Beef, Leek & Red Pepper Ragout

Another “what shall I do with the veggie box content?”. This is a lovely beef ragout made from minced meat with lots of chopped seasonal vegetables. We had it with gnocchi today and my boys just gobbled it down but I think jacket potatoes would be lovely too. Feel free to also add any root vegetables left-overs from your fridge.

Salmon & Spinach Pie

Salmon and spinach are a great combination and it couldn’t be any easier to turn them into something delicious. Little enamel pie dishes are perfect for children’s portions and will also give your meal a nice touch when cooking for friends, however a larger dish works just as well.  Get the kids involved helping you to decorate the pie. All you need is extra pastry and some cookie cutters or knifes. Not sure if I should tell you this but I actually found our fish shape in Max’s play dough tools.

Mushroom, Ham & Cheese Mini Frittatas

I took these little eggy muffins to a picnic on our local playground last week. Max was too busy going down the slide that day; however the other children and their mums really seemed to enjoy them. They are easy to make and are great for breakfast, lunchboxes or party food.

Asparagus Polenta Bake

I know that the Austrian asparagus season is almost over but my friends cooked this for us the other day. It was simply delicious and is definitely worth a try. I’m just blaming the lovely weather for not posting it earlier.

Blueberry Pie

Erich wants, Erich gets. This pie is the answer to the question “what shall I do with the blueberries in the freezer?” It was simply delicious. Max and I couldn’t even wait until it had cooled down and I could just about stop myself from getting the vanilla ice cream out.

Homemade Fruit Jelly Treats

I got this idea from Pinterest and we love it. It's such a great alternative to gummy bears. I can imagine that these little delicious cubes would also be lovely in fresh iced tea with mint or even with a glass of bubbly for the grownups. Or... maybe even with cheese on a skewer?

Lamb, Spinach & Chickpea Curry with Couscous

My boys just love spinach, so this mild lamb curry makes the perfect family meal for us. However, it's also nice without spinach. If you’re expecting guests for dinner, I’d serve it with rice, lentil dhal and chapattis.

Quark, Leek and Potato Fritters with Apple Carrot Slaw

I found that this is a perfect dinner for all my boys. Leo with his 8 months can grab a whole piece. He loved them so much that he had two of them last time... and we had a good night as a result! Max wasn’t too keen on the raw carrots so he had some peas with it, and I admit – some ketchup too.

Cheesy Salmon and Broccoli Pie

I’m not usually a fan of combining fish with cheese but in this case I think it really works. My boys really enjoyed this tasty mush but, of course, mash and broccoli could also be served separately if preferred.

Spinach, Mushroom & Cheese Pancakes (Palatschinken)

This is one of my personal favourites that I grew up with. My mum makes them with creamed spinach and cheese, which is really quick because in Austria Birdseye actually do frozen creamed spinach. However, I find my UK version equally delicious. Give it a try. If your kids refuse to eat spinach, there’s always the option to amend the filling slightly according to personal taste.

Chocolate Pudding with Bananas

It's so quick and delicious one just can't resist. I don't know how many times Erich has asked me to cook this, sometimes late in the evening. It probably doesn’t sound very healthy but containing milk, bananas and cocoa it’s actually quite a nutritious treat for growing kids and grown-ups.

Vegetable Lasagne

The picture might not look as appealing but this lasagne really tastes very nice, you wouldn’t even miss the meat. I’ve chopped the vegetables really small so that my kids can’t pick them out and it worked!

Mild Courgette and Fish Curry

This is a delicious curry that Max will eat every time. We have fish every weekend after our weekly visit to Borough Market on Saturday. This time our fish monger recommended Huss for our curry, which was delicious because it’s so soft. I usually use Pollock or Coley because they are not overfished and cheap.

Swede and Potato Bake

A classic vegetarian dish that is delicious on its own, with a salad or as a side with a red meat. Max had to get used to the taste of Swedes but when we had it a second time he was totally up for it.

Traditional Apfelstrudel

Erich’s favourite Austrian dessert. There's not really anything new here for my friends at home. However, I thought I’ll post it anyway because it’s just such a delicious and healthy treat. To all my non-Austrian friends out there, you really must try this, it's easier than it looks!

Green and Yellow Chicken Fried Rice

It had to go really quick today. And because Max has been a bit unwell and not eating much for the last few days I wanted to make sure that I cook something he’ll definitely eat. So I just chucked in his favourite veg, which I always have in the freezer anyway – sweetcorn and peas.

Ham and Mushroom Pasta Bake

This is a slightly healthier version of an Austrian family favourite. The recipe is for four but I think Erich and I could probably finish it, just because it’s so nice!

Parsnip, Leek and Potato Soup

This is a great light supper for the whole family. In future, I will just save a few spoons before seasoning and mash them up for baby Leo.

Miso Baked Salmon with Coconut Rice and Coriander Sauce

Miso paste is a really good ingredient to have in your fridge. I also use it for quick Ramen soups but Miso baked salmon is by far my favourite. I’m always surprised how quick and easy this is.

Left-over Veggie Toasties

Perfect for parties and picnics, or just a quick lunch or dinner.  I’ve been making these since uni. It’s a quick and cheap meal everyone likes. And if you put lots of veg in, it’s healthy too! Just chop everything up, mix and spread it on a slice of toast. Bake. Done.