Lentil & Cashew Nut Roast

Ingredients:

200g red lentils,
450ml vegetable stock,
1 bay leaf,
100g unsalted cashew nuts,
2 onions, finely chopped
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 carrot, grated
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tbsp lemon juice,
75g grated cheese,
100g breadcrumbs,
3 tbsps parsley,
1 egg

Method:

1. Add lentils, stock & bay leaf to a pan & bring to the boil. Cover & allow to simmer for 10-15 mins until the stock has been absorbed.
2. Toast cashew nuts in a dry frying pan for a few minutes & chop roughly.
3. Preheat oven to 190C.
4. Add some oil to frying pan & fry onions for a few minutes before adding, pepper, carrot, garlic and frying until soft.
5. Mix together in a large bowl the cooked lentils, fried vegetables & all the other ingredients.
6. Put into a greased loaf tin & cover with foil.
7. Bake for 30 minutes, remove foil & bake for a further 30 minutes.
8. Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Serve with gravy, vegetables, potatoes as an alternative to meat for a Sunday roast.

Carrot & Coriander Soup

Ingredients:

600-700g carrots, peeled & sliced
1 onion, finely chopped
Olive oil
Bunch of fresh coriander
1 large potato, chopped into chunks
3 stems of celery (optional), sliced
500-750ml vegetable stock (I make with 2 veg OXO cubes)
1 tbsp ground coriander
Pinch of cumin

Method:

1. Heat the oil gently in a large pan & fry the onion until soft.
2. Add the carrots & celery to the pan & fry for a few minutes.
3. Add all the other ingredients to the pan, bring to the boil and simmer for about 30 minutes.
4. Allow the soup to cool for 10-15 minutes, then blend the soup to a puree.

Serve with some warm crusty bread.

Lemon Honey Popcorn

Ingredients:

Popcorn
1 tbsp olive oil
3-4 drops of Young Living Lemon essential oil (can also use lime or orange)
1 tsp runny honey

Method:

1. Heat the oil gently in the bottom of a pan (must be a pan with a lid). Once the bottom of the pan is covered with oil, put enough popcorn in to cover the bottom of the pan & place the lid on the pan.
2. Watch and wait until the corn begins popping & once it has finished turn the heat off & place in a large mixing bowl.
3. Mix the oil with the honey on a teaspoon and mix through the popcorn until evenly coated.

Great to eat with a good film!

NB I use Young Living Essential Oil due to it's known high quality grade & assurance that it is 100% pure essential oil, so completely safe to ingest. Other oils may not be safe to ingest.

Chive & Mint Potato Salad

A dish that is great to go with a BBQ or as part of a fork buffet.

Ingredients:

2kg new potatoes
2 red onions, sliced thinly
bunch of chives, chopped
3 large stalks of mint, chopped
2 tbsps of mayonnaise
3 tbsps of olive oil
pepper
1 tsp of mustard powder

Method:

1. Half the potatoes and place in pan of water, bringing to the boil.
2. Simmer for 20 mins or until soft but firm.
3. Whilst potatoes are cooking, prepare the dressing - place the mayonnaise, olive oil, mustard powder and black pepper in a large bowl and mix well. Add the onions and herbs and mix well.
4. When potatoes are cooked, drain and rinse with cold water.
5. Add the potatoes to the dressing and mix until the potatoes are evenly covered with the dressing.

Serve either warm or chilled as part of a buffet or BBQ.

Pear Jam

Ingredients:

2 kg of fruit, consisting of 2 peaches, 2 plums, 2 apples & the rest pears, peeled and cored

2 oranges, zested & juiced

1 kg jam sugar

750 ml water

Method:

1. Place 2-3 plates in the fridge.
2. Preheat oven to 140C.
3. Place all the prepared fruit, orange zest & juice and the water into a large pan.
4. Simmer until the pears are soft.
5. Meanwhile wash the jars in warm soapy water & then place face down in the oven to dry & sterilise.
6. Add the sugar & continue to simmer on a low/medium heat until the sugar has dissolved.
7. Turn up the heat & allow to boil hard for 10-15 minutes.
8. Test for a set, by drizzling some of the jam onto a cold plate from the fridge. Place the plate in the fridge for 2 mins. After 2 mins run your finger over the jam & if it leave a crinkly track then it is ready for putting into the jars. If it is still runny then continue to boil, checking it every few minutes.
9. Once ready put into the jars & seal.
10. Store in a cool, dark place until ready to use, then refrigerate.

Potato & Spinach Bake

Ingredients:

1 kg potato, chopped into inch cubes
1 small swede, peeled & chopped
2 carrots, peeled & chopped
200g spinach
handful of grated cheese
500ml vegetable stock (made with 2 OXO cubes)
black pepper

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Parboil the potatoes in boiling water for about 5 minutes.
3. Part steam the vegetables also for about 5 minutes until they begin to soften slightly.
4. Place the potatoes into an ovenproof dish, with the softened vegetables, spinach and cheese and mix together well.
5. Pour over the vegetable stock.
6. Place in the oven for 30-45 minutes until the potatoes & vegetables have softened & cooked through.

Handmade Coleslaw

Ingredients:

1/2 white cabbage, shredded

4 carrots, peeled & grated

1 small red onion or 1/2 a large red onion, sliced finely

6 tbsp mayonnaise

1 tsp mustard powder

2 tbsp lemon juice

black pepper

Method:

1. Place the prepared vegetables in a large bowl and mix well.
2. Add the mayonnaise, mustard & lemon juice and again stir well to coat everything in the dressing.
3. Chill & serve fresh from the fridge.

NB Will survive a few days in the fridge before being used but best fresh.

Vegetarian Herby Bean Hotpot

Ingredients:

4 large potatoes, sliced
2 onions, finely chopped
2 large carrots, sliced
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin of baked beans
1 tin of kidney beans, drained
2 tbsp tomato puree
1 tbsp mixed herbs
1 handful of grated cheese
1 tbsp olive oil

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Place the sliced potatoes in a pan of boiling water & simmer for 5 minutes to allow the potatoes to soften.
3. Heat the oil gently in a pan & fry the onion softly, until soft.
4. Add the carrots to the pan & fry for a few minutes.
5. Add the tins of tomatoes, baked beans, kidney beans, tomato puree and mixed herbs to the pan with the onion and carrot.
6. Heat the pan until the mixture is simmering, allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
7. Place into the bottom of an oven proof dish and arrange the sliced potatoes on top.
8. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top of the potatoes.
9. Place in the oven for 30 minutes until the cheese and potatoes on top are golden brown.

Savoury Cheese & Raisin Muffins

We're trying to reduce our sugar intake slightly so thought I'd try and make some savoury things to replace all the biscuits & chocolate we seem to eat. These are delicious and the raisins adds a little natural sweetness.

Ingredients:

250g plain flour
3 1/2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
50g butter
1 egg
250ml milk
120g grated cheese
100g raisins

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 220C.
2. Place flour, baking powder, salt and paprika in a bowl & mix together.
3. Cut the butter into small pieces and using your finger tips rub the flour into the butter.
4. Beat the egg and add the milk mixing together well.
5. Add the milk-egg mix to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
6. Add the grated cheese and raisins and mix well.
7. Place into cupcake cases or a muffin tin.
8. Bake in the oven for 20-25 mins.

Serve with soup or a stew. 

Cut in half and spread some soft cheese on them.

Baiao de Dois - Brazilian Rice & Beans

I lived in Ceara, Brasil for 6 months as part of my gap year....more years ago than I would like to admit, one of the lasting memories from our time there is some of the food we ate & this recipe is a rice & beans dish we ate many times a week.

Ingredients:

1 onion

1 garlic clove

Drizzle of olive oil

1 cup rice

1 tbsp dried coriander

400g tin of black eyed beans

2 cups of stock

Handful of frozen peas

175g mozzarella, chopped into cubes

Method:

1. Heat the oil & gently cook the onion & garlic until soft.
2. Add the rice & coriander with another drizzle of oil & stir until the rice is transparent.
3. Add the beans, stock & peas, bring to gentle simmer & cover the pan.
4. Allow to simmer until all the stock is gone approximately 10 mins. Keep the pan covered & allow to rest for 5 mins.
5. Add the mozzarella & stir in well. 
6. Allow to melt for another 10-15 mins.

In Brazil you would eat this dish with meat, but being a veggie I would often serve some veggie sausages with it, but can be eaten as a dish in it's own right. Also nice cold as a rice salad.

Vegetarian Sausage, Orange & Root Veg One Pot

Ingredients:

6 vegetarian sausages (I used Linda McCartney's)

2 oranges

1 red onion, chopped into chunks

1/2 a swede, peeled & chopped

1 small turnip, peeled & chopped

1 sweet potato, peeled & chopped

1 tbsp maple syrup

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp dried thyme

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200C.
2. Place the sausages and chopped root vegetables into an oven proof dish.
3. Sprinkle the thyme and grind some black pepper over the sausages and vegetables.
4. Halve and squeeze the juice of the oranges into a jug. Add the remains of the oranges to the dish with the sausages and vegetables.
5. Add the olive oil and maple syrup to the orange juice, mix well.
6. Pour the orange juice mix over the ingredients in the oven proof dish and stir well, so that all the ingredients are coated.
7. Place in the oven for 45-50 mins, turn over in the middle of the cooking and remove from the oven when golden brown.

Serve with mashed or boiled potatoes.

NB Could probably be also made with meat sausages.

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:

Filling:

1 leek, sliced

2 carrots, chopped

150g mushrooms, chopped

1 clove of garlic, crushed

3 tbsp dried sage (or 3 fresh leaves if available)

3 tbsp dried thyme (or 3 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves only if available)

250g dried green lentils

750ml vegetable stock (made with 1 vegetable OXO cube)

400g tin of chopped tomatoes

200ml red wine

1 tbsp (vegetarian) Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

tbsp olive oil

Topping:

2 large sweet potatoes

2 large potatoes

1 small/medium cauliflower, heads only

large knob of butter

handful of grated cheese

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200C.
2. Heat the oil in a pan and gently fry the leeks, until they begin to soften.
3. Add carrots, mushrooms and garlic, continuing to cook for 4-5 mins, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the herbs, lentils, tinned tomatoes, vegetable stock, red wine, soy sauce & Worcestershire sauce and stir together well.
5. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer on a low heat for 30-40 minutes to thicken slightly.
6. Whilst the filling is simmering, boil the potatoes, sweet potatoes & cauliflower in a pan together for 15 mins until all is soft.
7. Drain the vegetables and add the butter to mash until smooth.
8. Transfer the filling to an oven proof dish and top with the mashed vegetables. Sprinkle the grated cheese on the top.
9. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden brown.

Cabbage & Leek Potato Skins

Ingredients:

8/9 medium jacket potatoes, pre-cooked & cooled

1 large leek, sliced

several large Savoy cabbage leaves, chopped finely

handful of grated cheese

2 eggs, beaten

olive oil

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Halve the jacket potatoes & spoon out the potato insides into a bowl, leaving the skins intact.
3. Gently heat the oil in a pan, add the cabbage & leek to cook gently, stirring constantly.
4. Once the cabbage & leek have softened mix in with the potato.
5. Add the grated cheese & beaten eggs and mix well.
6. Spoon the filling back into the potato skins.
7. Place on a baking tray & bake for 30-40 mins until golden brown.

Great hot or cold for a buffet.

Bean Enchiladas

Ingredients:

Filling:
2 small or 1 large onion, chopped finely

2 garlic cloves, crushed

150g mushrooms, quartered

2 large carrots, chopped finely

An inch slice of a large swede

Few large leaves of kale

2 tins tomatoes

1 tin borlotti beans 

1 tin red kidney beans

1 tbsp paprika

1 tbsp ground coriander

Pinch of cumin

Sprinkle of dried coriander leaves (or some fresh chopped coriander if available)

2 tbsps olive oil

1 tbsp lime juice

Packet of tortilla wraps

Grated cheese

Method:

1. Gently heat oil in pan. Add the chopped onion & garlic, gently fry until soft. 
2. Add mushrooms, kale, swede & carrot. Fry for a few mins. 
3. Add the paprika, coriander (ground & dried), cumin & lime juice and stir well to coat all the vegetables. 
4. Add the tins of beans & tomatoes and mix well. 
5. Simmer on a low heat for 20 mins or until the vegetables are soft. 
6. Place a large spoonful into each wrap & fold them up, place them side by side in a rectangular ovenproof dish.
7. Sprinkle lots of grated cheese on top & grill for a few minutes until golden brown. Or if you prefer a crispier enchilada place in the oven at 180C for 20-30 mins.

Serve with a green salad, guacamole, salsa & sour cream dips, tortilla chips etc for a delicious Mexican meal.

NB Alternative: the filling could also be served with rice

Falafel

Ingredients:

2x 400g tins of chickpeas

2x small or 1x large red onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp ground coriander

1 tbsp dried parsley

3 heaped tbsp flour

Oil for cooking

Method:

1. Drain the liquid from the cans of chickpeas & pat the chickpeas dry.
2. Place chickpeas, onion, garlic, spices, parsley & flour into a food processor or mixer. 
3. Mix together well until the mixture is smooth. 
4. Take a tbsp of the mix & roll it into ball & flatten to make a patty shape. 
5. Heat oil in a frying pan & place the patties in the pan for a few mins on each side to cook until golden brown.

Serve with salsa, pittas & green salad. 

Root Vegetable Pie

Again another real winter warmer...

Ingredients:

Tbsp veg oil

2 onions

1 tbsp thyme

1 large parsnip

3 large carrots

3 medium potatoes

Half a swede
4 tbsps pearl barley

1 heaped tbsp plain flour

1 litre of veg stock (I used 2 veg OXO cubes)

500g puff pastry

Milk or egg to glaze

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Chop onions finely & the other veg into small chunks.
3. Heat oil in a pan.
4. Add the chopped onion & thyme & fry for a few minutes.
5. Add the carrots, parsnips, swede, celery & potato, place the lid on the pan & gently fry for about 10 minutes.
6. Add the flour & mix well to coat the vegetables.
7. Add the pearl barley & stock, again cover the pan & simmer for 15-20 minutes until veg is softening.
8. Place in an oven proof dish or pie dish.
9. Roll the pastry til approx 0.5cm thick & cut to the shape of the dish. 
10. Brush the edges of the pie dish with milk or egg to allow the pastry to stick.
11. Place the pastry on top of the dish & with a fork or your fingers press the edge of the pastry to the dish.
12. Place a small hole in the centre of the pastry & brush with milk or egg to glaze.
13. Place in the oven for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. 

Rosemary, Leek & Bean Ragu

I made this recipe using home grown leeks and carrots, it's a real winter warmer.

Ingredients:

A little olive oil
500g leeks, sliced
2 carrots, sliced

2 sprigs of rosemary

400g tin of butter beans, drained

400g tin of black eyes beans, drained

500ml vegetable stock 

1 tbsp of corn flour mixed in cold water

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a pan on a medium heat & add the leeks. Stir continuously for about 7/8 mins until soft.
2. Add the carrots, beans, rosemary & stock and mix together.
3. Bring the pan to simmer, add the corn flour/water mix & stir in well. 
4. Simmer for about 20 mins until it begins to thicken.

Serve with mashed potato, crusty bread or garlic bread.

Lentil Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:

Topping:

500g potatoes, peeled and chopped

splash of milk

50g butter

few handfuls of grated cheese

salt & pepper

Filling:

1 onion, chopped finely

1 clove of garlic, crushed

1 tbsp thyme

1 bay leaf

300g lentils

2/3 large carrots, chopped

handful of frozen peas

handful of frozen sweetcorn

1 tin of black eyed beans

600ml vegetable stock

splash of Worcester sauce (vegetarian one)

1 tbsp tomato puree

olive oil

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Gently fry the onion, garlic & thyme in the oil, until soft.
3. Add a little more oil & the lentils, coating them in the oil.
4. Add the vegetable stock, carrots, peas, sweetcorn, black eyed beans, bay leaf, Worcester sauce & tomato puree, mix well.
5. Bring to the simmer, with the lid on the pan simmer for 20-30 mins until the carrots are soft & lentils are cooked but not too mushy.
6. Whilst the lentils are simmering, prepare the potatoes & boil them in a pan of boiling water until soft.
7. Mash the potatoes with the butter, milk and a handful of cheese. Add the seasoning to taste.
8. Place the lentil filling into the bottom of an ovenproof dish and top with the mashed potato.
9. On top sprinkle another handful of grated cheese.
10. Place in the oven for about 30 mins or until the topping is golden brown.

Serve with a green salad or crusty bread.

Decadent Chocolate & Banana Tart

Ingredients:

Base:
225g ginger nut biscuits, crushed
125g butter, melted

Filling:
4 bananas
150g dark chocolate
280ml double cream
50g butter
2 large tbsps nutella

Method:

Base:

1. Crush biscuits finely. I used my pestle & mortar, which worked really well.
2. Melt the butter on a low heat.
3. Add the butter to the ginger biscuits and mix well.
4. Spoon into a loose bottomed cake tin & press into the base & sides to create a tart base.
5. Leave to cool in the fridge for 30 mins.

Filling:

1. Heat double cream til gently simmering, remove from the heat.
2. Add the chocolate & butter to the cream, stirring continuously until melted & smooth.
3. Whisk in the nutella until smooth.
4. Pour into the cooled biscuit & refrigerate for a minimum of 30 mins.
5. Before serving slice the bananas & gently press into the surface.

Optional: sprinkle the top with some icing sugar or top with whipped cream.

Serve as a dessert by itself or with some cream or ice cream.

Scotch pancakes

Ingredients:

135g plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsp caster sugar

130ml milk

1 egg

2 tbsp olive oil

Butter for frying

Method:

1. Mix dry ingredients together.
2. Whisk together wet ingredients. 
3. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients & whisk together until there are no lumps. 
4. Heat frying pan to medium heat & add knob of butter.
5. Place a tbsp of the mix into the pan, which will make one pancake & depending on the size of the pan you may be able to cook a few pancakes at once.
6. Once bubbles appear on the top of the pancake, flip them over & brown nicely on both sides.

Serve with lemon & sugar or maple syrup.