Take three ingredients

Having always had a herb garden and dabbled with a veggie patch, this year I decided to do a little window sill gardening with tomatoes, chillis and basil. They are, after all, the basis for so many vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Using these three ingredients it is possible to make pasta dishes, gnocchi, risotto, soup, salad, sandwiches, pizza, bruschetta ... the list is endless.

At its simplest, a drop of oil heated in a pan with chopped chilli and some garlic (or you could use  chilli oil you've made previously) to which you add the chopped tomatoes. They will quickly absorb the flavours. Add torn basil to the tomatoes before stirring through cooked pasta. Serve in warmed bowls with a sprinkle of Parmesan substitute and a garnish of fresh basil. Simple perfection.

The three ingredients don't always need to be combined. They can be paired or used alone.
The tomatoes and chillis can be used together in Indian or Mexican cuisine or pair the tomatoes and basil in a Caprese salad.

Variety is the spice of life

This week a close friend turned 57 years of age. "Heinz 57 varieties" we laughed. That started a conversation; what does the 57 actually stand for?

One person thought there were 57 ingredients in the sauce whilst another said there were 57 Heinz products. Well it turns out that the founder of the Heinz company, Henry J. Heinz, was wanting to create a brand and advertise his produce. There are many theories as to how he landed on calling it 57 varieties but, although the company was by then producing over 60 products, he liked the way 57 looked and sounded. Maybe it was his and his wife's lucky numbers. Maybe it was to do with religion. Who knows but the name stuck and has become synonymous with the Heinz brand.

57 Varieties has become lodged in our vocabulary, meaning anything comprised or mixed from a lot of parts or origins. This might refer to a person of mixed race or a dog that's a mixed breed.

My favourites have to be Heinz baked beans (especially five beanz) and Heinz tomato ketchup.

Jack(fruit) of all trades

Jackfruit is becoming more widely used in the UK as a substitute for meat. Because of it's texture, it has been likened to pulled pork or chicken. Jackfruit has a fairly bland sweet-sour flavour and is often covered in barbecue sauce and served as burgers and chilli. When using ripened fruit it can be used in sweet dishes. Lots of recipes are available on the Internet and in vegan and vegetarian cook books.

The jackfruit is part of the same family as fig and mulberry. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and is commonly used in south Asian dishes.

Whilst sold in Asian markets, it is rare to see a whole jackfruit in supermarkets here in the UK but can be bought in canned form. This is far easier than trying to wrestle with these huge, tough fruits which contain a sticky latex layer under the spiky skin.

The fruit is a healthy option being free from cholesterol and saturated fat and is low in calories. Extra brownie points are that it is a sustainable and ethical meat replacement.

To date I have eaten it in veggie restaurants and from street food stalls, normally in a taco. Waitrose now do a vegan jackfruit pizza which is very tasty.