Sunday 2 December 2012

A little Asian...

Trying to be a little healthy as the foody festive season is around the corner...


 My make shift steamer...


Yummy steamed Salmon with a soy, veg noodle broth thing.. ha...


I always cook too much rice so the next day why not try something like i did... egg fried rice with some added veggies. So delicious and fresh.

Dessert Time...

Here are just a few sweet things i have made lately...


A triple chocolate cake i made for a 7 year olds party. Have to say was pretty impressed with myself.





oooo this was naughty just whipped cream, Oreos, sweet cherries and bananas. so naughty but it was for the kids as  a little treat.

Here is the orange and cardamon syrup cake, that i have made before but think i may be getting better. Yum for winter actually.

Tuesday 13 November 2012

Sesame Chicken


So i have never heard of Sesame Chicken before but apparently the kids i work with LOVE it so here it is there are loads of recipes online so id recommend going for one of them. But beware, in my eyes its a very sweet naughty (treat) dish

My Latest Creations.


Not sure what this is but i cooked some peppers, broccoli and mushrooms, then added soy and fish sauce. Then a lil boiling water placing a colander on top and steaming the salmon. 2 mins before salmon is cooked add glass noodles. Top with coriander and sliced spring onion. Scrummy!




This is a very pink beetroot and spinach risotto.


PINK!!

Sunday 4 November 2012

Halloween cup cakes.

So spooky pumpkins done and onto spooky cakes... 


Very impressed with the creativity of a 6 and a 10 year old and their pumpkins.


Delicious, dark yummy cake mix.

 

Brilliant scary Halloween icing. 


 And who ate them all????


250g butter
220g sugar
4 eggs (free range)
110g self raising flour
80g coco powder
Then add whatever goodies you fancy we did mini dark choc chips.


Monday 15 October 2012

Pheasant, yum yum winter is coming... game season.

A pheasant purchased from a local market for only £3.50. 



Plucked and gutted by my own fair hands (I'm still a bit of a novice) and transformed into a delicious Sunday roast for two.


In the pot wrapped in streaky bacon and rosemary ready to go with a little seasoning.


After around 45 mins with lid on then 10 mins with lid off my masterpiece is complete. 
Roast pots, green beans and sprouts on the side with the most scrummy gravy but adding flour to the meat juices and whisking then add veg stock and a table spoon of red onion marmalade and squeeze then roasted garlic from the clove which come from roasting with the potatoes and whisk all together over a simmer and there you have it. Serve it all up... and enjoy.

Thursday 20 September 2012

Buttery, garlicky, special Langoustine

Ok I went to the fish monger in search of lobster for some reason even though I zero money but had a 'I'll treat myself moment'. Turns out i couldn't treat myself that much so I purchased the scary langoustine. I am so glad i did.


When I'm world famous and rich i will have a few more than 2 on a plate but popped on top of linguine pasta it was a tasty treat dish.

Ingredients:
2 Langoustine (or how any you wish for or can afford).
50g ish Butter.
3/4 Cloves garlic
Flat leaf parsley
1/2 Red chilli
Linguine

I made this up so bare with the lack of exact amounts.

-Pop on the hob two pans of salted boiling water for pasta and fishes.
-Get prepped so finely slice or crush garlic into butter add a little of the parsley too and mix, mix, mix.
-Add pasta to water will take roughly 10 mins to cook.
-Put langoustine in boiling water for 3/4 mins, then remove  and when cooled a tad, butterfly then as in photo (cut them not all the way through but just so you can open them up to expose the meat).
-Blob and spread the garlic butter over the meat and pop under the grill for a couple of mins.
-Drain pasta and add a good glug of olive oil, as much finely chopped chilli as you like and a large handful of roughly chopped parsley.
-Take langoustine out and plate your dish and enjoy your treat!

I actually added little bits of smoked salmon and cream into the pasta that I found in the fridge to juzsh it up a little.


Baked Cheese cake

This was my first attempt at cheese cake so went for the baked option and YUM! if i do say so myself.


One to try the children loved it with a few raspberries and creme fraiche.


Ingredients:
150g Butter
250g Digestive biscuits (crushed)
115g Caster sugar
3 Tablespoons corn-flour
(dont think i put this in ops)
900g Full fat cream cheese (naughty)
2 eggs (free range if pos)
115ml Double cream (again naughty) 
1 Vanilla pod (i used 1/2 teaspoon extract)
zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange.

-Preheat oven 180.
-Grease 24 inch tin.
-Mix crushed biscuits and melted butter together into bottom of tin and bake for 10 mins, remove and cool.
-Turn oven up to 200.
-Mix corn-flour and sugar together in bowl then add cream cheese and whisk until creamy.
-Beat in eggs.
-Gradually add cream until smooth.
- Then add vanilla and zesty zests.
-Pop delicious naughty creamy mixture into tin over biscuit base and shake a tad to level it out.
-Pop into oven and cook until the top is golden brown and the edges are set.
-Allow to cool then put in fridge.
(try and wait till it is nice and cool as it will be even more scrummy, ENJOY!)




Friday 17 August 2012

River Cottage Canteen.


After a gorgeous camping (staying in my boyfriends lovely white transit van) holiday in Devon, as a birthday treat I was taken to River Cottage Canteen.



 You may now see where i got my razor clam inspiration from. This starter was AMAZING as was the rest of the meal. Which was washed down with refreshing summery Elder-flower champagne.


I was so into my food I forgot to take a photo of my delicious main course of pollock.



But what a scrummy end to my pre birthday meal. My favourite of vanilla panna cotta with crunchy topping, black currants and gooseberries. Yum. While Turner couldn't wait to tuck into his choc 
brownie. I wouldn't know how amazing it was as I didn't get a taste. I blinked and it was gone! Good sign! 



All topped off with a lovely cuppa however not sure i had enough sugar for just me?!
Well done River Cottage I have waited a long time to visit you and I was not at all disappointed. Cannot wait to return soon! 

Tuesday 14 August 2012

Delicious Razor Clams

Its been a while since my last post but what can I say apart from SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!!!! 
But at last a weekend of bliss waltzing around my local Saturday market and decided on trying out razor clams. I have always wanted to give them a go and as a birthday treat I was taken to River Cottage deli and tasted them (yum yum) I thought to give them a go. Once home with my razor clams I became a little nervous. 
But look at the result I was rather pleased...




Not the best photo but I was rather hungry.
The clams were easy to cook or how I did them anyway here is how;

-Start off by cutting up spring onions, garlic and parsley add these to a fry pan and cook until soft but no colour. 
-Add water to half way up pan with 3 tbsp sugar and a got dollop of butter and allow to bubble and boil until nearly all the liquid is gone. The remove from heat. 
-Place some butter and a splash of water in a fry pan heat it up on a medium heat, throw in the rinsed clams and place on lid.
-Allow to cook a little like other clams or mussels for around 5-8 mins remove.
-Take the clam meat out of the shells and remove the flappy, grey/brown bits so you are left with the round, tube like white meat. 
-Slice the clam meat and place into the spring onion pan warm through the sauce and clams for around 1-2 mins and add a large knob of butter. Allow to melt and serve!

I served mine with some lovely summery chilled peas, shelled broad beans topped with chilli and garlic with a good helping of olive oil, salt and pepper. And ribbon raw courgettes topped with garlic and olive oil.

Try this it is very easy and so tasty, quick before summer vanishes again..!

Sunday 15 July 2012

Yummy flowers


The children and I made a crack at the city garden and what a success, edible flowers(Nasturtiums)they love them.

And look how pretty they are...


Pop them leaves and flowers into salads to add a little pretty bitterness. 

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Orange and Cardamon Cake.

Ok I think this is the best cake I have made so far... I say try every recipe but this one is a keeper and the children love it especially with vanilla ice cream in this warm weather.







Monday 28 May 2012

Home-made Pizza.

What a treat for both me and the children. Kids get to cook and eat pizza and i get to have a evening off  just the odd help and of course clearing up but all in all a fab idea, so give this one a go. 





Hannah tucking into her creation...


I get the left over dough and pop as many toppings as possible on top, salami, asparagus, goats cheese, olives and basil yum yum.

Pizza Dough Ingredients:
4g Dry active yeast.
120ml Warm water.
170g Strong bread flour (plain is best).
2g White sugar.
2g Salt.
15ml Olive oil.


-Place water and yeast in a bowl (or food processor with blunt blade in) and leave for 10 mins, until nice and creamy.
-Add all dry ingredients and oil and mix until it forms a nice dough.
-Scoop out dough and pop on well floured surface.
- Divide into 2 or 3 balls and roll out into a thin pizza base.
- Smear on a thin layer of tomatoe puree and then add whatever toppings take your fancy.
-Pop in oven for about 10 mins and there we are, delicious home-made pizza.


Thursday 24 May 2012

Choc and Beetroot Brownies.


Delicious, moist and can almost convince yourself that they are good for you due to the beetroot content ha. Enjoy.


I grated the beetroot so you can see it clearly and it adds texture. The children liked these but you do eat most things if you think beetroot my cause a few issues just puree it.


Taken from good ol' Hugh F-W recipe.

Ingreidents:
250g butter.
250g Cooking Choc, broken into pieces.
3 eggs.
250g Caster sugar.
pinch of salt.
150g Self raising flour.
250g Beetroot, grated or pureed.


-Pre-heat oven to 160/180.
-Pop choc and butter in oven proof bowl and place over saucepan with simmering water in it, and stir till choc and butter have melted into a yummy mess.
-Whisk together eggs and sugar in large mixing bowl until creamy.
-Add choc mix into egg and sugar and stir/ fold until smooth.
- Add flour and salt.
-Finally mix in the beetroot.
-Pop mixture into a well greased tin and place in the oven.
-Remove from oven when they have a cracked top and still a little gooey inside. -Leave to cool then tip out and cut into little squares.

ENJOY! 

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Kandis' Carrot and Cinnamon Cake

A delicious easy to to bake carrot cake (with no eggs). It almost lasted a the whole day but not quite.


 Who could resist giving kiddies vegetables in a cake... Brilliant.


A sprinkling of pumpkin seeds on top before its popped in the oven,  as they are full of many forms of goodness. Again another healthy reason to bake a cake!

Ingredients:
225g Plain wheat-meal flour
( I did 1/2 wheat-meal, 1/2 plain white).
1 tbsp ground cinnamon.
1/2 tbsp baking powder.
110g butter.
80g runny honey.
30g golden syrup.
110g sugar(brown if possible).
225g (roughly 4 
topped and tailed grated carrots).

Pre- heat oven to 180`c.
Mix flours, cinnamon and baking powder in large bowl.
Melt butter, honey, syrup and sugar in a saucepan. Once all melted and mixed together into a gooey deliciousness, pour into bowl with flour etc.
Mix well then add the grated carrot.
Pour mixture into a well greased loaf tin and if you want sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and pop into the oven for around 10-15 mins.
The cake is ready onced turned a lovely golden brown and if you place a knife into the middle of the cake it should come out just clean with a little moistness.
Enjoy!..



Monday 14 May 2012

Wild Garlic Pesto

Wild Garlic (Ramsons) Pesto is a winner every time, whether its mixed into pasta, added to Bolognese or smeared on top of chicken. It only takes minutes to make.



 Wild Garlic growing in my Grandmothers woods.


Flowering Wild Garlic, these beautiful white flowers are a extra special garlic touch to any salad.


A large handful bunch is enough for one small jars worth of pesto.


End result a yummy Jar of home-made fresh and healthy pesto.

Ingredients:
Wild garlic.
Rapeseed oil (or olive oil).
Pine nuts or pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.

Recipe:
One of the easiest recipes with huge results.
-Collect or buy (as i saw it at Broadway market, London the other day) a large handful/bunch of wild garlic and pop it into a food processor.
-Add olive oil while food processor is on until the right consistency.
-Pour in nuts/ seeds and season.
-Spoon out into a sterilised jar and seal.


You can make pestos with most leafy, tasty herbs in the same way however, I would add a couple of cloves of garlic. Enjoy.


Tuesday 24 April 2012

Lovely, Hearty Bean and Chorizo Pie.

 This went down a treat I didn't even get a portion. Nice and easy as well as healthy. 






Ingredients: 
-Leeks.
-Onion.
-Garlic.
-Courgette.
-Carrot.
-Chorizo.
-Vegtable stock cube.
-Rosemary, thyme and any other herbs.
-Tin of chic peas.
-Tin of butter beans.
-Puff pastry.
-Egg.

Start off by softening the onions and garlic in a large sauce pan with olive oil and a little butter. Then add the rest of the vegetables and chorizo and cook for around 5 to 10 mins on a medium heat. Meanwhile boil the kettle and mix stock cube and boiling water together. Add the stock to the pan covering the vegetables plus about a thumbs height extra along with the herbs. Leave to simmer for around 10 mins, ( you can use this as a stew if you wish and serve with mash pots or couscous). While the filling is gently bubbling away roll out the pastry big enough to cover the top of the chosen pie dish and beat the egg. Add the filling from the pan into the pie dish and brush the top edge of the dish with the egg. Placed rolled pastry on top and brush with egg. Pop into the oven (around 200) and cook till top is golden.
As you can see my recipes are all about you guessing the quantities its all for you to add your own likes and dislikes so add or take away anything you think would work for you and your family. 

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Moroccan Leaving Feast.


I was leaving my little Norfolk village in search of the bright lights of the big city. This is what I decided on as my last supper (so to say) lamb tagine.
My first attempt at a tagine and yum! Everyone should give it a go its sooo much easier than I ever thought.
Tagine Ingredients:
-Onions.
-Garlic.
-Cinamon, cumin, ginger. 
- Lamb shoulder, 
(cut into sizeable pieces will fall
 off the bone during cooking).
-1 Mild red chilli.
-Vegtable stock.
-Dried apricots. 
-De-stoned prunes.
-Add a few peppers, pots or veg if you fancy.
-Coriander.
Quantities are so variable depending on how many you are feeding so just use your judgement.

Pop all ingredients, (including the chilli kept whole) in a large sauce pan and cover with stock and simmer with lid on until meats starts coming away from the bone ( roughly 2.30hrs) add more stock if starts to dry out. Then add prunes and a apricots continue to cook with the lid off until liquid has reduced into a sweet almost syrup sauce. Finish with a topping of chopped coriander.
Serve with couscous containing sultanas and seeds for a little crunch. 
A sure yummy tummy filler and kids love it too.