Just Quick Snacks

CHICKEN WITH LEEK & CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE

2020-08-30T07:31:00.001-07:00

Prepare:
Cut 4 quality Cumberland sausages each into three even sized pieces
Dice 1 small chicken breast
Dice 1 small peeled organic carrot
Rinse and cut 4 thin circles from a piece of courgette and half each (no need to peel)
Rinse and dice one eighth of each red and yellow bell peppers
Rinse and cut a 6" length of leek longways down the middle and into 4 equal pieces
Remove the stalks from 2 large closed cup mushrooms. Wipe off any debris, peel and cut the mushrooms into 4 even sized pieces. Also use the stalks in the recipe.
Drain a 454g can of baked beans in tomato sauce (Branston is my favourite) using only the beans in the recipe
Roughly pull apart a seeded flat bread into around 3" diameter pieces
COOK:
Turn hob heat on to med/high and heat 1 tbsp rapeseed oil. Add the sausage, chicken, carrot and leek and turn for 4 mins.
Reduce hob heat and add the courgette and bell peppers and mushrooms turning for 3 mins.
Add quarter tsp fennel seeds and dried sage and the drain baked beans and stir for 2 mins.
Randomly add the seeded flat bread pieces, turn hob heat off and leave for 2 minutes before serving as is.
Serve 2 small portions or 1 large.

CHICKEN STRIPS & PASTA IN TOMATO SAUCE

2020-07-25T07:58:00.003-07:00

CHICKEN STRIPS & PASTA IN TOMATO SAUCE
Prepare:
Measure out frozen veg into a bowl - 2 tbsp green beans, 2 tsbp peas, 3 small broccoli florets.
2 tbsp grated fresh carrot
Cut half inch round from a small butternut squash and sweet potato; peel and dice finely
Cut 2" piece of leek, rinse and long slice
Half a small red onion, peel and long slice, retain other half for another day
Place all the veg into a non stick frypan and dry fry on hot heat for 3 mins stirring continuously.
Grate 2 garlic pieces and add to the pan with half a large can of tomatoes, roughly snip the tomatoes with the scissors and add half a cup plain water, half tsp salt & white pepper and stir in.
Measure out 1 tsp each dried herbs - I used thyme, oregano and fennel and sprinkle them into the tomato mix with 1 tsp cider vinegar and 1 tsp runny honey.
Bring to the boil cooking for 3 mins. Add a handful of your chosen pasta. I used wholemeal spiral pasta, stir in.
Meantime Cut a chicken breast into butterfly shape (use scissors to cut in two pieces without severing completely, open the breast flat into a butterfly shape); cut the chicken into long quarter inch slices and stir into the tomato mix. Bring back to boil then lower heat to medium. After 10 minutes lower heat again to low and cook a further 10 mins. Serves 2 small portions or 1 large.
RECIPE LINKS -
Italian-style stuffed aubergines

CHICKEN WITH LEEK & CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE

BACON & LEEK BRAISE

2020-05-31T11:09:00.000-07:00

Prepare:
Rinse half a leek. Chop into rough slices.
Peel half a red onion and cut into wedge slices.
Peel, top and tail, then cut 1 small carrot and parsnip into matchstick sized pieces.
Dry fry 4 slices unsmoked back bacon in a deep pan on medium heat, 2 minutes each side. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add 2 tsp oil to the pan and add the veg stirring for 4 minutes.
Add the bacon and half a large can of chopped tomatoes and 2 tsp dried basil, 2 tsp runny honey and a pinch salt. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium and leave lidded for 15 minutes before serving with naan bread.
CHICKEN WITH LEEK & CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE

MELTING MIDDLE FISH CAKES

2020-05-08T03:31:00.001-07:00

Either the day before or at least 6 hours before making - Mix 1tbsp low fat mayonnaise, 2 tbsp low fat natural yoghurt, 1 tsp fresh chopped or dried chives and the zest of half a lemon. Spoon mix into 4 ice cube tray sections and freeze until solid.

Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook 300g peeled and diced potatoes (either white or sweet potatoes) for 12 minutes. Drain and mash with 160g drained can of tuna or salmon, and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper.

Preheat oven to 200C / 180 fan / gas 4 . Mix 30g fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs with 1tsp rapeseed oil.

Shape a portion of mashed fish mix around each frozen cube concealing it. Flatten a little, dip in 1 beaten egg and coat lightly with the breadcrumbs.
Place on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper and cook 15 minutes. (Once cooked they can be frozen and reheated at a later date 180C / 160 fan / gas 4 for 25 minutes.)

Serve with veg of your choice cooking in the same dish as the fish cakes. I chose 3 chestnut mushrooms, 1 peeled / top /tailed quartered red onion and tinned drained marrowfat peas. Seven minutes before the end of cooking time I added a frozen slice of garlic bread.
Serves 2 -4 depending on how hungry/greedy you are.

MY RECIPE LINKS:

CRISPY PARMA HAM

SWEET & SOUR PORK

TOMY CHICKEN

Pulled pork and gammon with greens

piri orzo

CALAMARI NOODLES

2020-04-05T07:05:00.000-07:00

Defrost handful of each frozen raw jumbo prawns and calamari rings. Sprinkle with 1 tsp smoked paprika / chilli flakes and pinch salt.
Prepare veg:
Rough chop 1 small organic onion
Small dice 1 stick celery
Small dice half a parsnip
Peel 1 small sweet potato and use a veg peeler to make thin sliced ribbons
Thin slice 2 chestnut mushrooms
Using high heat add 2 tbsp extra virgin rapeseed oil and 1 tsp butter in a wok or deep fry pan. Add the raw prawns and calamari and turn constantly in the hot oil for 3 minutes. Remove the prawns and calamari and set aside.
Maintain the high heat and add the onion, celery and parsnip constantly stirring for 2 minutes.
Bring a pan of boiling water to boil and add a portion of saba whole wheat noodles. Lower the heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
Meantime add the sweet potato and sliced mushrooms to the wok and keep stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 tbsp tomato puree and 1 tsp cider vinegar.
Drain the noodles and mix into the fry pan for 1 minute. Add the prawns and calamari stirring in, add a lid and leave for 2 minutes before serving with a sprinkling of oyster sauce.
CHICKEN WITH LEEK & CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE

DUCK BREAST / DUCK FAT ROASTIES with LEEK / Braised cod (2 for 1 prep)

2020-03-05T06:19:00.000-08:00

Preheat an oven 250F or 200fan for 10 minutes.
Score the fatty sides of 2 duck breasts with long cuts of a sharp knife. Place in a small casserole with fatty side uppermost and add a lid. When the oven is at the correct temperature put the casserole in the oven and cook 10 minutes while preparing veg.
Prepare:
Trim half a leek, rinse and long slice down the middle, then slice again to make 4 long quarters.
Peel 250g salad potatoes and cut into small equal sized portions
Peel 1 carrot and 1 parsnip, top and tail and cut into chip sized portions
The duck breast will have rendered fat after 10 minutes cooking. Carefully drain off the fat into a heatproof jug and return the casserole back to the oven.
Lower oven heat to 200F or 180fan.
Put the veg into a baking dish beginning with the leek then pile both the potatoes, carrot and parsnip evenly on top. Sprinkle with salt and pour the duck fat over the veg.
Continue cooking for 30 minutes, turning the veg in the baking dish after 15 minutes to recoat the veg.
After cooking time is finished trim the excess fat from the duck breasts and serve with the roast veg. Enough to serve 2.
If serving 1 reserve half the roasties for...

BRAISED COD

Bring to boil a 125g can chopped tomatoes, 250g can butter beans including the water, 2tbsp cut green beans, 2tbsp frozen garden peas and the reserved roasties from the above recipe.

Add 2tsp chopped parsley, 2tsp oregano, salt and white pepper to taste.

Add a defrosted portion of chunky cod loin to the middle of the pan. Bring the heat down to low, add a lid and simmer for 15 minutes.

Serve with a drizzle of chilli infused oil.

MY RECIPE LINKS:

CRISPY PARMA HAM

SWEET & SOUR PORK

TOMY CHICKEN

Pulled pork and gammon with greens

piri orzo

CHICKEN WITH LEEK & CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE

QUICK TURKEY STEW

2020-02-19T07:22:00.000-08:00

Use high hob heat and add 2 tbsp olive oil, 1tsp turmeric, 1 tsp smoked paprika to an 8" frying pan. Add 60g turkey mince, 1 finely chopped garlic clove and 1" thinly sliced cooking chorizo flattening out in the frypan in a large circle and fry both sides 3 minutes each side. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add 1 small diced carrot and parsnip and cook for 2 minutes.
Quarter 1 large flat mushroom and add to the pan cooking for a further minute.
Add 1 can plum tomatoes to the fry pan and snip the tomatoes randomly. Bring to the boil and cook for 3 minutes stirring. Stir in 1 tsp cornflour.
Add 2tbsp frozen sliced green beans and frozen garden peas and half a large can of drained butter beans, Bring back up to the boil.
Stir in 1 tbsp chilli infused olive oil, 1 tsp white vinegar and 1 tsp honey and 2 tbsp white rice.
Roughly break up the turkey mince mix and spread the mix evenly on top of the tomato mix, add a lid and reduce hob heat to low and cook for 15 minutes to reduce the sauce. Serves 1.

DUCK BREAST / DUCK FAT ROASTIES with LEEK / Braised cod (2 for 1 prep)

OTHER OF MY RECIPE LINKS:
CRISPY PARMA HAM
SWEET & SOUR PORK
TOMY CHICKEN
Pulled pork and gammon with greens
piri orzo

TOMY CHICKEN

2020-01-24T06:01:00.002-08:00

PREPARE VEG:
one quarter thin sliced aubergine
peel remove and use a veg peeler to make long thin ribbon slices of 1 carrot and one eighth of a small sweet potato
slice a quarter of a leek into rough chunks
thin slice one quarter of each an orange, red and yellow bell pepper
thin slice 2 closed cup mushrooms.
COOK:
Use a tenderiser kitchen tool to flatten a large chicken breast on both sides and fry for 3 minutes each side on high heat in 2tbsp heated extra virgin rapeseed oil. Remove and set aside.
Retain high heat and add a large tin of peeled plum tomatoes to the cooking pan. Use a pair of scissors to rough chop the tomatoes. Sprinkle over 1tsp cornflour, 1tsp cider vinegar, 1 tsp soft brown sugar, 1tsp basil and 1tsp oregano. Add 1 bay leaf and bring to boil for 3 minutes.
Lower heat to med/high and add the aubergine, carrot, sweet potato, leek and bell peppers cooking for 2 minutes.
Return the chicken breast to the pan sprinkling over 1 tsp chilli infused oil and arranged the sliced mushrooms around the chicken.
Add a lid to the cooking pan, lower the heat to simmer and leave for 20 minutes before serving with extra sprinkling of chilli oil. (Serves 1).
RECIPE LINKS:
QUICK TURKEY STEW
SWEET & SOUR PORK

SWEET & SOUR PORK

2019-12-12T09:43:00.002-08:00

Prepare:

Measure out 3tbsp diced frozen onion (or dice half a fresh white onion)

Rinse and cut the roots off 2 spring onions

Dice half an orange bell pepper

Use a vegetable peeler to peel 1 carrot & 1 parsnip. Continue using the peeler to make long ribbon strips of both until you have a half inch diameter portion left. Cut the portions into matchstick sized pieces

Rinse 3 baby sweetcorn and thin slice into small discs

Measure out 2 tbsp frozen garden peas, 2 tbsp cut green frozen beans

Thinly slice 2 chestnut mushrooms

Peel and thinly slice 3 garlic cloves & a thumb nail sized piece of fresh ginger

Mix into a small bowl with 1tbsp soft brown sugar, 1tbsp cider vinegar, 1tbsp chilli infused oil, 1tbsp tomato ketchup.

Cut a palm sized portion of pork loin into long thin strips. Use high heat & 2 tbsp extra virgin rapeseed oil in a wok or deep frying pan. Add the pork and move around in the pan for 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Add the onions, matchstick veg, baby sweetcorn discs and bell pepper to the pan and move veg around for 3 minutes.

Add the carrot and parsnip ribbons and move around the pan for 2 minutes.

Add peas and green beans stirring for 1 minute.

Stir in the vinegar / chilli mix 1 minute.

Add the chestnut mushrooms & 2tbsp cold water stirring for 1 minute.

Return the pork loin to the pan stirring for 1 minute.

Add a lid to the pan, turn the heat off and leave for 2 minutes before serving.

TOMY CHICKEN (NEW JAN 2020 RECIPE)

Seafood & veg curry

2019-11-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

I used frozen vegetables and seafood straight from the bag for this quick curry
Serves 1
Measure out 2 tbsp cut leek, 1 tbsp sliced carrot, 1 tbsp sliced green beans, 1 tbsp broad beans, 1 tbsp garden peas, 1 small broccoli floret
Put 1.5 cup vegetable stock on high heat in a 8" fry pan and add the above vegetables stirring until the stock reaches boiling point.
Stir in 3 tbsp wild rice, 1 cardamon pod, 2 cloves, 2 heaped tbsp curry powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp turmeric, and continue boiling and stirring for 4 minutes.
Add 1 frozen scallop, 3 tbsp sliced frozen squid and continuing boiling and stirring for 2 minutes.
Add 2 tbsp frozen prawns and 1 can drained haricot beans stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 tsp garam masala.
Peel a large flat mushroom and snip into 1" strips with a pair of kitchen scissors adding to the fry pan.
Turn the hob heat down to low, add a lid and continue cooking for 12 minutes stirring occasionally.
Serve with naan bread.
Latest December recipe:
SWEET & SOUR PORK
CHICKEN WITH LEEK & CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE

PIRI ORZO

2019-10-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

Serves 1

Use the tomato sauce drained from a large can of baked beans and heat it together in a fry pan alongside 2 cups of salted water until boiling point is reached.

Measure out 2 tbsp red lentils and 3 tbsp rinsed orzo and stir into the liquid bringing it back up to boiling point and stirring for 2 minutes.

Stir in 3 grated garlic cloves, 4 tbsp frozen garden peas, 1 chopped piri flavoured mackerel fillet.

Turn the heat down to low hob setting, add a lid and leave for 8 minutes.

Add 2 sliced chestnut mushrooms and leave for a further 4 minutes until the mixture thickens and the liquid is absorbed.

Stir in 2 tsp double cream before serving.

Use the separated baked beans for another day in

BAKED STUFFED LEEK & SAUSAGE

BAKED STUFFED LEEK & SAUSAGE SQUASH

2019-10-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

MY FAVOURITE NEW OCTOBER 2019 RECIPE:

Serves 2

Preheat an oven to 180 fan 200C for 10 minutes whilst preparing a small round squash. Clean it using the rough side of a washing up pad and hot water.
Cut the squash in half horizontally, scoop out the seeds and add 1 tsp duck fat to the cavities. Place in the oven for 40 minutes roasting time.
Meantime prepare the filling:
Dice 2 chestnut mushrooms, dice 2" pieces red & orange bell peppers.
Rinse 6" piece of leek and dice.
Cut 2 quality sausages into half inch pieces.
Remove any membrane from the squash seeds and place in a ramekin dish with 1 tsp sumac powder & 1tsp duck fat.
Drain the tomato sauce from 1 large can baked beans in tomato sauce retaining the sauce for another day.

For the last 15 minutes of baking layer the squash halves with the filling as follows:
half the diced leek, all of the diced bell peppers, all of the diced mushrooms, all of the
sausage. Add a sprinkling salt / pepper and grated cheese of your choice.
Mix the remaining diced leek into the baked beans and spoon alongside the filled squash.
For the last 10 minutes of baking time roast the squash seeds.
Serve with a sprinkling of squash seeds on top of the leek/beans mixture with the filled squash.
Use the retained tomato sauce for another day to make piri orzo

Pork loin with caramelised onions

2019-07-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

Per person
Thinly slice a chunky 100g pork loin and fry for 3 mins each side in hot 4 tbsp. sesame oil and 1 tbsp melted butter. Remove from the fry pan and set aside.
Finely dice a peeled red onion and 2 spring onions and fry for 6 minutes on medium heat turning frequently. Add a pinch of salt and white pepper.
Cut 1 carrot in matchsticks size and add to the frypan turning for 2 minutes.
Add half a sliced orange sweet pepper, 2 baby sweetcorns, 1 finely diced mushroom, 1 peeled and crushed garlic clove, half a green chilli pepper and 1 tsp cider vinegar, continue frying until the moisture has been absorbed.
Return the pork loin to the pan for 1 minute. Turn the hob heat off and leave for 2 minutes before serving.

Orange and turmeric scallops

2019-06-21T13:15:00.001-07:00

Prepare per person:
2 spring onions finely diced
6 scallops
Rinse 6 sugarsnap peas trimming off any woody ends
Rinse 2 baby sweetcorns
1 carrot cut into fine long ribbons using potato peeler
Rinse a 4" piece of cucumber and ribbon slice the green rind from it
3 medium mushrooms diced
1 thumbsized piece of fresh ginger finely diced
3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely diced
Grate the zest from half a large juicy orange, remove the yellow pith and pips and roughly chop the orange
1 tsp turmeric and freshly ground black pepper
1 can drained chickpeas
1 tsp milled linseed

Heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil then add the spring onions turning for 2 minutes.
Add 1 tbsp butter allowing it to melt and blend in with another tbsp oil. Fry the scallops 2 minutes each side until golden. Remove both the spring onions and scallops and set aside.
Add the sugarsnap peas and baby sweetcorns to the pan and fry for 2 minutes.
Add the carrot and cucumber ribbons and fry for 1 minute.
Add the mushrooms, garlic, ginger, orange zest, turmeric and black pepper frying for 1 minute.
Add the chopped fresh orange, drained chickpeas and return the scallops and spring onions to the pan.
Add a lid and leave for 3 minutes.
Turn off the hob heat and leave for a further minute.
Serve with a sprinkling of milled linseed.
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CRISPY PARMA HAM

Sour dough prawn scramble

2019-06-14T05:48:00.002-07:00

A simple and easy lunch, brunch or snack.
Cut one door step slice of cob sour dough bread and spread generously with full fat philadelphia cheese spread or use the light version if you are counting calories. Grate on some freshly ground chilli flakes.
Per person:
Crack 4 eggs into a bowl, add half-tsp cajun spices and lightly whisk. Top with fresh grating of 3 peppercorn mix (black, red, white)
Heat a frypan with 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil on high heat for 1 minute. Lower the heat to medium and add the eggs spreading evenly in the pan. Leave for 1 minute then begin stirring the mixture until firm and scrambled (about 5 minutes) depending on egg size (I use large).
Add 250g cooked cocktail prawns (I like a generous portion but you could use half this amount). Slice 3 plum tomatoes in half and add to the pan. Turn off the heat, add a lid and leave for 2 minutes.
Top the sour dough with the egg mix and grate over some freshly ground paprika pepper.
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CRISPY PARMA HAM

CRISPY PARMA HAM PASTA

2019-03-30T07:18:00.001-07:00

Prepare:
Dice 100g parma ham (streaky bacon or gammon can also be used).
Dice 2 spring onions, 1 small red chilli, 1 roasted red pepper (drained from a jar), 3 grated garlic cloves, 1 tbsp chopped basil / parsley. Snip a small handful of salad watercress from a growing pot.
Measure 2 tbsp cooked black eyed beans from a jar and rinse off the thick white paste.
Boil water and quarter tsp salt in a wide saucepan (just enough to cover a large handful of your favourite pasta). When it reaches boiling point add the pasta, bring back to the boil.
Lower the heat and cook for 10 minutes. This may take a bit longer if you choose larger pasta shells. I used wholemeal pasta spirals.
Meantime heat 1 tbsp oil on high heat and stir in the parma ham, stirring continuously until nice and crisp. Remove from the pan.
Add the spring onions to the same pan and fry for 2 minutes followed by the chilli, red peppers and cook a further 2 minutes. Add the grated garlic, cook for 1 minute then stir in 2 tbsp creme frache and 2 tbsp cooked black eyed beans and half the crisped parma ham. Stir for 2 minutes to make a nice thick sauce.
Drain the cooked pasta and stir into the sauce with the basil / parsley.
Serve 1 topped with grated cheddar cheese, salad watercress and the remainder of the crisped parma.
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Sour dough prawn scramble

Vintage cheddar coated carbs

2019-02-16T06:26:00.000-08:00

Scrub 10 small new potatoes and slice in half. Place into a roasting dish which will be your serving dish. Sprinkle with ground seasalt, 1 tbsp extra virgin rapeseed oil and 1 tsp white vinegar and place in a preheated oven 200C / 180fan for 40 minutes.
Meantime quarter one small butternutsquash and scrub the outer hard skin and chop the squash into even sized cubes or boat shapes. Sprinkle with 1 tsp smoked paprika and 1 tsp extra virgin rapeseed oil and add to the roasting dish for the last 25 minutes of cooking time.
Scoop out the squash seeds and place in a small ovenproof dish and sprinkle with oil and cook for the last 10 minutes of cooking time on the lowest oven shelf.
Rinse 4 asparagus tips, 2 baby sweetcorns and 2 tbsp garden peas. Place in a dish the length of the tips, add one closed cup mushroom. Sprinkle with oil and bake on the lowest shelf for the last 10 minutes of cooking time. NB - this is the perfect timing for tender tips, any longer will produce stringy not nice tips.
Meantime for the vintage cheddar:
100 g Scottish Vintage Cheddar cheese grated
large knob of butter
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
half tsp English mustard powder
1 tsp plain flour
2 tbsp beer stout or cider
Place the cheese, butter, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, flour and beer into a small saucepan.
Heat gently, stirring until the cheese melts and all the ingredients blend together to form a thick paste. Allow to cool.
Spoon the mixture over the carbs for the last 5 minutes of cooking time.
Arrange veg and squash seeds as a topping to serve.

Lemon honey baked chicken

2019-01-31T10:05:00.000-08:00

My lunch on the last day of January

I picked up an organically farmed lovely discounted chicken while grocery shopping, returned home and drizzled over it a simple dressing of 1tbsp oil, 1tsp runny honey, lemon juice. salt and pepper and bunged it in the oven 180 fan for 1.30 mins then took Ozzy my dog to the local beach whilst it was cooking.

It was a gift of a grand day.

On returning with 15 minutes to spare I added to the oven, a portion of left over mashed butternutsquash topped with frozen peas and green beans to heat through. I simply chopped the chicken in half and shared it with Ozzy my dog. Dribbling gorgeous gift of food.

Cocktail paprika prawns

2019-01-25T09:59:00.002-08:00

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Cocktail prawns are lightly pre-cooked so only need a gentle warm up for this meal using 2 tiers of a steamer.
As there is no frying this is a lower calorie dish.
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Per person:
Using 125g fresh cooked cocktail prawns layer in a small heatproof handled dish with 1 tbsp prawns, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tbsp prawns, 1tsp turmeric, 1 tbsp prawns, sprinkling of white pepper, the remaining prawns and 1 finely diced garlic clove, half tsp chopped fresh ginger, 2tsp olive oil, a dash of lemon juice & half tsp harissa paste. Stir to combine then leave in the fridge until cooking time.
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Soak 1 tbsp each wild rice, orzo, red and brown lentils by measuring them out and just covering with cold water and leave in the frige for at least half an hour, rinsing before cooking.
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Place quarter pint of vegetable stock into the first layer of the steamer and bring to boil or depending on the size of your steamer ensure that the grains will be just covered. Add the drained pre-soaked grains, 1 tbsp chick peas from a can and 1 tbsp fresh parsley. Top with a lid and bring back up to boil and turn the hob heat to moderate to cook for 15 minutes.
In the second layer of the steamer add three closed cup mushrooms, 1 small broccoli floret, 6 topped/tailed green beans and 2oz frozen gardens peas to cook alongside the grains.
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After 5 minutes cooking time place the dish with the prawns mix into the steamer top tier, replace the lid and cook for remaining minutes.
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Serve together, draining off any excess sauce juice if you wish which can be used as a stir fry seasoning etc next day.

Whole chicken breast tandoori

2018-11-19T07:12:00.001-08:00

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Using a 3 tier steamer is a quick way to cook this meal in a healthy way retaining the natural juices of the chicken breast to mingle with tandoori spices.

Prepare per person:

1 large chicken breast sprinkled with salt / white pepper

2 whole savoy cabbage leaves, rinsed

Half a small red onion, peeled and diced

1 tbsp each red and yellow diced bell pepper

1tbsp diced courgette

1 diced flat mushroom

　

In a bowl mix together (same amount of spices whether cooking for one person or more):

1tbsp tomato puree

1 tbsp tandoori spice

1 tbsp garam masala

4 cardomon seeds

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp cumin

half tsp salt

Per person top the above bowl with:

1 tbsp wild rice

1 tbsp both red and brown lentils

1 tbsp bulghur wheat

Over high hob bring to boil half pint vegetable stock in the base of a 3 tiered steamer. When bubbling add the onion, bell peppers, courgette and mushroom and bring back to the boil.

Spoon and stir in the contents of the tandoori mixture bowl. NB - if cooking for more than one person just ensure that the stock liquid used just covers the ingredients.

Put the chicken breast in the second pan of the steamer and the whole cabbage leaves not overlapping in the top pan of the steamer. Add the steamer's lid and leave on high heat for 10 minutes.

Lower the heat to medium / low and allow to cook for another 15 minutes.
My liquid was well absorbed but if necessary, sieve if there is too much liquid residue.

Serve with the chicken breast topping the cabbage leaves and then the tandoori sauce with a sprinkling of ground linseed.
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Another November RECIPE:

RUGBY BALL SQUASH WITH GIANT COUSCOUS STUFFING

2018-11-14T01:34:00.000-08:00

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Squash comes in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes. I like this recipe using a yellow rugby shaped squash but it can be adapted to any squash. Because this type has a hard outer shell I find the perfect way to cook it is in my slow cooker with savoury couscous stuffing.
Even though this takes 4 hours to cook I describe it as a quick snack because I like to start cooking it before I go out walking and return to a hassle free ready to eat home cooked meal.　

The night before measure out 100g giant couscous into a bowl and just cover with vegetable stock or cold water and leave in the fridge until ready to cook.　

Also prepare the stuffing mixture in another bowl:
Half a finely diced red onion
One quarter each finely diced red and orange bell pepper
One finely diced sundried tomato
I savoy cabbage leaf, rinsed, destemmed and diced
　
Blitz 1tbsp olive oil with two green chilli peppers, 2 cloves garlic, half tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp white vinegar, and half tsp salt for 5-10 seconds with to make a smooth paste and stir into the 2nd bowl with the prepared veg then leave overnight in the fridge.
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TO COOK:
Preheat the slow cooker on high heat for 10 minutes prior to adding the food.
Scrub 1 rugby squash and dry with a kitchen towel. The outer shell is hard so carefully cut in half with a sharp knife then again so you have 4 pieces.
Scoop out the seeds and pulp and brush the insides of the squash with olive oil.
Rinse 4 large broccoli florets and rinse / top / tail 8 green beans.
　
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Mix the contents of the two prepared bowls together and fill the squash cavities with the stuffing pressing down firmly with the back of a spoon. Arrange the squash pieces evenly into the preheated slow cooker and if there is any remaining stuffing mix spoon it into spaces in the slow cooker cooking bowl.
Place the florets and green beans into spaces in the bowl.
Add a lid which is well sealed so no air can get in or juices escape. If they do you have filled it too full. I used a one pint slow cooker so if yours is smaller adapt to this by using less cooking ingredients and the cooking time will still be the same.
Slow cook for 4 hours on high.
The squash is used a serving vessel and should not be eaten as it will still have a tougher consistency.
I served mine with a can of mackerel fillets in tomato sauce.
I just opened the tin, discarded the lid and placed it into the slow cooker for around 10 minutes whilst I prepared my drink, fruit salad and tray etc.
Serves 2 well or 4 as a snack.
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Whole chicken breast tandoori

Turkey green tabasco steak

2018-11-06T01:43:00.000-08:00

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Per person:
Season 1 turkey steak both sides with salt / white pepper
Rinse veg then prepare-
Remove and discard the spine from 1 cavolo nero leaf
Top and tail 4 green beans and 2 runner beans. Leave the green beans whole and chop the runner beans into one inch pieces
Remove and discard the spine from one spring cabbage leaf and slice into strips
Remove root from 2 spring onions and chop into one inch pieces
Remove stems from 2oz cut kale
Finely chop 2 sundried tomatoes from a jar preserved in oil.
Lightly brush any debris from a large flat mushroom and peel, leave whole
Put 2 tbsp of the oil from the sundried tomato jar into a large pan and heat on high heat.
Add the turkey steak into the middle of the pan, sprinkle over Tabasco green pepper sauce and leave for 2 minutes. Arrange the green veg around the steak, spoon 1tsp of the cooking oil on the veg, add a lid and leave for 2 minutes.
Turn all the food and sprinkle over more Tabasco green pepper sauce onto the turkey steak, and 1tsp butter and 1tsp water over the greens. Randomly add the sundried tomatoes over the greens.
Lower the heat a couple of settings, whilst adding the mushroom upper side down in the pan then leave lidded for 2 minutes.
Turn the mushroom over and cook all for a further 2 minutes.
Serve with a sprinkling of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
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RUGBY BALL SQUASH WITH GIANT COUSCOUS STUFFING

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Whole chicken breast tandoori

Twice baked pumpkin with turkey melt

2018-10-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin is a member of the squash family and there is nutritional info within my other blog post.
There doesn't seem to be many varied recipes for pumpkin other than pumpkin soup and pumpkin pie.
My recipe is a tasty different way to serve this flavoursome veg in season used now particularly for Halloween lanterns.

Prepare:

Preheat a slow cooker on high whist preparing the pumpkin.
Scrub a small pumpkin really well to remove any debris and use a sharp large knife to cut it in half. Scoop out the seeds and reserve them for roasting another day. Scoop out and discard any pulpy flesh.
Cut each quarter into 4 sections removing and discarding the hard stem.
Arrange the pumpkin firstly around the sides of the slow cooker then fill in the middle sprinkling with cayenne pepper and dot with 1tbsp milk and 1oz butter.
Cook for 2 hours until the flesh and peel is soft when prodded with a knife. Allow to cool then put in the firdge until next day for your meal.

Next day:
Per person:
Preheat the oven to 180 fan / 200C for 10 minutes.

Use half the pumpkin and separate the cooked flesh from the peel and layer the pumpkin flesh into an 8" round casserole. Use a knife to roughly chop the pumpkin and cover the bottom of the casserole pressing in with a fork. Sprinkle with salt / pepper.

Top. tail and rinse 4 green beans, cut in half and press into the pumpkin flesh.

Rinse 1 broccoli floret and thinly slice and press into the pumpkin flesh.

Drain a small can of white kidney beans and press evenly into the pumpkin flesh.

Drizzle over with some olive oil. and freshly grind some mixed red, black and white peppers over from a pepper mill.

Use one eighth portion from a red and yellow bell pepper and finely dice, sprinkle with a little oil. Put the peppers into a small casserole big enough to hold a turkey steak portion and place the steak on top of the peppers.

Top the steak with 2 tsp single cream and thinly sliced feta cheese or other cheese of your choice then freshly grind some mixed red, black and white peppers from a pepper mill.

Place both baking dishes into the hot oven and bake for 20 minutes. Serve in the first baking dish with the turkey steak as the topping drizzling the juice from the steak baking dish all over the food.

The pumpkin peel can either be an ingredient for a stir fry or baked in a hot oven for crispy pumpkin skins (recipe to follow).

Chilli beef patties with borlotti beans

2018-10-22T07:13:00.002-07:00

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For two patties:

In a lagre bowl mix together 6oz lean beef mince, 1 grated garlic clove, 1 tsp tomato ketchup, half tsp french mustard, 1 lightly beaten egg, half a small finely chopped red onion, 1 finely chopped spring onion, one finely chopped red chilli (omit seeds if you prefer less spicy). Shape into 2 patties.

Heat 2tbsp oil over high hob heat and fry the patties for 4 minutes whilst preparing the veg.

Rinse and destem 2 tbsp fresh kale.

Peel, top and tail one small carrot and cut into matchstick sized pieces.

Rinse and remove the spine from one large savoy cabbage so there are 2 even pieces. Roll each piece into a sausage shape discarding the spine.

Drain a small can of borlotti beans in water discarding the water.

After the 4 minutes frying, lower the hob heat to medium, turn the patties over.

Add another tbsp oil around the patties then add the cabbage 'sausages' first, then the other veg evenly around the edges of the frying pan around the patties. Leave lidded for 2 minutes. Gently turn the veg over and add the drained borlotti beans evenly topping the veg and leave for a further 2 minutes. Serve with a sprinkling of grated cheese if desired.
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October recipe link:

Potato skins with harissa cannellini peppers

Cauliflower steak with buttery greens

September recipe:
Piri smoked mackerel / kale chessy bake
November recipe:
RUGBY BALL SQUASH WITH GIANT COUSCOUS STUFFING

Potato skins with harissa cannellini peppers

2018-10-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

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Per person:

Scrub 1 large Maris Piper potato and peel the skin into long 1" strips

Cut the potato into 1" thick chips

Top, tail and peel 1 carrot and cut into 4 thick lengths

Rinse and halve 1 red and 1 green bell pepper. Remove the white insides and the seeds.
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Preheat the oven to 180 fan, 200 C. Place the chips and carrot into a roasting tin along with the bell peppers (skin side up). Brush generously with oil and sprinkle all over with salt and mixed freshly ground red, black and white pepper. Bake for 15 minutes.

Turn the bell peppers over and evenly fill the cavities with cannellini beans from a can. Top them with quarter tsp harissa paste and 2oz grated cheddar cheese.
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Add the potato skins to the baking dish skin side down, sprinkling them with salt / pepper / 1 tsp white vinegar and 2tsp olive oil. Continue baking for another 15 minutes until the skins are crisp with a soft centre.　

Serve with additional salt and white vinegar.
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October recipe link:
Cauliflower steak with buttery greens

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Chilli beef patties with borlotti beans