Butternut and Rosemary 'Pizza' with Feta

This is an adaptation of a Good Food recipe, which uses naan bread for speed so is a quick after work dinner.

For 4 portions you need:
4 naan breads (I like the round ones from M&S or Waitrose)
olive oil
1 butternut squash, cut into a small dice
2 red onions, sliced
3 sprigs rosemary, roughly chopped
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 block feta (omit for a vegan version)

Roast the squash in the oven with the oil, onions, rosemary and half the balsamic. After about 20 mins, scatter the squash over the naans, season and add the feta. Bake in the oven for a further 10-15 mins till the feta is lightly browned and the squash and onions are caramelised. Drizzle over the remaining balsmaic before serving with a green salad. Delicious!

Lazy Noodle Stir Fry

I have to say, I don't usually just cook packets of stuff. Honest. But Tescraps had an offer on ready prepared stirfry veg, and it was silly not to buy the other two bags when getting some beansprouts for another recipe. So here's another stupidly quick and easy after dinner recipe...

For 3-4 portions you need:
3 blocks sharwoods medium egg noodles
1 packet stir fry sauce (I used Blue Dragon Hoi Sin and Garlic)
1 pack ready prepared stir fry veggies
1 pack marinated tofu
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp soya sauce

Cook the noodles in boiling water for 4 mins. Drain and toss through with sesame oil and soya sauce. Meanwhile stir fry the veggies and tofu in a wok, adding the sauce after 30 secs. Cover with a lid (add some extra water if you need to) and steam the veggies for about 4 mins. Serve the veg piled onto beds of noodles topped with extra toasted sesame seeds if you fancy. Try not to dribble too much sauce down your chin as you scoff...

Rasmalai

We all *adore* this traditional Indian dessert, and with good reason! The perfumed milk is delicious, as are the spongy, slightly dense, dumplings floating in it. This version uses a packet from an Indian grocers but you can also make it with ricotta. Both taste good but are very different.

For 4-6 portions you need:
1 pack rasmalai mix
1.5 litres milk
250g vanilla sugar
1 tsp vanilla paste
3 tsp rose water

Make the rasmalai dumplings as per the instructions (basically mix the dry ingredients with 1 egg and 2 tbsp oil, form into small balls). Heat the milk, sugar, vanilla and rose water until boiling and the sugar has dissolved. Add the dumplings and poach lightly for 5 mins. Leave to cool (if you can) and then eat. And eat. And eat...!

Cheats Pad Thai

It's Thai New Year, and given that my sister lives in Thaliand I made a token attempt at celebrating it tonight! Given that it's a work day tho, it's a quick and dirty cheats version. Doesn't mean it didn't taste nice tho ;-)

For 2 portions you need:
1 pack ready for wok rice noodles
1 pack stir fry vegetables
1 tbsp oil
2 eggs, lightly beaten
6 tbsp pad thai sauce
soya sauce to serve

Lightly scramble the eggs in a pan. Set aside. Heat the oil in a wok and stir fry the veggies. Add the noodles and sauce with a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce. Cook thoroughly but quickly, adding the eggs right at the end. Serve with some soya sauce to taste. Enjoy the Songkran Festival!