Low effort recipes to beat festive fatigue!

Hello again my friend!

The cooking and eating marathon that is the High Holydays and Succot is almost at an end. If like me, you're running out of energy and enthusiasm, check out my easiest, tastiest, most bang-for-your-buck recipes below. These deliver max flavour and wow factor, for minimum effort. Phew! Starting with...

Recipe of the week - 10 minute chocolate tart

Slice of chocolate tart with raspberries.

With just three ingredients and a few minutes work, you have a lush and luxurious vegan dark chocolate tart that's a spectacular end to any special meal. No pie crust? Make the two-ingredient filling and divide between espresso cups to create sophisticated 'pots de creme' that will wow your family and friends! Use best quality dark choc and serve with some fresh berries, cherries or figs for a real taste sensation.

Get all the details and the recipe here...

Quick wins

Do you want to make your Shabbat and YomTov meals a bit special, without spending yet more time in the kitchen? I hear you. Try some of these ideas:

Decorate your table with flowers, candles, a table runner and/or fancy napkins to create a special atmosphere.
Elevate your challah with low-effort additions such as dipping oils, flavoured butter, honeys, or other tasty readymade dips and spreads, arranged in cute little dishes.
If you're serving after-dinner chocolates, tip them out of the box(es) and pile them on a plate. Add a few medjool dates, nuts or quartered fresh figs for a spectacular end to your meal.

What's in season in October?

Loads of lovely fruit and veg around this month. In particular, look out for:

Veggies: 🍆Aubergines, 🫜Beets, 🥦Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chestnuts, Kale, Leeks, 🧅Onions, Parsnips, Pumpkins, Salsify, 🥬Spinach, Squashes, Swede, 🌽Sweetcorn, Swiss Chard, 🍅Tomatoes, Turnips, and 🌱Watercress.

Fruits: 🍎Apples, Blackberries, Figs, 🍐Pears, Quinces

See below for some tasty ways to use them!

Super easy YomTov recipes

Here are a few of my favourite recipes that take minimal effort but deliver big results. Plus, these are all warming, comforting dishes that are perfect for serving in a chilly succah!

Thick onion soup with grains and melty cheese
A robust bowl filled with tasty and nutritious grains, deeply flavoured caramelised onions, and topped with gooey toasted cheese.
Cumin roasted beetroots and chickpeas
Sweet and earthy beetroot and protein-packed chickpeas, roasted with cumin and orange for a tasty vegetarian main course or side dish.
Parsnip, cheese and pasta bake
Let the humble parsnip shine in this unctuous pasta bake with gooey cheese and a wonderful flavour from those tasty veg.
Smoked salmon dauphinoise
Sumptuous layers of meltingly soft potato and luscious smoked salmon, baked in cream. Simply assemble, pop it in the oven, eat and enjoy.

Pyrex dish of smoked salmon dauphinoise showing layers of potatoes and salmon in cream, on a wooden board, with a wooden spatula and linen cloth.

Caramelised onion and feta tart
Flaky golden pastry, sweet caramelised onions, and delicious salty cheese combine in this wonderful and easy savoury tart.
Roasted butternut squash and Brussels sprouts with everything bagel seasoning and crunchy seeds
Blending the sweetness of seasonal veg, the savouriness of an everything bagel, and the crunch of toasted seeds for a simple, healthy addition to any meal.
Hasselback stuffed aubergine
Sliced and filled with tomato, pesto and mozzarella, these scrumptious stuffed aubergines never fail to impress on both looks and flavour!
Healthier fruit crumble
Prefer a hot dessert in a chilly succah? I prepare batches of this crumble topping and freeze, so it's ready to tip over a dish of fruit and pop in to bake at a moment's notice. Don't forget the custard!
Quince and apple sponge-crumble
A cross between a fruit sponge and a crumble, this deliciously fragrant Autumn dessert ticks all the boxes.

You can browse all my Succot recipes, including hearty Autumnal soups, cosy main dishes, and delicious warm desserts, here.

And if you need help creating a delicious menu to suit everyone's dietary needs, check out my ebook Entertaining Guests with Special Diets.

Overhead image of a baking dish of healthier fruit crumble, sitting on a striped cloth.

My annual please - please don't eat that etrog!

I know I say it every year, but PLEASE don't eat your etrog (or anyone else's!) after Succot. Etrogim sold for ritual purposes are considered to be 'ornamental botanicals' by law, and are not covered by the stricter rules on pesticides that apply to food products. Many etrogim have been heavily sprayed with agricultural chemicals, which accumulate in the rind - the part most often used in recipes.

For details on how to make a beautiful clove etrog, to use as your havdalah besamim for the coming year, click here. You'll also find links to additional non-edible crafts and other projects to put your etrog to good use. 🍋

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom

Wishing you a joyful and restful weekend. Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom - a Good YomTov and a Good Shabbos! May this special time bring us blessings of peace, health, happiness and only good things.

With love, Helen x.

More delicious recipes and ideas this way...!

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