What’s in your shopping basket, Samantha Armytage?

What 10 items do you have in your shopping basket every week, Samantha?

Milk – as a good country girl, I like my milk normal and full fat. Anything less tastes awful!
Pasta – usually tagliatelle. I know it’s naughty but I love it.
Olives – I love them with everything.
Mersey Valley cheese – because you never know when people are going to drop over.
V8 Juice – a glass of this makes me feel like I’m getting some vegies with my brekkie!
Lemons – I have lemon in hot water in the morning, and lemon in my gin and tonic at night.
Ham – off the bone, for sandwiches.
Uncle Tobys Oats – takes one minute on the stove in the morning and it’s a healthy, filling breakfast.
Cape seed loaf – I think it’s healthy – at least it’s not white! And again, I know it’s naughty but I just love bread.
Green beans – I crave green vegetables at night and beans are my favourite.

What are your favourite indulgent snacks or treats?
Lindt chocolate. Years ago I read French Women Don’t Get Fat and it advised ‘it is forbidden to forbid’. One or two pieces of quality chocolate are OK as a treat after dinner – and better than eating processed, sugary junk throughout the day.

What are your favourite two or three ingredients you are cooking with at the moment?
I’m cooking with green lentils and haloumi at the moment. So, I always make sure I have these two ingredients in the fridge.

What’s your favourite fruit and vegetable?
My favourite fruit is mango, when they’re in season because mango equals summer. Snow peas are my favourite vegetable. I have them in salads or cooked or sometimes just eat them out of the punnet. Yum!

Is there a favourite recipe you make most weeks?
I love green beans and lentils with haloumi. Bake the green beans and sliced haloumi in a hot oven (220C). Cook and drain green lentils and mix the beans, haloumi and lentils together. Then toss this mix in a dressing of olive oil, Dijon mustard and half a squeezed lemon. Sprinkle some smoked salmon over the top and eat. My favourite easy, healthy dinner after a long day.

What meal couldn’t you live without?
My last meal on earth would be lamb chops on the barbecue, a fresh summer salad and a bottle of chilled, dry white wine with good friends. Bliss.

What item do you always have in the fridge?
I always have a bottle of champagne in the fridge. You never know when you’re going to have something to celebrate!