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Author releases tenth cook book that promises ‘to make your life easier and tastier’
Cookbook author and chef Claire Thomson, also known as 5 O’Clock Apron to her legions of fans is releasing her tenth cookbook this week.
One Pan Beans, focuses on how to use in pulses, lentils and chickpeas in meals to suit every budget, lifestyle and occasion.
The book is the next in the series of one pan books, following her most recent book One Pan Chicken published in 2023.
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She describes the contents of her books as “Quick, everyday meals that are really versatile and useful recipes.”
Adding that they are, “Thrifty to make, thrifty to cook.”
Her new book is at number two on one of Amazon’s book charts
The book according to the chef who is based in Ashley Down, it is extension of a chapter in a book she wrote called The Art of the Larder in 2017.
She explains, “There was a whole chapter on pulses in that and I think since 2017 this zeitgeist on beans and pulses has really grown.”
She informs me that there is an appetite from people wanting to supplement their diets with pulses.
Believing that this is because “they’re cheap, full of protein and good for the planet.”
Pulses do indeed sequester nitrogen from the atmosphere, they are better for soil health and as a result there is less of a need for synthetic fertilisers that can have detrimental effects on the local environment and subsequent food chains.
Upon a superficial glance you may think the book is appealing to vegetarians or vegans, but Claire says she uses beans, pulses and chickpeas to supplement her meals.
Using a recipe from her book as an example she says: “I’ve got a beef and lentil recipe in the book. So, you’re just adding some lentils in with beef, so you can buy less beef and better quality.”
So, the book works for different diet preferences.
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Alongside her partner, who is also a chef, she is the parent to three teenage daughters.
Meaning she knows firsthand what the struggle is like to implement healthy eating into a very packed schedule.
“I post favourite family recipes, loads of vegetables and all pretty doable in under 30 mins.
“Nothing is terribly difficult to cook or source. My sort of remit for this book was, what can you buy from your local Co-Op?”
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All photos: 5 O’Clock Apron
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