Houmous (V)

Houmous is another picnic favourite which tastes so much better when you make it yourself and it doesn't take that much time at all. Serve with bits of pitta, carrot sticks and cucumber sticks.

Serves 4

1 x 400g Can of Chickpeas
1 Garlic clove, crushed
4 tbsp Plain Yoghurt
4 tbsp Tahini Paste
3 tbsp Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Handful of Corriander, chopped
Splash of Lemon Juice

1. Put everything apart from the coriander and 1 tbsp of the olive oil in the food processor. Blend together and spoon whatever is on the side of the processor after its finished blending

2. Taste and season. Add the coriander and blitz again. Spoon into a serving bowl/Tupperware and drizzle with olive oil. Serve with pitta bread, carrot sticks and cucumber stick

Chicken Pilaf

This dish may not look glamorous but is a great midweek meal, only need one pan and contains about 2 of your 5 a day. Healthy food and less washing up!

Serves 2

1 Medium Onion, finely sliced
2 Chicken Breasts, cut into chunks
2 Tbsp Korma curry pasta
1 1/2 Mug of Basmati rice, washed
2 Mugs of frozen vegetables
1 Mug of frozen spinach
2 Mugs of chicken stock
1 tsp dried coriander

1. Heat olive oil in a frying pan. Fry the onions until soft. Throw in the chicken and fry until the chicken changes colour.

2. Add the curry paste and the rice to the pan. Cook for a minute.

3. Add the chicken stock and bring to the boil. Once boiling reducing the heat and let it simmer. Cook for 10 minutes then add the frozen vegetables. Cook for a further 5 minutes. Add the frozen spinach and coriander, cook for another 5 minutes.

3. The liquid should have reduced and the rice would have cooked. Make sure while cooking this that you stir regularly otherwise it will stick to the pan. Season and serve.