Blog

Category: Beef

Area: Croatian

Ingredients:

• 600g Potatoes
• 1 chopped Courgettes
• 1 chopped Carrots
• 1 chopped Green Pepper
• 1 small Aubergine
• 1 Large Chopped Onion
• 800g Lamb Shoulder
• 1 tbs Garlic Sauce
• 1 tbs Tomato Puree
• 80 ml Olive Oil
• Sprinking Thyme
• 250ml White Wine
• Pinch Pepper

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 200°C fan / 220°C / 425°F / Gas mark 7
If you have not bought diced lamb, cut your lamb shoulder or leg into large chunks and place to one side.
Chunks of chopped lamb of a red chopping board
Make oil marinade –
Mix 80ml of olive oil in a bowl with garlic puree, sundried tomato puree ,black pepper and salt.
olive oil, gia sundried tomato puree and gia garlic puree and black pepper mixed together in a silver bowl to make Croatian peka
Add potatoes and vegetables into a large lidded casserole dish.
Chopped up vegetables which consist of chopped up red onion, courgette, potatoes red peppers in a cast iron pan
Place diced lamb on top of the vegetables, pour the marinade and wine over the top.
Chunks of lamb covered in in a sundried tomato oil sauce which is on top of chopped red onion, aubergine, courgette and potatoes in a cast iron pan
Add the rosemary, thyme and sage, trying to keep the herbs on top.
So you can easily remove the herb stalks once cooked.
Chunks of lamb coated in a sundried tomato oil sauce and covered with thyme, rosemary and sage which is on top of chopped red onion, aubergine, courgette and potatoes in a cast iron pan
Place lid on the casserole dish and cook for 1hr 30 minute
If you do not have a lid cover very well with kitchen foil
Cast iron dish with lid on in the oven
Take the lid off, remove any thick herb stems. Stir in 2 tbsp of olive oil.
Cook for a further 20-30 mins.
Cooked Croatian Lamb Peka in a cast iron pan in the oven
Serve with fresh homemade bread to dip into the juices.

Category: Seafood

Area: Chinese

Ingredients:

• 1/2 bag Rice Stick Noodles
• 8 oz Prawns
• 1/2 Egg
• pinch Pepper
• 2 tsp Sesame Seed Oil
• 2 tbs Cornstarch
• 4 tbs Oil
• 1 tsp Minced Garlic
• 1 tsp Ginger
• 1/2 cup Onion
• 1 cup Bean Sprouts
• 1/2 cup Spring Onions
• 1 tbs Cooking wine
• 1 tbs Oyster Sauce
• 1/2 tbs Sugar
• 1/2 tbs Vinegar
• 1 tbs Soy Sauce

Instructions:

STEP 1 – SOAK THE RICE NOODLES
Soak the rice noodles overnight untill they are soft
STEP 2 – BOIL THE RICE NOODLES
Boil the noodles for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process of the noodles.
STEP 3 -MARINATING THE SHRIMP
In a bowl add the shrimp, egg, 1 pinch of white pepper, 1 Teaspoon of sesame seed oil, 1 Tablespoon corn starch and 1 tablespoon of oil
Mix together well
STEP 4 – STIR FRY
In a wok add 2 Tablespoons of oil, shrimp and stir fry them until it is golden brown
Set the shrimp aside
Add 1 Tablespoon of oil to the work and then add minced garlic, ginger and all of the vegetables.
Add the noodles to the wok
Next add sherry cooking wine, oyster sauce, sugar, vinegar, sesame seed oil, 1 pinch white pepper, and soy sauce
Add back in the shrimp
To thicken the sauce, whisk together 1 Tablespoon of corn starch and 2 Tablespoon of water in a bowl and slowly add to your stir-fry until it's the right thickness.

Category: Chicken

Area: Thai

Ingredients:

• 225g new Potatoes
• 100g green beans
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 4 tsp Thai green curry paste
• 400ml coconut milk
• 2 tsp Thai fish sauce
• 1 tsp Sugar
• 450g boneless Chicken
• 2 fresh kaffir leaves lime
• handfull basil
• Boiled Rice

Instructions:

Put the potatoes in a pan of boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Throw in the beans and cook for a further 3 minutes, by which time both should be just tender but not too soft. Drain and put to one side.
In a wok or large frying pan, heat the oil until very hot, then drop in the garlic and cook until golden, this should take only a few seconds. Don’t let it go very dark or it will spoil the taste. Spoon in the curry paste and stir it around for a few seconds to begin to cook the spices and release all the flavours. Next, pour in the coconut milk and let it come to a bubble.
Stir in the fish sauce and sugar, then the pieces of chicken. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 8 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
Tip in the potatoes and beans and let them warm through in the hot coconut milk, then add a lovely citrussy flavour by stirring in the shredded lime leaves (or lime zest). The basil leaves go in next, but only leave them briefly on the heat or they will quickly lose their brightness. Scatter with the lime garnish and serve immediately with boiled rice.

Category: Vegetarian

Area: Russian

Ingredients:

• 3 tbs Unsalted Butter
• 1 large Onion
• 1 medium Cabbage
• 1 Carrots
• 1 Celery
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 8 cups Vegetable Stock
• 2 large Potatoes
• 2 large Tomatoes
• Garnish Sour Cream
• Garnish Dill

Instructions:

Add the butter to a large Dutch oven or other heavy-duty pot over medium heat. When the butter has melted, add the onion and sauté until translucent.
Add the cabbage, carrot, and celery. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes.
Add the bay leaf and vegetable stock and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are crisp-tender, about 15 minutes.
Add the potatoes and bring it back to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
Add the tomatoes (or undrained canned tomatoes) and bring the soup back to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
emove and discard the bay leaf from the pot.
Serve topped with fresh sour cream and fresh dill.

Category: Side

Area: Irish

Ingredients:

• 1kg Potatoes
• 200ml Milk
• 50g Butter
• 2 tbs Mustard
• Bunch Spring Onions
• Bunch Spring Onions

Instructions:

STEP 1
Boil the potatoes for 15 mins or until tender. Drain, then mash.

STEP 2
Heat the milk and half the butter in the corner of the pan, then beat into the mash, along with the wholegrain mustard.

STEP 3
Gently fry the spring onions in the remaining butter for 2 mins until just soft but still a perky green. Fold into the mash and serve. Great with gammon or to top a fish pie.

Category: Dessert

Area: British

Ingredients:

• 175g/6oz plain flour
• 75g/2½oz chilled butter
• 2-3 tbsp cold water
• 1 tbsp raspberry jam
• 125g/4½oz butter
• 125g/4½oz caster sugar
• 125g/4½oz ground almonds
• 1 free-range egg, beaten
• ½ tsp almond extract
• 50g/1¾oz flaked almonds

Instructions:

To make the pastry, measure the flour into a bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the water, mixing to form a soft dough.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface and use to line a 20cm/8in flan tin. Leave in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 (180C fan).
Line the pastry case with foil and fill with baking beans. Bake blind for about 15 minutes, then remove the beans and foil and cook for a further five minutes to dry out the base.
For the filing, spread the base of the flan generously with raspberry jam.
Melt the butter in a pan, take off the heat and then stir in the sugar. Add ground almonds, egg and almond extract. Pour into the flan tin and sprinkle over the flaked almonds.
Bake for about 35 minutes. If the almonds seem to be browning too quickly, cover the tart loosely with foil to prevent them burning.

Category: Lamb

Area: Greek

Ingredients:

• 4 large Tomatoes
• Pinch Sugar
• 4 tbs Olive Oil
• 1 chopped Onion
• 2 finely chopped Garlic Clove
• 200g Lamb
• 1 tbs Cinnamon
• 2 tbs chopped Tomato Puree
• 50g Rice
• 100ml Chicken Stock
• 4 tbs Dill
• 2 tbs Chopped Parsley
• 1 tbs Mint

Instructions:

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Slice the tops off the tomatoes and reserve. Scoop out most of the pulp with a teaspoon, being careful not to break the skin. Finely chop the pulp, and keep any juices. Sprinkle the insides of the tomatoes with a little sugar to take away the acidity, then place them on a baking tray.

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan, add the onion and garlic, then gently cook for about 10 mins until soft but not coloured. Add the lamb, cinnamon and tomato purée, turn up the heat, then fry until the meat is browned. Add the tomato pulp and juice, the rice and the stock. Season generously. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 mins or until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed. Set aside to cool a little, then stir in the herbs.

Stuff the tomatoes up to the brim, top tomatoes with their lids, drizzle with 2 tbsp more olive oil, sprinkle 3 tbsp water into the tray, then bake for 35 mins. Serve with salad and crusty bread, hot or cold.

Category: Beef

Area: Jamaican

Ingredients:

• 450g Oxtail
• 1 chopped Onion
• 1 Spring Onions
• 2 cloves minced Garlic
• 1 tsp Ginger
• 1 chopped Scotch Bonnet
• 2 tbs Soy Sauce
• 1 chopped Fresh Thyme
• 2 tbs Vegetable Oil
• 350ml Water
• 200g Broad Beans
• 1 tbs Corn Flour
• 2 tbs Water

Instructions:

Toss the oxtail with the onion, spring onion, garlic, ginger, chilli, soy sauce, thyme, salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Brown the oxtail in the pan until browned all over, about 10 minutes. Place into a pressure cooker, and pour in 375ml water. Cook at pressure for 25 minutes, then remove from heat, and remove the lid according to manufacturer's directions.
Add the broad beans and pimento berries, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Dissolve the cornflour in 2 tablespoons water, and stir into the simmering oxtail. Cook and stir a few minutes until the sauce has thickened, and the broad beans are tender.

Category: Beef

Area: Croatian

Ingredients:

• 2 cans Cannellini Beans
• 3 tbs Vegetable Oil
• 2 cups Tomatoes
• 5 Challots
• 2 cloves Garlic
• Pinch Parsley
• 1/2 kg chopped Chorizo

Instructions:

Heat the oil in a pan. Add the chopped vegetables and sauté until tender. Take a pot, empty the beans together with the vegetables into it, put the sausages inside and cook for further 20 minutes on a low heat. Or, put it in an oven and bake it at a temperature of 180ºC/350ºF for 30 minutes. This dish is even better reheated the next day.

Category: Dessert

Area: American

Ingredients:

• 50g Butter
• 175g Peanut Cookies
• 5 Gelatine Leafs
• 500g Ricotta
• 175g Peanut Butter
• 175g Golden Syrup
• 150ml Milk
• 275ml Double Cream
• 2 tblsp Light Brown Soft Sugar
• Crushed Peanut Brittle

Instructions:

Oil and line a 20cm round loose- bottomed cake tin with cling film, making it as smooth as possible. Melt the butter in a pan. Crush the biscuits by bashing them in a bag with a rolling pin, then stir them into the butter until very well coated. Press the mixture firmly into the base of the tin and chill.
Soak the gelatine in water while you make the filling. Tip the ricotta into a bowl, then beat in the peanut butter and syrup. Ricotta has a slightly grainy texture so blitz until smooth with a stick blender for a smoother texture if you prefer.
Take the soaked gelatine from the water and squeeze dry. Put it into a pan with the milk and heat very gently until the gelatine dissolves. Beat into the peanut mixture, then tip onto the biscuit base. Chill until set.
To freeze, leave in the tin and as soon as it is solid, cover the surface with cling film, then wrap the tin with cling film and foil.
To defrost, thaw in the fridge overnight.
To serve, carefully remove from the tin. Whisk the cream with the sugar until it holds its shape, then spread on top of the cheesecake and scatter with the peanut brittle.