Whipped Feta Salad

Whipped Feta Salad

200g + 50g feta, crumbled
100ml milk
350g cherry tomatoes, halved
1 small cucumber, diced
a handful of basil, chopped
half an onion, finely chopped
30ml balsamic vinegar
30ml olive oil
20g pine nuts, toasted

Crumble the feta into a blender’s cup and add half the milk.
Blitz with an immersion blender until it becomes emulsified – add the rest of the milk a little at a time, aiming for a creamy consistency that will sit on a plate.
Crumb the 50g feta into the whipped feta and spread on a serving plate.
Add the halved tomatoes, cucumber, basil and onion to a mixing bowl and pour over the balsamic, olive oil and salt and pepper.
Mix together and spoon on to the whipped feta.
Scatter over the toasted pine nuts and a few extra basil leaves.

Green Bean Fritters

Green Bean Fritters

350g green beans, sliced into 1cm lengths
200g flour
10ml baking powder
5ml curry powder
2,5ml ground turmeric
5ml salt
2,5ml white pepper
2 eggs
half an onion, very finely chopped
90ml water
vegetable oil for frying

Place the prepared green beans in a saucepan oven medium-high heat, add about 500ml water and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain well and set aside to cool.
Add the flour, baking powder, curry powder, turmeric, salt and pepper to a mixing bowl and stir together.
Add the cooled beans and mix again.
Add the eggs, onion and water to a bowl and whisk together.
Pour into the bean mixture and stir to form a batter.
Place a pan on medium-high heat, add enough oil to generously cover the bottom and wait for it to heat up.
Fry spoonfuls of the mixture for 3-4 minutes per side.
Serve the fritters warm.

Roasted Broccoli

Roasted Broccoli

one head of broccoli
60ml olive oil
60ml dried breadcrumbs
150ml finely grated parmesan/ementhal cheese
5ml garlic powder
2,5ml salt

Preheat your oven to 220℃ and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Break/cut the broccoli into florets and add it to a bowl.
Drizzle over the olive oil and toss with your hands to coat the broccoli.
Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs, half the parmesan, garlic powder, salt and a few grindings of black pepper.
Mix together, rubbing slightly in order to make the flavourings stick to the broccoli.
Spread the florets in an even layer on the baking sheet, sprinkle over the rest of the parmesan and roast in the oven for 15 minutes.
Stir and flip the florets and bake another 10 minutes.
Serve immediately.

Quick Beetroot Salad

Quick Beetroot Salad

4 beets, cooked, peeled and cubed
30ml olive oil
30ml balsamic vinegar
1 small red onion, cut into thin slices
a pinch of salt
30ml chopped chives
a handful of walnut halves
50g feta cheese

Add the cubed beetroot, olive oil, balsamic, red onion and pinch of salt to a bowl and mix together.
Spoon onto a serving platter and scatter over the chives and walnuts.
Top the salad by crumbing the feta over.

White Bean Soup

White Bean Soup

30ml olive oil
30g butter
4 cloves of garlic, minced
3 x 400g cans of cannellini beans
500ml vegetable stock
5ml finely chopped rosemary
5ml finely chopped thyme leaves
sourdough croutons to serve

Place a saucepan on medium-high heat, add the olive oil and butter and wait for the pan to heat up.
Add the garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute.
Drain 2 of the cans of beans and add the beans to the saucepan.
Pour the third can of beans, liquid and all, into a liquidiser and blitz until smooth.
Add to the saucepan.
Pour in the stock and add the rosemary and thyme.
Grind over some black pepper and stir together.
Bring the soup to a boil, turn the heat down and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring every now and then.
Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
Serve piping hot with freshly made croutons.

Bocconcini Pasta Salad

Bocconcini Pasta Salad

500g fussily pasta, cooked and cooled
350g cocktail tomatoes, halved
60ml chopped parsley
60ml chopped basil
300g bocconcini cheese balls, halved
1 red onion, finely chopped
Dressing:
125g basil pesto
60ml olive oil
45ml red wine vinegar
15ml granulated mustard

Add the cooled pasta, tomatoes, parsley, basil, bocconcini and red onion to a large bowl and toss through.
For the dressing:
Blitz together the basil pesto, olive oil, red wine vinegar and mustard.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss again.
Season with salt and pepper to serve.

Spicy Fried Rice

Spicy Fried Rice

15g butter
15ml olive oil
1 large/2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 carrots, finely diced
50g curry paste (I used Rogan Josh paste – use a milder paste if you are not a fan of heat!!)
30ml tomato paste
500ml cooked rice
45ml soy sauce

Place a large pan over medium-high heat and add the butter and oil.
Add the onion and fry until soft and translucent.
Add the garlic and stir-fry for one minute.
Now add the carrots and fry for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the curry and tomato paste and stir to mix through.
Add the cooked rice and stir until the rice is evenly coated.
Pour in the soy sauce and cook for 2 minutes, until the soy has been absorbed.
Serve warm.

Cheesey Wedges

Cheesey Wedges

Potato
100g butter
200g cheese, grated

Preheat your oven to 180℃.
Slice each potato in quarters and place in a muffin tin. (watch video)
Dot the potato with butter and sprinkle over some salt.
Cover with aluminium foil and bake in the oven for 50 minutes.
Remove the foil, sprinkle some cheese on each potato and bake for another 10 minutes.
Eat immediately!

Orange Glazed Carrots

Orange Glazed Carrots

1kg carrots, peeled
60ml butter, cubed
grated zest of one orange
2 + 2 oranges
125ml brown sugar
30ml thyme leaves
30ml pumpkin seeds

Fill a saucepan with water, add the carrots and bring to the boil.
Cook for 5-6 minutes until almost done – the cooking time will of course depend on the size of the carrots.
Drain and pat dry with a tea towel.
Place a pan on medium-high heat, add the butter and wait for it to melt.
Now add the orange zest, 60ml orange juice and the brown sugar.
Stir until most of the sugar has dissolved.
Add the carrots to the pan and season with salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the glaze is shiny and thick enough to coat the carrots – between 5 and 10 minutes.
Watch the carrots in the glaze and regulate the heat – they burn easily.
Peel and slice the other two oranges and arrange the slices on a serving plate. Place the carrots on top of the orange.
Drizzle over any glaze in the pan, scatter the thyme leaves and pumpkin seeds over and serve with a smile.


Tartiflette

Tartiflette

1kg potatoes
200g bacon, diced
30g butter
2 onions, thinly sliced
125ml dry white wine
125ml cream
450g soft rind cheese of your choice, I used Camembert, traditionally Reblochon is used

Peel the potatoes and slice them into 1cm thick rounds.
Add the potato to a large saucepan and pour in enough cold water to cover. Season the water with salt and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook until the rounds are just tender – about 25minutes.
Drain the potato rounds and return to the saucepan. Set aside.
Preheat your oven to 180℃.
Place a saucepan on medium-high heat and add the bacon.
Lower the heat once the fat renders, add the butter and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the onions, season with salt and pepper and cook until soft and translucent.
Add the wine and cook for a further 2 minutes.
Add the potato rounds and mix through.
Pour the cream over and mix again.
Spoon the mixture into an ovenproof dish.
Slice the cheese into halves, horizontally and arrange on top, cut-side down.
Bake in the oven for 40 minutes – the cheese should be melted, bubbling and golden brown on top.
Serve immediately.