White Bean and Turkey Chilli....

This is the perfect lunch for a lazy Sunday afternoon. The recipe comes from one of my favourite chefs, Giada De Laurentiis and is a real winter warmer.

Although I didn’t have all the ingredients on hand for her white bean and chicken chilli, I compromised and the results were just as good.

I halved the recipe as I was making this for two, but I still used one whole onion and 4 cloves of garlic.

Instead of chicken I used turkey and substituted savoy cabbage for the swiss chard.

This also gave me an opportunity to use cannellini beans which I have never used before. For my version of the recipe I only used 1 can.

I also made a few changes to the spices as I was missing both fennel seeds and chilli powder. Instead I used;

• 1 heaping Tablespoon of Cumin
• 1 Tablespoon of dried Oregano
• 3 teaspoons of Garam Masala

I added salt and pepper to taste and actually forgot to add the red pepper flakes towards the end of cooking, so it wasn’t as hot and spicy as it could have been.

Everything was in the pot and cooked within 20 minutes – then it just simmered away for another 45 minutes before I served it up with some freshly grated parmesan cheese.

I will definitely make this again!

Grilled and Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Gorg...

Tonight was a night for trying something new. A few weeks ago I saw one of my favourite chefs from the food network, Giada De Laurentiis, prepare a wonderful looking meal for her friends.

Mushrooms have always been one of my favourite foods and Giada’s recipe for Grilled and Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Gorgonzola looked too yummy to pass up. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get all the ingredients so I did have to make a few compromises.

Instead of turkey or chicken sausages, I used plain pork ones. I also didn’t have any mascarpone cheese. The mixture did need some moisture to help blend everything together so I added just a touch of double cream.

I served the mushrooms with a simple watercress salad on the side. The peppery flavour of the watercress complemented the gorgonzola nicely. This was a huge hit and I will definitely be making it again.

Smashed New Potatoes with Garlic and Dill...

Tonight we are having fresh organic salmon fillets. I like to put a little bit of butter, a squeeze of lemon juice and some crushed garlic on them before I wrap them up in tin foil and bake them in the oven. I always find this keeps the fish really moist and flavourful.

My favourite side dish to have with oven baked salmon is Smashed New Potatoes with Garlic and Dill.

I boil up some new potatoes (usually about 5-6 potatoes per person). Once cooked, I drain them and put them back into the saucepan. I then add a knob or so of butter, 2-3 minced garlic cloves (depending on how much you like garlic) and add some chopped fresh dill. I give the saucepan a vigorous shake and if needed toss the potatoes around with a spoon.

They do get smashed up this way – but that adds to the flavour as all the buttery garlicky goodness seeps into the flesh of the potato.

It’s an easy side dish and a perfect match for the lemon garlic oven baked salmon.

….and yes those are creamed leeks on the side!

French Onion Soup A Delicious Vegetarian Version....

French Onion soup has to be one of my all time favourite lunches. It has everything you need; sweet caramelized onions in a rich broth, crispy garlicky croutons and lots and lots of Gruyere cheese. Comforting, nourishing and flavoursome – it always scores 11 out 10 with me!

It’s the perfect meal for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Check out this great recipe for the vegetarian version I used.

The only changes I made to the recipe was using 1 cup of grated Gruyere cheese rather then the Swiss cheese she used. I also used a small baguette and cut 3 pieces for each bowl of soup. I lightly grilled them with a garlic butter mixture before placing in the soup and topping with the cheese.

Delicious!

Organizing Your Weekly Shop....

Saturday is the day we normally do our weekly shop. It’s a good day to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables as there is farmers market nearby. For the other bits and pieces we need we visit our local supermarket.

During the week I make a note of items that need to be restocked. This helps to make sure I don’t forget anything (believe me I need all the help I can get!). I also always check that I have the ingredients for some simple no fuss suppers. Things like;

Pasta: for macaroni and cheese or another simple pasta dish.

Butter Beans or Pot Barley: for soup.

Rice: for egg fried rice.

Baked Brown Beans: for beans on toast.

Self Raising Flour and chocolate chips: for easy bake cookies.

I also like to research at least 2 new recipes and buy the ingredients for them. That way we have the option of either cooking something new OR  if we are feeling tired we can put together something tasty and homemade very quickly.

One of the recipes I am going to make this week is from All Recipes. It’s for a wonderful looking dessert – Lemon Possets.

I will let you know how they turn out!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

750ml (1¼ pints) double cream

200g (7 oz) caster sugar

3 lemons, juiced

3 tablespoons additional double cream to serve

Preparation

In a saucepan over medium high heat, stir together 750ml cream and sugar. Bring to the boil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice. Pour into serving glasses and refrigerate until set, about 5 hours. Pour a little more cream over the tops just before serving.

COOKING. A GREAT WAY TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH LO...

Although we sometimes may feel tired and uninspired when it comes to cooking, my husband and I do our best to make the preparation of our meals a special moment in our day. Sometimes we will have a glass of wine or sherry as we do our prep and we always put on some music. It helps to liven our mood and gently eases us away from the mundane worries and stresses of the day.

The meal doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s more about working together and spending time together. We laugh, joke and lose ourselves in the cooking. After we have enjoyed eating our meal, we share the kitchen duties. This means it’s done faster so we can settle in to a good film while the night’s still young. More importantly though it helps share the work load rather then have one person feel like they are always doing everything – which can become overwhelming.

Get out of the mindset that cooking is a chore. It is actually a wonderful way to relax, unwind and spend quality time with those you love.

Easy Salad Dressing...

Tonight I had a sudden craving for a rocket (Arugula) salad alongside my jacket potato. A very dear friend of mine first introduced me to rocket about 10 years ago and with it she made this very tasty dressing.

2 large handfuls of rocket leaves.
3 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
2 Tablespoons of Balsamic Vinegar.
1 Tablespoon (or a generous squeeze) of fresh lemon juice.
1-2 cloves of minced garlic (I tend to use 3-4 but I love things to be very garlicky)

It’s as quick and easy as that!

Breakfast for Dinner...

Tonight is one of those nights when I actually don’t feel like cooking. It’s cold and I’ve had a hard day. Right now something simple and easy is exactly what I want.

When I feel like this I often have ‘Breakfast for Dinner’. Some of my favourites are:

Eggs on toast.
Scrambled eggs with cheese and onions and a quick salad.
Boiled eggs and soldiers.
Eggs, chips and baked beans.

Tasty, comforting and easy to make!

Delicious Creamed Leeks – an easy recipe....

I have always loved leeks but usually I have them chopped up in soups. A few months ago I discovered a recipe for creamed leeks and thought I would give it a whirl. The result is that now my husband and I are eating them 2-3 times a week. We have become creamed leek addicts!

It is a wonderful side dish that works especially well with chicken. I have also used them as a topping for veggie burgers and have spread them liberally over mashed potatoes.

Do try to use organically grown leeks if you can.

Recipe for Creamed Leeks (serves 2-3)

2-3 medium to large leeks finely chopped.

add to pan with a knob of butter and stir for 3-4 minutes until leeks have softened.

add 2 Tablespoons of cream and salt and pepper to taste.

Yes it’s thats simple!

Enjoy!