A couple of weeks ago I picked up the new Cook with M&S recipe book while doing the weekly food shop. There was a lot of hype around the release of this book as tasty home-cooked meals have become more important than ever during the coronavirus pandemic, as everyone is stuck at home while restaurants have been closed. This £5 recipe book contains 50, simple 20-minute meals for all the family. It ranges from a selection of comfort food, meals from across the globe and family favourites.
The recipes are based on the Cook with M&S range of ingredients which make meals easy to make and save lots of time in the kitchen! The range includes a selection of pastes, sauces and sprinkles which can all be found in store.
The first meal I tried from the book was the Mediterranean Chicken Traybake using the Cook with M&S Mediterranean paste. This recipe is perfect for a no-fuss, mid-week tea as you basically just throw everything into a roasting tin and put it in the oven for 45 minutes. It is a warming mix of chunky veg, chicken thighs, chorizo, red wine and Spanish tomatoes. I used chicken breasts when I tried it as we didn’t have any chicken thighs and it was lovely! The paste and red wine soak through the veg and bubbles over the chicken while cooking. The chicken is tender but crispy on the outside. Click here for the recipe.
Rating
Taste: 4/5
Ease: 5/5
Would I make again? Yes
The next meal I tried from the cookbook was probably my favourite yet, the Soy, Ginger and Garlic Steamed Sea Bass. This was honestly the best way I have ever eaten sea bass. For this meal you use the Cook with M&S Soy, Ginger and Garlic paste, with a mix of fresh chilli, ginger and spring onions on a bed of sugar snap peas and tender stem broccoli. This is such an easy way of making a restaurant standard meal, and it is also super healthy! The sea bass fillets are sandwiched together with the Soy, Ginger and Garlic paste and then cooked in foil parcels which trap in the aromatic flavours and spices. This would be an amazing meal to make for a dinner party (when they are allowed!) because it is so impressive but so simple at the same time. Click here for the recipe.
Rating
Taste: 5/5
Ease: 4/5
Would I make again? Definitely!
I also used the Soy, Ginger and Garlic paste to make the Sticky BBQ Chicken Thighs. To get the gorgeous barbecue flavour without the barbecue you simply mix together the Cook with M&S Soy, Ginger and Garlic paste, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and honey to make a marinade. You coat the chicken thighs generously in your BBQ marinade and then chuck on a baking tray and cook for 30 minutes – EASY! I served them with some baby gem lettuce salad with crispy onions and balsamic, and some homemade spicy paprika potato wedges. You can find this recipe in the M&S cookbook!
Rating
Taste: 4.5/5
Ease: 4/5
Would I make again? Obviously!
I can’t explain how impressed I am with the Cook With M&S cookbook and ingredients range. The recipes are so incredibly tasty but so simple to create. It has been a lifesaver during lockdown for my family, as we have been eating these incredible meals all the way through! Cooking has become a new love of mine during lockdown, it makes me feel so positive and has really kept my spirits up. This book has given me so much inspiration and makes it easy to whip up amazing meals for my family throughout the week.
Pick up your M&S cookbook for only £5 in-store and also check out the Cook with M&S website as they regularly post new recipes from M&S chef Chris Baber and from the cookbook!
You can also follow Chris Baber on Instagram by clicking here for more food inspiration.
Also, make sure to follow my foodie Instagram account @georgiamayscooking to see what I’m cooking up in the kitchen, as some of my recipes don’t make it to my blog!
Thank you so much for reading and stay safe!
Georgia May X
