

Cooking time: 17 minutes