Recipe for the Spice of life

Happy New Year Foodies. Hope you all a fantastic Christmas and are facing the New Year with a fistful of positive thoughts and a desire to eat healthier & save money.

Hopefully, the recipe I am going to give you below will not only help you to get creative with some vegetables, but it may also help you save money.

To the basic recipe, which is gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and vegan, you can add whatever leftovers you may have.  You could add cooked chicken, beef, lamb, pork if you are meat lovers. For the Pesco-vegetarians among us you could add, fish, canned or fresh, or sea food.  Change the veg if you like and stir in a couple of table spoons of crunchy peanut butter to give a Satay like flavour. Variations are endless. TRY IT.

BASIC RECIPE. Serves 4.  GF/DF/V/Vegan.   Time taken 20mins + Cooking. Varies on Veg used & size of chunks.  ALLERGENS IN BOLD.

The video clip above gives yo a view of the different cooking stages.

2. Tbspns Olive Oil

2. Large Garlic Cloves, peeled  chopped

1 Large Red Onion, Peeled & finely sliced

2 Fresh Chillies, Finely Sliced. ( Seeds removed if you like less heat)

2cm Fresh Ginger, Peeled & finely chopped

2 Tbspns Tandoori Spice Mix

1 Tbspn Ground Coriander

2. Large Parsnips, Peeled & Cut into chunks

2. Med Pots, Peeled & Cut into chunks

1 Large Aubergine, Halved & Salted for 20 mins ( Removes the bitter juices)

400 ml Can Chickpeas, drained & rinsed

4, Leftover chopped soft Fresh Tomatoes or a Tin of Tomatoes

Seasoning

Chopped Coriander.

Salting Aubergines

METHOD.

Heat the oil in a large pan on the hob over a medium heat.  Add the chilli, ginger & onion & fry for 5 mins. Add the potatoes & parsnips & sir fry for a further 5 mins.

Stir in the ground coriander & the Tandoori Spice & Stir Fry for a further 5mins. Add the tomatoes. Bring to the boil, partially cover & simmer until the veg are soft.

5 mins before the end of cooking, stir in the chopped garlic & the rinsed, salted aubergine, which has been cut into chunks & the Chickpeas.

Season to taste. Sprinkle on the chopped Coriander.

Serve with warm naan bread,  thick Greek yoghurt, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds & lime pickle. Alternatively served with boiled rice or pearled spelt.

This dish is even better, reheated the next day & is equally delicious served cold as a lunch box salad.

If you would like a cookery lesson on a 1 to 1 basis, or a group demonstration, find out more on our Cookery Tuition Website  >>  Cookery Lessons

Happy Eating.

 

 

 

 

 

Waste not. Want not.

LEFT OVER TURKEY OR VEGETABLE SPICY STIR FRY.

This recipe is ideal for using up left overs from the Christmas table. Any left over meat will do.  If you prefer vegetarian leave out the meat & see suggestions below.

A plump juicy bird.

Add left over meat at the end of the recipe

Serves 2.    Time taken Prep 20mins Cooking 10mins, Gluten & Dairy Free. Vegetarian if you replace the meat with, cooked pulses (chickpeas) or add chopped aubergine chunks (salted for 20mins & drained) with the onion.  ALLERGENS IN BOLD

INGREDIENTS.

Leftover Turkey, Pork etc sliced into thin strips.

1, Red Onion Peeled & Thinly sliced.

4, Celery Stalks, Thinly sliced.

1, small fresh chilli, finely chopped

1/2inch Fresh Ginger,finely chopped

1, Stalk of Lemon Grass, Outer removed & finely chopped.

1, Large Red Pepper, deseeded & cut into strips

2, cloves of smoked Garlic, peeled & crushed

1, tbspn Curry Powder

2, tbspns Sweet Chilli Jam. (Pot of What, Homemade in the Cotswolds is to die for www.potofwhat.co.uk )

1, Vegetable Stock Cube.

3, tbspns Unsalted Cashew Nuts

2, tbspns Flame raisins. (May contain sulphites)

METHOD.

1.  In a large wok heat 2tbspns Ground Nut or Rapeseed Oil.

2.  ( If you are omitting the meat stir fry the Aubergine)

3.  Lower the heat slightly add the lemongrass, ginger, chilli, celery & onion. Continue to stir fry for 2mins.

4.  Stir in the curry powder & crumbled stock cube, fry 1min. If using cooked leftovers add now.)

5.  Add the Chilli jam, smoked garlic, nuts, sultanas, & red pepper. Continue to stir fry for a further 2 mins until piping hot.

NOTE: If you like a more moist dish, add a couple of tablespoons of boiling water.

Serve with wholegrain basmati rice, noodles, pearled spelt or as a filling for baked Sweet Potatoes.

Get creative cookies. Let me know how it goes, leave a comment or ask a question.

 

Get Stuffing.

The season to be jolly is rapidly approaching, so I thought in the run up to Christmas & throughout January I will share with you some of my recipes, hopefully to inspire you and also to help you #loveyourleftovers.

This week, its STUFFING. Three recipes to help you add a different way to “Stuff that bird”.

Always keep in mind that stuffing can be used in numerous ways.   Try stuffing different vegetables & baking them.  A good hearty stew, either with meat, poultry or vegetables can be turned into a flavoursome dish with the addition of some homemade stuffing balls, dropped into the pan 30 mins before the end of the cooking time. A healthier option to dumplings.

APRICOT & PISTACHIO STUFFING  *

50g Butter or Olive oil

1 Large Onion, peeled & finely chopped

2, Stalks Celery, Finely chopped

150g Dried Apricots, chopped

200g Breadcrumbs,

Grated rind & juice of 1 Orange

150g Pistachio Nuts, Shelled & chopped

Chopped, Fresh Parsley & Thyme

Chicken Stock or White wine.

Seasoning.

METHOD:

Heat the oil & better in a pan & fry onion & celery until golden.

Put the remaining ingredients in the pan & mix well until all ingredients are combined.

If you fell the mixture is to dry, add a little stock or white wine.

 

SWEET POTATO & LIVER STUFFING   *

1kg Sweet Potato, freshly cooked

50g Butter Softened

1 Large Onion, peeled & finely grated

Liver from the Turkey, chopped

2 Eggs, beaten

2 Tbspns Chopped fresh, Parsley

1 Tbspn Chopped fresh Sage

Sprinkle of Chilli Flakes, or more according to taste,

Seasoning

METHOD:

Mash the potatoes finely, add all remaining ingredients & mix well. Leave until cold before using.

 

SAVOURY RICE STUFFING.  *

1 Large Onion, peeled & chopped

1 Large Yellow Pepper, deseeded & finely chopped

100g Smoked bacon lardons

1 Tbspn Olive oil

2 Large Tomatoes, skinned & chopped

Finely chopped Basil & Oregano

200g boiled brown basmatti  Rice (cooked weight)

Seasoning to taste.

METHOD:

Heat the oil in a pan & slowly fry the onion, bacon & pepper until the onion is golden.

Remove from heat & stir in the rest of the ingredients until well combined.

Leave until cold before using.

*   Food Hygiene. Always remember when making stuffing in advance, to cover & store in the fridge until needed, especially those containing raw meat or rice.

Leg or Breast?

Nice big bird

Left over Salad

 

 

Don’t fritter it Frittata it.

In today’s world none of us have money to fritter away, yet we frequently throw away food.

The media and supermarkets tempt us  with new products on a daily basis, prompting us to disregard the food already lurking in our fridges and buy yet another product. Fine for them, more money into their already swelling coffers, but not so good for us.

We are being lured into an ever increasing circle of wasting food, – our money – and in many cases eating unhealthy, processed food stuffs which contain little, or no nutritional value.

In the time it takes to open a packet and microwave a container you can whip up a nutritious Frittata and top it with what ever takes your fancy, or those leftovers from the fridge. Add some salad or veg and tuck in.

This recipe is equally good served both hot or cold. Good cut in wedges for a picnic or the kids lunchboxes, Place inside a chunk of Granary bread for a giant sandwiches.

The recipe below is for a basic Cheese and Tomato Frittata. (Pictured above)  But the method is the same for any of the suggested ingredients listed below.

Cavolo Nero & Mozzarella Frittata

Serves 4-6       Gluten Free.   Time taken 20 mins.

Equipment:  Frying pan.   Pre-heated Grill.

INGREDIENTS:

Tbspn Olive or Rapeseed oil.

8 Large Free range eggs.   Beaten together.

Seasoning.

Leftover veg, meat, fish, olives, anchovies etc

Cheese or cheeses of your choice.

Garlic & chopped fresh herbs. Optional.

METHOD:

Heat a large frying pan with the oil, over a med/high heat.

Halve 4 Large soft tomatoes, fry lightly, cut side up.

When brown turn the tomatoes over fry for a further minute.

Pour the beaten, seasoned eggs over the tomatoes, scraping  and lifting the edges to allow the unset egg run underneath.

When set to your liking, remove from the heat, scatter with 175g of cheese & grill until melted.

If liked scatter with chopped raw garlic & fresh herbs. Serve either hot or cold

Until next time foodies. Happy, Healthy Eating.

Glutton for punishment.

Courgettes, Courgettes, Courgettes

I know, you’ve spent all that back breaking time in the garden, tilling the soil, weeding and watering, proudly growing your own food and what do you end up with???

You glutton for punishment you. You end up with a glut!! Ok, those first pickings where a joy. Boasting to your friends over Sunday lunch served with your home grown veg, but after the fourth meal served with a side of courgettes you are begining to have had enough.

Let me see if I can help you with your problem. Below I have given you a couple of recipes and a few suggestions on what you can turn your excess of courgettes into.

COURGETTE & CARROT SALAD.  GF/ DF/ V   Serves 4-6 Allergens: Nuts

4, Large Courgettes, Very thinly sliced. ( Use a mandolin )

2, Large Carrots, Scrubbed and either thinly sliced or cut into match sticks.

8, tbspns Home made french dressing.

Combine the above together in a large serving bowl & allow to stand for a few hours.

When ready to serve add:

100g Pitted Black Olives

100g Pine nuts

Large hand full of fresh oregano, chopped

Sprinkle over:

100g Shaved Parmesan cheese.

Serve as a light lunch with crusty homemade granary bread, as a starter or as a side dish to accompany a meal.

If you have a fancy for some hot courgettes

Heat

1 tbspn Rapeseed oil in a wok

Add

4 Chunky sliced Courgettes

2, Cloves Garlic, Crushed

Handful of  Mint & Lemon Thyme finely chopped

Shake to coat the veg. Cover & cook over a medium heat, for 5 mins shaking occasionally

Serve sprinkled with lemon juice, chopped mint & lemon thyme & seasoning.

Other suggestions you may want to try:

Courgette & Feta Fritters

Courgette Soup.

Ratatoullie

Stuffed Courgettes

Courgette & Mushroom Fritatta

Courgette & Oregano Jelly. Lovely with Lamb

Well guys. That’s all for now, until next time when the subject of gluts will be tomatoes.