Four famous mothers and daughters talk to Lorraine Conway about the fun, the food – and the fiery moments – in their relationships. Actress Minnie Driver, 42, lives in Los Angeles with her son Henry, three.   “I was 14 when Mum told me that we were Dad’s secret family” I grew up with the … Read more

Actress Emilia Fox, 37, lives in London with her one-year-old daughter Rose. Mum and I share a lot of friends – my pals adore Mum and confide in her, because she’s completely unshockable. Rose’s father and I have separated, and one good thing to come out of that is spending more time with Mum. In … Read more

Denise Lewis, 39, talks to Lorraince Conway about her love of glamour, the importance of having a date night – and never losing that competitive edge. “Winning a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics was the high spot of my career” Denise live in Buckinghamshire with her husband, Steven O’connor, and three children, Lauryn, nine, … Read more

The weight-loss pariah has hampered your efforts for too long. It’s time to crack down on salt… We tend to point the finger at fat and sugar when it comes to diet demons. But there’s another, sneakier ingredient that’s often ignored. It has no calories, and it’s packed with important minerals we all need. We’re … Read more

The humble walnut has a lot to offer: from boosting memory and moods to looking after your skin, it’s got every base covered… Brain food These knobbly looking nuts are in fact excellent ‘brain food’. They are packed full of good fats and are a great source of essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and 6, … Read more

In knots over nutrition? We have news, know-how and meals in minutes… Blitz it in the blender Beetroot and pepper smoothie Don’t be put off by beetroot, it’s in season now and packed full of antioxidants and iron, which help fight free radicals and is a welcome boost if you’re menstruating. 2 carrots (peeled, unless … Read more

Enjoying a meat-free diet can be effortless and delicious, with Aldo Zilli’s easy recipes Whether for ethical, environmental or health reasons, more and more people are shunning meat. As it happens, health reasons were top of the list for chef Aldo Zilli when he decided to go meat-free. “Meat is not good for my cholesterol,” … Read more

Thai green curry with quinoa Thai green curry with quinoa Serves: 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes Per serving: 591 calories, 15g protein, 43g fat (of which 31g saturated fat), 36g carbs (of which 5g sugar), 3g fibre, 0.2g salt For the spice pasta 1 tbsp each cumin and coriander seeds 5 … Read more

Food editor Jane Curran brings you the best fresh produce and latest products to buy this spring Leeks, delicious sautéed in butter What’s in season APRIL After the long winter months, spring is finally upon us and we’re beginning to see more variety in home-grown produce. The British watercress season kicks off this month, perfect … Read more

Q: What can I do to manage video gaming safely with my two sons? A: Help your boys to choose age-appropriate games and websites by taking into account each individual child’s temperament and developmental stage in your decision-making. An energetic, fiery child may well get over-excited and a little aggressive after playing a war game, … Read more

The internet Advantages and disadvantages Almost all children ages eight to 17 use the internet. Now is your opportunity to influence your child’s online behavior while he is young and likely to comply. This gives you an opportunity to get things right in preparation for years of internet use, so that you can maximize the … Read more

Boots your health by eating seasonally with Amanda Hamilton’s top shopping tips  “Seasonal eating and its benefits for your health have long been recognized by ancient medical systems, in particular Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). As we move from winter into spring, now is the perfect time to consider how the food you eat plays a … Read more

Can’t shake your daily chocolate fix? Find out what your body really needs and beat those snack attacks for good. Craving chocolate? We hate to burst your bubble; there is no such thing as chocolate deficiency! Craving chocolate could be a sign of low magnesium levels, because raw cacao is a good source of this … Read more

Rosemary Mashed Potatoes This simple mashed potato recipe uses the microwave for cooking the potatoes. If you’re in the anti-microwave category, consider this: cooking a potato—or any other starchy root vegetable—requires gelatinizing the starches in the vegetable. For this to occur, two things need to happen: the starch granules need to get hot enough to … Read more

5. 310°F / 154°C: Maillard Reactions Become Noticeable The Maillard reaction turns foods brown and generates mostly pleasant volatile aromatic compounds. You can thank Maillard reactions for the nice golden-brown color and rich aromas of a Thanksgiving turkey, Fourth of July hamburger, and Sunday brunch bacon. If you’re still not able to conjure up the … Read more

New ideas for midweek or weekend for a couple or a crowd. Simple stylist and something new to inspire, with fresh seasonal flavours. 2 New Roasts Ideas to make a special lunch even better! Herbed loin of lamb with mint sauce Chop the herbs just before cooking, so they retain their vibrant colour A very … Read more

3 Make Ahead Have something ready when catering for a crowd. Chicken and mustard gratin This is comfort food at its very best – richly flavoured and a doddle to make Easy/ Prepare ahead/ Freeze – Preparation time: 45 minutes  – Cooking time: 30 minutes – Server 4 to 6 ·         12 free-range chicken thighs, … Read more

2 easy suppers Exciting new flavours to liven up midweek eating Cajun chicken with giant couscous The sweetcorn and couscous salad is perfect for a packed lunch, so any leftovers won’t go to waste Easy/ Prepare ahead – Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus marinating  – Cooking time: 25 minutes – Server 4 ·         4 free-range … Read more

3 Big Salads. These are great as a light meal or as part of a buffet Easy Caesar salad A pared-down version of the classic, this can be knocked up in no time. Easy/ Prepare ahead – Preparation time: 15 minutes – Cooking time: 10 minutes – Server 4 For the dressing ·         4 salted … Read more

4 DESSERTS. For those weekend moments when you want to impress Smart idea The whole pears will keep for 2 weeks in their poaching liquid in the fridge. Why not make a double batch and serve the remaining ones sliced with blue cheese? Pear and almond tart A perfect way to end a meal, this … Read more