I love Koftas, usually with Lamb but I decided to try chickpeas instead in my bid to eat more healthier and plant based. These were just as good if not better in my eyes, delicious and nutritious and full of texture. Really simple to make too.
Place chickpeas, carrot, kofta seasoning and coriander in a bowl and mix together using your hands to mash the chickpeas together. Shape into 4 -6 into a rugby ball shape roughly of equal quantities.
Heat a little oil in a fry pan and cook for a few minutes each side until browned, place koftas onto an oven-proof tray, drizzle each one with a tablespoon of the pomegranate molasses an bake in an oven 200 deg for about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix the cacik paste with the yoghurt and chopped cucumber, set aside.
To serve, place koftas on a toasted flatbread or serve with a side salad and drizzle the yoghurt dressing over.
This little dish was super tasty and nutritious too, Sweet Potatoes are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, and a good source of fiber, vitamin B-6 and potassium. And like all vegetables, they’re relatively low in calories — one-half of a large sweet potato has just 81 calories.
Peanuts, they’re an excellent plant-based source of protein and high in various vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. They can be useful as a part of a weight loss diet and may reduce your risk of both heart disease.
INGREDIENTS
500g Sweet Potato – Peeled and sliced
3 Large Tbsps of Crunchy Peanut Butter
2 Tbsps Sunflower Oil
2 Clove Garlic, chopped or crushed
2 Chillies, chopped finely
150ml Double Cream
1 Lime & Lime Zest
Salt & Pepper
METHOD
Mix the sweet potato, chillies, garlic and 1 tbsp of oil in a large bowl until coated
Pour in the double cream and season with salt & pepper, mix well.
Beat together the peanut butter and 1 tbsp oil with the lime juice and zest
In an oven proof dish, lay 1 layer of the sweet potato mix, then dollop on top evenly the peanut butter mix.
Finish with a final layer of the sweet potato mix and pour over the remaining cream, season to taste.
Bake covered with foil in a fan oven at 190 deg for 20 minutes, remove foil and continue to bake for about 30 minutes until nice and browned on top.
Oh you are going to love this one! A cheeky little casserole dish that is full of flavour and great for the whole family. This is definitely a dish for my comfort food list.
Serves 4
500g Minced Scottish beef
1 Yellow onion, finely chopped
1 Tsp minced garlic
1/2 Tsp Cayenne pepper
Salt & Black pepper
2 Tsp flour
100ml Beef stock
150g Grated cheese
Handful of Frozen peas
4 Slices of smoked bacon, cut into bite size pieces
10-12 Small Hash Brown Waffles cut in half or quartered
Preheat oven to 210 deg.
In a fry pan add a little oil and fry the onions & bacon with the garlic, add the beef, season with salt & pepper and cook through until browned, add in the cayenne pepper and flour and stir then pour in the beef stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 2 minutes.
Fold in the peas and half of the grated cheese, transfer to an oven proof dish then top with the remaining cheese and hash browns. Bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy!
My lovely neighbour came across with some fresh Kale the other day from her garden, so I decided to give a Chicken & Kale Lasagne a go, and this was delicious, full of flavour, nutritious and filling all at the same time. Another great wee recipe that the family can share.
Kale contains fiber, antioxidants, calcium, vitamins C and K, iron, and a wide range of other nutrients that can help prevent various health problems. Antioxidants help the body remove unwanted toxins that result from natural processes and environmental pressures. It’s low in calories, low in fat, high on protein and potassium too, so a good all rounder vegetable to add to you diet.
Recipe makes 2 portions
For the Filling:-
2 Chicken Breasts
1 Bunch of kale
1 Carrot, grated
1 Leek, thinly sliced
1 Clove garlic, crushed
1/4 Tsp Nutmeg
1/2 Tsp Smoked Paprika
200g Chicken Stock
Salt & Pepper to season
Lasagne Sheets
For the Sauce (or you can use a Bechamel instead if you prefer):-
300ml Creme Fraiche
150g Grated Cheese (of your choice, I used a mild cheddar) plus 50g optional for topping
Season chicken breasts and place in a pan with the chicken stock, bring to the boil then simmer for about 45 mins – 1 hour, then shred with 2 forks. Most of the stock should have evaporated.
Pre-heat your oven to 180 deg.
Blanch the kale in boiling water for about 1 minute, drain and slice into fine pieces.
Add to the pan the leeks, kale & carrot along with seasoning, garlic & nutmeg, stir through until mixed and warmed, a few minutes.
Meanwhile, in a separate pan mix on a low heat the creme fraiche & cheese to make a smooth sauce. Do not allow to boil or the creme fraiche will curdle.
In an oven proof dish, layer your lasagne, chicken filling first then lasagne sheets, then more filling, then lasagne sheets. Pour over your sauce mix evenly and finish with extra cheese and little sprinkle of smoked paprika. Bake in an oven for 45 minutes or until topping is browned and bubbling.
Who wants a pudding for breakfast? Oh yes….this little 2 minute pudding is perfect, nutritious, filling, tasty & quick to make, whats not to love!
I love my porridge in the morning as you may know, especially in the winter months. I love experimenting with different techniques & flavours and I just had to try this, the great thing is that you can add any flavour you like, making it your own.
Oats are gluten free and whole oats are rich in antioxidants making them great for you. A great source of fibre & good carbs too.
Makes 1 Cup
40g Porridge Oats
1 Medium Egg
120ml Yoghurt (whichever flavour you prefer, I used Raspberry)
1 Tbsp of raisins & dried Goji berries
1/2 Tsp Vanilla essence (or you could use cinnamon or any flavouring of your choice)
1 Tbsp of Chopped walnuts & seeds for topping (or you could use banana or blueberries etc)
1 Tbsp Yoghurt for topping
Place oats, egg, 120ml yoghurt, raisins & berries along with essence into a mug and mix through until combined.
Cook at 800w power in a microwave for 2 minutes, ensuring it doesn’t spill over, remove, loosen the edges with a spatula or knife and tip onto a plate
Finish off with some yoghurt, nuts & seeds and enjoy!
The Noble Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish, it is positively celebrated especially on 25th January each year, the birthday of Robert (Robbie/Rabbie) Burns whose 18th century poem ‘Address to a Haggis’ was instrumental in ensuring the Haggis’s place in the nations hearts.
Haggis is made from the meat & insides of sheep consisting of the heart, liver and lungs then combined with onions, oatmeal, suet, seasoning & spices. The mix is then stuffed into the sheep’s lining of the stomach and boiled. Haggis, Neeps & Tatties is the most common dish but I have been experimenting with what more we can do with this traditional food. This dish is definitely now on my Top list of comfort dishes, so filling, so satisfying & full of flavour.
Serves 2 large/ 4 small portions
450g Haggis, chopped into bite size pieces
300ml Creme Fraiche
150g Tangy White Cheese, grated
1 Leek, sliced
150g Cooked Beetroot (not pickled) – (dry with kitchen paper and using a kitchen glove, grate it coarsely)
Lasagne Pasta Sheets
Cracked Black/ Rainbow Pepper
Pre-heat the oven to 180 deg c.
Combine the creme fraiche and half the cheese, warm through in a pan on low heat to form a smooth sauce (do not boil as it will cause the creme fraiche to curdle), set aside.
Put a little spray oil in a pan and gently fry the leeks until softened. Add in the haggis and beetroot, mix through until combined and warmed through.
Pile half the haggis mixture into an ovenproof dish, arrange the pasta sheets on top, then the remaining haggis onto the pasta sheets and then another layer of pasta sheets. Cover the top with the white sauce, season with pepper and sprinkle over the remaining cheese. Bake for about 35 minutes until bubbling and golden. Remove & Enjoy.
I had the pleasure of attending a live cooking session with Chef Ann Nolan (training chef with Whirlpool Cooperation) recently, the session was very informative and I learned a few tricks that I never knew! ‘Everyday is a school day as they say’, One of the recipes was this delicious Vegetable Quinoa Bowl and I just had to share with all of you as it was absolutely mouthwatering, so refreshing on the palate. The great thing about this recipe is that it is simple to make and if you don’t like an ingredient it is easily changeable to something you do. We all love the simple things in life, do we not?
Quinoa is higher in nutrients than most grains with protein & fibre being the highest and only contains 2g of fat per 100g, so very nutritious and not fatty at all. Quinoa is a good source of several minerals, including manganese, phosphorus, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Quinoa may reduce blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglycerides. It’s weight loss friendly, gluten-free, and has been shown to increase the nutrient and antioxidant value of gluten-free diets.
Serves 4
For the Quinoa:-
125g Raw Quinoa
350ml Vegetable Stock
1/4 Tsp Salt
1/4 Tsp Black Pepper
1 Tsp Olive Oil
For the Coriander Lime Dressing:-
Handful of coriander, washed, keep stem
6 Spring Onions, roots removed, washed & cut into thirds (use the white part)
1/2 Large Avocado, peeled and diced
3 Limes, squeezed for juice only
1 Tsp Kosher Salt
60 ml Olive Oil
For the Vegetable Toppings:-
1 Red Onion, cut unto 1/4″ slices
2 Red Peppers, cut into 1/4″ slices
400g Tin of Black beans or Red Kidney Beans (you could also use chickpeas)
8-10 Cherry Tomatoes, quartered
1/2 Avocado, diced
4 Eggs (1 egg per portion)
Spray Oil
Salt & Pepper to taste
Place the quinoa into a saucepan with the vegetable stock, seasoning & oil, bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer, cover with a lid and simmer for about 15-20 mins until quinoa has absorbed the stock, take off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Do not stir while simmering, just leave it, fluff up with a fork after the 5 minutes resting time.
Meanwhile, lets make the dressing…..place all of the ingredients (except the oil) into a food processor and blend together, then slowly drizzle in the oil scraping down the sides as you go along. Keep adding oil until you get the consistency you like, whether that be thick or thin, it’s up to you. Move to the side for later.
Heat a little spray oil in a saute/ fry pan on medium to high heat, add the red onions & red peppers with seasoning and cook until slightly softened and browned, leave in pan.
Heat the beans in a small pan on medium heat, 4-5 mins until warmed through.
In a non stick fry pan (with lid) spray a little oil and bring to a medium heat, crack the eggs into the pan & season, let the egg become opaque then add about 4 tablespoons water, put the lid on and steam cook the eggs, no need to turn. Check after about 1-2 minutes, when the egg is white it’s ready, take pan of heat until ready to serve.
To plate, distribute evenly the quinoa, then peppers and onion, sliced avocado and then the beans and tomatoes, drizzle over your dressing then add the egg to the top….ENJOY!
Alternative options to try:-
*Roasted mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, spring onions, garlic dressing
This recipe is so easy to make and is packed full of flavour, great one for the whole family, especially as you can adjust your own Chilli portions. I made it a lighter option too with the lower fat Philadelphia and it tasted delicious, you would never know it wasn’t full fat.
Serves 2
2 Chicken Breasts, diced into bite size pieces
100g Wholegrain Pasta
1 White onion, diced finely
1 400g Tin Tomatoes
1 Red pepper, diced
150g Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1 Tsp crushed red chilli flakes
1 Tsp of Italian Seasoning
Handful fresh Basil to serve.
Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook your pasta until soft (about 8-10 minutes)
Meanwhile, in a fry pan on medium heat, season with salt & pepper the chicken and brown, add in the onions and peppers & cook until softened (few minutes). Next add in the chilli and mix.
Pour in the tin tomatoes and Italian seasoning and mix though, reduce to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes.
Next add in the cream cheese and mix through until melted, then when pasta is ready, drain and add to the pan, mix through until coated and simmer for a few minutes.
I do love Bruschetta, in fact anything Italian, it has to be my 2nd favourite cuisine, next to Scottish Cooking, of course!
This is a classic recipe that never fails to satisfy the taste buds. Bruschetta is an antipasto starter consisting of toasted bread with oil and garlic, topped with tomatoes & basil. It’s light & refreshing, a perfect snack, starter or party food dish.
Serves 10-12
1 Baguette or any crusty bread- sliced diagonally (try Tiger bread, its delicious too)
250g Cherry Tomatoes – sliced into quarters
1-2 Garlic Cloves – crushed
Fresh Basil leaves – chopped or 2 tsp dried basil
30ml Balsamic Vinegar (use a good quality one – you’ll taste the difference)
60ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil (use a good quality one)
1/2 Small red onion – chopped finely
1 Tsp Sea salt
1 Tsp Cracked Rainbow Pepper
Place the diced tomatoes, red onion, garlic, basil, balsamic vinegar & olive oil into a bowl & mix through. Season with salt & pepper. Cover & refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavours to infuse.
When ready to serve, brush the bread with a little olive oil & garlic, grill lightly under a medium grill heat until lightly toasted.
Spoon mixture onto the bread, sprinkle a little basil & serve. Enjoy!
I am always looking for healthier options but without compromise on flavour and enjoy sourcing locally. I started growing my own vegetables last year too and plan to grow more next year, so this recipe uses up homegrown tatties, onions and carrots from my garden (my swede are not quite ready yet).
My local butcher Forbes Raeburn in Huntly provided me with some delicious diced beef this weekend, my initial plan was to make a steak pie for Sundays dinner but having vegetables to use up, this little recipe was the outcome and definitely one I will make over and over again. End of summer is fast approaching and the colder days to set in soon, this recipe is a sure winner for all the family to warm you up from the inside. Very nutritional too as it’s high in protein, low in saturated fat and packs in your vegetable count.
Serves 4
For the Stew
1 Medium Potato, diced small
2 Celery Sticks, chopped small
2 Garlic Cloves, crushed
750g Diced Beef
1 Beef Stock Cube
1 Large Onion (or 2 medium)
1 Carrott, diced small
1 Tsp Dried Thyme
1 Tbsp Tomato Puree
2 Tsps Brown Sauce
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
Salt & Black Pepper to taste
For the Mash
1 Large Potato, chopped & peeled
1 Small Swede, chopped and peeled
3 Large Carrotts, chopped & peeled
Pepper to taste
Preheat your oven to Fan 160 deg.
Spray a casserole pan with low calorie oil on medium heat, add the celery, garlic and 3/4 onions and fry for about 10 minutes or until slightly caramelised. Meanwhile in a fry pan heat spray oil on medium heat, season the beef cubes and fry until browned.
Remove the casserole pan with the veg and add in thyme, tomato puree, brown sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock cube with 700ml boiling water. Puree using a stick blender then add to the casserole pan the beef, potato chunks, chopped carrot and rest of the onion, bring to the boil then cover and transfer to the oven to cook for about 1.5-2 hrs until tender, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile make the mash, put the potato, swede & carrot into a pan of water and bring to the boil, reduce to simmer and cook for about 45 minutes until tender. Drain and mash then season with pepper.
A Healthier Twist to your normal Nacho dish. I had some Bagels left and decided to give this a shot, it worked perfectly adding that little bit of crunch to the bake. Easy to make to & just 30 minutes to bake in total which makes this dish a great quick family meal. I served it with a refreshing homemade spicy salsa which was a great accompaniment.
Serves 4
2 Large Chicken Breasts, cut into bite size pieces
2 Bagels, cut into bite sized pieces
Small head of Broccoli, cut into small pieces
400g Tin of mixed beans (or baked beans)
200g Tin of tinned tomatoes
2 Tsp Smoked Paprika
2 Fresh Tomatoes, diced
1/2 Red Onion, diced
Small handful or chopped coriander
1 Chilli, diced
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 Lime
1 Avocado, diced
100g Mature Cheddar (lighter option to make it healthier)
2 Tbsp Oil or spray oil
Preheat your oven to 190 deg. Drizzle the bagel pieces with 1 tbsp oil and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for 15 minutes tossing halfway to brown. Remove from oven.
Meanwhile, spray a fry pan with oil and heat to a medium heat, season the chicken and coat in the paprika then add to warm pan to brown, 10 minutes. Add in the broccoli and mix through for a few minutes. Next add in the beans and tin tomatoes, stir through. Transfer to a baking dish.
Top the chicken mixture with the baked bagels then top with the grated cheese. Place into the oven and bake for about 10 minutes until cheese is melted.
Meanwhile to make the salsa, put the diced tomatoes, chilli, onion, avocado, coriander into a bowl and mix, pour 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar along with half juice of lime and mix through.
This quick and hearty brunch or lunch brings the best out of a good Scottish Tattie (potato). Fluffy potatoes are only made better by the perfectly poached egg sitting on top. Sometimes I like to keep things simple and with this dish I didn’t add too many flavours as a good Scottish Tattie is flavoursome in it’s own right. With the warming flavour of cayenne pepper and a dash of Tabasco sauce, this is sure to keep you satisfied all day.
Cayenne Pepper is also said to be medicinal as capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne peppers, is what gives them their medicinal properties. These peppers boast an impressive nutrition profile, which includes a variety of antioxidants that are beneficial for your health.
One tablespoon (5 grams) of cayenne pepper contains the following:
Calories: 17
Fat: 1 gram
Carbs: 3 grams
Fiber: 1.4 grams
Protein: 0.6 grams
Vitamin A: 44% of the RDI
Vitamin E: 8% of the RDI
Vitamin C: 7% of the RDI
Vitamin B6: 6% of the RDI
Vitamin K: 5% of the RDI
Manganese: 5% of the RDI
Potassium: 3% of the RDI
Riboflavin: 3% of the RDI
It also gives them their hot taste. In fact, how hot a cayenne pepper is depends on its capsaicin content. The more capsaicin it contains, the hotter it is.
Serves 2
4 Medium Potatoes, (peeled or unpeeled it’s up to you) diced into bite size pieces
1 Large or 2 Medium Onions, sliced into wedges
1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
Salt to taste
1 Tbsp Olive Oil or Spray Oil
2 Large Eggs
Tabasco to taste
In a fry pan heat the oil, medium to high heat, add in the onions and cook for a couple of minutes to soften.
Add in the diced potatoes, season with salt & cayenne pepper, mix and place a lid over pan reduce to a low heat and cook for about 30 minutes until potatoes are softened. Give the potatoes a stir every 10 minutes.
5 minutes before potatoes are ready, bring a pan of water to the boil then reduce to a medium heat, crack in the eggs and poach through.
Serve potatoes and onions onto a plate, place the poached egg on top and sprinkle a few dashes of tabasco sauce over, season if required. Enjoy!
If you prefer a bit more flavour, below are a few choices that I have tried.
Smoked:- Add chopped spring onions and some smoked back bacon.
Mediterranean:- Add some spinach, handful tomatoes with 1 tsp all spice, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp dried coriander.
Spanish: Chopped chorizo, sweet potatoes, 1 tsp cumin, spring onions.
I just had to try this, I love pakora, I love chicken & I love pakora so it was a must. Simple to make and very tasty. I didn’t quite have all the ingredients so here is my version. We enjoyed these pakora bites with sweet chilli dip rather than pakora sauce and was delicious. You have to give these a go.
Makes enough for 4 portions or 2 very large portions
2-3 Chicken Breasts – cut into strips
1 Tbsp Garlic & Ginger Paste
Juice of 1/2 a Lemon
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp Fenugreek Powder
1 Tsp Paprika Powder
200g Rice Flour (or gram flour)
1/2 Tsp Biacarbonate of Soda
1 Tsp Chilli Powder
1 Tsp Cumin Powder
1 Tsp Garam Masala
1 Tsp Coriander Powder
3 Tbsp Rapeseed Oil (or vegetable oil)
200ml Irn-Bru
100ml Water
First heat up your oil in a pan or fryer if you have one. (I use Rapeseed oil and heat to about 180-200 deg)
Place the Chicken strips in a bowl, add in the garlic & ginger paste, along with paprika, lemon juice, salt & pepper, mix together and allow to sit and marinade for a few minutes.
Add in the cumin, coriander, garam masala, fenugreek powder, biacarbonate soda, rice flour, oil, water and Irn-Bru, give it a good mix together.
Drop the chicken strips into your hot fryer and cook until browned and crispy (about 8-10 minutes), remove with a slotted spoon or tongs and place onto some kitchen paper to drain the oil.
A great way to use up left over chicken after your Sunday Roast. This dish is very easy to bake and healthy too.
This simple and tasty bake will keep you full as it has protein (chicken), fiber (veggies), and fat (cheese). The chicken is smothered with cherry tomatoes, onion and peppers keeping the chicken moist. I used Italian herbs and chilli spice for a wee kick. Delicious!
Prep time is only 10 minutes and 40 minutes in total to cook, so a quick meal to bake. Gluten free too.
Serves 3-4
2 Large Chicken Breasts, cooked & shredded
1 Onion, chopped
1 Red Pepper, chopped
1 Garlic Clove, chopped
Spray Oil
2 Tsp Italian Herb Mix
1 x 400g Tin Chopped Tomatoes
10-12 Cherry Tomatoes, halved
1 Tbsp Sugar
1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tsp Dried Chilli Flakes
125g Mozzarella, grated or sliced
Small handful basil leaves to serve
Salt & Pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 200 deg fan.
In a pan heat the spray oil and fry the onions, pepper and garlic for a few minutes to soften.
Add in the Italian herbs, chilli, tin tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, sugar and season, then simmer for about 20 minutes until sauce has thickened slightly. Stir in the cooked chicken then transfer to a baking dish.
Tear or grate over the mozzarella evenly and bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until the topping is golden and bubbling. Serve with some chopped basil leaves. Plate up with a side of cooked rice, pasta or potatoes.
This is proper home comfort food and a dish that we love. Using simple ingredients, you’ll love the richness taste of this and with the sweet potato and carrot mash on top it is just packed with flavour! A great family dish that is simple to make that everyone can enjoy. Sometimes I love going back to basics, our ancestors would have cooked this all in one pot as back then there were no fancy cook tops with loads of rings.
We are lucky that we have access to a wide range of different foods and spices these days, so although sometimes it’s great to make classics, it’s also great to try out new flavours and ideas with them. This recipe surely does work with that little change.
If you make it, let me know what you think?
Makes 2-3 servings
250g Scottish Beef Mince (good quality is key)
2 Medium sized Sweet Potatoes, cut into small chunks
1 Red Onion, diced
1 Carrots, diced & 2 Carrots for mash (chopped)
1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
50ml Red Wine (I used Merlot)
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 Handfuls of Frozen Garden Peas
300ml Beef Stock with 2 stock cubes
1 Tsp Mixed Herbs
1/2 Tsp Turmeric
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp oil
1-2 Tbsp Beef Gravy Granules to thicken sauce
Pre heat oven to 180 deg fan. Place sweet potatoes and carrot into a large pan of slightly salted water and bring to the boil, reduce to a gentle boil and cook for 20 minutes until softened.
Meanwhile, heat a little oil in a pan and cook the onions until softened. Add the mince to the pan and cook until browned. Add in the balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, red wine, herbs, seasoning and beef stock, bring to the boil and reduce to a simmer for about 10-15 minutes, liquid should reduce by half.
Stir in the peas and cook for a further 5 minutes.
Add in the Gravy granules and stir to thicken.
Mash the sweet potatoes and carrot with 1 tsp turmeric
Place the mince mixture in a casserole dish, season with black pepper and top with the mash mix, cover with tin foil. Bake in oven for about 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, remove foil and bake for a further 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Inspired by North Africa, this quick and easy one pan meal draws the warmth of cumin and rich depth of smoked paprika to beautifully layer with the peppery flavour of the lentils. Lentils are an excellent source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They’re also a great source of plant-based protein and fiber. To make this dish vegetarian, just omit the chicken and replace with you favourite vegetables.
Another great one pot meal that is not only quick but simple to make too. Very nutritious and filling.
Serves 2
2 Chicken Breasts, cut into large pieces (or you can use thighs)
4 Rashers of Smoked Bacon, chopped small
1 Onion, diced
2 Stalks of Celery, diced
100g Green Lentils (or Red if you prefer)
1 Garlic Clove, diced
1 Tbsp Cumin
1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
8-10 Whole Cherry Tomatoes
300ml Chicken Stock
1 Tsp Chilli Flakes
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
Small Handful of Chopped Fresh Parsley to serve.
Pre heat your oven to 200 deg Fan.
Add the oil to a fry pan on medium to high heat. Dry the chicken pieces with a piece of kitchen paper and season. Add to the pan and brown all over to seal. Remove with a slotted spoon.
If needed add a little more oil to the pan. Cook the bacon, onions, celery, garlic, cumin & paprika for 3 minutes. Add back the chicken, add the lentils and sprinkle the chill flakes, mix through.
Decant into an oven proof dish, add in the stock and tomatoes, bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
Turn on your grill at the end of cooking for a few minutes to brown the tomatoes.
Remove from oven, sprinkle with parsley and Serve. Yum!
This is a great mid week dinner when you are short for time, easy to prepare and quick to bake. You can also make ahead and pop in fridge until ready or if you have a delay timer on your oven, pop it in the oven in morning and time for when you are due home. One of my favourite features on my oven is the 24hr programmable timer, I use it all time, I organise myself in the morning then I don’t have to worry about remembering to switch oven on later.
Oven Timer
This dish is healthy and packed with protein and vitamins, it also provides a richness with the Gruyere cheese, what’s not to like?
Serves 3-4
300-400g Broccoli Florets (you can use frozen or fresh)
40g Butter
1 Large White Onion, sliced
350-400g Chicken Breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
100g Creme Fraiche (use light for a healthier option)
200ml Chicken Stock
30g Breadcrumbs (about 2-3 slices)
50g Gruyere Cheese, grated
1 Tsp Dried Chilli Flakes
1 Tsp Dried Mixed Herbs (or any herb of your choice)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 200deg. Bring a Saucepan of water to the boil and cook the broccoli for 5 minutes, Drain.
Melt the butter in a fry pan on medium to high heat and cook the onions until soft, remove with a slotted spoon.
Season the chicken and add to the pan and brown all over, about 3-5 minutes, set aside.
Add some butter to the fry pan and cook the breadcrumbs until slightly browned. Remove.
Layer up the chicken, broccoli and onions in an oven proof dish, season well. Pour over the chicken stock and creme fraiche, sprinkle the chilli flakes and herbs.
Sprinkle on top the breadcrumbs and finish with the grated cheese.
Bake in the oven for about 35 minutes until golden brown on top. Serve.
OMG! Well, what can I say here…..but, these were absolutely delicious!
We were watching a film the other night and the little boy in the film asked for crazy custard pancakes, I had never heard of this before and my curiosity got the better of me……so off I went google search in motion and I found this recipe from Simon Hopkinson (http://www.simonhopkinson.tv/recipe/5/custard-pancakes.aspx). I changed it slightly and cheated with my custard to make it easier to make.
BEWARE! ever so moreish!
You have to try these, especially if you love custard and have a sweet tooth.
This recipe made 6 pancakes
For the Pancakes:
100g Plain Flour
3 Large Eggs (1 for wash)
Pinch Salt
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
100ml Milk
For the Custard:
2 Tbsp Custard Powder
2 Tbsp Caster Sugar
450ml Milk
1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
For assembling:
1 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp Sugar
A Little Rum (about 50ml)
To make the batter:- Sift flour into a bowl and make a well in the middle, crack 2 eggs in and add pinch of salt. Whisk together until it becomes stiff, then start slowly adding the milk and whisk through until well combined and runny consistancey. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.
To make the Custard:- Put the custard powder and sugar in a pan along with 1 Tbsp of milk, 1 Tbsp lemon juice and vanilla extract, mix to a paste. Slowly add the milk little at a time and bring to a gentle boil. Make sure you continue whisking until the custard starts to thicken, this should take about 4-5 minutes. You want it quite thick.
Remove custard from heat and allow to cool. Place a piece of cling film over the custard, pressing down on the custard to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours.
To assemble:- When ready, heat a little oil in a non stick fry pan about 20cm diameter on medium to high heat, pour a little of the pancake batter into the pan and swirl around to just a thin covering, cook for a minute or 2 then flip over and cook for a further minute, set aside, and repeat with remaining mixture.
Add 1 Tbsp of butter to the pan, place 1-2 Tbsp of custard in the middle of a pancake, brush edges with a little egg wash. Roll up the pancake half way to cover it, not too tight, then tuck in the sides and finish rolling up to seal, it will resemble a spring roll. Place the pancakes in the fry pan sealed side down and cook for a minute or 2, sprinkle some sugar over and turn, so you are cooking all round.
Once pancake rolls are slightly browned, add in the rum and let bubble and glaze all over.
Remove & Serve. We added some maple syrup to serve and it was delicious! (optional)
Although I maybe working from home during this pandemic, somehow I still don’t find the time to be preparing and making mid week dinners, so this recipe is a great quick throw together meal that is massively flavorful and satisfying. Only takes 20 minutes. I served it with some Egg Fried Rice. I do have a confession to make, it was microwaveable Egg Fried Rice, after all it only takes 2 minutes and to be honest is a great alternative when you don’t have time to make the real thing. Most brands now offer these ready packets such as Uncle Bens, Tilda, Blue Dragon and even supermarket own brands, they are are a great store cupboard essential or at least they have been during this pandemic lockdown period. Well, we all like to cheat sometimes, don’t we?
If you like it a little sweeter, you can add 1 tbsp of honey to the recipe. I use Heather honey which is a darker semi-sweet honey and delicious, it is made with the nectar collected from the tiny purple bell-shaped flower of the common Scottish Heather plant.
Serves 2
1 Packet 250g Microwave Egg Fried Rice
2 Chicken Breasts, diced into bite sized pieces
1 Tsp Minced Garlic
1 Tsp Oil
1 White Onion, diced
1 Tbsp Cornflour
150ml Good Quality Teriyaki Sauce
2 Tsp Sesame Seeds
1 Handful Garden Peas (I used frozen)
1 Tbsp Honey (Optional)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Heat the oil in a pan on medium to high heat and fry the garlic & onions until softened.
Season the chicken, add to the pan and cook until slightly brown all over.
Add in the garden peas along with 150ml of teriyaki sauce & honey (if using) and about 100ml water, place lid on pan and reduce to a simmer for about 15-20 minutes until chicken is cooked through. If the sauce is too thin, mix the cornflour with a tbsp of water and add to pan stir through to thicken the sauce.
Serve with some cooked rice (of your choice) and sprinkle over some sesame seeds for that extra crunch and nutrition. Yum! Enjoy!
Yes, I know what you are thinking, this isn’t chicken? It looks like Beef? That’s because of the soy Sauce and dark honey in the recipe marinating into the chicken.
One pot meals are always my go to when I am working, simply because they are easy and less washing up to do. I used some Scottish Heather Honey for this recipe and oh my……..this was a super tasty meal that I am so proud of. I had 2 recipes in mind to cook tonight, 1 was Honey and Garlic roasted Chicken and the other was a Soy Glazed Chicken, yes, you guessed it, I went for it and mixed it all up. I do love it when you change your mind last minute and get a successful NEW recipe!
Known as the ‘Champagne’ of all honeys, expertly gathered by bees that visit the legendary flower of Scotland, Heather. Scottish Heather Honey is dark and semi-set. A highly intense, distinctive, warm, woody and floral aroma reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands. I use honey from Heather Hills Farm, they are a family run business based in Blairgowrie, Perthshire since 1945. Click to their website for more details :- http://www.heatherhills.co.uk/.
Pure honey is full of natural antibacterial and antimicrobial goodness. As well as the high antioxidant qualities, manganese plays a role in helping to make and activate enzymes in the body involved in protecting tissues from damage and in the metabolism of nutrients. It also helps maintain healthy bones.
Serves 4
3-4 Large Chicken Breasts, cut into large chunks
1 Red Pepper, diced
1 Yellow Pepper, diced
2 White Onions, cut into wedges
4 Tbsps of Heather Honey (you can use clear honey if you can’t get this)
3 Tbsps of Dark Soy Sauce
2 Tsps Dried Garlic Granules
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
3 Tsps French Mustard
1 Tsp Curry Powder
Salt & Ground Black Pepper
Heat the oil in a pan, season the chicken, add to pan and brown.
Add in the garlic, peppers and onion and cook for a few minutes.
Mix in a jug or bowl the soy sauce, honey, curry powder and mustard. Season.
Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables, add 100ml water and stir to combine.
Cover and cook on a low heat for about 2 hours.
Remove lid season if need and cook for a further 20 minutes.
Serve with some boiled potatoes or mash or anything you like. Enjoy!
Due to the Covid 19 Restrictions most of us aren’t able to go visit our favourite restaurants to enjoy our best bites to eat or even get takeaways, so if you fancy a wee curry then this is for you. This 15 minute dish is quick and easy to make, and using staple ingredients that most of us have in our kitchen cupboards, its quicker than phoning a takeaway and can be made more healthier too by adding in your favourite vegetables.
This was a full flavour curry with loads of sauce, great for scooping up the rice. The flavours were so good that my other half said I needed to make this sauce again for his chips….lol! Yes, curry chips is his thing! If you make, let me know what you think.
Serves 4
2 Large Chicken Breasts, cut into bite size pieces
2 White Onions, cut into wedges
Handful of Frozen Garden Peas (optional)
2 Tbsp oil
1 Tsp Soy Sauce
2 Tsp Cornflour
350ml Chicken Stock
4 Tsps Curry Powder
1 Tsp Turmeric
1/2 Tsp Ground Ginger
1/2 Tsp Brown Sugar
Salt & Pepper to taste
50g per person of Cooked Rice (of your choosing) to serve.
Heat 1Tbsp oil in a pan or wok on high heat. Mix together the soy sauce and 1Tbsp oil in a bowl add in the chicken pieces and coat, sprinkle 1 Tsp of cornflour over to coat, season, then add to the hot pan and brown all over, remove with a slotted spoon.
Add the onions to the hot pan and stir fry until softened and slightly brown, about 3-4 minutes.
Add to the pan the Frozen Peas, Curry Powder, Turmeric, Ginger & Sugar, mix through for about 1 minute to release flavours.
Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, mix 1 Tsp cornflour with a little water and slowly pour little at a time into the sauce mix until it starts to thicken slightly. Add back to the pan the cooked chicken and mix through and simmer gently for about 5 minutes.
With the weather being very dreich (dull & gloomy) recently, we wanted to transport ourselves to a warm sunny place & with that not being possible in these unprecedented times I turned to my Kitchen Cupboards to see what I could make for dinner. Having some tinned pineapple, beans and rice in the cupboard we decided on visiting the Caribbean. This dish has a great blend of popular Caribbean spices, such as ginger, paprika and allspice which transports you right onto the Islands.
Also a great dish for batch cooking as you could quite easily make a big pot and freeze for later. A very nutritious dish with the beans high in fiber and the chicken giving you a good intake of protein. A good filling meal for any family table.
Serves 4
2 Chicken Breasts – cut into bite size pieces
1 Red Pepper, diced
1 White Onion, diced
4-6 Spring Onions, diced (for serving)
1 Tbsp Oil for cooking
1 Tbsp Curry Powder
1 Tbsp Smoked Sweet Paprika
1/2 Tsp of AllSpice
1/2 Tsp of Ginger
200g Cooked Wholemeal Rice (about 50g per person)
Juice of 1 Lime
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 Tsp Dried Chilli Flakes
1 Tin Pineapple Chunks
1 400g can of Black Beans, drained
Handful of Garden Peas
20-30g Cashews, chopped (for serving)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Heat the oil in a pan on medium to high heat, season the chicken and brown all over.
Add the peppers and onion to the pan and cook for about 3 minutes until softened.
Add to the pan the paprika, curry powder, ginger, allspice, brown sugar and chillies, mix through for about 1 minute to coat, then add the black beans, peas, cooked rice, pineapple and lime juice, mix through to combine.
If too dry, add 1-2 Tbsp of water and stir, put lid on pan and heat through for about 5 minutes. To serve sprinkle the spring onion and cashews. Enjoy!
This time of year (January) it is very cold, wet, windy and snowy, so your immune system can take a bit of a battering. We tend to reach for medications such a cold & flu capsules, ibuprofen etc, which can help, however, I am a great believer that you can repair your body and fight infections from within and eating right does play a big part on that.
This recipe contains the following, so it is the ultimate winter fighter food.
Chillies contain Capsaicin which helps clear mucus. Ginger contains natural antibodies & anti-inflammatory agents & the ability to clear congestion. Garlic has antiviral & antibacterial properties. Butternut squash & wholemeal rice is good for boosting Vitamin C for your immune system. Cashew nuts are good source of fibre & magnesium both good for bone health & energy boosting.
This is also a great dish for batch cooking. It really is a win win all round.
Serves 4
2 Large Chicken Breasts – cut into chunks
2 Tbsp Thai Green Curry Paste (1 used the Blue Dragon Paste, but feel free to make your own)
1 Tbsp Coconut Oil or Olive Oil for cooking
1 400g Tin Coconut Milk
1 Vegetable Stock Cube
1 Tsp Turmeric
300g Butternut Squash, cut into chunks
200g Cauliflower, cut into small pieces
150g Baby Spinach
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
Salt & Pepper
Juice of 1 Lime
30g Chopped Cashews (to garnish)
Handful chopped Spring Onion (to garnish)
50g Wholemeal Rice per person, cooked as per pack instructions.
Heat the oil in a pan on medium to high heat, brown the chicken and remove with slotted spoon.
If needed, put a little more oil in. Stir fry the curry paste for about 2 minutes to heat through and release the flavours.
Crumble the vegetable stock cube into the coconut milk and stir, pour into the pan with the curry paste and mix through. Add 1 Tsp of Turmeric.
Add back to the pan the chicken, butternut squash and cauliflower, mix and reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes, covered.
5 minutes before curry is ready, add in 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce, Juice of Lime and Spinach, mix through continue to cook for 5 minutes.
Serve with some wholemeal rice, spring onion and cashew nuts.
My meal plan somehow didn’t go to plan this week as I seemed to run out of store cupboard essentials like tin chopped tomatoes etc. This dish was the result of that, having looked a what I had and what needed to be used up I decided on a simple, quick and one pot dish. This turned out so delicious that I am sharing it with you, not only is it an easy to make dish but one that could be made ahead of time and frozen for later. The flavours in this dish can be enjoyed with the whole family. The good thing about this dish is that you can add whatever vegetables you like, to be honest anything goes here.
Serves2 – 3
250g Scottish Beef Mince (you could also use minced lamb)
1 Onion, chopped
1 tsp Ground Garlic Granules or 2 Garlic Cloves
100g Frozen Garden Peas
120g Pasta (I used fusilli but penne will do too)
400ml Beef Stock
2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
1 Tsp Dried Chilli Flakes
1 Tsp Smoked Paprika
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp oil
100g Grated Cheddar Cheese
Handful of Chopped Parsley
Heat the oil in a pan on medium to high heat and fry the onions until softened and slightly browned
Add in the beef mince, season with salt & pepper & brown.
Add in the tomato paste, garlic, paprika, chilli flakes and frozen peas, mix through. Add in the pasta and beef stock, bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer and cook covered until pasta is cooked through, about 12-15 minutes.
Remove lid and sprinkle over the cheddar cheese and parsley, put lid back on, turn off heat and leave for 5 minutes. The heat in the pan will gently melt the cheese. Serve and Enjoy.
This North African dish is named after the earthenware pot it is traditionally cooked in. I have used Chicken which is simmered with the traditional flavours of sweet spices and vegetables. A Typical Moroccan style dish would use beef which has always been their staple diet with sweet spices & dried fruit. I used my heavy Cast Iron Pot for this, which is great for slow cooking and low temperatures.
If you have read through some of my other recipes, you’ll see that I love One Pot Cooking, it is simple and good for batch cooking if you prepare meals ahead of the week. It also means less dishes to wash…lol!
Serves 2
2 Chicken Breasts – but into big chunks
6 Shallots
2 Carrots – chopped
30g Butter
1 Tsp Saffron
1/2 Tsp Ground Ginger
1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
1/4 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
200g Tin Broad Beans or Butter Beans (you can even use Chickpeas)
50g Dates (Optional)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Fresh Coriander – Chopped
Fresh Parsley – Chopped
Preheat a little oil in the pot on medium to high heat and brown the chicken.
Peel and chop 3 shallots into rings and 3 into quarters. Add into the pan with the carrots, butter and brown gently.
Pour in 400ml of cold water, just enough to cover the chicken, bring to the boil slowly and reduce to a gentle simmer for about 30 minutes.
Add in the saffron, ginger, paprika, dates(if using) and beans to the chicken pot, stir and put the lid back on, continue to simmer for a further 30 minutes. Season with Salt & Pepper.
Serve and garnish with some chopped coriander and parsley. For a more filling dish you can also serve with some couscous.
Oh yum, this was delicious, chipotle is a smoky & spicy flavour from Mexico. A chipotle pepper is a dry, smoked jalapeno pepper. They are most commonly made from red jalapenos. However, you can also use ripe green jalapenos as well. Chipotle peppers are added to any dish that could use a smoky flavor with a little heat. For this recipe I used a Chipotle paste. A quick and easy full of flavour dinner.
Serves 2
2 Chicken Breasts
1 tbsp oil
1 Medium White Onion, diced
1 tsp Smoked Paprika
1 tsp Cumin
1 tbsp of Chipotle Paste
1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
100ml Passata
1 tbsp Brown Sugar
4 slices of Sourdough Bread or you can serve with Tortilla’s
For the Salsa:-
8-10 Cherry tomatoes – quartered
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp chipotle paste
1/2 red onion – finely diced
chopped coriander
Freshly squeezed Lime & Lemon Juice
Seasoning to taste.
Using a Blender/Food processor, whiz up the chicken breast into a mince like consistancey
Heat the oil in a fry pan and brown the onion and minced chicken, breaking up the chicken as you cook
Add in the cumin, paprika, chipotle paste, vinegar, passata and sugar and mix through until chicken is coated.
Cook for about 10-15 minutes
To make the salsa, place everything in a bowl and mix together, set aside.
Toast your Sourdough bread, remove chicken from heat and serve on top of bread. Serve with Salsa.
A Moroccan inspired recipe and perfect for coming into the Winter months, it’s hearty, filling and warming. It is also a great batch cook recipe, make the soup up to 3 days ahead, cover and keep in the fridge. Freeze portions in food bags for up to 3 months. Add a splash of water when reheating.
Serves 4
300g Scottish Steak Mince (or any good quality beef mince)
1 Red Onion – chopped
1 Garlic Clove – crushed
400g Tin Tomatoes
1 tbsp Gram Masala
2 tsps Harissa Paste
1 litre Beef Stock
250g Puy Lentils (I used the pre cooked ones from Merchant Gourmet, my fav)
1 tbsp Dried Coriander
150g Spinach, chopped
1 tbsp Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Heat a little oil in a casserole dish on medium to high heat, add the mince with seasoning and brown, about 6-8 minutes, remove with a slotted spoon.
Add the onion and garlic and cook for a few minutes until softened. Add in the Gram Masala, Harissa Paste and stir, next add the tin tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes to reduce down slightly.
Return the mince to the pot with the beef stock, bring to the boil then simmer and cook covered for about 30 minutes.
Add the lentils, spinach and coriander to the pot and cook uncovered for 10 minutes.
Pasta is such a staple food in most households and I think one of the easiest fast foods around. It can be made healthier by using the Wholewheat variety. When eaten in moderation, pasta can be part of a healthy diet. Wholewheat pasta may be a better choice for many, as it is lower in calories and carbs but higher in fiber and nutrients. However, in addition to the type of pasta you pick, what you top it with is just as important.
This dish uses Scottish Smoked Haddock, fresh from my favourite fishmongers in Pittenweem, Ryan Black, they deliver straight from the Shore to your door.
It also uses some of my fresh vegetables from my garden….yum!
I used my Steam pot for my Combi Microwave for this recipe, but if you don’t have Steamer just cook your pasta as per packet instructions. In a pan, bring some water to the boil add your vegetables and simmer for 4 minutes until softened. (you could use frozen vegetables or tinned vegetables for this too). Bring a large pan of water to the boil, bring to a simmer and add in your fish, cook for about 10 minutes.
If you have a Steam pot, add the pasta with 300ml water to the base, then your fish and vegetables onto the grid and cook on Pasta Setting for 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, make your sauce as per above recipe.
Remove fish and place onto a chopping board and remove the skin, break up into bite size pieces.
Drain your pasta and vegetables. Add the vegetables to the pasta then pour over the sauce mixture and mix through, add in the fish, mix and serve.
It is my favourite time of the year, Autumn, the colours on the trees, the fresh crisp air, walks in the park, comfy jumpers and warming food. What’s not to like? After harvesting some of my vegetables from the garden today I decided to use them in this warming Hotpot. Nothing says home comfort food that a big pot a deliciousness & straight from the garden too.
The good thing with this recipe is that you can use just about any root vegetable and it will work just as good.
Some of my winter harvest this morning. Parsnips, Carrots & Potatoes
Makes enough for 2 large portions
4 Large Potatoes, cut into bite size pieces
2 Large carrots, cut into bite size pieces
2 Parsnips, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
1 Onion, sliced into wedges
6-8 Rashers of Smoked Bacon, sliced
2 Chicken Breasts, cut into chunks
500ml Chicken Stock
1 tsp oil
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 garlic clove, crushed
Salt & Pepper to taste
Cornflour to thicken sauce if needed.
1 tbsp flour
First coat the chicken with seasoning and the flour, heat the oil in a large pot or casserole dish then brown the chicken and remove.
Add in the garlic & nutmeg along with the onion and fry until softened then add the bacon and fry until cooked slightly, few minutes.
Add to the pan the potatoes, carrots, parsnips and mix, then add in the chicken stock & bring to the boil.
Reduce to a low simmer and cook covered for about 2 hours. Alternatively you can cook in the oven at 140 deg for about 2 hours.
Remove lid and if you like a thick sauce like me just add a little cornflour and stir through. 1 tsp mixed with water should be enough.
Serve with some lovely fresh crusty bread. Or if you are Scottish it has to be Plain Bread!
Oh yum! Today was absolutely stoating it down (heavy rain) and very Dreich (dull, moody) weather, so it was a warming pasta bake for dinner. Not only is pasta filling but this dish is simple and easy to make, great for a family meal or just when you are looking for something comforting to warm you up. The recipe uses a lot of store cupboard essentials so easy to put together.
Dish of Chicken & Chorizo Pasta Bake
Serves 2 large portions (or 4 small)
100g Wholewheat Pasta (again your choice, I used Fusilli)
2 Chicken Breasts
1 onion – chopped
1 red pepper – chopped
Olive oil
1 Garlic clove – crushed or 1 tsp ground granules
1 tsp dried Italian herbs or Oregano
200g Chopped tomatoes
200ml Chicken Stock
100ml Milk (or cream)
Handful of Spinach leaves, chopped
Handful of frozen peas
100g Grated Cheese (I used cheddar)
1 tsp Chilli flakes (optional, if you like it spicy)
1 tsp Paprika (for sprinkling on top)
80g Chopped Chorizo
Salt & Pepper
Heat a little oil in a fry pan and preheat your oven to 190 deg fan.
Brown the onions & red pepper with the garlic in the fry pan until softened, add in the chorizo and cook for a few minutes then add the chicken, season & brown chicken on all sides for a few minutes.
Once browned, add in the chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, milk, herbs and chilli (if using) to the pan and mix through, bring to the boil and reduce to a low simmer, cover and cook for at least an 1 hr.
Meanwhile cook your pasta as per packet instructions.
Using 2 forks, remove the lid from the pan and shred your chicken breasts (if you prefer chunks, that’s fine but I like it shredded)
Add in the frozen peas and Spinach and cook for a further few minutes.
Drain your pasta and add to the pan and mix through.
Now decant the pasta chicken into an ovenproof dish and grate the cheese on top with a sprinkle of paprika and salt & pepper to season.
Bake on middle shelf for about 25 minutes. Serve. Yum!
The weather was turning a bit colder this weekend & there is no better dish than a warm chilli to heat your soul. I decided to slow cook this time and it definitely paid off as the flavours were more intense and the sauce lovely and thick. Chilli is always good the second day too, so this can be made in advance. Some cooks swear by lots of different spices from mustard powder to even cinnamon & I’ve even heard of chocolate in chilli…..(not sure about than one…lol), this combination I found works for me.
Heat the oil in a casserole dish or large pan on medium to high heat & fry the onions with the garlic until softened. Add in the Red pepper and cook for a further few minutes until softened.
Add in the Beef mince, season and brown.
Add in the tomato puree, spices & mix through.
To the pot add the kidney beans and tin tomatoes & mix. Sprinkle over the beef oxo cube & the herbs, add in the water, bring to the boil, cover and simmer on a low heat for about 2-3 hours. If the sauce hasn’t thickened, remove lid and cook uncovered for about 10-15 minutes to help thicken sauce.
I Served with Taco’s, Grated Cheese and sprinkled some fresh spring onions on top…yum! Also nice served with rice and soured cream.
These little cakes are so easy to make and quick too, a great mid week dinner or even a quick lunch bite. What’s even better is that they are healthy, low in fat & low in calories at just 150 per cake.
Makes 8
2 Chicken Breasts
4 Spring Onions – chopped finely
1 tsp garlic granules or 2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp ginger or 1″ fresh ginger chopped finely
1 tbsp dried coriander
2 tsps Soy Sauce
Zest & Juice of 1 lime
Salt & Pepper
1 tin of Chickpeas drained (400g)
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
Sweet Chilli Sauce to serve.
Preheat oven to 180 deg and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
Using of food processor blitz the chickpeas and chicken until minced.
In a bowl mix everything together with your hands and form 8 small cakes about 1cm thick, place onto baking paper and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
I do love it when an ad hoc recipe comes together. We fancied some Thai tonight but didn’t really have the right ingredients, so I compromised! I am so bad at compromising…..lol….. I am forever adding and changing things to suit what I have in my cupboards…..but that’s where good recipes come from…right?
This was one of them, super tasty and satisfied us for dinner tonight.
Thai Beef Balls & Thai Potato Wedges with Lime & Mayo
Made 18 Bitesize Balls
250g Scottish Beef Mince (you could use Chicken or Turkey)
2 tbsps Soy Sauce
4 Spring Onions – chopped finely
1 tsp Dried garlic granules
1 tsp Dried ginger powder
2 tsps Dried coriander
1 tsp Chilli flakes
Zest of 1 lime (keep lime for juice later)
150g tin Broad Beans (crushed) (Water chestnuts, blitzed in a processor would be nice too)
Preheat oven to 180 deg and place greaseproof paper onto a baking tray.
Mix the Soy sauce, ginger, garlic, chilli, lime zest, coriander, spring onions and seasoning in a bowl. Then add mince & broad beans, mix together with hands until it comes together.
Take a small amount and roll into a ball, put onto baking tray. Bake in oven for 15 minutes. At end of cooking, turn on grill and brown for a few minutes.
Serve with a Lime Wedge. I also served with Thai Potato Wedges (recipe below) and some Lime & Coriander Mayo.
Thai Beef Balls on Baking Tray with Potato Wedges
For the Potato Wedges
Slice your potatoes into wedges and place in a food bag or bowl.
For the coating, mix 3 tbsps olive oil with 1 tsp chilli flakes, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1 tsp garlic and 2 tsps coriander. Season then mix with the wedges and cook as normal. (I use my Crisper plate in my microwave to cook them as it only takes 10 minutes) Check below for info on the Crisperplate. https://www.hotpoint.co.uk/Appliances/Cooking/Microwaves
When I think of Caribbean Food, I think beans, rice, peppers, sweet potato & tomatoes to name a few. This dish is a mix of all my favourites and I was using up leftovers too. I hope you enjoy. This dish would be lovely with Lamb too.
Serves 2
300g Scottish Beef Mince
150g Diced Butternut squash (or sweet potatoes)
1 onion, chopped
1 Red Pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 cm fresh ginger, finely chopped
1 tbsp sweet hot paprika
120ml Beef Stock
200g chopped tin tomatoes
200g Black Eyed beans
Handful of peas
Salt & Pepper to taste
Heat some oil in a large pan and brown the mince.
Add in the butternut squash, onion, red pepper, garlic, ginger, paprika and mix through, cook for 1 minute then add in the stock, tomatoes, peas and beans, bring to the boil then simmer covered for about 30 minutes. Season.
If using Lamb I would slow cook this so the Lamb in tender.
I am now back to work after a long furlough period due to this Covid19 pandemic. Being back at work means that I prefer quick and easy cooking meals for mid week dining. Last thing I want is to finish a long work day and stand cooking for an hour, who’s with me?
This dish takes just 15 minutes, so its a quick throw together in one pan kinda dish, but packs flavour and spice. Good on its own or can serve with some rice. I also used freshly picked Spinach from my new veggie beds (furlough project).
Homegrown spinach
Serves 2
200g chickpeas
200g chopped tomatoes
80g chorizo – sliced or cut into bite size pieces
1 brown onion – chopped
1 yellow pepper – chopped
Handful of Spinach – chopped
1 tsp chilli flakes
1 tsp garlic granules
1 tsp basil flakes or fresh leaves to serve if you have
Salt & pepper to taste
100g Wholemeal or Basmati Rice if serving. (cooked as per packet instructions)
Spray a pan with oil and heat on a medium to high heat
Brown onions in pan for a few minutes
Add in the pepper and chorizo with garlic and chilli flakes and cook for a few minutes
Add in the tin tomatoes and chickpeas, mix through, bring to the boil then cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
1 minute before serving, add in the spinach and basil flakes, mix through. Season
I recently harvested my first sweet potatoes, so decided to have a little quick potato lunch today. If you love sweetness, you will love this. I served with some crushed goats cheese for that extra creamy texture.
Serves 2
2 medium sweet potatoes – sliced into 1″ thick slices
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 lemon juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Pinch Salt
Preheat oven to 160 deg and grease a baking tin.
Mix the Lemon juice with melted butter, sugar, salt and cinnamon
Places the sweet potato slices in baking tin and pour over the mixture, cover with tin foil and bake for about 40-45 minutes.
The last 5 minutes, remove the tin foil to allow glaze to thicken and brown in oven. Remove and sprinkle some goats cheese. Serve.
sweet potatoes, lemon and glaze
Sweet potatoes ready for oven
Lemon Glazed Sweet potatoes
Lemon glaze sweet potatoes served with goats cheese
I am craving home cooked comfort foods these days, maybe it’s because we are all out of routine in life at the moment.
A traditional Highland Hotpot is normally made out of a Brace of Grouse (a brace is one male & one female grouse) and rabbit, however, my partner is not a big fan of these meats so I decided to make my version with free range chicken. This is a great slow cook one pot meal. Easy to make and delicious.
Hot pot meal
Makes enough for 2
2 chicken breasts – cut into cubes
1 tbsp flour
Salt & black pepper seasoning
1 white onion – cut into wedges
2 sticks celery – sliced
Cabbage – shredded
4-6 rashers of smoked bacon – chopped
spray oil
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp All Spice (cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves)
1 pint of vegetable stock
2 medium potatoes – cubed
Preheat your oven to 160 deg on fan.
In an oven proof dish with lid, heat spray oil on hob at medium to high heat. Coat the chicken with seasoning and flour then brown in the pan, remove with a slotted spoon.
In the same pan fry the onion and brown the bacon rashers for a few minutes.
Add the potatoes & celery & mix through for a few minutes.
Add back to the pan the chicken and add all spice & white pepper along with the stock, mix & bring to the boil. Then add the shredded cabbage mix, put lid on pot and transfer to the oven and cook for about 2 1/2 hours.
The stock should have absorbed into the meat & veg. Serve. Yummy!
This is my best homemade curry yet! (as said by my partner) I have to admit this was very delicious. I do surprise myself sometimes with my combinations out of a hat…lol! We had just come back from a mini hike nearby so we were pretty hungry, the weather was scorching (now scorching in Scotland is about 21 deg of sunshine…lol!), we fancied something light and refreshing. Looking in my cupboards & fridge, I had coconut milk, chicken and spinach to use up, so a wee light curry it was. Perfect with a light beer too!
Beer & Curry
Serves 2
2 small or 1.5 large chicken breasts – chopped into bitesize pieces
1 jar roasted red peppers
1 can coconut milk (full fat for more flavour)
1 tbsp harissa paste
Spray oil
1 red onion chopped
1 tsp curry powder
100g Spinach – I chopped finely
Seasoning (salt & pepper)
Using a food processor, blend the roasted red peppers with the harissa paste and coconut milk until smooth.
Sauce blend in KitchenAid processor
2. In a pan heat a little oil, season the chicken and fry until browned. Then add the onion and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Add the curry powder and mix.
3. Pour in the Sauce mix and cook for about 10 minutes on a medium to high heat.
4. Add in the chopped spinach and mix through cooking for about 2 minutes.
5. If the sauce is still to thin, bring heat up to a slight boil to help thicken the sauce.
6. Serve with some brown rice or naan bread. I cooked some rice and added it to the pan mixture and mixed though.
This dish could be made vegan and gluten free by adding chickpeas instead of chicken and serving on its own.
Having some Chickpeas to use up, I decided to spice them up with some Middle Eastern Spices. This dish was delicious & my partner agreed…..happy days!
I also love this dish as its a one pot cooking meal which means less washing up….lol!
Serves 2
250g Scottish Beef Mince
200g Tinned Chickpeas
400g Tinned tomatoes
200g Red Kidney beans or you can use Black beans
250ml Beef Stock
70g Rice (Basmati is good, but I had some Red and wild rice left)
1 tsp Dried garlic granules
1 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Ground Coriander
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1 tsp Dried coriander leaf (fresh if you have it)
1 tsp Dried parsley (fresh if you have it)
Spray oil
Salt & Pepper
Heat a little spray oil in a pan and brown the mince, remove with a slotted spoon, set aside.
Put Rice, Garlic, Ground coriander, Cumin & Turmeric into pan and coat the rice. Add the Beef stock, bring to the boil then simmer for about 15-20 minutes until rice is softened.
Add back to the pan the mince along with the chickpeas, tin tomatoes & kidney beans, mix through. Heat through uncovered for about 5 minutes.
Add the parsley & coriander if fresh to serve. If using dried, add with the beans etc.
My taste buds were swaying towards a Chilli tonight, but fed up with the same old serving of Chilli mince on top of a bed of Rice, I decided to try something a bit different. It worked a treat, a mix between meatballs and chilli….Yum! At under 500 calories per portion too this dinner is perfect and nutritious.
Serves 2 portions
For the Balls
300g Lean Scottish Mine Beef
40g Basmati & Wild Rice Mix (you can just use Basmati Long grain if you wish) Cooked
1 tsp dried Garlic Granules
1 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Dried Coriander
For the Chilli Sauce
200ml Beef Stock
1 Red onion – diced
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
200g Tinned tomatoes
200g Red Kidney Beans, chopped
Salt & Pepper
Few dashes of Tabasco Sauce
Cook your rice as per packet instructions and ensure it is very soft, once cooked allow to completely cool before added to your bowl of mince.
In a bowl, add Mince, Garlic, Cumin, Coriander and season with salt & pepper. Once Rice has cooled add to bowl and mix through.
Heat a little oil in a pan. With wet hands take small amounts of the meat mixture and roll into balls (you should get about 12 balls), place into your pan and brown all over. Remove.
Add the onions to the pan and fry until browned, then add the tinned tomatoes, chilli flakes, kidney beans and beef stock then season with salt & pepper. Bring to the boil then reduce and bring to a simmer. At this point add back the meat and rice balls and cook covered for about 15 minutes.
Just before you are ready to serve, add a few splashes of Tabasco sauce for that extra kick! (please take out if you don’t like it spicy hot)
Since we are still in lockdown, we fancied something special for lunch today, sun was shining through the window, temperature was rising, so we thought we’d treat ourselves to this lovely little dish. Oh & of course we had a cheeky glass of wine with our meal too, just to help wash it all down.
Serves 2 portions.
3 medium size potatoes – cut into small cubes
1 red onion – diced
80 g Chorizo – sliced
2 eggs
200g tin tomatoes
50g grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
1 tsp paprika
Salt & pepper to taste
Spray oil
1 tbsp butter
Preheat oven to fan 190 deg.
Place cubed potatoes into a pan of salted water and bring to the boil, simmer for about 5 minutes. Drain.
Meanwhile, in a pan brown and cook the chorizo for a few minutes, remove with a slotted spoon.
Add the onion & chilli flakes to the chorizo pan and fry until browned, then add back to the pan the potatoes with tin tomatoes, butter & paprika, stir until combined and cook for a few minutes.
Place mixture into an oven proof dish, make 2 wells and crack the eggs in, season the eggs then sprinkle grated cheese over.
Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes depending on how you like your eggs.
Wanted some home comfort food today and trying to use up leftovers this little dish was perfect, tasty & filling.
Makes 2 servings
1 1/2 chicken breast (large)
1 Green Pepper
1 Large Leek
3 large Potatoes
250ml chicken stock
50ml Cream or milk
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp dried garlic granules
Salt & pepper to taste
Grated cheese (I used cheddar but Gruyere is nice if you have it)
Paprika to taste
Pre heat your oven to 180 deg (or if you have a class 9 Hotpoint use the Potato Gratin function)
Heat a little spray oil in a pan and slice the chicken into small strips, season with salt & pepper & nutmeg then brown, remove with a slotted spoon.
Heat a little butter in the pan, slice the leek and gently saute the leeks with the garlic until slightly browned, remove with a slotted spoon.
Add the peppers are cook until slightly softened and browned. Remove.
Peel and slice thinly the potatoes.
Lightly butter a baking dish and start by layering the potatoes then the chicken mix with vegetables then potatoes then chicken mix then potatoes. Pour in the stock and milk and finally finish off with the grated cheese sprinkled on top. Then sprinkle with the paprika to taste.
Oh Yum, this dish I found on the Whole Earths website, I just love their Peanut Butter especially the crunchy one….yum! My curiosity got the better of me because I wouldn’t have thought to put sweet potato and peanut butter together but wow, this was so tasty.
I also used my automatic setting on my Hotpoint Class 9 oven, the Potato Gratin setting. This was great as I didn’t need to worry about what temperature or oven function to set for a perfect bake the oven worked it all out for me.
This made 4 small servings (2 bakes in a 19cm x 30cm baking dish)
3 large Sweet Potatoes
2 tsp Crushed Chillies (or 2 chopped chillies)
100g Spinach – Chopped
300g Creme Friache
3 tbsp Peanut Butter, Crunchy
2 tsp dried coriander leaves
Salt & Pepper to taste
If not using automatic programmes, preheat oven on fan to about 200 deg then finish off under the grill to crisp and brown.
Peel & Slice the sweet potatoes to about 1/2 cm thick and place in a bowl, add the chopped spinach, coriander, chillies, salt & pepper.
Mix the creme friache and peanut butter together until smooth ad combined then pour into the sweet potatoes and mix until potatoes are coated.
Spray a baking dish with spray oil and then layer the sweet potato in the dish making two rows.
Cover with Tin foil and bake for about 30 minutes, remove the tin foil and continue to bake for the further 30 minutes or until sweet potatoes are softened and slightly browned.
I do love creating with leftovers, I always amaze myself what you can do with leftovers in your cupboards or fridge. Today was a quick, tasty & filling lunch. With potatoes to be used up, I decided on mini loaded jackets. Using my Automatic Jacket Potato setting on my Hotpoint Class 9 Combi Microwave too they were ready in under 16 minutes too!
I made 4 small Jackets
4 medium sized Scottish Maris Piper Potatoes
2 tbsp butter
handful spinach – chopped
20-30g Cheddar Cheese – grated
Cracker Black Pepper
Salt to taste
First wash potatoes and prick with a fork
Place onto the Crisperplate or Microwave dish.
Set to Automatic, Recipes, Vegetarian Dishes, Baked Potatoes, Set weight and Extra Done. Start. Turn half way through.
When ready remove and allow to cool slightly
Cut potatoes in half lengthways and scoop out potato and put into a bowl then mash
Place butter and spinach into potato bowl and mix through & season
Spoon the potato mixture into the Jacket Potato skins and sprinkle with cheese then place under a high grill for a couple of minutes until cheese is melted. Season with some Cracked Black Pepper. Yum!
You could also add in some chilli and paprika for extra flavour & spice. Really anything of your choosing.
Oh Yum, the flavours from this were amazing. I got this recipe from Scott Baptie’s High Protein Handbook 5, full of goodness too. You can check out his website here.
Serves 2
1 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
300g Scottish steak mince
1 tsp Chilli powder
2 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp turmeric
150g Basmati rice
300ml Beef Stock
100g frozen peas
2 handfuls of Spinach
Seasoning (salt & pepper)
Heat oil in a pan on medium to high heat
Brown onion and garlic for a few minutes
Add in the mince with seasoning and brown
Add the spices and cook for a minute, add the rice and mix through until coated.
Pour in the stock and simmer for about 15-20 minutes
Add the peas and spinach and cook for a further 5 minutes or until all liquid has been absorbed.
In a bid to get more vegetables into our diet, this little Tagine was simply super tasty and super healthy. One pot cooking too so nice & easy. I do love Moroccan flavours. Idea came from a recipe from PON and as usual I added and took out bits to suit my own tastes. Delicious!!!
Serves 4
Low calorie spray
1 Large carrot, cut into chunks
200g Turnip (swede), peeled and cut into chunks
2 large parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks
6 shallots – peeled and cut into wedges
1 red pepper, cut into wedges
200g peeled and deseeded butternut squash, cut into chunks
This is a classic dish in the U.K, good British pub food, I was keen to give it a go. Easy One pot cooking and can be slow cooked too. Traditionally its served with roast potatoes, however, having loads of rice to use up in my cupboard this was my preferred choice.
Serves 4
For the Chicken
4 Chicken Breasts
4 Bacon slices (smoked)
3 shallots, diced
2 tsp garlic granules or 2 cloves
1 400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato puree
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp crushed chilli flakes
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tbsp hot sauce
1 tsp mustard powder
1 tsp sugar
80g reduced fat cheddar (healthier option)
For the Rice
150g Wholemeal Log Grain Rice
1 x 400g tin of mixed beans
Pinch of Saffron
300ml Vegetable Stock
75-100g chopped Chorizo
Preheat oven to 180 deg.
Wrap each chicken breast with the bacon slice and secure with a cocktail stick
Put all of the other ingredients for the chicken into an ovenproof casserole dish with a tight lid.
Place the chicken on top of the ingredients, put lid on and cook for about 1-2 hours.
Remove from the oven and remove chicken breasts from the dish, set aside. Using a blender blitz the sauce until smooth.
Place chicken into a dish, cover with the sauce and sprinkle the cheese over the top, place under a hot grill to melt the cheese.
Place the rice, beans, chorizo, stock & saffron into the steam pot and cook on Steam setting for 20 minutes.
I do love my salmon. This was a last minute little dish as I was going to have steamed teriyaki salmon and sweet potato fries tonight for dinner, but changed my mind as I fancied a warming soup type dish. It was delicious and with the lemon zest added that extra bit of flavour.
Makes 2 portions
2 Salmon Fillets – cut into chunks
1 large sweet potato – cut in 1 cm chunks
1 cup sweetcorn (I used frozen)
1 cup baby carrots ( I used frozen)
1 cup garden peas (I used frozen)
1 onion – chopped finely
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp dried dill
Salt & Pepper
200ml water
2 tbsp flour
150ml Milk
Grated Lemon zest and juice of 1 lemon
In a large pot, melt the butter and saute the onion.
Add in the sweet potato, sweetcorn, peas, carrots, dried dill, salt & pepper and mix.
Pour in the water and bring to the boil, reduce and simmer covered for about 10 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender.
Whisk the flour into the milk and slowly add to the pan while stirring through.
Add in the chunks of Salmon, remove the lid and simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes or until salmon is opaque. Be gentle but stir every now and again but watch not to beak up the salmon pieces.
Squeeze in lemon juice and grated lemon zest. Serve with a turn of rainbow peppercorns.
This is a very simple and quick satisfying dinner & a healthy nutritious one too. The added crispy onions on top just give it a lovely little crunch. I used Corn Tacos for extra flavour.
Heat a little oil in a fry pan on medium to high heat
Add in the pepper and sweetcorn and cook for about 5 minutes
Add in the black beans, chilli, garlic, onion granules, cumin and pinch of salt, mix through and cook for about 5 minutes
Add in the baby spinach and 2 tbsp water, cover and let spinach wilt for about a minute of 2. Mix through. Finished with 2 tbsp coriander and juice from 1 lime.
To serve, heat up the corn tacos under a grill (or tortillas if using). 2 tbsp of bean mix, top with sour cream, cheese and crispy onions. Yummy!
I served this little dish with my Moroccan Spiced Cauliflower as a tapas style dinner. These were so yummy and the sauce was rich with a little bit of sweetness.
Makes 8 Meatballs
200g scottish beef mince
30g panko breadcrumbs
1 egg
handful chopped coriander
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp dried coriander
1/2 tsp minced ginger
225g tin chopped tomatoes
150ml beef stock
1 red onion – finely sliced
Place everything in a bowl and mix. Shape into 1″ balls and chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Heat up a fry pan with spray oil and cook meatballs until browned all over.
Add in the onions a cook until softened and slightly browned.
Add in the tomatoes and beef stock, bring to the boil then simmer medium heat until sauce starts to thicken, about 15-20 minutes. serve.
I got this recipe from one of my colleagues at an event, this is so delicious I just had to try myself at home. It is really easy to make and healthy. I used a steam assisted method to cook so this was lovely and moist.
Served with some Houmous and toasted almonds it was the perfect little dish, either as a snack, tapas style dish or an accompaniment dish.
Serves 3-4
1 whole cauliflower – outer leaves removed
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1 clove garlic minced
1 lemon juice & (Zest for serving)
200g Houmous
30-40g Toasted Almond Flakes
1 tbsp fresh chopped mint to serve.
Mix oil, salt, pepper, spices, garlic and lemon juice in a bowl. Rub this mixture into the cauliflower.
Pre heat your oven on fan to 200 deg. Place a deep tray with water on level 2 and place a wire rack over the top, don’t allow the rack to touch the water. (the water is to create steam for more moisture)
Place cauliflower onto the rack and cook for about 45 minutes.
Place the houmous onto a plate, top with toasted almonds, the slice the cauliflower on top and sprinkle with lemon zest and mint. Serve.
Love home comfort food? This is a great little dish that never fails to satisfy. Easy to make, economical and very filling. Using the Gruyere cheese gives it a lovely rich flavour and the panko breadcrumbs give it a lovely bite.
Serve 2
2 Chicken Breasts – cut into bite size pieces
200g broccoli florets – fresh
1 tbsp butter
1 brown onion, sliced thinly
100ml creme fraiche
200ml chicken stock
40g panko breadcrumbs
55g Gruyere Cheese, grated
Salt & pepper to taste
Pre heat your oven to 200 deg.
Bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil and add the broccoli, cook for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan and cook the onions until browned and softened, about 4 minutes.
Layer the broccoli, onion & chicken in an oven proof dish and season well with salt & pepper.
Pour over the stock and creme fraiche, mix through.
Using the remaining butter in the pan from onions add the breadcrumbs and cheese and mix through, only heat for about 1 minutes until panko crumbs go slightly brown and cheese is combined.
Sprinkle the panko crumbs and cheese over the chicken in the dish and bake for about 25 minutes until golden brown.
Yum. Looking in my cupboards tonight I needed to use up an opened carton of tomatoes, packet of broccoli and cauliflower so this is what I came up with. Already planning on having salmon just didn’t know what with, so this was one of those delicious last minute meals. And under 500 calories it was healthier too.
Makes 2 portions
100g Wholemeal Fusilli Pasta (or penne if you prefer)
Boil the pasta as per instructions and add the broccoli and cauliflower 4 minutes before ready.
Meanwhile, to make the béchamel sauce melt 1 tbsp butter in a pan and add the flour, mix, slowly add in the milk, little at a time constantly whisking to prevent lumps. Remove from heat when it starts to thicken up. Then stir in the grated cheese.
Mix the sauce into the pasta and empty into an oven proof dish, add the salmon and tomatoes and mix through. Season. Mix the panko breadcrumbs with the melted butter and sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs over.
We do love a good stew on a Sunday, this is a little change to the normal traditional stew and super tasty with loads of flavour. All you need is some good fresh bread to douk (dip in) and scoop up the gravy. Yummy!
Makes 2-3 servings
400g good scottish steak (diced)
75g-100g chorizo (diced)
1 x 400g can tin chopped tomatoes
1 x 225g tin chickpeas
1 x 225g tin red kidney beans
300ml beef stock
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1 clove garlic minced
100ml red wine
1 tbsp worcester sauce
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 red onion – chopped
Coriander – chopped to garnish
Salt & pepper to season
Heat a little oil in a pan and gently fry the steak until browned, then add in the chorizo and onion until softened.
Sprinkle on the cumin, paprika, garlic, sugar, cinnamon and tomato paste and mix through to coat beef. Season well.
Add in the chickpeas, kidney beans, tin tomatoes, stock and worcester sauce, mix and bring to the boil. Add in the red wine.
Reduce to a low simmer place lid on pan and cook slowly for about 2-3 hours or until meat is tender.
This little dish was super tasty with a little kick, perfect for a Saturday night dinner. My ultimate favourite is 1 pan cooking (well kinda..lol), don’t you just love throwing everything in to 1 pot, easy cooking, less washing up….lol!
We served this with a glass of Chardonnay and it went perfectly well.
Serves 2
6-8 Beef Meatballs (sliced in half)
150g pasta (I used wholewheat Fusilli)
200g tin tomatoes
75g chopped chorizo (good quality, we love Picante)
1 red onion (chopped)
1 red pepper (chopped)
1 carrot (chopped)
1 garlic clove (crushed)
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried basil (I would recommend using fresh, but unfortunately I didn’t have any)
1 chopped chilli or 1 tsp dried chillies
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tsp sugar
Salt & Pepper to season
Parmesan to garnish
First bring to the boil a pan of salted water and cook pasta for about 8-10 minutes, Save about 1/2 cup of the pasta water, drain pasta and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan, add the meatballs & chorizo and brown all over. When browned remove with a slotted spoon and put to the side.
Heat 1 tbsp oil and add the peppers, onions, carrots, garlic and thyme and gently cook until slightly tender.
Return the meatballs and chorizo back to the pan, add the sauce and bring to a simmer for a few minutes until meatballs are cooked through.
Then add the pasta to the pan along with the remaining pasta water and simmer for a further 5 minutes to warm through.
Serve with some grated parmesan and chopped basil. Yummy!
THE WEE CALEDONIAN COOK 
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