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    Easy and delicious family food

    Welcome to VJ cooks! A place where you'll find loads of tasty recipes the whole family will love. From easy midweek meals to desserts and baking, there's something for everyone here.

    Most Popular Recipes

    • A close up of One Pot Mince and Pasta in a white bowl on a grey bench.
      One Pot Mince and Pasta
    • Three pieces of Chocolate Weetbix Slice sitting on a white plate.
      Chocolate Weetbix Slice
    • Cheesy potato bake
      Cheesy Potato Bake
    • lolly cake from VJ cooks
      Lolly Cake
    • Lemon weetbix slice
    • Tuscan chicken
      Tuscan Chicken Thighs
    • A close up of Creamy Spinach Cob Loaf on a tray with dipping vegetables.
      Creamy Spinach Cob loaf
    • Homemade Pork Meatballs

    Browse recipes by...

    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Vegetarian
    • One pot meals
    • Baking
    • Desserts
    • Slow Cooker
    • Freezer Friendly

    Easy Family Meals

    Answering the question of "what's for dinner tonight?" since 2016. Browse the extensive range of simple, family meals and read the positive reviews for yourself. Tried and tested by thousands of families, there really is something to suit every taste here.

    • A plate of salad featuring rice, cucumbers, edamame, avocado, and shredded protein topped with sesame seeds, served with chopsticks on the side.
      Smoked Salmon and Crispy Rice Salad
    • Grilled tortilla wraps cut in half, filled with ground beef, lettuce, cheese, and other ingredients, topped with salsa, served on a wooden board.
      Beef Crunch Wraps
    • A plate of Thai green curry with chicken, red bell peppers, and rice, garnished with fresh basil and served with lime wedges.
      Chicken Thai Green Curry
    • Three stacked slices of spinach and cheese pie with golden, flaky pastry on parchment paper, garnished with mint leaves.
      Spinach Filo Pie
    • A bowl of creamy dip topped with chopped green onions and capers, set on a wooden board. Slices of bread or crackers are partially visible in the background.
      Smoked Salmon Dip
    • Roast pork with crispy skin on a wooden board, sauce in a small jug, green beans, and roasted potatoes in a dish in the background.
      Roast Pork with Gravy
    • A close up of a beetroot and feta and walnut tart on a wooden chopping board.
      Beetroot and Feta Tart
    • A selection of cooked arancini balls on a duck egg blue platter served with parsley. One Arancini balls has been split open showing the gooey mozzarella filling
      Arancini Filled with Mozzarella
    See more Family meals →
    vanya insull

    Hi I'm Vanya,

    Thanks for visiting my website! I hope you find some inspiring recipes and ideas for family-friendly meals.
    I live in beautiful Taupo, New Zealand with my husband, two sons and Golden Retriever. I love cooking, baking, sharing recipes and of course, eating.

    Learn more about me →

    Baking Recipes

    From biscuits to brownies, cakes to muffins and so much more. My baking recipes cover everyone's family favourites including the classics from Nana's kitchen. For your next birthday, anniversary or celebration, be sure to try my easy and delicious baking treats.

    • Rectangular shortbread cookies arranged on a blue ceramic plate.
      Shortbread
    • A luscious Black Forest Gateau, featuring layers of chocolate cake with cream and cherries nestled between, is elegantly topped with chocolate shavings. It sits invitingly on a glass plate, set against a backdrop of soft pink cloth.
      Black Forest Gateau
    • Two-layer sponge cake with cream and strawberry filling, topped with powdered sugar and sliced strawberries, on a white surface.
      Victoria Sponge Cake
    • Bagels with sesame and poppy seeds on a wooden board, accompanied by cream cheese and a small bowl of red jam on a rustic white table with a blue cloth napkin.
      Homemade Bagels
    See more Baking →

    Salad Recipes

    My favourite dish to take to a shared meal is a platter salad. Full of big flavours, punchy dressings, fresh vegetables, protein and carbs, these are not your every-day green salads.

    • Bang bang chicken salad served in a round green plater on a wooden table. Sesame seeds and coriander leaves have been scattered over the top
      Bang Bang Chicken Salad
    • A birdseye view shot of Pumpkin, Cauliflower and Rocket Salad served in a white round dish with pinenuts and balsamic glaze over the top
      Pumpkin, Cauliflower and Rocket Salad
    • Prawn Salad
      Prawn Cocktail Salad
    • Thai Beef Salad
      Feed a Crowd Thai Beef Salad
    See more Salad →

    Dessert Recipes

    Satisfy any post-dinner sweet-craving with one of my indulgent, yet easy dessert recipes. From chocolate lovers to those who prefer something fruity, I have an extensive collection of desserts to impress all your friends and family.

    • A spoonful of chocolate chia pudding is held above a glass jar filled with the same dessert, topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Another jar is in the background.
      Chocolate Chia Puddings
    • A round flan dessert with caramel sauce on top is placed on a white plate with a grey background.
      Crème Caramel
    • 4 Easter Cheesecake Cups on a blue platter with easter bunnies and eggs surrounding it.
      Easter Cheesecake Cups
    • A bowl of Hot Cross Bun Bread and Butter Pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream sits next to a partially eaten serving in a red dish on a striped cloth.
      Hot Cross Bun Bread and Butter Pudding
    See more Desserts →

    Latest Recipes

    Have a look at the newest recipes to hit the website, with more coming every week!

    • A plate of spaghetti topped with meatballs and tomato sauce, garnished with grated cheese and parsley, on a wooden table.
      5 Easy Pasta Meals
    • Cream egg cookies
      Creme Egg Cookies
    • Close-up of colorful Easter egg slice squares topped with white icing, chocolate pieces, candy eggs, and rainbow sprinkles on a gray fabric surface, with more delectable squares on a white plate in the background.
      No-Bake Chocolate Easter Egg Slice
    • Hot Cross Bun Sally Lunn

    Products

    Check out my recently published cookbooks, ebooks and online courses.

    • Summer Favourites Cookbook cover
      Summer Favourites Cookbook
    • Everyday Favourites Cookbook Cover
      Everyday Favourites Cookbook
    • A green background with the words 'Freezer meals made easy' in white and 'course' in blue above the cover of a workbook.
      Freezer Meals Made Easy - Course
    • A pink background with the words "VJ Cooks App - Meal Planning" in white over a picture of a woman holding a phone.
      The VJ Cooks App - Meal Planning
    See more Shop →
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