Black bean and sweetcorn enchiladas

With additional chicken/turkey for the carnivores.

Finely chop a red onion and gently fry in small amount of oil until starting to turn translucent.

Stir in 1tsp of ground cumin and half tsp chilli powder and cook for a couple of minutes. If using meat, add good handful of chunks of cooked chicken/turkey.

Add large tin worth of sweetcorn (I typically use frozen), a drained tin of black beans and a few tablespoons of passata and heat through.

Divide between 6 tortilla wraps, form into enchiladas placing in large lasagne dish (either greased and/oron a small amount of home made tomato sauce). Top with rest of tomato sauce and grated cheddar. Cook in oven at 180C for about 30 minutes

Christmas 2022

Christmas Eve

Mary Berry Clementine glazed gammon - the only difference was I cooked in slow cooker on low overnight allowing it to cool completely during the day. Might try doing so during the day, as in for 8 hours rather than 12.

Orange Tofu https://www.theconsciousplantkitchen.com/orange-tofu-recipe/ was good idea but not as crispy as should have been, possibly as it was in the oven at the same time as the gammon. As in will try and find a different recipe for new year.

Christmas Day

As for the last couple of years the turkey (5kg) was crowned and legs and thighs deboned and cooked as per Jamie Oliver Turkey crown and legs with Apricot and sausage stuffing. 

Chicken wing gravy  was made in advance. Not sure if will do again but it did save some time on Christmas Day (and I have a number of chicken rissoles in the freezer as a byproduct).

For the pescatarian James Martin’s Salmon en croute (including the buerre blanc). Said pescatarian would have preferred the skin to be removed first. Those eating it the following day were more than happy to have skin on. 

Didn’t actually eat pudding on Christmas Day as our guest came with an array of wonderful cheeses and crackers.

Sitting in the freezer awaiting for when I do cook the pudding is:

Brandy Ice cream

Separate 4 eggs. Whisk the whites until stiff then gradually whisk in 100g caster sugar until you have a thick glossy meringue. Fold in the egg yolks.

Whisk together 300ml double cream with 4tbsp brandy until thick. Fold into the meringue mixture.

Freeze overnight (for at least 12 hours).

Quinoa and Turmeric Fritters

 Great friend was enjoying these so much cold on a recent walk I had to try them. Based on Deliciously Ella recipe:

340g sweet potato peeled, chopped into chunks and cooked in microwave until soft

260g quinoa rinsed under cold water until the water runs clear. Put in saucepan with juice of a lemon and 600ml of boiling water. Boil for a couple of minutes and then cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the quinoa is fluffy (all water should have been absorbed. If it gets too dry then add more water)

Blend the sweet potato with juice of a lemon (yes another one), 4tbsp tahini (or a nut butter), 4 tbsp tomato puree, 2 tsp ground turmeric, 2tsp ground cumin, 8 tbsp buckwheat flour and S&P until smooth.

In a bowl combine the sweet potato mix and the Quinoa 'until nice and sticky'

Divide into 12 fritters and bake in a 180(fan) oven for 20 minutes.

Afternoon tea - Platinum Jubilee Weekend

 Sandwiches:

- Salmon, Cucumber, cream cheese in white bread

- Egg and cress mayonnaise in wholemeal bread

- Humous, avocado, tomato and rocket in multigrain bread

Coronation chicken / Coronation chickpea in little gem lettuce leaves

- the sauce: 1tbsp mango chutney, 3tbsp  mayonnaise, 1tbsp crème fraiche (replace with an extra tbsp of mayo if you don’t happen to have an open pot), 1tsp medium curry powder

- I added chopped blanched french beans in the chickpea variant and sultanas in each.

Pineapple and cheese on cocktail sticks.

Cheese straws made from pre rolled puff pastry with cheddar and sprinkling of cayenne rolled in centre and extra cheese on top. Needed a sprinkling of salt.

Lemon shortbread: https://www.theenglishkitchen.co/2020/10/marys-perfect-shortbread.html adding lemon zest to go with lemon posset, and to replace the shortbread recipe in

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/lemonpossetwithlemon_85812 

Coconut macaroons https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/baking-and-desserts/coconut-macaroons/

Peanut butter cups https://tasty.co/recipe/3-ingredient-peanut-butter-cups (Really must put into mini cupcake paper cases next time).

Scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream.

Breakfast / Brunch recipes

 

American Pancakes

Feta and Beetroot with poached egg

Hueovos Rancheros

Tomatoes and Eggs - Shakshuka

Shakshuka - tomatoes and eggs

 

• From BBC Good Food - serves 4

  The sauce - as in before you add the eggs - can be frozen for 1 month.
  
  
  Heat 1tbsp olive oil in a frying pan that has a lid, then soften the 2 chopped red onions, 1 finely chopped red chilli, 1 sliced garlic clove and chopped stalks from a small bunch of coriander for 5 mins until soft. Stir in two cans of chopped tomatoes (cherry if possible) and 1tsp caster sugar, then bubble for 8-10 mins until thick.
  

  
  

  Using the back of a large spoon, make 4 dips in the sauce, then crack an egg into each one. Put a lid on the pan, then cook over a low heat for 6-8 mins, until the eggs are done to your liking. Scatter with the coriander leaves and serve with crusty bread.

Gammon Recipes

Slow Cooked Treacle Gammon

Orange and Pomegranate Gammon

 Slow Cooker Gammon recipes:

• Orange juice, ginger paste and soy sauce
• Orange juice and balsamic glaze

Pineapple Sauce to go with Gammon

Slow cooker - glazed gammon

Only make if around to turn the gammon as this is much needed step. 

Works just fine with unsmoked gammon. If larger than 750g then no need to increase the amount of liquid and sugar (although review that next time I cook it). Possibly don't need more than the 8 hours neither. Note to self for next time - use the brown crockpot

For 750g smoked gammon joint, mix 70g dark brown sugar, 70ml balsamic vinegar and 70 ml of orange juice in the slow cooker and coat the joint. Cook on low for 8+ hours turning every two hours OR on high for 4 hours turning every hour.

Leftovers from Christmas 2021

As well as the turkey we had a beef rib (2 ribs) roast on 30th Jan. 

Turkey: either eaten in sandwiches / with bubble and squeak or in the freezer.  In the freezer there are two lots of turkey with gravy for eating with roast potatoes etc, chunks for a curry and some large bits of the breast for use in yet to be determined leftover dish(es).

To use up some of the double cream and stilton a new recipe below - Stilton, Mushroom and Leek Pasta Bake.

A favourite which it appears I haven't typed up as yet, so rectifying that now - Beef Marikoff

Stilton, Mushroom and Leek Pasta Bake

The quantities are for four. If only two eating then freeze half of the mixture before baking.

Preheat oven to 180C

Cook 500g of dried pasta (penne is good) until al dente. 

In a saucepan on a low heat melt a knob of butter with a tbsp olive oil then add 1 sliced leek . Cook for about 5 minutes then add 125g sliced chestnut mushrooms. Put lid on and cook for another 5 minutes until the mushrooms are golden brown. Then add a good splash of white wine, simmer for a couple of minutes then add 75ml double cream. Crumble in 125g blue cheese and stir until the cheese has melted. Season.

Add the cooked pasta and combine. Put into an ovenproof dish and either crumble over a further 30g of blue cheese OR top with a breadcrumb and parmesan mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes, covering with foil if it starts getting too brown.

Beef Marikoff

Quantities are for 2. You can substitute creme fraiche or soured cream for the double cream and lemon juice.

Using the rarest bit of your leftover beef joint, cut 225g into thin strips about 2.5cm long. Thinly slice half a large onion into half moons.

Melt a knob of butter with a tbsp olive oil and cook the onion rings until they are soft and transparent. Add the beef, 1tbsp tomato puree, 75ml double cream and half tsp lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper and a pinch of paprika. Simmer gently for a few minutes.

Serve with boiled rice.