THIS GREAT GRUB WILL HELP YOU WORK, REST AND CLAY

Forget the chilling and marinades, as TV chef's book cuts out messing

- BY ELLA WALKER

DONAL Skehan's new cookbook is all about tasty food that's ready in real time which is not surprising when the dad of two gives a glimpse into his hectic home life at the moment.

"I just dream of the moment where I can play jazz, have a negroni and read my cookbooks in peace," he jokes.

"But we're in this chapter of life..."

Skehan and his wife Sofie "are smack-bang in the middle of parenthood" with "two crazy boys", Oliver, five, and seven-year-old Noah.

The slow-baking and stew-braising days of his 20s are but a fuzzy memory, and now, aged 39, his weekends revolve around "ferrying children to different things and trying to keep up with the madness of life, rather than making decadent, time-intensive meals.

Which explains his new cookbook, Donal's Real Time Recipes.

"Parenthood knocks you for six, and you need every little bit of help you can get," he says, with a grin that tells you he absolutely loves being a dad.

"It's amazing how your cooking changes so dramatically from pre-children to children. You put yourself last. This book is all about putting everyone first, to ensure that you get a table full of food that is nutritious, balanced and something you can look forward to."

DOWNTIME

Fundamentally, Skehan is not into having downtime in the kitchen.

Aside from throwing dinner together at home, he makes lots of cookery shows, has written numerous cookbooks and the thing that really "bugs" him throughout "is stopping and waiting for things to go into the fridge, waiting for them to go into the oven".