26 February - resetting our bodyclocks

The last few times I've flown long-haul, I've tried to avoid jetlag by not eating at all on the journey back, then having whatever the appropriate meal is when I get home. Apparently, it's meant to reset your bodyclock. So after an overnight flight back from Miami, then train to Bristol, we arrived home at lunchtime and had some nice simple soup. It was a bit of a lazy afternoon and we managed to hold out until usual dinnertime for some spaghetti bolognese. We both slept really well and seemed to be more-or-less back to normal the next day, so it looks like the food trick worked.

8 September - couscous salad and spaghetti bolognese

Another great 'salad' for lunch - this time couscous with some roast squash and pepper, tomatoes, a few bits of bacon and a bit of the sauce left over from last night's chicken - really yummy!

We had a simple classic for dinner; spaghetti bolognese. This is something that's slightly different every time I make it and is inspired by a number of different recipes, including a classic Italian Elizabeth David recipe and a more recent one from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Tonight it was quite a fresh, tomatoey version with fresh basil.

• Gently fry a chopped onion in a mix of butter and olive oil until soft, adding some chopped garlic and a few bacon bits.
• Add minced beef and stir until browned.
• Add a glug of milk and bubble until almost gone - this was an idea from HFW and gives it a slightly creamy feel.
• Do the same with a glass of white wine.
• Stir in a tin of chopped tomatoes, salt, nutmeg and some chopped basil.
• Bubble away for as long as possible, at least an hour. Then serve with spaghetti (or tonight linguine actually) and a good pile of grated parmesan.