Barbecue Beef Mince

Serve this in warmed buns like a sloppy joe, in tortillas with shredded cheddar on in jacket potatoes.

1 celery stalk, cut into chunks
2 onions, peeled and quartered
2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
3 garlic cloves, peeled
5 rashers bacon
2 tbs. vegetable oil
3 tbs. dark brown sugar
pinch ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1 lb. ground beef
1 x 14oz. can chopped tomatoes
3 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
3 tbs. bourbon
2 tbs. tomato paste

Tip the celery, onions, carrots, garlic and bacon into a food processor and blitz to a nubbly paste. Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan and add the veg. Cook for 15-20 minutes over a low heat. Stir in 1 tbs. of the brown sugar, cloves and allspice. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon as you go. Season well and tip in the tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, bourbon, tomato paste and remaining 2 tbs. brown sugar. Simmer for 25-30 minutes, adding a bit more water is needed.

Serves 4

 

Pasta with Garlic Oil and Bacon

 

Simple perfection!

2 tbs. garlic-infused olive oil
1/2 lb. bacon lardons or pancetta
1/2 lb. pasta
shaved Parmesan, to serve

Heat the oil in a skillet and cook the bacon until crisp. Turn off the heat and set aside.

Boil a large pot of water and salt it well. Cook the pasta according to the packet directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water and drain. Tip the pasta into the skillet and toss well, adding enough pasta water to make a creamy sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan to serve.

Serves 2

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

 

Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Salad

Yet another use for rotisserie chicken!

1 tsp. garlic-infused olive oil
4 slices bacon
1/2 iceberg lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
3 cups shredded, cooked chicken
2 small avocados, scooped into chunks
3 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tbs. seasoned rice vinegar
pepper to taste
splash more olive oil, if needed
1 tbs. chopped chives, to serve

Heat the oil in a skillet and cook the bacon until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel to cool, then crumble. Do do throw out the oil in the pan.

Put the lettuce, chicken, avocado and bacon in a large bowl. Add the mustard and vinegar along with a good grinding of pepper to the skillet and whisk to combine. Pour over the salad and toss to dress. Drizzle in more olive oil, if needed. Sprinkle with the chives, to serve.

Serves 3-4

Basil Pesto

This classic, multi-use sauce can also be made with wild garlic or ramps when they are in season from March to June. Delish!

2 cups basil leaves, roughly chopped
4 tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
7 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
squeeze of lemon juice
sea salt to taste

Put the basil and Parmesan in a small food processor and blitz to grind. With the motor running, gradually pour in the olive oil until you have a smooth sauce. Add the lemon juice and salt to taste.

Serve over cooked and drained pasta.

Pantry Paella

This is a wonderful way to use up any pork leftovers.

pinch saffron threads
1/2 cup sherry
2 tbs. regular olive oil
3 scallions, sliced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups paella or risotto rice
2 cups chicken stock
8 oz. raw shrimp (defrosted if frozen)
1 cup squid tubes, sliced (defrost if frozen)
1 1/2 cups diced, cooked pork
1 1/2 cups frozen peas
small bunch fresh cilantro, chopped, to serve
1 lemon, cut into wedges, to serve

Drop the saffron threads into a small saucepan and add the sherry. Place over a low heat and warm, not letting it come to a boil. Leave to cool.

Heat the oil in a large, wide pan and cook the scallions for a few minutes.  Stir in the garlic and the rice. Pour in the chicken stock and the saffron-infused sherry. Stir gently to mix, then leave to simmer, uncovered for about 20 minutes.

Stir in the shrimp, squid, pork and peas. Season well and continue to simmer until the shrimp and squid are cooked and the rice is tender.

Serve sprinkled with cilantro with lemon wedges on the side.

Serves 4

 

Bourbon-Glazed Ribs

A classic summer supper, with these tender ribs, it’s all about the sauce.

24 pork spare ribs or 2 racks baby back ribs
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
175ml bourbon
2 tbs. yellow American mustard
2 tbs. tomato ketchup
2 tbs. soy sauce

Cut the ribs into sections of 3-4 and place in a zip-lock bag. Tip in the remaining ingredients and squelch everything together well. Marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Heat the oven to 425°F. Place the ribs in a roasting pan and roast for 1 hour, turning half way through. (Or, grill over a medium heat for a total of 20 minutes, turning often.)

Tip the remaining marinade into a small pan and gently bubble to reduce. Cut the ribs into individual pieces and serve with the sauce.

 

 

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.

 

Salmon Fish Cakes

If you fancy tartar sauce, by all means, serve it alongside these lovely fish cakes.

For the fish cakes:

1 1/2 cups cold mashed potatoes
1 lb. canned salmon
1 tbs. melted butter (if the potatoes don’t already have any butter in them)
fat pinch cayenne pepper
grated zest of 1/2 lemon
1 egg
salt and pepper

For the coating and cooking:

2 eggs
scant 1/2 cup matzo meal (or other bread crumb)
scant 4 tbs. butter
2 tbs. vegetable oil

In a large bowl, tip in all the ingredients for the fish cakes. Gently mix together with your hands, then form into 7 – 9 palm-sized patties. Place on a baking sheet and chill for at least 20 minutes.

When ready to cook, beat the eggs in a shallow, wide bowl and sprinkle the matzo meat into a large plate. One by one, dip the fish cakes into the beaten egg and then into the matzo meal. Return to the baking sheet.

Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet and fry the fish cakes until the outside is golden and the inside is warmed through.

Serves 4

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