THYME-ROASTED AUBERGINES

Creamy soft, golden-brown caramelised aubergines with a distinct perfume of thyme, finished with fresh lemon juice, a sprinkle of extra virgin olive oil and a couple of Maldon salt crystals for that extra crunch. 

These aubergines are extremely easy to make, with only a few ingredients and hands-on steps required, but are incredibly tasty with a real WOW factor due to their beautiful thyme perfume. The diamond-cut aubergine halves are salted and left to 'sweat' for a little, are dried, coated with olive oil, and then oven-roasted on a bed of thyme until tender, golden-brown, caramelised and beautifully fragrant.

MOCHA-BANANA PICK-ME-UP SMOOTHIE

Freshly brewed espresso, chocolatey bitter cocoa powder and creamy sweet frozen bananas, all blended together with fresh cold milk and ice cubes to gorgeously rich and creamy frothiness. Easy, fast, and with a delicious mocha-banana taste, this smoothie is great to wake you up in the morning, or a pick-me-up in the afternoon. It's beautifully creamy and tasty, rather satisfying and filling, thanks to the bananas and milk, and on top of that quite healthy: full of protein and fiber, it is also high in magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. 

CARROT CAKE SOURDOUGH PANCAKES

Thick, fluffy, sweet, moist pancakes with a perfume of warm autumn spices and an aroma of carrots, walnuts and sourdough, sprinkled with crunchy walnuts, and drizzled with glossy golden-brown sweet maple syrup. Served with a dollop of refreshing Greek yogurt, or better still, maple-syrup-caramelised bacon on the side (thank you, Helen, for taking over the pan on that one!). Could you really wish for more? :-)