Food: Beef Burgers with Gruyere and Caramelised Onions

Occasionally I'll suggest dinner options to my husband and the kids and nothing interests them - very frustrating - and then I'll suggest beef burgers and am greeted with instant smiles!  I like using Aberdeen Angus steak mince for making my beef burgers but any good quality steak mince will do.  I also opt for parmesan, rather than breadcrumbs, for binding the burgers, so as to keep them gluten-free. I've experimented with loads of toppings but my favourite at the moment is definitely anything containing caramelised onions, deliciously sweet and rich, the perfect complement to the gutsy beef.

Beef Burgers with Gruyere and Caramelised Onions

Food: Mexican Bean Stew with Green Rice

I make chilli con carne pretty often and it always proves to be very popular. The kids always ask me to pile on the beans which inspired me to make this bean stew as an alternative. The sauce has a lovely smokiness from the chipotles and goes very well with green rice. It tastes fantastic in a burrito  or enchilada and is even better the next day.

Travel: A Short Trip to Switzerland with Baby

We travelled extensively before having children and were determined that this would not change once  be became parents. We planned our first trip just as our baby turned 6 months, which made baby a bit more portable and gave us well-deserved rest after a six month campaign of sleep deprivation. We chose Switzerland, as we both love being in the mountains but also because the flight time to Switzerland from Scotland is relatively short.

Food: Couscous Salad with Falafel and Pomegranate

I love a salad for lunch as they're usually very fast to make, give me free reign to experiment with flavours and also contribute to my 5-a-day tally. Couscous is a great vehicle for Middle Eastern flavours. Here I've tarted it up with lemon, coriander, mint, olives and pomegranate. The falafel, which I made from a kit, provides a bit of substance and the avocado provides a lovely creaminess.