All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

The best meals to cook with housemates are sharing dishes. Anything that involves popping lots of things in the middle of the table are my go-tos. If in doubt, make tacos. You can cook a cheap cut of meat slowly with lots of spices, then serve it with tortillas and lots of fresh, pickled bits. Everyone gets to tailor their meal exactly to how they like it, but it still feels communal. Lasagne is another winner. Serve it with a big, crisp green salad and some garlic bread. A total crowd-pleaser. 

For dessert, I love the yoghurt and honey cheesecake from our new cookbook. It has no base, like a Basque or Italian cheesecake, but a sprinkle of crushed pistachios on top for a bit of texture. It has all the creaminess of a cheesecake, but yoghurt makers it lighter, and it’s sweetened with honey rather than sugar.

Every kitchen should have a good chef’s knife, a microplane grater and a big chopping board. Prepping can be frustrating if you don’t have a big space to do it in, and a sharp object to chop with. Microplanes are game changers for grating parmesan and zesting lemons, both of which are simple and affordable ways of adding flavour and freshness to your food. 

If you invest in one gadget together, buy a blender. You can get some really good ones that aren’t too expensive and they don’t take up a lot of space. I’ve had my trusty NutriBullet for years, and it has been used for countless meals – making curry pastes, blitzing soups, whizzing up breadcrumbs. It’s the MVP of my kitchen. 

A killer condiment shelf goes a long way. I have two shelves for them in my fridge, and my favourites include hot sauce, mayonnaise, rose harissa paste and miso paste. They all transform very simple store cupboard ingredients into a delicious meal. Also, jars of capers and gherkins are a must.

If you’re cooking on a budget, focus on building a well-stocked store cupboard over time. This will help you cook really delicious food with minimal ingredients. I always have pasta, lentils, tinned tomatoes and beans to hand. When it comes to fresh produce, I try to shop local where possible, picking up bits from my local butcher, fishmonger and greengrocer. This isn’t always possible, so I also spend a lot of time in Sainsbury’s! 

Setting the scene for a house dinner is all part of the fun. I like getting a tablecloth and some napkins out, then arranging lots of pillar candles and some fresh flowers on the table. These extra touches really give it a sense of occasion, and none of them have to be expensive – unscented candles are really affordable, and lots of my crockery and decorative bits are second hand. 

My favourite new food discovery has to be whizzing up whole dried chillies and simmering them in oil with lots of garlic and fresh curry leaves. This makes a really vibrant, flavoursome chilli oil to drizzle on my food. Expect to see lots of this coming on Mob soon. 

Fresh Mob is all about celebrating fresh food and making eating fun and joyful. After a busy and indulgent weekend, we found that our audience were keen to eat healthier during the week. We wanted to give people recipe ideas for food that feels healthy and packed full of veggies, but still exciting. This book isn’t about dieting and counting macros. Instead, we’ve chosen 100 tasty, filling, nourishing and balanced meals.

If you’re debating what to have for dinner, make this. We used corn to make this sauce rich in fibre, which, when combined with the ricotta, creates a creamy sauce that wraps around the pillowy gnocchi. The epitome of a crowd-pleaser.

This has all the makings of the perfect veggie sandwich. Softened, caramelized shallots and hearty chunks of sweet potato get along famously with salty halloumi, crunchy lettuce and the chilli tang of chimichurri.

This is a lighter version of the cheesecake you might already be familiar with. It’s rich thanks to a combo of soft ricotta, tangy yoghurt and honey but it doesn’t come with any of the baggage or heaviness of cream. Start with all your ingredients at room temperature for the best results.

Fresh Mob: Over 100 Tasty Healthy-Ish Recipes by Mob (15th September, Hodder & Stoughton £20).

For more recipes & food inspo, follow @Mob & @SophieWyburd.

DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.