1. Vegetarian Paella

Prep time: 30 mins or less
Serves: 2 small people or 1 hungry, hungry rower

• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, sliced
• 1/2 clove of garlic, diced
• 1/2 green pepper
• 1/2 red pepper  (for a sweeter more colourful dish)
• 1/2 carrot, sliced
• 1/2 leek, sliced
• 50g peas and green beans
• 120g risotto rice
• 300ml hot vegetable stock
• Sizeable dash of tumeric
• Salt and pepper

1. Put the oil, onion and garlic into a large bowl and cover. Pop it into the microwavefor 3 mins until the onion softens.
2. Stir in the vegetables, making sure they all get a bit oiled up and cook for afurther 2 mins, then stir, then another 3 mins.
3. Mix in the rice and the turmeric and pour the stock all over everything else. Liberally apply salt and pepper. Taste a bit.
4. Put the lovely mixture back in the micro and cook uncovered for about 7 mins, until the stock has disappeared and the rice is tender.
5. Cover the bowl and leave it for a few minutes just to finish soaking up all those flavours, whilst you start preparing your...

2. Pears in Cider

Prep time: 15 mins
Serves: 2

• 4 small pears – peeled and stalked
• 150ml Sweet cider
• 15 ml demerara sugar
• ½ teaspoon almond essence

1. Arrange pears upright in a microwaveable bowl, facing each other.
2. Splash on the cider.  Sprinkle on the sugar.
3. Cover and bung it in the micro for about 6 mins until the pears are softened. Pause occasionally to spoon the juices onto the pears and skip a song on your iPod.
4. Move the pears onto their serving plates.
5. Add the almond essence to the juices and microwave for another minute or two until the juice is slightly less liquid, or a little less juice really.
6. Smother your pears with juices and enjoy!

Stuck for how to please your meat-eating friends too? This Cottage Pie is just as simple!