Wales


<p>In&nbsp;<a href="https://wales.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/cardiff-mum-recipe-book-family/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cardiff Mum</a>’s&nbsp;<a href="https://tidd.ly/4crQbXw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>5 for £25</em>&nbsp;recipe book</a>, Ashleigh taps into achieving big flavours on a small budget, with recipes that cleverly overlap ingredients. So you’re stretching every carrot, clove and crumb to its full potential.</p>



<p>The recipes are packed with flavour but blissfully simple to make, and make you fall in love with cooking – perfect for those &#8216;how is it only Tuesday?&#8217; kind of days. And because we love you, we’re sharing three of the five recipes from the Meal Plan 5 section right here (yes, you lucky things) to give you a sneak peek of the magic. Consider next week’s meal plan officially sorted.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-pan-honey-garlic-chicken-fried-rice">One-Pan Honey Garlic Chicken Fried Rice</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/One-Pan-Chicken.png" alt="One-Pan Honey Garlic Chicken Fried Rice" class="wp-image-5098" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/One-Pan-Chicken.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/One-Pan-Chicken-200x300.png 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/One-Pan-Chicken-683x1024.png 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/One-Pan-Chicken-768x1152.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>A super-easy and quick answer to your mid-week meal challenges, this one-pan gem will become a dish you cook again and again. Sweet and spicy, fragrant and comforting, this one-pan hero has it all.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ingredients-serves-4">Ingredients (serves 4)</h2>



<ul>
<li>2 tbsp sesame oil or olive oil</li>



<li>8 chicken breast mini fillets (roughly 250g)</li>



<li>A thumb-sized piece of ginger, minced</li>



<li>5 cloves of garlic, minced</li>



<li>2 tbsp honey</li>



<li>2 tbsp sriracha</li>



<li>2 tbsp hoisin sauce, plus extra, to taste</li>



<li>1 tbsp light soy sauce, plus extra, to taste (or 1⁄2 tsp salt)</li>



<li>250g long-grain rice, cooked and cooled</li>



<li>2 eggs</li>



<li>6 spring onions, sliced</li>



<li>1 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped, plus a little extra for serving</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-method">Method</h2>



<ol>
<li>Heat the sesame oil in a wok or large frying pan over a high heat. Cut the chicken into 1–2cm chunks, add to the wok and stir-fry for around 5 minutes until it is nice and golden. Add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry for another minute. Add the honey, sriracha, hoisin and soy sauce and mix to combine.</li>



<li>Add the cooled rice, and mix together. Then fry for 5 mins over a medium-high heat. If your rice has stuck together in clumps that you struggle to separate, add 2 tablespoons of hot water. The steam will help to break these up.</li>



<li>Push the contents of the pan to one side, crack both eggs on the side of the pan and add them both to the empty side of the pan. Use the back of the spatula to scramble them, then mix the egg through the rice. Add some extra hoisin or soy sauce to taste.</li>



<li>Add the spring onions and stir-fry for a minute, then stir the coriander through. Mix and divide into bowls – with a sprinkling of coriander on top.</li>
</ol>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tuscan-mushroom-gnocchi">Tuscan Mushroom Gnocchi</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/Tuscan-Mushroom-Gnocchi.png" alt="Tuscan Mushroom Gnocchi" class="wp-image-5097" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/Tuscan-Mushroom-Gnocchi.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/Tuscan-Mushroom-Gnocchi-200x300.png 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/Tuscan-Mushroom-Gnocchi-683x1024.png 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/Tuscan-Mushroom-Gnocchi-768x1152.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Gnocchi in the air fryer is crispy on the outside and deliciously soft on the inside. Trust me, when I say you’ll never cook it any other way once you try this! You can also fry it in a frying pan if you don’t have an air fryer, just make sure your gnocchi gets really golden on all sides for the same air-fried effect.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ingredients">Ingredients</h2>



<ul>
<li>500g gnocchi</li>



<li>Vegetable oil</li>



<li>2 tbsp salted butter</li>



<li>1 white onion, chopped</li>



<li>4 cloves of garlic, minced</li>



<li>150g jarred sun-dried tomatoes in oil, roughly chopped</li>



<li>1 tbsp sun-dried tomato oil</li>



<li>500-600g ready-sliced frozen mushrooms (depending on the bag size)</li>



<li>1 tsp smoked paprika</li>



<li>1 tsp dried oregano</li>



<li>200ml vegetable stock (made with 200ml boiling water or 100ml water + 100ml white wine)</li>



<li>2 tbsp mascarpone cheese</li>



<li>50g grated Grana Padano cheese, plus a little extra for dusting</li>



<li>3 handfuls of baby spinach leaves, washed</li>



<li>1 tsp fresh parsley, chopped</li>



<li>Salt and pepper, to taste</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-method-0">Method</h2>



<ol>
<li>Put the gnocchi into the air fryer with a drizzle or spray of oil, and air fry on 200°C for 15 mins until golden and crispy. Alternatively, fry the gnocchi in some oil in a frying pan over a medium heat for 7-8 mins, turning to get them golden on all sides.</li>



<li>While the gnocchi is cooking, make the sauce. Add the butter to a large frying pan over a medium heat, add the chopped onion and fry for 23 mins until soft, add the garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and the sun-dried tomato oil and fry for a further 2 mins. Add the mushrooms, smoked paprika and oregano and cook for about 5 mins until they have softened and are starting to brown.</li>



<li>Pour in the stock and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened, then reduce the heat and add the mascarpone and Grana Padano – mixing into a creamy sauce.</li>



<li>Add the spinach leaves and gnocchi and mix everything together until the spinach leaves wilt. Add the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve in a large bowls with warm bread and butter.</li>
</ol>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thai-basil-beef-pad-kra-pao">Thai Basil Beef (Pad Kra Pao)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/Thai-Basil-Beef.png" alt="Thai Basil Beef (Pad Kra Pao)" class="wp-image-5096" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/Thai-Basil-Beef.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/Thai-Basil-Beef-200x300.png 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/Thai-Basil-Beef-683x1024.png 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/Thai-Basil-Beef-768x1152.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Mince is so economical and versatile but often struggles to find its way into anything more adventurous than a Bolognese. Here, it forms the base of a flavour-packed Thai dish and is served over rice and topped with a crispy fried egg. Delicious! Thai basil adds a subtle but delicious aniseed taste to this dish, but regular basil would also work if you can’t get hold of it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ingredients-0">Ingredients</h2>



<ol>
<li>250g long-grain rice</li>



<li>1 tbsp oil (sesame is best!)</li>



<li>6 cloves of garlic, minced</li>



<li>1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced, or 1 tbsp ginger puree</li>



<li>1 red pepper, sliced</li>



<li>1 red chilli, finely chopped (or 1 tsp chilli flakes)</li>



<li>1 white onion, thinly sliced</li>



<li>500g beef mince</li>



<li>2 tbsp dark soy sauce</li>



<li>1 tbsp oyster sauce</li>



<li>1 tbsp fish sauce</li>



<li>1 tbsp brown sugar</li>



<li>6 spring onions, chopped</li>



<li>A handful of fresh Thai basil leaves, chopped (normal basil will also work!)</li>



<li>4 fried eggs</li>



<li>Sesame seeds, to serve</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-method-1">Method</h2>



<ol>
<li>Wash the rice, then add it to a large pan of salted boiling water and cook for 10–15 minutes until soft. Drain and set aside.</li>



<li>Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan over a medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, pepper, chilli and onion and stir fry for a minute until fragrant.</li>



<li>Add the beef mince and cook for 8-10 mins or until browned and slightly crispy, breaking it up as it cooks. Now add the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce and the sugar. Stir well to coat the mince and let it cook for another 2-3 mins so the flavours absorb and the vegetables slightly caramelise.</li>



<li>Add in 4 of the chopped spring onions and cook for another minute or two, then turn off the heat and stir in the fresh basil leaves. They’ll wilt from the residual heat.</li>



<li>Divide the hot white rice between bowls and scoop over the beef and vegetables. Top with a crispy fried egg. (I like to fry mine in crispy chilli oil!)</li>



<li>Serve with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and the remaining spring onions.</li>
</ol>



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<p><em>Recipes extracted from&nbsp;<a href="https://tidd.ly/4crQbXw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cardiff Mum’s 5 Meals For £25</a>&nbsp;by Ashleigh Mogford, published by Penguin Michael Joseph (£25). Photography © Ella Miller</em>.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://wales.muddystilettos.co.uk/travel/bridgerton-wales-grand-hotels-manor-houses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bridgerton in Wales: the grand hotels and manor houses that make you feel like royalty</a></li>



<li><a href="https://wales.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/cardiff-florist-nina-isobel-florals-bouquet-tips/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cardiff’s chicest florist – and 5 tips you can learn from her</a></li>



<li><a href="https://wales.muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/fitness/national-trust-cymru-new-aberdaron-trail-run/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shake off the winter slump with National&nbsp;Trust&nbsp;Cymru’s new Aberdaron trail run</a></li>
</ul>


Cook this: 3 easy, budget-friendly Cardiff Mum recipes

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