Lili's Family Favourites by The O'Brien Press Ltd

Lili’s Family Favourites 185 x 252; gutter10; spine 20; wrap 17

O’BRIEN

Tasty, Fuss-Free Recipes Your Family Will Love

Cooking for your family doesn’t have to mean sourcing specialist ingredients and spending hours in the kitchen. In Lili’s Family Favourites, busy working mum and Instagram foodie influencer Lili Forberg shares her tried-and-tested recipes for simple, delicious meals, using only supermarket ingredients.

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Rustle up a fakeaway in less time than a delivery would take Create a showstopping dessert that will wow your friends Prepare lunchbox staples in advance

Spend a lazy weekend morning making a yummy brunch

With these easy, fuss-free, super-tasty recipes, you’ll be cooking with confidence in no time! ISBN 978-1-78849-282-9

obrien.ie FOOD AND DRINK

9 781788 492829

LILI FORBERG LILI FORBERG

Lili Forberg is one of Ireland’s top photographers and foodie Instagrammers. Her journey to becoming an online recipe creator began when she started sharing the food she was making for her son Leon. Her easy-to-follow recipes and online cooking videos quickly gained a loyal following, and the feedback she received from families across Ireland encouraged her to seek out and share more stripped-back recipes. Find her on Instagram at @liliforberg

Tasty, Fuss-Free Recipes Your Family Will Love

To my bestie, Leon, my husband, Iany, and my mom, Alice. And to you, my amazing Instagram fam

First published 2022 by The O’Brien Press Ltd., 12 Terenure Road East, Rathgar, Dublin 6, D06 HD27, Ireland. Tel: +353 1 4923333 Fax: +353 1 4922777 Email: books@obrien.ie Website: obrien.ie The O’Brien Press is a member of Publishing Ireland.

Enjoying life with

obrien.ie ISBN 978-1-78849-282-9 Text and photographs © copyright Lili Forberg 2022 The moral rights of the author have been asserted. Editing, layout and design © copyright The O’Brien Press 2022 Book design by Emma Byrne All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage system without permission in writing from the publisher. 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 1 26 25 24 23 22 Printed by EDELVIVES, Spain. The paper in this book is produced using pulp from managed forests. Published in

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 8

MORNING

Apple Crumble Cookie Scones

Blueberry and Lemon Cookie Scones

Raspberry, Almond and White Chocolate

BREKKIE

Cookie Scones 51 BARS

Banana, Chocolate and Peanut Butter Overnight Oats 12

Berry Oaty Squares

Chia, Berry and Almond Overnight Oats 14

Carrot Cake Oat Bars

Raspberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats 16

Chocolate Nut Oat Bars

Salted Caramel and Blueberry Overnight

Strawberry Coconut Oat Bars

Oats

Smoothie Bowl

Breakfast Cookies – 3 Ways

BRUNCH

SAVOURY Crackers 60 Cheese Crackers 62 Fritters – 4 Ways 64

American Buttermilk Pancakes

Turkey Sausage Rolls

Bacon-Stuffed Brioche French Toast

Hummus – 4 Ways 68

Nutella-Stuffed Brioche French Toast

Waffles

Breakfast Berry Bread and Butter Pudding 32

FAMILY MEALS FAKEAWAYS Chicken Chow Mein

LUNCHBOX

Spring Rolls

MUFFINS

Chicken Tikka Masala

Apple Cinnamon Muffins 36

Sweet and Sour Chicken 78

Banana Bread Muffins

Sweet Chilli Salmon and Five-Spice

Yogurt Muffins with Apple and Strawberries 40

Noodles

74 76

Lemon Drizzle Muffins

Sticky Lemon Chicken

Strawberry Oat Muffins

Baked Potato Skins

Oat Muffins with Any Topping

Baked Buttermilk Chicken 86

COOKIE SCONES Mixed Berry Cookie Scones

Chicken Kung Pao 88 48

Shrimp Po’ Boy

Pad Thai 92 General Tso’s Chicken

Cranberry, Cashew and White Chocolate Chip Cookies

140

Spice Bag 96

Chocolate Hazelnut Pavlova

Frying-Pan Pizza 98

Ginger and Salted Caramel Pecan

Quick Chicken Noodles

100

Honey Sesame Sticky Chicken Thai Vegetable Curry

102

104

Teriyaki Chicken Noodle Stir-Fry

106

Sticky Chilli Ginger Beef

108

Buffalo Chicken Wings

110

MID-WEEK FAVES Giant Meatballs

112

Cheesecake

142

144

Ice-Cream Bread 146 Bueno Crispy Squares

148

New York Baked Cheesecake with Butterscotch Sauce

150

No-Bake Crunchy Oat Bars

152

Ultimate Banana Bread

154

Crispy Caramel Squares

156

Broccoli Mac and Cheese 114

Hazelnut Chocolate Cheesecake

158

Hidden-Roast-Veg Pasta 116

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

160

Swedish Meatballs at Home

Cookie-Stuffed Muffins

162

ONE-POT WONDERS

Nutella-Stuffed Cookies

164

Beef Bourguignon 120

Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta with

SPECIAL OCCASIONS

118

Spinach 122 Tray-Baked Salmon

124

166

Birthday Cookies 168 Easter Blondies

170

Easter Egg Cheesecake

172

BAKES AND TREATS

Easter Egg Rocky Road

174

BREADS

Barmbrack

Two-Ingredient Flatbreads 128

Easy, No-Fuss Trifle

Brioche Rolls

Salted Caramel Brownie Trifle

180

130

176 178

Brown Soda Bread

132

Orange and Cranberry Loaf

182

Mini Soda Bread Rolls

134

Christmas Cookie Selection

184

136

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 186

TREATS Irish Cream Cheesecake Coffee Slices

138

INDEX

187

INTRODUCTION When I was really young, I remember my

mornings cooking with Leon and just enjoying

mum showing me how to make pasta sauce

making food without complicating it.

using real tomatoes. She told me about the

I have received messages from so

restaurant where she’d tried it and how she’d

many people telling me how their kitchen

asked the chef for the recipe. My mum always

confidence has grown through trying out my

cooked incredible food from scratch, and she

recipes themselves. Cooking brings people

always had me in the kitchen beside her.

together, and a family meal can be the one

Her cooking style was quick and easy, and

time in the day where everyone connects

even when she had lots of friends over, she

with each other. I hope the recipes in this

was never stressed. I learned so much from

book will help you out at mealtimes and

her about using staple kitchen ingredients to

encourage you to cook and eat together as a

make restaurant-quality food. I always looked

family.

up to her and hoped that someday, when I

All the recipes use ingredients that are

had a family, I would be just like she was in

readily available in supermarkets, and I’ve

the kitchen.

made the methods as simple as possible –

When Leon was little, I wanted him to

nothing challenging, even for a novice

grow up eating homemade food just like I

cook, and no fancy equipment necessary. A

did. I started to put some of my own recipes

digital kitchen scales is very useful to have,

together, built on what I learned from my

as well as a set of standard measuring cups,

mum, along with some experimenting and

particularly for baking: I’ve given gram and

other tips I picked up along the way. Then I

cup measurements, depending on what’s

stuck a few videos of the recipes on Instagram

easiest for each recipe. An electric mixer

to see what people thought.

is helpful too – either a stand one or a

I was blown away by the reaction and

handheld one – but a whisk and a wooden

interaction my recipes got and by how many

spoon will do the job as well, just with a bit of

people reached out to say they struggled

extra elbow grease!

with confidence in the kitchen. It spurred me

Remember, no recipes are set in stone so

on to see what else I could make. This book

feel free to change them up to make them

is the culmination of lots of family meal times,

your own – swap out the veg for what you

8 LILI’S FAMILY FAVOURITES

have to hand or need to use up; add more

to them that I’m doing this book in the first

or less portions of meat to scale the recipes

place. I hope you will enjoy making these

up or down; use chopped nuts instead of

recipes and that they will help to create

chocolate chips if that’s what you prefer.

mealtime memories with your family that will

All these recipes have been tried and

carry the tradition of home cooking down to

tested by me, and most by my Instagram

the next generation.

followers, so they definitely work. And it’s

because of the positive reaction I’ve gotten

MORNINGS No two mornings are ever the same at our house – some are slow and easy, but most are a mad dash out the door. So I split my morning recipes into two categories. Brekkies are quick morning bites that can often be prepared the night before and eaten in a hurry (and, let’s be honest, sometimes in the car on the way to school drop-off). Things like overnight oats and breakfast cookies are really versatile and fit the bill nicely. Brunches are for our slow mornings – when we wake up late and eat at midday. Leon makes the food sometimes, or hubby or me, or all of us together. We stick on a playlist and take our time, and we’re usually still at the table long after we’ve finished eating. We splurge a bit with the maple syrup or honey and it’s the best!

Brekkie

BANANA, CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER OVERNIGHT OATS I’m completely hooked on overnight oats for weekday mornings. Pop them in the fridge the night before and they taste unreal in the morning – plus, they’ll keep you going for ages. SERVES 2

375ml (1½ cups) milk of your choice 100g (1 cup) oats ½ tsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp maple syrup 2 tbsp peanut butter 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tbsp chia seeds 1 banana, sliced Toppings – optional cocoa nibs quinoa pops chopped nuts peanut butter

12 LILI’S FAMILY FAVOURITES

• Mix all the ingredients, except the banana, in two individual jars or a big jar or bowl, cover and place in the fridge overnight. • In the morning, divide the mixture, if necessary, and add the banana and any other toppings you fancy, such as cocoa nibs, quinoa pops, chopped nuts or a little extra peanut butter.

14 LILI’S FAMILY FAVOURITES

Brekkie

CHIA, BERRY AND ALMOND OVERNIGHT OATS This is such a lovely, energising brekkie that some weeks we end up having it every day – it’s easy, filling and very tasty. SERVES 2

50g (½ cup) oats 3 tbsp chia seeds 1 tbsp dried cranberries 125ml (½ cup) almond milk 120g (½ cup) natural yogurt 1 tbsp maple syrup, plus extra for serving handful of fresh berries handful of toasted almonds

• Add all the ingredients, except the fresh berries and almonds, into two individual jars or a big jar or bowl. Mix, cover and place in the fridge overnight. • In the morning, divide the mixture, if necessary, add the fresh berries and top with toasted almonds and a little extra maple syrup, if you like, or any of your favourite toppings.

Brekkie

RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE OVERNIGHT OATS These oats are super handy for all the madness in the morning, as you just have to take them out of the fridge and add the fruit and toppings. They keep you full for the day and kind of taste like dessert! SERVES 2

75g (¾ cup) oats 180ml (¾ cup) milk of your choice – I used oat milk 80g (1/3 cup) natural yogurt 3 tbsp cream cheese 2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla extract handful of fresh raspberries Toppings – optional natural yogurt raspberries chopped apple quinoa pops drizzle maple syrup

16 LILI’S FAMILY FAVOURITES

• Mix all the ingredients, except the raspberries, in two jars or a large jar or bowl. Cover and leave in the fridge overnight. • In the morning, mix in the fresh raspberries, divide if necessary and add your favourite toppings, such as a little more natural yogurt, berries, chopped apple, quinoa pops or a drizzle of maple syrup.

18 LILI’S FAMILY FAVOURITES

Brekkie

SALTED CARAMEL AND BLUEBERRY OVERNIGHT OATS This is my fave overnight oats recipe – the toffee flavour of the dates and the little pinch of salt make it a natural twist on salted caramel. I often eat overnight oats on the go or when I get to a photo shoot – they’re so handy to have prepared! SERVES 2

100g (1 cup) oats 375ml (1½ cups) oat milk 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp chia seeds 2 dates, chopped pinch of salt 150g (1 cup) blueberries

• Mix all the ingredients together in two jars or a large jar or bowl. Cover and place in the fridge overnight. • In the morning, give it a stir, divide if necessary and add your favourite toppings, such as chopped nuts, quinoa pops or nut butter.

Toppings – optional chopped nuts quinoa pops nut butter

Brekkie

SMOOTHIE BOWL School mornings are always such a rush, but a smoothie bowl is an amazing alternative to cereal. You can pack it with whatever fruit you have handy and have fun decorating it for a special morning treat, when time allows! SERVES 3

2 frozen bananas, sliced 200g frozen berries 200g natural yoghurt 50g (½ cup) oats 80ml (1/3 cup) milk 1 tbsp maple syrup – optional To serve – optional 1 banana, sliced quinoa pops frozen berries

20 LILI’S FAMILY FAVOURITES

• Leave the frozen bananas and berries out for about 5 minutes before combining with the rest of the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blending until smooth. • Serve with sliced banana, some quinoa pops and extra frozen berries if you like.