Catalina Salad Dressing

If my memory serves me right, this dressing used to be made my Kraft and my mother used to buy it in Safeway - many years ago. This recipe is quite close to it - at least from what I remember!! It is both sweet and tangy.

Ingredients:

• 660ml of tomato ketchup

• 74ml of sugar

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 4-1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

• 1/8 teaspoon paprika

• Dash ground turmeric

• Dash cayenne pepper

• 125ml of canola oil

Place the first ten ingredients in a blender. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream.

Curried Monkfish & Cauliflower

  This recipe is very much a ‘by taste’ one and so the quantities are variable to taste etc. I normally serve this as a started as it is quite rich with the fish and lashings of butter!!

Ingredients (serves 2):

• Monkfish tail (de boned and film removed) approx 300gms
• Banana shallot finely diced
• 150gms (ish) salted butter
• Large handful of cauliflower florets
• Mild curry powder - Large tbsp
• Almonds - toasted 2 tbsp (or hazlenuts if you have an alergy!)
• Sugar - ½ tsp (ish)
• Salt pepper to taste

Melt half of the butter in a frying pan and soften the shallot. Add monkfish pieces and curry powder, stir well. Whilst cooking, lightly steam the cauliflower florets then drain and add to the pan with the remaining butter. Season to taste and add a small pinch of sugar. Finally stir in the nuts and serve.

Pork Meatloaf

This is an easy recipe and the end result is comfort food!!

Ingredients:

• 45gms of Panko Breadcrumbs
• 500gms of minced pork
• 8 slices of prosciutto or smoked streaky bacon
• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 1 clove of garlic
• 20gms of grated parmesan
• 1tsp of dried Herbs de Provence
• 1 tsp of dried Oregano
• (The choice of hebs is down to your own taste)
• 1 beaten egg
• salt & pepper to taste

Set oven to 190degC or 170degC fan

Whilst the oven warms up, put the onion, garlic and a couple of slices of prosciutto into a food processor and blitz. (if you want you could use smoked streaky bacon) In a mixing bowl add the pork, breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan, herbs and the blitzed onion, prosciutto and garlic. Add seasoning and then mix well with your hand until the ingredients are well mixed. 

Line a tin (bread/loaf tin will work) with the rest of the prosciutto and then put the mix into the tin, pressing down well to make sure there are no air gaps. Put the loaf tin into a baking tray and add boiling water to the tray so it covers half way up the tin.

Bake in the oven for about one hour. 

The meatloaf can be served warm (sliced) with your choice of vegetables or cold (cliced as well) with a salad.

Roast Boned and Rolled Mutton Shoulder (marinated)

 This recipe came about as we got half a sheep for the freezer and decided that we had better eat some of it!! The shoulder was around 2Kg before being boned and some of the fat removed. The recipe is based on that weight. The fat pieces can be rendered down and used for roast vegetables.

Ingredients:

• 2kg Lamb/Mutton Shoulder - bones and rolled and some fat removed

Marinade items:

• 6 cloves of garlic - peeled and crushed
• zest of one lemon and it's juice
• 2 tbsp of red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp of soft brown sugar
• 1 tsp of salt
• ground black pepper to taste
• Sprigs of rosemary (wedged under the string used to roll the meat)

Put the lamb in a zip seal type bag together with the pre mixed marinade and if possible, leave in the fridge overnight or longer - turning and mixing every now and then. Once out of the fridge, roll the joint and tie with string. I retain the crushed cloves of garlic and put inside the meat before being tied up.

Set the oven to 200 degC (180 degC fan) and cook under well sealed foil. I tend to rest the joint on onion slices - this then enhances any gravy that I make from the juices.

Roast for approx 2 to 2.25 hours and then remove the foil and brown up for a further 1/2 hour.

Remove from the pan and rest, covered with the foil and a cloth on top of the foil. You can then pour off any further fat (keep) and leave the juices in the pan to be used for the gravy. I tend to add stock and cook it down and maybe add a little redcurrant jelly.

Serve with your favourite roast veg etc.

Mirabelle Plum Jam

 We are very lucky to have a Mirabelle plum tree in our garden and the jam from the fruit is by far the best plum jam I know. 

Ingredients (makes about 10 jars of jam)

• 200ml water
• 2kgs of whole Mirabelle plums - then de-stoned
• 1.6kgs sugar
• 2 Tbsp of lemon juice

Simmer the water and fruit until soft (ish) - this should only take a few minutes. Add the sugar and lemon juice and stir until completely dissolved. As the jam starts to bubble, a foam appears on the surface (as per the photo). I remove this with a spoon during the process. Get the jam on a rolling boil for around 20 mins, stirring occasionally,  until the temp is around 103-104 degC or until a bit of jam wrinkles on a cold plate.

Put the cooked jam into sterilised jars, seal and allow to cool down.

My favourite partner for this jam is a croissant - enjoy!

Raspberry and Redcurrant Jam

 We look like there will be quite a bumper crop of raspberries this year from the garden and so we need to make space in the freezer. Thus some of last years raspberries are being used for this jam and of course, the last of this years redcurrants! The result is a slightly sharper jam that is not too sweet and is one of the best I have ever tasted.

Ingredients:

• 200g of Redcurrants
• 1.15 litres of water
• 1.8kgs of Raspberries
• 2.25kg of sugar
• (makes about 3.25kg of jam)

In a suitable pan, add the redcurrants and set over a low heat. Once the juice starts to flow, add the water and bring to the boil. stir and simmer for about 15mins. Strain the contents of the pan and squeeze the redcurrants through a muslin bag. Discard the pulp left behind. The total volume of the juice should be 900ml - top up with water if less or boil for longer to reduce.

Add the juice back into the pan together with the raspberries and simmer for 10mins. Add the sugar and stir until all the sugar has dissolved.

Boil the mixture for about 15 mins until the temperature is 104-105 degC. (a thermometer or cold plate test will do!)

Remove from the heat and skim the surface for any 'scum'. Transfer to sterilised jars, seal and label!

You will not be dissappointed!

Redcurrant & Mint Jelly

The redcurrants are now over but I did manage to save mine from hungry birds using netting. Out new bush seems to be growing well. I used a garden mint from our garden but unsure of the variety.

This recipe combines mint and redcurrant and is delicious.

Ingredients:

• 500g of redcurrants
• sprig of mint
• 500g of sugar
• juice of half a lemon
• 10 mint leaves finely chopped
• 500ml of water

After you have washed the redcurrants and mint, put the currants, sprig of mint and water into a suitable pan and boil. 

Simmer and press the fruit in the pan to help the fruit to break up.

Cool and then strain the mix through a muslin bag over a bowl overnight but do not squeeze the bag.

Put the strained liquid, sugar and lemon juice into a pan and gentle cook until all the sugar has been dissolved.

Rapid boil the mixture for approx. 15 mins until the mixture reaches the setting point (104-105 degC). I use a thermometer but a cold plate test can also be used.

Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped mint.

Pour into sterilised jars and seal.

This jelly is, obviously, great with lamb! Enjoy.

 

Gin - What more can I say?!

 My cousin Anna, gave me this bottle of gin - It amused me no end! The bottle will definitely be kept...

Now, where is the tonic....

Leek & Potato Pie

Of course, I always think of a pie that is encased in pastry but this is like a Cottage or Shepherds pie.....

• Ingredients (can be varied as required):
• 3-4 Small leeks
• 4-5 white potatoes quartered.
• milk
• grated nutmeg
• butter
• cheddar cheese - grated (Somerset crunch is an excellent choice!)
• salted water
• 1 tsp of plain flour 

Simmer the leeks in a little water with a pinch of salt until soft. Do the same for the potatoes - they need to be soft enough so you can make the mash. Drain the leeks reserving some of the liquid for the white sauce. Reserve 3 or 4 of the cooked potato quarters.

To make the sauce, add the flour to the half a cup of cold milk and mix in a saucepan. Then add some of the leek water and more milk and heat to make the white sauce. Season with salt and pepper and some nutmeg and simmer until the sauce thickens.

Take the reserved potatoes and slice and put into a suitable casserole or pie dish together with the leeks. Add the white sauce and mix together in the dish.

Make mash with the rest of the potatoes, butter and a little milk. Mix well and add the grated cheese. Spread this mixture on top of the leeks.

Cook at about 160degC for 30/40 mins until the mash has browned a little.

Enjoy!

Chicken Pasta Bake

This is a relatively simple dish to cook but is very good!

Ingredients:

• 110g of Smoked Pancetta Lardons
• 300g of Macaroni
• 2 large chicken breasts (chopped into pieces)
• 500ml of chicken stock
• 1 x tbsp of white wine vinegar
• 320g of frozen peas
• 2 little gem lettuce
• 50g of grated parmesan cheese (more for serving)
• 4 x tbsp of creme fraiche
• 15g of chopped chives

In an oven proof deep pan (that has a tight fitting lid) fry the lardons until cooked and almost crispy.

Then stir in the pasta, the chicken stock and some extra hot water (say 200ml) and bring to the boil. The pasta must be covered by the stock/water.

Fit the lid (use foil is necessary) and place in a hot oven (200 deg C) for 30 mins. Reduce to 180 degC for fan ovens)

Remove from the oven and add the vinegar, peas and quartered lettuce (wedges) and cooked uncovered for 5 to 8 mins but don't burn the lettuce.

Remove from the oven and add the cheese, creme fraiche and most of the chives amd season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve by adding more cheese and some pepper.

Crab Linguini

A simple and tasty meal for 2. You can make this as spicy as you want but don't add too much chilli as you will lose the flavour of the crab.

Ingredients:

• 1 off shallot (banana type) - finely sliced
• 2 Cloves of garlic - finely sliced
• 3 red chillies (mild - de-seeded) and finely sliced
• 6 cherry tomatoes (quartered) 
• 8 pieces of sun blushed tomato -chopped 
• large knob of butter
• 1 pack of white crab meat
• Handful of chopped parsley
• pinch of sugar
• salt and pepper to taste.
• linguini or spaghetti for 2 people 
• splash of olive oil

This is an easy and quick recipe. Just fry on a low heat the shallot, garlic and chillies until soft, using the butter. Put the pasta on to boil in salted water and remove when tender, drain and then add a splash of olive oil and stir (stops the pasta sticking together). Add the tomatoes to the shallot mixture and fry for a little while longer. Then add the remaining ingredients and mix together well. At this point add salt, pepper and sugar if required and then toss with the spaghetti. Serve with some sourdough bread and enjoy.

Shallot Onions in Butter & Balsamic Vinegar

 So simple and yet a great accompaniment to cold meats and salad.

(Serves 2)

• 4 or 5 banana type shallots
• 30g butter
• 1 tablespoons honey
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 3 pr 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

slice the shallots in half (unpeeled) and then trim and skin the onion so that it remains intact and does not separate when cooking. Gently fry in the butter until browned and soft. Then add the honey and balsamic vinegar and cook until you have a thick rich sauce. Season if required.

I like to serve with cold ham, really fresh salad and brown bread - to mop up all of the lovely sauce! The balsamic mixture also works to 'dress' the salad.

 

Tomato Soup - 1 (Thermomix recipe)

At this time of year (Sept/Aug) we find we have a massive amount of tomatoes in the greenhouse. Apart from tomato sauces for pasta etc, I find a soup a perfect solution for excess tomatoes.

Ingredients:

• 500 gms of peeled and deseeded ripe tomatoes (fresh) (cores removed)
• 1/2 red/brown onion - peeled and roughly chopped
• 1/2 small carrot - peeled and roughly chopped
• 1/2 stick of celery- cut into large pieces
• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 tbsp of double concentrated tomato puree
• 1 tsp of sugar (or 2 if tomatoes are not that sweet)
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1/4 tsp fresh gound black pepper
• 1 tsp of vegetable bouillon stock (powdered)

Into the Thermomix, running speed 8, drop carrot, onion and celery - 10 secs. Add olive oil and cook speed 1 for 3 mins, 100 deg C. Add tomato puree, tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper and cook speed 3, 100 deg C for 10 mins.

I find the fresh tomatoes have plenty of water in them and so I suggest adding the powdered bouillon direct to the mixture.

Check the level of salt and sugar and add as required and then blitz the whole lot, speed 10 for 30 seconds.

Of course, there is no need to use a Thermomix - its just easier and quicker. You can do all of this in a pan and use a blender when cooked.

Serve with warm, buttered crusty bread......