The daily question of “what should I make for dinner?” can get so boring, and when we run out of inspiration, time, or energy, it’s easy to turn to the same few recipes time and again, especially if they feel familiar and easy to make. Equally, the mental load of researching, deciding, and shopping for new recipes can feel like an impossible task on a weeknight, particularly after a long, busy day. It’s why we get the same response every time we ask you what kind of recipes you want us to share: “Quick, simple, healthy weeknight meals.” So, when deciding on a theme for our long overdue new cookbook (can you believe it’s been over 10 years since the last one!), the choice was clear and Easy Evenings was born.
Riverford chef Bob and I have spent the last year busy in the kitchen creating 100 new recipes that are fuss-free, can be on the table in 40 minutes or less, and are packed with the good stuff: veg! There are recipe contributions from other Riverford chefs too, including Field Kitchen Head Chef, Lewis, and Recipe Box Chef, Freddie. While working on the book, one thing that was really important to us was making our recipes adaptable and forgiving. As Food Lead at Riverford, one of my missions is to make people feel more confident and relaxed when it comes to home cooking. I really don’t believe in following a recipe to the letter (apart from baking perhaps, which is more of a science). I think that cooking should feel simple, fun, and flexible – so that you can use what you already have in the fridge, freezer, and store cupboard, and substitute what you don’t have.
However, we also know (because so many of you have told us) that a lot of people can lack the confidence to cook in such an improvised or adaptable way. Well, my biggest hope is that Easy Evenings supports you to build that confidence in your own kitchen and helps you master the art of scratch cooking from your weekly veg box. We’ve had so much fun writing and eating our way through Easy Evenings, which includes whole sections on hearty salads, one pot meals, throw-together dinners, and puddings & bakes, with a focus on familiar whole foods and all your favourite veggies. We can’t wait to see what you’re cooking at home and hope our new book becomes a well-thumbed, spattered, failsafe favourite!
Easy Evenings is out on 1st October 2026. You can pre-order wherever books are sold. Stay in touch with us on social media at @riverford.
Our News from the Farm posts come from Riverford. They are the digital versions of the printed letters which go out to customers, every week via Riverford’s veg boxes. Guy Singh-Watson’s weekly newsletters connect people to the farm with refreshingly honest accounts of the trials and tribulations of producing organic food, and the occasional rant about farming, ethical and business issues he feels strongly about. Riverford’s monthly Farm Kitchen letter is written by Riverford’s team of chefs, recipe and content creators: Emily, Bob, Hannah, Lewis & Freddie.
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