Tag Archives: family

Scotch Eggs in the Air Fryer

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A hard boiled egg, wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried becomes a Scotch egg.

There are various explanations regarding the origin of the name of these traditional British snacks. They were first mentioned in Britain in publications from the early 1800s, so they have been around for quite some time.

The advent of the air fryer makes cooking them so much easier and healthier. Instead of deep frying, just give them a quick spray with a can of oil before they go into the air fryer.

Served at room temperature they make a perfect addition to lunch boxes, summer buffets and picnics.

Serve with Spicy Tomato Sauce (recipe below) for dipping.

6 large eggs, hardboiled and peeled
600g pork sausages
1 very small onion, grated (optional)
1 tsp mixed dried herbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup (or maybe a bit more) panko breadcrumbs (or ordinary breadcrumbs)
Fresh herbs or thinly sliced spring onion to garnish
Spicy Tomato Dipping Sauce:
½ cup tomato ketchup
1 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 Tbs vinegar
1 small onion, grated
1½ Tbs honey
½ tsp hot English mustard
2 tsp grated fresh ginger

While the eggs are boiling, remove the casings from the sausages and discard them. Mix the sausage meat with the onion, herbs, salt and pepper. Divide the mixture into six and flatten each portion into a circle about four inches (10cm) in diameter. Place an egg on each, wrap the sausage meat around the egg and pinch to close any holes an make a nice oval ball. Roll each one in beaten egg then breadcrumbs, patting them in to cover evenly. Can be made ahead to this point and kept refrigerated for up to several hours. My eggs were not very big so I hardboiled 7 rather than 6.

Place the Scotch eggs in an air fryer in one layer and preferably not quite touching. Spray lightly with oil then cook at 200°C for about 20 minutes. After 10 minutes turn them over and spray again.

Remove from air fryer when cooked and leave to cool. Serve cut in half, garnished with herbs or spring onion and with the sauce for dipping.

Makes 12 egg halves

Sauce: heat ingredients together in a saucepan, then cool. Use as a dipping sauce for Scotch eggs, sausage rolls and empanadas.

Hutch’s Quick Cauliflower Cheese

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This version of a traditional cauliflower cheese was sent to me by my brother, whose nickname is Hutch. It’s quick and easy. The oven heats up while you prepare the dish.

I didn’t have any nutritional yeast so looked on Google and came up with miso paste, which I did have, as a substitute. It’s quite salty so I didn’t need any additional salt for the sauce. It went very nicely with the last of the Christmas ham. The recipe is easy to halve.

1 large cauliflower cut into large florets
2 eggs
125ml milk
125ml oil (olive or canola)
200ml plain yoghurt
1 tsp paprika
Freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbs plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 Tbs nutritional yeast or white miso paste
Salt if necessary
Almond slivers or flakes
Grated cheese – I used cheddar

Pre-heat oven to 180°C. Cook cauliflower in boiling salted water for 3-4 minutes then drain. Mis remaining ingredients except the cheese and nuts, whisking to remove any lumps from the miso paste.

Add the cauliflower, turn to coat, then tip into a greased baking dish. I decided to divide it between two smaller dishes and keep one to serve the following day. Scrape the rest of the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with almonds and cover with grated cheese. The amount is up to you.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Don’t overcook.

Serves 6-8

 

 

 

Grilled Steaks with Board Dressing

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This dressing to serve with grilled steak is prepared on a chopping board, while the steaks are cooking. It comes from a website called Certified Angus Beef and takes an ordinary steak to another level.

I have heard several well-known chefs say that steaks should be seasoned with salt and pepper a good hour before cooking. Since I adopted this advice I have found that it really does make a difference to the flavour of the meat. If you only have time to make it half an hour, so be it, anything is better than nothing.

4 rib-eye steaks each weighing 200-250g
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
½ cup fresh parsley
8 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
2-3 leaves fresh sage
2 small sprigs fresh rosemary
2 cloves garlic
1 spring onion or shallot
3 Tbs olive oil
2 Tbs balsamic vinegar or glaze
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp soy sauce (optional)

Season steaks on both sides with salt and pepper at least an hour before cooking. Preheat grill or barbecue to medium high.

Place the herbs, garlic and spring onion or shallot on a chopping board and chop very finely, adding a little salt and pepper and one Tbs of the oil.

Cook steaks to desired doneness then place them on top of the herb mixture, turning to coat. Cover loosely with a piece of foil and leave for 5 minutes while you mix the sauce. In a small bowl mix the mustard, balsamic vinegar or glaze, soy sauce (if using) and 2 Tbs olive oil.

Slice steaks downwards, while they are on the herb mixture and arrange the meat on 4 serving plates or one large platter. Scrape the herbs and any pan drippings into the bowl with the dressing and whisk to combine. Spoon dressing over the steaks and serve.

Serves 4

Mediterranean Baked Fish with Feta

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When we were posted to Israel we had a cleaning lady who was also called Linda. My Hebrew was pretty basic, but she spoke Italian and I speak Spanish so we communicated in a weird combination of all three. A certain amount was lost in translation, but we managed.

When Linda’s son had his Bar Mitzvah she invited us to the celebration. We got terribly lost on the way and as we pulled up at the address we had been given – a huge building in the centre of town – we were feeling somewhat frazzled. The sound of a big party was wafting down the stairs so we ran up to find a room packed with over 200 guests seated at tables for 10. Linda was nowhere to be seen, so not wanting to make a point of having arrived late we spotted a couple of empty seats in the far corner and sat down. We were onto our second glass of wine and having a jolly time when suddenly the band started to play, everyone stood up and in walked the bride and groom. “Holy Dooley” said Matthew, “wrong party.”

It was impossible to leave without shaking hands with the happy couple as they were blocking the only exit. We left them looking somewhat bemused and no doubt thinking, “Who invited them?”  We eventually found our party at the other end of the building.

Linda gave me this easy recipe for a Mediterranean all-in-one fish dish. If you have more mouths to feed, the onions and potatoes “pad it out”, as my mother used to say, but I often leave one or both of them out. If preferred, serve potatoes, rice or Israeli couscous as a side dish.

This recipe makes a quick midweek family dinner and is easy to halve or double. More people to feed? Bigger dish. It’s also great for casual entertaining and looks very colourful when you bring it to the table. I don’t usually measure the ingredients, just do it by eye.

1.5 kg firm white fish fillets
3-4 cloves garlic, crushed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
200-300g feta cheese
200-300g olives, stoned (black or green)
12-15 baby onions or 1 large onion cut into 8.
12-15 peeled baby potatoes (optional)
200-250g cherry tomatoes, or sun-dried tomatoes, thickly sliced
½ cup olive oil
½ cup white wine or dry sherry
To serve:
3-4 Tbs chopped parsley, preferably flat-leafed
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (optional)

Preheat oven to 200°C . Cut fish into 2-3 cm chunks, mix with salt, pepper and crushed garlic and spread over a greased shallow baking dish. If using, cook baby onions and potatoes separately in boiling water for about 10 minutes, or until almost cooked then drain. If using a whole onion cut into 8, fry it for a few minutes in a little olive oil, or until softened.

Cut feta into cubes and evenly distribute, tucking them in between the fish to make a pretty picture. Add the olives, tomatoes, onions and, if using, the potatoes. Drizzle with the wine or sherry and then the oil. Recipe can be made ahead to this stage and kept refrigerated for up to a few hours.

Bake for 30 minutes or until fish is cooked. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and drizzle with a little more oil (optional). Serve with a crusty baguette to mop up the juices and a big green salad or some steamed green beans.

Serves 6-8

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Burgers

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Everyone loves crispy fried chicken, but few people these days are into deep fat frying. We know it’s not good for us.

The good news is that the recent arrival of air fryers in our lives has made it possible to achieve the same crispy finish without adding any oil – well, just a smidge from a spray can.

This recipe is simple and quick, not to mention healthy. A perfect mid-week dinner and one which will appeal to the kids. The photo shows the burger without the top of the bun, so you can see the filling. As you can see in the photo of the chicken on its own, it was really crispy.

4 chicken thighs
1/3 cup flour
1 egg, beaten
¾ cup panko breadcrumbs (you might need a bit more)
1 tsp salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano
Spray oil (olive or canola)
4 brioche buns
8 Tbs mayonnaise, preferably home-made
A little chilli sauce such as Sriracha (optional)
1 avocado, sliced
Lettuce leaves
Thinly sliced red onion (optional)
1 tomato, sliced

Trim chicken thighs and open them out, so they are of an even thickness. Place the flour, egg and breadcrumbs in three separate bowls. Mix the salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and herbs into the flour. Coat the chicken pieces with the seasoned flour, then coat with egg and lastly the breadcrumbs, pressing them in well. Chicken can be prepared to this point and refrigerated for up to several hours.

Spray the base of an air fryer with oil, place chicken pieces on the base, in one layer. Cook for 15 minutes at 200°C, turning halfway through and spraying again. Chicken should be cooked after 15 minutes, but it may need up to another five minutes, depending on your air fryer and the thickness of the chicken. It will also take a little longer if chicken has been refrigerated.

While chicken is cooking prepare the other ingredients. Split the buns and lightly toast them. If liked, mix some  Chilli sauce such as Sriracha into the mayonnaise.

Spread mayonnaise on both sides of the buns. Fill with the crispy chicken, lettuce, avocado, tomato and onion.

Serves 4

Slow Cooker Shredded Beef

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Shredded slow-cooked beef makes a great filling for wraps or to serve with rice, potatoes baked in their jackets or roti.

1.5 to 2kg beef brisket
2 Tbs honey
2 Tbs tomato ketchup
1 Tbs tomato paste
2 Tbs brown sugar
1 Tbs Sriracha chilli sauce (optional)
2 Tbs vinegar or lemon juice
3 tsp hot English mustard

Place meat, trimmed of any excess fat, in a slow cooker. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over the meat. Cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours, turning from time to time. The beef is ready when it’s so tender it’s falling apart. Use two forks to shred the meat.

Serve as a filling for wraps or taco shells. Side dishes of grated cheddar, sour cream, shredded lettuce, avocado or guacamole and onion and tomato salad go well.

Serves a crowd

Pearl Couscous & Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Maple Dressing

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This salad is a real winner. One you will make again and again. Healthy but filling, it just hits the spot.

Maple Dressing:
¼ cup olive oil
3 Tbs maple syrup
4 Tbs orange juice
2 Tbs cider vinegar
1 Tbs Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salad:
1 cup pearl couscous (also known as Israeli couscous)
1 small butternut pumpkin (also known as butternut squash)
1 Tbs olive oil, salt and pepper
4 cups baby spinach, firmly packed, stalks removed, or larger leaves, torn up
½ cup dried cranberries
¼ of a red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup pecan or walnut halves

Place dressing ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake to combine. Preheat oven to 200°C. Peel pumpkin and cut into 2cm cubes. Mix with the oil, salt and pepper, then spread out on a shallow baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 25 minutes or until cooked and starting to brown. Cool.

Meanwhile cook the couscous for 5-10 minutes in a pan of boiling, salted water, until al dente. Drain in a sieve, then run it under the cold tap and drain again. Toast the nuts by stirring them in a dry frying pan over moderate heat for a few minutes.

Mix the spinach and couscous with some of the dressing and arrange in a shallow salad bowl. Arrange the pumpkin, pecans or walnuts, cranberries and onion over the top. Drizzle with a bit more dressing.

Serves 4

Sticky Ginger Cake

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Auntie Vina and Uncle Hector lived at Hill House, a busy dairy farm on the moors of County Durham, where I spent many summers as a child. The farm hands all came into the farmhouse for meals, so Auntie Vina and her daughter in law Little Mary spent a lot of time cooking. She taught me all her basic cake recipes, such as sponge cake, chocolate cake, ginger cake and fruit cake.

Times have changed and most recipes using ginger now call for the fresh kind rather than dried. I decided to do some research online, looking for ginger cakes which use fresh ginger, or a combination of ground and fresh. I then adapted Auntie Vina’s recipe, using some of the new ideas I had found online. This is the result which I served as a dessert with Mangoes in Ginger Wine. If mangoes are in season where you live, give this quick and easy recipe a try.

Sticky Ginger Cake

250g unsalted butter
½ cup water
¾ cup treacle (or molasses)
¾ cup golden syrup (or honey)
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
3 cups self-raising flour
½ tsp salt
3 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cloves
½ cup milk
2-3 Tbs finely grated fresh ginger (to taste)

Preheat oven to 165°C. Butter and line a 22cm baking pan – round or square. I chose a ring tin – always a bit risky because being fluted you can’t line it, but fortunately the cake came out in one piece.

Place butter, water, treacle, golden syrup and brown sugar in a mixing bowl then heat in the microwave (covered to stop it spattering everywhere) for a minute or two until melted. Alternatively heat in a saucepan over moderate heat.

When cooled a bit, beat in the eggs with electric beaters or a hand whisk. Add the sifted flour, salt and spices, the milk and lastly fold in the fresh ginger. Scrape into cake tin and bake for 40-60 mins. Cooking times vary depending on your oven and the cake tin you use. If you overcook the cake it won’t be sticky, so as soon as the top is firm and springy to the touch it’s ready. Remove from the oven and when cool remove from the tin.

Serve as a dessert with whipped cream with a little rum or brandy added and some stewed fruit. Or serve with Mangoes in Ginger Wine as shown in the photo.

Or serve as a cake dusted with icing sugar or drizzled with lemon icing (1 cup sifted icing sugar mixed with 2 Tbs lemon juice).

Serves between 12 and 20 depending on serving size

Note: if you don’t have self-raising flour use plain flour and 2 tsp baking powder

Mediterranean Fish Casserole with Fennel & Tomato Sauce

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I was going to make a fish soup then changed my mind and came up with this fish casserole.

Serve it on one or two slices of toasted bread per person, depending on their appetite. One is enough for me. I used Turkish bread.

If preferred, serve the casserole without the toast and rouille. Or leave out the toast and serve a blob of rouille on each serving of fish.

750g white fish fillets
2 onions, chopped
1 leek (white part and a little of the green), chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs olive oil
1 bulb fennel, diced (keep some green fronds for garnish)
1 can chopped tomatoes
2 cans water
1 vegetable stock cube
¼ cup Pernod (optional)
2 tsp sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Topping:
2 slices bread, made into breadcrumbs in food processor
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
To serve:
6 slices sourdough or Turkish bread, toasted
1 cup mayonnaise, preferably home-made
¼ cup roasted red pepper strips from a jar, drained
1 clove garlic, crushed

Arrange fish fillets in a single layer in a rectangular lasagne-type dish.

Heat oil in a heavy-based saucepan and cook the onions, leek, garlic and fennel for 10-15 minutes, stirring often. Add tomatoes, water (use the tomato can to measure), stock cube, Pernod and seasoning. Simmer for 30 minutes or until the fennel is soft. Add more water if necessary during cooking. When ready sauce should be fairly thick and chunky. Check seasoning.

Preheat oven to 180°C, Spread sauce evenly over the fish. Mix breadcrumbs and Parmesan and sprinkle over the top. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Meanwhile process the red peppers in food processor until smooth and mix into the mayonnaise with the crushed garlic. This sauce is a quick version of a sauce called Rouille, which is traditionally served in France with the fish soup called Bouillabaisse.

Place a slice of toast on six serving plates, spread each slice generously with the rouille, then top with a rectangle of the fish casserole – you should get six to eight servings. Garnish with some of the reserved fennel leaves and, if liked, drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil around the plate.

Serves 6

Variations: if you can’t find fennel, substitute diced carrots, celery or zucchini.

Coleslaw with Fresh Corn & Ginger

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Try this slightly different coleslaw mix for a change. It’s healthy and goes well with meat, chicken or fish. The quantities are easily halved.

4 cups shredded red cabbage
4 cups shredded white cabbage
2 carrots, coarsely grated
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
2 cobs corn, kernels removed
2 spring onions, thinly sliced (optional)
½ cup raisins or sultanas
1-2 Tbs grated fresh ginger
1 Tbs honey
1-2 Tbs lemon juice
2 Tbs olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Mix all ingredients together. Any leftovers will keep, refrigerated for a day or so.

Variations: add some small broccoli or cauliflower florets, pine nuts or cashew nuts. If you don’t like things too sweet, leave out the raisins and use less honey.