Golden potato-ham soup

Ingredients:
4 potatoes
2 celery
1 onion
1 stock cube
3 dl water (300 ml)
salt, pepper
2 tsp plain flour
350 ml of milk
200 gr grated cheese ( red cheddar)
200 gr ham

Method:
Peel and dice the potatoes. Wash and dice celery the same size as potatoes. Chop the onion. Put all of them in a pot with water and boil until potato is tender. In a separate bowl mix the flour and milk and add to the soup gradually , mixing the soup at the same time. Keep mixing 'til soup is nice and thick. Add in the diced ham and grated cheese.
Sit back and enjoy :)

*For Coeliacs substitute flour with cornflour, but then you can just add the milk to the soup. Mix the cornflour with a little bit of cold water and then mix in the soup.
** For a creamy soup substitute milk with single  cream.

Szechuan stir-fried prawns

ingredients:
200 gr prawns

1 egg white
pinch of salt
1 tbsp cornflour

Sauce: 
1 tsp chopped ginger
2 spring onions- chopped
1 garlic clove- diced
3-4 small red chillies- chopped
1 tbsp soy sauve
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2-3 tbsp vegetable stock
2-3 drops of sesame oil

Method:
peel the prawns and sprinkle with salt. Whisk the egg white until nice and fluffy. Then toss the prawns in cornflour and then in egg whites. Fry the prawns on a hot wok pan for 2 minutes and then drain them on a kitchen paper.Use the sesame oil for frying.
Heat up the wok again and add all the ingredients for the sauce, bring to the boil and stir until  smooth and well blended.
Add the prawns back to the pan and mix. Garnish however you like and enjoy.
 :)

Egg fried rice

Ingredients: 

350 ml water
pinch of salt
150 gr long grain rice
1 egg + 1 tbsp water
vegetable oil
2 spring onions
1/2 red pepper or any other colour pepper
50 gr frozen peas
100 gr bean sprouts
1 tbsp soy sauce
3 bacon slices

Method:  Cook the rice in the water and refresh ( rinse under running cold water). Mix the egg with the water and seasoning and cook like an omelette and roll together when ready. Then cut the roll into strips. Thinly slice the spring onions, red pepper and bacon. Stir-fry them , add frozen peas,bean sprouts and soy sauce. Then add the rice and last add the egg strips.

Enjoy :)

Banana Muffins

Absolutely lovely muffins. so fluffy. mmm..






you'll need: 200 gr butter
160 gr caster sugar
250 ml eggs
300 gr plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
125 ml milk
2-3 drops vanilla essence
4 bananas
Method: Cream the butter and sugar until white and sugar has been dissolved. Then slowly add the eggs. keep mixing.  Sieve together flour and baking powder and add to the mix.  mix together vanilla essence and milk and add to the mix aswell and mix everything together. Divide the mix between muffin moulds and bake at 175 C for 30-35 minutes.

Greek salad

You'll need:
1/2 head cos lettuce
1/4 cucumber
few tomatoes cut wedges
3 spring onion
red onion- cut into rings
olives
100 gr feta cheese
steamed asparagus
pan fried halloumi cheese
For the dressing:
45 ml white wine vinegar
150 ml olive oil
seasoning

Method: Shred the cos lettuce, cut tomatoes into wedges, slice the cucumber and red onion. Chop the spring onion and cut feta cheese into cubes.
For the dressing put the vinegar in the bowl, add seasoning and start whisking. Add oil gradually, whisking all the time. If you add all the oil at once the dressing will split.

Put all the salad items in the bowl, mix with the dressing and put in the serving dish. Garnish with asparagus and pan fried halloumi cheese.

Enjoy :)

Paella

You'll need: 
100 gr squid
200 gr mussels
200 gr different fish
3 pieces raw chicken
5 slices chorizo sausage
1 ltr stock
100 ml white wine
pinch of saffron / turmeric
50 gr onion
1 garlic clove
50 gr diced red peppers
50 gr green pepper- diced
60 ml olive oil
200 gr short grain rice
thyme and bayleaf
150 gr tomatoes or tomato concasse
Garnish: lemon wedges and chopped parsley

Method: First pin bone the fish and cut in the even sizes. Then cut the squid rings, clean mussels and clean prawns.
Sweat the chopped onion, peppers and garlic. Seal off the chicken on a same pan and add with chorizo. Cook until chicken is cooked. About 10 minutes. Add the rice and stock ( mix stock + saffron/turmeric). Then add everything else, except the squid. When rice and fish is cooked, add the squid. Cook another 5 minutes.
When you add squid too early it will become rubbery. When paella is cooked add the tomatoes and garnish with lemon wedges and chopped parsley.
Enjoy :)

Cazpacho soup

Nice cold soup that will cool you down on a hot day. Popular in Spain

You'll need: 
2 garlic cloves
100 gr bread-torn
100 ml olive oil
250 gr tomatoes-chopped
125 gr cucumber-chopped
100 gr green pepper-chopped
50 ml vinegar
1 tsp cumin seeds
ice
Garnish:
crutons- optional
50 gr diced onion
50 gr diced cucumber
50 gr diced green pepper
50 gr tomato concasse*
Method: Soak the torn bread with garlic, olive oil and tomatoes. Add the cucumber, green pepper, vinegar, cumin seeds and ice. Place in a food processor and liquidise until smooth.
Garnish with crutons, onion,tomatoes,cucumber and green pepper.

* tomato concasse is peeled,de-seeded and chopped tomato. Easiest way to peel tomato is to put them in the boiling water for 10-15 seconds and then cool them down in ice water. Before you put the tomatoes in the boiling water, make an X on top of the tomato and also remove the stem spot.

Soup is more flavoursome if you leave it soak over night and blitz it next day.

Enjoy :)

Chocolate truffles ( about 16 pcs).

You'll need : 250 gr dark chocolate

180 ml whipping cream

2 tbsp unsalted butter

2 tbsp brandy/rum( i used rum essence)

Different coatings . i used hundreds and thousands.

Method: Chop the chocolate and place in a stainless steel bowl. Set aside. Heat the cream and butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat and bring to boil. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth, then add the rum or essence. Cover and place in a fridge until mixture is firm. I let it stand in the fridge over night.

Place your coatings for a truffles on a plate. Take out the mixture. With your hands shape the chocolate into round shaped balls and cover with coating. Put on a baking paper. When all the balls are made, put them in a fridge until firm.

Enjoy :)

Crunchy chocolate mousse

Easiest dessert ever :)

You'll need: 200 g milk chocolate

70 gr crunchy chocolate (´i used KitKat)

284 ml double cream

250 ml mascarpone

Method: Place 150 gr of the milk chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water until melted. Remove from the heat.

Stir in the crunchy chocolate pieces.

Gently mix the cream and mascarpone. Stir the chocolate mix into the cream and mascarpone until just marbled.

Spoon into small glasses /cups and top with the rest of the chocolate , grated/shaved.

Enjoy :)

Custard fruit tarts.

Pastry : 450 gr butter

900 gr plain flour

handful of sugar

3 eggs

about 100 ml of milk

For the custard: 3 egg yolks

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla essence

Topping: fruits / berries

Method: start with the pastry. In a big bowl mix flour, butter and sugar, until mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. Best way to do it is by hands. In another bowl beat the eggs and add 1/3 of it to the pastry mix and also add some of the milk. Mix everything together, add rest of the eggs and some more milk. You may not need all of the milk at all, just use as much milk you need to bring the pastry together.Wrap pastry in cling film and place in a fridge for 30 minutes. Pastry needs time to rest so that it wouldn't crumble.

Meanwhile do the custard: Whisk the egg yolks, sugar and flour until mixture is thick and pale.

In a small saucepan heat up the milk to almost boiling point. Slowly add milk to egg mixture, add vanilla essence and return it to the saucepan. Cook over low heat 'til custard coats the back of the spoon.

Transfer custard into a bowl, cover with cling film and put in the fridge 'til needed.

Now back to pastry: roll it out on floured surface. Lightly brush pastry cases with melted butter and sprinkle some flour over the cases. Fold the rolled out thin pastry in the pastry case. brick the base with fork and cover with baking paper and baking beans.

Bake at 170 C for about 7 minutes, then remove the baking beans and bake further 10 minutes.

Let the pastry cool down.

Then just spoon/ pipe custard in the cases, arrange fruits and sprinkle with icing sugar .

Enjoy :)

Mini pizzas

For the dough: 200 gr plain flour

little bit of salt

dried yeast ( i used 8g sachet)

120 ml lukewarm water

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

For the topping: tomato sauce

grated cheese

sliced tomato

chopped tomato

dried basil

sausages or ham

Method: Make a mound of flour and salt, with a well in the centre. Mix the yeast into the water and pour into the well. Add the oil and knead until dough is elastic ( might take about 10 minutes). Leave the dough rise for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 200 C. Roll out the dough to 8 round shapes about 5 mm thick( it depends how do you like your pizza base). Spread some tomato sauce to each pizza base . Slice the sausages or ham. Arrange them on the pizza, use some diced tomatoes, sprinkle some cheese over and then some basil as well. Bake in the oven bout 15 minutes. I used some sliced tomatoes also.

I got 6 pizza bases from this quantity.

Enjoy :)

Calzone

For the dough: 200 gr plain flour

little bit of salt

1 sachet of yeast( i used 8g packet)

120 ml lukewarm water

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

For the filling: sausages

grated cheese

little bit of sundriend tomato pestolittle bit of onion

tomato sauce or ketchup

Method: make a mound of flour and salt, with a well in the centre. Mix the yeast into the water and pour into the well. Add the oil and knead the dough until it is elastic. It might

take about 10 minutes. Leave the dough rise for 2 hours. Cover the bowl with cling film or a tea towel.

Preheat the oven to 200 C. Roll out the dough to create an oblong shape. about 3 mm thick and cut into 8 big squares or 4 small. Slice the sausages and mix with pesto and tomato sauce.Dice the onions and add to the mix. Put the mix on the side of the square and sprinkle with grated cheese. Fold the dough over and press the edges together and bake at the oven for about 12-15 minutes.

For vegetarian option : filling: grated cheese, roasted aubergine and courgette(finely sliced) , rocket and vegetarian sausages,and some pesto+ tomato sauce.

Enjoy :)

fresh fruit tart

You'll need: 4 egg yolks

50 gr caster sugar

2 tbsp cornflour

2 tbsp plain flour

1 tsp vanilla essence

100 ml cream300 ml milk

800 gr fruits/berries( i used kiwi,strawberry,raspberry and blackberry)

For the pastry: 185 gr plain flour

pinch of salt

115 gr butter, diced

1 egg yolk

2 tbsp chilled water

Method: To make the pastry ,sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl and rub in the butter.Keep rubbing til mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Mix in the egg

yolk and chilled water and mix to a firm dough.

Put the dough on to a lightly floured surface and knead for a few seconds. Wrap in a cling film and put in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes roll out the pastry and line a 25cm/9in round pan/quiche pan. wrap in a cling film and put back in the fridge for 20 minutes.

Pre-heat the oven to 200 ⁰C or Gas 6. Prick the base of the pastry ,line with foil and baking beans and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and bake further 10 minutes. Leave to cool.

Take a bowl and in there beat the egg yolks,sugar,cornflour,flour and vanilla together. Bring the milk to the boil in a pan and slowly pour on to the egg mixture,whisking all the time.

Pour the custard into the cleaned pan and cook over a low heat til it has thickened. return to the clean mixing bowl,cover the bowl with cling film and put in the fridge to set. (I left it in the fridge for an hour).

Whip the cream til thick ,then fold it in the custard. Spoon the custard into the pastry case and spread it out evenly. .

Slice the fruits and arrange them however you like .

Enjoy :)

Prawn and broccoli noodles

This recipe is from Easy Food magazine (nov 2011).

You'll need: 200 gr noodles

200 gr broccoli,cut into small florets

6 tbsp soy sauce

1 garlic glove, finely chopped

1 tbsp ginger, finely chopped

juice of 2 limes

1 tsp olive oil

100 gr prawns, if frozen then thawed

1 red bell pepper

1 yellow bell pepper

2 spring onions,chopped

some seasoning

Method: Boil the noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse well in a cold water. drain again and keep in a bowl.

Blanch the broccoli and cool down in a cold water.

In a bowl mix soy sauce, garlic,ginger, lime juice well.

Heat up the wok and add oil to the pan and sliced peppers and cook for a few minutes . Add the spring onions and prawns and cook for a further few minutes. Add the sauce,broccoli and noodles and toss everything together. Cook for a few minutes and serve.

Enjoy :)

beef stir-fry with broccoli

You'll need: 750 gr sirloin /rump steak, thinly sliced

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp cornflour mixed with salt and black pepper

150 gr broccoli, chopped

150 gr mushrooms,sliced

150 gr mangetout ,sliced

1/2 red or green bell pepper

2 garlic cloves,peeled and chopped

little bit fresh ginger or powder ginger

Dressing: juice 2 limes

2 tsp sugar

1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

method: Heat a wok til very hot. Add a tablespoon of oil. Coat the beef in the seasoned cornflour and stir-fry in patches, til bit crispy. remove to dish and keep warm while cooking the vegetables.

Add a little more oil to the wok. Add in the broccoli,mushrooms,mangetout. pepper and garlic and ginger and stir-fry for few minutes.

Return the meat to the wok and add in the dressing ingredients. Stir to combine and continue to cook for another minute.

Enjoy :)

Potato salad a la my style

I always make that salad by the eye so i really dont know the quantities. :( sorry bout that.

You 'll need: Boiled potatoes

Boiled carrots or canned carrots

canned peas

pickled gherkins

few boiled eggs

few hot dog sausages

mayo + sour cream or salad cream

salt + pepper

Method: Dice carrots and potatoes ,slice gherkins and hot dog sausages. Break the eggs using fork or crater. Put all the ingredients in a bowl except for mayo and sour cream. Mix sour cream and mayo together with salt and pepper and mix together with potatoes and everything else.

Enjoy :)

Chocolate mousse tartlets

For the pastry: 115 gr plain flour

25 gr icing sugar

25 gr cocoa powder

75 gr butter

2 eggs

2,5 ml vanilla essence

For the mousse: 200 gr milk chocolate (broken up into pieces)

120 ml milk

10 ml powdered gelatine

30 ml caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

2 eggs( separated)

250 g cream cheese

melted dark chocolate to decorate

Method: For the pastry sift the flour,sugar and cocoa powder into a mixing bowl. Rub in the butter 'til mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.

Mix eggs and vanilla essence in a small bowl,then add to the dry ingredients and mix to a soft dough. Tip out on to a lightly floured surface and knead 'til smooth. Wrap in a cling film and place in a fridge for about 30 minutes.

Roll out pastry and use to line 6 tartlet tins.( i used 10 cm size). Cover tartlets with cling film and put in a fridge for another 20 minutes. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 190⁰C ( 375⁰F; gas mark 5).

Prick the base of each pastry case with a fork, then line with baking paper and fill with bakinf beans( u can use uncooked rice aswell) and bake for 10 minutes.

Remove the paper and beans (rice), and put the pastry cases back in the oven and cook another 15 minutes. or 'til pastry is firm. Let the pastry cases cool in the tin.

For the filling,melt the chocolate . Milk pour into a pan and add gelatine and heat gently til gelatine is dissolved. remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate.

Whisk sugar,vanilla essence and egg yolks together, and then add in the chocolate mixture. Beat in the cream cheese 'til mixture is evenly mixed. Chill the mixture til it starts to set ( might take several hours).

Whisk the egg whites in a grease-free bowl 'til stiff, then gently fold into the mixture. Divide the mixture between the pastry cases and leave in the fridge to set.

Decorate with dark melted chocolate .

Enjoy :)