Emma Forbes Top Tips
- Dinner party ideas – If you’re cooking for a large group of people or creating several courses, ensure one of your meal choices is something that can easily be whipped up, like a risotto or macaroni cheese - one pot cooking makes life a lot simpler! Alternatively, serve something that can be prepared earlier in the day such as one of my own creations - chicken marinated in delicious yogurt sauce - which you then just have to throw in the oven at the last minute.
- Entertainment tips for special moments with friends – In addition to cutting down preparation time, I always recommend choosing a dinner party recipe that you are confident cooking and know how it works. That way, you can enjoy your time with friends with no stress! Your being relaxed will lead to a good time had by all and keep the atmosphere lively.
- Emma’s secret ingredient - I always have hidden bars of high quality dark chocolate and a good supply of greek yogurt. If I need to make a last minute pudding – I just melt the chocolate on a double boiler, swirl into the greek yogurt, shove it in a tub and simply freeze for a couple of hours. It makes the most delicious dessert, and it’s so easy!
- Time saving tips for the school run – The morning before school is always the most hectic time of my day! Get everything prepared the night before, ideally even lunch boxes. That way you have more time in the morning and in theory, less rushing around!
- Back to school lunch tips – Try to think ahead on menus to make them varied and nutritious. A yogurt is a the perfect snack for a school lunchbox , especially those that are available in tubes - pack a different flavour yogurt each day to keep kids interested. Little pots of dip with crudité are a great addition as are boxes of raisins. Wraps make a great alternative when kids get bored of sandwiches too!
- Emma’s hero ingredient – Really good jars of pesto are something I can’t live without. Always have a jar on standby, as everyone loves it and it’s a great ingredient to make a pasta dish instantly more exciting. I often make my own, but there are some amazing ready-made ones too which are even more convenient when in a hurry.
- Grow your own dinner – Even if you just have access to a tiny patio or roof terrace, you can still experiment with growing vegetables, such as tomatoes, or sprouted seeds. Nothing tastes better than something home grown and it’s a great way to get the kids engaged with fresh vegetables and healthy meals.
- Travel tips – When travelling I always take snacks for the plane. Some great healthy options are chopped crudité, rice cakes and oat cakes – which keep you full too. Additionally, avoid caffeine or alcohol and instead try to drink lots of water and green tea.
Keep hydrated, and eat healthy, as there’s nothing worse than eating junk and arriving at your destination feeling awful!
- Beauty must have – My secret beauty tip is Chamomile and Herbal Tea. Drink them last thing at night and first thing in the morning with a squidge of lemon to keep skin clear and revitalised.
- Lunch on the go – As I travel quite a lot, I always carry ziplock bags with snacks in to curb any cravings for junk food. My favourite snacks on the go are nuts, crudité and dried fruit – just pop them in your bag to eat either in the car or when you are out on the run!
“Emma Forbes has teamed up with Rachel’s on its new ‘Moments’ campaign, which encourages consumers to take time out to reconnect with themselves and ‘find their Rachel’s moment’. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/rachelsorganic”