There is always a pot of basil by the kitchen sink that I lovingly tend to. We pick the leaves to use in a mozzarella and basil salad, which is one of the children’s favourite dishes. Last weekend, Felix fancied pasta for lunch, so we decided to make pesto. I offered a little adv...

Serves 4 adults or 8 childrenMake sure you use a really good short sweet pastry; it may be crumbly, but it tastes divine. For a sweet little twist, I add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the filling. Ingredients75g (23/4oz) butter6 royal gala apples, peeled, cored and quartered100g (31/...

These yummy muffins can be made with bits of bacon or small chunks of roasted pumpkin if children find goats’ cheese too strong. Or try with slices of black olives and sun-dried tomatoes.Makes 12 muffinsIngredients250g (9oz) self-raising flour21/2 tsp baking powder1/2 tsp bicarbo...

Makes 8You can use fromage frais or natural yoghurt. By using little fromage frais pots as moulds, you make lollies that are just the right size for small hands. As fruit tends to become less sweet when frozen, we’ve added a little honey to make the lollies more appealing to youn...

Breakfast by Jody Vassallo (Thunder Bay Press, £7) features a mouth-watering selection of 65 breakfast ideas from across the globe that include nutritious recipes such as sheep’s milk yoghurt with a swirl of strawberry purée, as well as more filling treats, such as huevos rancher...

Makes 8 skewersIngredients2 large chicken breast fillets, cut into 32 cubes24 cherry tomatoes6 cap mushrooms, cut into quarters2 garlic cloves, crushedZest of 1 lemon, grated2 tbsp lemon juice2 tbsp olive oil1 tbsp oregano leaves, choppedMethodSoak eight wooden skewers in water f...

Makes 12 little piesLovely as a teatime treat or a fancy-looking pudding, these pretty little delights are light and fruity and easy as, well, pie. My children love to help making these, carefully placing the berries on top.IngredientsNon-stick 12-cup muffin tray100g (3oz) melted...

Organic Baby And Toddler Cookbook by Lizzie Vann (Dorling Kindersley, £9.99) is packed with inspiring recipes for each stage of your child’s development. Dishes include fruity rice, vegetable korma and this lovely recipe... Pumpkin Stew-In-A-PotMakes 4 servings for a 15-month-old...

Dubbed ‘The Baker Celeb’, 27-year-old Lily Vanilli is quite possibly the hippest thing to happen in baking for some time. Cooking up a storm at a recent Downing Street charity event,  she has also graced the cover of the Observer magazine. What’s got everyone so excited is that L...

Makes 48 cookiesIngredientsNon-stick cooking spray 140g (5oz) rolled oats 120g (4oz) wholewheat pastry flour or white wholewheat flour 100g (31/2oz) raisins 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg  1/4 tsp salt 6 tbsp rapeseed oil 100g (31/2oz) light brown suga...