What Dad Cooked is a collection of our dad’s recipes, thoughts, tips and cooking hacks that simply need to be shared with all you foodies!

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Seasonal Favourites

Some delicious seasonal summer family recipes to choose from the What Dad Cooked repertoire.

Clam Chowder — An American Classic

Clam chowder is an American classic. You will find it on the menu at any American restaurant. And if it’s not written on the menu, you can safely assume that it will appear by default at the soup and salad bar.

Roman Artichokes

This is one of the best ways to enjoy artichokes. I got these artichokes from Kingston Market – they’re fresh in from Italy.

Quick and Easy 30 Minute Melanzane Parmigiana

One of a series of easy and flavoursome half hour family recipes using 10 ingredients.

Rosehip Syrup Recipe From Foraged Wild Dog Rose Hips

Food-for-free and foraging is the way. A diverse recipe to make your own rosehip syrup. Full of vitamins and goodness, try with yogurt or even rice pudding.

Latest recipes

Check out Dad's latest homecooked dishes and recipes below. Or click recipes in the menu to browse through 6+ years of Dad's homecooking recipes for families.

Cassoulet de Toulouse à la Pappa

A perfect winter warmer – Cassoulet!

The Laughing Cow Lightest Loaded Quesadilla

Try Dad’s loaded low-fat salsa quesadillas with The Laughing Cow Lightest x8 cheese.

Melanzane Parmigiana with Dolmio 7 Vegetables Sun Ripened Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce

An excellent way to turn a popular Italian slow food standard into an easy and quicker family classic.

Pumpkin Pie

My best pumpkin pie yet!

Asaparagus

A seasonal favourite ingredient of Dad's, so much so he made a 30 recipe series about the green spears! Try these recipes whilst asparagus can still be found locally.

Parma Ham and Asparagus

A great flavour combination and presented here as a main meal salad or antipasto.

Asparagus and Morecambe Bay Potted Shrimp

Asparagus and shellfish have an affinity with one another – prawns and crab are known as being particularly good partners…

Asparagus Vignarola

This is an Italian stew made from spring vegetables including artichokes, broad beans, peas.

Asparagus Summer Roll

Asian asparagus salad in a rice paper wrap – not your usual way with asparagus – but well worth the effort.

Dad's Food Journal

Dad loves to write about food. Whether it's discovering a new road local to London or Surrey, where the treasures of foodie stores and independent shops delight—or Dad's macro observations in the world of food. Dad's articles (and foodie stories to his recipes) are a funny and knowledgable journey through the lense of how pops views the world.

Eggnog – an American Tradition

Making eggnog is an essential ritual for Americans during winter celebrations. But beware – it’s dangerously delicious!

The Secret of Eating in a Chinese Restaurant

After a day out in London with the family, we will usually wander up Shaftesbury Avenue to find a small unassuming Chinese restaurant we know. This place is consistently busy with…

And what, exactly, are you supposed to do with a thousand-year-old egg?

This was one of many questions I had on my mind during my latest foray into London for January’s Time Out article.

The Power and Pleasure of Pesto

Does anybody know how the perfect pesto should taste? The Genovese should, it’s where the dish originates…



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