Category: Feast

Sticky Garlic Potatoes

THE perfect side to any dish!

1 1/2 lbs. little new potatoes
8 cloves garlic
1/2 cup olive oil

Bring a pot of water to boil, add salt and boil the potatoes until tender. Drain and return to the pot. Peel the garlic and add to the pot. Use the end of a rolling pin to crack and split the potatoes and the garlic. Set aside until ready to roast.

Heat the oven to 425°F. Tip the oil into a shallow pan and heat for 2-3 minutes. Carefully add the potatoes and garlic and roast for 15 minutes, turning once.

Rice with Meatballs

Everyone loves a good meatball, and these are good meatballs!!

For the meatballs:

1 lb. ground beef
1 egg, beaten
2 tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
2 tbs. chopped fresh parsley
3 tbs. dried breadcrumbs or semolina
1 tsp. salt
good grinding of black pepper

For the tomato sauce:

1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. butter
2 1/2 cups tomato passata
1 tsp. sugar
1/3 cup whole milk

steamed or boiled white rice

 

Tip all the meatballs ingredients into a large bowl and gently, yet thoroughly, mix together. Form into small meatballs and set aside in the fridge.

For the sauce, cook the onions in the oil and butter over a low heat until softened, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in the garlic, then add the passata and the sugar. Add a bit of water to the passata jar and swirl it about, then add it to the sauce. Season and simmer for 10 minutes.

Drop the meatballs into the sauce and cook for 20 minutes. Stir in the milk.

Prepare the rice according the package directions. Serve the meatball atop the rice with the sauce spooned over.

Crunchy Pork Chops with Garlicky Spinach and Tomato Salad

Here is the perfect speedy supper.

2 bone-in pork chops
1 egg
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1 tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbs. vegetable oil
3 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 clove garlic, grated
1 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. lemon juice
4 cups baby spinach

Trim the pork chops of any excess fat. Place between 2 pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper and use a rolling pin to thin them by half. Season.

In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg with the mustard and oregano. In another shallow bowl, toss together the breadcrumbs and cheese.

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet. Dip each chop into the egg mixture, then into the breadcrumb mixture, patting the breadcrumbs on. Cook the pork chops for 5-6 minutes per side, or until cooked through and crunchy on the outside.

Meanwhile, toss together the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and spinach. To serve, put the salad on a plate and top with the pork chop.

Serves 2

One-Pan Sage and Onion Chicken and Sausages

Featuring the classic condiments of Britain (English mustard and Worcestershire sauce), this chicken is as easy as it is delicious.

1 large onion, cut into eights
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tsp. English mustard
1 tbs. dried sage
1 lemon, juiced
1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
4 lbs. chicken pieces (skin on and bone in)
12 pork sausages
2 tbs. chopped fresh sage

In a resealable bag, combine the onion, olive oil, mustard, dried sage, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Season the chicken well and add to the bag. Schwelch everything together well and leave in the fridge for a few hours or up to two days.

Heat the oven to 425°F. Transfer the contents of the bag to a large roasting tin, placing the chicken skin-side up. Nestle in the sausages and sprinkle with the fresh sage. Roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes, turning the sausages over half way through.

Serves 6

 

 

Yorkshire Pudding

Yorkies are the ultimate side dish for any roast. Oat milk works well to make them dairy free.

1 1/3 cup 2% milk
4 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
beef dripping or vegetable oil

Whisk together the milk, eggs and salt. Let stand for 15 minutes, then whisk in the flour.

Heat the oven to 425°F and place 1/4 tsp. dripping or oil in the bottom of 12 muffin tins. Heat in the oven for 10 minutes. Divide the batter between the hot muffin tin and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until puffed and golden.

Lemon Roast Chicken

What’s better for dinner than a perfectly aromatic roasted chicken?!

1 chicken
1 lemon, halved
1 tbs. sea salt
1 heaped tbs. butter
1 tsp. olive oil

Heat the oven to 425°F. Leave the chicken at room temperature for 1 hour, then place in a roasting tin. Put one lemon half in the cavity, sprinkle with sea salt, rub with butter and drizzle with olive oil.

Roasts for 1 1/2 hours. Let the chicken rest in the tin for 15 minutes before transferring to a carving board. Put the roasting tin over a medium heat and deglaze the pan with the juice from the remaining lemon half, letting the juices caramalize and thicken. Serve drizzled over the sliced chicken.

Serves 2 – 4

Steak with Potato Wedges

Steak and potatoes for supper? Yes please!

2 rib eye steaks
1/2 tbs. chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp. softened butter
2 medium russet potatoes
2 tbs. vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 rsp. paprika

Stir together the parsley, Worcestershire sauce and butter. Form into a little log, wrap in plastic wrap and chill.

Heat the oven to 425°F. Tip the oil, cayenne and paprika into a small roasting tin. Cut the potatoes into 8 wedges and toss in the oil. Season and roast for 20 minutes. Turn the potatoes over and roast a further 10 minutes.

Season the steaks well and cook to your liking. Tent with foil and allow to rest for 5 minuets. Serve them with a slice of butter on top and the potatoes on the side.

Serves 2

St. Tropez Chicken

Here is the smell and flavor of the south of France on a plate.

10 chicken pieces, skin-on and bone-in
juice of 1 lemon
`1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup rose wine
2 cloves garlic, peeled and bruised
1 tbs. mixed herbs with lavender, such as Herbs de Provence

Put the chicken in a large plastic freezer bag. Add the lemon juice, honey, oil, wine, garlic and herbs. Squelch everything together well and chill overnight or up to two days.

Heat the oven to 325°F and tip the chicken into a roasting tin with the marinade, skin side up. Cover with foil and roast for 2 hours. Remove the foil and turn the heat up to 425°F. Cook for another 15 minutes to brown the skin. (Alternatively, grill over a medium heat for 7-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through.)

Pour the juices from the roasting tin (of if grilling, the marinade from the plastic bag) into a small saucepan. Heat over a medium-low heat for 5-6 minutes, adding more water if necessary. Serve with the chicken.

Serves 6

 

Meatballs with Couscous

The sauce is the star here – loaded with veggies and slightly sweet with dried apricots.

2 tbs. olive oil
2 red onions, roughly chopped
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
4 carrots, roughly chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp. ground turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 cup snipped dried apricots
2 x 14oz. cans chopped tomatoes
4 cups couscous
2 dozen cooked meatballs
chopped, fresh parsley, to serve

Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onions, celery, carrots and garlic over a medium-low heat until softened and caramelized. Stir in the spices, apricots and tomatoes. Swish out a tomato can with water and add. Simmer for 1 hour, adding more water if the sauce gets too thick.

When ready to serve, drop the meatballs in the sauce and warm them up. Prepare the couscous per the package directions. Serve sprinkled with parsley.

Serves 8-10

 

Sweet Saffron Rice

This versatile and vibrant rice will complement so many entrees.

1 1/3 cups basmati rice
1 cup superfine sugar
1 pinch saffron threads
1 1/4 cups water
2 cloves
4 cardamom pods
2/3 cup golden raisins (optional)

Cook the rice following the package directions or your usual method.

Put the sugar, saffron and water in a small saucepan and stir to dissolve the sugar over a low heat. Without stirring further, bring to a boil and bubble until the syrup reduces and thickens. Add the cloves and cardamom pods, then take off the heat and allow to infuse for 15 minutes.

Stir the raisins (if using) into the cooked rice then toss in the syrup before serving.

Serves 8-10