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TURMERIC CAULIFLOWER

Pre-heat the oven to a nice and hot 200C.

Break up the head of a large cauliflower by using a sharp knife to cut out the core and then using a combo of hands and knife to break it up into nugget-sized pieces.

Tumble the cauli into a pre-heated, oven-safe frypan with 3-4tbs oil.

Coat in a mixture of:

1tbs paprika

1tbs sumac

1/2tsp turmeric

generous amounts of salt and pepper

zest and juice of 1 lemon

Fry for 10 mins, mixing and stirring.

Relocate the pan to the oven and leave it for 30 mins or until charred and sweet.

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Packet gnocchi, but make it useful

A message from Simon:

Today’s fix is packet gnocchi. And I want you to not boil it.

I know the packet tells you to boil it. Ignore the packet. The packet does not know your life.

The best thing to do with shelf-stable gnocchi is roast it.

Straight onto a tray. Olive oil. Tomatoes. Garlic. Lemon zest. Olives. Into a hot oven. Done.

What happens is the gnocchi goes golden and a little bit crisp on the outside, but stays soft and chewy inside. Which is frankly much more interesting than boiled gnocchi, which can sometimes have the texture of tiny damp pillows.

This version has cherry tomatoes, olives, bocconcini, lemon zest and basil. Very easy. Very pretty. Very “I have made dinner” for someone who has mostly just tipped things onto a tray.

The lemon zest matters because gnocchi can go a bit beige and heavy. Lemon wakes it up. The bocconcini goes in at the end so it softens, but doesn’t totally vanish. And basil goes on last because cooked basil is a crime.

You can add zucchini, capsicum, eggplant, chilli, rocket, parmesan, leftover roast veg, whatever. This is not a recipe that wants you to go to three shops.

The fix is: roast the gnocchi. Don’t boil it. It’s faster, better and involves one tray, which is spiritually important.

RECIPE: Lemony olive and bocconcini gnocchi traybake

Serves 3–4

Preheat the oven to 220°C.

Tip a 500 g packet of shelf-stable potato gnocchi onto a large baking tray.

Add 250 g halved cherry tomatoes, one sliced zucchini or one chopped red capsicum, half a cup of pitted or torn olives, and two finely sliced garlic cloves.

Add three tablespoons of olive oil, the finely grated zest of one lemon, salt and black pepper, then toss everything together really well.

Spread it out so the gnocchi has space to crisp.

Roast for 20–25 minutes, tossing once, until the gnocchi is golden and the tomatoes have collapsed.

Tear over 150 g bocconcini and return the tray to the oven for 3–5 minutes, just until the cheese softens.

Finish with a handful of basil leaves, more lemon zest if you like, and chilli flakes or parmesan if you want them.

Serve straight from the tray and feel smug about the lack of washing up.

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Impressing friends with one's cooking skills is truly one of life's joys. Yumi has found a new way that is super easy and you probably have 90% of the ingredients already.

BELINDA JEFFEREY's CHEESE BISCUITS

Combine all the dry ingredients: 300g plain flour, 50g Self-raising flour and a teaspoon of salt. Add in 2tsp mild chilli flakes.

Mix well in the food processor.

Add 40g freshly grated parmesan and a whole grated block of Mersey Valley (250g).

Add 250g cold, cubed butter, whizz the mixture. It will look crumbly and quite dry. While it's whizzing, add in the juice of 1 lemon. It will come together.

Halve the dough. Fashion each half into logs about the width (girth?) of a 50c piece. Wrap in baking paper and chill until needed.

When you're ready to cook them, pre-heat to oven to 180C. Slice 4-5mm pieces off the log and spread them out on a baking tray. Top with sesame seeds or nigella seeds and bake for about 14 minutes. Serve with beverages and olives!

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