Dinner Ideas for Stressed Days

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.

You need

• 2 slices bread
• butter
• 2 slices cheese
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1 garlic clove
• pinch sugar
• salt, pepper

Method

1. Simmer tomatoes with crushed garlic, a pinch of sugar and salt for ~10 min; blend if you like it smooth.
2. Butter the bread on the outside, fill with cheese.
3. Fry on medium until golden both sides and melting.
4. Cut diagonally and dunk.

You need

• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• thumb ginger
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 can tomatoes or coconut milk
• rice to serve

Method

1. Soften onion, garlic and ginger; add spices for 30 sec.
2. Add lentils, tomatoes and ~2 cups water.
3. Simmer ~25 min until soft and thick, stirring now and then.
4. Season and serve over rice.

You need

• whatever's around: cheese, crackers, fruit, nuts
• hummus or peanut butter
• something crunchy

Method

1. Pick one creamy, one crunchy, one sweet thing.
2. Arrange on a plate so it feels intentional.
3. Add a dip.
4. No cooking required.

You need

• cheeses
• cured meat or olives
• bread or crackers
• something sweet (grapes, jam)
• something pickled

Method

1. Aim for soft, hard and tangy cheeses.
2. Add a salty, a sweet and a sharp thing.
3. Spread it on a board so it looks generous.
4. Open something nice to drink.

You need

• good bread
• options: avocado + chilli + lemon / ricotta + honey / beans + cheese

Method

1. Toast the bread well.
2. Pick one topping set and pile it on.
3. Finish with salt, a squeeze of acid, or a drizzle of honey.
4. Eat warm.