Octavia Lillywhite
Octavia Lillywhite is an award-winning food and lifestyle journalist with over 15 years of experience. She joined the Sunday Mirror magazine as a cub reporter and stayed until she was running the Food and Lifestyle department, learning all the food styling tricks of the trade as she went (eg. to photograph ice cream under studio lights, swap it for instant mashed potato dyed with food colouring so it doesn’t melt).
With a passion for creating beautiful, tasty family meals that don’t use hundreds of ingredients or anything you have to source from obscure websites, she’s a champion of local and seasonal foods, using up leftovers and composting, which, she maintains, is probably the most important thing we all can do to protect the environment. She also became a self-confessed wine expert while working on Saturday Magazine’s wine column, knows her Côtes de Rhône from her Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, and can now drink wine “really well”.
While at the Sunday Mirror and Daily Express, she interviewed some of the country’s greatest chefs. Heston Blumenthal taught her why you shouldn’t trust a rare beef burger at a barbecue (unless it’s his); from Neil Rankin she learned scrambled eggs need to be cooked slowly and from Jamie Oliver, that fish finger wraps are improved by sriracha. Her favourite interview was with charming Frenchman Raymond Blanc, with whom she’s now slightly in love. He taught her the importance of ‘terroir’, and that workaholic is just another word for passionate - as long as you make time for the people who matter.
She’s never owned a microwave, cooks from scratch for her and her husband nearly every night and only eats ready meals on very special occasions - like Valentine's Day when M&S do their majestic Meal Deal. She’s never managed to watch an entire episode of The Great British Bake Off because it’s too stressful, “...and I’d rather be risking my own soggy bottom in the kitchen than crying over someone else’s on TV.”
Latest articles by Octavia Lillywhite
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Chicken and tarragon risotto
An easy and delicious chicken and tarragon risotto jewelled with green peas and flavoured with this delicate aniseed-y herb.
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Steak and kidney pudding
Steak and kidney pudding is the ultimate British comfort food. A doughy, homemade pastry filled with rich, gravy-laden meat chunks and onion.
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Steak and kidney pie
A warming, comforting steak and kidney pie, perfect for chilly evenings and family suppers. Serve with mash for a really classic meal.
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Banana cookies
Rustle up a few of these irresistible cookies. They're an ideal snack or lunchbox addition
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Easter food traditions: 12 things you eat at Easter and why we eat them
Easter is a time of year that is deeply connected with food traditions. We eat very specific foods only at this time of year - have you ever wondered why?
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Quick pasta Niçoise
This quick pasta Niçoise is the ultimate easy lunch option - bright and delicious and only 300 calories per portion
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Crab, lemon and chilli linguine
This crab, lemon and chilli linguine uses tinned crab meat to make a simple meal that feels like a special occasion. Perfect for summer weekends.
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Butternut and cheese penne
Make this butternut and cheese penne for a quick mid-week meal for the whole family. It's full of veg and the kids will love it
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Spanish tortilla
This classic Spanish tortilla with artichokes is so simple to make and only takes 25 mins - perfect for lunch
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Brined turkey
Our brined turkey with sage and onion stuffing is ideal for that special Christmas dinner. It’s easy to make, delicious and succulent
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Spicy jambalaya
This jambalaya is a colourful, spicy dish with flavours of the Deep South
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Mango and tomato curry
Try our delicious mango and tomato curry for a veggie friendly week night recipe that combines sweet and spicy flavours
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Raspberry panna cotta
Our raspberry panna cotta recipe only takes 20 mins to prepare and each one is just 110 cals without losing the beautifully rich, creamy finish
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Brussels sprout and bacon bubble and squeak
Brussels sprout and bacon bubble and squeak gives this traditional recipe a festive twist, making it ideal for a Boxing Day brunch, plus it only takes 15 mins.
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Root vegetable layer bake
This delicious root vegetable layer bake is easy to make with layers of tender baked veg like carrots, potatoes and swede. Serve with gravy and enjoy
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Eccles cakes
This sweet Eccles cakes recipe is simple to make and combines dried fruits and cherries with a crisp sweet puff pastry.
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
A crunchy, chocolate and oat snack biscuit for the whole family. This is quick and easy to bake.
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Pecan cookies
These pecan nut and chocolate chip cookies couldn't be eaiser to make and you can freeze them ahead
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Warm rainbow cabbage salad
This warm rainbow cabbage salad is the perfect healthy side for the cooler months of the year, giving you a fresh crunch with your meal without it being too chilly...
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Lemon mince pies
A classic festive treat. These luxury lemon and almond mince pies are great to prepare in advance and great for freezing.
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Salmon pasta with crème fraîche
This salmon pasta with leeks, broccoli, green beans and parsley is easy to make and tastes delicious - plus it gives you a healthy dose of omega-3 too.
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Apple sage turkey
Woman's Weekly's cider-roasted turkey with apple and sage stuffing is the centrepiece to your festive feast! The cider makes the tukey nice and juicy and goes lovely with the apple in the stuffing
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Sticky gingerbread
Sticky ginger cake with walnuts is the perfect afternoon treat. Moist and delicious, this cake is simple to make and is full of flavour
By Octavia Lillywhite Published
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Mellow-spiced chicken and chickpeas
Warming dinners don't come much tastier than this. A subtle combination of warming spices, this chicken casserole is one to try
By Octavia Lillywhite Published