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Family Friends Food

Hi, I'm Helen. I share easy, nutritious, seasonal, flexitarian recipes, often with a British-Jewish twist. Expect a weekly dose of delicious dinner ideas, news and positivity!

An unseen diner plunges a spoon into a bowl of creamy chia pudding with yogurt, topped with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.
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Quick and easy recipes for the lazy days of Summer

Hello my friend, Today is Rosh Chodesh Ellul, which means Rosh Hashanah is just a few weeks away! I'll be getting more into that next week, but first... Shabbat recipe of the week - courgette, feta and mint pashtida Pashtida is an Israeli baked savoury dish of vegetables, cheese and eggs that makes a delicious and filling main dish or side. This courgette, feta and mint pashtida is light but flavoursome, and delicious eaten both hot or cold. Not quite a quiche, not quite a frittata - whatever...

Hello again my friend, I hope you're enjoying August and all it has to offer! Shabbat recipe of the week - Challah Summer Pudding Summer Pudding is one of my favourite desserts! Bursting with fresh and fruity flavours, it takes full advantage of the season’s glorious ripe berries and makes the perfect end to a Summer meal. This (new!) recipe upgrades the original by swapping challah for basic white bread, which adds a subtle difference in texture and flavour. It's the perfect way to use up...

Overhead image of a white bowl of pea and bean salad with radishes, garnished with lemon wedges. A spoon sticks out of the right hand side of the bowl. The bowl is on a cloth decorated with stars.

Hello there my friend, Yesterday was Tu B'Av - the Jewish festival of LOVE! I hope your day was filled with friendship, affection, and maybe even romance 🥰 Shabbat recipe of the week - Summer pea and bean salad This gorgeous salad just shouts SUMMER! It's fresh, verdant, and full of delicious flavours. You can make it all peas, all beans, or a mixture, and you'll love the crunchy radishes, fresh dill and delicious citrussy dressing. You can also add a handful of pea shoots if you happen to...

Different types of beans, seeds, nuts, fruits, pulses, vegetables etc. arranged to form a square.

Hello there my friend, I hope you've had a good week, and enjoyed the avocado, orange and watercress salad in last week's email. Here's this week's recommendation... Shabbat recipe of the week - strawberry banana bread You'll love this deliciously moist banana bread loaf, swirled with a layer of strawberry batter and topped with fresh strawberries. It's fruity, flavourful, and delicious as a dessert with ice-cream, or just sliced and served with a cup of tea. Make the most of abundant summer...

Hello again my friend! Holiday season is very nearly upon us, and I'm here to remind you that you don’t need travel plans to start eating like you’re on holiday. Below I've set out my top tips for holiday dining at home, but first... Shabbat recipe of the week - avocado, orange & watercress salad with olives This is absolutely one of my all-time favourite salads. It was one of my Mum's recipes, and it never fails to delight. The citrussy fruit is the perfect foil to the creamy avocado, and...

Hello my friend, and happy July! The summeriest of the summer months began yesterday, and there's a huge variety of fruits and vegetables in season. More on that below, but first... Shabbat recipe of the week - halva ice-cream pie! Since these Shabbat recipes have proved so popular they're getting moved up the running order! This week's delight is the amazing 10-minute halva ice-cream pie. With just three simple ingredients, you can make it dairy or parve, and this delicious frozen dessert...

Hello my friend! Not to bang on about it, but this week I'm writing to you about healthy eating... No don't stop reading! If you’ve ever felt like healthy eating meant giving up everything you enjoy, I've got great news for you. There's no special diet involved, no reading labels, and definitely no adding weird powders to your food. Instead, I want to encourage you to take a whole foods plant based approach to cooking and eating. And to feel the difference in your body, mind and wallet! Whole...

Hello there my friend! This Sunday, June 21, is Fathers Day - a time to celebrate fathers and those who take on a fatherly role. Father's Day has become increasingly popular since the mid-20th century, and since it's a largely secular tradition, I say we embrace this opportunity to appreciate the special men in our lives. Plus, it's a great excuse to enjoy a lovely brunch/lunch/barbecue etc! To that end, below are some tasty recipes that are great for a relaxed brunch or lunch, perfect for a...

Hello my friend! This week's email is all about food waste. Specifically, how we can reduce or avoid it! In the UK, around 60% of total food waste is generated in people's own homes, equivalent to 4.7 million tonnes every year. So it's up to all of us to try and get that number down!* Throwing away food is harmful to the environment, wastes money, and is also counter to the Jewish value of bal tashkhit - avoiding unnecessary waste and destruction. The 13th Century Sefer haChinuch states, “It...

Hello again my friend! Did you treat yourself to one of the delicious and nutritious breakfasts in last week's email? I'd love to hear what you enjoyed, so do hit reply and tell me! I finally planted out my vegetable plants in the garden, and while it will be a few weeks before we get to eat anything home grown, it's really not a problem as the shops and markets are packed to the gills with abundant fresh and delicious local produce. June really heralds the start of summer and all the foodie...