Jamie Oliver Recipes

[jglass]

Ploughman's Sandwich

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

Olive oil
1 red onion, cut into thick slices through the root
6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
8 thick slices Raisin and Rosemary bread
A couple of knobs butter
1 curly leaf lettuce
225g Strong Cheddar Cheese, thickly sliced

Method

To make the onion marmalade, heat a little oil in a pan, throw in the onion and
leave on a low heat to cook down slowly, adding a little water if needed. When
soft add the balsamic vinegar and continue to cook for a few minutes. Season the
marmalade to taste. Spread the Raisin and Rosemary Bread with butter and make
up each sandwich with lettuce leaves, onion marmalade, a couple of slices of
Cheddar and seasoning.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 756 calories, 49 g fat.

4
Rosemary - Skewered Buffalo Mozzarella Parcels

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

100ml extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 pack rosemary skewers
1 ready to bake ciabatta, torn or cut into equal sized pieces to the mozzarella
2 x 125g packs Buffalo mozzarella, torn into small pieces
2 x 100g packs smoked pancetta
100g rocket leaves
Juice of 1 lemon

Method

Preheat the grill.
Pour the olive oil into a bowl and add the crushed garlic and a few rosemary
leaves. Marinate the ciabatta and mozzarella for about 5 minutes in the olive oil
and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Wrap a strip of pancetta
around a piece of mozzarella and ciabatta and push onto the rosemary stalks you
should have about 4 cheesy balls per stalk. Place under the preheated grill
and grill for about 5-6 minutes, turning once, until crisp and golden. Dress the
rocket with a good squeeze of lemon juice and eat with your cheesy balls!

Nutrition Info (per serving): 728 calories, 53 g fat.

5
Apple Fritters

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4
Ingredients

2 eating apples, peeled and cored, cut into slice
25g icing sugar
75g self-raising flour
1 medium egg
100ml milk
15g butter, melted
¼ x 5ml spoon vanilla extract
Oil for deep-frying
2 x 15ml spoons caster sugar

Method

Sprinkle the apple slices with a 5ml spoon of the icing sugar. Set aside. Sift the
flour and remaining icing sugar together in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and
beat in the egg and milk. Stir in the butter and vanilla. Heat the oil in a shallow
pan to a depth of 2cm. To fry, dip each piece of apple in the batter then cook on
each side in the hot oil until golden brown, drain on kitchen paper. Dredge with
caster sugar before serving hot, with ice cream.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 33 calories, 2 g fat.

6
Baby Carrots

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 6

Ingredients

500g bunch of baby carrots
1 tablespoon sugar
Sea salt
Small pinch of cumin (optional)
50g butter

Method

Leave some of the stalk on and wash the carrots. Put into a saucepan with water
just to cover, add in the sugar and salt. These ingredients penetrate the carrots to
make then soft and sweet. Cook until tender. A little pinch of cumin is fantastic
with this. Serve with butter.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 103 calories, 6 g fat.

7

Baked Chicken Breasts with Cinnamon Basil

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts skin removed
1 bunch spring onions, chopped
2 tablespoons clear honey
4 tablespoons soy sauce
2 red chillies, deseeded and chopped
2 teaspoons, preserved or fresh ginger, finely chopped
20g bunch cinnamon basil
250g pack egg noodles
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 courgette, cut into long, thin strips using a peeler
1 red pepper, finely sliced
2 bok choi, sliced

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°F, 400°C, Gas Mark 6.
Score the chicken breasts in a criss-cross pattern to about 1 cm deep. Mix all the
marinade ingredients together in a bowl and pour over the chicken breasts.
Leave to marinate in the mixture for at least 30 minutes, or longer if possible.
Soak the noodles in boiling water for 1 minute or until separated. Scrape the
marinade from the chicken breasts and reserve it. Heat the sesame oil in a pan
until very hot and fry the chicken breasts in the oil for a couple of minutes until
golden. Add the sesame seeds and toast for 30 seconds until browned slightly.
Throw the courgette, pepper and bok choi into the same pan with the rest of the
marinade, then stir in the drained noodles. Season well and cover with foil. Bake
for 20 minutes in the preheated oven.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 723 calories, 18 g fat.

 

[jglass]

8
Baked Mushrooms

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 min
Serves: 4


Ingredients

8 large flat mushrooms, wiped and stalks removed
1 bunch spring onions, sliced
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
A few sprigs fresh thyme leaves
250g pack Taleggio
Fresh rocket
Juice of 1 lemon
Petrolo olive oil

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6.
Lay the mushrooms on a large baking tray and sprinkle with the onions, garlic and
thyme. Slice the Taleggio thinly and use to top the mushrooms. Combine the
breadcrumbs with the parsley in a bowl and sprinkle over. Bake for 15-20
minutes or until breadcrumbs are brown and the mushrooms are cooked through.
Serve with a rocket salad dressed with lemon juice and Petrolo oil. Alternatively,
serve the baked mushrooms on toasted ciabatta.


Nutrition Info (per serving): 271 calories, 22 g fat.

9

Banana Pancakes

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 6


Ingredients

3 large eggs
115g plain flour
1 x 15ml spoon (heaped) baking powder
140ml milk
Pinch of salt
2 knobs butter
3 x 5ml spoons caster sugar
4 bananas
Crème fraîche

Method

Separate the eggs, putting the whites in one bowl and the yolks in another.
Combine the plain flour, baking powder and milk with egg yolks, and mix until it
forms a smooth, thick batter. Whisk the whites with salt until they form stiff peaks.
Fold these whites into the batter -it is now ready to use. Heat a non-stick frying
pan over a moderate heat. Pour some of your batter into the pan, and fry for a
couple of minutes until it starts to look golden and firm. Loosen with a spatula,
and either turn or flip the pancake over. Continue frying until golden, then stack on
a plate. Repeat until all the mixture has been used. Melt the butter and sugar in a
separate pan over a low heat until it forms a caramel sauce -about 3 minutes.
Peel and cut the bananas lengthways, add them to the pan and cook gently until
they are golden, turning after a few minutes. Serve them on the pancakes topped
with a good spoonful of crème fraîche.
Great for a late breakfast or Sunday brunch. As a pudding, serve with a couple of
scoops of good vanilla ice cream.

10
Lamb Balti

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

400g casserole lamb
Zest and juice of 1 lime
500g Greek style yogurt
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 large sweet potato, washed but not peeled, but into 2cm cubes
200g green beans, snapped in half
150g Sundora sunsweet dates, cut in half
515g jar balti cooking sauce
284ml carton fresh vegetable stock
1 red chilli, finely chopped
1 small cucumber, deseeded and finely chopped
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
200ml tub crème fraiche
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
20g pack coriander

Method

To make the balti, marinate the lamb in the lime zest and juice and Greek style
yoghurt for 30 minutes. While that's doing, heat the oil in a wok and fry the sweet
potato cubes until just golden. Throw in the green beans and dates, and pour in
the jar of balti sauce and stock. Toss in the marinated lamb pieces and cook for
15-20 minutes over a moderate heat until cooked through. To make the raita, mix
the chilli, cucumber and lemon zest and juice with the crème fraiche, and season
to taste. The balti looks cool garnished with a sprig or two of fresh coriander, with
a bowl of the raita.
It's delicious served on some basmati rice, cooked according to pack instructions,
with naan bread.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 431 calories, 22 g fat.

11
Beef Stroganoff

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

4 x 175g fillet steaks
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
3 glugs of olive oil
2 knobs of butter
1 red onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
125g oyster mushrooms
120g shiitake mushrooms
3 tablespoons brandy
250ml fresh soured cream
1 gherkin, chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground
Black pepper

Method

Dust the steaks with the flour and paprika. Heat a pan and add half the oil and
butter. When the butter is foaming, sear the steaks in the pan -cook for 2
minutes each side and remove to a plate. To make the sauce, add the rest of the
oil and butter to the pan and gently fry the onion, garlic, thyme and mushrooms for
4 minutes. Add the brandy to the pan and simmer for 3 minutes. To finish the
sauce, add the soured cream, chopped gherkin and steaks. Heat through and
season to taste. Slice each steak thinly and spoon over the sauce.
Delicious served with rice and green beans.

12
Berry Pavlova

Serves: 8

Ingredients

6 medium egg whites
350g caster sugar (use vanilla sugar if possible)
2 tablespoons (30ml) vinegar – optional
2 tablespoons (30ml) corn flour – optional
Parchment / greaseproof paper
284ml carton of double cream / whipping cream
2 x 250g punnets strawberries
2 x 215g punnets raspberries

Method

Preheat oven to 140°C 275°F Gas Mark 1.
Whisk egg whites until very stiff then whisk in the sugar a teaspoon at a time
(don’t over whisk as the egg whites will go runny again). Blend the vinegar and
corn flour (these are optional but in using them you will get a slightly chewy centre
to the meringue), and fold into the mixture. Place the parchment / greaseproof
paper on 1 large or 2 smaller baking trays. Spoon the meringue mixture onto the
paper and spread it as you go to make 2 circles, each about 20cm in diameter (I
put a plate of about that size under the parchment as a guide and then remove it
when I’ve finished spreading out the mixture). Bake the meringues for about 1
hour, until firm. Allow to cool, and then carefully remove the paper. Whip the
cream. Wash the berries and hull the strawberries. Roughly squash 1 punnet of
the strawberries and add to the cream. Cut the rest in half and gently fold into to
the cream with the raspberries. Sandwich the 2 meringues with the berry cream
mixture just before serving. Don’t assemble too early as the cream melts the
meringue.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 374 calories, 17 g fat.

 

[jglass]

13
British Bangers

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

454g Chipolatas
20g bunch sage leaves
8 rashers of unsmoked streaky bacon
400g leeks, sliced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
275ml red wine
75g butter
10g fresh thyme
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 190ºC, 375ºF, Gas Mark 5.
Take the sausages on the string from the pack and wrap a sage leaf and a piece
of streaky bacon around the skin and in between each link. Place a large, flat pan
on the hob, add the sausages and cook until golden brown on all sides (about 810
minutes). Add the leeks and garlic, and sauté along with the sausages. Turn
up the heat to high and add the wine, butter and thyme, letting it bubble so that
the wine is reduced slightly. Place the pan in the oven for 20 minutes. This should
allow the gravy to thicken a little. The casserole should be seasoned carefully as
the bacon is quite salty.
Serve hot with root vegetables and mash.

Alternative
seasonal
mash
idea:
Peel and chop swede, potato, parsnip and
celeriac. Boil for 20-25 minutes until tender. Drain and mash with butter and
seasoning and serve in a bowl.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 625 calories, 46 g fat.

14
Brussel Tops with Rosemary Butter

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 6

Ingredients

250g butter
1 clove garlic
Juice of ½ lemon
1 sprig of rosemary, picked and chopped
1 fillet of anchovy, finely chopped (optional)
500g Brussel tops
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Mix the butter with the garlic, lemon juice, rosemary, anchovy and seasoning,
being careful with the salt if using, the anchovy is already quite salty. Cut away
any older leaves from the Brussel tops use the trimmed green leaves and the core
that can be cut in half. Place the leaves in a steamer over a pan of water or
another vegetable cooking (baby carrots), steam to perfection then add a good
knob of the rosemary butter, stir to coat with all the flavours. Any left over butter
can be saved in the fridge to use on anything like new potatoes.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 212 calories, 20 g fat.

15
Bun and butter pudding

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 6


Ingredients

600ml semi-skimmed milk
568ml double cream
1 vanilla pod
4 medium eggs
170g caster sugar
6 hot cross buns, sliced in half and spread with a knob of butter
3 tablespoons cognac
A handful of dried apricots, chopped
Zest of 1 orange
A little icing sugar

Method

Preheat the oven to 170°C, 325°F, gas mark 3.
For the custard base, bring the milk and cream just to the boil in a saucepan. Cut
the vanilla pod in half, scrape out the seeds and add to the pan. Whisk the eggs
with the sugar until pale, then whisk in the milk and cream mixture, removing the
vanilla pod shell. Dip the hot cross bun halves in the mixture, and then place in
an ovenproof dish. Drizzle over the cognac and sprinkle over the apricots and the
orange zest. Sieve the custard over, and leave it all to soak for at least 15
minutes. Place the dish in a roasting tin, half-fill the tin with hot water, then bake
the pudding for about 45 minutes. When cooked it will have a slight crust on top
but will still be slightly wobbly inside. Dust with the icing sugar and serve.

16


Cannellini Beans and Taste the difference Fougasse

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 1-2

Ingredients

½ x 410g can cannellini beans
½ - 1 clove garlic, peeled
A little virgin olive oil
A little white wine vinegar
Small bunch of summer savoury
Few slices of Fougasse

Method

Using a pestle and mortar or a fork, mash a large a large handful of canned
cannellini beans, add a little chopped garlic, and drizzle in extra virgin olive oil and
a splash of white wine vinegar. Mix well with a small bunch of chopped summer
savoury leaves.
Serve with griddled slices of fougasse.

17


Celeriac and Potato Gratin

Prep and cook time: 1 to 2 hours
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

1kg potatoes
1 large celeriac
1 onion
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
125g Cheddar cheese, to taste
568ml carton double cream
Handful flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method

Preheat the oven 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6.
Peel the potatoes and celeriac and slice as you like but about 1cm thick, finely
slice the onion. Place into an earthenware type-baking dish. Season generously.
Add in the garlic, 3/4 of the cheese and cream. With a spoon or your hand move
everything around to mix all the flavours. Sprinkle over the extra cheese and
chopped parsley and bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes.
I like to keep it in the dish and whack it in the middle of the table and tuck in.


Nutrition Info (per serving): 494 calories, 40 g fat.

 

[jglass]

18


Chicken Salad

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

1.3kg chicken
1 few black peppercorns and bay leaves
2 x 5ml spoons cumin seeds
Handful of almonds
2 x 15ml spoons whole milk natural yoghurt
3 x 15ml spoons mayonnaise
2 lemons, juiced and zested
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
20g pack of basil, torn
200g bag Fresh ‘n’ Ready continental four-leaf salad

Method

To poach the chicken, place in a large saucepan, cover with water, add the
peppercorns and bay leaves, and bring to a gentle simmer. Poach for around 40
minutes. If you can, leave it to cool in the liquid. Then take the chicken out of the
pan, remove the skin and shred the meat. Dry-fry the cumin and almonds in a hot
pan, and leave to cool. To make the dressing, mix the yoghurt, mayonnaise and
lemon zest and juice in a large bowl. Add the chicken, cucumber, cumin and
almonds with the torn basil.

Mix well and serve with the four-leaf salad.

Chef’s
tip:
To cool the chicken quickly, leave at room temperature for 20
minutes, add a handful of ice and put in the fridge.

19


Chocolate Brownies

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 12

Ingredients

60g Luxury Continental Belgian dark chocolate, broken into small pieces
3 tablespoons golden syrup
75g lard
2 large organic eggs
200g caster sugar
95g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of sea salt
125g shelled walnuts

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375°F, gas mark 5.
Grease a 28x18cm baking tin using butter or lard, then cut a square of
greaseproof paper to fit neatly in the bottom. Melt the chocolate in a small
saucepan with the syrup and lard over a low heat. Whist the eggs and sugar
together in a bowl until light in colour and texture. Add the melted chocolate
mixture, and sieve in the flour, baking powder, salt and walnuts. Stir and fold
together, being careful not to over-mix. Spread evenly into the prepared cake tin
and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 25-30 minutes or until a crust has
formed. Allow to cool slightly and then cut into squares.

20


Chocolate Fridge Cake

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 16

Ingredients

200g digestive biscuits
110g whole pecan nuts, roughly chopped
110g pistachio nuts, peeled
10 glace cherries
150g unsalted butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
200g Luxury continental Belgian dark chocolate

Method

Break the biscuits into small pieces directly into a large bowl. Add the pecans,
pistachio nuts and cherries, and mix together. Put the rest of the ingredients into
a separate bowl and place over a pan of simmering water until the butter and
chocolate have melted. Combine the biscuit mix with the chocolate mixture. Line
a 30x20cm plastic container with cling film, leaving plenty of extra cling film at the
edges to help turn the cake out later. Pour in the mixture, pressing down hard to
pack nicely, and then fold the cling film over the top. Leave in the fridge for a few
hours to firm up, then turn out and cut into chunky slices.
This cake can be kept in an airtight container for a few days, and it actually
improves in flavour!

21


Chocolate Pudding

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

3 rounded tablespoons cocoa powder
4 tablespoons boiling water
200g caster sugar
200g butter
3 large size eggs
200g self-raising flour
1 rounded teaspoon baking powder
100g mixed dried dates and apricots
75g flaked almonds
100g cooking chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken
100g butter
100g cooking chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
100g icing sugar
3 tablespoons milk

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375°F, Gas Mark 5.
Mix the cocoa powder with 4 tablespoons of boiling water, until smooth. In a
separate bowl, beat the sugar and butter until fluffy, add the cocoa mixture, eggs,
flour and baking powder. Mix well and fold in the dates, apricots, nuts and
chocolate pieces. Pour the mixture into the tins. Bake for approximately 20
minutes. Melt the chocolate topping ingredients in a bowl over some lightly
simmering water. Stir until well blended. When the pudding is cooked, remove
from the oven and pour over the chocolate sauce before serving.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 764 calories, 48 g fat.

22


Chocolate and Pear Tart

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4-6


Ingredients

1 pack fresh dessert short crust pastry
125g ground almonds
2 free range eggs
125g butter, softened
95g caster sugar
185g Luxury Continental Belgian dark chocolate, melted
3 conference pears, peeled, cored and quartered

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375°F, gas mark 5.
Roll out the pastry until 1/2 cm thick and use it to line a 24cm tart tin. Leave in the
freezer to rest for at least 20 minutes, or as long as you can. Bake the pastry for
around 10 minutes in the preheated oven, then remove, set aside, and reduce the
oven temperature to 170°C, 325°F, gas mark 3. Mix your almonds, eggs, butter
and sugar together, and stir in the melted chocolate while still warm. Pour the
mixture evenly into the pastry case. Press the pears into the chocolate and
almond mixture. Bake the tart for 45 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and
the chocolate and almond mixture is firm.
Serve warm with crème fraiche.

23

 

[jglass]

Christmas Pound Pudding

Prep and cook time: 2 hours +
Serves: 6

Ingredients

500g mixed dried fruit
100g dried dates, chopped
5cm piece preserved ginger or a 5ml spoon dried ginger
125g suet
Zest of 1 orange
125g plain flour
125g sugar
150g breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons brandy
Pinch of salt
1 medium size egg, beaten
150ml milk

Method

Grease a 1.5 litre pudding basin. Mix all the ingredients together except for the
egg and the milk. Add the beaten egg and milk and mix well. Put the mixture into
the basin, cover with aluminium foil or a cloth. Place in a large saucepan with
water halfway up the sides of the basin. Bring the water to the boil, put on a tight
fitting lid and simmer for 3 hours. Check occasionally remembering to carefully top
up with boiling water to stop it going dry.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 734 calories, 21 g fat.

24


Christmas Raspberry Trifle

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 6

Ingredients

135g pack raspberry jelly
A large Madeira cake
312g can mandarins, drained
2 x 125g punnets raspberries
6 tablespoons amontillado sherry
500g tub fresh custard
200ml double cream
1 tablespoon icing sugar
37g pack Maltesers

Method

First of all, make up the raspberry jelly following the instructions on the pack and
leave to set in the fridge for 2-3 hours or overnight. Select a big glass bowl, or 6
glass tumblers if you want to serve individual trifles. Trim the Madeira cake and
slice into 1cm thick squares or discs that will fit neatly in the bottom of your bowl
or glasses. Put the cake in the base of your bowl, or add 2 pieces to each glass.
Spoon the mandarins over the cake, sprinkle fresh raspberries over the
mandarins, and splash the sherry over the top so that it soaks through the fruit
into the sponge underneath. Now spoon over your custard, covering the fruit, and
gently top with the set jelly, chopped. Lightly whip the double cream with a
tablespoon of icing sugar until it forms soft peaks, but is still floppy, and spoon it
over the jelly.
Just before serving, bash up the bag of Maltesers with a rolling pin and sprinkle
the malty, chocolaty pieces over the top of your trifle.

25


Christmas Trifle

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 8

Ingredients

pack of 8 trifle sponges or one Swiss roll, sliced
1 punnet of fresh strawberries
A wine glass of Cointreau
135g pack strawberry jelly
135g pack orange jelly
600mls boiling water

1.2 litres milk
6 tablespoons sugar
2 x 35g sachets of strawberry blancmange
450g can mandarin orange segments
30g custard powder (enough to make 600mls)
284ml carton double cream
A little grated chocolate
Method

On the bottom of a good-sized glass bowl lay out the sliced sponge. Scatter over
the strawberries and drizzle with the Cointreau. Tear up the strawberry jelly
squares, put in a measuring jug and add 300mls of boiling water. Stir until
dissolved, add 300mls of cold water. Pour this over the sponge. Place the bowl in
the fridge and allow the jelly to set. Put a little milk into a separate bowl with 4
tablespoons of sugar and the sachets of blancmange and mix until dissolved.
Bring 600mls of milk to the boil and add to the blancmange mix. Stir and return to
the saucepan, stirring and whisking as you bring it back to the boil. Place the
blancmange back into the bowl and allow to cool back to blood temperature,
whisking occasionally. Pour over the previous layer of jelly. Allow the
blancmange layer to set properly in the fridge before scattering over the drained
mandarins. Make up the orange jelly in the same way as before. Allow it to cool
before pouring over the mandarins. Place back into the fridge and allow it to set.
Once set you can make the custard layer, using the remaining milk, sugar and the
custard powder. Make this up as you did the blancmange, allow to cool and pour
over the orange jelly. Whip up the double cream until you get soft peaks. Spoon
and spread over the custard and grate over the chocolate. How about that?

Nutrition Info (per serving): 606 calories, 23 g fat.

26


Christmas Vegetables

Prep and cook time: 1 to 2 hours
Serves: 6-8


Ingredients

1.5kg King Edward potatoes, peeled
1/2 bulb of garlic, separated into cloves and crushed with the back of a knife
20g pack fresh rosemary, separated into sprigs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons good quality olive oil
50g butter
2kg parsnips, peeled
2 tablespoons honey
20g pack fresh thyme, leaves only
1kg chantenay carrots
Zest of 1 orange

Method

Preheat your oven to 220°C, 425°F, gas mark 7.
For the potatoes, cut them in half and parboil for 10 minutes. Drain in a colander
and toss around to scuff up the outside of the spuds. Toss with the garlic cloves,
half of the rosemary, salt and pepper to taste, 4 tablespoons of the olive oil, and
30g butter in a large bowl. Arrange in one layer in a roasting tin and roast for 45
minutes until golden.
For the parsnips, cut them in half lengthways, parboil for 10 minutes and drain.
Toss the honey, time, salt and pepper to taste, 10g butter and 2 tablespoons of
oil. Lay the parsnips flat in a roasting tin in one layer, and roast for about 40
minutes until golden.
For carrots, scrub them, and put them in a pan, cover with cold water and add a
pinch of salt. Boil for about 15 minutes or until cooked. Meanwhile, finely chop the
remaining rosemary and orange zest together to mix. Drain the cooked carrots
and toss the remaining butter. Season to taste and sprinkle with the orange zest
and rosemary before serving.

 

[jglass]

Crispy Tortilla with Guacamole

Ingredients

1 pack of flour tortillas
3 green chillies
A bunch of thyme
Olive oil (preferably Petrolo oil)
3 ripe avocados
2 limes
2 bunches of fresh coriander
Salt and pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 200°C, gas mark 6.
While oven is heating, remove seeds from chillies, squeeze 2 limes, peel and
chop 3 avocados and roughly chop 2 bunches of fresh coriander.
Put them all in a blender, and once it's all blended until creamy, season with salt
and pepper and pour into a serving dish. Pound 1 bunch of thyme is a pestle and
mortar and a glug of olive oil. Brush the tortillas with the flavoured oil. Lay them
on baking tray (don't overlap them too much) season with salt & pepper. Bake for
10 mins until golden brown.
Leave them to cool and serve with guacamole.

28


Easter Lamb

Prep and cook time: 1 to 2 hours
Serves: 4

Ingredients

leg of lamb (about 2kg)
Sea salt and freshly ground
Black pepper
2 x 20g packs fresh mint
1 clove garlic, peeled
125ml Bianconi extra virgin olive oil
250ml chicken stock
400g new potatoes, sliced thickly
100g baby fennel, trimmed and cut in half lengthways
225g baby carrots, tops trimmed
110g baby leeks, trimmed
200g courgettes, sliced lengthways
250g fine or yellow beans, trimmed
150g asparagus, trimmed to 6cm lengths

Method

Preheat the oven to 220°C, 425°F, gas mark 7.
Score the lamb all over and season. Using a pestle and mortar, or in a food
processor, pound or blend the mint leaves with the garlic and seasoning until
smooth. Slowly add the olive oil and brush all over the lamb. Roast in the oven,
brushing with the oil regularly until the lamb is cooked.


Cooking times for the lamb:
pink: 10 minutes for every 450g plus 20 minutes.
Medium: 15 minutes for every 450g plus 20 minutes.
Well done: 20 minutes for every 450g plus 20 minutes.

Remove from the oven and allow to rest on a plate for 10 minutes. While the
meat is resting, remove the fat from the roasting tin. Add the stock to the tin and
make a light, tasty broth by boiling and dissolving all the goodness at the bottom.
Cook the potatoes in a large pan of boiling, salted water for 5 minutes. Add the
fennel and carrots and cook for a further 5 minutes. Then add the rest of the
vegetables and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Serve the vegetables in a shallow bowl with the lamb, sliced, on top and a little
broth and mint oil drizzled over.

29


Favourite Winter Salad

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

½ clove garlic
3 anchovies
200ml tub of crème fraîche
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ small loaf rustic bread
2 glugs of olive oil
Sea salt
4 little gem lettuce
2 handfuls watercress
1 fennel bulb
250g halloumi cheese, cut into 12 slices
1 pomegranate

Method

For the dressing, pound together, or finely chop the garlic and anchovies. Mix in
the crème fraîche, then the zest and juice of the lemon, and season with freshly
ground black pepper. Simple!
Preheat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, gas mark 6.
Tear the bread into rough pieces of about an inch or so and scatter into a roasting
tin. Drizzle the bread with a little olive oil, then toss with a good pinch of sea salt,
and bake for 10 minutes or until crunchy. Trim the bottoms of the little gems, and
then break up each one keeping the leaves whole. Give the watercress and
lettuce leaves a quick wash, then a dry in a salad spinner and lay on a large
serving plate. Cut the tops off the fennel and hang on to the feathery parts. Trim
the bottom of each bulb and discard the scruffy outer leaves. Cut the bulb in half
and slice as thinly as possible from the root to the tip, then add to the rest of the
leaves. Next, fry the slices of halloumi on both sides in a little olive oil until
golden, and then drain on kitchen paper. Add the halloumi and croutons to the
serving plate. Season, give the whole lot a gentle toss, and then drizzle over the
crème fraîche dressing. Chop the fennel tops and bash the pomegranate to get
the seeds out, and then scatter the fennel and seeds over the salad.

30

 

[jglass]

Fruit Smoothie

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 3-4


Ingredients

1 banana
2 ripe mangoes
400ml can Bart’s coconut milk
Zest and juice of 1 lime
Pinch of pounded cardamom seeds, with pods and husks removed
Handful ice cubes
A little lime zest
Freshly ground black pepper

Method

Peel and roughly chop the banana. Skin the mangoes, remove the stones and
roughly chop the flesh. Put the fruit in a food processor/liquidiser and blend
together really well with the rest of the ingredients.
Pour into a tall, chilled glass. Sprinkle over the lime zest and some pepper. Drink
straightaway.

Chef’s
tip:
Feel free to use any other fruit -whatever is in season. Also, if you
want a thinner smoothie, just add more ice.

31


Great British Fry-Up

Serves: 4

Ingredients

8 pork and leek sausages
2 tomatoes - cut in half
1 tin of baked beans
8 rashers smoked dry-cured back bacon
4 field mushrooms
6 eggs, cracked into a bowl
Thick sliced bread for toasting
A knob of butter for toast
Freshly ground black pepper and Maldon sea salt

Method

Preheat grill to high, set the oven to 100°C and put in 4 plates.
Using a nice large tray put the sausages, tomatoes (cut side up) and mushrooms
under the grill, about 5cm from the heat and cook for around 15 mins, turning the
sausages once or twice. After this time add to the tray the bacon and black
pudding and leave until the bacon is cooked and crispy. Put the baked beans in a
saucepan and warm gently. Put a non-stick frying pan on a low heat. Add a knob
of butter and the eggs with some salt and pepper and stir gently until just
scrambled and cooked.
Put the bread down in the toaster, arrange the eggs, sausages, tomatoes and
beans with the bacon and mushrooms on the plates and when the toast pops up,
serve with tomato ketchup, HP sauce and a pot of tea.

32


Grilled Sausage Sticks

Ingredients

1 pack of pork and leek sausages
4 long sticks of rosemary
A bunch of fresh thyme
A pot of natural yoghurt
Half a cucumber
Salt and pepper

Method

Take a pack of pork and leek sausages and remove their skins. Skewer the
sausages with a stick of rosemary. Put a handful of fresh thyme in a pestle and
mortar and bash it up. Roll the sausages in the thyme and stick them on the BBQ
or under the grill.
Grate some cucumber in a pot of yoghurt.
Dip in your sausages.


33


Kedgeree

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 6

Ingredients

2 eggs
680g undyed smoked haddock fillets, pin bones removed
2 fresh bay leaves
170g long grain or basmati rice
110g pure butterghee
Thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, grated
1 medium onion or 1 bunch of spring onions, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
2 heaped tablespoons curry powder
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
2 tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
Juice of 2 lemons
2 good handfuls of fresh coriander
1 red chilli, finely chopped

Method

Boil the eggs for 10 minutes. Hold under cold running water. Put the fish and bay
leaves in a shallow pan with enough water to cover. Bring to the boil, cover, and
simmer for about 5 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from pan and set
aside. When cool enough to handle, remove skin from fish, flake into chunks and
set aside. Cook the rice in salted water for about 10 minutes and drain. Refresh
in cold water, drain again, and leave in the fridge until needed. Melt the
butterghee in a pan over a low heat. Add the ginger, onion and garlic. Soften for
about 5 minutes, and then add the curry powder and mustard seeds. Cook for a
further few minutes, and then add the chopped tomatoes and lemon juice.
Quarter the eggs. Add fish and rice to pan and gently heat through. Add the eggs,
coriander and chilli and stir gently. Place in a warm serving dish.
Mix the chopped coriander and natural yoghurt, and serve with the kedgeree.

34


Lemon Chicken Salad

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 litre chicken or vegetable stock
Black peppercorns
2 lemons zested and juiced
4 free range chicken breasts
2 tablespoons Natural yoghurt
3 tablespoons Mayonnaise
A handful of Almonds
1 teaspoon ground Cumin seeds
1 Cucumber, peeled and finely diced
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Poach the chicken by bringing a large pan of stock to the boil and adding the
peppercorns and zest from 1 lemon. Poach for 15 minutes and leave to cool in
the fridge in the liquid.
Mix the rest of the ingredients together and add the chopped chilled chicken and
serve.

 

[jglass]

Lemon Linguini

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 6


Ingredients

455g dried Linguini
Juice of 3 lemons
75ml olive oil
125g Parmesan, freshly grated
2 handfuls fresh basil, leaves finely chopped
1 handful Rocket

Method

Cook the spaghetti in a generous amount of boiling salted water, then drain
thoroughly and return to the saucepan. Meanwhile beat the lemon juice with the
olive oil, and then stir in the Parmesan until thick and creamy. The Parmesan
melts when mixed with the pasta. Season, and add more lemon juice if needed.
Add the sauce to the linguini and shake the pan to coat each strand of pasta with
the cheese, finish by stirring in the chopped basil and rocket.

36


Lemon Meringue Pie

Prep and cook time: 1 to 2 hours
Serves: 4-6


Ingredients

1 pack of fresh dessert short crust pastry
110g caster sugar
3 tablespoons cornflour
225ml cold water
Zest of 2 lemons
Juice of 3 lemons
80g butter
4 egg yolks
4 egg whites
220g caster sugar

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375°F, gas mark 5.
Roll out pastry and use it to line a 20cm pie dish. Put in the freezer for 20 minutes,
or for as long as you can. Remove from freezer, prick the bottom with a fork and
bake for 10 minutes. Remove, set aside and reduce oven temperature to 150°C,
300°F, gas mark 2. To make the lemon filling, mix the sugar and corn flour with a
little of the water to make a loose paste. Heat the rest of the water and bring to
the boil with the lemon zest. When it is boiling, add the corn flour and sugar mix,
whisking until it becomes thick. Take off the heat and stir in the lemon juice, butter
and egg yolks. Whisk well until smooth, then pour into the pastry case.
For the meringue, whisk the egg whites until firm, and gradually add the sugar
until glossy and thick. Pour over the lemon filling and bake for 45 minutes until it is
crisp on the outside and squidgy in the middle.

37


Lemon Pasta

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 6

Ingredients

500g dried linguine
Juice 3 lemons
90ml olive oil
125g grated Parmesan
2 x 20g packs fresh basil, leaves picked and finely chopped
50g bag wild rocket

Method

Cook the linguine as per pack instructions, then drain thoroughly and return to the
saucepan. In the meantime combine the lemon juice and the olive oil, then stir in
the parmesan until you achieve a thick and creamy sauce. Add the sauce to the
linguine and shake the saucepan to coat each strand of pasta with the sauce.
Finally stir in the basil and rocket.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 509 calories, 21 g fat.

38


Lemon, Lime and Peppermint Sorbet

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

200g sugar
275ml water
Zest and juice of 5 limes
Zest and juice of 5 lemons
1 bunch of peppermint

Method

Place the sugar and water in a pan bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool for a while. Zest and squeeze your limes
and lemons and chop your peppermint. Mix everything together in a plastic or
earthenware container and place in the freezer. Generally a sorbet takes 2 hours
to set. Try to stir it around every 30 minutes if you remember.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 239 calories

39


Mini Patty Pans with Mint Leaves

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 packs of mini patty pan
4 lugs olive oil
15g knob butter
1 large lemon (optional)
½ x 20g bunch mint, leaves chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 220°C, 425°F, Gas Mark 7.
Add the olive oil and butter to the roasting pan and heat on the hob. Throw in the
patty pans, the mint and season to taste. Roast in the preheated oven for 20-25
minutes, or until golden, and if you like, give a little squeeze of lemon juice to
taste. Check the seasoning and serve.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 101 calories, 10 g fat,

40


Mini Romanesco Cauliflower braised with Tomato and Anchovy Sauce

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely sliced
400g can of chopped tomatoes
4 anchovy fillets
Sea salt and crushed black pepper
4 mini romanesco cauliflowers
1 handful Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6.
Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the onion and garlic for 2 minutes until
softened. Add the tomato and anchovy fillets. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
While the sauce is cooking boil the cauliflowers for 2-3 minutes in salted boiling
water. Season the sauce and pour into a baking dish and put the cauliflowers on
top of the sauce. Drizzle with the olive oil. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for
15 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for a further 10 minutes.
Sprinkle with the grated cheese over and cook until evenly browned.


Nutrition Info (per serving): 206 calories, 15 g fat.

41


Mixed Salad with Fougasse

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 1 – 2

Ingredients

handful of rocket
Few mint leaves
Slices of pancetta
Some pine nuts
A little olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Parmesan shavings
Slices of fougasse

Method

Take a couple of handfuls of rocket and a few mint leaves. Pan-fry a few slices of
pancetta and lightly brown some pine nuts. Lightly toss the leaves in the olive oil
and balsamic vinegar then break the pancetta over the top with the nuts and a few
shavings of Parmesan cheese.
Serve with toasted slices of fougasse bread.

 

[jglass]

Oriental Pork with Noodles

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

A handful of Szechan peppercorns, crushed
2 x 350g pork fillets, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 teaspoons sunflower oil
2 tablespoons grated ginger
1-3 red chillies, deseeded, chopped
125g oyster mushrooms, wiped and ripped
125g shiitake mushrooms, wiped and halved
1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 bunch spring onions, sliced
200g pak choi, washed and chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
300g bean sprouts
300g medium egg noodles, cooked
2 teaspoons fish sauce
6 tablespoons oyster sauce
15g fresh coriander, chopped
6 tablespoons chicken stock
Dark soy sauce

Method

Get all your ingredients chopped and ready to go. Rub the crushed peppercorns
into the pork slices. Heat your wok and a frying pan to make them as hot as you
can. Add the oils to the hot wok and fry the ginger, chilli and mushrooms for 1
minute until slightly coloured. Throw in the pepper, spring onions, pak choi, garlic
and bean sprouts and stir-fry until wilted. Add the noodles, fish and oyster sauces,
coriander and stock. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until steaming hot. Taste and season
with soy sauce.
Meanwhile drizzle a little sunflower oil into the hot frying pan and fry the pork for 2
minutes each side, or until cooked through and golden. Remove from the heat
and serve with the stir-fry.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 594 calories, 19 g fat.

43


Paella

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

8 chicken breasts or legs (thighs and drumsticks)
Plain flour for dusting chicken
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 glugs of olive oil
110g pack Pachero chorizo
6 slices pancetta, rind removed
1 onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2-3 large pinches saffron
2 litres hot chicken stock
1 x 5ml spoon (heaped) smoked paprika
500g paella rice
1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley, stalks and leaves finely chopped separately
2 handfuls frozen peas
10 precooked jumbo tiger prawns
1 lemon cut into wedges

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375°F, gas mark 5.
Cut the chicken breasts or legs in half and remove the bone. Coat the chicken
with the flour and seasoning. Add the olive oil to a large, hot, shallow pan, and
brown the chicken skin-side down, turning to brown all over. Transfer to a roasting
tray and continue to cook in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Meanwhile
sprinkle the saffron into half the hot stock and leave on one side to infuse for a
few minutes. Add the chorizo to the original pan, lay slices of pancetta over the
top and cook until crispy. Mix in the onion and garlic, and cook until soft. Then
add the smoked paprika, rice and infused stock, stirring occasionally. Once the
rice is cooked (about 20 minutes), stir in the rest of the stock. Throw in the
parsley stalks, peas and prawns, and cook for a further 10 minutes. Then add the
cooked chicken and sprinkle with chopped parsley leaves.
Serve with lemon wedges.

Chef’s
tip:
Try to use as much fresh seafood as you can find to make it a true,
authentic paella, such as adding 500g mussels and 2 small squid (halved and
scored) to the paella with the prawns and peas. Cover with foil and leave to cook
for the last 10 minutes.

44


Pannacotta with Caramelised Oranges

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

70ml milk
2 x vanilla pods (scored with a knife and seeds removed and reserved),
Or 1 x Teaspoon of vanilla extract
Finely grated zest of one orange
375ml double cream
1½ leaves gelatine, soaked in cold water until softened
75g icing sugar
3 oranges
4-6 tablespoons sugar

Method

Put the milk, vanilla pods, vanilla seeds, orange zest and half the cream into a
small pan and slowly simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in
the softened gelatine. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then place in the fridge, stirring
occasionally until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Remove the vanilla pods.
Whip together the icing sugar with the remaining cream, and then mix the two
cream mixtures together. Divide into 4 serving moulds or you can use espresso
cups. Cover with cling film and chill for at least an hour in the fridge. Peel the
oranges using a knife and cut into 1cm thick slices. Sprinkle with the sugar and
place on a baking tray. Caramelise under a hot grill or using a blowtorch until
golden brown. Turn out your panacottas by dipping the moulds into hot water for
10 seconds or serve straight from the espresso cups.
Turn out on a plate and serve with slices of the orange and some of the caramel
juices.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 640 calories, 46 g fat.

45


Pappa al Pomadoro

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

800g red and yellow cherry tomatoes
400g canned plum tomatoes
3 garlic cloves, peeled
10 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
275ml water or chicken stock
½ Fougasse, base removed
2 handful green or purple basil
Maldon salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Blanch the tomatoes and start to fry the garlic in a hot pan with a couple of
tablespoons of olive oil. Throw in all the tomatoes. Bring to the boil then simmer
gently for 20 minutes. Break up the tomatoes with a spoon and add the water or
stock. Tear in large thumb-sized pieces of Fougasse and simmer again for 10
minutes adding more water if needed. Remove from the heat and add the torn
basil leaves. Season to taste and drizzle with the remaining extra virgin olive oil.
Place any leftovers in a baking dish with a little butter for 15 minutes at 200°C,
400°F, gas mark 6 with grated fontina cheese and Parmesan on top.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 692 calories, 50 g fat.

 

[jglass]

Passionfruit Bellini

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

10 passionfruit
2 heaped teaspoons sugar
75cl bottle champagne, chilled

Method

Cut the passionfruit in half and scrape out the insides. Whisk the pulp hard to
loosen the seeds from the fruit. Push this through a coarse sieve until you are only
left with any remaining seeds. Stir in the sugar to dissolve then pour the sieved
juice into four glasses.
Top up with champagne and stir before serving.

Nutrition Info (per serving):166 calories

47


Pavlova

Prep and cook time: 1 to 2 hours
Serves: 8

Ingredients

6 medium size egg whites
350g caster sugar (vanilla sugar is nice if you have any)
284ml carton double or whipping cream
2 x 250g punnets strawberries
2 x 125g punnets raspberries
Parchment or greaseproof paper
2 teaspoons vinegar
2 teaspoons corn flour

Method

Preheat the oven to 140°C, 275°F, Gas Mark 1.
Whisk the egg whites until very stiff, and then whisk in the sugar a teaspoon at a
time (don't over whisk or it will go runny again). Blend the vinegar and corn flour
(you don't have to use these if you don't have them, but by using them you will get
a slightly chewy centre to the meringue) and fold into the mixture. Place the
parchment paper on to one large or two smaller baking trays and divide the
mixture on to the paper into two circles -I always put a plate (approximately
20cm), under the parchment paper, as a guide while I spread the mixture to make
the circle, and then pull it out. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 1
hour or until firm. Allow to cool and remove the paper carefully. Whip the cream,
squash one punnet of strawberries and add it to the cream. Cut the rest of the
strawberries in half and with the raspberries add to the cream, gently fold in.
Simply sandwich the two meringues with the cream mixture just before serving.
Remember you can't add the cream too soon before serving as the cream melts
the meringue.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 374 calories, 17 g fat.

48


Pesto Crostini

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

1 clove garlic, peeled
3 x 20g bunches fresh basil, leaves only
100g pine nuts, lightly toasted and cooled
100g grated fresh Parmesan, and some to taste
250ml extra virgin olive oil, blended with a tiny squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
1 large ciabatta, cut into 1cm thick slices
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Put half the garlic into a pestle and mortar or a food processor. Add a bit more
garlic if you like, but I tend to stick to about ½ a clove. Pound or pulse this with
the fresh basil leaves and the pine nuts to a fine puree. Turn out into a bowl and
add the Parmesan. Gently stir in and add a little more olive oil until smooth and
spreadable. If you want, add more Parmesan to adjust the taste. Griddle or toast
the slices of bread, rub with the remaining halved clove of garlic, then drizzle with
a little extra virgin olive oil. Spoon over the pesto and season well to taste.
Serve immediately.

Nutrition Info (per serving) 515 calories, 45 g fat.

49


Pot Roast Loin of Pork

Prep and cook time: 1 to 2 hours
Serves: 6

Ingredients

1.5kg loin of pork, boned, skinned, rolled and tied
15g pack thyme, picked
2 medium red onions, peeled, halved and sliced
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil, for frying
40g butter
4 figs, quartered
3 wine glasses Marsala
3 tablespoons crème fraiche
300ml chicken stock
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preheat the oven 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6.
Roll the pork in the seasoning and thyme. Take an appropriately sized casserole
type pan fry off the onions and garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil. Cook on a
medium heat for roughly 4 minutes until softened and tender. Push the onions to
one side; add a knob of butter and fry off the pork, until lightly golden. Add the
figs and one glass of Marsala, mix with the onions, add the rest of the butter and
cover with an appropriately sized piece of wet greaseproof paper (because it is
wet it sits snuggly, allowing it to bake and steam as well as making a beautiful
sauce). Cook in the preheated oven for 45 minutes -1 hour. After 20 minutes
turn the pork in the lovely juices and add the other 2 glasses of Masala.
When the pork is cooked remove to a plate and allow to rest for 15 minutes before
eating.
Whilst waiting finish the homemade sauce by adding the chicken stock and
simmer for 10 minutes. Check the seasoning and add in the crème fraiche. Slice
the pork as thinly as you want and serve with the delicious sauce.
Vegetables should be simple, spinach, cabbage or brussel tops.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 317 calories, 13 g fat.

50


Quesadillas with Salsa and Guacamole

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 2-4


Ingredients

4 plum tomatoes, deseeded and roughly chopped
1 red onion, peeled and chopped
1 green chilli, deseeded and chopped
20g pack fresh coriander, leaves only
Juice of 2 limes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 green chillies, deseeded
2 x 20g packs fresh coriander, leaves only
3 ripe medium avocados, halved and stoned
250g pack mature West Country farmhouse Cheddar, grated
2 bunches spring onions, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
2 x 20g packs coriander, chopped
2 red chillies, chopped
8 soft flour tortillas
Small pot soured cream

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, gas mark 6.
For the salsa, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Season well, cover and
chill. For the guacamole, purée the chillies and coriander in a food processor.
Add the avocado flesh and lime juice. Mix and season well. For the quesadillas,
place the cheese, spring onions, red pepper, coriander and red chillies on 4 of the
tortillas. Top each with another tortilla and press down firmly. Lay the quesadillas
on baking trays, making sure not to stack them on top or over each other. Bake
until golden and melted. Cut into quarters.
Serve with the salsa, guacamole and soured cream.

 

[jglass]

Quick Apple and Pecan Strudel with Cinnamon

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4


Ingredients

4-5 small, sweet and eating apples
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
80g butter
4 sheets of filo pastry
150g pecans, chopped
Some ground cinnamon
150g dark muscovado sugar
60g caster sugar
A handful of dried cranberries

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C, 350°F, gas mark 4.
Peel and slice the apples thinly, and put them in a bowl of cold water with a little
lemon juice to stop them going brown. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over a
low heat and keep warm. Carefully cut the filo pastry into 30x50cm sheets with a
knife. Mix the pecans, cinnamon and dark muscovado sugar together. Lay the
first sheet of filo pastry on a clean tea towel on your work surface and brush with
melted butter. Sprinkle over 1/3 of the pecan mixture. Lay another sheet of filo
pastry over the first one, sprinkle with pecans, cinnamon, and dark muscovado
sugar, as before. Repeat with the third sheet and lay the fourth sheet over the top.
Drain your apples well and toss with the caster sugar and dried cranberries.
Spread them along the bottom edge of the pile of filo pastry sheets.
Brush the top edge of the filo pastry sheets with a little water and gently lift the
edge of the tea towel nearest you and use it to help you roll the pastry up
lengthways like a Swiss roll, with the apples at the centre and press together
gently. Place on a baking tray and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or until
golden brown.
Serve with some good vanilla ice cream.

52


Raisin and Rosemary Eggy Bread

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

4 medium eggs
knob butter
4 tablespoons sugar
6 bananas, peeled and sliced lengthways
25g butter
8 slices of raisins and rosemary bread

Method

Beat together the eggs. Get a frying pan, place over a moderate heat and put in a
knob of butter and 4 tablespoons sugar and swirl until melted and beginning to
bubble. Throw in the bananas. Cook for 3 -4 minutes turning halfway, until
golden. In another pan melt 25g butter. Dip 8 slices raisin and rosemary bread
into the egg mix and cook in a pan for 2 minutes each side.
Serve with spoonfuls of crème fraiche, banana syrup and more bananas.

53


Rigatoni with Wild Boar Salami

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

a good glug of Bianconi extra virgin olive oil
1/2 wild boar salami, sliced (or use Napoli salami)
1 red onion, peeled and sliced
1 clove garlic, peeled and sliced
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
400g can chopped tomatoes
3 tablespoons crème fraîche
2x20g packs fresh basil, chopped
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
300g rigatoni
1 buffalo mozzarella, sliced

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375°F, gas mark 5.
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, and fry half the salami until quite crisp. Add the
onion and garlic and cook slowly until the onion is soft. Add the balsamic vinegar,
chopped tomatoes, crème fraîche and basil. Mix together, season to taste, and
simmer for a few minutes.
Cook the rigatoni until 'al dente'. Drain, and drizzle over a little olive oil and
seasoning. Tip into a baking dish and pour over the sauce. Lay the mozzarella
over the top with the rest of the salami. Bake in the preheated oven for 25
minutes until golden.

54


Roast Potatoes with Sage and Orange

Prep and cook time: 1 to 2 hours
Serves: 4

Ingredients

1kg King Edward potatoes, peeled and cut to the size of golf balls
4-5 cloves of garlic, squashed
Peel of 1 orange, cut into long, thin strips using a peeler
20g pack fresh sage, leaves only
6 tablespoons of La Truffe Cendree graisse d'oie (goose fat)

Method

Preheat the oven to 220°C, 425°F, gas mark 7.
Parboil the potatoes in boiling, salted water for 10 minutes and drain in a
colander.
Shake around in the colander to chuff up the edges. Heat a roasting tray on the
hob over a moderate heat. Add the goose fat and the garlic, orange peel and
sage, and fry in the goose fat for 30 seconds. Add the spuds and toss them
around until well coated with the goose fat mixture, then roast in the oven for
around 45 minutes or until golden and crisp.

55


Roast Rack of Lamb with Crushed Potatoes

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

10 Anya potatoes
1 handful of cherry tomatoes
6 bone rack of lamb
1 handful of kalamata olives, stoned
1 small handful of garlic cloves
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
A few sprigs of rosemary
2 glugs olive oil

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375°F, gas mark 5.
Boil the potatoes until tender, and squeeze the pips from the tomatoes. Stick a
large frying pan on a high heat and sear the lamb until golden. Remove and put to
one side while you crush the drained potatoes in the frying pan (use a masher,
rolling pin or the likes) then leave to fry for a couple of minutes. Stir the tomatoes
and olives into the potatoes with some seasoning and rosemary sprigs, drizzle
with a little olive oil and place in a roasting tin. Place the lamb on top of the
potatoes and cook according to pack instructions until medium.
Slice the lamb into chops and serve with the crispy potatoes and a little salsa
verde, or an extra drizzle of olive oil.

 

[jglass]

Roasted Red Onion With Thyme and Butter

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 8

Ingredients

8 equal-sized medium to large red onions
100g butter
15g pack thyme, washed and picked
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preheat the oven 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6.
Remove the first layer of skin from the onions. With a knife, take the bottom of the
core end of the onion off to give it a flat base, make 2 cuts in a cross shape in the
top, cutting halfway down (do not cut right through into quarters). Scrunch the
butter and thyme together, then push it into the gaps in the onions, season with a
good pinch of sea salt and pepper. I prefer to cook the onions tightly packed in an
earthenware dish on a thin layer of sea salt. Place in the preheated oven and
cook for 30-35 minutes.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 147 calories, 11 g fat.

57


Rocket, Fennel and Herb salad with Goat's Cheese

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

20g pack marjoram, washed and picked
8 x 15ml spoons extra virgin olive oil
2 x 100g packs goat's cheese
50g pack organic rocket
1 fennel bulb, halved and very finely sliced
50g pitted black olives
20g pack lemon basil, washed and picked
Juice ½ lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 red chillies, deseeded and finely sliced

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6.
Place the marjoram in a mortar and grind with a pestle, alternatively, finely chop.
Combine with 2 x 15ml spoons of the olive oil and rub all over the goat's cheese.
Place the goat's cheese on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for approximately
10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Place the rocket, fennel, olives and lemon
basil in a bowl, dress with the remaining olive oil, lemon juice and season to taste.
Divide between 4 serving plates, crumble over the cheese and scatter with the
chilli.


Nutrition Info (per serving): 331 calories, 32 g fat.

58


Simple Summer Spaghetti

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

500g mixed red and yellow cherry tomatoes, washed and chopped
150g black olives, pitted
1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
15ml spoon red wine vinegar
20g pack lemon basil, leaves removed from stem
20g oregano, leaves removed from stem
150ml olive oil
400g spaghetti or linguine
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

In a bowl combine the tomatoes, olives, garlic and vinegar. Then add in the herbs
and olive oil, allow to stand for 10 minutes. Cook the pasta according to the pack
instructions or until 'al dente'. Drain and combine with the tomato base.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 648 calories, 33 g fat.

59


Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Eggs

Serves: 2

Ingredients

8 fresh eggs
Knob of butter
150g pack of smoked salmon
Salt and pepper
2 slices Sourdough bread

Method

Pre-heat griddle pan. Heat your non-stick pan gently and add a knob of the butter.
And add your beaten eggs. Gently cook and stir. Continue to cook for a couple of
minutes, whilst still just underdone. Griddle the bread until nicely charred on each
side. When the eggs thicken, season with salt and pepper and pile the eggs over
the toast. Top with smoked salmon slices.
Serve with a good wedge of lemon and freshly ground black pepper.


60


Southern Indian Vegetable Curry with Curry Leaves

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 x 15ml spoons oil
1 x 5ml spoon mustard seeds
2 green chillies, deseeded and chopped
1 bunch of curry leaves
2 onions, shredded
½ x 5ml spoon ground coriander
A pinch cumin seeds
½ x 5ml spoon garam masala
¼ x 5ml spoon turmeric
¼ x 5ml spoon chilli powder
6 tomatoes, chopped
2 sweet potatoes, peeled
2 potatoes, peeled
1 aubergine
100ml coconut milk
A handful of French beans
A handful of peas
A handful of okra
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Method

Heat the oil in a pan and fry the mustard seeds for 2-3 minutes or until they start
to pop. Add the chillies; curry leaves, onions, coriander, cumin seeds, garam
masala, turmeric, and chilli powder. Stir and cook until the onion is soft. Add the
chopped tomatoes. Chop the potatoes and aubergine into small cubes and add to
the sauce. Pour in the coconut milk and cook until the potato is soft and cooked.
Throw in the beans, peas and okra. Season and cook for a few more minutes until
tender.

Nutrition Info (per serving): 234 calories, 8 g fat.

61


Spice Lamb Stew with Walnuts and Pomegranate

Prep and cook time: 2 hours
Serves: 4

Ingredients

750g pack British lamb boneless roasting shoulder joint
2 tablespoons plain flour
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 red onion, finely sliced
4 sticks of celery, finely sliced
Half a stick of cinnamon
100g walnuts, chopped
2 bay leaves
6 pomegranates
20g pack flat leaf parsley, chopped

Method

Cut the lamb into thumb-sized cubes and toss in the flour with a teaspoon of sea
salt and black pepper. Heat a large pan and add the olive oil. When the oil starts
to smoke, add as many lamb pieces as will fit in one layer, cover with a lid and
cook for a few minutes until soft and browned evenly. When coloured on all sides,
remove from the pan. Repeat with the remaining cubes until they are all browned.
Return all the lamb to the pan and turn the heat down. Add the onion, celery,
garlic, cinnamon, walnuts and bay leaves to the pan. Put the lid on and cook very
gently for 3-5 minutes, until the onion is softened, stirring often to make sure
nothing sticks. Cut your pomegranates in half and juice them as you would an
orange or lemon. You should get 500ml or so of bright pink juice (if you can't find
pomegranates, cranberry juice works well instead). Add the juice to the lamb,
reserving some pomegranate seeds. Top up with water to cover. Simmer very
gently for 1 1/2 hours, or until the lamb is tender, adding a little water now and
then if the stew gets dry. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaves and
discard. Season to taste and sprinkle with the parsley and pomegranate seeds.
Serve with steaming hot saffron rice.

 

[jglass]

Spicy Thai Prawn Curry

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

½ x 5ml spoon ground cumin or if using a whole seed, then pound or crushed
1 heaped 5ml spoon ground coriander or (if using a whole seed then pound or crushed)
2-3 fresh whole green chillies to your taste
4 large thumb sized pieces of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
3 fresh lemon grass stalks, trimmed back and chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled
4 handfuls of fresh coriander with stalk attached
6 salad onions, washed and trimmed
2 limes, zest of one and juice of both
30ml spoon olive oil, to loosen
400ml can coconut milk
200g fine green beans, tailed
200g babycorn
2-3 x 15ml spoons light or dark soy sauce or fish sauce if preferred
300g chilled or frozen cooked prawns, tiger prawns or king prawns

(Alternatively chicken can be used)

Method

Place the first 10 curry paste ingredients into a food processor and whiz up to a
fine paste for 1 minute. In a hot wok or casserole type pan pour in a little oil, add
the curry paste and cook for 30-40 seconds. Next add the coconut milk and
simmer for 3 minutes before adding the green beans and baby corn. Simmer for a
further 7 minutes then season with soy sauce finally adding the prawns.
Remove from the heat and serve immediately with some lightly fluffy fragrant rice.

*
Nice
Rice
Guide:
Boil around 100g to 150g of rice per person in salted boiling
water for 8 minutes (you could at this point scent the rice with a herb or spice or a
combination of your choice), after this time drain the rice through a colander and
refill half the pan with boiling water. Place the colander over the pan, cover with
foil, simmer and steam the rice for 10 more minutes. Pukka!
Nutrition Info (per serving): 221 calories, 10 g fat.

63


Spinach Cannelloni

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 6

Ingredients

1 packet of fresh Lasagne - 12 sheets in total
2 x 250g tubs Mascarpone
1 handful chopped Walnuts
2 Lemons, zested and juiced
1 handful Parmesan, grated
100g Taleggio
180g Bag of baby spinach, chopped
20g Sage
2 knobs of butter
Salt and pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6
Mix half the parmesan, mascarpone, taleggio, lemon zest and juice and the
walnuts. Keep 1/ 4 to one side, and then mix the cheese mixture with the
spinach. Fry the sage leaves in hot butter. Crumble half of the sage into the
cheese mixture and save the rest for the top. Take a good spoonful of the cheese
onto the edge of each lasagne sheet and roll up, fill 12 of the sheets. Put them in
a flat oven dish, dot with the left over cheese mix drizzle over 1/2 a glass of water
and sprinkle with the parmesan and crispy sage leaves. Cover and bake for 20
minutes.

64


Spring Lamb Shepherd's Pie

Prep and cook time: 1 to 2 hours
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

1kg boneless shoulder of lamb
2 x 15ml spoons flour
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 glugs of olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
2 sticks celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
50g pancetta, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 sprig fresh rosemary
400g can plum tomatoes, chopped
250ml lamb or vegetable stock
1kg Desirée potatoes
200ml milk
2 knobs of butter
A small handful of fresh rosemary

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375°F, gas mark 5.
Trim any large bits of fat off the lamb, then cut the meat into chunks and put
through small batches into the food processor until minced roughly. Place the
mince in a bowl, and then add the flour and seasoning and toss until evenly
coated. Heat a large pan, and when it’s nice and hot, add the olive oil and lamb
mince, and fry until browned all over. Add the onion, celery, carrot, pancetta and
garlic to the pan, and throw in the sprig of rosemary and tomatoes. Pour in the
stock and stir well so the mixture doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Leave in
the same pan or transfer to an ovenproof dish, cover and bake in the oven for an
hour. Meanwhile, peel the spuds, boil them in salted water until cooked through,
then drain well. Heat the milk gently, then pour over the potatoes. Add a knob of
butter and mash well until smooth and creamy. Melt the remaining butter in a
frying pan. When it starts to bubble, throw in the handful of rosemary and fry until
crisp. Drain and add the rosemary to the mashed potatoes with salt and freshly
ground black pepper. Take the lamb out of the oven, spoon over the mash, then
turn up the temperature to 200°C, 400°F, gas mark 6 and bake for about 20
minutes, or until bubbling and crispy and brown on top.

65


Stuffed French Toast

Serves: 2

Ingredients

4 slices White bread
3 bananas, sliced
2 x 15ml spoons Spanish orange blossom honey
70g pecan nuts, roughly chopped
4 organic eggs
A teacup of milk
A knob of butter
120g greek yoghurt
Icing sugar

Method

Slice the bananas thinly and mix with the sugar, honey and pecans using 4 slices
of bread, make two banana sandwiches by dividing the mixture equally. Heat a
frying pan over a medium heat, crack the eggs into bowl and beat in the milk.
Melt a knob of butter in the pan dip the banana sandwich in the egg and milk
mixture turning in the milk, and leave to soak. Fry gently on each side until nicely
coloured and warmed through for 3-4 mins repeat with the other sandwich.
Dust with icing sugar, cut in half and serve.

66


Tasty Tuscan Tart

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 6


Ingredients

375g dessert shortcrust pastry
2 - 3 Williams pears, peeled and quartered
4 tablespoons caster sugar
284ml single cream
200g continental dark chocolate (75% minimum cocoa solids)
30g butter

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375°F, Gas Mark 5.
Roll out the pastry to form a rectangular shape, just under 1cm thick, using flour to
dust. Place on a clean, flat baking tray and pinch the pastry around the edge with
your thumb and forefinger to create a sort of lip. Remove the core, and slice each
pear quarter into 3. Sprinkle with half the caster sugar and rest for 1 minute before
scattering the pears on top of the pastry. Bake for about 18 minutes, or until
golden. Meanwhile, in a small pan, heat the cream until nearly boiling, remove
from the heat and rest for 1 minute before snapping in your chocolate. Stir until
melted and smooth, then add the remaining sugar and the butter. Pour carefully
from the middle, covering the pears, and try not to let the chocolate go over the
edge. Allow to cool briefly before popping into the fridge for 20 minutes.
Cut into squares or fingers.... and get stuck in!

Nutrition Info (per serving): 653 calories, 40 g fat.

 

[jglass]

Thai-style Mango Salad with Griddled Prawns

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

20 large, headless tiger prawns
4 skewers
1 thumb-sized piece fresh ginger, grated
20g pack fresh coriander, chopped
1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped
4 tablespoons fresh limejuice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Good pinch of brown sugar
1/2 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
1 ripe and ready-to-eat mango
2 handfuls ready-to-eat bean sprouts
3 small cucumbers, chopped
1 handful fresh coriander
1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into thin strips
1 bunch spring onions, chopped
Sea salt
Small handful sesame seeds
Bianconi extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle

Method

Slide 5 peeled prawns onto each skewer.
For the marinade, mix together the ingredients and drizzle half over the prawns.
For the salad, peel the mango and cut flesh into thin strips. Mix with the other half
of the marinade, bean sprouts, cucumber, coriander, pepper, spring onions and
sea salt. Heat a large frying pan and dry-fry the sesame seeds until golden.
Remove and set aside. Fry the prawns over a high heat for 2 minutes until cooked
through.
Serve with the salad, sprinkled with sesame seeds and drizzled with the olive oil.


68


Three Cheese Risotto

Prep and cook time: Up to 30 mins
Serves: 6

Ingredients

About 1 litre chicken stock
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
3 sticks celery, finely chopped
400g risotto rice
2 wine glasses of dry white wine
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
100g apenzeller, roughly chopped, or use gruyere
100g pack taleggio, roughly chopped
75g butter
50g parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Method

Heat the stock in a pan over a moderate heat. Heat the olive oil in a pan. Add the
onions, garlic and celery, and fry gently for about 5 minutes until softened. Add
the rice to the pan and turn up the heat. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly,
until the rice looks slightly translucent. Add the wine and keep stirring -any
alcohol flavours will evaporate. Once the wine has cooked into the rice, add your
first ladle of hot stock and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Turn down the heat to
a simmer so the rice doesn't cook too quickly on the outside. Add ladlefuls of
stock, stirring constantly, and allow each ladleful to be absorbed before adding
the next, until the rice is cooked but still holds its shape -about 15 minutes. Add
the appenzeller and taleggio. Remove from heat and season to taste. Stir in the
butter and parmesan. Place a lid on the pan and leave for 2-3 minutes, when it
should be nice and oozy.

69


Toad in the Hole

Serves: 4

Ingredients

8 large good-quality sausages
4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
2 large red onions, peeled and sliced
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely sliced
2 knobs of butter
Sunflower oil
6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 level tablespoon good-quality vegetable stock
Powder or 1 vegetable stock cube
285ml milk
115g plain flour
A pinch of salt
3 eggs

Method

Mix the batter ingredients together, and put to one side. I like the batter to go huge
so the key thing is to have an appropriately sized baking tin, the thinner the better,
as we need to get the oil smoking hot. Put 1cm of sunflower oil into a baking tin,
and then place this on the middle shelf of your oven at its highest setting (240250
ºC/475ºF/gas 9). Place a larger tray underneath it to catch any oil that
overflows from the tin while cooking. When the oil is very hot, add your sausages.
Keep your eye on them and allow them to colour until lightly golden.
At this point, take the tin out of the oven, being very careful, and pour your batter
over the sausages. Throw a couple of sprigs of rosemary into the batter. It will
bubble and possibly even spit a little, so carefully put the tin back in the oven, and
close the door. Don’t open it for at least 20 minutes, as Yorkshire puddings can
be a bit temperamental when rising. Remove from the oven when golden and
crisp.
For the onion gravy, simply fry off your onions and garlic in the oil.

70


Tomato Penne Pasta

Serves: 4

Ingredients

3 x 250g Pomodorino tomatoes
A few glugs Olive oil
A large pinch dried Oregano
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
200g Kalamata olives
40g fresh basil, leaves picked
Balsamic vinegar
500g Dried pasta (freefrom)
Maldon sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
A large piece of Pecorino for grating

Method

Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.
Throw the tomatoes into a large roasting tray sprinkle with oil; salt and pepper
roast for 20 minutes. Squash with a fork to get the juices going and drizzle in the
balsamic vinegar. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta
al dente, add to sauce along with the olives and ripped basil leaves.
Season and serve with some of the pecorino grated over the top.

 

[jglass]

Truffled Roast Turkey with Pork and Chestnut Stuffing

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

80g truffle butter
50g butter
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely sliced
A sprig of fresh sage, roughly chopped
1 small red onion, peeled and finely sliced
A big handful of fresh breadcrumbs
100g chestnuts, cooked and shelled
300g pork mince
1 egg, beaten
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4kg fresh turkey, giblets removed

Method

Preheat your oven to 240°C, 475°F, gas mark 9.
Take the truffle butter out of the fridge and leave it to soften slightly. Meanwhile,
melt the butter in a frying pan, and add the garlic and sage and, after about 30
seconds, the onion. Fry gently until soft and golden brown. Take off the heat, add
the breadcrumbs and, while the mixture is cooling, chop the chestnuts and stir
them in. When the stuffing is cold, add the mince, egg and lots of seasoning, and
mix well. Pluck any stray feathers from the turkey and wipe it, inside and out with
kitchen paper. Lay the turkey breast-side up, with the legs pointing away from
you. Gently peel back the edge of the skin covering the breast. Work your fingers,
then your hand, under the breast skin. Carefully loosen the skin from the breast
meat, keeping it attached at the sides and without ripping any holes in it. Smear
the softened truffle butter under the skin over the breast meat. Replace the skin
and smear any remaining butter over the top of the skin and over the drumsticks.
Stuff the neck of the turkey with the stuffing and secure with a cocktail stick.
Season the turkey well, cover the breast with foil, and place in the oven. After 15
minutes, turn the oven temperature down to 150°C, 300°F, gas mark 2 and roast
for 2.5 hours, basting frequently. Remove the foil 45 minutes before the end of
the cooking time, and continue cooking until the juices run clear when you pierce
the thigh with a knife. Take the turkey out of the oven and leave to rest for 30
minutes before carving.

72


Vin Santo Salad

Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 x Belgian endive / chicory
1 large frisée
2 handfuls wild rocket
1 packet of mint, leaves picked
4 clementines
12 slices speck (3-4 slice per person)
1 piece parmesan (250g) to garnish
10 x 15ml spoons olive oil
4 x 15ml spoons vin santo vinegar
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Method

Pour all the dressing ingredients into a jam jar. Season and give it a good shake.
Only use the soft leafy tops of the endive as the base can be very bitter. Trim
about an inch off the base of each and finely slice the leaves lengthways. Pull all
the dark green leaves off the frisée and throw them away. Then cut the yellow and
white leaves down to the stem and wash them in ice-cold water along with the
endive and wild rocket. Dry the leaves in a salad spinner and chuck the lot in a
salad bowl. Throw in a handful of fresh mint leaves then toss the salad with the
vin santo vinaigrette. Peel then thinly slice the clementines.
Divide the leaves and the clementine slices between 4 plates, weave in the slices
of speck and use a potato peeler to shave over some Parmesan.

73


Red Grape Pizza with Honey, Rosemary and Pecorino

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4


Ingredients

1 ½ x 7g sachets dried yeast
5 x 5ml spoons runny honey
310ml tepid water
500g white bread flour (plus extra for dusting)
A generous pinch of salt
A few sprigs of fresh rosemary
A couple of glugs of olive oil
Two handfuls of red grapes
A generous piece of pecorino cheese

Method

Preheat your oven to 200°C, 400°F, gas mark 6.
Dissolve the yeast with a 5ml spoon of the honey in half the water, and put to one
side. Mix the flour with a good pinch of salt and shape into a pile on a clean work
surface. Make a well in the centre and, when the yeast and honey mix has frothed
up, pour it into the well and mix gradually with the flour until it’s all soaked up.
Pour on the rest of the tepid water and mix in all the flour to make a nice, moist,
soft dough. Place in a clean bowl, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place
for 15 minutes or so.
Meanwhile, bash the rosemary in a pestle and mortar, add a little olive oil and
bash again. Cut the grapes in half and put to one side. When the dough has
doubled in size, place it on the work surface and knead until smooth. Cut the
dough into 4 pieces, knead each piece again briefly and shape them into 4 small
pizzas.
Brush the pizzas with the bashed rosemary sprigs, leaving them smeared with
rosemary oil, then scatter with the halved red grapes. Drizzle each pizza with a
teaspoon of honey, and, finally, shave some pecorino over the top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the pizza bases are cooked
and the cheese is bubbling and melted.

74


Tunisian Brik

Prep and cook time: 1 to 2 hours
Serves: 4


Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes 2 dried red chillies
Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 spring onions, finely chopped
1 egg, beaten 150g butter
6 sheets of filo pastry 1 red onion, finely sliced
A bunch of fresh watercress a bunch of fresh mint, leaves only
A bunch of fresh parsley, leaves only 4 x 15ml spoons natural yoghurt
Juice of 1 lemon some good olive oil
A pinch of ground cumin 2 lemons cut in half
1 ½ x 5ml spoons of coriander seeds, ½ x 5ml spoon of ground cinnamon,

(plus a little extra for sprinkling) (plus a little extra for sprinkling)

Method

Preheat your oven to 200°C, 400°F, gas mark 6.
Wash the potatoes and bake in their skins until cooked and soft. Cool, then peel
and mash. Grind a 5ml spoon of the coriander seeds and the chillies in a pestle
and mortar. Add the cinnamon, stir into the mashed sweet potato and season
well. Fold the spring onion into the potato with the egg. Melt the butter gently in a
pan. Grind the remaining coriander seeds. Brush 1 sheet of filo with some melted
butter and sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon and a little of the ground coriander.
Cover with the second sheet, and brush and sprinkle as before. Repeat for the
third sheet. With a sharp knife, cut the stacked filo into two 15cm squares.
Working quickly to prevent the pastry from drying, repeat with the remaining filo
sheets. You should now have 4 squares of filo. Place a generous 15ml spoon of
potato mix in the centre of each square, and spread out slightly. Brush the edges
of each square with water and fold in half, corner to corner, to make a triangle.
Press down at the edges to seal. Brush both sides of each triangle with the rest of
the melted butter, place on a baking tray and bake until light brown -about 10
minutes. Mix the red onion with the watercress and herb leaves. Mix the yoghurt
with the lemon juice, a glug of live oil and the cumin.
Dress the salad with the yoghurt mix and serve with the hot filo briks and the
lemon halves.

75

 

[jglass]

Vegetable Bhaji Salad with Sour Cream, Lemon And Coriander

Prep and cook time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serves: 4


Ingredients

75g chickpea flour 75g plain flour
1 x 5ml spoon turmeric 1 x 5ml spoon cumin
½ x 5ml spoon paprika or Chilli powder
250ml water ½ level 5ml spoon of salt
1 small cucumber 50ml soured cream
2 lemons, 1 cut into wedges Splash of olive oil
Salt and freshly ground Black pepper 1 leek
2 carrots 3 spring onions
2 red onions 100g rocket
150ml vegetable oil for frying A pinch of mustard seeds
2 red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped
2.5cm piece root ginger, peeled and finely chopped
A small bunch of fresh coriander leaves, chopped

Method

Place the flours and ground spices in a bowl and slowly pour in the water, stirring
all the time with a wooden spoon or a whisk to make a bright yellow batter. Stir in
the salt, and then put to one side. Peel strips off the cucumber with a potato
peeler and keep to one side. Mix the soured cream with the coriander and the
juice of 1 lemon. Add the olive oil, season, and put to one side. Slice the
vegetables into thin strips -try to get them the size of long matchsticks. Mix with
the chillies and ginger, and set aside. Pour the oil into a large non-stick frying pan
and heat until very hot. Mix the vegetables, a little at a time, with some of the
batter, add a pinch of mustard seeds and drop a 15ml spoon of the mix into the
hot oil. Repeat with the remaining mix -you may have to fry the bhajis in batches.
Press the bhajis down with the back of a fork and make sure they aren’t touching
each other or they might stick together. Fry for a minute or so on each side until
crispy, then drain on kitchen paper.
Arrange 2 or 3 bhajis on each plate with some rocket leaves and the cucumber
strips, drizzle with the dressing and serve with the lemon wedges.

 

[The Ironic Chef]

Many of these recipes look interesting but I am really bad at converting liquid and weight measurements to our American standards. Grams to cups, Mils to teaspoon or tablespoon.
I see a measurement like- 1 1/2 X 5ml spoon and wonder if a 5 ml spoon is a teaspoon or tablespoon size or should I get out an ice cream scoop. I have seen some conversion charts but tend to become even more confused with them.

 

[Mama Mangia]

WILL THIS HELP?

Measurements (British, metric and US)



1 ounce flour = 25g = quarter cup
4 ounces flour = 125g = One cup
8 ounces flour = 250g = Two cups
2 ounces breadcrumbs (fresh) = 60g = One cup
4 ounces breadcrumbs (dry) = 125g = One cup
4 ounces oatmeal = 125g = One cup (scant)
5 ounces currants = 150g = One cup
4 ounces shredded suet = 125g = One cup (scant)
4 ounces butter and other fats, including cheese = 125g = One stick
8 ounces butter and other fats, including grated cheese = 250g = One cup
7 ounces caster/granulated sugar = 200g = One cup
8 ounces caster/granulated sugar = 250g = One and a quarter cups
8 ounces meat (chopped/minced/ground) = 250g = One cup
8 ounces cooked, mashed potatoes = 250g = One cup
One ounce (1oz) = One rounded tablespoon
One tablespoon of liquid = 3 teaspoons
One teaspoon liquid = 5ml
One British teaspoon is the same as an American teaspoon
One British tablespoon liquid = 17.7ml
One US tablespoon liquid =14.2ml
8 tablespoons = 4 fluid ounces = 125ml = Half cup
8 fluid ounces = 250ml = One cup (Half a US pint)
Half pint/10 fluid ounces = 300ml = One and a quarter cups (scant)
Three quarters of a pint/15 fluid ounces = 450 ml =Two cups (scant) or one US pint
One British pint/20 fluid ounces = 600ml = Two and a half cups