I am a strong believer that food plays a huge role in our wellbeing.  Not complicated diets and fads (not even expensive restaurant food), but simple back-to-basics food fresh from the local market.

If you have vegetables which are very fresh, organic and grown in nutrient-rich soil (not over-cultivated or mass-produced), you don’t have to add much seasoning or flavouring.  Cooked simply, the flavours really come through.

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Ratatouille is the simplest ever dish to make. My kids used to call it tomatoes-with-everything.

Recipe:

  • 6 large, ripe tomatoes (cut as shown in photo above)
  • 2 aubergines (cut as shown in photo above)
  • Use what you have: courgette, sweet peppers
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 bunch basil (I used Thai basil which is a whole lot cheaper)
  • 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 glass of wine
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

My fast and simple way of cooking this would probably infuriate purists, but I just sauté the garlic and onion in olive oil until fragrant, add the other vegetables and then the wine vinegar, wine and sugar. Cook until the vegetables are tender.