Giving you the inspiration to rustle up tasty meals that everyone will find irresistible, Good Food, Fast is packed with delicious, stress-free recipes that can be whipped up in just 30 minutes or less!

With 116 recipes that cleverly use store-cupboard staples as well as combinations of fresh and frozen ingredients, Good Food, Fast ensures you can create something tempting even under pressure. Great if unexpected guests have dropped in or your day has not quite gone to plan.

The book is clearly divided into seven handy sections.

There is always something to suit the occasion or your store-cupboard and each of the 120 recipes is illustrated with striking photography – so even the most impatient of dinner guests know just what’s in store.

The first section covers ‘Speedy Soups’ with recipes such as Tomato Soup with Pesto Cream (see below). Once you have tasted it, you will never reach for a can of Heinz again. The ‘Quick Fixes’ and ‘Everyday Eating’ sections show that even being short of time does mean you have to revert to the same tried and tested meals. With 47 refreshingly different options – you could have something different everyday of week for over a month.

Preparing in advance when you have time is always a winner and the ‘Frozen Assets’ section gives plenty of inspiration for pizza bases, sauces, gravy and even cakes and desserts that can be made ahead ready for when you need them. Finish off with something from scrumptious ‘Desserts’ or ‘Take the Biscuit’ – so easy, there is no need to buy in a pudding ever again.

The new Good Food, Fast Dairy Cookbook is priced at £9.99 (plus £2 P&P).

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Time 30 minutes
Calories per portion 286 Kcal
Fat per portion 19g
of which saturated 10.9g
Serves 2
Suitable for vegetarians
The soup without the cream topping is suitable for freezing

Butter 25g (1oz)
Onion 1, peeled and chopped
Carrot 1, peeled and chopped
Chopped tomatoes 400g can
Tomato purée 1 tbsp
Vegetable stock 300ml (½ pint)
Caster sugar 1 tsp
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Bicarbonate of soda a pinch
Green pesto sauce 1 tbsp
Crème fraîche 2 tbsp

1 Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the onion and carrot. Cook over a medium heat for 5–7 minutes, until the vegetables have softened, stirring occasionally.

2 Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, vegetable stock and caster sugar to the pan and bring to the boil. Then reduce the heat, cover the pan and simmer the soup for 10–15 minutes, until the vegetables are really tender.

3 Remove the pan from the heat and purée the soup using a hand-held electric wand or in a food processor or blender. Return to the pan, if necessary, season the soup to taste and stir in the bicarbonate of soda, which may fizz slightly, but stir until the fizzing stops.

4 Stir the pesto into the crème fraiche. Heat the soup and then pour it into warm bowls. Spoon the pesto crème fraîche on top, swirling it into the soup and serve immediately.

5 Adding the bicarbonate of soda helps to neutralise the acidity of the canned tomatoes and will help to prevent the crème fraîche from curdling as it is stirred into the soup.

Recipe taken from Good Food, Fast Dairy Cookbook

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Now’s the time to plant up gorgeous displays in time for autumn – you’ll be the envy of your street!

You could use a mix of glorious heathers, teamed with velvety rich pansies or try chrysanthemums as shown below.

Half price offer!

The following project – and many more to give your garden autumn glory – comes from Seasonal Garden Ideas available at half price now online! Wow!

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You want to enjoy every minute with them but thinking of ways to keep them occupied can be daunting.

You don’t have to spend lots of money on expensive toys, with just a few materials and some imagination you can all have an incredibly rewarding time together both at home and in the great outdoors. Try some of these ideas during the summer holidays – all taken from the 2011 Dairy Diary, available online now!

All ages

Visit your council office or library, read the paper for details on local events and places to go. Pick up leaflets at places you visit – they sometimes have discount vouchers. Many local amenities are free or really inexpensive: Art galleries and/or museums often have scheduled events and workshops for children; Your local library may offer reading groups or music time; National Trust and English Heritage properties are free if you are members. They offer quiz trails, dressing-up, craft activities and special events; The park is perfect for ball games, the playground and picnics; Local leisure centres will offer swimming and lots of others sporting activities for all ages.

Under 5

• Create a very simple treasure hunt at home with one word cards to follow, such as table, chair, toybox etc.
• Food packets and tubes can be used for lots of activities: your child can sort them into different shapes and sizes; they can stick them together to build objects; they can paint them in different colours.
• Make a themed collage (by colour or season or transport, for example) with pictures cut from magazines. If they are very young, cut the pictures out yourself.

5-12 year-olds

• Make a calendar or clock. Decorate a paper plate then paint on numbers and secure cardboard hands with a paper fastener. To create a calendar, choose month-appropriate pictures from a magazine and stick onto 12 sheets of card or paper. Print out dates from the computer or write them down. Hole-punch each sheet and secure together with string. Both these craft projects will encourage your child to learn about time, days and months.
• Use food packets and boxes for lots of activities: Your child can create their own shop (using scales to weigh things, stickers to price things and change to learn about money and counting); they can make a money box and learn how to save; they can paint windows, doors, flowers etc. on boxes to create a model village.
• To make an impressive mosaic picture, draw a large, simple design (such as flowers) on a piece of paper, cut small squares from coloured paper or magazines and use one colour to fill each section of the design.

For all these activities, stay with your child to ensure they are safe. Pay particular attention to choking hazards with very young children. If you are doing any craft activities it’s a good idea to wear aprons and cover surfaces with newspaper.

Teenagers

Teenagers are much more independent and less likely to want to take part in structured activities. They may still enjoy crafts (card making, drawing, painting, sculpture), cooking, or reading but it is important to treat them as young adults when suggesting these ideas. Out-of-home activities may be more successful, such as ball games, swimming, skating and visiting local attractions.

Win a set of fun cookie cutters

You are still in with a chance of winning a fabulous children’s baking set. Visit http://dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html to win.

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Not only is it important to keep children amused and ward-off boredom related grumpiness, it can be incredibly rewarding too.

I am lucky enough to be attending a children’s festival at the weekend – my first festival for a long time and no doubt a lot different from the ones I attended pre-children! Just So Festival is a wonderful event with many activities, ranging from art projects, to musical entertainment and story-telling www.justsofestival.org.uk

For those of you not able to visit the festival, look out for lots of family fun tips in next week’s blog. Or buy the 2011 Dairy Diary – on sale now – which has a full feature on keeping kids amused.

Win a set of fun cookie cutters
In my experience, children love cooking. Try out these Gingerbread Clown biscuits and have a go at winning a set of fun cookie cutters by clicking on the following link.  http://dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html

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Makes 16
Time 55 mins
181 calories per clown
4G fat of which
1.8G is saturated
Suitable for vegetarians

Plain flour 250g (9oz)
Ground ginger 1 tsp
Mixed spice 1 tsp
Bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp
Unsalted butter 50g (2oz)
Dark soft brown sugar 50g (2oz)
Black treacle 50g (2oz)
Golden syrup 25g (1oz)
Egg 1, beaten
Ready-made royal icing 225g (8oz)
Smarties 2 tubes

1 Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Line 2–3 baking trays with non-stick baking foil. Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl. Make a well in centre.

2 Put butter, sugar, treacle and golden syrup into a saucepan, stir over a moderate heat until melted, then pour into flour. Add egg and mix to a soft dough. Knead on a floured surface and roll out to 3mm (1⁄8in) thick.

3 Using a gingerbread man cutter, stamp out as many men as you can and place on baking trays. Re-knead trimmings and repeat until you have 16.

4 Re-roll trimmings as necessary, cut out 4 rounds with a plain 9cm (33⁄4in) round cutter. To make clown hats, cut each one into 4 triangles. Brush undersides lightly with water and place across heads.

5 Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until lightly browned and firm. Cool for 2–3 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Decorate the clowns with royal icing and Smarties, as shown in photograph.

A Dairy Diary recipe.

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As I don’t have a huge house, but a bigger than average garden, summer is the perfect time to socialise and enjoy spending stress-free time with loved ones. Or so I thought, so far, we have managed one!

Trying to tie our various groups of friends and relations down to a date that suits everyone is akin to getting the Queen and Prince Phillip over for lunch! And now of course, the weather is very unpredictable (putting it politely!) I am, however, still determined to succeed before the leaves turn golden and we need to barbeque in woolly hats and mittens. For those of you who manage to squeeze some al fresco dining in between showers you may find the tips below useful (taken from bbq.co.uk).

Clean up
Clean your barbecue after each use – this will save any nasty surprises the next time you come to the grill.

Handy tools
Keep all your barbecue tools handy to avoid traipsing back and forth to the kitchen too many times. Place everything on a side table next to the barbecue. This means you won’t have to leave the grill unattended, and you can spend more time with your guests. Always make sure tools are thoroughly cleaned and dried before putting them away.

Meat temperature
To avoid burning and drying your food, remove meat and poultry from the fridge an hour before cooking to bring it back to an ambient temperature. This will result in a more succulent cooked result. Be sure to keep the meat covered, and out of direct sunlight.

Use long handled tools
Protect your hands from the heat – always use long handled tools, such as tongs, for handling the food.

Marinating
Add flavour to your meat and keep it tender by marinating for at least 20 minutes. Some meats are better left overnight, while fish only needs 20-30 minutes – the acid in the marinade will ‘cook’ it if left overnight.

Cook in foil
Save the stress of foods falling apart as you cook them – wrap them in foil. Those foods that easily stick or burn, such as fish, can be wrapped up in foil. Brush the foil with oil before adding the fish, add salt, pepper, a squeeze of lemon and a splash of white wine. Fold the corners together to seal the foil and keep the juices in.

And to eat…
Chicken satay with Indonesian-style salad taken from Good Food, Fast Dairy Cookbook: available online at www.dairydiary.co.uk or order by telephone 08450 948128.

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Time 25 minutes
Calories per portion 325 Kcal
Fat per portion 13.6g
of which saturated 7.5g
Serves 4

Skinless chicken breasts 4 large, cut into strips about 1cm (½in) thick
Peanut or satay cooking sauce 150-200g (5-7oz)
Coconut milk 175ml (6fl oz)
Lime 1, grated zest and juice of ½ and the rest cut into wedges
Mixed vegetable stir-fry 350g pack

1 Toss the chicken strips in half of the peanut cooking sauce in a bowl and set aside to marinate for 10 minutes.

2 Meanwhile, soak 12 medium-length wooden skewers in hot water. Preheat the grill to hot and line a baking tray with foil.

3 Thread the chicken onto the drained skewers (2–3 strips on each) and lay on the tray. Grill for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway, until lightly charred and cooked through.

4 Meanwhile, put the remaining peanut cooking sauce in a saucepan with the coconut milk and lime zest. Place over a medium heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Then stir in the lime juice and set aside to cool and thicken slightly.

5 Divide the uncooked mixed vegetable stir-fry between four bowls and serve alongside the chicken satay skewers and lime wedges. Drizzle some warm peanut sauce over each salad and serve the rest in bowls for dipping the satay in.

Cook’s tip
Some supermarkets sell a 165ml mini can of coconut milk, which is ideal for this recipe. Otherwise, use part of a can and use the rest with Thai curry paste for another meal.

Recipe take from Good Food, Fast: Dairy Cookbook.

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Time 20 minutes
Calories per portion 556 Kcal
Fat per portion 23g
of which saturated 8.1g
Serves 4
Suitable for freezing

Lean minced lamb 400g (14oz)
Onion 1 small, peeled and very finely chopped
Ready-to-eat dried figs 150g (5oz), roughly chopped
Medium curry powder 1 tsp
Mixed spice 1 tsp
Chopped coriander 3 tbsp
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil 2–3 tbsp
Large rolls or baps 4
Lettuce leaves such as Frisée or Curly Endive
Coriander a few sprigs

1 Put the minced lamb, onion, figs, curry powder, mixed spice and coriander into a mixing bowl. Add a little salt and pepper and mix together with your hand.

2 Divide the lamb mixture into four equal pieces and then shape each one, on a lightly floured board, into burgers about 2.5cm (1in) thick.

3 Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, then add the burgers and cook for 5–6 minutes. Carefully turn them over and cook the other side for another 5–6 minutes until golden brown, and the burgers are cooked through.

4 To serve, put each burger in a roll or bap together with some lettuce leaves and coriander sprigs.

Cook’s tip
For the best result and flavour, buy lean leg of lamb steaks and chop them very finely (using two large knives), or in a food processor. Bought, ready minced lamb can lack flavour.

A Good Food, Fast Dairy Cookbook recipe.

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I know at this point, I should probably advocate real ales – my boss would as many a business trip has involved a brewery ‘drive-by’ – but it’s not something I have ever had the correct palette for.

There is something really homely and loveable about a pub that welcomes dogs. On a recent holiday in the Cotswolds, one local whose dogs had made friends with us commented that it’s one of the best ways of meeting people. His dogs always made friends for him.

One pub chain has not only welcomes four-legged friends, but has gone one step further by offering their canine visttors delicious grub. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/24/dogs-pubs-food What a fabulous idea! I don’t think I will go as far as taking my two cats out to my local, but if I ever have a dog then I will be seeking out gourmet experiences for both of us.

I’m afraid the Dairy Diary doesn’t offer canine recipes, but I am sure you will be delighted with the Salmon and Ginger Fishcakes from the forthcoming Good Food, Fast: Dairy Cookbook. It is a fabulous 30 minute recipe full of Thai flavours yet is quick and simple to prepare.

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Time 30 minutes
Calories per portion 281 Kcal
Fat per portion 14.9g
of which saturated 2.6g
Serves 4

Red chilli 1, deseeded and finely chopped
Caster sugar 2 tsp
Thai fish sauce 1 tsp
Lime juice 1 tbsp
Rice vinegar 1 tbsp
Cucumber ½, halved and cut into long, thin strips
Yellow pepper 1 small, deseeded and cut into long, thin strips
Carrot 1 small, peeled and cut into thin strips
Cherry tomatoes 12, halved
Skinned salmon fillets 500g (1lb 2oz)
Root ginger 4cm (1¾oz) piece, peeled and very finely chopped
Spring onions 4, trimmed and finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil 1 tsp
Coriander a bunch, stalks removed

1 For the salad, put the chilli, sugar, fish sauce, lime juice and vinegar into a screw-top jar and shake well. Set aside. Toss the cucumber, pepper, carrot and tomatoes together in a bowl.

2 Chop the salmon until you have a coarse, mince-like mixture. Put into another bowl with the ginger and spring onions and season to taste. Mix together and divide into eight. Using slightly wet hands, shape into eight fishcakes.

3 Heat the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the fishcakes for 1½ minutes on each side, until lightly golden and cooked.

4 Toss the dressing and coriander leaves through the salad. Divide between four plates and top each with two fishcakes.

Cook’s tip
Chopping and preparation is so much easier with good equipment. Buy good-quality knives and always keep them sharp.

Recipe taken from Good Food, Fast: Dairy Cookbook.

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Each had been using the Dairy Book of Home Cookery over the past few weeks and had recorded their thoughts on it in the Dairy Diary.

We were trying to find out how to improve the book for its new launch next year – the overwhelming response was ‘don’t fix it if it aint broke’! Everyone who uses this book – from young to old – loves it! So with a few very minor teaks I think we can make a great book even better. The ‘tweaks’ we agreed on were:

• Modern cover
• New more contemporary recipe shots
• Nutritional information for each recipe
• Better portion sizes (this was its only criticism)
• The addition of some new ‘classics’, such as wraps, tacos and risottos
• Remove fondues!

As a Dairy Book of Home Cookery fan, do you have any suggestions for the new book?

Win a set of muffin cases
Many like to use the book for baking. As a very special treat I have a set of 8 silicone muffin cases to give away.  To win visit http://www.dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html

You will have to wait for a sneak preview of the Dairy Book of Home Cookery, but try these irresistible Orange Iced Cup Cakes from Good Food, Fast – Dairy Cookbook, available from September..

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Time 25 minutes
Calories per cake 180 Kcal
Fat per cake 10.2g
of which saturated 6.1g
Makes 18 cakes
Suitable for vegetarians
Suitable for freezing without the icing

Butter 125g (4½oz), softened
Caster sugar 125g (4½oz)
Self-raising flour 125g (4½oz)
Baking powder ½ tsp
Eggs 2, beaten

For the butter icing
Butter 75g (3oz), softened
Icing sugar 150g (5oz), sifted
Orange 1, grated zest and 1 tsp juice
Sugar flowers to decorate

1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas 5 and line 18 bun-tin holes with pretty paper cases.

2 Tip all the ingredients for the cake mix in a bowl (it is very important that the butter is at room temperature and thus softened). Using a hand-held electric whisk, mix well until the cake batter is smooth and creamy.

3 Divide the cake batter evenly between the bun cases. There is enough mixture to three-quarters fill each bun case, so don’t over fill or the mixture will go all over the oven. Bake in the oven for 12–15 minutes or until well risen, golden and cooked. Remove from the oven, transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool.

4 Meanwhile, make the butter icing. Beat the butter with a hand-held electric whisk or wooden spoon and gradually beat in the icing sugar. Beat in the grated orange zest and enough orange juice to taste and give a soft but not runny consistency.

5 When the cakes are cold, spread the orange icing on top and decorate with sugar flowers. For a special event, pop the iced buns in a pretty tin and pipe a letter on each cake to spell Happy Birthday or Happy Christmas.

6 Check on the internet for some great mail order cake decorating suppliers who stock coloured paper cases and dainty iced flowers to decorate these cakes for a very special occasion.

Recipe taken from Good Food, Fast – Dairy Cookbook.

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King William III

Today’s bank holiday commemorates the Battle of the Boyne. For many years I have edited this in the Dairy Diary but I have never really known much about its history. Time to find out…

This year’s bank holiday will mark the 320th anniversary of King William’s victory in Ireland. Interestingly, it is very important to the history of the British Monarchy (I think we should all be entitled to this bank holiday!)

Because of his old church beliefs, in 1688 powerful establishment figures forced King James to abdicate and invited William to take the throne. King William III was the Protestant head of the Dutch royal house of Orange. When James and his wife Mary landed in England, the royal army defected and James fled to France. James was deterrmind to win back his throne and, with the help of the French King, amassed an army of 25,000 (mainly Irish Catholics and French).

He landed in Ireland and fought against King William. William’s 36,000-strong army conisted of protestants from several European countries and both kings led their armies in person. It was a bloody battle at Oldcastle, near the mouth of the river Boyne, which saw a victory for William and it glued William and Mary firmly on the throne. It consolidated the momentous changes in the British way of government known as the Glorious Revolution.

Today’s fabulous Blueberry Crumble recipe comes from Just One Pot, Dairy Cookbook – still available for just £2.99 – and makes the most of this seaon’s delicious blueberries.

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Preparation time 15 minutes
Cooking time 30 minutes
Calories per portion 388 Kcal
Fat per portion 25g
of which saturated 10.2g
Serves 6
Suitable for vegetarians

Blueberries 450g (1lb)
Caster sugar 150g (5oz)
Lemon 1, grated rind and juice
Breadcrumbs 75g (3oz)
Ground almonds 75g (3oz)
Butter 110g (4oz)
Slivered or flaked almonds 25g (1oz)

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. Mix the fruit, 75g (3oz) of the sugar and lemon rind and juice in a shallow baking dish.

Make the crumble by mixing the breadcrumbs, ground almonds and remaining sugar in a large bowl. Rub in, or cut in, the butter roughly and spoon the mixture evenly over the fruit. Scatter with slivered or flaked almonds.

Bake the crumble for about 30 minutes, turning the oven heat down to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 after 15 minutes when the top has browned. Serve warm or cold with plenty of cream – clotted or double!

Cook’s tip
Crumbles are pretty flexible with the cooking temperature. If you’re cooking other things in the oven at the same time, the crumble will cope – just cook it until it looks good.

Recipe taken from Just One Pot, Dairy Cookbook

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The Dairy Diary office is now just down to one very busy person! In the 2011 Dairy Diary we have lots of fab holiday tips, including this handy checklist. Perfect for those who always forget something when they go away!

Not many of us are in the mood for cooking when we return, so why not plan ahead and freeze this delicious Ratatouille and Ham Pasta Bake.

For more freeze-easy ideas try Clever Cooking for One or Two, Dairy Cookbook available online or for free – if you’re lucky!

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Aubergine 1
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pasta shapes 300g (11oz)
Olive oil 2 tbsp
Onion 1, peeled and chopped
Red pepper 1, deseeded and chopped
Courgette 1, trimmed and chopped
Chopped tomatoes with garlic 2 x 400g cans
Dried mixed herbs 1 tsp
Cooked lean ham 225g (8oz), diced
Mozzarella 175g (6oz), grated
Grated Parmesan cheese 4 tbsp

1 Trim the aubergine and cut into small pieces. Layer in a colander or large sieve, sprinkling with salt. Set aside to drain for 30 minutes, then rinse well in cold water and pat dry.

2 Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the packet’s instructions. Drain well and set aside.

3 While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large saucepan and gently fry the onion and pepper for 5 minutes until just softened. Add the aubergine and courgette, and cook, stirring, for a further 5 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, herbs, ham and black pepper and stir. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and leave to simmer for 15 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

4 Preheat the grill to hot. Stir the pasta and 110g (4oz) of the mozzarella into the vegetables. Pile into a large shallow ovenproof dish and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and the Parmesan cheese. Place under the grill and cook for 4–5 minutes until the cheese has melted and is bubbling. Serve immediately or cool and freeze, as described opposite.

Cook’s tip
To freeze, allow to cool. Transfer to individual freezer containers. Freeze for up to 6 months. Allow to defrost overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the oven in a small ovenproof dish, covered with foil, until piping hot.

Shopper’s tip
For a quick version, replace the vegetables and chopped tomatoes with 4 x 390g cans ratatouille.

Recipe taken from Clever Cooking for One or Two, Dairy Cookbook.

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It seems that we have very wide ranging tastes when it comes to that humble of British inventions (introduced by the 4th Earl of Sandwich), the sandwich.

I was most sceptical about the DBoHC’s orange and mackerel, or bacon and banana ensembles but willing to give them a try (the latter, when toasted and drizzled with maple syrup is a bit of a revelation.) However, on browsing the Guardian blogs this morning, I was appalled to see that Tesco have launched a Lasagne Sandwich http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/jun/16/tesco-lasagne-sandwich-lasandwich-why. Initially, I checked the date of the blog assuming it was an April fool, but no, it was published in June. Surely no one with a tastebud would want it? Is it me?!

I would love to know if you have given it (or something equally bizarre) a try. When looking on Tesco’s website, it doesn’t seem to be there so perhaps it has made a rapid disappearance from their shelves – and no wonder!

For an appealing alternative to the ‘lasagndwich’ try this Chicken & Avocado Salad Sandwich from Hearty & Healthy Dairy Cookbook.

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Preparation time 10 minutes
Calories per sandwich 397 Kcal
Fat per sandwich 16g
of which saturated 2.8g
Makes 4 sandwiches

Avocado 1 very ripe large
Lime or lemon juice 1 tbsp
Mint leaves 8 shredded, optional
Mixed grain bread 8 slices
Cooked chicken breast 200g (7oz), shredded
Cucumber slices 12
Baby spinach leaves 4 handfuls, rinsed and dried

1 Halve the avocado, remove the stone and scrape out the flesh onto a plate. Mash it with lime or lemon juice and add the shredded mint, if using. Spread the mashed avocado mixture over the 8 slices of bread.

2 Arrange the chicken evenly on 4 of the slices and season to taste. Put the cucumber slices on top and then pile up

the spinach leaves.

3 Place the other piece of bread, avocado side down on top to make 4 sandwiches. Press them together gently and cut each into two pieces.

Cook’s tip
Use fresh salmon or tuna instead of chicken in the sandwich.

Recipes taken from Hearty & Healthy Dairy Cookbook.

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