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This is a very easy but impressive dish, simple, tasty and fresh. I love chicken Kiev but find this a little more exciting and slightly less potent.

1 tsp olive oil plus extra for greasing and drizzling

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3 baby vine tomatoes

40g/1¹/₂oz mozzarella cheese

1 tsp chopped capers

sprig of fresh basil, torn

1 egg, beaten

75g/3oz dried breadcrumbs

salt and black pepper

Serves: 2

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

1 Preheat the oven to 190°/375°F/GM5. Lightly grease an oven tray.

2 Slit the chicken breasts open horizontally to make a pocket, being careful not to cut all the way through.

3 Place the tomatoes, mozzarella, capers and basil in a bowl, drizzle over the oil and add a grinding of black pepper and salt to taste.

4 Fill each chicken breast with the mixture, close the pocket and secure with a cocktail stick.

5 Pour the beaten egg into a large flattish bowl ready to dip the breasts into. Tip the breadcrumbs onto a large plate or tray. Coat the chicken breasts with the beaten egg, then turn them in the breadcrumbs, ensuring all sides are evenly coated (see Why Not Try …). Drizzle a little oil over both sides of the stuffed breasts.

6 Place the chicken breasts on the oven tray and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, turning over halfway through cooking, until golden brown. Ensure the chicken is cooked through. Remove the cocktail sticks and serve.

WHY NOT TRY …

This is a great dish to make in advance and leave in the fridge for a few hours once you have coated the chicken. The breadcrumbs tend to stick better if they are refrigerated at this stage.

Serve with a rocket salad simply dressed with balsamic vinaigrette for a delicious main course.

I’ve always liked eating outdoors, whether in the garden at home or out on a picnic, as there’s something really casual and laid back about this kind of food. So if the weather’s dry and not too cold, we’ll take our food outside. The children love having picnics – even if it’s just in the garden – and they’re much more relaxed, too, so it’s a good time to introduce them to new foods that they might not otherwise eat. I find children are more adventurous if they are eating with their fingers, and it’s a great excuse to ditch the cutlery.

I have to confess that I’m not a great fan of barbecues, though, because in my experience the food always seems to end up overcooked or burnt. There’s a definite knack to barbecuing, and it’s all to do with getting the heat at the right temperature, so I tend to leave it to the experts (like my South African brother-in-law, Jonty). What I mean by eating outdoors is having simple meat, chicken, or fish dishes with salads, or cold food that can be served without having to keep going in and out of the kitchen.

Chilled gazpacho soups, salads, quiches and pâtés can all be prepared ahead and served Mediterranean-style alongside platters of sliced meats, grilled vegetables, cheeses and fresh bread. It’s a brilliant, informal kind of lunch that can be slapped on a board and left on the table for friends or family to help themselves. This is what lazy, hazy summer days are all about – the kids running around in the sunshine while we sit back and watch, casually picking at the food in front of us with no need to rush.