Thursday, November 29, 2012

Dinner Party: Menu 2

Appetizers
Salmon Sushi Rolls (Tempura) with Bread crumbs! 
Served on Board, bed of chopped cabbage & spring onions, Sweet & chili sauce and Soya/ginger sauce
(This can be pre-made and just dip,coat and fry when ready to sit at the table)

Tomato Soup served in small tea cups with LOTS Cheese sticks
(Cheese sticks take about 15-20 mins)

Main
Roast Beef

Roast Potatoes and Thyme
Peas garnished with butter and fresh herbs
Yorkshire puds
Real gravy - served piping hot in a jug
Mint sauce


Dessert
Creme Caramel garnished with sliced pears
Lemon grass Tea

Monday, November 26, 2012

Tangerine Cake



Ingredients
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 or 5 small ripe Tangerines
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Boil tangerines in water (just cover) leave to cool.
Cut horizontally and take out pips

Blend in processor, 'whole',  skin and all.
Separate whites from yolks and whisk to stiff peaks.

Preheat your oven to 350° F (180° C). Grease and flour a tube pan. 
With an electric mixer or by hand, beat together the yolks and sugar until thick. 
Gradually beat in the oil.
Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt. 
Beat until smooth, and then mix in the tangerine slush and vanilla.
Fold in whites.
Pour the batter into your prepared pan, and bake for about 40 minutes, or until the cake tests done.
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 7 to 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to finish cooling.

Source Link - click Here

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Quinoa & Yams



Quinoa (& red?)
Yams
Coriander
Parmesan shavings
Olive oil

Monday, November 12, 2012

Pear Pie


Souce Link/Recipe - Click here


Here the pastry was made without an egg, just Plain flour, cold water, cold butter.




1 + 1/4 Plain flour
120g butter
1/2 tsp.  Salt
Cold water (till form a dough)
Vinegar
Sugar to sprinkle on top
Milk to brush.

Filling:
Pears
Mixed spices : cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, coriander (perhaps)
Vinegar
Sugar
Cornflour

Cut pears in desired size, toss in vinegar and sugar, spices and cornflour.
(Cornflour ensures a thick syrup rather than fruit swimming watery liquid)

Dice butter into small pieces.  Add salt.
Add the cold water tablespoon at a time till form a stiff dough. Chill in fridge.
Roll out and place top of fruit.
Brush with milk and sprinkle sugar

For sweet, add lemon zest, for savoury dried herbs ie oregano, thyme etc., adds flavour and a pretty speckled effect.

Source Link for Pastry Recipe - Click Here





Paella




Ingredients

Olive Oil
Garlic chopped
Onion chopped
Green Runner Beans
Peas
Tomatoes - Fresh Pureed
Rice
Prawns
Mixed cured meat ie salami, sausages, pastrama,
Rice
Paprika
Turmeric
Mixed spices (ground cloves, cardammon, cinnammon,nutmeg)
Coriander seeds grounded
Salt Pepper
Worchestershire sauce
Soya
Coriander or Parsley or both - chopped
Chili- chopped
White wine or stock or boiling water
Lemon wedges for serving


Heat and soften onions and garlic.
Add meats and brown.
Add beans and peas.

Add spices: mixed, paprika, tumeric, coriander seeds, pepper,chili, mix.
Add raw rice,stir well
Add tomatoes,stir.
Add liquid (white wine/stock)
Add green leaves ie coriander leaves.
Add seafood on top.
Close lid and bake in oven 180oc till done.

Serve with plenty of lemon wedges.

Source link - Click here

Spicy Sticky Self-Saucing Pudding


Ingredients

  • Scant 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons self-rising flour
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup of oil 
  • mixed spice: cloves; cardammon; nutmeg;cinnamon (ginger optional)

For the sauce:

  • 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • mixed spice (see above)
  • Approximately 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in little blobs
  • 2 1/4 cups boiling water

    Combine flour, sugar and spices.
    Beat in egg and milk.
    Mix in oil
Pour into a buttered dish.
Sprinkle brown sugar, sprinkle mixed spice.
Dot butter on top
Pour boiling water all over.

Bake in oven 190 oC for about 40 mins. till sponge is soft and crunchy on top.

Serve piping hot preferably on a rainy Winter's eve with whipped cream.
Deliciously sweet and spicy.
Comfort food at its best.


Tweaked from Nigella Lawson and link below.
Source link - Click here


Sunday, November 4, 2012

Pear Bakewell Tart





Pears

Bakewell filling
Bakewell filling - Recipe 3


French Tart Pastry
thanks to: french pastry

Friday, November 2, 2012

Quiches

Courgette - Sausage Quiche 


Carrots and Bell Peppers Quiche with Herby Yams



Mujaddara


One of those modest simple classics,  no wonder I use this so often for shabbat dinners.

When I make this I know that atleast I have the starch part of the meal out of the way, easily and quickly.  I still get to go to the beach on the afternoon before the evening meal.  That's how easy this dish is!

Like all dishes with simple few ingredients there are so many variants depending on mood and person.

Spices are usually Turmeric, Cumin, then the rest is your choice, my holy trinity here is Turmeric, Cumin, ground Coriander seeds, I've seen cinnamon, cardamon, paprika added too. It really is your choice.



The basic recipe

Onions chopped
Garlic chopped (optional)
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper
Coriander leaves for garnish
Black Lentils (soaked overnight) 1/2 cup
Rice 1cup (uncooked rice) I use jasmine
Water 1cup BOILING
Spices: Turmeric, Cumin, Coriander seeds grounded - or what ever you have and like, no rules here

Heat splash of olive oil and fry onions and garlic till soft.
Add spices (ie turmeric, cumin, ground coriander seeds) and toast spices.
Add soaked lentils. Stir well
Add salt
Add raw rice.  Stir well so all is coated
Add BOILING water, make sure all the rice is covered. Cover with lid.
Place on low heat for 30 mins.
After 30 minutes all the water should have been absorbed.
Do not raise lid if possible
Close heat and let to stand

* Note: I try to always have a stash of post-soaked lentils in the freezer, that way I can just take out, thaw (if no time to thaw just throw in the pan and cook from frozen) I make this dish when ever I need something fast, tasty and good-looking.  This dish really is a life saver when unexpected vegetarian friends jump over or after a busy day at work or on the beach, this simply gets the carbs on the menu sorted, and out of the way.  Often I make a quiche to go with , served with a sauce such as tzatziki or tehina along side a simple salad.
Voila suppers on the table!

If you use other types of rice such as Basmati or Perisan please let me know what water/rice ratio you use.  Thanks

Another cooking option is to bake, this eliminates any chance of burning the bottom of the pan also from burning the rice.

Bake in pre-heated oven 180c till rice is light and fluffy, about 30 mins.

Option 1:  Toast nuts/seeds such as sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds and sprinkle on top, dust with red paprika and corriander leaves for maximum effect and serve.

Option 2:  Fry thin julienne cuts of fresh ginger and sprinkle on top, serve.

Peach-Pear Bakewell Tart














 
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