RECIPE INSPIRATION
Simple pasta dishes that nourish body and soul – welcome to the Hemsley way
RECIPES MELISSA HEMSLEY
Finding your own unique way to feel good is about tuning in to what makes you thrive, and then doing more of it. For me, it’s about really listening to my body. Going for a walk every single day is one of the best things I can do. I don’t take my phone with me; I used to listen to a podcast while I walked, or make a phone call, thinking that was an effective use of my time. Now I just walk and I look and observe. I’ve become more relaxed with myself and I’ve concentrated on slowing down, something which I’ve really honed in on in my new cookbook, Feel Good.
When I was creating the recipes, I asked myself if there was anything I could do to make each recipe any easier?
How could I make the whole cooking process not only as stress-free as possible but as soulful as possible? Hopefully, Feel Good is filled with the sort of easy, comforting food you look forward to at the end of the day.
The starting place for how I feel has always been my kitchen, with something delicious sizzling away and a spoon in my hand. I’ve always talked about batch cooking, but I’ve realised how much I like knowing that I’ve invested in myself with those extra, batch-cooked portions; having things ready to eat when I’m exhausted makes me feel good… those moments where I feel I haven’t got any energy but I know that a simple meal is going to make my evening better.
Take my recipe for green pasta – atwist on pasta pesto using kale, cavolo nero and cashews. I make a big batch of the base pesto and then I might add oregano, chilli and feta and serve it with pasta, or toss it through some rice with borlotti beans for a delicious lunchtime salad. On another night, I might grate in ginger, drizzle in some toasted sesame oil and toss it through buckwheat noodles or some wholewheat spaghetti, and maybe have it with some chicken or salmon. Feel-good cooking is not just what we eat, it’s the mindset around it – arelaxed, flexible approach with no rules. I encourage you to give that a go!
Storecupboard sardine puttanesca with tagliatelle
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VEG-PACK
