The joy of a one-pot dish isn’t only ease and lack of washing up. Cooking everything in one dish maximises flavour, too. The ingredients mingle as they go and the result is much more than the sum of its parts.
I suppose I think of traybakes as one pots, but for this piece we’re sticking to dishes that can be cooked in a large pan or casserole.
On a typical weeknight, I’m at a stage where I try to cook one meal for the whole family. That said, because I still want people to eat, my one-pots can often be split into their constituent parts on serving.
What we know so far about RAF Fairford ‘bomb plot’
Five men were arrested on terror charges and villagers evacuated from their homes after a major incident was declared near the RAF Fairford airbase used by the US Air Force.
Aerial footage showed a bomb disposal robot inspecting three white vans in the area.
What are they accused of?
- The men were initially arrested on suspicion of Explosives Act offences.
- Police were called out to three suspicious vans heading towards the airbase in Gloucestershire at 12.45am on Sunday.
- The five men were later further arrested on suspicion of the preparation of a terrorist act, with counter-terrorism policing officers now leading the investigation.
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How were they caught?
A local farmer spotted the seemingly abandoned white vans blocking a quiet country road a few hundred metres from RAF Fairford when driving home from a party.
The farmer told she saw a group of “young” men, some wearing “masks or balaclavas”, running into the trees and across fields towards the airbase. She called the police and warned neighbours to lock their doors.
RAF Fairford’s links to Iran war
A senior Western intelligence source told The i Paper the assumption is that those involved in this incident are likely to be proxies for a hostile state. Iran is understood to be the leading suspect.
- The US Air Force has used RAF Fairford to carry out bombing missions against Iran in a bid to protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
- In July, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) warned against allowing US bombers to fly from British bases, saying such sites would be legitimate targets.
- A UK Government spokesperson said at the time: “Our armed forces are ready to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks, whether it’s on our soil or from abroad.”
- Inquiries have yet to rule out Russia or even domestic activity.
What did the police say?
I can’t go into details, but I can give reassurance that we believe the matter to be contained and as a set of agencies working together across Gloucestershire, we are gathering and responding to local intelligence all the time.
Gloucestershire Police temporary Chief Constable, Maggie Blyth.
How triple lock could be axed to pay for national care service
Andy Burnham’s plan to put free social care in Labour’s next general election manifesto could be part of a grand bargain to drop the state pension triple lock, Labour MPs believe.
What you need to know
- A Labour MP told The i Paper that introducing the NHS-style care service would be a “politically smart” way to “sugar the pill” of finally scrapping the lock
- On Sunday, the PM kicked off Labour’s conference in Liverpool by vowing to put forward a plan to voters at the next election in which “everyone contributes, everyone is covered” for social care.
- In private, many MPs across the political spectrum confide that the lock is fundamentally unsustainable over the long term.
Figures chime in
The think-tank said an Australian-style system would deliver savings of about £650m by 2030.
The ex-cabinet minister said getting rid of the triple lock is “an option that the Government should consider”.
The junior minister suggested tax rises would be needed to fund the policy, saying it “isn’t going to be cheap”.
A word of warning
A backbencher cautioned that Burnham would have to tread carefully. “We will need to try and secure a cross-party consensus on adult social care,” they said.
Back in 2017, Theresa May proposed replacing the triple lock with a “double lock”. The policy was dubbed a “dementia tax” and the Tories subsequently lost their majority.
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Sycamore Gap stump shows new shoots three years after felling
Three years after it was illegally felled, photos show a thick ring of new shoots around the stump of the sycamore tree made famous by 1991’s Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.
What happened to it?
The tree, which was planted in the late 1800s in Northumberland, was illegally felled in September 2023 by Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, causing national outcry.
In 2025, the pair were jailed for four years and three months for criminal damage for cutting down the iconic tree with a chainsaw.
Slow recovery starts to show
Now, the National Trust, which operates the site at Hadrian’s Wall, has revealed the stump has shown new growth.
Since it was felled, the remaining stump has been protected by a barrier, allowing nature to take its course and new green shoots to spring up.
Promising signs
These flourishing shoots are really encouraging and show that the special measures we’ve taken, including reducing soil compaction around the roots and limiting human disturbance, are paying off.
Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust at Hadrian’s Wall
How puzzles may ‘reduce age-related cognitive decline’
Researchers found memory, logic and reasoning puzzles with advice on diet and exercise, can help improve thinking and memory problems.
How the study works
- The study examined people aged 60-85 with low cognitive scores.
- They were split into three groups. One group was given evidence-based advice on diet.
- The second used a website called Active Brains, which provides cognitive exercises in the form of puzzles.
- The third group were directed to the same website and also given “brief support” with a nurse.
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The study’s findings
- After 12 months, all groups showed improvement in their cognitive scores and a significant proportion no longer met the criteria for age-related cognitive decline.
- 28 per cent of people who were given simple lifestyle advice were no longer deemed to have cognitive decline.
- This increased to 33 per cent of those directed to the website and 32 per cent of those directed to the website and given additional support.
- Among those directed to the website and given additional support, there was an 18 per cent reduction in severe cognitive impairment compared to those who were just given advice, researchers found.
Hear from the researchers
Professor Paul Little, co-lead of the study, said: “These are really exciting findings that people can easily take on board.
“Simple messages and simple things that people can do really make a difference – and the NHS does not need to spend a lot of money.”
He added the research team was “surprised” by the cognitive improvement seen among people just given “brief advice”.
What do the experts say?
Experts said the study was “encouraging”, but added some caveats.
Dr Richard Oakley from the Alzheimer’s Society said: “People should not take this study to mean that doing puzzles can reverse dementia or improve symptoms for everyone living with memory problems.”
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How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
NHS GP dR RADHA
The science
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
- The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
- This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
- We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
- Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
How can we build gratitude?
Change your words
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
Express it
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
How can we build gratitude?
Notice more
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
The basics
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
What to do
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
- Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
- Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
- Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
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A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
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It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
- While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
- It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
- There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
- Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book , explains why we behave the way we do in love.
Golden rules for happy relationships
Start with your own behaviours
The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.
Express your needs
People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.
Golden rules for happy relationships
The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule
If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.
Lean on community
You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong.
Stop blaming childhood
Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.
Reach for a
secure script
When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one.
If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’
Loneliness elsewhere
When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.
What to do
- Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
- You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle.
- Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
- Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.
I budget for two to three skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs per person when doing this kind of dish; it’s always good to have leftovers. Take them out of the fridge at least 20 minutes before you start cooking and season all over with salt.
Choose a large pan or casserole with a lid that can go in the oven. Put it on the hob on a medium to high heat and warm a tablespoon or two of any oil, I use olive. Add the thighs, skin side down, in one layer. It can take 15 minutes for the fat to render out and crisp up the skin. The trick is not to try and turn the thighs too soon. Leave at least five to eight minutes before nudging with a spatula to see if they’re ready to move. You might want to prop a large thigh up on its neighbour for a few minutes to crisp up as much as possible.
Meanwhile, clean and slice one leek per person and pre-heat the oven to 180C/Fan 160C. Once you’re happy with the crisped skin, remove the thighs to a plate. Add the leeks to the pan and stir to help them absorb flavour from the delicious chicken fat. Cook until very soft, then stir in one tablespoon of white miso paste, or more if you love it. Add about 250ml boiling water – you want it to cover the leeks – and give everything another good stir. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
Sit the chicken back in the pan, this time skin-side up. Put the lid on and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. When you take it out, add pre-cooked chickpeas – half a can per two people – and give it a few minutes back on the hob to warm them through.
Serve with a dollop of yoghurt, a splash of extra virgin olive oil and a good crack of black pepper.
Next-day spiced rice
Many cuisines have a version of a braised rice dish. For this one, I use leftover meat from a roast and warming spices like cumin and cinnamon.
We might traditionally have leftover cooked meat on a Monday, but this dish will give you a warm meal on the table in 30 minutes any day of the week.
If I could choose the leftovers, lamb would be my top pick for its fatty, textural and unmistakably farmy flavour. Apparently lots of people don’t like it for just these reasons, but chicken or any other meat will also work admirably.
Start with a finely sliced onion and fry this in a large pan or casserole in a tablespoon of flavourless or mild oil. When the onion is soft and translucent, which may take 10 minutes, add two large cloves of crushed garlic and one teaspoon each of ground cumin, coriander and cinnamon. Adapt the flavours if you know your preferences. I love cumin, its scent is unbeatable, and often use it on its own.
It’s time to add your shredded leftover meat. I don’t like to give weights for this as it depends on appetite and availability. If my meat looks a little paltry, I might bulk it out with some beans. At this point, add a handful of sultanas or raisins if you like them, which will become Danny the Champion of the World plump during cooking.
For the dried rice, 75g per person is usually plenty. Once you have measured this out and added it to the pot, add double the volume of cold water, put the lid on and bring to the boil, keeping an eye on your pan. When it begins to shudder, reduce to a low simmer.
Check after eight minutes, the water should have retreated from the surface. Put the lid on for another two minutes then take it off to keep an eye on the rice. When small divots appear on the surface, you’re just about there. Turn the heat off and return the lid to the pan, placing a tea towel or napkin underneath to secure the heat inside.
When you’re ready to eat, stir the rice and meat together, season with salt and a shower of lemon or orange zest, and serve with a sharp yoghurt or sour cream to cut through the fatty lamb and fragrant spices.
My daughter and I are obsessed with teeny tiny pasta, the sort you find in soups. Annoyingly, it’s not as easy to find in the UK as it should be. We stock up on diminutive stars and twists and shells in French supermarkets. Over here, you’ll find some in Italian delis. Macaroni or any small pasta will do.
The aim of the dish is to cook the pasta for longer than you usually would in water spiked with stock, to give you a brothy pasta without it being a soup.
I tend to use a frying pan and add just enough water to cover the pasta. Use about 80g per person and a quarter of a veg or chicken stock cube or one teaspoon of bouillon per person, stirring this in well.
I choose the veg depending on diner preference and what’s in the fridge. Diced carrots and peas often make an appearance. As do spinach, kale and cavolo nero along with chickpeas or butter beans.
This is one of those dishes that ticks lots of boxes. It is simple and speedy as well as comforting and filling. I serve it cloaked in clouds of grated parmesan.
Harissa sausage stew
I cook sausages in the air fryer when I want them ready quickly. But if there’s time, I much prefer a deeply flavoursome sausage stew with lots of onions and tomatoes, heat from harissa or paprika and maybe lentils or beans, too.
Start with a large frying pan or casserole (choose one with a lid) and add two tablespoons of olive oil. Brown the sausages in the hot oil. I tend to go with two per person, or just one of the beautiful huge sausages my butcher sells. You know your audience. Make sure each sausage has a tasty char on most of its surfaces before removing to a plate.
Now take two or three large white onions and slice finely. Add to the pan, with another tbsp of oil if it looks a little dry. Fry at a medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes. Add a fat clove of crushed garlic or two, and season with salt and pepper.
Add a small glass of any wine, around 125ml, stir the pan to deglaze. Add one tablespoon of harissa and one of tomato paste, or two of harissa if you like heat. Stir. Add two tins of chopped tomatoes and one of water. Return the sausages to the pan, put the lid on and simmer on a low heat for 30 minutes. It is ready to serve when the tomatoes have thickened into a rich sauce.
Easy onion soup
I make this when I notice there are onions to use up. I’m not sure if it’s anything approaching authentically French, but that classic dish is my inspiration for this version, which is low effort and cost.
For a kilo of onions, slice finely and fry in a combination of oil and butter, one tablespoon of each. Use a large pan with a lid on a medium-high heat, and make sure the onions don’t stick. Once the onions have softened, season with salt and add a tablespoon of caster sugar. Turn the heat down and cook slowly for 20-30 minutes, stirring frequently.
Once you are happy the onions have caramelised, add two large cloves of sliced garlic and two tablespoons of flour. Stir well. Add one to two glasses of white wine and let some of the alcohol burn off before adding 1.5 litres beef stock. You can buy high quality readymade stocks, such as Kallo in a carton or Potts in a can, but a cube will do if that’s what you have.
Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Your soup is ready when the liquid has thickened and the flavours combined to give you a rich onion and beefy soup. Taste and add more salt if necessary, though the stock should have provided plenty of flavour.
Serve with slices of baguette topped with your favourite strong, hard cheese, such as Cheddar or Gruyere.