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If you’re a vegetarian and sick and tired of preparing the same old meals for the family, don’t worry – there are loads of ways you can spice up your mid- week dinners.

Just take a look at the herbs and spices you have lurking in the back of your kitchen cupboard for a quick and easy way to liven up your vegetarian recipes.

When it comes to herbs and spices, most people have the basics; a little salt, black pepper, maybe even some garlic granules. But it’s what you do with them that counts! It’s no good owning an entire rack of interesting spices if you never experiment with them.

Next time you’re in the kitchen preparing yourself a quick mid-week dinner, have a play around with your spices. Add a little of this and a little of that to a simple stir fry or spaghetti Bolognese and see what you think. Start with small quantities, tasting as you go.

And if you’re not much of a Delia Smith or Gary Rhodes in the kitchen, you’ve no need to panic. There are plenty of great easy to follow free online recipes to give you some much-needed cooking inspiration any night of the week.

Do you live in a house full of meat eaters? You can’t go far wrong with chicken fajitas. They’re a great dish with which to experiment, add colour and spice as you go – the hotter the better! Later, serve with some cooling soured cream and some spicy salsa.

Fajita seasoning is a great way to add instant flavouring to the frying pan. Schwartz Perfect Shake Fajita Special Blend, for instance, is a popular Mexican-style seasoning of onion, garlic and spices with a hint of chilli and lemon. Who needs five or six separate spices when one will do the job?

The seasoning is ideal to sprinkle over your pan-fried chicken recipes, as well as prawns or meat which is then used as a filling for flour tortillas or tacos. Simply sprinkle over sliced chicken, onion and vibrant red and yellow peppers, towards the end of cooking.

Finally, serve wrapped in flour tortillas with soured cream, salsa and maybe even some homemade nachos. Adjust your chicken fajitas for vegetarian guests or family members simply by taking out the meat and adding cheese instead. Cottage cheese works well with this recipe, just don’t heat it up!

But there are loads of other ways to spice up a simple chicken. Look out for online recipes giving you hints and tips on which spices go best with which dish – you’ll be a culinary pro in no time.

For a taste of the Caribbean, Jamaican jerk chicken makes a tasty mid-week alternative to chicken Kiev or spaghetti Bolognese. To serve a family of four, you’ll need one tablespoon of olive oil, one chopped onion, four boneless, skinless chicken breasts, one diced green pepper, 75ml of water, a 425g tin of pineapple chunks in natural juice and three tablespoons of tomato puree. Add to that one packet of Schwartz Flavourful Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe Mix and you’re ready to get that apron on and get cooking.

Blended to perfection, this dish comprises slowly roasted spices for a fuller flavour. To get started, heat the olive oil in a deep frying pan and fry the onion gently for one to two minutes. Next, add the chicken and cook for two to three minutes on each side.

Sprinkle in the Schwartz packet contents and add the rest of the ingredients including the pineapple juice, but not the chunks. Bring to the boil while stirring.

Cover the pan and turn down the heat, letting the mixture simmer for 15 minutes. Now, add the pineapple chunks for the last five minutes. Ensure your chicken is piping hot and cooked through before serving. Best served with rice or potatoes, this is a great summery dish for the whole family.

To modify this meal for vegetarians, simply replace the chicken breasts with meat-free chicken style steaks or strips or go for a Jamaican jerk sweet potato and butternut squash. For a fuller, more detailed recipe, just browse the Internet for more suggestions on how to make this Jamaican classic.

If you’re not a big fan of overly spicy foods, why not try a chicken and leek bake, which takes just 20 minutes to prepare. A deliciously creamy sauce is flavoured with a hint of lemon and herbs, combined with chicken, bacon and leeks and topped with cheese for a tasty mid-week meal.

To serve four, all you’ll need is 450g of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced), 100g of chopped bacon, 225g of sliced leek, 25g of butter, 450ml of milk and 50g of grated cheddar cheese.

You’ll then need a Schwartz Chicken and Leek Bake Recipe Mix and you’re good to go. Browse online for a free recipe and this will soon become your signature dish.

For a delicious accompaniment to your Sunday roast or mid-week dinner, try preparing some cauliflower and broccoli cheese. Taking just ten minutes to cook, this is one recipe you shouldn’t be without.

What’s more, all you’ll need to prepare this tasty side dish is 175g of broccoli, cut into florets, 175g of cauliflower, also cut into florets, one packet of Schwartz Cheddar Cheese Sauce Mix, 300ml of milk and 25g of butter – although the latter ingredient is optional.

Simply spoon some of this yummy dish on the side of a beautifully cooked roast chicken and you can be sure that this is one vegetable the kids won’t say no to. Serve with new and roast potatoes, carrots, peas and turnip and some gravy. Et voila – the perfect Sunday roast for the whole family.

Keep your online recipes to hand in a file or book and you’ll never be short of ideas. Have a look through your spice rack the next time you’re in your kitchen. You’ll be surprised what you have that can turn your food from drab to fab. What are you waiting for? Get cooking!