Fancy a night in?
Rediscover your love of cooking and relish the informality of home dining. Add a theme and your meal just got more interesting. We’re going places, staying in!
EDITED BY EMMA COXON PHOTOGRAPHS STEVE PAINTER
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ooking for your nearest and dearest, and that includes yourself, is an act of love and, since staying in is the new going out, let’s make the most of our trusted store-cupboard ingredients – with a few lovely fresh additions – and put the excitement, and heart, back into mealtimes.
In Katherine Bebo’s new cookbook, Big Night In: Delicious Themed Menus To Cook & Eat At Home (Ryland, Peters & Small, £14.99), you’ll find date-night inspiration from around the world, as well as hearty family feasts and something a little different for the children, such as ‘Chorizo and bean burgers’, ‘Springtime apple slaw’ and ‘Homemade root beer’, for a memorable picnic in the garden enjoying the spring sunshine.
In the mood for Turkish or Middle Eastern? Try fresh breads with ‘Baba ghanoush’ or ‘Falafel with tzatziki’… Mediterranean maybe? How about ‘Spinach and feta pastries’, ‘Moreish mezze’ or an Italian night with fresh and tangy ‘Cherry tomato bruschetta’, ‘Mushroom and Parma ham pizza’ and a negroni or two? Whether you’re dining on the balcony, around the chimenea, at the table or on your lap, make the most of home with a big night in.