Chicken and Leek pie

October 31, 2021

800g chicken thighs
1/2  or 1 chopped onion
2 Bay leaves (optional)
course ground pepper
Simmered in milk to mins

Sauteed Squares of bacon
2 sliced washed leeks
1 Tablespoon flour, more if needed
Stir till creamy 2 mins

Add chopped chicken and strained milk with
1 tablespoon mustard or Marmite or worsteshire sauce
Season as required

Lay on cut greaseproof paper on baking tray
Lay on sheet of all butter pastry
Lay on filling
Brush egg all around edge of patry to seal on top layer
Lay on top layer and crimp to seal
Score 3 holes to reach steam
Glaze w beaten egg
Grate on parmesan cheese

Variation :  PORK and APPLE pie, saute pork chunks covered in flour in oil and butter, then add paprika, chopped onions, warmed milk, cubed bramley apple, and leeks, seasoning etc

Bake 200c for 30 – 35 mins

Share

2020 Christmas turkey

December 31, 2020

Prep the night before

  1. veg for baking tray : giblets, rosemary, chunky carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onion, shallot, 2 satsumas/clementines halved etc
  2. + two large shallots and onion and garlic for cavity, bag and chill overnight
  3. Parboil 9 about 20 mins
    • 2 large Parsnips halved (lengthwise)-unpeeled,
    • 3 baking potatoes, cut into flat chunks
    • 2 sweet potatoes,
    • and 3-4 carrots cut into 2 or 3 chunks
    • Cover and chill overnight
  4. make stuffing and fill loaf tin add butter on top and chill overnight

Xmas day

  1. remove turkey from fridge 2 hours before cooking
  2. Partially Bake veg at 180 (160 fan oven) for 1 hour
    • Bake Carrots in olive oil and clementine juice
    • Bake potatoes rolled in Goose fat, paprika and a little flour + more goose fat in tray, and drain off excess when baked
    • Bake parsnips in butter with a splash of red wine vinegar
  3. MEANWHILE: 
  4. Make stuffing for turkey shoulder
  5. Make cheese sauce
  6. Prepare Turkey 
    •  season, rub on olive oil,
    • arrange 4 pieces of bacon on top
    • arrange 1 piece of bacon on to each leg
    • fill main cavity with shallot carrot and garlic bulb
    • empty veg into baking tray and arrange turkey on top
    • fill turkey shoulder cavity with stuffing and fold skin down well
    • place turkey onto veg in baking tray
    • insert popup
  7. Bake turkey 7+kg for total of  2.5 hours – it popped up at just over 2 1/4 hours, and baked further for 10mins.
    • 1 hour at 180 in fan oven 
    • covered with a small rectangle of foil as bacon had slipped off at 1 hour
    • then for a further 1.15 hour at 160 in fan oven – popper still down
    • then for a further 15 minutes and it had popped.
    • removed turkey from oven placed it in to a different baking tray
    • covered with foil and tea towels
  8. RE- Bake potatoes, carrots parsnips and stuffing for 20 mins
  9. make gravy

For the Gravy

  1. From the tray the turkey was baked in skim off the fat
  2. sprinkle with flour and mix well
  3. place the mixture into a big saucepan and heat and add red wine 
  4. add 1 litre of stock (1 pint not enough in 2020)
  5. mash it all up, 
  6. Sieve it
  7. put cauliflower on to boil for 20mins max
  8. Bring gravy to the boil, season to taste and simmer until baked veg are ready (for 20 mins)
  9. Heat cheese sauce
  10. Make bread sauce
  11. dish out cranberry sauce
  12. Set table with napkins

 

Share

Roasted Duck breasts in orange sauce

January 8, 2018

Duck brigarde

This is the original duck a’lorange! This classic French dish combines duck with a tangy and rich orange – or a brigarde sauce. Serve with kale and Cavolo Nero.

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 large salt aged duck breasts, remove the fillet
25ml olive oil

For the sauce:

600ml Veal jus
400ml blood orange beer
2 oranges, rind removed and julienned and juiced
1 lemon, rind removed and julienned
25g butter
25ml sherry vinegar

For the vegetables:

100g Kale
100g Cavolo Nero
25g butter
100ml water
Salt and pepper

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220c.

2. Add a little oil to the pan on a medium heat and add the duck breasts skin side down.
Season. When the skin is brown and crispy, flip over and put in the oven for 6-8
minutes. Allow to rest.

3. To make the sauce: add the sugar to a non stick pan and heat until it turns a deep
caramel colour. Add the orange juice and stock, beer and zest then bring to a boil
and reduce to a third. Stir in the sherry vinegar, add the butter and season.

4. For the vegetables: melt the butter in a large pan, add the water and bring to the boil.
Add the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes.

5. To serve: slice the duck and serve on top of the vegetables. Pour sauce over the top.

Duck Brigarde | Saturday Morning with James Martin
http://www.itv.com/saturdaymorning/saturday-morning-recipes/duck-brigarde

Sent from Samsung tablet

Share

Lamb – Rack of Lamb with Pistachio Crust and Luxurious Potato Al Forno

February 10, 2017

Just watched this on TV and just must try this soon as back in Maui, as we just adore rack of lamb. So must try this! (ingredients imbedded in recipe)

Into a large pan 3 bayleaves
2 sprigs of rosemary
8! cloves of crushed garlic – I think 4-5
6 anchovies for deep flavour
600ml milk
400 ml cream – Season

bring to boil just to infuse –
fish out bay leaves and rosemary – add 50g grated parmesan

Then Add add to infusion

1kilo potatoes finely slicked –
2 bulbs of fennel -same
2 onion thinly sliced – mix, then pack down…
Layer last row of potatoes on top… (wet)
Cover with foil 180C/350F for half hour..

Then prepare lamb. Remove trim all fat…. 2 rack of lamb for four

Olive oil and butter in pan and season
Just sear until golden but still raw inside – set aside.

Blend for crumb mixture :
100g pistachios
1 bunch flat leaf parsley
75g bread chunks
2 cloves garlic
Grate in ½ nutmeg (or a little less perhaps).
Whiz in food processor

Coat lamb very generously with Dijon mustard
Heap on crumb mix and pat/ press down hard to form a crust

After 30 mins remove potatoes from oven
Top with more Grated parmesan if you want to.
Continue to bake for 45 minutes without foil

After 10 mins put lamb in oven for 25 mins and then remove after 25 minutes.. Rest lamb for 10 minutes then both ready at the same time

Serve one rack sliced and the other whole on a board.
Garnish potatoes with chopped fennel top

Side order of green beans perhaps…

Share

Golden sultana and cottage cheese pancakes

November 5, 2016

Ingredients

200g self-raising flour

50g caster sugar

1 tsp bicarb

1 egg

50g melted butter

250ml milk

125g cottage cheese

225g golden sultanas

15g unsalted butter

Serve with lemon juice, icing sugar, maple syrup and yoghurt

Method

1. Mix the flour, bicarb and sugar together in a bowl.

2. In a separate bowl combine the egg, butter, milk and cheese, then add this to the flour mix.

3. Stir in the sultanas.

4. Spoon some of the mix into a lightly buttered warm frying pan and cook for 1 minute each side, until golden.

5. Serve a stack with the accompaniments.

Sunday Brunch – Articles – Golden Sultana and Cottage Cheese Pancakes – All 4
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sunday-brunch/articles/latest-recipes/golden-sultana-and-cottage-cheese-pancakes/4898

Sent from Anitas Samsung tablet

Share

Greek Roast Potatoes

September 23, 2016
  1. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, thyme, rosemary, bouillon cubes and pepper.
  2. Arrange potatoes evenly in the bottom of a medium baking dish.
  3. Pour the olive oil mixture over the potatoes.
  4. Cover, and bake 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the preheated oven, turning occasionally, until tender but firm.

Sent from Anitas Samsung tablet

Share

Fava – Greek Yellow split Peas

September 23, 2016

The great thing about yellow split peas is they don’t need soaking overnight before you cook them. Greek Fava is garlicky, lemony, rich with extra virgin olive oil and super healthy

Ingredients

  1. 500g yellow split peas (18 ounces)
  2. 3 red onions roughly chopped
  3. 2 cloves of garlic chopped
  4. 1 lt warm water (3 and 1/3 cups)
  5. juice of 2 lemons
  6. 1/3 of a cup olive oil
  7. thyme
  8. salt and freshly pepper

Garnish with:

  • Chopped fresh parsley
  • Chopped fresh oregano
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper (or dried chilli flakes if you’re without)

 

Instructions

  • Rinse the split peas with plenty of water
  • Heat a large pot over medium-high heat, add 2-3 tbsps olive oil, add the chopped onions, garlic and some fresh thyme and sauté.
  • As soon as the onions start to caramelise add the peas and blend.
  • Pour in the warm water and the olive oil, turn the heat down to medium and season well with salt and pepper.
  • Simmer with the lid on for about 40-50 minutes, until the split peas are thick and mushy.
  • While the split peas boil, some white foam will probably surface on the water. Remove the foam with a slotted spoon.
  • When done, pour in the lemon juice and transfer the mixture in food processor.
  • Mix, until the peas become smooth and creamy, like a puree.
  • Serve the fava with a drizzle of olive oil, a tablespoon of diced onion and some capper or chopped parsley.
Share

Chicken Ciabatta recipe

February 24, 2016
The pasta I was going to cook this sauce for had exceeded the sell by date, I hadn’t realised until the sauce was almost done, so I toasted some ciabatta instead, ditched the pasta and served the chicken sauce on the toasted ciabatta, with grated cheese on top. This is a dish I would Def do again.. much lighter than eating it with pasta.. and really really tasty,
  • 1 red pepper diced into small cubes, sautéd with olive oil and butter and salt and chilly seeds
  • 1 desert spoon of sweet chilli sauce
  • 1 soup bowl of small cubed  cooked  chicken
  • 1 pot of Delmaine pomodoro sauce
  • Grated cheese to serve
  • 1 large ciabatta roll – serves 2
  1. Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan
  2. Add the diced red pepper salt and chilly seeds and cook till tender
  3. Add about a tablespoon of water (or two, or wine even) so that when the diced cooked chicken is added it has some tasty  juices to absorb
  4. Add chicken and cook until all juices soaked up
  5. Add a little pomodoro sauce and stir in well, when hot add the remainder of the sauce and heat through.
  6. When the sauce is reduced to a thick consistency spoon onto toast, smother with grated cheese
  7. Meanwhile toast the ciabatta, and grate the cheese and serve
Share

Mums Semolina Special – Griesbrei

September 28, 2015

Childhood memories : Simple Semolina dinner…

Boil 1/2 pint of milk, then turn down heat to minimum and add semolina (1/2 cup perhaps, TBC)

Stir continuously until mixture thickens to consistency of unwhipped double cream, takes about 5 minutes…

Serve on a large plate, tilting plate so semolina spreads evenly over whole plate

Sprinkle on sieved icing sugar and grated plain chocolate.

Eat hot..

 

Share

Spicy Guacamole Avocado Dip

July 5, 2015

I Went to the “Friends of Kanaha” July the 4th party yesterday which in the States was what they call a pot luck party. Everyone brings a dish, any dish.

I brought my Guacamole and it was a hit!  I promised the recipe to someone there, so here it is.

It takes just as long to prepare as it does to take the ingrediants out of the fridge, add them to the bowl and mash them all together.

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe Hass Avocadoes
  • 1 heaped dessert spoon of Best Mayonaisse
  • 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
  • 1 bunch of finely chopped chives (or a teaspoon of grated sweet onion, Maui Onion perhaps)
  • 2 teaspoons of Gardinis Ceasure dressing (optional, but adds a great touch to the final flavour)
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1/4 (or less) of very, VERY  finely chopped Habanero chilli  (to taste) for that smokey flavoured kick.
  • 2 tablespoons of crumbled feta cheese for the final texture
  1. Add all the ingredients (except for the Feta Cheese) into a large bowl and mash with a fork or potatoe masher (even put in a blender if preferred) until creamy.
  2. Stir in the feta cheese at the end
  3. If not served immediately, store in as small a dish as possible, cover with cling film so no air can  get to the surface of the  mixture (lay the cling film on the mix)
  4. Store in the fridge or on ice until ready to serve

Serve with fingers of cut vegetables or rice or corn chips.

Tip, try not to touch the chilli with your fingers while chopping and wash the knife carefully after use.

Share

Fish Bake with Mashed Potato topping

April 8, 2014

This is a dish that can be prepared the day before.Fish Bake

All you have to do on the day is put it into a pre-heated oven about 45 minutes before serving and make the side dishes

I’ve never made fish pie before and this dish is a mixture of a few recipes, from which I picked the best ideas and put them all together.

The only problem I encountered with this pie, is that it could have fed an army of people (at least 8) instead of the four it was intended for. Not a real problem, it was great re-heated and eaten over the next couple of days. This dish I will definitely make again.

Ingredients

  • 1kilo cod
  • 1/2 kilo smoked haddock
  • prawns – cooked and peeled – enough to cover the base of the ovenproof dish.
  • 1 cup of frozen peas
  • fresh spinach (for a thin layer under mashed potato topping)

For poaching the fish

  • 1 litre semi skimmed milk for poaching
  • 2 teaspoons Bullion stock
  • 2 large sprigs of tarragon
  • 1 finely chopped leek or onion
  • teaspoon whole peppercorns

For the White sauce

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • strained juices from poaching fish
  • extra milk if required

Mashed potato with spring onions

Instructions

  1. Heat the poaching ingredients in a large pan
  2. Poach/simmer the fish (in batches if necessary) until opaque (about 6-8 minutes) taking care it doesn’t boil over
  3. Drain the fish well and set aside returning the drained juices to the pan
  4. When all the fish has been poached, strain the poaching juices and pour into a pouring jug
  5. Break the fish into large bite sized chunks
  6. Heat butter in a large pan, stir in the flour
  7. Slowly add the poaching juices stirring all the time, season to taste with extra bullion or salt and pepper
  8. Simmer (still stirring) the white sauce until its gloopy, adding more milk if required
  9. Make the mashed potatoes with spring onions in the microwave – see recipe
  10. Place the cooked, peeled prawns into the base of the oven proof fish pie dish
  11. Add the poached fish by crumbling it over the prawns layering it with the frozen peas
  12. Pour over all the white sauce, and move fish gently to allow the white sauce to sink down to the prawns
  13. Top the sauce with a thin layer of fresh spinach so that when adding the mashed potato to the very top it does not sink into the white sauce
  14. Add the mashed potatoes one spoon full at a time from the outside edges of the dish working inwards
  15. Level the top gently, but rough it up with a fork for texture
  16. cover and chill if preparing this the day before and remove from fridge a few hours before cooking
  17. Preheat oven to 200F
  18. Bake in the centre of the oven for about 40 minutes –  could take an hour if its a deep dish.
  19. Place a baking tray on the lowest rack in case the pie overflows a little
  20. Serve with steamed vegetables

 

 

Share

Mashed Potatoes – Quick Microwaved Method

April 8, 2014

Ingredients (serves 2 hungry adults)

  • 3 large baking potoatoes
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup of milk – or more if needed
  • 3 chopped spring onions optional
  • 1 dessertspoon of Dijon mustart optional
  1. Cut potatoes into even sized chunks then rinse and drain
  2. Cover and microwave until very soft all the way through
  3. Add butter and mix in until melted
  4. Add 1/2 the milk and mix with an electric mix adding the rest of the milk slowly until it reaches the right texture
  5. Season to taste
  6. Mix in the chopped salad onions or mustard if required
  7. Cover and reheat before serving in the microwave until steaming.

 

Share

Vicky’s Filet Mignon Party special

March 23, 2014

Ingredients

  • 1 whole Filet Mignon from Costco
  • Dry Steak Spices from Costco
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 table Worsestershire Sauce
  • Butter

 

  1. Cut/Half the Filet steak horizontally into two 1″ thick steak
  2. Mix the olive oil and Worcestershire sauce together
  3. Dip each steak into the oil/sauce mix, coat thoroughly
  4. Rub each steak with the steak spices
  5. Leave steak to marinate if still chilled, it should only be cooked when it has reached room temperature
  6. Heat pan, melt the butter and cook steak on high for about 1 minute each side.
  7. Cover with foil to keep warm to rest the Filet Mignon until ready to serve

* Hot Tip – add a little olive oil to the butter to stop the butter turning brown

 

 

Share

Anita’s Quick Chicken Stir Fry

January 22, 2014

If you have a ceramic hob, then an electric Wok will be your answer to successful stir fries.

This dish is fast and simple, healthy and delicious. Skip the chicken for a great side, or vegetarian dish..

TIP : Make a larger portion than you think will be enough for you, because the vegatables shrink down, and you may wish you had made more.

Ingredients per person

  • 1 large chicken thigh – cubed and patted dry with a paper towel or two
  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated (or sliced) root ginger
  • 1 clover coarsely chopped garlic clove
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped salad onions (spring onions) – optional – must be dried after washing or the oil will splutter
  • 3-4 tablespoons olive oil (mixed with sunflower oil to bring to higher temperature without smoking)
  • 1 carrot sliced
  • Soy Sauce to taste
  • 1 large bowl of freshly chopped cabbages and Kale
  • 1 large Portobello Mushroom – cut into chunks
  • 1 cup of chicken stock

 

  1. Heat the oil and add the grated ginger, and garlic and spring onions if using
  2. Stir until just beginning to brown – this flavors the oil for the chicken
  3. Add the chicken and stir till browned
  4. Add more oil on the side if it gets a little dry
  5. Add the carrot slices, and stir fry a little more
  6. Add a tablespoon or more of dark soy sauce to keep moist until carrots just begin to cook
  7. Cook chicken through (takes about 10 minutes of high heat and stirring all the time)
  8. Add the mushrooms, heat through and stir in well
  9. Add the chopped vegetables and stir in well
  10. Add the stock, bring to boil, and stir well, Put lid on wok and turn down heat
  11. Continue to cook until cabbages are just tender to your liking
  12. Serve immediately with or without rice

 

 

 

 

 

Share

Fillet Steak Rub – Best BBQ’d Fillet Steak Ever

March 18, 2012

My friend Linda who also has a  Recipe Website made us a delicious Fillet Steak Dinner the other evening. The Fillet steaks had been rubbed with the three ingredients below for a few hours before BBQ’ing on a gas grill and it was the best steak I have truly ever had.

For the Rub

  • Lemon Pepper
  • Pressed Garlic
  • Olive Oil
  1. Sprinkle on the lemon pepper
  2. Press on the crushed garlic
  3. Rub on the olive oil
  4. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours, but remove an hour or so before BBQ’ing to bring to room temperature.
  5. Grill
  6. Rest then slice and arrange on a serving platter
Linda served it with sauted Shitake mushrooms, runner beans, Baked Potatoes (Potatoe filling mashed with sour cream and chives and topped with melted cheese) and a fabulous garden salad.

 

 

Share

Sauted Spicy Shrimp in Tarragon Butter

March 14, 2012

These a delicious, a tasty appetizer, fast to make and eaten even faster.

 

Ingredients

  • 6 large Frozen shrimp (with tails)
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon iodized sea salt
  • 1/3/teaspoon paprika (to redden sauce)
  • 1 finely chopped fresh chilli
  • 1 sprig of finely chopped tarragon
  1. Melt butter in a pan with the oil (using a pan just large enough to lay in all the shrimp flat)
  2. add the chopped chilli and saute until softened
  3. add the seasoning, paprika, and tarragon
  4. Stir well and when on really hot and bubbling add the shrimp into the sauce
  5. Cook on med-high until shrimp turn pinkish (about 3 mintues)
  6. Turn shrimp over and cook for one more minute.
  7. Serve immediately or leave to cool and add as a garnish to a salad
Use this sauce (with or without the shrimp) as a topping or garnish for baked white fish..
Share

BBQ’d Burgers with herbs and spices

January 15, 2012

This recipe produced really tasty burgers, moist and light, and full of flavor. The trick is to prepare the mixture in advance to let the herbs and spices soak well into the meat. Make the patties just before grilling with a little flour on the hands to avoid a sticky mess and brush both sides lightly with olive oil just before placing on the grill to avoid sticking. Cook for 5 minutes each side at the lowest setting on a gas grill with the lid down for medium, and 6 minutes each side for well done. Top with a slice or two of Jalepeno Chedder Jack cheese and serve when melted.

Serve in a bun with gherkins, lettuce, tomato and onion, or just on the plate with a healthy salad.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound                            Organic minced meat (ground beef)
  • 3 cups                              bread cubes (from fresh bread)
  • 1/2 cup                            milk
  • 1 pack                              HOT taco spices (or mild if preffered)
  • 2 tablespoons                 (heaped) of finely chopped herbs – Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sage
  1. Soak bread in milk until all the bread is thouroughly wet
  2. Squeeze bread by hand to extract excess milk
  3. Discard milk
  4. Put wet bread into a large mixing bowl
  5. Add the herbs and Taco mix and mix well until mushy with a glove or hand inside a plastic bag
  6. This mix should not be wet just moist
  7. Crumble in the meat and mix very well by hand until mushy
  8. With your hand still in the plastic bag gather the mixture into your hand, invert the plastic bag and close.
  9. Refridgerate for at least 4 hours for best results
  10. Roll out mixture (still in plastic bag for cleanest results) into a large thick roll
  11. Divide with a knife into even size pieces large enough to make patties about 3/4″ thick and about 3 1/2″ diameter
  12. Make round, flat patties with bare hands covered in flour to avoid sticking.
  13. Cook when at room temperature for best results.
  14. When ready to Grill or BBQ patties brush lightly with olive oil to them avoid sticking
  15. Turn once at 5 or 6 minutes for medium or well done, respectively

Note: the second time making this I substituted the whole pack of HOT Taco seasoning mix with only half a pack of Mild Chilli seasoning mix (Mc Cormacks) plus a teaspoon of dried chillies – will state favorite shortly

Share

Anitas Chicken Goulash – Slow cooked one pot dinner

October 26, 2011

This is a new favorite invention! An easy, and very tasty one pot meal made up of vegetables that are ready  to be used up. Its quick to prepare, and is ready after slow cooking for 6 hours if cooked following the numbered instructions below using a pressure cooker.

If no pressure cooker is available just place the chicken and dried, uncooked lentils into a pre-heated the slow cooker, mix all the other ingredients in a large bowl and heat, covered in a microwave, stirring occasionally until very hot. Pour over the chicken and slow cook for at least 10 hours.

My collections of  Fast n’ Easy recipes and  Slow Cooker recipes on this website are getting bigger and easy to find using the categories on the right .

Ingredients, serves 8 (0r 6 very hungry people)

  • 8 large chicken thighs (on the bone with skin for best flavor)
  • 1 diced onion
  • 1 finely chopped habanero chili
  • 1 diced carrot
  • 2 diced parsnip
  • 10 small diced salad potatoes
  • 1 chopped clove of garlic
  • 3 cups red wine
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable boullion powder
  • 1 1/2 to 2 jars of tomato sauce
  • 1 heaped tablespoon paprika
  • 1 level tablespoon Garam Masala spice
  • 2 handfuls of uncooked, dried green lentils
  • 1 -2 teaspoons of coursley ground pepper to taste
  1. Plug in slow cooker to begin heating
  2. Brown half of the chicken pieces in a pressure cooker
  3. Add 2 cups warmed red wine and one tablespoon of Boullion
  4. Add the chopped onion and garlic
  5. Add 1/2 jar of heated sauce
  6. Add lid and raise pressure and cook for 5-8 minutes
  7. Release pressure fast and empty contents into the slow cooker
  8. Place lid on slow cooker and wash pressure cooker
  9. Brown second half of chicken pieces in the pressure cooker
  10. Add 1 cup of warmed red wine and 1/2 tablespoon Boullion
  11. Add 1/2 cup of hot water
  12. Add 1/2 jar of heated sauce to the pressure cooker
  13. Heat the remaining sauce and add to the slow cooker
  14. Add paprika and Garam Masala spice and the finely chopped Habanero  to the pressure cooker
  15. Add two generous handfulls of green lentils  and stir to submerge all the lentils and mix the spices
  16. Add diced carrot, parsnips and potatoes (dont stir)
  17. Add lid and raise pressure and cook for 5 – 8 minutes
  18. Release pressure fast and add contents carefully to the slow cooker
  19. Push any visible chicken thighs down below the surface
  20. And slow cook until the chicken begins to fall off the bone, and the lentils are tender (6 hours or longer)
Share

Chicken Curry Casserole

October 9, 2011

This recipe is my invention and one for the record so I can make it again exactly the same. It was very tasty and a made in 20minutes from frozen in a pressure cooker. This recipe can be baked in the oven or in a slow cooker too, but if you are in a hurry this is a perfect quick satisfying meal.

Ingredients for 2-3 portions

  • 3 frozen chicken breasts
  • olive oil
  • pepper
  • 5 medium new potatoes, halved
  • 1 mug of  hot vegetable stock
  • 1 teaspoon of your favorite curry powder (I use a Maui blend *)
  • 1/2 large onion, diced
  • 1/2 white wine
  • 1 parsnip, diced small
  • 1 large carrot, diced
  • 1 large leak, quatered and sliced
  • 1/2 balti curry sauce (I use Sharwoods)
  • * (spice number 630 from Mana Foods, Paia)
  1. Place the chicken in the microwave and cook for just 1 minute to make it cuttable.
  2. Heat olive oil in the pressure cooker
  3. Dice the chicken into 1/2″ cubes and brown in small batches
  4. Dice onion and add to chicken
  5. Half potatoes and add to pot
  6. Add curry powder to hot stock and add to pot
  7. Add white wine to pot
  8. Add diced parsnip to pot
  9. Add sugar to pot
  10. Stir well until boiling
  11. Add diced carrot and leeks to steamer tray and place into pot
  12. close lid and cook on high for 12 minutes when pressure is on high
  13. Release pressure, open, return pot to heat and stir in Balti sauce
  14. and Serve

 

Share

Pork Tenderloin Kebabs for the BBQ

September 25, 2011

Ingredients (Makes 4 generous kebabs)

  • 24 cubed chunks of Marinated Pork Tenderloin
  • 2 large onions
  • 1 orange bell pepper
  • 1 yellow bell pepper
  • 8 cherry tomatoes
  • 4 button mushrooms

For the Marinade

  • 1 cup Cold pressed virgin Olive oil
  • 1 clove crushed garlic
  • 1 lemon (juice of)
  • 1/4 cup low salt Soy Sauce

 

  1. Whisk the marinade ingredients together
  2. Cut the onions, and bell peppers into large squares
  3. Marinate  the pork and vegetables overnight if possible
  4. Start the BBQ and make the kebabs :
  5. Using four flat skewers add a tomatoe then a mushroom to each
  6. Then alternate the pork with onions and peppers
  7. End each kebab with a button mushroom and then a tomato
  8. Find a man, get him to grill the kebabs on a BBQ on low heat, slowly, for 20-25 minutes
  9. Serve with a green salad, a mixed bean salad, and baked potatoes
Share

Lamb Steaks in Onion and Mint Sauce

September 25, 2011

Cooked in the pressure cooker this meal took less than 30minutes from frozen to serving. The lamb was tender and very tasty. With the vegetables all cooked in the pressure cooker too, this dish is a complete meal, but can be served on Mashed Potatoes instead of adding potatoes into the pot.

Ingredients

  • 4 lamb steaks
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 6 new or salad potatoes, un-peeled and cut into 1/2cm slices
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1/2 small suede, cubed
  • 1-2 tablespoons of mint sauce
  • 1/2 gravy or stock
  • chili if required
  • 1 sprig of fresh sage
  1. Make up the gravy or the stock, with the mint and sage and put into pressure cooker
  2. Place the frozen pieces of lamb into the gravy and cook on second ring for 10-15minutes
  3. Meanwhile, dice the onions, suede, potatoes and carrot
  4. Release pressure quickly when its time
  5. Add all the onions, and half of the remaining vegetables into the stock/gravy
  6. Insert the vegetable tray so that it sits above the lamb and add the remaining vegetables
  7. Bring pressure up to second ring again and cook for 10 further minutes.
  8. Release pressure when done, dish into bowls, and serve with garlic bread or mashed potato if potato not added to the pot

 

Share

Robins’ Beef in Ale Casserole

September 25, 2011

Thanks Frances and Robin for a fabulous evening last night. I cant wait to make your delicious beef  in Ale Casserole you made for us, thanks also for the recipe. I’m going to adapt your recipe below for my new pressure cooker, then I’ll add my own extra notes to this recipe afterwards.

This recipe serves four.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
  • 700 grams Diced Beef (Waitrose Mini Diced Beef)
  • 2 large onions,  sliced thickly
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon plain flour
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 500ml  Strong Pale Ale
  • For the accompaniment
  • 2 tablespoons creamed horseradish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
  1. Pre-heat oven to 150C
  2. Using a large ovenproof and flameproof casserole dish with a lid
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon sunflower oil and lightly brown the beef in small batches (2-3 for each batch)
  4. Transfer each batch onto a plate and set aside
  5. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil and add the thickly sliced onions
  6. Saute over a low heat for 6-7 minutes until softened
  7. Add the sugar, flour and Balsamic vinegar to the onions and stir over a high heat for 2-3 minutes
  8. Pour the ale over the onions  and stir until it reaches the boil
  9. Add the beef to the the onions
  10. Season to taste
  11. Bake in oven (with lid) for 1 1/2 – 2 hours, or until the meat is very tender and the cooking liquid has reduced to a syrupy consistency
  12. Stir the  creamed horseradish sauce and the chopped thyme leaves for an accompaniment
  13. Serve with Creamy mashed potato and long stemmed steamed broccoli
Very tasty – Thanks Robin 😉

 

Share

Chicken thighs with Potatoes and red lentils – Slow Cooker

September 6, 2011

I have made this a few times and vary the vegetables depending on what needs to be used up.. Cooking time is 6-8hours set to High or Auto in a slow cooker. Add extra cooking time if ingredients are chilled.

Ingredients

8-10                        Chicken Thighs (skinned but on the bone is best)
1/2 cup                    Boullion Stock
1/2 cup                    White Wine
1 jar                         Classico Tomato sauce
1/2                           Tomato Passat Sauce
2 tablespoons          Sharwoods Masalla sauce
1/2 cup                    red split lentils
1 tablespoon            Paprika

2                               carrots (cubed)
1                               leek (halved and sliced)
1 dozen                     unpeeled salad potatoes (washed, thickly sliced)
1 sprig                      sage
chilli                         to taste

 

  1. Switch on the Slow cooker
  2. Mix  the lentils, paprika, sauces and chilli in the slow cooker pot
  3. Cube the carrots, slice the pototatoes, half and slice the leeks
  4. Add the vegetables to the sauce mixture and stir well
  5. Add the White wine and Boullion to the mixture and stir
  6. Optional – Heat in the microwave until hot
  7. Place the chicken pieces around the top, pushing them down gently until just showing at the surface
  8. Slow cook for 6+ hours once it reaches cooking temperature
  9. Serve with French Bread to soak up the juices
Share

Toad in the Hole and Onion Gravy

June 20, 2011

Ingredients 

6 large sausages
1 tablespoon flavorless oil (eg groundnut)

For the Yorkshire pudding batter
75 g plain flour
1 large egg
75 ml semi-skimmed milk
55 ml water
salt and freshly ground pepper

For the Gravy
250 g Onions
2 teaspoons flavorless oil
1 teaspoon golden caster sugar
1 dessertspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 rounded dessertspoon plain flour
1 pintt hot vegetable stock made from Boullion powder

You will also need
1 x 2″ deep roasting tin about 9″ x 6″ for the Toad in the hole
1 baking tray to roast the onions

  1. Turn on the oven to 200C 425F
  2. Place pricked sausages on another baking tray and bake until some fat is released (about 20-25 minutes from a cold oven)
  3. Toss the sliced the onions in the oil and sugar and place on a baking tray
  4. Place on top shelf and bake till edges are blackened (about 20 minutes), turning once
  5. For the batter
  6. Sieve to air the flour into a large bowl and make a well in the center
  7. Break in the egg and add seasoning
  8. Using an electric whisk begin to whisk in the center adding the milk and water slowly
  9. When all the liquid and flour has been incorporated it is ready for use…
  10. Remove the sausages and onions when ready and add oil to turned sausages if necessary and spread to coat whole of baking tray
  11. Heat tray of sausages on direct heat until searing hot
  12. Add the batter around the sausages very quickly
  13. Place sausages in batter on the top shelf
  14. Cook  for 30minutes without opening the oven door during cooking
  15. For the Gravy
  16. Place the onions with a teaspoon of oil into a pan and brown more if necessary
  17. When hot add the flour and stir
  18. Using a whisk add the stock, mustard and worcestershire sauce gradually until its all in the pan
  19. Simmer and stir until ready to serve, it will brown as it simmers
  20. The Toad is ready when it is puffed, brown and crisp, and the center should look cooked and not too squidgy.
  21. Try not to open the oven door while cooking.
  22. Serve immediately with mashed potato and peas

Notes : First time I found the batter not cooked in the center – this was for two reasons, the pan sides were too high and secondly I didnt realise until too late the oven temperature was set to 180 instead of 200. It looked great but when I took it out of the oven – it sank.. Better luck next time- Or perhaps I’ll use my yorkshire pudding trays and make individual puds.

Share

Roasted Chicken Quiche with onions, bell pepper and garlic

June 18, 2011

This is the first Quiche I have ever made from scratch, making the base the custard and the filling, and I can proudly say it was much easier than I thought it would be.. And it looked and tasted great…

This recipe can easily become a vegetarian dish by substuting the chicken with beans or Tofu

see recipe for Quiche shortcrust pastry for creating the casing/ see  Other Quiche custards  for more egg mixtures

Ingredients

Custard
4 whisked eggs
1 – 1½ cups milk
¼ teaspoon salt and black pepper

2 tablespoons Olive oil
2 small onions, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 orange or red bell pepper
1 side of breast from a roasted chicken, diced quite small
Seasoning to taste
1 teaspoon chopped rosemary

  1. Saute the onions and peppers until translucent
  2. Add the garlic and saute a little more
  3. Add the chicken, rosemary and season to taste
  4. When all hot and liquid soaked into chicken, take off heat
  5. Add all of it  into base  just as it comes out of the oven
  6. Pour half the egg custard over the top
  7. Place into oven on shelf and gently pour remaining custard on top
  8. Do not fill as the egg will rise a little
  9. Bake for 25 minutes max at 190 C
  10. Leave to settle for 10 minutes which will make it easier to cut into portions
Share

Baked Camembert

June 18, 2011

This is a great party snack and a great dip

Buy one large round Camembert cheese

  1. Remove the Camembert from its box and wrapping
  2. Wrap in Foil and bake at 180 for about 20 minutes
  3. Remove from oven, place back in box, open foil and tear away surplus foil
  4. Cut diagonals into surface  of cheese to encourage dipping

Serve with chunks of french bread and garnish with caramelized onions or red current sauce

Share

Bramley Apple, Leek and Potato Gratin

June 18, 2011

Ingredients 

1 1/2 lb Desiree  potatoes
1 large Bramley apple, cored, peeled and sliced
1 lb leeks, washed and sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 oz butter
1/4 (150ml) double cream
4fl oz (120ml) semi skimmed milk
2 teaspoons grainy mustard
3 oz grated greyere cheese
seasoning to taste

  1. Pre-heat ovent to 400F (200C)
  2. Fry leeks in large pan, in butter until softened
  3. Add the apple slices and pressed garlic for a further 2 minutes
  4. Butter an oven proof dish, and lay in the mixture
  5. Sprinkle with the cheese
  6. Layer the slices of potato so they overlap and cover the lower layer
  7. In a small bowl, mix the cream and the milk and mustard and seasoning
  8. Pour mixture over potatoes and bake for 45mins to 1 hour until potatoes are tender and golden brown

Other Potato Gratins

Share

Potato and Rosemary Gratin

June 18, 2011

Layers of potato, onion and rosemary make this a light accompaniment to many dishes

Ingredients

10 g fresh rosemary, stripped from the stalks and bruised
1.15 kg (2lbs) Desiree or Romano potatoes, peeled, and sliced
2 medium onions, very thinly sliced
275 ml vegetable stock
150 ml semi skimmed milk
40 g butter
seasoning

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180C (350F)
  2. Grease an ovenproof dish
  3. Bruise the rosemary and chop 2/3 of them finely, slice the onions (very finely), and the potatoes (not so finely)
  4. Layer potatoes, onion, rosemary, seasoning, finishing with a layer of overlapping potatoes
  5. Mix the stock and the milk together and pour over potatoes
  6. Season the top layer and scatter with the remain 1/3 rosemary leaves.
  7. Put little flecks of butter all over
  8. Place on top shelf and bake at 180C for 60 minutes until golden brown on top and creamy and tender underneath.

Other Potato Gratins
Bramley, leek and Potato Gratin

Share

Suet Dumplings for hot pot dinners

June 18, 2011

Ingredients

4 oz self raising flour
2 oz brown breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
2 tablespoons chopped herbs (thyme, parsley, sage etc)
2 oz shredded suet (beef or vegetable)

  1. Have these ready to add to the hot pot 20 minutes before serving
  2. Mix together all the ingredients above
  3. Add 5-6 tablespoons of water and mix to a soft dough
  4. Divide into eight, and shape into balls and add to covered casserole dish 20 minutes before end of cooking time
  5. Dumplings should have risen to look light and fluffy
Share

Roast Leg of Lamb with Rosemary

June 18, 2011

Ingredients

5lb lean leg of lamb
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons redcurent jelly
2 tablespoons honey
sprigs of rosemary

  1. Bring the lamb up to room temperature to prevent shrinkage when cooking
  2. Pre-heat the oven to 220C
  3. Gently warm the redcurrent jelly and honey until runny.
  4. Rub balsamic vinegar onto lamb and place the lamb over sliced onions (optional) in a roasting tin
  5. Turn the oven down to 190, and quickly put the lamb into the oven.
  6. Cook for 1 3/4 hours for medium, 2 1/4 well done
  7. During roasting baste liberally with its juices and warmed honey mixture
  8. 30 minutes before end of cooking time, pierce lamb and decorate with sprigs of rosemary
  9. When cooked, transfer lamb to a warm serving dish, cover and leave to rest for 20-30 minutes in a warm place.

See Shrewsbury Sauce for a lamb variation

Share

Chicken Livers in Mushroom Sauce

June 18, 2011

Ingredients

1 pack of fresh chicken livers soaked in milk to tenderise
1 pack sliced button mushrooms
2 bacon rashers , thinly sliced
1 diced onion
1 pressed garlic
1/2 -1 cup vegetable stock
1/2 – 1 tub creme fraiche
soy sauce to taste

  1. Pat dry the chicken livers and stir fry in a little olive oil
  2. Add diced onion and garlic and bacon
  3. Add sliced mushrooms and simmer with a little vegetable stock for 15-20 minutes
  4. Gently stir in half a tub of creme fraiche (more if required) and heat through
  5. Serve on rice or on tagliatelle
Share

Chicken liver Pate

June 18, 2011

Ingredients

1 pack fresh chicken livers
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion
1 clove crushed garlic
salt and pepper to taste
fresh chilli pepper to taste
vegetable stock and/or wine

  1. Saute the onions garlic and chilli until tender and set aside
  2. Heat the pan and add the livers, cook until almost cooked through
  3. add the onion mixture back into the pan
  4. add stock and wine and simmer gently for 10 minutes
  5. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes
  6. Add mixture to a blender with enough juices to create a smooth thick puree
  7. Put into a small bowl, cover with cling film and chill

Delicious as a dip or as a pate

Share

Parsnip Sauce and Peas for Pasta

June 18, 2011

Great on pasta

Ingredients

2 parsnips, peeled and chopped
200ml vegetable stock
200ml whipping cream
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
4oz thawed peas
seasoning to taste

  1. boil parsnips in stock until tender (about 10minutes)
  2. Puree parsnips and stock
  3. Add cream, seasoning, marjoram and peas
  4. cook for a few minutes until the peas are cooked
  5. Serve on pasta
Share

Mushroom and Garlic Sauce for Pasta

June 18, 2011

Great on pastas and with Fondus as a dipping sauce

Ingredients

400g finely sliced mushrooms
1 teaspoon butter
1 clove crushed garlic
55ml white wine
200ml single cream
soy sauce (optional)
6tablespoons finely chopped parsley

  1. Saute the mushrooms with pressed garlic in a little butter
  2. Add wine and cream and stir
  3. Let sauce boil uncovered for 10minutes or until it thickens
  4. Season and add soy sauce to taste
  5. Stir in parsley

 

Share

Spaghetti Bolognese

January 29, 2011

Amit, This ones for you !!! 😉

Ingredients

    For the Beef and Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons Olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 lbs Haiku Ground Beef (fresh from Haiku Grocery Store)
  • 1 packet of ‘Hot’ Chili Seasoning Mix (from Haiku Grocery Store) – Hot being optional!
  • 2 Onions, diced
  • 3 large cloves of garlic
  • 1 Jar of Classico Garlic and Basil Tomato Sauce
  • 1 6oz can tomato Paste/Puree
  • 2 splashes Worcester Sauce
  • 2 teaspoons golden cane sugar
    Extra optional ingredients

  • 1 pack Cup Mushrooms – roughly chopped (optional)
  • 1 red Bell Pepper – diced small (optional)
  • 1 hand full basil – roughly chopped (optional)
  • 1/2 cup White wine (optional)
    For the Spaghetti

  • 1 packet Organic Spaghetti (Garden Time from Haiku)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    For the Table

  • grated cheddar cheese
  • sour cream if spicy
  • Basil, finely chopped
  • chili seed shaker
  1. Fill a large pan with water for the pasta, add 1 teaspoon salt to the water, and bring to the boil.
  2. For the Sauce
  3. Heat butter in a shallow pan with some freshly ground pepper,
  4. Saute the onions  (with the optional bell peppers), until onions begin to go translucent and begins to brown
  5. Add the optional mushrooms to the onions and cook until they soften
  6. Add the optional basil, and stir
  7. Add the whole jar of Classico Sauce
  8. Stir in the Tomato Puree and mix in thoroughly
  9. Rinse out the Jar and the can with  1/2 cup of water (or white wine) and add to the sauce
  10. Cover with a lid, bring the sauce to the boil stirring occasionally,  and then reduce to a simmer
  11. For the MEAT
  12. Add olive oil and ground pepper to a large pot on a high heat.
  13. When the pepper begins to sizzle, press in the garlic, which will brown quickly, be ready to remove half garlic and it add to onions
  14. Crumble in all the ground beef into the remaining  garlic in the oil immediately, and stir well with a wooden spoon to break up all meat
  15. Stir the meat until all the red meat has turned brown
  16. Add the Worcester Sauce to the meat, stir still on high heat
  17. Empty the packet of spices over the meat and stir in well,
  18. Stir the meat until the moisture is replaced by the oils from the meat, put to one side until the sauce is hot
  19. Then add all the  (*1) simmering sauce to the meat and stir in the 2 teaspoons of sugar
  20. Turn down, cover and simmer for 10-30 minutes, until the pasta is ready
  21. For the PASTA
  22. Add the whole packet of spaghetti and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the salted  boiling water
  23. Stir lightly until the water returns to the boil
  24. Simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes until tender but still firm.
  25. Meanwhile set the table, chop the basil, grate the cheddar cheese and put some chili seeds in a dish, and test the pasta.
  26. As soon as the past is tender but still firm, drain in a colander, but do not rinse.
  27. Serve immediately.

NOTES : If you have pasta left over, put in a zip lock bag and freeze it.  When you want to use it, just drop frozen pasta into salted boiling water, bring back to the boil, then drain immediately. Perhaps stir in some sage and garlic flavored butter (see recipe) and perhaps serve as a side dish.

And the Bolognese freezes well too, but cool before putting in a zip lock bag.

(*1) – Only add the sauce to the beef if it is hot. Adding cold sauce to the meat will toughen it.

Share

BAKED BBQ chicken thighs on Brown Rice

January 26, 2011

A simple, tasty and effortless meal.

Ingredients

  • 8 frozen Boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • For the Marinade/Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Oilve oil (or more)
  • 1/3 lemon or lime, juice of
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestor Sauce
  • 1/4 White wine (optional)
  • 1/3 cup BBQ Sauce (I used KC Masterpiece- Hot and spicy)
  • 1-2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
  • Brown Rice
  1. Partially defrost the chicken thighs in a colander, by standing the colander on a bowl in the microwave for about 2 hours.
  2. Mix the remaining ingredients for the marinade and keep at room temperature
  3. Rinse and drain the partially defrosted chicken pieces and place them into the marinade.
  4. Chill for at least a few hours (24 hours is even better)
  5. Stir occasionally to ensure good coverage
  6. When ready to cook, place into a flat rectangular oven proof dish
  7. Arrange all the pieces, upside down (flat sides down), ensure they do not overlap
  8. Place into cold oven, turn on to 380 F and bake for 50-60 until browned
  9. While the chicken is baking, you may like to boil some brown rice following instructions on the packet
  10. Drain when the rice is cooked and keep covered and keep hot, Blast in Microwave if it cools too much prior to serving.
  11. When the chicken is cooked, remove them from the sauce, and place in a warmed, smaller oven proof dish and keep covered.
  12. Meanwhile, strain the marinade into a tall narrow mug or cup and leave for a couple of minutes for the oil to settle.
  13. When the oil has seperated, spoon it off from the top of the sauce, and discard the oil
  14. Stir in extra BBQ sauce to taste (1-2 tablespoons)
  15. Pour Sauce over the chicken, and if not still hot enough, cover and blast in Microwave
  16. Serve asap.

NOTE – I did not baste the chicken during baking, as they were lying in plenty of marinade and were almost but not quite covered by it. They stayed nice and moist.

Share

Beef Burgers

January 25, 2011
Ingredients
  • 1 lb Organic Ground Island Beef
  • 1 bread roll crumbed
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1 clove garlic garlic
  • 1/2 red peppers
  • 1 or 2 seeded chillies
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon fresh basil
  • few dashes of  Worcestor Sauce
  • 1 whole egg
  1. Blend all the ingredients except for the breadcrumbs and the meat in a blender
  2. Put the ground Beef in a large bowl, break up and add the blended mixture
  3. Mix the mixture well into the beef by hand
  4. Add the breadcrumbs still mixing by hand
  5. Make into small Balls and Bake or into Patties and grill
Share

Giles’s Beef or Lamb BURGERS

January 25, 2011
Ingredients
  • 750 g Minced Beef (or Lamb)
  • 1 Bread roll,  crumbed
  • 1/2 onion, blended
  • 2 carrots, blended
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh sage, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • S+P
  1. Blend the onion and the carrots
  2. Add to the meat
  3. Mix by hand
  4. Add the egg and mix well
  5. Add the breadcrumbs, herbs and seasoning
  6. Make into Patties and Grill on the BBQ

Absolutely delicious !

Share

Ritas ORZO Chicken Salad

January 23, 2011
This is a delicious salad and can actually be made with any pasta, not just Orzo
Ingredients
  • Cooked Orzo
  • 2 Chicken thighs, diced
  • 1 Courgette, diced
  • 1 Onion, diced
  • 1/2 Red Pepper, diced
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil (more if needed)
  • Feta cheese, crumbled
  • 2 bunches Oregano, chopped
  • 1/2 lemon, juice only
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts
  • 3 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes and oil, chopped
  • dissolved bullion stock
  1. Cook the Orzo as instructed on the packet
  2. Stir fry the chicken in Olive Oil
  3. Add pressed garlic, onion and pepper, stir fry until chicken cooked
  4. Add Courgette and stir fry until softened
  5. Remove from heat
  6. Add to cooked Orzo with a little bullion Stock and lemon juice
  7. Don’t make it too wet
  8. Stir in Oregano, tomatoes, pine-nuts and oil
  9. Gently mix in Feta Cheese and serve warm (Delicious served cold too.)
Share

Mums CARIBBEAN chicken

January 23, 2011

Ingredients

  • 1-2 kg boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • For the sauce
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 red pepper, sliced
  • 3 small bananas mashed
  • 200 mg coconut cream in a carton
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) chili powder, or fresh chilies
  • 2 limes, juice and zest
  1. Lightly fry the chicken thighs to brown
  2. Place into a shallow oven proof baking dish
  3. Saute the onions and red pepper
  4. Add the mashed bananas, cream, chili, zest and lime juice
  5. Add water to thin
  6. Heat through
  7. Pour over the chicken
  8. Bake covered with foil for 45 (total cooking time 50-60 minutes) @ 180 degrees
Share

Egg OMELET crepes

January 23, 2011

When sliced thinly EGG OMMELETTE crepes make great toppings for Salads, you can even sprinkle them onto clear soups as a garnish

3 eggs whisked with a fork
seasoning
water to thin

oil omelet pan for first crepe and wipe with paper towel
cook on one side only for about 20 secs.
stack each ontop of the last one
roll all together and slice into thin slices
separate
add to salad, dress and toss or add as a garnish

Share

Mums Zwetschken KNOEDEL

January 22, 2011

Plum and Apricot Semolina Dumplings – Austrian Recipe

I just need to double check this delicious recipe with my mother, to make sure  I got it 100% correct, and then I am going to try make it. So please note that this recipe is not tried and tested, yet,  but when it is, it is the best meal, or dessert, ever! It was always a real treat during my childhood.

Ingredients

  • 50 grams softened butter, salted
  • 1 egg, at room temperature and whisked
  • 250 grams full fat curd cheese at room temperature
  • 125 grams sieved plain flour
  • 80 grams semolina
  • 8-10 firm Apricots and/or Plums
  • Butter and breadcrumbs
  • Serve dumplings rolled in golden breadcrumbs with a bowl of sieved Icing sugar on the side.
  1. For the Dumpling Dough
  2. Soften butter and whisk in the whisked egg
  3. Whisk  in the  full fat curd cheese (room temperature)
  4. Fold in  sieved plain flour
  5. Mix in Semolina with a spoon
  6. Add a little salt if unsalted butter is used
  7. Hand mix into one large ball and rest for at least half an hour
  1. For the Dumplings
  2. Boil lots of salted water in large pot
  3. Make dumplings by making a ball and flatten into a round shape about 1/2 – 1 cm thick
  4. Place Apricot or plum into the center and work the dough around the fruit really well
  5. Turn down the heat so the water is not boiling
  6. Gently place the dumplings into the water with a ladle and ensure they don’t stick to the bottom of the pan
  7. Bring back to the boil continuing to ensure the dumplings are free from the base of the pan
  8. Simmer very gently for 10 minutes (15 minutes max)
  9. Meanwhile, heat plenty of butter in a large frying pan and add breadcumbs
  10. Stir breadcrumbs frequently until they are golden
  11. Roll each dumpling in the breadcrumbs to coat the whole dumpling
  12. Place all dumplings on a serving platter and serve with sieved icing sugar
Share

QUICHES – Custard variations

January 21, 2011

I’ve used a ready made quiche bases for  quick meals and here are some recipes for a variety of custard fillings :-

Making the shortcrust pastry base is actually very easy too

 

  • BASIC – used in Roasted Chicken Quiche
  • 4 whisked eggs
  • 1 – 1½ cups milk
  • ¼ teaspoon salt and black pepper
  • 3 whisked eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk + 300 ml cream
  • 1 cup grated tasty cheese
  • 1 teaspoon plain flour
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 5 whisked eggs
  • 100 ml  milk + 200 ml double cream
  • 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 large whisked eggs
  • 5 fl oz single cream
  • 5oz grated mature cheddar
  • salt & pepper
  • 3 whisked eggs
  • 1½ cups milk
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 whisked eggs
  • 100ml half fat Creme Fraiche
  • 2 tablespoon torn basil
  • salt and freshly milled black pepper
  • 3 whisked eggs
  • 200 ml carton crème fraîche
  • 200 ml double cream
  • 50g grated Gruyère
  • pinch ground nutmeg
Share

Pennys Beef and Guinness STEW

January 21, 2011

Ingredients

  • 1kg brasing steak
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned plain flour
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 25g butter
  • 2 onions sliced
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 290 ml or 1/2 pt Guinness
  • 425 ml or 3/4 pt beef or veg stock
  • 1 tablespoon tomato puree
  • 2 teaspoons ready made mustard
  • 1 bouquet garni (rosemary thyme parsley bay leaves)
  • 2 teaspoons light muscovado sugar
  • 100 g or 4 oz pitted ready to eat prunes
  • handfull fresh parsley chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  1. Cut steak into large chunks and toss into seasoned flour.
  2. Saute onions in oil, add steak until brown all over
  3. Add carrots then stir in Guinness gradually, add stock puree and mustard, garni, sugar and salt and pepper
  4. Bring to boil, stir well then cover tightly and simmer (slow cook) 1 1/2 hours+
  5. Add prunes and simmer for another 1/2 to 1 hour until the meat is tender
  6. Serve sprinked with parsley.
Share

Mums Blue Cabbage

January 21, 2011

Blaukraut

Ingredients

  • 1 onion
  • bacon cut very small
  • 1 small red cabbage, sliced very thin like noodles
  • 1/4 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 2 grated cooking apples
  • demerara sugar to taste
  • 1 glass of red wine (or apple juice)
  • a dash of red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon flour (or corn flour)
  1. Saute the onions with the bacon
  2. Add sliced red cabbage
  3. Add salt and caraway seeds
  4. Add the apple
  5. Add sugar to taste
  6. Mix well, then add one glass of red wine and a little wine vinegar
  7. cook slowly until soft
  8. Add a tablespoon water mixed with a little flour (or corn flour)  and cook for a few minutes more to thicken..
Share

Mums SALMON Steaks with Olive and Lemon crust

January 19, 2011

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 4 Salmon fillets
  • 1 handfull of fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 12 Black Olives, pitted and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped  tarragon
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter (15grams)
  • 4 finely chopped salad onions
  • salt and pepper to taste

Mix together all the topping ingredients and press onto each portion of salmon fillet, and bake for about 20 minutes until done

Share

Martys Crepes

January 19, 2011

Serves 2

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 ¼ cups of milk (Marty uses skim/non fat milk)
  • Butter for pan
  • Pinch of salt
  1. Put ingredients in a blender and mix well, scraping the sides of the container.
  2. Batter should be very runny
  3. Use about  1/3 of a cup (or less) of batter for an 8 ½” pan.

Serve with Maple syrup, Countreu, chopped/sliced banana, pineapple, strawberries, papaya, etc and cream

Tip : If it bubbles a lot when you first pour in the batter and swirl it around turn down the heat or take the pan off the heat for a second before pouring in the batter.
Share

Mums Sauerkraut

January 19, 2011
At last I have my own Recipe Website so I can share my mothers delicious Sauerkraut recipe with you. Watch this space, I have many more of her recipes to add.
Ingredients
  • 1 jar                                of Sauerkraut
  • 1 teaspoon                      juniper berries
  • 2 teaspoons                    caraway seeds
  • 1 onion                            diced small
  • 2 rashers                        bacon, diced up small
  • 1 teaspoon                      flour
  • sugar to taste
  1. Put the Sauerkraut in a saucepan with the juniper berries, cover with water, cover with a lid, and simmer for 30 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile  saute the onions and and chopped bacon with the caroway seeds
  3. Strain the sauerkraut when softened, pick out the juniper berries, and add  to onion and backon
  4. Add a teaspoon of flour mixed with water and cook on low until sticky
  5. Add a little sugar to taste …

Sauerkraut
Put in saucepan with 1 teaspoon juniper berries – cover with water and lid and simmer for 30minutes
meanwhile saute onions and small chopped bacon with 2 teaspoons of carroway seeds,

Add strained sauerkraut to onion etc (remove berries) , add teaspoon of flour mixed with water and cook on low until sticky…
add a little sugar…

Share

Pascales Lamb KEBABS

January 19, 2011

Ingredients – For the Lamb

  • 2 boneless lamb loin fillets
  • 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2 (half) tsp ground cumin
  • generous pinch of cayenne pepper
  • juice of half a lemon
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 red onion
  1. Trim lamb of fat and sinew and cut into 2cm chunks
  2. Place in a bowl with the garlic, cumin, cayenne, lemon juice and olive oil and allow to marinate for 20 minutes
  3. Cut red onion into similar size squares
  4. Place a griddle on a high heat.
  5. Take 4 skewers and thread alternate pieces of lamb and onion onto skewers (do not pack too tightly)
  6. Place skewers on the hot griddle and cook for about nine minutes, turning often, until the meat is cooked to your liking.
Share

Beef MEATBALLS in Tomato Sauce on Mash with Leaf Spinach

January 17, 2011

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • For the MEATBALLS
  • 2lbs – Organic Ground Beef at room temperature
  • 1 pack – Hot Chilli Spices
  • 2-3 tablespoons – Olive oil
  • ground sea salt
  • For the SAUCE
  • Saute
  • 3  – Maui Onions
  • 3 large – Garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon – Butter
  • Blend next four ingredients in a blender
  • 1 can  – Diced Tomatoes, Organic
  • 1 can   – tomatoe Puree
  • 1 cup  – Roughly chopped Basil
  • 1 teaspoon – light cane sugar
  • 1 cup  – White wine (Pinot Grigio)
  • For the MASH
  • 3 large   – Russet Potatoes, peeled and chunked, then rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup –  Milk (not heated)
  • 1 tablespoon – Butter
  • Salt to taste
  • For the SPINACH
  • 1 pack  – Frozen Leaf Spinach
  • 2 tablespoons – Sauted Onions and Garlic from above
  • Season to taste
  1. Pre-Heat the oven ( and a large shallow ovenproof dish )to 420 degrees
  2. Peel and chop then rinse and drain the pototatoes and microwave them for 10-15 minutes, turning at least twice, until cooked
  3. Saute onions and pressed garlic in butter on medium heat, turn heat down when starting to brown, remove 1/3 for spinach and remove from heat when translucent
  4. Put ground beef into large mixing bowl, sprinkle in the pack of hot chilli spices while mixing in by hand, and leave to blend flavors
  5. Blend Sauce ingredients in a blender until smooth, and to Sauted onions in the pan.
  6. Add wine to blender and give it a quick whizz to rinse the sauce, and add that to the sauce, stir well.
  7. Cook sauce (with lid) on low heat until ready to add to semi cooked meatballs later (max 20mins)
  8. Remove dish out of the hot oven, add the Olive oil, and sprinkle in gound sea salt
  9. Use hands to make meatballs about 1 1/2″ diameter. Place them into the prepared hot dish. Space them evenly
  10. Place meatballs into oven for  15 minutes or until cooked half through, basting once after about 10 minutes.
  11. Add sauce around the meatballs, and cook for a further 10-15 minutes. Turn heat down to 400 if they are browning too fast.
  12. Remove Pototatoes from microwave when cooked, and replace with the spinach, and cook about 5-8 minutes until cooked
  13. Meanwhile add the butter and 1/2 the milk to the pototoes and use Mixer to make the Mash adding the remaining milk (more if needed)
  14. Before serving : Blast Mash in Microwave for at least 2 minutes and the Spinach for 1 minute if cooled
  15. Add the saved sauted onions to the hot spinach
  16. Remove meatballs from oven, turn off oven and hob…
  17. and serve…
Share

CARAMELISED Onions

January 16, 2011

Great for garnishing Mash and for serving with griddled Steak

Ingredients :

  • 3 – Maui Onions, sliced
  • 2 – Garlic cloves, pressed
  • 1/4 cup – Dry White wine
  • 1/4 teaspoon – Sugar
  • 1 tablespoon – chopped fresh thyme (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons  –  Butter
  1. Add onions and garlic to a pan of melted butter,  saute for about 6 minutes until just tender.
  2. Add chopped thyme and cook until onions are golden, stirring regularly for about 25 minutes.
  3. Add 1/4 cup of wine and stir until almost all liquid evaporates.
  4. Add sugar to  onions, stir well and saute for about 10 more minutes until soft brown.
  5. Season to taste

This is my variation of part of a recipe of Lindas and I have made the  caramalised onions as above and they turned out delicious – see original recipe at www.LindasFavorites.com

Share

Spicy CUCUMBER Salad

January 16, 2011

Serves 3

Ingredients

  • 2  large                         – cucumbers, peeled, halved, seeded, and thinly sliced
  • 2 teaspoons                  – kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup                        – rice vinegar
  • 1/2 cup                        –  water
  • 2 tablespoons               – sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon                 – crushed red pepper
  • 2 tablespoons               – finely chopped red onion
  1. Soak chopped onion in water to reduce strength
  2. Combine the vinegar, water, sugar and pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and cook until reduced to 1/3 cup (about 10 minutes). Remove from the heat and cool
  3. Place the cucumber slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Mix well. Leave for one hour to drain.
  4. Place unrinsed cucumber slices on several layers of paper towels, cover with additional towels. Let stand for 5 minutes, pressing down occasionally.
  5. Add drained chopped onion into the cooled dressing.
  6. Combine cucumbers and dressing in a medium bowl and toss well.
  7. Sprinkle with finely chopped peanuts (optional)

This is my version of Lindas Cucumber Salad – View original recipe at www.LindasFavorites.com

Share