19 October 2012 by jonoandjules
These are super-simple and a hundred times better than the frozen variety. You can use any firm, skinless, white fish – we used hake.
Home-made fish fingers with mushy peas – to serve 4
- 600g firm, skinless white fish
- 50g plain flour, seasoned
- 1 large egg, lightly whisked
- 200g fine fresh breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 400g frozen peas
- knob of butter
- zest 1 lemon, then cut into wedges
- mint
Cut the fish into 12 fingers, about 3cm thick. Put the seasoned flour, egg, and breadcrumbs into three separate bowls. Dust the fish pieces in the flour first, then coat with the egg and finally a good coating of breadcrumbs. Put on a plate and chill for 15 minutes before cooking.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Fry the fish fingers for about 8 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Meanwhile, cook the peas in a small pan of boiling water until really tender, about 4 minutes. Drain then tip into a bowl with the butter, zest and mint and roughly mash. Season and keep warm.
Serve the fish fingers with a dollop of peas and some lemon wedges.
Wine Suggestion: Try a light Sauvignon Blanc, such as from the Touraine in France’s Loire Valley, which should be fresh and fruity with a slight grassiness.
(Original recipe from BBC Good Food)
Posted in Fish, Food | Tagged Cooking, Easy, Fish, Food, peas, Recipe | Leave a Comment »
15 October 2012 by jonoandjules
We could get depressed in Ireland with the rain, cold wind and dark evenings but we don’t cause we’ve got mushrooms! Woohoo!
Feel free to substitute a hen’s egg or omit the egg altogether if you prefer.
Mushroom ragout with poached duck egg – to serve 4
- 15g dried porcini mushrooms
- 600g mixed fresh mushrooms
- 350g sourdough bread, crusts removed
- 100ml olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and sliced
- 3 celery sticks, sliced
- 120ml white wine
- 3 thyme sprigs
- 4 duck’s eggs
- vinegar for poaching
- 100g soured cream
- 4 tbsp mixed chopped tarragon and parsley
- truffle oil (or olive oil)
First soak the dried porcini in 200ml of water for 30 minutes. Remove any dirt from the mushrooms with either a brush or a damp piece of kitchen paper (don’t wash them). Cut up some of the larger mushrooms so you have a mixture of large chunks and whole mushrooms. Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas Mark 6.
Cut the bread into 2.4cm cubes. Toss with 2 tbsp of the olive oil, the garlic and some salt. Spread on a baking tray and toast in the oven for 15 minutes, or until brown.
Pour 1 tbsp of olive oil into a heavy pan and heat well. Add some of the fresh mushrooms and leave for a couple of minutes, without stirring. Make sure the mushrooms are not touching each other. Turn them over when they have lightly browned and cook for another minute. Remove from the pan and continue adding more batches, adding more oil when needed. When all of the mushrooms have been browned, add a further tbsp of oil and throw in the onion, carrot and celery. Sauté on a medium heat for 5 minutes, without browning. Add the wine and let it bubble away for a minute.
Lift the porcini out of the liquid and squeeze to get rid of the excess liquid. Add the soaking liquor to the pan, leaving behind any grit. Add 400ml of water, the thyme and some salt, then simmer gently for about 20 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced to about 200ml. Strain this stock and discard the vegetables; return the stock to the pan and set aside.
To poach the eggs you need to fill a shallow saucepan with enough water for a whole egg to cook in. Add a splash of vinegar and bring to a fast boil. Carefully break an egg into a small cup and gently pour into the boiling water. Immediately take the pan off the heat and set it aside. After 6 minutes the egg should be poached perfectly. Lift it out of the pan and into a bowl of warm water. When all the eggs are done, dry them on kitchen paper.
While you poach the final egg, heat up the stock and add all the mushrooms, the soured cream, most of the chopped herbs (reserving some for garnish) and seasoning to taste. As soon as the mushrooms are hot, place some croutons on each dish and top with mushrooms. Add an egg, the remaining herbs and a drizzle of truffle oil and some black pepper.
Wine Suggestion: If you want a wine with this go for a chilled young Beaujolais Villages which will have a nice fruitiness and a complementary earthiness to match the mushrooms.
(Original recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty, Ebury Press, 2010).
Posted in Food, Vegetarian | Tagged Brunch, Cooking, Duck eggs, Food, Mushrooms, Recipe | 3 Comments »
10 October 2012 by jonoandjules
This is a really rich and delicious side dish though you could also serve it as a veggie main with some rice. We went for lamb steaks.
Creamy baked aubergines – to serve 2 as a main or 4 as a side
- 1 very large or 2 small aubergines
- 1 medium onion
- olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- a few sprigs of thyme
- 400ml whipping or double cream
- Parmesan
Cut the aubergines into long thin slices. Put the slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Leave for half an hour or more, until they have gone a bit floppy, then rinse and dry.
Peel and thinly slice the onion, then cook is some olive oil until softened, but not coloured. Peel and slice the garlic and add to the onion as it cooks. Put the onions and garlic in a shallow baking dish. Add a bit more oil to the pan and add the aubergine. Cook until golden, but not brown, on both sides. Drain well on kitchen paper so the dish doesn’t end up too oily.
Lay the aubergine slices in the baking dish on top of the onion, seasoning with salt, pepper and thyme leaves as you go. Pour the cream over the top, scatter over a couple of spoonfuls of grated Parmesan and bake at 180C/Gas 4 for 35-45 minutes, until bubbling and turning brown.
(Original recipe from Nigel Slater’s Tender Volume 1, Fourth Estate 2009.)
Posted in Food, Side dish, Vegetarian | Tagged Aubergine, Cooking, Food, Recipe, side dish, Vegetarian | Leave a Comment »
9 October 2012 by jonoandjules
This marinade is absolutely delicious – ginger, chillies, loads of herbs, soy sauce, honey etc. We loved it! You need to start a day in advance.
Marinated rack of lamb with coriander and honey – to serve 4
- 1kg rack of lamb, French trimmed
- 20g flat leaf parsley
- 30g mint
- 30g coriander
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- 15g ginger, peeled and sliced
- 3 chillies, seeded
- ½ tsp salt
- 50ml lemon juice
- 60ml soy sauce
- 120ml sunflower oil
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 4 tbsp water
Trim most of the fat from the lamb, leaving an even layer to keep it moist and tasty. Separate the rack into portions of 2/3 cutlets and put in a non-metal container.
Blitz everything else together in a food processor, then pour over the lamb. Refrigerate overnight.
Heat the oven to 200ºC/Gas Mark 6. Heat up a heavy cast iron griddle or a barbecue. Lift the meat out of the marinade, shaking off the excess. Sear well on all sides, then transfer to a baking tray and cook in the oven for about 15 minutes, depending how big your racks are and how you like your meat cooked.
Meanwhile, heat the marinade in a small saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve the cutlets with the sauce on the side.
Wine Suggestion: Try a very young, lighter style Cotes du Rhone, or a Cotes du Ventoux. The less aggressive tannins and soft plum and possibly blueberry (depending on how young) fruit flavours with the herbal twist of southern France should work perfectly with the lamb and herbs.
(Original recipe from Ottolenghi: The Cookbook, Ebury Press, 2008.)
Posted in Food, Lamb | Tagged Cooking, Food, Lamb, Marinade, Recipe | Leave a Comment »
5 October 2012 by jonoandjules
Sweetcorn season is coming to an end but there is still time to make this tasty main course soup.
Sweetcorn & Haddock Chowder – to serve 4
- 25g butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 8 slices of smoked streaky bacon, chopped
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 1 litre vegetable stock
- 2 corn cobs, kernels sliced off
- 500g skinless smoked haddock, cut into small chunks
- 5 tbsp double cream
- handful of parsley, chopped
Melt the butter in a large pot. Fry the onion and bacon for about 5 minutes or until soft. Add the potatoes and cook for another couple of minutes, then pour in the stock and simmer until the potatoes are just tender (about 8 minutes).
Add the corn kernels and smoked haddock. Cook for another few minutes before adding the cream and some black pepper. Add salt if necessary but remember the fish is pretty salty, then stir through the parsley. Serve with crusty bread.
Wine Suggestion: We’ve been having a bit of a debate about this as many white wines could be intimidated or even clash with the smoked fish. We suggest going for a white wine that’s a bit more fruity than what you might pair with an unsmoked fish. Think a Riserva level Pinot Grigio rather than a Muscadet and you should have a treat.
Posted in Fish, Food, Soup | Tagged Cooking, Food, Recipe, Smoked fish, Soup, Sweetcorn | Leave a Comment »
24 September 2012 by jonoandjules
A traditional French dish of steamed mussels with a light creamy, curry sauce. Serve with lots of crusty bread.
La mouclade – to serve 4
- A good pinch of saffron threads
- 1.75kg mussels, cleaned
- 120ml dry white wine
- 25g butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- ½ tsp medium curry powder (buy a good quality one)
- 2 tbsp cognac
- 2 tsp plain flour
- 200ml crème fraîche
- 3 tbsp chopped parsley
Moisten the saffron with a tablespoon of warm water in a small bowl.
Put the mussels and wine in a large pot, cover and cook over a high heat for 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan now and then, until the mussels have opened. Drain the mussels in a colander set over a bowl to catch the cooking liquor. Put the mussels in a large serving bowl and keep warm.
Melt the butter in a pan, add the onion, garlic and curry powder and cook gently, without browning, for a few minutes. Add the cognac and cook until almost evaporated, then stir in the flour and cook for another minute. Gradually stir in the saffron liquid and all but the last tablespoon or so of the mussel liquor (so you avoid any grit). Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the crème fraîche and simmer for another 3 minutes, until reduced a bit. Season, stir in the parsley and pour the sauce over the mussels.
Wine Suggestion: A classic match for this dish is a white Bordeaux where the fresh grassiness of Sauvignon Blanc is complemented by the richness of Semillon and structure from a bit of oak. Almost an exotic combination with the mouclade, but perfect.
(Original recipe from Rick Stein’s French Odyssey, BBC Books, 2005.)
Posted in Food, Shellfish | Tagged Cooking, Curry, Food, French, Mouclade, Mussels, Recipe | 3 Comments »
23 September 2012 by jonoandjules
Really simple and delicious. Works best with really fine green beans.
Spaghetti with tomato sauce & green beans – to serve 4
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
- 50g Parmesan
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 400g tin of really good quality tomatoes (Italian brands are usually good)
- 100g fine green beans
- 300g spaghetti
Finely slice the garlic and grate the Parmesan.
Heat a thick-bottomed saucepan. Add the olive oil, then the garlic and cook until soft but not brown. Add the tomatoes, season, and add the chilli flakes. Cook over a medium heat for 20 minutes.
Trim the beans, then cook in boiling salted water until very tender. Drain well and add to the tomato sauce.
Cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and stir the pasta into the tomato and green bean sauce. Season and toss with a bit of olive oil.
Serve with the Parmesan.
Wine Suggestion: Nothing too big and heavy required here, try a dry rosé from Bordeaux.
(Original recipe from Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers’ River Cafe: Italian Two Easy, Clarkson Potter, 2006.)
Posted in Food, Italian, Vegetarian | Tagged Cooking, Food, Green beans, Italian, Pasta, Recipe, Spaghetti | Leave a Comment »
13 September 2012 by jonoandjules
Totally worth the effort and time, this just melted in the mouth. The roast potatoes done under the roasting pork belly worked a real treat and had that heavenly combination of meltingly fluffy and soft centres and a chewy-crunchy crust.
Roast pork – to feed 4-6
- 1.8kg belly pork, skin on
- about 8 dried bay leaves
- 3-4 fat cloves of garlic
- olive oil
- 1kg potatoes
- glass of white wine
Use a very sharp knife to score the skin. You need to go through the fat under the skin but don’t cut into the meat. This will give you delicious strips of crackling.
Crumble the bay leaves into tiny pieces, squash the garlic with the back of a knife, then mash to two together with a pestle and mortar. Add plenty of salt and black pepper. Add enough oil to make a spreadable paste. Place the pork skin side down and massage the paste into it, pushing it into every crevice. Leave the meat in a cool place for an hour or so to soak up the flavours.
Peel the potatoes, cut them into large chunks and drop them into salted boiling water. Cook until they are just tender, then drain and tip into a roasting tin. Shake them about to rough up the edges.
Preheat the oven to 200ºC/Gas 6. You need to cook the pork directly on the bars above the potatoes. Pour a bit of oil on the potatoes to prevent them from sticking, add a wine glass of water and toss, then put the roasting tin on the lower shelf. Put the pork directly on the top shelf, skin side down. Cook for an hour, turning the potatoes once. Check the pork for any pinkness and if necessary cook a little longer (it will probably take an hour and a half in total).
Turn the oven up to 250ºC/Gas 9. Turn the pork skin side up and continue to cook until the skin is puffed up and crispy. Take the meat from the oven and leave to rest. Take the potatoes out when they are really brown and sticky. Remove the potatoes form the roasting tin and pour in a glass of white wine. Bring to the boil on the hob, stirring well to get all the tasty bits from the bottom of the tin.
Cut the meat into thick chunks and serve with the potatoes, gravy and green salad or apple sauce.
Wine Suggestion: Go for a good-quality, full-bodied Chardonnay. We tried the Atarangi Craighall Chardonnay from New Zealand.
(Original recipe from Nigel Slater’s Appetite, Fourth Estate, 2000.)
We had leftovers the next day in a crusty bread roll … yum 🙂
Posted in Food, Pork | Tagged Cooking, Crackling, Food, Pork, Potatoes, Recipe, Roast | 1 Comment »
11 September 2012 by jonoandjules
Sometimes the simple recipes are the best.
Spaghetti with raw tomato and rocket – to serve 4
- 4 plum ripe plum tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 dried hot chile
- 2 tbsp capers
- 3 tbsp black olives
- 3 tbsp rocket
- extra virgin olive oil
- 300g spaghetti
Cut the tomatoes in half and squeeze out the excess juice and seeds, and chop the flesh coarsely. Crush the garlic with a teaspoon of sea salt with the flat of a knife. Rinse the capers, and pit the olives. Roughly chop the rocket.
Combine the tomatoes with the garlic, the crumbled chile, capers and olives. Season really well, add the olive oil and leave aside for 30 minutes.
Cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain, and stir the pasta into the tomatoes. Add the rocket. Toss to coat and season with black pepper.
Serve with some more olive oil.
Wine Suggestion: You want to find a wine as fresh as the ingredients being used, so try a youthful Dolcetto from the Piedmont region in north-west Italy.
(Original recipe from Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers’ Italian Two Easy, Clarkson/Potter, 20o6.)
Posted in Food, Italian, Vegan, Vegetarian | Tagged Cooking, Food, Italian, Pasta, Recipe, Spaghetti, Tomato | 1 Comment »
6 September 2012 by jonoandjules
Inspired by the food of Valencia this dish has a bit of wholesome soul-food about it, while maintaining a vibrant taste of Spain with the Pimenton and garlic. The pork becomes tender and just melts with flavour. We served it with tasty new potatoes and some tender-heart cabbage quickly fried with a little butter.
Pork in an Almond Sauce – Carne en salsa de almendras, serves 4
- 5 tbsp olive oil
- 8 garlic cloves, 4 chopped and 4 peeled and left whole
- 15g slice of fresh white bread, crustless
- 1kg piece of rindless, shoulder of pork
- plain flour, for dusting
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp pimenton dulce / smoked, sweet Spanish paprika
- 1 large sprig of thyme, leaves picked
- 2 fresh bay leaves
- 200ml dry white wine
- 200ml chicken stock
- 75g blanched almonds, toasted
- 1tbsp flat parsley
Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large shallow flame-proof casserole dish. Add the 4 whole garlic cloves and the slice of bread and fry over a medium heat for 2 minutes, turning one, until golden. Lift out and leave to drain and cool.
Cut pork into 2.5cm/1 inch slices and then into 75-100g pieces. You want them to be quite large. Season well then dust them in the flour. Add another 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and add the pieces of pork to seal and only lightly colour. Remove to a plate and set aside.
Add the remaining oil to the pan with the onion, chopped garlic, pimenton dulce, thyme and bay leaves and cook gently for 10 minutes until onions are soft and sweet but not browned. Add the wine and stock and bring to the boil, rubbing the base of the pan to release any bits and pieces.
Return the pork to the pan, lower the heat and season well. Cover and simmer gently for 1.5 hours or until the meat is meltingly tender.
Spoon about 16 tablespoons of the sauce into a liquidiser or food processor and add the fried bread, fried garlic cloves, almonds and parsley leaves. Blend to a smooth paste (this is called a picada in Spain). Stir the picada back into the pan, taste and adjust for seasoning, cover then cook for a further 5 minutes which will allow the sauce to thicken.
Wine suggestion: You could try an oaked, white Rioja particularly if you can find one with a bit of age, or alternately a dry Amontillado sherry. Both have good texture and a savouriness which works well and touches of nut and saltiness in the palate that will complement the flavours without overwhelming them
(Original recipe from Rick Stein’s Spain, BBC Books, 2011.)
Posted in Food, Pork, Spanish | Tagged Almonds, Cooking, Food, Pork, Recipe, Spanish | 2 Comments »
5 September 2012 by jonoandjules
These are unusual little crab cakes with a side dish of sweet, fresh corn purée. It’s corn season at the moment in Ireland so make them while it’s still available.
Crab cakes with corn purée and chilli oil – to serve 4 as a starter (makes 8 little cakes)
- 250g fresh picked white crab meat
- 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely diced
- 1 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
- 100ml top-quality mayonnaise
- squeeze of lime or lemon juice
- 50g fresh white breadcrumbs
- 150g unsalted butter
For the chilli oil:
- 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
- 80ml extra virgin olive oil
For the corn purée:
- 3 fresh corn cobs
- 120ml water
- 40g unsalted butter
- 2 tsp sugar
- 50ml crème fraîche
- 1tsp Tabasco
- lime wedges (to serve)
Put the crab into a bowl, add the chilli and coriander and mix with a fork. Stir in the mayonnaise. Add a squeeze of lime or lemon juice and season with salt. Make 8 little crab cakes from the mixture and place on a tray. Chill for 30 minutes.
Spread the breadcrumbs evenly on a board and roll the cakes to coat generously. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.
Make the chilli oil by putting the chopped chilli in a small bowl, add a good pinch of salt and add the olive oil. Stir and leave to infuse.
For the corn purée, cut the kernels from the cobs. Put the kernals into a saucepan, add the water, butter and sugar, and season generously with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on a gentle heat until the corn is tender, about 20-25 minutes, then drain, but keep the cooking liquor.
Transfer half the corn to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Tip the rest into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pass through a really fine sieve to make sure you have a really smooth purée; it it’s too thick you can add a bit of the reserved cooking liquor to loosen. Stir in the rest of the corn, the crème fraîche, and the Tabasco. Check the seasoning and keep warm.
To cook the crab cakes, heat the butter in a wide non-stick pan over a medium-low heat. When the oil has warmed, gently transfer the crab cakes into the pan and cook for a couple of minutes on each side or until golden and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
Serve the crab cakes hot with the corn purée. Serve with the chilli oil and lime wedges.
Wine Suggestion: This is a relatively rich dish so needs to be paired with a wine that has a bit of weight to it. Try and find a Chardonnay that is not too heavy on the oak and from a cooler climate, such as a Pouilly-Fuissé, or one from the Macedon Ranges in Australia.
(Original recipe from Skye Gyngell’s My favourite ingredients, Quadrille Publishing Limited, 2008.)
Posted in Food, Shellfish | Tagged Cooking, Crab, Food, Recipe, Starter, Sweetcorn | 2 Comments »
3 September 2012 by jonoandjules
This is a great antipasti plate to serve with some cured meats, crusty bread and good olive oil.
Roasted Peppers with Capers – to serve 4 as an antipasti plate
- 2 red peppers
- 2 yellow peppers
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp Marjoram leaves
- 6 tbsp salted capers
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
Preheat the oven to 200C.
Brush the peppers with olive oil and roast on a baking tray in the oven for about 30 minutes, turning once. Put the peppers in a bowl, cover with cling film and leave to cool. Peel and remove the seeds when the peppers are cool enough to handle.
Chop the marjoram. Rinse and chop the capers, and mix with the vinegar.
Lay the peppers on a serving dish and season. Sprinkle with the vinegar and capers, scatter over the marjoram, and drizzle with olive oil.
(Original recipe from Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers’ Italian Two Easy, Clarkson Potter, 2006.)
Posted in Food, Italian, Vegan, Vegetarian | Tagged Antipasti, Cooking, Food, Italian, Recipe, rose gray, ruth rogers, Vegan, Vegetarian | 1 Comment »
1 September 2012 by jonoandjules
Lobsters are really plentiful at the moment which makes the prices really low… woohoo!
Lobster Spaghetti – to serve 2 generously
- 500g vine-ripened tomatoes
- 1 cooked lobster
- 100ml extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 5cm piece fresh ginger, finely grated
- 50ml dry white wine
- 60ml double cream
- finely grated zest of half a lemon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 250g spaghetti
Cut a small cross in the base of each tomato and put in a bowl. Pour over boiling water to cover and leave for 1 minute, then drain and refresh in cold water. Peel the tomatoes, then scoop out the seeds and roughly chop.
Cut the lobster in half, then scoop out all the meat and cut into bit-sized chunks.
Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring for about 30 seconds. Add the ginger and white wine and cook for another few minutes until most the wine has evaporated. Add the tomato, season well and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato breaks down into the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, then add the lobster meat, cream, lemon zest and juice, and most of the scallions, stirring to warm through. Take the sauce off the heat, then stir in most of the parsley and season.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti until al dente, then drain.
Toss the pasta with the lobster sauce and divide among bowls. Garnish with the rest of the scallions and parsley, then serve.
Wine Suggestion: Go for a rosé but make sure it has a bit of body. A Provencal rosé would be good or if you can find it a Cerasuolo di Vittoria from Sicily.
Posted in Food, Pasta, Shellfish | Tagged Cooking, Food, Lobster, Recipe, Spaghetti | 6 Comments »
30 August 2012 by jonoandjules
We were recently donated a preserving pan (thanks Uncle Graeme) and this was our first ever attempt at jam-making. If only we’d realised how easy it was before and so much better than shop-bought. We’re already on our second jar and it’s a great gift to give to friends.
Soft-set Strawberry and Pimm’s Jam – makes 5 450g jars
- 1.5kg strawberries, hulled and halved if large
- 1kg jam sugar
- juice of 2 lemons
- juice of 1 orange
- 3 tbsp Pimm’s No. 1
Put a few saucers in the freezer (you’ll need them later to check if the jam is ready). Put the strawberries into a preserving pan (or the biggest saucepan you have), then roughly mash the strawberries with a potato masher. Stir in the sugar and put the pan over a very low heat. Stir now and then until the sugar has dissolved and there is lots of red syrup in the pan. Be careful not to let it boil. Stir in the orange and lemon juices when the sugar crystals have dissolved.
Turn up the heat and let the jam come to a foaming fast boil (if you have a jam thermometer it should read 105C). After 10 minutes, put a tsp of the jam onto one of the frozen saucers, then push your finger through the jam. If the jam wrinkles, it is ready. If not, leave for another couple of minutes and test again. Leave the jam to cool for 30 minutes, skim off the scum, and add the Pimm’s. Ladle into sterilised jars.
(Original recipe from BBC Good Food)
Posted in Food | Tagged Cooking, Food, Jam, Pimm's, Recipe, Strawberries | 2 Comments »
27 August 2012 by jonoandjules
Our new favourite way to cook steak. This is delicious and there’s no need to splash out on an expensive cut. We’ve been using rump steak but it will also work really well with skirt steak if you can find it. You’ll need to cook skirt for a bit longer though.
Barbecued balsamic beef – to serve 4
- 600g thick piece of rump steak
- 2 shallots, very finely chopped
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, plus a little extra
Put the beef in a wide shallow dish and rub it all over with the shallots and balsamic vinegar. Season and leave to marinate for 20 minutes.
Make sure your barbecue or grill is really hot before starting to cook.
Barbecue (or grill) the beef for 3-4 minutes on each side, depending on how thick it is. Take off the barbecue and cover with foil for 5 minutes, then slice thinly across the grain and serve with the meat juices.
Add a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar if you like.
Serve with potatoes roasted with rosemary and garlic.
Wine Suggestion: Try a Tuscan red from Bolgheri or the Maremma which will give you a nice juiciness but still maintain the depth of structure and tannin needed to work with the steak.
Posted in Barbecue, Beef, Food | Tagged Balsamic Vinegar, Barbecue, BBQ, Beef, Cooking, Food, Recipe, Rump | 3 Comments »
25 August 2012 by jonoandjules
A fresh weeknight meal that’s ready in 15 minutes.
Lemon, pecorino and pine nut tagliatelle – to serve 2
- 150g tagliatelle
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- 2 tbsp pine nuts, toasted
- 2tbsp finely grated pecorino or parmesan
- olive oil
- a small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Cook the tagliatelle. Mix the lemon juice and zest, pine nuts, pecorino, 2 tbsp olive oil and parsley and season really well. Drain the tagliatelle, reserving two tablespoons of the pasta cooking water. Tip everything into a bowl (including the water) and toss.
Wine Suggestion: Go for a light Italian white such as a Friulano or Verdicchio.
Posted in Food, Italian, Pasta, Vegetarian | Tagged Cooking, Food, Italian, Pasta, Recipe | Leave a Comment »
23 August 2012 by jonoandjules
A delicious main course salad by Yotam Ottolenghi.
Lentils with Grilled Aubergine – to serve 4
- 2 medium aubergines
- 2 tbsp good-quality red wine vinegar
- 200g Puy lentils, rinsed
- 3 small carrots, peeled
- 2 celery sticks
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 thyme sprigs
- ½ white onion
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/3 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp each roughly chopped parsley, coriander and dill
- 2 tbsp crème fraîche (or natural yogurt)
- sea salt and black pepper
If you have a gas hob, you can put the aubergines directly on two moderate flames and roast for 12-15 minutes, turning often, until the flesh is soft and the skin is burnt all over. You should protect the area around the hob with foil beforehand. Alternatively you can put the aubergines on a foil-lined baking tray and put under a hot grill for 1 hour, turning a few times. The aubergines need to completely deflate and the skin should burn and break. Make sure you pierce the aubergines in a few places with a sharp knife to avoid explosions!
Heat the oven to 140ºC/Gas Mark 1. Cut the aubergines open and scoop the flesh out into a colander, avoiding the black skin. Leave to drain for at least 15 minutes and then season with plenty of salt and pepper and ½ tbsp of the vinegar.
While the aubergines are grilling, put the lentils in a medium saucepan. Cut one carrot and half a celery stick into large chunks and throw them in. Add the bay leaf, thyme and onion, cover with lots of water and bring to the boil. Simmer on a low heat for up to 25 minutes, or until the lentils are tender, skimming away the froth occasionally. Drain in a sieve. Remove and discard the carrot, celery, bay leaf, thyme and onion and transfer the lentils to a large bowl. Add the rest of the vinegar, 2 tbsp of the olive oil and lots of salt and pepper; stir and set aside somewhere warm.
Chop the remaining carrot and celery into 1cm dice and mix with the tomatoes, the remaining oil, the sugar and some salt. Spread in an ovenproof dish and cook in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until the carrot is tender but still firm.
Add the cooked vegetables to the warm lentils, followed by the chopped herbs and stir gently. Adjust the seasoning. Spoon the lentils onto plates. Pile some aubergine onto each portion and top with a dollop of crème fraÎche. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil.
Wine Suggestion: The lentils and aubergine have an earthy flavour which would be complemented by a juicy Grenache or Zinfandel based wine. Try and find one that’s not too heavy though as big flavours could overwhelm this dish.
(Original recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty, Ebury Press, 2010.)
Posted in Food, Vegetarian | Tagged Aubergine, Cooking, Food, Lentils, Recipe, Vegetarian | Leave a Comment »
20 August 2012 by jonoandjules
We’re really getting into desserts these days. I think we might have made two in the one month! We’re not really dessert people but lots of are friends are so we’ve been making an effort. This is a Spanish cake which is flavoured with orange and almond and is traditionally marked with the shape of a cross on the top. You don’t have to serve it with the strawberries but they work really well.
Tarta de Santiago with Strawberries & Sherry Vinegar – 8-10 slices
- a little butter, for greasing
- 6 medium eggs
- 300g caster sugar
- 300g ground almonds
- zest of 3 lemons
- icing sugar, for dusting
For the strawberries:
- 250g strawberries, hulled and halved or quartered lengthways
- 75g caster sugar
- 50ml Sherry vinegar
- vanilla ice cream, to serve
Mix the strawberries in a bowl with the sugar and vinegar, cover and leave to marinade in the fridge for about 2 hours.
Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Butter and line a 22cm springform tin with baking parchment. Use an electric whisk to mix the eggs and sugar until pale and thick. Gently fold in the almonds and zest with a metal spoon.
Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 50 minutes – it should be golden and a skewer pushed into the centre of the cake should come away clean. Take the cake out of the oven and cover with a clean tea towel to cool it down, so it doesn’t dry out. Dust with icing sugar and serve with the strawberries and ice cream.
Wine Suggestion: Try a rich Olorosso, a dark sherry from Spain, which has a warm nuttiness to complement the almond flavour in the cake.
(Original recipe by José Pizarro in BBC Good Food Magazine, August 2012.)
Posted in Dessert, Food, Spanish | Tagged Almond, Cake, Cooking, Dessert, Food, Recipe, Spanish | 4 Comments »
19 August 2012 by jonoandjules
We got the inspiration from Marcella Hazan and the result is a really juicy roast. Literally chicken with two lemons.
“No fat to cook with, no basting to do, no stuffing to prepare, no condiments except salt and pepper.”
Roast Chicken with Lemons – to serve 4
- 1.35-1.8kg chicken
- salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 small lemons
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas 4.
Sprinkle a generous amount of salt and black pepper on the chicken, rubbing it with your fingers over the whole body and inside the cavity.
Wash the lemons in cold water and dry with a tea towel. Soften the lemons by rolling back and forth across a counter with the palm of your hand. Pierce the lemons at least 20 times each with a cocktail stick.
Put both lemons inside the cavity of the chicken and close the opening with cocktail sticks. Tie the legs together at the knuckle ends with string but leave in their natural position rather than pulling them tight.
Put the chicken in a roasting tin, breast-side down. Place in the upper third of the hot oven. After 30 minutes, turn the chicken over to have the breast side up, try not to puncture the skin.
Cook for another 30-35 minutes, then increase the heat to 200C/400F/gas 6, and cook for an additional 20 minutes. Calculate between 20 and 25 minutes total cooking time for each 500g.
Serve the chicken as soon as it comes out of the oven, there is no need to rest. Carve the chicken and serve with the juices that run out.
Wine Suggestion: We invariably go for a Chardonnay with roast chicken. Try a fuller bodied style from Australia or California where really top-notch Chardonnays are being made at the moment.
Posted in Chicken, Food | Tagged Cooking, Food, Recipe, Roast chicken | 1 Comment »
15 August 2012 by jonoandjules
We could have eaten buckets of this, it was so tasty! Locally grown corn cobs usually hit the shops in September but as the seasons seem to be all out this year, we’ll have to wait and see. To remove the corn form the cobs you need to tear off the husks, then run a knife downwards to remove the kernels – easy!
Stir-fried corn with chilli, ginger, garlic and parsley – to serve 2 as a side dish
- fresh corn kernels (one corn cob per person)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp if chopped ginger
- 1 tsp of chopped chilli
- a handful of chopped parsley
- 1-2 tbsp soy sauce
Get your wok nice and hot. Heat the oil, then add the corn and stir-fry along with the ginger and chopped chilli.
When the corn is almost cooked, add the parsley and soy sauce and toss through.
Tastes really good with roast chicken and potatoes!
(Original recipe from Jamie Oliver’s Jamie’s Dinners, Penguin 2004.)
Posted in Food, Side dish, Vegetarian | Tagged Cooking, Food, Recipe, side dish, Sweetcorn | Leave a Comment »
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