Sort of Steak Fajitas

I created this recipe with a view to a more healthier way of eating. Rather than all the ingredients being cooked the only thing which is cooked is the steak and all the other ingredients are raw. You can serve this with the wraps or just have the steak with all the raw salad ingredients if you are trying to cut down.

Serves 4
Ingredients

500g rump steak
1tsp smoked paprika
1tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
1 tsp thyme
1 garlic clove- finely chopped
juice of 1 lime

Slice the rump steak into 1 inch thick strips. Mix all the other ingredients together and mix with the steak. Allow to  marinate for about half an hour.

200g cherry tomatoes- halved
1 can kidney beans - drained
1 small bunch coriander - chopped
1 medium red onion - finely chopped
1 green or red pepper- chopped
juice of half a  lime
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper

Mix all these ingredients together and allow to stand for the flavours to develop while you cook the steak.
To cook the steak heat a griddle or frying pan and brush with a small amount of oil. Sear the steak quickly until it is cooked but still pink about 1 minute will be enough..
Serve the steak with the salad ingredients and serve with warm tortillas if liked.

Lamb Burgers stuffed with Feta Cheese

Over the next few weeks I will be posting some easy to cook, summer recipes which are perfect for when the weather gets a bit warmer.

130g couscous
120ml chicken stock
500g lamb mince
grated rind of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons fresh chopped rosemary leaves
2 teaspoons dried oregano
small pinch dried chilli flakes or to taste
4 oz feta cheese crumbled
salt and pepper

To serve pitta bread, fresh salad of tomato, cucumber, coriander and spring onions.

Place the couscous in a bowl and pour over the chicken stock. Cover with cling film and allow to stand for a while until all the chicken stock is absorbed.
Place all the other ingredients apart from the feta cheese in a bowl and mix together. Add the couscous and mix again making sure all the ingredients are well combined.
Shape the mix into burger shape. Make a small dip in the middle of the burger with your finger and stuff with the crumbled feta cheese. Mould the meat around the cheese to fully enclose it.
To cook your burgers heat a griddle pan brushed with a small amount of oil until it is hot. Cook the burgers on the hot griddle for about 5 to 7 minutes a side until the outside is crisp and the burger has  cooked through.
Serve in some warmed pitta bread with salad of your choice and good squeeze of lemon juice.

Caramelised Onion Jam and Goats Cheese Crostini and Red Pepper and Goats Cheese Crostini

AS SEEN IN MARLBOROUGH TOWN AND COUNTRY MAGAZINE - JUNE 2013


A friend recently asked me to organise a cookery party for her 50th Birthday. It was going to be something a bit different with a cookery demonstration and everyone "getting their hands dirty" making some of the dishes. It was great fun and and enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.

One of the canapes we made were crostinis with different toppings. They are really easy to make and the great thing about them is they can be made in advance.


Ingredients

1 french stick
olive oil
sea salt

For the onion crostini
1 jar of onion jam
4 oz piece of stilton

For the red pepper crostini
1 jar of roasted peppers
6oz soft goats cheese


Makes approximately 20 crostinis

To make the crostini bases

Slice the french bread into 1/2 inch thick slices. Lay on a baking tray in a single layer and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Place in the oven gas7, 200 degrees centigrade for about 15 minutes until the bread is lightly toasted. At this stage you can allow the bread to cool and place in an airtight container for 2 days.
When you are ready to assemble the crostinis lay them on the baking tray and spread with the onion jam and sprinkle with some crumbled stilton for the onion crostinis.
For the pepper crostinis place some roasted peppers on the bases and sprinkle with some crumbled goats cheese.
Place the crostinis in the oven gas 7, 200 degrees centigrade for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and melted and the crostinis are warmed through.

Indian Spiced Salmon with Basmati Rice and Peas

This is a delicious way to cook salmon as the spices lift the salmon fillet into something special.
It is also really easy and quick to prepare.

600g salmon fillets( skin removed)         1 inch piece fresh ginger ( grated)
1 garlic clove ( crushed)                                1 cinnamon stick
½ teaspoon turmeric                                      3 whole cloves
1 teaspoon chilli flakes                                   salt and pepper
1 large onion -chopped                             1 can chopped tomatoes
½ teaspoon black mustard seeds              juice of 1 lime to taste
½ teaspoon ground coriander                    fresh chopped coriander
½ teaspoon ground cumin                          1 green chilli,chopped

Cut the salmon into 2 inch pieces and place in a bowl with the garlic, chilli
flakes, turmeric and a pinch of salt. Stir cover and chill for 2 hours. ( you can
leave it for less time if you are short of time).

Warm the oil in a sauté pan. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the spices, chilli and salt and cook for 5 minutes.

Add the tin of tomatoes, lime juice and 200ml of water and simmer gently
for about 15 minutes until the sauce thickens.

 Place the marinated salmon in the pan of sauce, cover with a lid and simmer for 5
minutes until the sauce is thick and salmon is cooked through.
Sprinkle with the coriander and serve with some steamed basmati rice through which

you have stirred some cooked peas.

Cooking with the Kids- Mini Pizzas

As seen in the Marlborough Town and Country Magazine -May 2013

This recipe appeared in the magazine as a result of me doing a cookery class for children at the local school. The idea is to get the children interested in cooking and understanding ingredients which are used to make some well known dishes.

Cooking with children is fun and they are learning a skill which they will be able to use all their life. 

This pizza recipe is great for younger children as it simple to make as it has a scone base.

Change the topping ingredients to suit your child's taste.

Ingredients

75g self raising flour
10g butter
30ml milk
4 cherry tomatoes -chopped
pinch dried oregano
Ham, pineapple, sweetcorn, peppers
25g grated mozzarella cheese

Serves1

Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Put the flour and butter into a bowl and rub in with your fingers until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the milk to make a dough ( you may not need it all) and stir the dough with a fork until it all comes together.  Shape the dough into a ball with your hands.

Dust some flour on a work mat and put the ball of dough on top. Flatten it into a  nice pizza base and place it on a baking tray.

Spoon the chopped tomatoes onto the pizza base. Add your choice of ingredients and  sprinkle with a little dried oregano.

Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top. Ask an adult to help  you place the pizza into a preheated oven, 200ᵒ C, Gas mark 7, for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and the pizza is cooked through.

Apple Compote with a Cinammon Custard

I made this for dessert at the weekend when we had some friends for dinner. I wanted something light and fresh as too often puddings are too heavy and stodgy. I made this in individual glasses as often presentation is a problem when making this sort of dessert and it is so much nicer to serve them individually.

Sponge Layer

Some ready made trifle sponges or madeira cake
3 tablespoons of Marsala or sherry

Apple Compote

4 large cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced ( place the apples into cold water with some lemon juice after you have peeled them to stop them turning brown.)
3 tablespoons caster sugar

Cinnamon Custard

400ml double cream
1 cinnamon stick
8 eggs (yolks and whites separated)
80g caster sugar

Ground cinnamon

6 glasses or pretty trifle dishes to serve

 

Place a layer of sponge in the bottom of each glass and  sprinkle with the alcohol.

For the apple compote place the peeled and sliced apples and the sugar with a tablespoon of water into a pan and cook over a low heat until the apples are soft. When cool divide amongst the glasses.

For the custard put the cream into a pan and add the cinnamon stick. Heat until the cream begins to simmer. Remove from the heat and allow to infuse for half an hour.

In a bowl stir the egg yolks and sugar together.

Remove the cinnamon from the cream and return the cream to the heat. When the cream is warm add the eggs and sugar and stir continuously until the custard thickens. Pour over the apple layer in the glasses. Sprinkle the top with some ground cinnamon. Cool and refrigerate.

This is delicious served with some crisp biscuits.

Beef and Ginger Stir Fry

Something quick, easy, healthy and delicious for a great midweek meal. You can also make this dish with chicken.
Serves 4

500g/1lb rump steak sliced into strips
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 onion roughly chopped
1 clove garlic
baby sweetcorn
mangetout
1 red pepper - sliced


Marinade
1 inch piece fresh ginger thinly sliced or grated
juice of 1 orange
1 tsp five spice
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 small fresh chilli chopped finely
1 tbsp rice wine( mirin)



Steamed rice or noodles to serve.

Mix together all the marinade ingredients and set aside.

Heat the oil in a wok or heavy based pan and fry the beef strips until sealed and brown. Remove from the pan.
Fry the onion and garlic until just begining to soften.
Add the vegetable and stir fry for 3 to 5 minutes. Return the steak to the pan and add the mariande. Stir around and allow the whole dish to cook for about 5 minutes.