Kao Soi

Another new favourite from my travels – this one is a sort of hot and sour chicken noodle soup. It’s yellow – presumably heavy on the turmeric and very delicious!

The key ingredient I use is a cheater’s pre-mixed spice packet to make the sauce, although I’m sure google would probably be able to tell you what combination of spices would do…

The traditional version has chicken, noodles, soup, and often some fresh greens on top and crispy noodles. However I like to add all sorts of veggies so this is my somewhat altered version!

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Creamy chicken, leek and ham pie

Ok, this is a new recipe I tried from my Jamie Oliver app on my phone, so absolutely no credit due to me, and all of the credit goes to Jamie. (Get the app, it’s amazing). I made a few additions/substitutions here or there, but not many.

It was delicious and I will definitely make it again – next time I may even add pastry to the bottom too, who knows? Or possibly I might try it with shortcrust pastry instead….

Sadly I got too excited about eating it once it comes out of the oven and I therefore don’t have any pictures of it with the puff pastry top on!

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Bibimbap

Time for another recipe, and this time it’s a craving for one of my favourite Korean dishes, Bibimbap that had me reminiscing about my time in South Korea. Even though I left South Korea over 10 years ago, I still get cravings for some of my favourite dishes! I can’t make Sam-gyap-Sal (BBQ pork belly) very easily at home, but I frequently make both Bibimbap and Dok-boggi (another comfort food favourite of mine!) at home. A trip to your local Chinese supermarket will help you to find the hot pepper paste required, and many other delicious things as well no doubt!

Bibimbap literally means “mixed-up rice” and is very easy to make, very delicious and super filling. One of my favourite things about Bibimbap is that it is always presented looking beautifully arranged, but in order to eat it, you have to immediately mix it all up into a tasty and delicious mess!

There’s a good recipe here on the Guardian website, and it’s a great way to use up leftovers. I tend to make mine with hot rice and a hot cooked egg, but cold/raw vegetables, almost like a salad with hot rice, however you can mix it up any way you like, and can make the whole thing hot or cold depending on your mood. I’ve listed my standard version that I tend to make at home below, but I do encourage you to try it lots of different ways, with different veg, hot and cold, and play around with it until you find something you love! Continue reading

Smoked Mackerel Pate

On a recent weekend to visit my mum, I was able to steal her amazing recipe for Smoked Mackerel Pate. Honestly it’s so delicious, and so stupidly easy to make, it’s ri-donk-culous.

Here it is, about to make it to the big time!

You’ll need:

  • 1 packet of smoked mackerel (we like the type with peppercorns, but it doesn’t matter much). Make sure you remove the skin from the fillets!
  • 1 regular tub of Philadelphia cream cheese (or equivalent) – you can also use the light version if you want it to be lower fat.
  • 1-2 fresh lemons
  • 2 teaspoons of creamy horseradish
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • A food processor

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Thai Red Lentil Soup

This is one of my all-time favourite soups – it’s easy to make, hearty and delicious.

The recipe belongs to Ottolenghi, and was one of his recipes featured in the New Vegetarian range – which I tore out of the magazine and have kept lovingly in a binder where it gets a little more creased and stained every time I make this! I’ve pretty much copied out his recipe here word for word, so credit where credit is due, but I’ve added a few of my own notes here or there.

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(yes, I stole this picture from the Ottolenghi article, no, my bowls are not this fancy).

You’ll need:

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Christmas Chutney

Well, it’s that time of year that I’m making my favourite caramelised red onion chutney, which makes a convenient and very cheap Christmas present as well as being delicious with cheese!

I’ve used this recipe from BBC Good Food website, but added a few twists to spice it up a bit…

You’ll need:

  • 8 red onions
  • 1 red chilli
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 25ml olive oil
  • 200g dark brown sugar
  • 150ml balsamic vinegar
  • 150ml red wine vinegar

– I usually double this amount when I’m making it, as I like to make a large batch at once if it’s for gifts at Christmas time. Double the amount above usually makes about 8 standard  (small-medium sized) jam jars. Continue reading

Sweet Potato Chowder

This is another favourite of mine – it’s a hearty, chunky soup, utterly delicious, although it’s one that doesn’t always look visually terribly appealing, but it smells and tastes incredible. I usually use a hand-blender to whizz it all up when it’s cooked, instead of having it as a chunky chowder I often blend it into a really thick soup, but either way works. You can also spice it up by adding in some chilli powder or cayenne pepper, or a little cumin.

It comes from The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook by Sarah Brown, which has loads of tasty veggie things in!

You’ll need:

2 tbsp sunflower oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
125g baby sweetcorn, chopped
375g sweet potato, finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
1 red pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
1/2 tsp paprika
600ml vegetable stock
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tsp dried thyme
100ml double cream
salt and pepper
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“Oranges and Lemons” Ice-cream

This is an incredible recipe for home-made ice-cream that an old family friend passed on to me. You don’t need an ice-cream maker, and you don’t need to keep checking it and stirring it as it freezes – this recipe is magic because you just pop it in the freezer, leave it alone and it freezes perfectly every time!

It’s dead simple, and VERY delicious, although I won’t lie, it’s not exactly low-fat…

There are some flavour variations I’ve added at the bottom, (although I’ve never tried the coffee version). And don’t worry about the raw eggs – it’s the same principle as chocolate mousse, something scientific happens with the eggs and sugar are whisked together, and they somehow become safe – I can’t remember why, but google it and you’ll see.

You’ll need:

6 egg yolks
6oz caster sugar
Half a pint of double cream
Juice of 2 medium size oranges and 1 lemon

Steps:

1) Whisk the egg yolks until thick with the sugar, and then add the fruit juice.

2) In a separate bowl, whisk the cream until it just holds it’s shape.

3) Add the yolks and juice mixture to the cream and fold it in – make sure it is well combined, but don’t stir too much – just fold it, otherwise you’ll lose a lot of the air you whisked in, and this helps to keep the ice-cream fluffy.

4) Pour/Spoon it into a tupperware container with a lid, or alternatively in a freezer-safe bowl covered in foil, and pop it in the freezer for a few hours until completely frozen.

Variations:

Instead of using orange and lemon juice, you can also try lemon and lime for a more zingy and refreshing taste, (you’ll need approximately 4oz of juice) or you can substitute with 4oz of VERY strong black coffee if you like coffee ice-cream.

Cashew Nut Paella

This recipe came from the Vegetarian Bible (Fresh from the garden) cookbook, by Nicola Graimes, (I think) and it’s really delicious! I make it without olives, because frankly, olives, eeewww. I also rarely bother to de-seed the tomato – I just chop it up and throw it in. The turmeric makes this a fantastic bright yellow colour, and it’s incredibly tasty – Yum!

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Aubergines with melted Goat’s Cheese

This one’s specially for a friend of mine who recently became vegetarian. It’s quick, simple and delicious! I can’t claim credit, it came from a cookbook, but sadly I can’t remember which one.

This serves 2 as a light, summery main course, or 4-5 as a starter.

You’ll need:

1 large aubergine

Handful of fresh Basil
Concentrated sun-dried tomato paste, or red pesto
Goat’s cheese (I prefer the round logs for this, but any kind will do)
Bag of Rocket salad
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Walnuts (optional)
Balsamic vinegar/salad dressing of your choice

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