20th - Black Pudding, Apple and Smoked Cheese

I was a bit sceptical about this one, put Jace said he had had something similar when he was younger and yet again, I was lucky I trusted his judgement...all I can say is this may of been the best meal yet. P.S photoshoot went well but by god it is VERY expensive to get pictures from it.


Ingredients

• Cider (decent swig)
• Black Pudding (4 normal sized slices)
• Cooking Apple (sliced into segments)
• Oil (enough to cover pan)
• Smoked Cheese (2 slices)

Method

1. Cook black pudding and set aside in oven to keep warm
2. Add apples to the same pan and cook until browned set aside - also in oven
3. Add cider to the same pan and reduce
4. Serve black pudding and apple and add the smoked cheese
5. Pour over the reduced cider
6. Enjoy

Photographs

 Simplistic ingredients

Yummy Finished Product

This meal was so good and would make for a nice change to a starter (mum - for your dinner parties) yet again, good call Jace.

Ease:        (10/10)

Look :      (9/10)

Taste:       (10/10)

Overall:     (29/30)

This will definitely be a hard one to beat!

Laura xo

 

19th - Chicken Tikka

So today has been a mad rush also, I'm away to a photoshoot with my friends Elaine and Louise for Elaine's 21st. Trust me to have a cracker of a spot which makes me look like I've been in a boxing match oh the joys. Anyway I will upload some of the resultant shots here once we have them :)


This meals is one of my favourite curry meals as it is very simple to make and uber scrummy.


Ingredients

• Chicken breasts ( 2 - diced into cubes)
• Tomato Passata (such a handy ingredient)
• Tomatoes (3 cut into 1/6ths)
• Pattaks Tikka Masala Curry Paste (Half Jar)
• Onion (1 large)
• Chilli (2)
• Ginger ( thumb of)
• Coriander (small bunch)
• Honey (2tbs)
• lemon (half)
• balsamic vinegar (1tbs)
• Rice (for 2)
• Butter (knob)
• Olive Oil (2tbs)

Method

1. Boil enough rice for 2
2. Cook off the onions, ginger, coriander and chilli in a pan with the oil and butter.
3. Add the chicken and heat until meat is sealed
4. Add curry paste, balsamic vinegar, honey and stir well
5. Add the tomato passata, tomatoes and lemon and simmer for 40 minutes
6. Salt and Pepper to season
7. Serve hot

Photographs

NomNom the finished product

This meal was so tasty - I do love a curry and wasn't too hot. I also like the fact that home made curries are considerably more healthy than take outs - and pre made micro meals.

Ease:          (8/10)

Look:           (8/10)

Taste:         (10/10)

Overall:       (26/30)

Anyway I better go and finished getting all  my clothes together, and then I have work after *sigh*. Tomorrow I've decided is dedicated upload day, so get ready for a lot of meals :)

Laura xo

18th - Tuna Fish Cakes, Cous-Cous and a Tomato Sauce

 This meal takes a bit of preparation but is extremely filling and very nice.

Ingredients

• Parsley (handful finely chopped)
• Tuna (2 tins)
• Potatoes (10oz, washed and diced)
• Butter (1tbs)
• 2 eggs (beaten
• Chicken Stock Cube
• CousCous (for 2)
• Lemon (half the juice)
• Boiling Water (enough to cover couscous)
• Red Pepper (cut into squares)
• Tomato Passata

Method

1. Boil and mash the potatoes
2. Add butter, tuna, egg, lemon and parsley and mix well.
3. Put mixture into fridge to cool for 30 mins
4. Place cous cous in a bowl and add boiling water (add stock cube to boiling water)
5. Cover in cling film and place in microwave for 3 minutes
6. Once cooked add the peppers
7. Take mixture out of the fridge and shape into patties
8. Cover in bread crumbs
9. Fry to seal, grill until cooked through
10. Heat up tomato passata until hot
11. Plate up cous cous, fish cakes and add tomato passata to taste

Photographs

Tomato Passata

Cous-Cous with red pepper

Fish Cake Patties

Fish Cakes Frying

Final Dish

This meal was surprisingly tasty , although I do have to work on my plating up skills.

Ease:          (6/10)

Look:           (7/10)

Taste:         (10/10)

Overall:       (23/30)

Anyway got to scoot to go and pick up Jace's wee sis, so won't be putting up another meal (curry) until I get home from work at 2am :S oh the joys.

Laura xo

17th - Leek and Potato Soup

This meal is very easy to make, with only 4 ingredients. Although it takes a while to cook, you can do other things when it is. Great when you have a million things to do, as I always do.


Ingredients

• Leeks (3 large, washed and chopped)
• Butter (2oz)
• Potatoes (12oz, washed and diced)
• Chicken Stock Cubes (2)
• Boiling Water (850mL)

Method

1. Add half the butter and the leeks to a large pan
2. Cook for 10 mins on a low heat stirring occasionally
3. Add the potatoes
4. Add the stock cubes to the boiling water and mix well
5. Add the mixture to the pan and bring to the boil
6. Leave simmering for 30-40 mins, stirring every now and again
7. Either blend, mash or leave as whole chunks
8. Add the rest of the butter
9. Add salt and pepper to taste
10. Plate up

Photographs

Leeks cooking in the butter

Once everything has been added

The final product - not the most appealing looking but very tasty.

I made this originally as a starter but it was so filling that it done as a main meal. Have with crusty bread as an extra. 

Ease:          (9/10)

Look:           (5/10)

Taste:         (8/10)

Overall:       (22/30)

Laura xo

16th - Red Pepper, Tuna and Cheese Pasta.

Nice and simple meal here... as you have probably guessed I am a pasta lover. I also had work this day so was in a  rush so quickest = best.

Ingredients:

• Pasta for 2
• Pepper (diced into squares)
• Tuna (1 tin)
• Mayonnaise (2tbs)
• Tikka Curry Paste (1tbs)
• Cheese (grated, handful)

Method:

1. Cook pasta
2. Add pepper, tuna, mayonnaise and curry paste.
3. Mix well and serve.

Photographs

 Peppers - one of my favourite vegetables

 All the ingredients added to the pan

The final dish

This is a very simple dish and the curry paste adds a different flavour. I like the peppers raw as it adds a different texture to the dish.

Ease:          (10/10)

Look:           (6/10)

Taste:          (8/10)

Overall:       (24/30)

Laura xo

Hello Again ... I'm Back (non stressed)

Hello again,

I thought I better write a little update, just incase you all think I've disappeared. Exams are finally over, all hand ins are in, and now its just the wait to see if I have passed eeeek.

A few people have asked over the past few days where are all the recipes. Well I have all the pics ready from the past few weeks I just have to upload them all.

So I will try and upload at least 2 per day, more if I can manage - with uni and work etc.

Laura xo

15th - The Hangover Cure

This was made as Jace had went out the night before and needed his belly filling with some good hearty food. Just a quick 10 minute job and I ate breakfast for once also.

Ingredients:

• Double yolked egg
• Smoked back bacon (3)
• Seeded Bread (2 slices)
• Tomato Ketchup
• Cup of Coffee (made to your desire)
• Glass of apple and mango juice

Method:

1. Fry the egg (starting from a low heat baste the oil over the egg so that you get no crusty bits)
2. Grill the Bacon (cut of fat before if you’re fussy like me)
3. Then make a sandwich with plenty tomato ketchup.
4. Cup of Coffee and a Glass of Juice to finish.

Photographs

The layered sandwich phases

This was quick and easy to make, did its purpose and made Jace feel better. Also because it was fast it allowed me to get more of that blasted Chapter 1 completed.

Ease:          (9/10)

Look:         (7/10)

Taste:         (10/10)

Overall:       (26/30)

Laura xo

14th Bacon and Pea Pasta with Crème Fraiche

This was an alteration on one of Jamie Oliver’s dishes and was absolutely  amazing to say the least. I’d never had crème fraiche before so was a bit dubious but Jace said it was really good and I’m glad I listened .

Ingredients

• Pasta (enough for 2)
• Frozen Peas (74 haha just joking 2 small handfuls)
• Smoked Back Bacon (3 rashers)
• Chilli (1 small chilli)
• Crème Fraiche (250-300g)
• Cheese (50g grated)
• Garlic (1 clove finely chopped)
• Chicken Stock Cube
• Butter (a knob)
• Olive Oil (splash)

Method

1. Cook Pasta
2. Add olive oil and butter to a pan. Heat until butter is melted
3. Add peas, garlic, chilli and bacon to the pan
4. Cook until bacon is fully ready
5. Add crème fraiche
6. Stir until sauce is simmering
7. Add cooked pasta
8. Serve with garlic ciabatta and garnish with parsley.

Photographs

 The mixture in the pan

The Final Product Close Up

My Now Favourite EVER pasta dish

This was quick, easy and tasted sooo good could have kept on eating it if there had been more (and we had generous servings). Will definitely be using Crème Fraiche again, so if anyone has any recipes that use it please let me know.

Easy:      (9/10)

Look:     (8/10)

Taste:     (10/10)

Overall:  (27/30)

13th: Turkey escalopes with a orange,grapefruit and coating with Rice and Green Vegetables

So thought I’d try a different meat tonight, kinda wish I hadn’t so if anyone has any NICE recipes that use turkey please let me know.

Ingredients

• Oranges (3)
• Pink Grapefruit
• Turkey breast steaks (2)
• Ginger (1 thumb chopped)
• Chilli (chopped finely)
• Garlic (clove chopped)
• Corn flour
• Rice (for 2)
• Broccoli
• Green beans
• Honey (1 tsp)
• Olive Oil (1 tbs)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

1. Add the juice of 2 oranges, ½ grapefruit, olive oil, garlic, salt, chilli, ginger and honey, mix together and add 2 tbs onto each turkey breast to marinate.
2. Add the rest of the mixture into a small pan
3. Add the segments of one orange and the other half of the grapefruit.
4. Grill the turkey breasts.
5. Cook the sauce, adding corn flour to thicken.
6. Cook the rice and the vegetables.
7. Serve with sauce poured over the turkey.

Photographs

Bit of a nightmare meal, did not like the corn flour in it as it went a too thick and the sauce also looked stewy – but that could just be my fussyness. Jace really enjoyed it so I suppose it really does depend on your taste.

Ease of Recipe:   (5/10)

Look:                    (8/10)

Taste:                   (7/10 - Jace) (4/10 - Laura)

Overall:                (18.5/30)

Laura xo

Days 13-15 Introduction

So the past few days have been an absolute nightmare....handed in my 5000 word Chapter 1 draft this morning, with all my appendices and COSHH forms etc, it is 46 pages long!!!!

Anyway don't worry I have still been cooking just not had the chance to post here as I have a funny feeling my degree is what should come first (and if I didn't think this my mum would be having words).

So here are a list of the meals that I will be posting up in due course throughout the evening.

13th: Turkey escalopes with a orange,grapefruit and coating with Rice and Green Vegetables
14th: Bacon and Pea Pasta with Creme Fraiche (A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!)
15th: The Hangover Cure Sandwich and Generally Good Breakfast Meal

So I will get them all posted plus tonight's before I get started on my critical appraisal = 2000-4000 words long and it is not helping that Science Direct has been down for the past week :( . So no doubt you might get a couple more days of non posts before my hand in on Friday! Then you will have me all to yourself!

Laura xo

Macaroni and Cheese - Day 12 - 12.01.12

As you may have been able to tell I have been stressed up to my eyeballs with all this Uni stuff :(. That is why I have decided on a simple, easy and always satisfying macaroni and cheese.

Recipe for 2
Ingredients

• Pasta (enough for 2)
• Garlic (2 cloves finely chopped)
• Butter/margarine (2tbs)
• Plain Flour (2tbs)
• Milk (enough to thicken mixture)
• Cheese (2 handfuls grated)
• Spontaneous Combustion Hot Sauce (4 drops - literally any more will blow you away)

Method

1. Put the pasta on to cook.
2. While the pasta is cooking melt the butter in a pan.
3. Add the garlic and simmer for 2 minutes
4. Add the flour and mix well.
5. Add the milk slowly constantly mixing. You will find that after the milk is added the mixture will look very watery, but as you mix it will thicken out. 
6. Once at a good consistency add the cheese.
7. Allow the cheese to melt and add the hot sauce.
8. Once the pasta is cooked, strain and add to the sauce.
9. Plate up.
10. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Photographs

 Cheese - one of my all time favourite foods.

 The cheese sauce :)

The final product...not the greatest looking but amazing all the same.

An upclose version nom nom 

I would usually add a tsp of wholegrain mustard but did not have any at the time. I love this meal, one of my favourites....even Jace - the non pasta fan - enjoyed it.

Ease of Recipe:   (9/10)

Taste:                   (10/10) yum yum

Look:                    (7/10)

Overall:                (26/30)

So that was last nights meal.... Tonight's meal will be up tomorrow due to me needing my bed.... 8 hours of essay writing takes its toll on you.

Laura xo

Between my study and having to head off for work at Tonik Ive not had a chance to post tonights recipe :( I will post it as soon as I can tho. A quick Mac and cheese tonight :) Laura xo

Spicy Tomato Meatballs with Fusilli - Day 11 - 11.01.12

Wow I am shattered this revision is taking its toll on me :( early night tonight I think. Anyway this meal was done especially for people who wanted more variety than chicken (you know who you are - :) ).


Recipe for 2

Ingredients for meatballs

• Lean steak mince (400g)
• Onion (1 small extremely finely chopped)
• Parsley (small amount finely chopped)
• Egg 
• Garlic (1 clove minced)
• Dried Chilli Flakes (2 pinches)
• Salt and Pepper

Ingredients for Pasta and Sauce

• Fusilli Pasta (enough for 2)
• Onion (small, chopped)
• Chilli (chopped)
• Garlic (1 clove)
• Tomatoes (2 chopped into 8ths)
• Tomato passata (1 small carton - 500g)
• Salt

Method

1. Mix all the meatball ingredients together by hand.
2. Roll the mixture into golf ball sized balls
3. Seal in frying pan.
4. To a separate pot add olive oil, onion, garlic and chilli's and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add tomato passata, meatballs and chopped tomatoes.
6. Simmer for 20 minutes until meatballs are cooked through.
7. While this is happening cook the fusilli pasta.
8. Plate up pasta, meatballs and sauce and serve.

Photographs

Mince mix with egg - Jace's strange photography ideas haha :) 

Mince made into meatballs

Meatball in sauce

Final Product

This was a nice alternative to chicken and filled me up :) I can definitely say since doing this blog it has improved my diet - no more pizza or waffles. 

Ease of Recipe:   (8/10)

Taste:                   (7/10)

Look:                    (7/10)

Overall:              (22/30)

Laura xo