Category: At My Table

Chopped Salad

This is really just a templet for anything you want to chop and add! Think avocado, cheese, corn kernels…….etc..

1 zucchini, peeled and cut into a small dice
1/2 cucumber, peeled and cut into a small dice
4 green onions, sliced
4 small tomatoes, deseeded and cut into a small dice
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
1 tsp. dried mint
1 tsp. dried dill
1 tsp. sea salt flakes
1 lemon, zest finely grated and juice
2 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
handful fresh parsley leaves, roughly chopped

Tip everything into a large mixing bowl and toss together. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 4 – 6

Meatballs with Orzo

Another one-pot wonder and a pure joy to eat.

For the meatballs:

1 lb. ground beef
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 tbs. chopped fresh parsley
2 tbs. dried breadcrumbs
4 tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 tsp. sea salt flakes
2 cloves garlic, crushed

For the sauce:

2 tbs. olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tbs. chopped fresh parsley
2 tsp. dried oregano
4 tbs. red vermouth
2 x 14oz. tins chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 tsp. sea salt flakes
2 cups orzo
grated Parmesan cheese, to serve

 

Tip all the ingredients for the meatballs into a large bowl. Using your hands, gently mix everything together. (Don’t overmix, as this makes the meatballs dense and heavy.) Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap. Chill until needed.

In a large casserole or a pan that will fit all the meatballs and orzo, heat the olive oil. Tip in the onions and cook gently until softened, about 10 minutes, Stir in the parsley and oregano and cook for a few minutes before adding the vermouth. Let that bubble a bit before stirring in the tomatoes and salt. Half fill the empty tomato tins, swirling the water around and add to the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Tip the meatballs into the sauce, then bring back to a boil. Turn the heat down again, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the lid, bring the pan back to a boil and stir in the pasta. Cook on a robust simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Stir now and them. Serve in shallow bowls sprinkled with more chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.

Serves 4 – 6

Chicken Fricassee with Marsala, Chestnuts and Thyme

Lovely, homey and warming – this is pure comfort food.

3/4 cup Marsala
1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. sea salt flakes
good grinding of nutmeg
good grinding of pepper
4 boned and skinned chicken thighs, cut into pieces
1 tbs. butter
1 tsp. olive oil
1 leek, trimmed and sliced
2 tsp. thyme leaves
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup vacuum-packed chestnuts, crumbled
basmati rice, to serve

Heat the Marsala and porcini in a small saucepan. As soon as it comes to a bubble, switch off the heat and leave for at least 10 minutes. Drain through a sieve into a jug. Chop the mushrooms and set aside. Save the Marsala.

Tip the flour, salt, nutmeg and pepper into a freezer bag and add the chicken pieces. Shake to coat the chicken. Heat the butter and oil in a heavy saucepan and add the leeks. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until soft. Add the chicken with any flour from the bag and the choppedvmushrooms to the pan along with the thyme leaves and cook over a medium heat until the flour is no longer visible

Pour in the Marsala and at the stock followed by the chestnuts and bubble on low for about 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked and the sauce is thickened. Serve over the rice and sprinkle with thyme leaves.

Serves 4

Pork Steaks with Port and Figs

It’s remarkable that such an effortless recipe can taste so luxurious.

6 soft dried figs
2/3 cup port
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbs. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
4-6 thin boneless pork chops
2 tbs. butter
1 tbs. olive oil

Tip the figs and port into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and bubble for 10 minutes to soften the figs and reduce the port. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and set aside.

Combine the flour, ginger, cumin, salt and allspice in a plastic bag. Add the pork and shake to coat. Heat the butter and oil in a skillet that will fit the pork snuggly. Cook the pork over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side or until cooked through. Remove to a heated plate. Tip in the port and figs and bubble until rich and syrupy.

Pour the sauce over the pork and serve.

Serves 2

Double Chocolate and Pumpkin Seed Cookies

The subtle crunch of pumpkin seeds in this delicious cookie makes all the difference.

5 tbs. butter, softened
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanila extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
pinch fine sea salt
2/3 cup dark chocolate chips
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds

Heat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cream together the butter and sugars until pale and fluffy. Stir in the egg and vanilla. Tip in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and sea salt. Combine into a stiff dough, then fold in the chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds.

Using a 1″ ice cream scoop, drop onto the baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Leave on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

 

Apple Pork Chops with Sauerkraut Slaw

Acid is so important to how food tastes and here the tartness of sauerkraut complements the juicy pork chops perfectly.

1 1/2 cups sauerkraut
1 Gala apple, peeled and cut into matchsticks
1 tsp. caraway seeds
good grinding black pepper
1 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. chopped fresh dill or 1/2 tsp. dried
1 tbs. vegetable oil
2 pork chops
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
4 tbs. apple juice

Tip the sauerkraut into a colander and press out as much liquid as you can, then leave to drain for 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the apple, caraway seeds, pepper, olive oil and dill. Set aside.

Season the pork and add the vegetable oil to a heavy skillet. Cook the pork for 5-6 minute per side over a medium-hot heat, or until cooked through. Or grill the chops to your liking. Remove and cover in foil. Add the cloves and apple juice to the skillet and bubble into a rich syrup. Serve drizzled over the pork with the sauerkraut on the side.

Conversely, you can grill the pork and reduce the cloves and apple juice in a small saucepan.

Serves 2

 

Emergency Brownies

Brownies anytime are a treat, but when you need them FAST, here is your recipe!

4 tbs. butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tbs. golden syrup or maple syrup
3 tbs. all-purpose flour
3 tbs. cocoa
1/4 tsp. sea salt flakes
1 egg, at room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup walnut pieces
1/3 cup dark chocolate chunks

Heat the oven to 325°F. Put the butter, sugar and golden or maple syrup in a saucepan and warm gently until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat.

Fork together the flour, cocoa and salt, then beat into the saucepan. Whisk the egg with the vanilla, then stir into the pan. Finally fold in the walnuts and chocolate.

Spread the batter into a 5 x 7″ aluminum pan and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the edges are coming away but the center is still a little soft.

Transfer to a wire rack and cool 20-30 minute before eating.

Serves 2

Pork with Prunes, Olives and Capers

 

Reminiscent of the classic Chicken Marbella, but using pork, this wonderful recipe requires and overnight marinade, so plan ahead and enjoy.

1 pork shoulder, diced for a stew
1 1/2 cups dry white wine or vermouth
3/4 cup pitted prunes
scant 1/2 cup pitted olives
1 tbs. capers
4 tbs. dried oregano
2 1/2 tsp. sea salt flakes
good grinding of black pepper
1 cup chicken stock

Put the pork in a large freezer bag and add the wine, prunes, olives, capers and their juice, oregano, salt and pepper. Seal the bag and squish everything together well. Chill overnight, then take out of the fridge 1 1/2 hours before cooking.

Heat the oven to 325°F. Tip the pork and marinade into a heavy-based casserole that comes with a lid. Add the stock, cover and cook for 2 hours. Check half way through and if there seems to be too much liquid, remove the cover and continue cooking.

 

 

Forgotten Cookies

Affectionately called “Merookies” by Nigella, these delights are a cross between a meringue and a cookie.

2 egg whites
pinch of fine sea salt
1/3 cup plus 2 tbs. caster sugar
1 tsp. corn starch
1 tsp. apple cider or white vinegar
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup pistachios, finely chopped

Heat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the egg whites and salt together until soft peaks form. Add the sugar a bit at a time until the mixture is thick and gleaming. Fold in the corn starch, vinegar and cardamom, then fold in the chocolate chips and most of the pistachios.

With a spoon, drop mounded blobs onto the baking sheet about   1 1/2 inches in diameter. Sprinkle with the remaining pistachios. Put in the oven, immediately turn if off and leave the cookies to cool overnight.

Makes 12 – 14

Spatchcock Chicken with Miso and Sesame Seeds

The marinade infused the chicken overnight with a deep and musky saltiness that is balanced with a faint sweetness from the miso.

1 tbs. vegetable oil
2 tsp. sesame oil
4 tsp. sweet white miso
1 tbs. soy sauce
1 tsp. fish sauce
1 tbs. finely grated fresh ginger
1 large garlic clove, peeled and finely grated
1 chicken, spatchcocked (approx. 3 lbs.)
2 tsp. sesame seeds

Mix the vegetable oil, 1 tsp. of sesame oil, miso, soy sauce, fish sauce, ginger and garlic in a small bowl.

Put the chicken into a large freezer bag and pour in the marinade. Squidge it about so that everything is coated and leave in the fridge overnight.

An hour before you want to roast the chicken, take it out of fridge and transfer the chicken and the marinade to a large roasting tin, sitting the chicken breast-side up. Leave to come to room temperature.

Heat the oven to 400°F, cover the tin with foil and roast for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, baste with the pan juices, then drizzle the remaining sesame oil over the top and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Roast, uncovered for another 20 minutes. Let the chicken sit for 10 minute before carving into pieces to serve.

Serves 4-6