Roast Chicken with Herb Gnocchi is one of those brilliant quick-cooking ingredients that often gets overlooked in the weekly shop and instantly makes any dish feel special. With a creamy white wine sauce, it’s a dish that is just the right amount of fancy to impress without the stress.
2 chicken legs
3 tbsp olive oil
20g butter
300g gnocchi
2 shallots, finely sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely sliced
150ml white wine
100ml chicken stock
200ml double cream
Small handful flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
Handful chives, finely chopped
Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
Lamb’s lettuce or watercress, to serve
if you think a good burger needs to be fried in a pan with oil splattering everywhere, think again. These Air-Fried Cajun Chicken Burgers deliver all the juicy, spicy goodness you want- without the mess. The trick is using bashed cornflakes in place of breadcrumbs for their crispiness. The air fryer locks in moisture while crisping up the perfectly seasoned coating, making them ideal for a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend treat. Slap on a generous dollop of spicy mayo, pile it into a toasted bun, and suddenly, you’re wondering why you didn’t embrace this gadget sooner. Our kids devour them!
Wings are my weakness, and I was convinced the air fryer wouldn’t do them justice. I was wrong. These Korean-inspired wings come out crispy, sticky, and packed with that addictive sweet-salty heat- no deep fryer needed. Tossed in a luscious glaze and served with a punchy kimchi slaw, they’re the perfect mix of crunch and zing.
Chocolate Lava Cake is more of a pudding if I’m honest, it’s rich, indulgent, and has that perfect molten center that oozes out when you dig in. The best part is that you can make the batter ahead of time and just pop it in the oven when you’re ready, meaning you can focus on enjoying your evening instead of fussing over dessert. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you’ve got a foolproof Valentine’s Day winner.
Pork fillet can be a bit of a tricky one- overcook it and you're left with something resembling shoe leather. But in the air fryer it’s a game-changer. This Blackened Citrus Pork Bowl is a revelation, with the pork coming out tender, juicy, and packed with smoky, zesty flavour. Paired with a fresh salsa verde and piled onto rice or greens, it’s the kind of meal that feels fancy but takes next to no effort. And that’s exactly what I need after a long day of parenting chaos.
If you’re going big this Valentine’s, Côte De Boeuf is the way to do it. For the uninitiated, it’s basically a fancy ribeye on the bone- thick, juicy, and packed with flavour. It’s proper celebration food, and the cut of choice on many restaurant menus these days. Pair it with Pommes Aligot (think mashed potatoes, but cheesier and silkier) and some green beans, and you’ve got yourself a restaurant-worthy meal without leaving the house. Light a candle or two, and you’re practically in Paris!
