Recipes to knock socks off!!!

[Chocaddict007]

Help help, please share your most fav recipes. I’m especially looking for family friendly which everyone will absolutely love. I’m lacking some inspiration at the mo, which a family that just says things are ‘ok’ so want to knock their socks off!!!

Felicity Cloake at the Guardian is your friend here! She tries all the recipes then makes the ‘perfect’ version. Have never been let down! Get each family member to pick one they like and depending on the age get them involved!

I made this roasted cabbage with mango and harissa salsa recipe last week and it was so tasty, fresh and bright. I served with halloumi, but many other proteins would work with it.

Other recipes I love are caramelised onion and feta tagliatelle as the sweet onions and salty feta are wonderful together, miso braised aubergine, Ottolenghi's pasta alla norma, and one of my favourite comfort foods paneer butter masala. And I echo the Felicity Cloake suggestion above and will mention her vegetarian chilli specifically as being great.

But what do your family say they want to eat? If they are just declaring everything 'ok' with no other comment, offers to involve themselves in the cooking or even a suggestion as to what could improve then I probably wouldn't be trying too hard to amaze them.

Mustard bacon chicken
Sweet potato traybake
Sainsbury’s recipe for mushroom stroganoff

That Sweet Potato Traybake is a family staple here! We call it "random shit with chicken" as I tend to put in whatever random veg needs using up. Served with home made garlic foccacia.

If they are vegetable friendly, then roasting some lovely seasonal veg in oil with woody herbs like thyme and seasoned with your favourite flavours. Chilli, sumac, cumin all work well.

Try a tray of slow roasted roots such as carrot, parsnip, squash, red onion etc. Add in softer veg like peppered or cherry tomatoes plus garlic cloves after about 15 mins. Leave until everything is caramelised and lovely

Serve on couscous or rice. Grilled chicken or feta or halloumi sliced on top if you want a protein. If you have time make a chille or harissa yoghurt dressing.

Serve with a hot pita.

This is a crowd pleaser here, works well with individual salmon fillets too:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/roast-salmon-peas-potatoes-bacon

I'd be asking them what they'd like to eat, and if they're old enough, assign them each a night to cook.

The things that make my family say "yay" are possibly not the same as yours but they tend to be comfort food - chicken noodle soup, spag bol, Vietnamese spring rolls, taco night, homemade burgers and wedges.

Surprise hits in recent weeks include creamy mushroom pasta, honey mustard chicken thighs and brussels sprouts to which I add chopped potatoes as well, and smothered cabbage and sausages.

My family love tartiflette with a green salad.
Slice and parboiled potatoes. Layer with fried onion and bacon. Pour over some cream and white wine. Top with reblochon and bake until the potatoes are cooked.

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish-recipes/fish-cakes/

I often make a double batch of these and freeze them. The lemon zest makes all the difference and it’s all cooked in one pan.

I totally agree with you on Felicity. Her recipes always work out brilliantly.

Have you tried her Spanakopita? Totally easy, complete win!

We have a fussy eater around here so things that go down well are quite boring in my opinion:

Spaghetti and meatballs - always a huge hit.
Roast chicken or chicken tray bakes.
Anything with yorkshire pudding

DS is not a fussy eater at all and eats everything but his favourites tend to be any kind of dish using mince - spaghetti bolognaise obviously but I do one with garlic, ginger, lemongrass and pork mince with veg and noodles which is popular too. I once served up a sort of "philadelphia cheese" mince pasta dish which he loved (the rest of us were less keen so haven't bothered again). Lasagna always successful. Basically, mince just seems to work every single time.

Chinese style chicken stips - sort of vaguely sweet and sour in line with what you might get at various takeaway places like Kokoro is what he chooses if he's getting a celebratory meal for something.

He also likes vaguely mexican type flavours - tacos, fajitas etc and will usually eat his own bodyweight in those. From what I can tell, most of his friends are the same.

Cauliflower cheese is a massive favourite. I don't do it often but if I did, he'd love me forever.

Pinch of noms creamy chicken with mushrooms and spinach served on rice

Felicity Cloake is a great suggestion. And there are all kinds of recipes from the familiar to stuff you’d never have though of.

Yes! She’s an absolute goddess! Her recipe for Spanish croquettas are a dinner party classic here, coupled with Delia’s chicken basque for main! My husband loves the chicken Riesling recipe too.

Minced pork browned with chopped onion and carrot with garlic and Chinese five spice. Add a tin of water chestnuts (chopped) and chopped spring onion to warm through.
Serve each spoonful in an iceberg lettuce leaf with a teaspoon of hoisin sauce.
All five of ours loved this, from toddlers to teens.
If they aren't full afterwards serve a Chinese style egg drop soup to 'fill up the cracks'.

Both really quick to make and always a positive reaction from the DC.

This satay recipe is superb. All the bits are available at most Asian supermarkets.

Seems that’s an advert.

hopefully this works.

@Krakenes zips off to check the croquettas recipe....

It's only a store cupboard special but DH and DS love this tuna pasta.

And this cauliflower and chickpea thai curry. I made it last night and it was really delicious. The cauliflower goes really well with the Thai flavour.

I'm always looking for good meat free dishes to add to the rotation a couple of nights a week so we can cut down on the amount of meat we buy/eat.