I find myself on my second day with the house empty once more, after the wonderful background noise of December, my girls, best friend visiting and just that holiday sound that I love.

I read somewhere once, as a woman was describing her feeling when her only son left for Uni, as the same feeling like – when you are at a party and suddenly someone turns the music off.

That was the first time where I read anything remotely close to the feeling I felt when both my girls left home. It was time, and I am excited for them and all that jazz but as mamma, man, the feeling hurts.

The word ’empty nest’ fills me with anger as it is another example of a society trying to limit a women’s experience to one or two words (infertility, pregnancy, menopause, midlife etc), when in fact it is a pivotal moment in a women’s life that fills her with love, grief, pride, happiness and sadness, all at once.

While, off course, still having to pretend that you have your ‘shit’ together as your heart crumbles (a story for another day).

So, on this Sunday I find myself with the music turned off and a need to soothe my aching heart, with another love, one that gives me mental clarity and fills me with inspiration and hope – cooking.

Finding new inspiration in old favourites

This year I want to draw my attention away from social media for inspiration and back to old school cookbooks from my very big cookbook library at home.

Finding lots of recipes in different cookbooks can be overwhelming, so in a bid to stay focus and try new recipes, I will be cooking 3 or 4 recipes from one of my favourite cookbooks or cookbook writers, here on my NEWS page, in the hope that these recipes brings, whoever needs them –  inspiration &  joy (too).

Introducing Cookbook Author and Chef, Meera Sodha

Meera Sodha, was my first real cookbook crush and I am happy to admit I have all her cookbooks.

When I switched to a vegetarian diet it was clear that cooking a mean curry will be crucial and Made Fresh was exactly what a curry novice cook needed!

It was my first curry cookbook and still is a treasure in my cookbook collection.

The recipes are full of flavour, easy and uncomplicated.

But, I wanted to try her very first cookbook, Made in India, a book I have had for ages but have not cooked much of the recipes. I want to change that.

She is a goddess when it comes to vegan and vegetarian cooking and has her own cooking column in The Guardian.

When in need of a hug – cook a curry

It came as no surprise to me that I craved a curry on this Sunday – but not just any curry! THIS coriander chicken curry was the best thing I cooked over December.

My daughter, Mia had a friend over for dinner and both girls asked for a curry. Loulou is studying in Milan so you can see why a curry is not something she gets to eat everyday!

If you cook one thing this January

Let it be the Coriander Chutney Chicken! I have cooked many many curries over my 10 years here at Adre’s Kitchen, but my friends, THIS blew my mind.

I did not tweak the recipe at all – it’s 100% Meera’s and it’s fabulous.

Summer Inspiration

Even though I introduced meat back into my diet, the majority of what I eat is still vegan/vegetarian. I have and will always love veggies – so a veggie curry will be on my menu, always.

We are in the middle of summer in Cape Town and I bought beautiful vine ripened cherry tomatoes at the Oranjezicht Farmers market along with shiny and firm aubergines.

With my basket bursting with summer veggies I bought organic coriander in bulk and I find the free-range deboned skinless chicken thighs super handy for quick cooking and I always have a pack in my freezer.

The Menu

Aubergine & Cherry Tomato Curry

You can find the full menu on my recipes – recipe for members here.

I had this with the naan bread, rolled thinly so it became thin and crispy in parts -I love that.

I dolloped generous helpings of the tomato curry on top and finished it off with Maria’s Cream of the Crop yogurt (which I mixed with Thank Goodness Kefir to loosen) – both from Oranjezicht Farmers Market too.

Coriander Chutney Chicken

Again – the best dish I cooked in December! Its off course not for any coriander haters, as its ALL about the coriander, in fact 100g of it!

One starts by making a quick coriander chutney blitzing a truck load of coriander with other flavourful ingredients into a rough pesto paste. This forms the base of the chicken curry.

Its tremendous!

Aunty Harsha’s Naan

I have a few other naan recipes on my site – but I think I will rename this recipe “Quick Crisp Naan” as they are incredibly easy and quick to make. I rolled them thin, so they can crisp up rather than fluffy like these Easy Garlic Naan breads.

The dough will happily ‘sit’ in the fridge for a few days which is just great for that quick, roll and eat type vibe.

I hope these recipes fills you with love, deliciousness and tastes like a freaking fabulous hug.

All my love

Adré x