The festive period is the time where I get the most questions from readers: What do I put on the Christmas table that won’t have anyone missing the turkey? How do I make the very best roast potatoes? Is there such a thing as a gravy that pleases everyone? It’s a time of year where people might be cooking vegetarian food for the first time or striving for something show- stopping, outside of their usual cast of vegetables. In the Guide : all the recipes and tips you will need for Christmas day, Christmas eve and all the days in between. You’ll also find a plan of action and timings for Christm ..read more

There is so much history and complexity involved that writing about what is happening in Iran right now only scratches the surface of 43 years of oppression, human rights abuses and deaths at the hands of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I must start somewhere, and it is only right that I begin with a young woman named Mahsa Jina Amini who has become the rallying cry and symbol of what is being called the first female led counter-revolution of our time.  On 16 September 2022, Mahsa Jina Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman died in a hospital in Tehran following her detention by the Ira ..read more

Sometimes we make eating more complicated than it needs to be. The section of the Venn diagram where food, health and sustainability intersect, where we would all like to be, can seem impossible to reach. But when it comes to food, common sense is more useful than we realise. I have long been an advocate of a diet of seasonal fruit and veg, nuts and seeds, pulses and legumes, and a healthy scattering of treats. But now, a landmark study by Oxford University has proven that this is the best way to eat, for our health as well as for the planet. Whilst studies like these are really helpful as a ..read more

Sometimes we make eating more complicated than it needs to be. The section of the Venn diagram where food, health and sustainability intersect, where we would all like to be, can seem impossible to reach. But when it comes to food, common sense is more useful than we realise. I have long been an advocate of a diet of seasonal fruit and veg, nuts and seeds, pulses and legumes, and a healthy scattering of treats. But now, a landmark study by Oxford University has proven that this is the best way to eat, for our health as well as for the planet. Whilst studies like these are really helpful as a g ..read more

Last week my cold took a turn for the worse and  I took myself to bed for a day or two. I really should have read the signs and taken some rest a few days ago but with lots going on and my sisters 40th at the weekend I didn’t listen to what my body was telling me. I only say this a reminder to those of you who might need to rest too. If you can and you need take some rest. Rest is important. This account has been reminding me of that recently. While in my bed I’ve finally had the chance to flick through the books I’ve had piled next to my bed and to get excited about cooking from some and ..read more

A few times a year I do a reset to help me connect with what I am eating again, to tune back in with my body and to fall back in love with food again.  My journey into eating and cooking with plants at the centre of my plate, and in turn writing my books, came out of a reset like this one. Like anyone else, I get into patterns and habits with food; some good, some bad, driven as much by emotion as nutrition.  This plan is an easy-to-follow, practical recipe and meal plan for those wishing to re-nourish and re-set. Delivered straight to your inbox as a downloadable PDF,  this i ..read more

Our Christmas dinner has long been a sisterly affair, one that my sister, Laura, and I took very seriously from a young age (most notably in 1994, when Laura decided to gold-leaf our pudding). As we’ve got older, the presents, decorations and gold-leaf on the desserts matter less, while our time at the table and what we eat and drink only grows in importance year by year. The post All- time Vegetarian Christmas Favourites -Drinks + Puddings appeared first on Anna Jones ..read more

In the latest of my all-time Christmas favourites, I’ve turned my attention to sides and starters. For me, the linchpin of a good Christmas dinner is the roast potato: golden and crunchy on the outside, soft and cloudy inside. Then there’s the other trimmings – Brussels sprouts made into a crunchy slaw, confit garlic cauliflower cheese, a speedy stuffing, and the most delicious vegan gravy in town.  The post All- time Favourite Vegetarian Christmas Sides appeared first on Anna Jones ..read more

In a month of negative news, I thought it would be good to remember some of the more hopeful things that came from the first UK lockdown.  Community Comfort – recipes from the Diaspora  100 British cooks from migrant backgrounds come together in this e-cookbook to raise funds for the bereaved healthcare colleagues and families of Black, Asian & Ethnic minority victims of Covid-19.  Louis Theroux’s new interviews Unable to travel as normal, Louis used the first lockdown to track down some high-profile people he’s been longing to talk to – from Lenny Henry to Boy George.  ..read more

This list is being updated as I find more things to add. To be the first to get new recipes, ideas and links, sign up to my newsletter.  Nationwide  – Farms to Feed Us – a UK-wide database which highlights the small-scale food producers near you who will be able to supply you with fresh produce in coming weeks -The #helptheheroesdiff campaign has been set up to help feed amazing NHS staff in South Wales by a collective of independent food businesses. You can donate here and help keep them cooking for the people looking after us – Cheese delivery from a small UK cheese makers ..read more