July 2009
2 posts
Fresh Mackerel with bay, served with peas
Serves 1
Ingredients
2 Fresh (Gutted) Mackerel
Bay leaves (either dried or fresh)
Black Pepper
Salt
Lime or Lemon Juice
Also needed
Aluminium Foil
Instructions
Preheat oven to 220°C.
Wash your mackerel under some cold running water, place both on on a piece of aluminium foil on a baking tray.
Season the mackerel with salt and papper, stuff whole bay leaves in the belly cavity, add...
10 tags
What foods are in Season in July
Cherries
The Romans are believed to have discovered sweet cherries in Asia Minor in about 70 BC and introduced them to Britain in the first century AD. They were traditionally used medicinally; Studies show cherries to be a good source of antioxidants, which help counteract heart disease, certain cancers, and other types of illnesses (the darker the cherries have higher levels than the...
June 2009
2 posts
7 tags
Food For Free!
The collection and cooking of forager’s food.
There are many areas where wild food can be gathered or caught. Be it along hedgerows, in woodland, or along the sea shores, even your own back garden may secretly be hiding a tasty meal or two.
Whether picking tasty greens, catching snails, fishing, mushroom hunting, or catching the odd grey squirrel for your lunch, many places hold an abundance of...
What foods are in season in June
photo by Kazerella
June is a bountiful month for those that have taken the plunge and decided to grow a few things in pots at the end of March. While shops and supermarkets may have fresh seasonal produce at hand, the food gardener is the one reaping the rewards from such little work at the begining of the year. For those of you that aren’t already getting their hands covered in soil, I...
May 2009
1 post
What foods are in Season in May
Asparagus, Asparagus, Asparagus!!
That’s what May shouts out to me, but then again I love the stuff. While these lovely green shoots can be bought from super markets nearly all year round they are grown in places like Peru and imported to the UK – All those miles from picking can make Asparagus taste woody and tasteless. While Asparagus isn’t everyone’s cup of tea they will probably adore UK...
April 2009
2 posts
Sesame seed topped large white bread rolls
Ingredients
Makes 4 large bread rolls
1kg Strong White Flour
2 tsp Dried Yeast
1 1/2 tsp Salt
600ml Water
1 cup of milk (for coating)
A small bag of sesame seeds for coating
Also needed
Cooling rack
Heavy baking tray (or baking stone)
Deep sided baking tray
Instructions
Get all your ingredients ready in one place, It’ll be easier than trying to find them when your hands are...
Char Siu Recipe (Chinese Barbequed Pork) with stir...
You’ve probably seen Char Siu or Chinese barbequed pork at all you can eat Chinese buffet restaurants or in special fried rice (the red in Char Siu is unmistakable).
“Char siu” literally means “fork burn/roast” after the traditional cooking method for the dish: long strips of seasoned boneless pork are skewered with long forks and placed in a covered oven or over a...
March 2009
9 posts
Lewy's Mexican Chilli Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients
2 Large Onions - Chopped
3 Spring Onions - Derooted and chopped
1 Green Pepper - Deseeded and chopped
2 Jalapeno Chilli Peppers - Deseeded and finely chopped (leave seeds in if you prefer more heat)
4 Organic Chicken Breasts - Cut into medium pieces (use kitchen scissors)
Olive Oil
1 tbsp Double Cream
2 Cloves Garlic - Finely Chopped
Mexican Spice mix
2 tsp Chilli Powder
...
Chicken and Leek Pie
Ingredients
Filling
500g Chicken Breast cut into small chunks
2 tbsp Olive Oil
3 tsp Corn Flour
4 Leeks sliced
2 tbsp Chopped Parsley
2 tbsp Crème Fraiche
1 tbsp Wholegrain Mustard
Topping
600g Parsnips
400g Potatoes
Instructions
Preheat oven to 200
Boil potatoes & parsnips until tender, drain, reserving the water, season & mash.
Coat the chicken in corn flour, heat oil...
Carrot Cake
Ingredients
175g Light Muscavado Sugar
175ml Sunflower Oil
3 lge Eggs lightly beaten
140g Grated Carrots
100g Raisins
100g Walnuts
Grated zest of 1 Orange
175g Self Raising Flour
1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
2 tsp Mixed Spice
Topping
200g Philadelphia
50g Butter
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
Orange Juice to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 180.
Oil & line the sides the of a...
Fresh Fish
Not everyone can go out and catch their own fish to guarantee freshness. So, How do you know a fresh fish when you see one?
Here’s how to know what to look for…
The fish’s eyes should be clear and bulge slightly - Cloudy sunken or indented eyes means the fish isn’t at it’s freshest.
Whole fish or filleted fish should have firm and shiny flesh. If you can rely on your...
Real Ale
With Real Ale Festivals held in abundant regularity around the UK I would be surprised to hear of someone who didn’t know anything about Real Ale, but that doesn’t mean everyone knows the difference between Real Ale and any other pub pint.
What makes Real Ale different from your bog standard pint?
Real Ale or Cask Ale is made with 3 main ingredients, Water, Barley Malt and Hops,...
Nettle & Ginger Wine
Ingredients
Ginger Root 10 Gram(s) Bruised
450 grams Raisins
2 Lemons
2 Litres Nettles
1750 Grams Sugar
4.5 Litres Water
Brewers Yeast
Instructions
Pick nettle tops these tend to be a little sweeter and still hold lots of flavour, If you pick your nettle tops in the spring they’ll be at their best.
Wash the nettles thoroughly and drain
Heat the water in a large pan and add...
Sexychef's Tandori Chicken
A Simple Tandori Chicken Recipe from Sexychef (Photo Submitted by Laura)
Ingredients
2 Chicken Breasts
300ml Natrual Yoghurt
1tsp Cumin
1tsp Garam Masala
1/2 tsp Chilli Powder
1tsp Curry Powder
12 Leaves of Mint
1/2 Lime Zest
Also needed
Hand Blender
Instructions
Cut the chicken into strips
Blend everything together and pour over the chicken
Leave in the fridge for 4-48hours.
Grill...
Teriyaki Chicken
This recipe is great for most meats. Although it works especially well with chicken, Teriyaki Sauce can be used for beef, lamb, pork, fish or even vegetables.
Ingredients
6 Skinless Chicken Breasts
The Sauce:
5 spring onions (roots off and roughly chopped)
1 cup Dark Soy Sauce
A dash of white wine vinegar - or preferably Sake
Whole Root Ginger (roughly chopped)
2 Jalapeno Chili peppers...
What foods are in Season in March?
March can be an awkward month for the cook but spring greens are in abundance and Wild Scottish Salmon is coming into season. With a rich bounty of other seasonal fish a rich creamy fish pie with fresh greens would go down a treat. With plenty of wild hedgerows to get some tasty nettle tops from, March is a great time to make some Nettle Wine or Beer.
In Season in March:
Fish:
Cockles
Crab
...
February 2009
4 posts
Corned Beef Hash - Submitted by Laura
Ingredients
Filling:
1 large Tin Lean Corned Beef (375g)
300ml Beef Stock
150ml Red Wine
1 tsp mixed herbs
2 red onions – chopped
Fresh ground black pepper
Butter – knob
A Glug of maggi liquid seasoning if unavailable use Worcestershire Sauce (optional but really tasty)
Creamy Mash Topping:
500g Peeled Potatoes
Salt & Pepper
Butter, Milk and Cream for mashing
80g mature Cheddar
...
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Ingredients
4 Scotch Bonnet Chillies - Deseeded and chopped
1 Spring Onion - Derooted and roughly chopped
1 Onion - Chopped
2 tbsp ground allspice
1 bunch fresh thyme, leaves only
3 cloves of garlic - Crushed
1 inch fresh root ginger - Peeled and roughly chopped
3 tbsp dried mixed herbs
1 tbsp dried basil
3 tbsp all-purpose seasoning (Jamaican Pimento)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp ground black...
Teriyaki Sauce
Ingredients
5 spring onions roots off and chopped
1 cup Dark Soy Sauce
A dash of white wine vinegar - or preferably Sake
Whole Root Ginger roughly chopped
2 Seeded Jalapeno Chili peppers
Half an Orange
1 cup of White Sugar
Also needed
Blender
Instructions Add all sauce ingredients to the blender, blend until smooth. Pour Marinade/sauce over the chicken and place in the fridge over...
Lewy's Chicken and Stilton with fresh basil
Ingredients
6 Chicken Breasts
Stilton Cheese
Grated Mature Cheddar
Fresh Basil
Soy Sauce
Also needed
Aluminium Foil
Instructions Pre Heat Oven to 220 C (Gas mark 7) Cut chicken breasts to make small pockets, crumble Stilton and sprinkle cheddar into the pocket and add a drizzle of soy sauce to each pocket. Use fresh basil leaves to cover the cheese. Cover each chicken breast with...