Reading, recipes, reminiscing and Mum's version of Cowsway.

I havent written my blog for a few weeks and that has mainly been due to the fact that I have revived my love of reading and, after what can only be described as a shopping spree in Waterstones and the glorious Primrose Hill Books, I have grabbed every second I can with three brilliant books. The first is The Cookbook Collector, I thought this would be more cooking orientated but what it lacks in actual cooking talk it more than makes up for in the romantic liaisons!

The second book is The Lollipop Shoes by my favorite Author Joanne Harris and this is one of her best - known famously for writing Chocolat, she is the Queen on Fantasy thrillers, and yet again she has produced a book that is full of love, food and witchcraft....a must read.

And finally onto my final God send - Return to Paris: A Memoir with Recipes by Collette Rossant - one of my favorite books of all time. My mum gave me this book about 6 years ago, she said it was one of her favorties and that I would love it and sure enough I did. It is about Collettes discovery of cooking and her love for French food that makes her decide to move to Paris. Its just such a lovely lovely book, full of mouthwatering recipes and romance on every level.

So why the sudden change to book reviews....obviously I am becoming a book critic....yeah right! Its actually becasue I have decided to write a cookbook and after years of struggling to find an idea that I really wanted to run with I think I have finally found it and my inspiration comes from fictional books. I am going to write a story about a girl who meets lots of people throughout her life, each giving her recipes that she keeps close to her heart so that whenever she needs to feel comfort she simply makes one of the recipes from her past and falls into a nostalgic dream world.

And so to my blog post - On thinking about what recipes I want to write about in the book, I decided that there is one which wins hands down and that is my mums 'Cowsway'. Now, my mother is certainly not renowned for being a lover of cooking, in fact she winces at the very thought of chopping meat and her idea of producing a meal is sprinkling oxo chicken stockcubes on some chicken and poping it in the oven but I have to give it to her, when it comes to Cowsway the women knows what shes doing. In fact, it was so good that I requested cowsway for every single birthday celebration!!!

Now hang on just a second - Most of you have never heard of Cowsway and actually apart from my mum calling it that I have never heard of it either so I just googled it and apparently its the most popular dish in Burmha and the actual recipe is completely different to what mum used to serve up so although Im calling this Cowsway, its not the real recipe - God only knows where mum conjured this up from!!

My Mums Comforting Cheats Cowsway

1 tsp ginger finely chopped
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
4 x chicken breasts or thighs, diced into little chunks
1/2 Lemons zest
1/2 pint chicken stock
1 lemons juice
half bunch coriander
1/4 onion very finely chopped (after chopping the onion sprinkle with salt to draw all the water out, this adds a bit of crunch!)


Gently fry the ginger and garlic on a low hear for 5 mins. If it starts to stick, turn the heat down and add a dash of water. Then add the diced chicken and the lemon zest. Turn the heat to medium and cook for 5 mins. Then add half a pint of chicken stock and simmer for 10 mins. Put the fresh pasta in the boiling water and cook for about three mins or to taste. Add the pasta to the chicken mix, squeeze in a whole lemons juice and sprinkle with the coriander and finely chopped raw onion. Season to taste and enjoy.

This dish is perfectly balanced, its homely and filling but fresh and vibrant. Perfect in the summer or winter come rain or shine!

Who ate all the Pies? Celebrate British Pie week with 5 delicious homemade, quick and easy pie recipes.

I love a good pie. In fact, I dont think you can really beat a good pie and certainly if you're in the mood for pie nothing else will suffice. And thanks to the heros that invented 'national weeks', this week is National Pie Week, and the humble, delicious pie deserves nothing less a week of admiration and indulgence from everyone. Whether your a chicken and leek fan, a fish pie lover, a shepherds pie admirer or a good old steak and ale devotee, you now have an excuse to eat pie all week guilt free and happily, so get scoffing.


There isnt one pie i could devote my pie admiration to and therefore here are my top five pie recipes - and theyre all really quick and simple. Ps. All Pies must be served with Petit Pois


1. Steak and Ale Pie

4 x rashes of bacon finely chopped

200g Mushrooms finely sliced

2 x sprigs of Fresh Rosemary
1 x Onion finely sliced
2 x Rump Steaks cut into small chunks (you can use any cut of beef but everything else in this recipe is cheap so why not treat your self?)
1 tbsp Flour
1/2 can of ale or beer
1/2 pint of beef stock
1 x sheet of pre-rolled puff pastry


Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Sweat the onion on a low heat for about 5 mins. Add the rosemary, bacon and mushrooms, turn the heat to medium and fry for a further 5 mins. Then add the steak and cook for a further 5 minutes. Pop in the flour and mix around for a minute to soak up all the juices. Mix in the ale and beef stock, and leave to simmer for 15 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a pie dish and place the pre-rolled pastry sheet on top. Brush with egg and then place in the oven for 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden.


2. Chicken, Mushroom and Leek Pie
4 x Chicken Breasts, cut into big chunks
4 x leeks roughly sliced
400g Mushrooms finely sliced
2 x Garlic Cloves finely chopped
2 x Sprigs Fresh Thyme
1/2 tsp Dried Tarragon
1 tbsp Flour
3/4 Pint of Chicken Stock


Preheat oven to 180 degrees In a large frying pan, fry the chicken in a little olive oil until it starts turing white. Then add the leeks, mushrooms, garlic, thyme and tarragon and cook for 10 minutes on a medium/high heat. Then stir in the flour to soak up all the juices. Then stir in the chicken stock and simmer for about 10 minutes until the sauce is thick. Transfer the mixture to the pie dish and place the pre-rolled pastry sheet on top. Brush with egg and then place in the oven for 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden. 


3. Shepherds Pie
1 x Onion
2 x Garlic Cloves
500g Minced Lamb
400g Carrots finely chopped
2 x Rosemary Sprigs
1 tsp fresh sage finely chopped
1/2 pint chicken stock
600g Potatoes
knob of butter


Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Pop the potatoes on to boil. Fry off the onion and garlic in a large pan on a low heat for about 5 minutes. Add the Lamb and cook for 6-8 minutes until it turns brown. Then add the carrots, rosemary, sage and chicken stock and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain and Mash the Potatoes. Pop the lamb mixture in a baking dish and cover with mash. Sprinkle over some rosemary and a few knobs of butter, season and pop in the oven for 25 minutes. 


4. Salmon and Butternut Squash
1 x Squash
1 x garlic clove finely chopped
1/2 a lemons zest
600g Potatoes
4 x Carrots
1/2 pint Milk
1/4 tsp fresh taragon finely chopped
2 x spring fresh lemon Thyme
4 x Salmon Fillets cut into small large chunks
1 x Squash
1 x veg stock cube


Prepare the squash by cutting lengthways in half and then half again, drizzle with olive oil, garlic and lemon zest and place in the oven for 25 mins. Place the potatoes on to boil. Separately place the carrots on to boil. In a large pan put the milk, tarragon and thyme and gently bring to a simmer. Once simmering turn the heat to very low and place the salmon in the milk. Cook the salmon in the milk for about 10 minutes. Once the Squash is cooked, peel it and add it to the salmon and milk with the drained carrots and vegetable stock cube. Then simmer for 5 mins. Drain the potatoes and mash. Transfer salmon mixture to an oven dish and cover with the potato. Cook for 25 mins until the potato is golden. 


 5. Apple Pie with Raspberry Sauce and Ice Cream
70g Butter
100g Caster Sugar
8 x Apples Cut into 8 wedges each (any apples will work but I like to mix it up with half bramley cooking apples and half cox or pink ladies)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp mixed spice
1 beaten egg
2 x Pre-rolled Short-crust Pastry or make your own.
A tub of Vanilla Ice-cream

For the Raspberry Sauce: 

200g Raspberries (if you can pick fresh definitely do, supermarket raspberries just arent the same, or by organic from your local grocer!)

100g Caster Sugar

1 x Vanilla pod / 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Melt the butter with the caster sugar in a large pan. Then add the apples, cinnamon and mixed spice and cook on a low heat for 20 mins with a lid off. Take the apples off the heat and place in a separate dish to cool. Meanwhile prepare your pastry base. Cut two circles, the size of your pie dish. Place the first layer on the bottom of the pie dish so that it just laps over the edge. Drain your cooled apples and place on top on the pastry, and add two tbsps of the drained juice and then cover with the remaining pastry. Press the edges of the pastry together. Brush the top with a beaten egg. Prick the top of the pastry three or four times. Place in the oven for 45-50 minutes until golden. 


For the Raspberry Sauce, place the raspberries in a pan with a splash of hot water, the sugar and vanilla. Gently simmer for about 10 mins. Strain and drizzle over the pie with a big dollop of vanilla ice-cream. 

Easy Italian/Asian Brunch - perfect for the weekend

After a fairly wine heavy Friday night, Saturday morning was slow starting and driven soley by hunger. After a squinty eyed cup of tea, we (Ed, Archie and myself) braved the outside world to go to the supermarket, not such a great idea when you're starving but without a clue as to what you want to eat. Needless to say, being with two, also hungover boys, did not help the situation. 


We started out with seedy bread and good old english salty butter - a crucial carb! Then to the meat section.. ( i have recently discovered that men and women shop very differently and that supermarkets are obviously laid out for women. Men always go to the meat section first and work their way back. Women start with the veg and go around like they are supposed too. I am not sure why this is but will look into it and discuss further at another time)...In the meat section none of use could really stomach cooking meat on a hangover so we opted for prawns and cold cuts. 


Traipsing back to the veg section, all feeling drained of energy we decided we wanted spicy squash soup and salad - its amazing how the hungover mind and appetite work. 


So after collecting a few more random bits and bobs we took it all home to work what we were going to do with it.


So you can imagine we were fairly surprised to find that we actually managed to create an Italian/Asian Feast....

EASY ITALIAN/ASIAN BRUNCH

Seeded Bread and Salty British Butter

Cold Cuts 

Salami and Parma ham

King Prawns

cooked in coriander, garlic, chili and ginger with lots of olive oil

Home Made Asian Style Squash Soup 

Sweat off some garlic, ginger, a red chili, a big onion, coriander stalks, celery and a carrot (all finely chopped) on a low heat (add half a pint of water after about 15mins and cover) whilst roasting the squash in the oven for 30 mins. Once cooked peel the squash and add to the mixture with half a pint of milk. Simmer for 5 mins and whizz up with a soup blender. Garnish with coriander leaves. 

Tricolore Salad 

Baby Plum tomatoes, Mozzarella and Avocado

Hummus and Tzatziki Dips 

Where have all the local Chippy's gone? My recipe for Home Made Fish and Chips with Mushy peas!

Living in London I cant remember the last time I saw a local fish and chip shop. When I was growing up we used to have fish a chips on the last Friday of every month and it was such a treat. The thought that children are now growing up without this pleasure in life makes me very sad indeed.  So firstly I am writing to find support in bringing back the local chippy, 'i'll have fish and chips, loads of salt and vinegar, oh and a saveloy while your there!!...(mouth dribbling as i'm writing!) and secondly to show you how to make it yourself. 


Any-who, as I don't have a local chippy and desperately wanted fish and chips last night i decided to make my own..... I added some chili and coriander to give it a bit of a kick but if you fancy the good old classic then just leave this out. 


Home Made Fish and Sweet Potato Chips with Mushy Peas and Tartar sauce
(feeds 4)

For the Fish:
4 Large Cod Fillets cut in half - You can use Pollock or haddock instead of cod!
Flour to coat 
Vegetable Oil for frying


For the Batter:
100g Plain Flour
pinch of Bicarb of Soda (if you don't have this don't worry it will be fine without it)
1 Egg
1/2 pint sparkling water
1/4 pint beer
1 Red Chili finely chopped
1 handful of coriander finely chopped
1 lemon juice and zest
Salt and Pepper


Whisk up the egg, add the flour, bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice and zest and season. Mix in the sparkling water and beer until you have a light, fairly runny consistency. Add the chilli and coriander. 


For the Tartar sauce:
2 Gherkins very finely chopped
4-5 Capers finely chopped
1/2 Tsp English Mustard 
3 tbsp Mayonnaise
1 Lemon juice and zest
Salt and pepper


Just mix up all the ingredients and pop in the fridge til its ready to serve.


For the Chips: 
6 Sweet Potatoes peeled and cut into thin chip shapes
Olive oli
Salt and Pepper


Add the sliced sweet potato to boiling water and boil for about 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Cover in olive oil and season and give then a good pricking with a fork to make them fluffy. Place on a baking tray in a pre heated oven for 30 minutes. 


For the Mushy Peas: 
300g Frozen Petit Pois
Big Knob of Butter
Salt and Pepper


Boil the peas, drain and mash up as much as you can with the butter. Season. 


Bring it all together:


So firstly prepare the potatoes and place in the oven. Then make the batter and set to the side. Then make the tartar sauce and pop it in the fridge.  Once the chips are almost cooked start the cod. Put the oil in a large frying pan and heat on a medium - high heat. Lightly coat the cod in flour then pop into the batter and straight into the hot oil . Fry on each side for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Take out of oil and place on kitchen towel. You will probably have to do two batches. Place the cod on an oven proof plate and place in the oven to keep warm with the chips. 


Boil the peas, drain and mash. Take everything out of the oven and plate up. Pop the chips at the bottom, the cod on top and the mushy peas on top again. Serve with a slice of lemon and  a sprinkle of coriander. 

Archie and Lily make the BEST SALMON DISH EVER!

I once wrote about my flat mate Archies culinary skills and the general view was that he was a typical 'standard spag bowl dish' boy cook and actually 'nothing to write home about' however my views are rapidly changing as yesterday we created THE BEST SALMON DISH EVER!!! It was quick, easy and delicious, a perfect dish which would work for a dinner party or simply a monday night in front of the tv.  


I returned home late last night after yoga and was delighted to find Archie carefully placing six generously sized salmon fillets on a baking tray. I, being the meddler that I am, decided to suggest using all the ingredients we had left over from the weekend, so on top of the salmon fillets we popped some finely chopped spring onion, red chillis, coriander stalks (save the leaves for the garnish), finely grated ginger and garlic and some soy sauce. 


Leaving that to marinate for a little while we put the rice on to boil for 15 mins. While that was cooking we placed a little sesame oil in a frying pan/wok and fry off some mange tout, baby corn and sliced red peppers, add a little soy sauce to taste. The veg takes about 5 - 7 mins until tender on a medium/low heat. 


Then we placed the Salmon under the grill for 5 mins. 


We then drained the rice and served, finally sprinkling the coriander leaves as a garnish. 


I can honestly say it is my favorite way to eat salmon at the moment!

So a quick recap on the ingredients for Grilled Salmon Asian Style: 


6 - 8 Salmon fillets (we are greedy and eat two each!)
6 Spring Onions finely chopped
1 Red Chili finely chopped
1 Bunch of Coriander, finely chop the stalks and keep the leaves for garnish
1 tbsp Ginger finely chopped
3 Garlic clovers finely chopped
4 tbsp Soy Sauce
400g Rice (brown or white works)
1 tbsp Sesame Oil
200g Mange Tout
200g Baby corn
2 Red Peppers sliced

My favorite food quote...

I thought it was worth sharing....

“ONE OF THE VERY NICEST THINGS ABOUT LIFE IS THE WAY WE MUST REGULARLY STOP WHATEVER IT IS WE ARE DOING AND DEVOTE OUR ATTENTION TO EATING.”

— LUCIANO PAVAROTTI

Halloumi Heaven!

After my lentil addiction last week, I went over to my friend Kathryn's for dinner - she is a vegetarian, although she eats hotdogs (she justifies it by the fact that there is no 'real' meat in them - fair enough i reckon!) and she wanted to cook me her favorite lentil dish and it was delicious, simple and fresh, a perfect friday night in with a glass of white.

The recipe happened to include one of my all time favorite cheeses, the wonderful Halloumi. Its a bit of a strange one Halloumi, if you over or under cook it it will have a rubbery texture that isn't overly pleasant, so you need to make sure you just cook it until lightly golden on both sides!

So....heres how to make Kathryn's Delicious Halloumi and Puy Lentil Salad:


200g Puys Lentils
2 pints of vegetable stock
200g Cherry Tomatoes
1 red onion finely sliced
The juice of 1 lemon
1 bunch Coriander roughly chopped
400g Halloumi

Wash the Puy lentils in cold water then place on the heat and cover with the veg stock. Boil, then reduce to simmer for 25 mins or until soft.

Chop the tomatoes in half and place in a bowl with the sliced onion, lemon juice and half the chopped coriander, mix with hands and set aside.

Cut the halloumi into strips, place in a frying pan with a little olive oil on a medium heat. The halloumi should take about 3 minutes on each side until it is golden brown.

Once the lentils are cooked, add them to the tomato salad and season. Place on a plate with the halloumi spread on top and sprinkle with the remaining coriander.

Fresh, fabulous and filling.

Pop Pop Popcorn Party.

About three months ago I bought some microwave popcorn, only to get home and discover that i didn't actually have a microwave. However this was clearly a blessing in disguise as a few months later I realised that I could just pop it, excuse the pun, in a pan and let the corn do its magic. So there I was in the kitchen, clear lid on pan, corn at the ready. Slowly the fizzing sound began and then the pop, pop, popping - well, i felt like I was five years old again and doing some kind of scientific experiment which at the end of it i got to eat a whole bowl of popcorn to my podgy little self.

There is a huge craze for what they are calling 'gourmet' popcorn at the moment, theres the skinny popcorn in Pret, where flavours range from cheese and onion to chocolate. Then theres the really posh stuff they sell at Harvey Nichols and Harrods, which I've not had the privilege to taste yet! Everyone is popping on the bandwagon!

So, after establishing my new found love for popcorn, I decided to experiment further. This has led me to find three of the best ways to eat pop corn: (just buy a bag of corn from the supermarket, its super cheap!)

1. Keep it simple. Pop the corn and add rock salt and a knob of good English Butter. HEAVEN!
2. On top of Chili Con carne -  I know this may sound bizarre but it is amazing.
3. With Chocolate Sauce. Melt half milk and half dark chocolate and then drizzle it over the warm popcorn.

Enjoy!

Fancy a food orgasm?

For some reason today I began to wonder about Aphrodisiacs, obviously with Valentines around the corner, couples will no doubt be looking up the best foods to entice, seduce and drizzle on their partner. However, said with a sigh and look of confusion, where is the proof that Aphrodisiacs actually work.

There is a part of your brain that is stimulated by good feelings with food, sex, being with family and friends, and comedy being the biggest of the stimulator's. So are we simply confusing delicious food with being turned on?

The reason I question this is because the other day (I hope my mum isn't reading this) I went to a rather lovely Italian restaurant with the bf, and I ordered Spaghetti Pasta with White Truffle for my starter and, on the first mouthful, I felt tingly and turned on. It was embarrassing really, I mean I had to contain the dramatic gasps and eye rolling with every mouthful.

Now, neither truffles nor spaghetti are said to be an aphrodisiac so why this orgasmic reaction?
Maybe it was because I was in a relaxed, happy mood, maybe it was the wine, who knows, but what I do know is that if you want to have a really good Valentines, head down to your local Italian and order the Spaghetti and White Truffles and let the good times roll!!!

Theres always time for lentils!

After a very frantic month of leaving the comfort of a job, setting up a new company and finding time for friends and family, oh and taking up Bikram Yoga (images of a sweaty troll like creature resides in my mind!), I have realised that there is one thing that is always constant and always makes me smile and that, of course, is good food. I always seem to manage to squeeze in cooking every night and without that I think I would go insane.

One of my favorite dishes at the moment is green lentils served with whatever I feel like at the time and the reason I love them is because they have a perfect cooking time, basically, I get back in from work, pop the lentils in some cold water and bring to the boil whilst getting changed and ready for the shower. When the water is boiling I turn it down to simmer and then get in the shower. 15 minutes later and cleaner, in my dressing gown, I chop up two red peppers, a leek, a few deseeded chillies, some thyme, tomato puree and a chicken stock cube and chuck it all in with the lentils. Cover and leave whilst drying hair and getting dressed. 20 minutes later the lentils are ready and they will be happy just sitting there for an hour or three, until your ready to eat them.

Eat them with Sausages, Lamb Cutlets, Pork Chops, Chicken Breasts, Cod fillets, Seabass, you name it, i guarantee anything will taste good with these lentils!!

Diet...urgh! Here are 5 easy tips to staying slim!

Since I heard that Nigella Lawson is the same age as Gillian Mckeith, I vowed that I would never attempt a fully fledged diet plan in my entire life. I'm sorry but if eating chocolate and donuts at 3am keeps your skin looking plump and healthily flushed into your 50's, rather than pale and gaunt, I'm all for it!

I know who Id rather look like!


....having said that, there are obvious limits to indulgence, and I wouldn't want to be seen as a gluten so here are my tips for staying slim but keeping that youthful glow!


1. Green Tea
I live by herbal tea and you can be sure to find me sat at my desk with a tea pot full of peppermint or green tea, day in day out. Green Tea, often referred to as the 'super brew', is full of anti-oxidants and apparently speeds up your metabolism, so get guzzling!


2. Go Brown
Brown Rice, Brown Bread and any grain that looks a bit brown - ie. Quinoa, Peal Barely etc.
Occasionally I do have cravings for a french baguette with loads of butter or a bowl of pasta drenched in olive oil, salt and pepper, but when I get these cravings I often reach from the brown option, and then have a little treat of white once in a while! Trust me you will notice a, waistline and energy level, difference!


3. Eat when your hungry and Listen to your body
This is probably the most important tip. When you are on a planned diet, you have to eat what the diet dictates not what your body tells you you need. The more in tune with your body the easier you will find it to lose or maintain your weight. I, like most people, like to gorge on certain foods once in a while and I'm the first to admit that when I'm hungover I will eat my way through bowls of pasta, thousands of packets of salt and vinegar crisps and a diet coke! However, normally I manage to control my cravings - for example, if I'm feeling tired or run down I'll eat an orange, make a vegetable stew or roast chicken salad to get those vital vitamins that my body needs, if i still need a boost I might have a few squares of dark chocolate or some beetroot. The key is to stop eating when you are full and the easiest way to do this is to eat food that your body needs so that it feels satisfied 95% of the time. The other 5% is reserved for moments of weaknesses and guilty pleasures!

4. Beetroot
The miracle that is! If I'm ever feeling tired or groggy, stressed or confused, for me Beetroot seems to hold some miraculous power that just sorts my head out. Its also the perfect hangover cure.  If your not a big fan of it on its own, try mixing it with Cucumber, Spring Onions and Creme fraiche and popping inside a pitta bread.

5. Wine
I probably shouldn't be promoting drinking wine but I truly believe that without wine I would be fatter. When I say wine, i mean one glass of wine, not the whole bottle. In moderation, women who drink wine generally feel more relaxed and the more relaxed you feel the less likely you are to crave sugar, which can only be a good thing!

Ever wondered why wierd food combos work?

When I was at school I literally lived on Marmite and chocolate spread on toast - I found it fascinating that I could combine my two favorite things in one mouthful, so much so that in one sitting I managed to munch through 8 pieces of toast.

We all hear chefs on TV talking about balancing food, comments on master chef that the 'acidity from the lemons really complements the sweetness of the plump tomato'  - but even in everyday cooking we naturally crave and create this balance of flavours. Think Eggy bread with Golden Syrup or even ketchup with chips!


Well, last night I got home pretty late and didn't have time to cook anything special but I was craving big flavours and comforting food - so I searched in my fridge and found eggs and a mushroom, I always have Marmite and balsamic vinegar so I decided to put them all together and it was heavenly!

To make: Fry the Mushroom on both sides for 2 minutes. Then drizzle with balsamic and season, place under the grill for 5 mins. Meanwhile, poach the egg in simmering water for two minutes (i don't bother with all the swirling and the vinegar in the water, i just plonk it in). Pop the toast in the toaster, then spread with butter and Marmite. Place the mushroom on top and the egg on top of that. Season and garnish with some chives.


I have decided to now make it my mission to discover weird food combinations that just seem to work......to be continued!

January Blues? Food to make you smilier and slimmer!!

Its the same for all of us, the Festive Season has the power of making us believe that we have bottomless tummies and all accommodating livers....only to then turn around in the New Year and slap it on our cheeks and bottoms!

Well if your feeling like me - a waddling little turkey - then you too will be desperately searching for the miracle cure that will flatten your tummy and brighten yours eyes. Sadly there is no one miracle cure, but I'm always a great believer that food is medicine and therefore here are my three favorite things to eat to cure those January Blues.

1. Beetroot and Pearl Barley Salad

Its a known fact that Beetroot is brilliant for your liver (a great hangover cure) and it full of vitamins which brighten your skin too!

4 x Beetroots (buy pre cooked to save time)
1 x Cucumber
200g Pearl Barley
1 x spring onion
Rocket
Tbsp good Olive Oil

Prepare the Pearl Barely by washing it in cold water. Add the barley to a pan of cold water and bring to the boil. Then drain and refill with cold water and bring to the boil. Leave to simmer for 45 mins or until soft.

Slice the Beet Root and Cucumber, finely chop the spring onion and place all the ingredients in a big bowl. When the pearl barely is cooked add it to the bowl with the olive oil, season and stir. Serve on a bed of rocket and ice-breg lettuce.




2. Seabass with Prawns and Tomato Puree

Two Seabass Fillets
300g Raw King Prawns
500g Cherry Tomatoes
3 x Spring onions finely chopped
5 x sprigs fresh Thyme
3 x cloves garlic finely chopped

Place the Cherry Toms, spring onion and Thyme in a saucepan and cook on a medium heat for 15 minutes. Add water if the mixture starts to stick.

Hear a little oil in a frying pan, add the prawns and then place the Seabass skin side down in the pan. Cook for 3-5 mins until the skin is golden. Turn over and add a know of butter to the pan, turn the heat of after about 30 seconds.

Strain the tomato mix and place back on the heat for 2 minutes.

Place the fish in the centre of the plate with the prawns around the side. Pour over the tomato puree.

Serves with mixed salad leaves or mash potato if you feel a bit hungrier!



3. Spicy Chicken Soup

2 x Chicken Breasts cut into strips
2 x  tablespoon White wine vinegar
1 x Red chilled de seeded and finely chopped
A pinch of nutmeg
1 x bunch of coriander
2 x Lime zest
3 x Pak Choi
1 x Red pepper cut into strips
2 x pints chicken stock
1 tbsp of freshly grate coconut

Fry the Chicken in a little oil until golden on each side. Add the white wine vinegar, chili and nutmeg and simmer for 5 minutes.  Finley Chop the stalks of the coriander and add to the pan with the lime zest and cook for a further 3 minutes. Add the pak choi, red peppers and chicken stock and cook for a further 5 minutes. Serve with the coconut and chopped coriander leaves.

 

Christmas Canapes...

Canapes are the best invention since the hand! To have a tiny little mouthful of flavour, no cutlery necessary and often taken with a glass of champers....it really doesn't get much better than that!

So here are my favorite canapes, to be honest there all just old classics with a bit of a twist!

1.Turkey and Cranberry Pastries

2. Mini sausage wrapped in a sage leaf and Parmaham

3. Tiger Prawns with Lemon Thyme Creme Fraiche

4. Ham Hock with Piccalilli

5. Brussel Sprout, Bacon and Cashew nuts

6. Vintage Cheddar with Onion Marmalade

7. Raisin Bread with Stilton and honey

8. Mini Mince Pies

9. Mini Choc and Vanilla Cream Log

10. Clementine dipped in Chocolate

The Beautiful English Vineyards!

I had absolutely no idea that England produced such wonderful wines until I was lucky enough to visit one in Devon a few weeks ago. My wonderful farmer friend Rob Corbett is working with the owner of Lyme Bay Winery and we were truly spoilt with what we saw and what we drank!