Indulge in a generous slice of cake and pair it with a hot cuppa for a perfect monsoon evening. Try your hand at baking with these easy recipes by chef and restaurateur Ritu Dalmia. Poppy lemon cake Opposite page Ingredients: 1 cup granulated sugar; ½ cup butter; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 whole egg; 2 … Read more

Chocolate orange marquis Ingredients: 1,200 gm castor sugar; ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice; 350 gm dark chocolate chopped into small pieces; 225 gm butter; 5 eggs; 50 gm plain four; 1 tbsp orange zest; macaroons or sponge fingers for decoration Method: Pre-heat oven to 1800C. Place half the sugar in a saucepan, add orange … Read more

You may be taking in a lot more calories, sodium and fat than you bargained for when you choose that can or carton of soup (or lasagna or cooking spray). That’s because product labels for many foods suggest unrealistically small serving sizes. For instance, most people eat an entire can of soup in one sitting … Read more

Too busy to cook balanced, nutritious dinners every night? We’ve rounded up the best diet and detox meals-on-wheels 1.    Raw fairies – Best for: Weight-loss The unique meal delivery service from Raw Fairies is for those completely committed to a serious diet shake-up, or fans of the raw-food movement. Gourmet raw food chef Anya Ladra … Read more

Jo Usmar locates her mothering instinct… in a coop in her garden I have a confession: I don’t ‘get’ children. Now, before you send Mumsnet round to present their case with a flip chart of pics of adorable kids, hear me out. I like children I think they’re funny when they’re trying to walk or … Read more

French onion soup for the soul and the waistline? Gooey pasta and cheese – minus the guilt? You bet! Satisfy your cravings for feel-go winter meals with these tasty, nutritious twists on four classics. Loaded Vegie Lasagna Eggplant slices become the noodles in this delectable layered dish which boasts five vegetables and four different cheeses. … Read more

French Onion Soup Gratin Time is the secret ingredient for this soup – slow cooking brings out the onion’s natural sweetness. We give the process a jump-start with agUiA tint in the microwave first so you get to the fun part sooner: digging in! French Onion Soup Gratin Serves 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook … Read more

As I’ve had several children and have seen the speed with which they head off to school, I’ve learned to cherish the remaining years before they venture into formal education. So, when I start preparing them for preschool, I don’t drill them with flash cards or teach them to read. I ensure they have the … Read more

We all know that a dollop of sauce (or three) can make all the difference to your food. And while you might think they’re unhealthy treats, the latest findings show that some condiments are good for your body. Here’s why… 1.    Guacamole The avocados in guacamole have many benefits, despite their ‘fatty’ reputation (a myth, … Read more

Does wheat-induced bloating ban you from teatime treats? Then hooray for Phil Vickery’s gluten-free recipes Plain scones Makes 12 ·         300g gluten-free flour mix B ·         4tsp gluten-free baking powder ·         1tbsp caster sugar ·         2tsp xanthan gum ·         100g unsalted butter ·         2 medium eggs ·         125ml milk ·         Salt ·         Butter, for greasing … Read more

Cook up an open air feast that’s fresh imaginative and healthy using our go to lean protein – chicken – plus summer’s tastiest veggie ingredients Smoky Chicken & Sweet Potato Serves 4 ·         4 medium sweet potatoes ·         4 chicken breasts, preferably organic ·         Juice of 1 lemon ·         2tsp olive oil ·         2tsp smoked … Read more

Is popcorn the perfect food? Its less-than-stellar reputation as a fatty, salty snack is about to change faster than you can say, ‘chick flick’. New research has found that popcorn delivers a far more concentrated dose of disease-preventing polyphenols than fruit and veg because those foods contain so much water. It’s also a completely unprocessed … Read more

How to make best burger at home. Calories 364 Fat 12.6g Protein 33g Fibre 5.7g Serves 4 ·         400g very lean organic beef mince (100 cals less than standard) ·         1egg, beaten ·         100g grated carrot (Boosts vitamins and fibre) ·         1dsp low-sodium Worcester sauce ·         1tbsp wholegrain mustard ·         1 clove garlic, crushed ·         … Read more

Opportunities for learning Preschoolers are like sponges. They soak up everything around them. I’m constantly in awe of how much children develop during the preschool years. The beginnings of early literacy and numeracy take hold and kids have a never-ending thirst for knowledge. As a parent I have the opportunity to encourage and foster this … Read more

Are You a Helicopter Parent? Consider this real-life scenario: Ashley is completing her freshman year at Neighboring State U. On the phone recently, Ashley told her mom that she was changing her major from political science to athletic training. She explained that she met someone at a party who had just gotten a cool job … Read more

Getting Involved in Your Child’s Career Planning If you are a boomer or post-boomer-era parent, you probably have some reservations about playing a part in your child’s career decision making. You believe in freedom of occupational choice. You reject a European-style system of education in which young people take a test at age 16 to … Read more

Readiness for school is a widely discussed topic among parents. I don’t believe there’s one answer to the question ‘At what age should my child start school?’ I suggest if you’re looking for an answer to this question you should consider the following: • Each child is different and decisions should be made on the personality … Read more

Coping with school paperwork There are peak periods — such as the start of the school year — when, without a system in place, I used to feel in a complete mess with all the school paperwork. After missing a couple of important notices, I realised that to stay on top of things I needed … Read more

Divide the chicken and vegetable mixtures among the lavashes. Fold up one end of each lavash and tightly roll with filling Total time: 35 times Makes: 4 main-dish servings Receipt: We used rotisserie chicken here, shredding the meat from 1 whole chicken. Alternatively, you can use any leftover chicken you have on hand ·         ½ … Read more

Top with avocado, onion, lettuce, and top halves of rolls. Serve immediately. Total time: 20 minutes Makes: 4 main-dish servings Receipt: Leftover fried chicken from the fridge is great in this recipe. To refresh it before serving, toast it in the toaster oven if you have one. Don’t let any fat drip on the heating … Read more