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  • Provençal Omelette Cake

    Provençal Omelette Cake

    Category: Vegetarian

    Area: French

    Ingredients:

    • 10 Eggs
    • 1 tbs Olive Oil
    • 2 finely chopped Courgettes
    • 3 finely chopped Spring Onions
    • 4 Red Pepper
    • 1 clove peeled crushed Garlic Clove
    • 1 Red Chilli
    • 300g Cream Cheese
    • 6 tblsp Milk
    • 4 tbs Chives
    • 2 tbs Basil
    • to serve Rocket
    • to serve Parmesan

    Instructions:

    Break the eggs into two bowls, five in each. Whisk lightly and season with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a pan, add the courgettes and spring onions, then fry gently for about 10 mins until softened. Cool, then stir into one bowl of eggs with a little salt and pepper. Add the roasted peppers to the other bowl of eggs with the garlic, chilli, salt and pepper.
    Heat a little oil in a 20-23cm frying pan, preferably non-stick. Pour the eggs with courgette into a measuring jug, then pourabout one-third of the mixture into the pan, swirling it to cover the base of the pan. Cook until the egg is set and lightly browned underneath, then cover the pan with a plate and invert the omelette onto it. Slide it back into the pan to cook the other side. Repeat with the remaining mix to make two more omelettes, adding a little oil to the pan each time. Stack the omelettes onto a plate. Make three omelettes in the same way with the red pepper mixture, then stack them on a separate plate.
    Now make the filling. Beat the cheese to soften it, then beat in the milk to make a spreadable consistency. Stir in the herbs, salt and pepper. Line a deep, 20-23cm round cake tin with cling film (use a tin the same size as the frying pan). Select the best red pepper omelette and place in the tin, prettiest side down. Spread with a thin layer of cheese filling, then cover with a courgette omelette. Repeat, alternating the layers, until all the omelettes and filling are in the tin, finishing with an omelette. Flip the cling film over the omelette, then chill for up to 24 hrs.
    To serve, invert the omelette cake onto a serving plate and peel off the cling film. Pile rocket on the top and scatter over the cheese, a drizzle of olive oil and a little freshly ground black pepper. Serve cut into wedges.

  • Rosół (Polish Chicken Soup)

    Rosół (Polish Chicken Soup)

    Category: Chicken

    Area: Polish

    Ingredients:

    • 4 Chopped Chicken Legs
    • 2 large Onions
    • 5 chopped Carrots
    • 1 chopped Leek
    • 1 small Celery
    • 1/4 Cabbage
    • 1 whole Cloves
    • 1tsp Allspice
    • 2 Bay Leaf
    • 4 sprigs Parsley
    • 4 sprigs Dill
    • 1 tsp Pepper
    • 1 tbs Salt

    Instructions:

    Add chicken to a large Dutch oven or stock pot
    Cover with water
    Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, skimming any impurities off the top to insure a clear broth
    If your pot is big enough, add the vegetables and spices for the last hour of the cooking time
    My Dutch oven wasn’t big enough to hold everything, just the chicken and other bones filled the pot, so I cooked the meat/bones for the full cooking time, then removed them, and cooked the vegetables and spices separately
    Strain everything out of the broth
    Bone the chicken, pulling the meat into large chunks
    Slice the carrots
    Return the chicken and carrots to the broth
    Cook noodles according to package instructions if you’re using them
    Add noodles to bowl and then top with hot soup

  • Broccoli & Stilton soup

    Broccoli & Stilton soup

    Category: Starter

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 2 tblsp Rapeseed Oil
    • 1 finely chopped Onion
    • 1 Celery
    • 1 sliced Leek
    • 1 medium Potatoes
    • 1 knob Butter
    • 1 litre hot Vegetable Stock
    • 1 Head chopped Broccoli
    • 140g Stilton Cheese

    Instructions:

    Heat the rapeseed oil in a large saucepan and then add the onions. Cook on a medium heat until soft. Add a splash of water if the onions start to catch.

    Add the celery, leek, potato and a knob of butter. Stir until melted, then cover with a lid. Allow to sweat for 5 minutes. Remove the lid.

    Pour in the stock and add any chunky bits of broccoli stalk. Cook for 10 – 15 minutes until all the vegetables are soft.

    Add the rest of the broccoli and cook for a further 5 minutes. Carefully transfer to a blender and blitz until smooth. Stir in the stilton, allowing a few lumps to remain. Season with black pepper and serve.

  • Parkin Cake

    Parkin Cake

    Category: Dessert

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 200g Butter
    • 1 large Egg
    • 4 tbs Milk
    • 200g Golden Syrup
    • 85g Black Treacle
    • 85g Brown Sugar
    • 100g Oatmeal
    • 250g Self-raising Flour
    • 1 tbs Ground Ginger

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease a deep 22cm/9in square cake tin and line with baking parchment. Beat the egg and milk together with a fork.

    Gently melt the syrup, treacle, sugar and butter together in a large pan until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat. Mix together the oatmeal, flour and ginger and stir into the syrup mixture, followed by the egg and milk.

    Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 50 mins – 1 hr until the cake feels firm and a little crusty on top. Cool in the tin then wrap in more parchment and foil and keep for 3-5 days before eating if you can – it’ll become softer and stickier the longer you leave it, up to 2 weeks.

  • Vegetarian Chilli

    Vegetarian Chilli

    Category: Vegetarian

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 400g Roasted Vegetables
    • 1 can Kidney Beans
    • 1 can Chopped Tomatoes
    • 1 Packet Mixed Grain

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Cook the vegetables in a casserole dish for 15 mins. Tip in the beans and tomatoes, season, and cook for another 10-15 mins until piping hot. Heat the pouch in the microwave on High for 1 min and serve with the chilli.

  • Moussaka

    Moussaka

    Category: Beef

    Area: Greek

    Ingredients:

    • 500g Beef
    • 1 large Aubergine
    • 150g Greek Yogurt
    • 1 beaten Egg
    • 3 tbs Parmesan
    • 400g Tomato
    • 4 tbs Tomato Puree
    • 350g Potatoes

    Instructions:

    Heat the grill to high. Brown the beef in a deep ovenproof frying pan over a high heat for 5 mins. Meanwhile, prick the aubergine with a fork, then microwave on High for 3-5 mins until soft. Mix the yogurt, egg and parmesan together, then add a little seasoning.

    Stir the tomatoes, purée and potatoes in with the beef with some seasoning and heat through. Smooth the surface of the beef mixture with the back of a spoon, then slice the cooked aubergine and arrange on top. Pour the yogurt mixture over the aubergines, smooth out evenly, then grill until the topping has set and turned golden.

  • Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)

    Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)

    Category: Vegetarian

    Area: Russian

    Ingredients:

    • 4 Potatoes
    • 3 Carrots
    • 1 tbs Salt
    • 1/2 tbs White Wine Vinegar
    • 4 Eggs
    • 7 oz Sausages
    • 4 oz Dill
    • 1 can Peas
    • 4 Onions
    • 1 cup Mayonnaise

    Instructions:

    Cut the potatoes and carrots into small uniform cubes.
    Place them in a large pot and fill with water.
    Add salt and vinegar. Bring it to a boil over medium high heat, and then reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook until the potatoes are cooked through, about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and let it cool to room temperature.
    Meanwhile, cut the sausage and pickles into small cubes, and chop the green onions.
    Cut the hard-boiled eggs into small cubes as well.
    If using fresh dill, chop them as well.
    In a large bowl, combine potatoes, carrots, sausage, pickles, peas and green onions.
    Add mayo and dill and mix until well combined.
    Salt and pepper to taste. Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

  • Stuffed Bell Peppers with Quinoa and Black Beans

    Stuffed Bell Peppers with Quinoa and Black Beans

    Category: Vegetarian

    Area: Mexican

    Ingredients:

    • 4 whole Green Pepper
    • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 small finely diced Onion
    • 2 cloves minced Garlic
    • 1 cups Quinoa
    • 1 can Black Beans
    • 1 cup Sweetcorn
    • 1 can Diced Tomatoes
    • 1 teaspoon Cumin
    • ½ tsp Chili Powder
    • ½ tsp Smoked Paprika
    • To taste Salt
    • To taste Pepper
    • 1 1/2 cup Shredded Mexican Cheese
    • Chopped Cilantro

    Instructions:

    1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or a similar-sized casserole dish.
    2. Place the bell pepper halves in the prepared baking dish, cut side up. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until slightly softened.
    3. While the bell peppers are baking, prepare the filling. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, and cook for 3-4 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic, and cook for another 1 minute, until fragrant.
    4. Stir in the cooked quinoa, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until heated through. Remove the skillet from heat, and stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheese, if using.
    5. Remove the bell peppers from the oven, and carefully stuff each pepper half with the quinoa and black bean mixture. Top the stuffed peppers with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese, if using.
    6. Return the stuffed peppers to the oven, and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the peppers are tender.
    7. Remove from the oven, and allow the stuffed peppers to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.

  • Spaghetti Bolognese

    Spaghetti Bolognese

    Category: Beef

    Area: Italian

    Ingredients:

    • 2 onions
    • 1tbsp olive oil
    • 1 clove garlic
    • 500g lean minced beef
    • 90g mushrooms
    • 1tsp dried oregano
    • 400g can tomatoes
    • 300ml hot beef stock
    • 1tbsp tomato puree
    • 1tbsp worcestershire sauce
    • 350g spaghetti
    • Topping parmesan

    Instructions:

    Put the onion and oil in a large pan and fry over a fairly high heat for 3-4 mins. Add the garlic and mince and fry until they both brown. Add the mushrooms and herbs, and cook for another couple of mins.

    Stir in the tomatoes, beef stock, tomato ketchup or purée, Worcestershire sauce and seasoning. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 mins.

    Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a large pan of boiling, salted water, according to packet instructions. Drain well, run hot water through it, put it back in the pan and add a dash of olive oil, if you like, then stir in the meat sauce. Serve in hot bowls and hand round Parmesan cheese, for sprinkling on top.

  • Irish stew

    Irish stew

    Category: Beef

    Area: Irish

    Ingredients:

    • 300g soaked overnight in water whole wheat
    • 2kg cut into 3cm cubes lamb loin chops
    • 120ml olive oil
    • 24 Skinned shallots
    • 4 large carrots
    • 2 turnips
    • 1 celeriac
    • 350g charlotte potatoes
    • 150ml white wine
    • 1 tsp caster sugar
    • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 4 sprigs oregano
    • 450ml chicken stock

    Instructions:

    Heat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Drain and rinse the soaked wheat, put it in a medium pan with lots of water, bring to a boil and simmer for an hour, until cooked. Drain and set aside.

    Season the lamb with a teaspoon of salt and some black pepper. Put one tablespoon of oil in a large, deep sauté pan for which you have a lid; place on a medium-high heat. Add some of the lamb – don't overcrowd the pan – and sear for four minutes on all sides. Transfer to a bowl, and repeat with the remaining lamb, adding oil as needed.

    Lower the heat to medium and add a tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the shallots and fry for four minutes, until caramelised. Tip these into the lamb bowl, and repeat with the remaining vegetables until they are all nice and brown, adding more oil as you need it.

    Once all the vegetables are seared and removed from the pan, add the wine along with the sugar, herbs, a teaspoon of salt and a good grind of black pepper. Boil on a high heat for about three minutes.

    Tip the lamb, vegetables and whole wheat back into the pot, and add the stock. Cover and boil for five minutes, then transfer to the oven for an hour and a half.

    Remove the stew from the oven and check the liquid; if there is a lot, remove the lid and boil for a few minutes.