Spices: Ground cumin for earthiness, smoked paprika for smokiness and a subtle heat, and Aleppo pepper flakes for a slightly tangy, sweet flavor. For more heat, use hot smoked paprika instead! After the dough has rested, divide it into four equal-sized portions, so you have a more manageable volume to work with. Work one piece at a time, keeping the remaining dough covered. Shape the dough roughly into a log, then divide it into five small golf-ball-sized pieces. The texture of the dough may feel unusual and a little crumbly. Don’t worry if this happens – just squeeze the dough firmly to shape. Calorie-conscious– Most of my recipes are well-balanced sensible meals. I was not raised cooking with vast amounts of cream or butter!

Passed on to team members to test and taste – made at least once, but usually twice or more (to refine) Extra virgin olive oil: You need ½ cup EVOO. You can use a medium-intensity oil like our Arbequina California EVOO, or a more robust oil like our Hojiblanca Spanish EVOO. After five minutes, your pan should look a little drier than when you started to fry the kimchi. Stir in the soy sauce, ensuring it is completely incorporated, before adding the tomatoes. Let it simmer for a further 10 minutes. Fill a saucepan suitable for deep-frying with vegetable oil. It should be filled deep enough to submerge the dough balls but no more than three-quarters full. Heat to 160°C. If you don’t have a thermometer, a cube of bread should brown in 12 seconds. When it reaches 160°C, turn off the heat and carefully lower a few of the dough balls into the pan, making sure you don’t overcrowd the pan. Keep the heat off for two minutes. After two minutes, the dough will start to move and float a little.

What’s more, is that it will help your family understand what dish you are trying to make. Who doesn’t want them to get excited about the food, right? Author

After talking about it for months, after all the blood, sweat and tears (literally!), my debut cookbook has arrived! What about the videos?? You filmed them all yourself? YES! One of the (additional) downsides of having such chubby little hands is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to find a hand double. 😩 Which means I can’t outsource my recipe videos. It’s all me! Storyline approach as well as detailed recipe descriptions to make it both interesting and functional.Has comprehensive and detailed ingredients listing followed by a storyline that helps the chef imagine the result and aim towards it. But there is no doubt in my mind Dinner would not be what it is if it weren’t for the wonderful messages of support I received from readers as I shared my experience throughout the making of Dinner. You made me strive to do the very best I could. Combine the sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl or a rimmed roasting pan. Have another plate or dish ready lined with some kitchen paper. Cuisines covered – 20% of the recipes are Asian / Asian-influenced. Then there’s a whole chapter on Mexican (I adore Mexican food!), a sprinkle of French and Mediterranean, plus a dusting of Middle Eastern dishes. The balance are other good ol’ traditional Western favourites. Photos! Does every recipe have one? YES! Well, all the full recipes do. I couldn’t fit in a photo for all the little extras!