Big Pancakes Mixture

1 cup S.R Flour
1 cup Yoghurt
1 cup Milk
2 large Eggs
0.25 t Bicarbonare Soda

Mix it all together. Cook in medium sized frying pan and move mixture to cover whole pan. Great with fillings.

Best Mac Cheese

1. boil pasta
   
2. In rapeseed oil, fry medium diced red onion
3. Season with S'nP'
4. Add 1 clove garlic; crushed
5. Add 1T butter,when caramalised
6. Add 1T plain flour and cook the roux
7. Add combination of semi-skimmed and soya milk
8. Add 1 bayleaf and peppercorns crushed
9. Add 1 t English mustard
10. Stir continuosly and bring to the boil
11. Stir on gentle heat until it starts to thicken
12. Take off the heat and add 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
13. Place drained pasta in baking dish; optional(can add tuna and or sweetcorn)
14. Pour over cheese sauce, top with (breadcrumbs and) cheese and bake for 20 minutes at 180dgrees C.

Aloo Gobi-Curried Cauliflower and potatoes

This is a traditional north Indian dish. It turns a simple cauliflower into something special. Of course eating more cruciferous vegetables are beneficial to our health. Best eaten with rotis or parathas, but still delicious as a sandwich filling!

I used a deep saute pan.
In 2 T of hot rapeseed oil, add 1 t crushed coriander seeds and 1 t of cumin.
On popping add 1 medium diced onion.
Add 3 cloves of garlic.
1.5 T finely chopped fresh ginger.
Add 2-3 slashed green chillies, 1 t salt, 1 t turmeric and 3/4 t garam masala.
When browning, add 2T chopped tinned tomatoes. Cook for 2-4 minutes.
Add florets from head of a small cauliflower. Chop the central core in as well if fresh.
Stir to incorporate spices into cauliflower.
Add 3-4 potatoes cubed(1.5cm).
Add 1 diced fresh tomato.
Cover and cook on lowest heat ; checking to see if veg are done(to softness); after 7-8 minute intervals.
Add chopped green coriander and serve with plain natural yogurt.

Pav baji

instead of onion, make turka with diced green pepper in jeera!

Lamb burgers

I served these burgers in seeded buns with finely shredded pointed cabbadge, tomatoe slices, cucumber slices, red onion slices and ketchup. If children find them hot; minted greek yogurt can be used as a relish-this takes the heat out of the chilie.

Deeeeeeeee-licious in the words/word of my 3 yr old and my 7 year old went very quite while guzzling it down with satisfied slurpy sounds!

Ingredients:

• 1 packet organic lamb mince-500g
  
• 1 T ginger-garlic paste(minced garlic and ginger stored in rapeseed oil)
• 1 t salt
• 1 t pepper
• 0.25 -0.5 t red chillie powder
• 1 finely diced red onion
• 2 T chopped green coriander
• 1 T dry roasted chickpea flour

The following were also dry roasted in a pan, allowed to cool and ground in a pestle and mortar

• 1 t sesame seeds-till
• 1 t coriander seed-dhaniya
• 1t cumin seeds-jeera

All the ingredients were first mixed with a spoon and then kneaded by hand to really combine all the flavours into the meat. It was quite a sticky mixture. Small hamburger patties were shaped and coated in rapeseed oil to prevent sticking. They were ready to go straight onto the barbecue or grill pan. Patties can be left to stand for 20mins minimum or refrigerated or use later in the day.

Kithcherie-vegetarian chicken Soup

We have been suffering with the boomerang flu and when I finally managed to clamber into the Kitchen-my best ever kitcherie was borne. Its quick and nutritious and does claim to have the life rejuvenating properties of chicken soup.

In a heavy based saucepan add

• a knob of butter(good for sore throat)
• a teaspoon of cumin seeds
• inch of freshly grated ginger
• 1 t salt and pepper
• 0.5 t of turmeric(antibacterial)
• 0.5 cup each of masoor(washed orange/red lentils) and basmati rice
• fill saucepan 3/4 full with filtered water

Bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring from time to time.

Organic Sausage Rolls

• 1 pkt Organic Pork mince
• 1/2 apple finely diced
• 1 stick of celery finely diced
• 1 T pickled red jalepenos finely diced
• 1 t mustard powder
• 1 t smoked paprika
• 1 t garam masala
• 1/2 t each salt and pepper
• 1 T chopped fresh sage leaves
• 1 T finely diced shallots- I cheat here and use frozen diced shallots
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• beaten egg for sealing pastry and brushing on top.
  
• 2 pks of organic puff pastry or 1 pack will give you spare mince for just sausages.
• sesame seeds or poppy seeds to sprinkle on top if you like.
  

Raita : yogurt and cucumber dip

Raita

Raita is a healthy spiced yogurt and cucumber companion to cool hot curries but works equally well as a dip. My secret ingredient is dry roasted sesame and cumin seeds-now you all know it;).

Ingredients:

• 1 pot of organic yogurt
• 5-6 inches or half of an organic cucumber grated coarsely (non organic may have a waxy coating on the nutritious skin)
  
• 1/4 to 1/2 t sea salt to your taste
• 1/2 to 3/4 t freshly ground black pepper to your taste
• 1/2 to 3/4 garam masala
• 1/4 to 1/2 t smoked paprika
  
• 1/2 to 3/4 t each sesame and cumin seeds
• 1 T chopped green herb of your choice: for authentic raita add coriander, for a Greek edge add mint, chives or just add parsley( a clove of crushed garlic and 2 T parsley turn it into a good sauce to go with fritters)
• for decoration a sprinkle of red chili powder or smoked paprika or cayenne, garam masala, black pepper, sesame and cumin seeds and 2-3 coriander leaves.

Method:

1. Place a dry frying pan on gas and let it get hot.
2. Add the cumin seeds and sesame seeds into the hot pan and toss the pan around to brown the seeds without burning. They will start to pop.
3. Empty the seeds into a clean dry plate and allow to cool, while you prepare the yogurt.
4. Grate the cumber
   
5. Empty yogurt into a bowl and whisk
   
6. Add the cumber and mix
7. Add the salt, pepper, garam masala, paprika, cumin and sesame seeds(reserve a few for decorating the top).
   
8. Add the chopped coriander
9. Transfer to your serving dish and decorate the top with a sprinkling of

• garam masala
• black pepper
• paprika
• sesame seeds
• cumin seeds
• a sprig of coriander

Serve with roti, pitta, tortillas, poppadoms, carrot sticks, celery sticks, broccoli trees .............

Further variations:
The cucumber can be diced instead of grated. Also you can try adding cubed avocado, cubed tomatoes and spring onions. This trio is a great combination when served with curries!

Simple Soya Pasta:

Just add tamari to taste!

My best ever Spaghetti Bolognese

Quick, nutritious and very, very, very tasty!

The secret ingredient!

It was so good that I did not even need to add the can of kidney beans I had waiting in the aisles, but that's an option.

In hot oil add:

• 1 bay leaf
  
• 1 small cinnamon stick(the rough barked  Indian type)
• 2 crushed black cardamons
• 1 t freshly ground(in PnM) coriander seeds
• 1t cumin seeds

Soon after add:

• 1 diced onion
• 2 cloves garlic crushed
• 1 T grated ginger
• 2 sticks diced celery
• 3/4 diced red pepper 
• 1 T frozen sweetcorn
• 4-5 chopped mushrooms
• 1 t salt
• 0.5 t garam masala
• 0.25 t turmeric
•  1 T chopped mild red jalapenos (see pic of jar above)
• 1 pk organic minced lamb (~400-500g)
• 1 tin tomatoes
• 1 T tomato ketchup

Cook covered for ~30mins in total, but stir at 8-10 min intervals.  Must be served with organic spelt spaghetti for maximum taste and nutrition.

Leek and Potato soup

I felt that this soup called for the herb 'tarragon', but not having any on hand I used fennel seeds which hit the spot.  Simple to make, using up the tired leeks and potatoes in the back of the fridge.  

Chicken Noodle Soup

1. The Little Miss decided to help herself to an ice-cream from the freezer!!!
2. The freezer was left open!!!
3. The Frozen chicken legs started thawing!!!
4. I did not want to start any heavy cooking having just cleared away lunch!!!
5. Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner!!!

The Simple Base:
celery,onion, carrot, sweetcorn and a big fat juicy bay leaf from the garden:)

• Saute for 6-8 minutes
• Season with Salt n Peppa
  
• Fill pan with water
• Throw in the frozen chicken
• Bring to the boil and forget about it...
• ...until the chicken is cooked
• Remove chicken and shred
  
• Throw back into stock base with addition of dried noodles
• I use my store cupboard iron fortified ones:

Vegetable Stir-fry Steps

The Veg:


The Sauces:

The Base:

Noodles and Spring Onion garnish:

The Egg:

Crushed Peanuts:

Mix it up and EAT!!!

Cheese Scones

Cheese Scone Flower

Mmmmmmmmm! So cheesy and moreish warm out of the oven.

Ingredients:

80z S.R. flour
2oz (salted) cold cubed butter
1/2 t mustard powder
1/2-1 t freeze-dried chives
1 pinch smoked paprika
1 pinch salt
1-2 grinds of pepper mill
3-4 0z red leicester or cheddar grated cheese
5-6oz full-fat cold milk

I had a lazy moment and used my food processor to grate cheese for baked potatoes. Now I had lots of grated cheese left over plus a dirty food processor!
Solution!
Make cheese scones without having to do the mix the butter and flour into breadcrumbs stage by hand.

Method:

• Process together dry ingredients with the butter and 2oz of cheese
  
• Transfer to a bowl and remaining cheese
  
• Add milk as needed and mix into a dough by hand
• Divide mixture into even sized balls and gently shape by hand and place on floured baking tray
• In oven for 10-12min at 180C
• If cheesy topping wante, remove and add grated cheese to top and place back in oven at 180C for 2 further minutes
• Eat warm:) with organic butter and watercress,rocket and spinach salad dressed with maple syrup and lime juice.
  

Spanakopita: filo pastry, spinach and cream cheese

This is a great way to get the kids to eat Spinach. Put it in a filo pastry pie with some creamy cheesy mixture(cream cheese or ricotta for a lighter healthier option), with sauteed red onion and nutmeg.

Boiled Egg and Garlic fried Mushroom toastie

Add cheese if feeling the need for more filling!

Making Paneer aka Curd cheese

Curds and Whey

Bring full-fat milk to the boil and add 2-3 T of vinegar or lemon juice
Wash and strain
Use muslin and sieve for best results

I just sieved and added a weight to push down on curds.

DIP DIP DIP

Red Pepper Houmus

Guacamole

Sour Cream & Chive

Lentils and Rice

A quick healthy lunch:

Served with orange juice to help with the absorption of iron.

Popcorn

SWEET OR SALTY?

WARNING: If your cherubs try the sweet toffee option the answer to the above question will always be both!! Hmmmm gone are the days of a quick bowl of salty popcorn. Recipe to follow soon.