Cold Day Dinner Ideas for Calm Days

You need

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp oats
• pinch cinnamon
• butter for the pan

Method

1. Mash banana, mix with egg, oats and cinnamon.
2. Fry small spoonfuls in butter, ~1–2 min a side.
3. Stack them up.
4. Top with fruit or a little honey.

You need

• any sturdy veg (potato, squash, carrot, onion)
• olive oil
• salt, pepper
• optional: feta, chickpeas

Method

1. Chop everything into even chunks.
2. Toss with oil and salt on a tray.
3. Roast hot ~30–35 min, turning once.
4. Scatter feta or chickpeas to finish.

You need

• 1 cup milk (any)
• 2 tsp cocoa
• 1–2 tsp sugar
• small piece dark chocolate
• pinch salt

Method

1. Warm the milk gently.
2. Whisk in cocoa, sugar and a pinch of salt.
3. Melt in a little chopped chocolate for body.
4. Pour and hold the warm mug.

You need

• 1 pack shelf gnocchi
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1 garlic clove
• handful spinach
• olive oil
• grated cheese

Method

1. Fry the garlic in oil for 30 seconds.
2. Add tomatoes and gnocchi, simmer ~8 minutes until gnocchi is tender.
3. Stir through spinach until wilted.
4. Top with cheese off the heat.

You need

• 1 block instant noodles (discard seasoning)
• 1 tbsp miso paste
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 egg
• 1 handful spinach or frozen greens
• 1 spring onion, sliced
• optional: chilli oil, sesame

Method

1. Boil the noodles in ~2 cups water until just soft.
2. Lower the heat, stir in the miso and soy until dissolved (don't hard-boil miso).
3. Slide in the egg and greens; cook 1–2 minutes.
4. Tip into a bowl, scatter spring onion and chilli oil.

You need

• 1/2 cup rice
• 4 cups stock or water
• thumb of ginger, sliced
• soy sauce
• spring onion
• optional: egg

Method

1. Simmer rice, stock and ginger ~25–30 min until soft and soupy, stirring now and then.
2. Swirl in a beaten egg at the end if you like.
3. Season with soy.
4. Top with spring onion.