February 2012
4 posts
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Tarte Tatin
I tried to experiment by making this a ‘Salted Caramel Tarte Tatin’ but I felt that was a little too tangential for a pudding the origin of which was sheer serendipity; that would be fiddling with fate’s gifts.
You can make your own puff pastry for this, as I did, but I wouldn’t be mad if you bought it, just make sure you buy ‘all butter’.
Ingredients
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January 2012
14 posts
7 tags
Chocolate Marble Cake
Who could resist double chocolate that is gorgeously marbled? I am not sure even the strongest of will power could stop anyone from taking a slice of this. Perfect for any occasion, or a weekend treat to lift the spirits.
This does involve tempering the chocolate so you will need a sugar thermometer.
Ingredients
For the cakes:
175g unsalted butter
225g caster sugar
100g dark chocolate
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Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Salted caramel is a delicious hybrid of salty sweetness, and it is so popular at the moment. There is something about the flavour that sends your taste buds, and brain, into celestial confusion. This is a must try…
ingredients - for the ice cream
100ml water (or toffee vodka - but do see tip2 below)
100g caster sugar
500ml double cream
for the salted caramel
100g caster sugar
...
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Cherry and Espresso Amaretto Ice cream
There is nothing more soothing than a big helping of ice cream whilst slouched in front of the television at the weekend. Make this ice cream in the week, bang it into the freezer, and come Saturday-slouch-night, you will have the best ice cream. That is, of course, if you haven’t already devoured it mid-week!
ingredients (serves up to 6, depending on how generous you feel)
80ml Cherry...
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All-in chicken curry
For this recipe you will need the ‘All-in Curry Paste’ from the earlier post below.
ingredients (Serves 4)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 recipe’s worth of All-in curry paste
4 Chicken breasts, chopped into 1cm cubes
6 spring onions, chopped
500ml chicken stock
1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced
200g fine beans, each chopped into three
Quarter of lime per person, to serve
Small...
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All-in curry paste
The name of this curry paste is simply down to the fact that it is a mixture of curry influences from Indian to Malaysian. I literally placed ingredients in as I went along according to the taste of the paste as I made it, but I promise you, this is one delicious curry. It does seem like a lot of ingredients, but it really is only teaspoons of this and tablespoons of that, so any keen cook will...
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Spiced veggie stew
Sometimes a light dinner is all we need to satisfy our cravings, but it definitely needs to be a tasty one. This vegetarian stew is absolutely stunning, and extremely light. It’s gorgeous served with a generous helping of couscous, or simply in a bowl on its own.
This is much better if made the day before, as the flavours seem to strengthen over night. Simply store in the fridge until ready...
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Steamed Jam Puds
There is something so homely about a steamed jam pudding, and I don’t think any dessert could compete when you’re in need of some comfort. I serve this with my vanilla cream (recipe in post below).
Ingredients • 225g butter, softened • 125g golden caster sugar • 100g raspberry jam • 200g self raising flour • 25g instant milk powder • 2tbs raspberry jam • 4 eggs
Method
Simply pop...
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Vanilla creamy custard
This is simply a sort of creme patissiere or custard, but whatever its official name, it tastes perfect with a steamed pud.
ingredients
3 egg yolks
3 tbs caster sugar
1tbsp cornflour
500ml milk
The seeds from one vanilla pod, or 1tsp vanilla extract
method
In a bowl whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and flour.
Place the milk along with the vanilla into a saucepan over medium heat,...
7 tags
New Years Resolution Burgers
Everyone craves a good burger every now and again, yet with all these dieters flapping around, desperate to shed the festive pounds, it is often mistaken that burgers are bad. Well yes they are, but only if you are going to eat a beef burger steeped in a blue cheese sauce.
This is a recipe for my turkey and thyme burgers, and believe me when I say, they cut the meaty craving perfectly.
...
December 2011
18 posts
8 tags
'Which came first' pie
This is my chicken and egg pie. It goes down well with my friends whenever I do it, and so I thought I would share my recipe with you. It is perfect for cold winter evenings, and is as heartwarmingly delicious as it is simple to make.
ingredients (serves 6 - 8)
3 tbsp Olive Oil
2 onions, roughly chopped
1kg diced chicken thigh meat, boneless and skinless
2 heaped tbsp plain flour
1/2 tsp...
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Christmas Toffee Pudding
As much as I love a sticky toffee pudding made with just dates, I like mine to be a little more festive and a little more spiced. So I developed this Xmas spiced version. It isn’t drastically different from its straightforward sibling, but it is definitely much tastier.
ingredients
100g dried, pitted dates
100g dried figs
55g dried apricots
250ml boiling Lady Grey tea (made from water...
Gingery Cocktail Sausages
Cocktail sausages, no matter how twee, should always be found on a cocktail party buffet. To omit them, would be like having christmas without a turkey (don’t get me started!)
These also add a little Asian flavour to any table.
ingredients
80 mini sausages
1 jar ginger preserve
1/4 of that same jar of light soy sauce
Juice of one lemon
a handful of freshly chopped coriander
...
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fig, fennel seed and goats cheese tartlets
Another perfect cocktail party snack are these tartlets. They can be eaten in one albeit considerable bite, yet the flavours are sophisticated enough for any party; swarve or simple.
ingredients
320g ready rolled short crust pastry
12 dried figs, each chopped into 4
150g goats cheese
A little olive oil for drizzling
2 tbsp fennel seeds
pinch salt and pepper
method
Preheat the oven to...
3 tags
Mushroom and Parmesan Palmiers
When having a cocktail party, I don’t necessarily want my guests to have big plates of food that they have to balance on their laps or the shoulder of their partner, so nibbles are a must. These tasty swirls are perfectly vegetarian, but the mixture of mushroom, onion and cheese seems to transform the veggie ingredients, into a meaty stuffing. Simply lovely.
ingredients (makes between 25...
strawberry jam doughnut muffins
Sometimes the simplest of recipes are the most delicious, and these muffins are just the perfect treat for a Christmas morning breakfast (though I could eat them every Sunday breakfast). There is a lot of vanilla in these, but that is what gives the doughnut like flavour.
ingredients (makes about 12 large muffins)
250g self raising flour
1 tsp bicarb of soda
125g caster sugar
250ml whole...
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coffee and walnut tea-party cake
Sometimes coffee alone isn’t quite enough to give us that ‘pick me up’ in the afternoon when we often get fatigued from the day’s slog. Panic not, with your coffee you can indulge in a slice of this cake. That having been said, it does contain quite a bit of coffee in its own right, so best not to give it to hyperactive children. You could, though, just use decaffeinated...
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One mix carrot cake & orange cream cheese frosting
This was supposed to be a birthday cake for my flatmate, but when I arrived home I couldn’t help but steal a slice, so the celebrations will have to wait (sorry Holly). If you like carrot cakes, then I am sure you will love this. There is something festive about the orangey flavours, but it is a perfect cake at any time. Even better, this is an all-in-one carrot cake.
If you really are...
Marshmallow topped brownie
Last night I had friends over for dinner, and one of them just loves brownie, so obviously I made it. I wanted to glitz it up a little bit so I though of adding marshmallows to the mix, but then forgot. So what I did was add the marshmallows after the brownie had cooked. I covered the brownie with mini marshmallows and then grilled it for a minute or so until the marshmallows began to burn.
It...
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cracked black pepper farfalle
ingredients (serves two)
150g plain flour
2 large eggs
25g cracked black pepper
method
Simply place the flour and pepper into a mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the eggs to this well and with a fork, whisk the eggs pulling the flour into them a little at a time. When all is mixed, place the dough onto a well floured surface and knead for a few minutes until smooth. Leave to...
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Pasta ai funghi con vodka e crema
This is literally pasta with mushrooms in a cream and vodka sauce, but I tell you something: it is delicious whatever its title. The woodiness of the porcini and chestnut mushrooms complements the distant sharpness of the vodka, whilst the peppercorns add a little extra kick to lift the dish into a celestial realm.
In other words, it’s tasty and is set to impress! I served this with my...
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Chocolate Marshmallow Toffee Cookies
I agree, this is a rather childish recipe, but just because I’m technically an adult doesn’t mean that I can’t revel in a little nostalgia every once in a while. These cookies are the perfect hit.
When mixing the dough together you will find it is rather smooth - almost like a cake batter - but that’s simply because the three main ingredients are in equal ratio. Anyhow,...
6 tags
November 2011
22 posts
christmas rocky road
Cranberries, ginger nuts and hazelnuts? Speaks for itself.
ingredients (makes 16 slices)
300g chocolate (I used 100 milk and 200 dark)
90g butter
3 tbsp golden syrup
150g ginger nut biscuits
10 large white marshmallows, quartered
75g hazelnuts
150g dried cranberries
2 x ‘Toffee Crisp’ bars (about 40g each), chopped
method
Line the base of a 24cm flan tin with greased...
7 tags
ginger and soy glazed ham
Christmas would not be quite the same without my mother’s roasted ham. But as with any tradition, this has evolved to suit its audience, and so I have created a hybrid between mine and my mother’s paletes. The ham itself is flavoured in a traditional, English way, whilst the glaze verges somewhat into the spiciness of Asian territory. It makes for absolutely stunning christmas...
comforting chicken curry
A good curry warms the cockles much better than any other takeaway, but sometimes I just cannot warrant parting with my money for a takeout when I can make something this good. It is more of a fragrant broth than a thick soupy curry, but that is an added bonus; better for you, and more juice to lap up with a chapati.
ingredients (serves two)
1tbsp Sunflower oil
6 spring onions
1 clove garlic
...
5 tags
baked camembert
Sometimes we all need a little sinful treat to sooth the soul, and this certainly achieves that feat. If you’re in a hurry or just too tired to cook something that requires your unadulterated attention, then this is the recipe for you. Imagine crusty, white bread dipped into a quick, thyme-scented fondue.
Ingredients (serves four as a starter, or two as a cosy, romantic supper)
2 boxed...
8 tags
Christmas Hazelnut Brownies
I recently saw someone’s ‘tweet’ asking for a recipe for christmassy brownies and so I immediately thought of hazelnuts. It isn’t a massive deviation from a normal brownie recipe, as most you find will call for chopped nuts, but it is enough to transform the normal chocolatey goodness of these gooey cretins, into something festive and rather uplifting.
ingredients
100g...
7 tags
Mocha, Cherry and Amaretto Roulade
I once had a cocktail containing these ingredients and it became my absolute favourite. These flavours don’t just complement one another; they enhance one another.
ingredients
3 large eggs
80g sugar
80g plain flour
2tbsp cocoa powder
1tbsp milk
1tbsp instant coffee granules
Red food colouring, powder or paste is best
150ml double cream
2tbsp instant coffee granules
30ml Amaretto...
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A boy's pudding for a man's flu
I’m riddled with man flu, and in desperate attempts to shift it I’ve tried all sorts of ginger-lemon concoctions but to no avail. When I was little my mum would always have cans of rice pudding in the cupboard, and that is exactly what I need to help me now. Because I am sick you’ll have to excuse my lack of measurements, but all I did was throw a cup of pudding/paella rice...