Bank holiday weekend is lying ahead of us, and I already know what will be cooking in our pots on Sunday: succulent Indian lamb chops accompanied by a lemon-zesty couscous, followed by heavenly chocolate cupcakes. I tried it on my in-laws the other weekend and the recipes weren’t only easy peasy, the in-laws are still alive!

Brother and sister in law. Happy. And alive!

The recipes were taken from Tana Ramsay’s new cookbook Tana’s kitchen secrets, which I have been given to review. Even better: two lovely readers are able to win a copy all to themselves. Just leave a comment until next Tuesday, 8 AM to take part.

Don't laugh. Cupcakes come in all shapes and sizes. This is diversity and inclusion!

Tana’s book oozes great and simple advice that promises to ‘bring out the cook in you’. It’s the kind of advice you would expect to be passed on to you by your mum or granny. In my case they have been too busy burning their bras to have time for these kinds of mundanities. So thank you, Tana, for adding significantly to my late domestication.

Look who's laughing now...

I am definitely going to try more of the recipes in the book. Everything looks very appealing and approachable – it’s a pleasure to browse through the recipes and gaze at the mouthwatering pictures. Also, I think that this cookbook would make a nice present for any (male or female) cook in training.

Only one thing to criticise: the cupcakes turned out to be a bit dry. It’s what I complain about every time I buy cupcakes. The only cupcake recipe that seems to avoid this flaw is the YOSEF. But the icing truly was heavenly and tasted like mousse au chocolat!

If you are interested in the recipes for the Indian lamb, the couscous and/or the cupcakes, let me know and I’ll email them to you.

Happy Bank holiday weekend!