Saturday, March 28, 2009

Saffron Bows

Ingredients
300g Pasta Bows
150ml Double Cream
25g Butter
75g Parmesan (grated)
1/2 Teaspoon Saffron Threads
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 Large Pan (2/3rds full with boiling salted water)
1 Sauce Pan

The Good Bit
  1. Cook the pasta according to packet instructions (usually around 10 minutes), in the meantime, heat the butter in the saucepan, add the cream and saffron and bring to a gentle simmer.
  2. Drain your pasta and serve, season your sauce, stir well and pour over the pasta, now sprinkle over a little parmesan.
Serves 4

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Red Wine Risotto

Ingredients
300g Risotto Rice (long grain will do)
450ml Red Wine
600ml Chicken Stock
125g Butter
250g Mushrooms (sliced)
175g Parmesan (grated)
2 Red Onions (thinly chopped)
2 Cloves Garlic (thinly chopped)
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Spatula

The Good Bit
  1. Pour the red wine and stock in your pan and bring to a gentle simmer, in the frying pan, heat up a little oil and add half the butter, gently cook the onions and garlic until they are soft (don't brown them)
  2. Add the rice to the frying pan and stir well, now add the stock from the other pan until you just cover the rice, keep the liquid simmering and keep stirring, as the liquid soaks up, add a little more stock and keep stirring, keep this up, adding a little stock at a time until all the stock has been absorbed.
  3. When you've got the point when you are half way through your stock, add in the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper, finally add in the butter when all the stock is gone and most of the parmesan, stir in and serve. sprinkle over the remaining parmesan.
Serves 4

Gnocchi and Pesto

Ingredients
1 Portion Pesto (made in september 2008 or in sauces)
500g Potatoes
175g Plain Flour
1 Egg (beaten)
Pinch of Grated Nutmeg
Salt and Pepper
Butter
Parmesan (grated)

Equipment
1 Pan (2/3rds full with boiling salted water)
1 Colander
1 Potato Masher
1 Slotted Spoon
1 Serving Bowl (lightly buttered)

The Good Bit
  1. Make your pesto first then get the potatoes on the boil for 10-15 minutes until they are soft enough to mash.
  2. Drain the potatoes and the leave the pan on the heat a little longer to get rid of as much moisture as you can, mash them as well as you can so there are no lumps then beat in the flour and egg and season with nutmeg and salt and pepper.
  3. Mix until you have a good dough, then with floured hands turn the dough out onto a floured surface and start to make little sausages about the the size of your thumb upto the first joint.
  4. Add a couple of gnocchi to the water at a time and cook for 2-3 minutes until they float then remove them with a slotted spoon and and drain. Place all your gnocchi in a buttered serving bowl and dot a little butter on to them, sprinkle over the parmesan and then top with the pesto.
Serves 4

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Pasta 'n' Pesto

Ingredients
1 Amount of pesto (as described in September 2008 or stocks and sauces)
500g Tagliatelle
50g Parmesan
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 Large Pan

The Good Bit
  1. Make up the pesto, and cook your pasta for about 10 minutes (follow packet instructions) now drain the pasta, toss in the pesto, season and serve sprinkled with grated parmesan.
Serves 4

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Cauliflower Cheese and Tomato

Ingredients
1 Medium Sized Cauliflower
30g Butter
30g Plain Flour
285ml Milk
115g Grated Red Leicester (or similar cheese, cheddar is fine)
175g Tomatoes (skinned, seeded and diced)
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan (1/2 filled with boiling salted water)
1 Sauce Pan

The Good Bit
  1. Trim the stems from the cauliflower and place the stalks and floret in the boiling water for about 15 minutes, in the meantime melt your butter in the sauce pan and add the flour, keep stirring and cook for 1 minute.
  2. Keep stirring whilst you gradually add the milk, gently bringing it to the boil, cook for 2-3 minutes then add 3/4 of the cheese and season. Drop in all but 1 tablespoon of the diced tomatoes and keep stirring until the cheese melts. Remove the pan from the heat and keep warm.
  3. When the cauliflower is done, drain it and then place in your serving dish, pour over the cheese sauce and the sprinkle over the remaining tomatoes and cheese, serve immediately, of grill to brown off the top, it's up to you.
serves 2

Welsh Rabbit

Ingredients
60g Butter
1 Level Teaspoon English Mustard Powder
1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
30g White Bread Crumbs
2 Eggs (yolks only)
225g Mature Cheddar Cheese (grated)
5 Tablespoons Light Ale
4 Thick Slices of Bread
Sliced Gherkin, Tomato and Celery Leaves to Garnish
Freshly Milled Black Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Small Sauce Pan

The Good Bit
  1. Melt the butter in the sauce pan first then stir in the worcestershire sauce, mustard, breadcrumbs, egg yolks, cheese and a good sprinkle of pepper, heat this whilst stirring continously and don't let it bubble, once the cheese has melted pour in the ale, stir then let it cool for 15 minutes.
  2. Make yourself 4 slices of toast then spread the cheesy mixture on one side of each piece then stick back under your grill for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is bubbling.
  3. Serve with a couple of slices of tomato on top, your celery leaves and gherkin at the side. Enjoy!