Moroccan Chocolate Pots

Moroccan as in it uses the holy combination of oranges and cinnamon.

For 6 pots you need:
150ml doulbe cream
100ml milk
175g dark chocolate
2 shots of Cointreau
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 egg

Heat the milk and cream to boiling point. Meanwhile blitz the chocolate to smithereens in a food processor. Once the milk/cream ar at boiling point, run the motor and pour the hot liquid down the funnel. Process for 30 seconds then add the egg, Cointreau and cinnamon. Pour into moroccan tea glasses (or anything else!) and chill for a couple of hours. This is rich and indulgent and perfect pudding fare :)

Baked Apricots with Almond Ricotta

This is a speedy midweek pudding a la Jamie...

For 2-3 people you need:
1 tin apricot halves in juice
1 tub ricotta
1 tsp almond extract
1 egg
4-5 amaretti biscuits
1 tbsp vanilla sugar

Drain the apricots and lay in an ovenproof gratin dish. Mix together the sugar, ricotta and almond extract with the egg. Mix till smooth. Pour over the apricots and then top with crumbled biscuits. Bake in a hot oven for 20 mins.

Devil's Food Cake

This makes the most delicious, moist, chocolatey cake :) It's the one Nigella uses in Feast for her graveyard ghouls cake.

For about 16 cupcakes you need:
250ml milk
1 tsp white wine vinegar
225g plain flour
50g cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarb
200g caster sugar
110g margarine
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tub ready made royal icing or some chocolate ganache or nutella if you're feeling really slutty...

Put everything into a food processor and blitz till mixed (this is my kind of cake!). Pour into muffin cases and bake at 160 degrees for 20 mins or so until risen. Leave to cool and then ice with your chosen topping. They keep for 3-4 days.

Speedy pasta with peas and marmite (v)

Ok, this is a cheat recipe really, and it's a variation on Nigella's marmite pasta. But it's quick and tasty...

For lne person you need:
75g pasta
1/2 cup peas
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp marmite
2 spring onions, chopped
Grated Parmesan if you're not vegan.

Cook the pasta. Meanwhile melt the marmite in another pan with the onions and peas. Add some water to the pan to help loosen it. Drain the pasta and mix through the sauce. Top with parsley and cheese (if using) and scoff. Yum.

Spiced Noodle Soup with Vegetables and Tofu (v)

This is based on a Wagamama recipe and it sooooooooooooo quick and sooooooooooooo tasty.

For 3-4 portions you need:
2-3 bundles ramen noodles
2 tbsp red curry paste
1 onion, sliced
1 leek sliced
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1/2 cup frozen sweetcorn
1.5l water
200ml soya milk
1 packet tofu, drained and cut in to cubes
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp each of mirin and soya sauce
Juice 1 lime

Begin by frying the tofu in the oil till crispy. Drain. Place the curry paste in the pan and fry for a few minutes then add everyone else. Cook for 5 mins or so till the noodles are done. Serve in ramen bowls and slurp your way to satisfaction.

Windy Beany Stew (v)

Yes, like the fart soup recipe I blogged earlier, expect this to have an, ahem, effect on your digestive system. Everyone needs a good clear out now and then, yes?! Please don't be put off by the name. It's delicious and will only adversely affect you if you're not used to pulses.

For 4-6 portions you need:
Stew
2 leeks, shredded
2 carrots, peeled and sliced into half moons
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
about 750ml light veggie stock (e.g. marigold)
about 1 cup red lentils
1 tin chickpeas, drained
2 tsp dried oregano
pepper
2 tbsp veg oil

Herbed Dumplings
50g vegetable suet
100g self raising flour
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
salt and pepper
cold water to mix to a dough

Begin by sauteeing the onions, carrots, leeks and garlic in the oil for about 5 mins. Add the lentils, chickpeas and stock and bring to the boil. Toss in the dumplings and simmer for 15-20 mins till everything is cooked. Serve with mashed potatoes and marvel at how something so easy can taste so delicious. Have a fart lighting competition about 3 hours later, mwahh!

Pepper, Mushroom, Onion and Tomato Galette (v)

This is a vegan filling for your lovingly prepared galettes.

For one person you need:
1/2 a sliced onion
2-3 sliced mushrooms
2-3 sliced cherry tomatoes
1/2 a pepper, sliced

Start by flash griddling the veggies to tenderise them a little. Once done, wipe the pan clean and lay a galette on to it. Scatter over the cooked veggies and then fold the galette into thirds before flipping over quickly and then scoffing. Bon apetit!

Spelt Galettes (v)

Neil adores these. I think it's the only reason he tolerates going to France as it's an easy veggie dish which tastes lovely. We made ours with spelt as we couldn't get any buckwheat flour.

For about 12 galettes you need:
225g spelt flour
225g unbleached white flour
2 tsp salt
500ml soya milk
500ml water

Mix everything, bar the water, together. Leave to rest for an hour or so and then add the water to get the batter to the consistency of single cream. These are tricky, tricky buggers to cook so it will take some practice, but make them as you would crepes/pancakes and take extra care when flipping them over. I found a palette knife much better than my usual fish slice. Transfer the cooked galettes to a plate for filling later on. They freeze well too or keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Butternut Squash with Herb Crust (v)

This is utter simplicity but also utterly delicious :) It's based on Ottolenghi's crusted pumpkin wedges with soured cream recipe in Plenty.

For 2-3 people you need:
1 butternut squash, cut into 0.5cm thick slices (peeled or unpeeled, your choice)
75g breadcrumbs
4 tbsp finely chopped parsley
2 tbsp finely chopped oregano and thyme
1 tbsp finely chopped rosemary
grated zest of 2 large lemons
2 cloves garlic, crushed
5-6 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

Place the squash in a roasting tin. Mix together everything else and scatter over. Bake in a hot oven for 3- mins or so till the squash is tender and the crumbs are crunchy. Yum.

Courgettes with Lemon and Feta (can be vegan)

This is a quick, but zingy, side dish. It's also nice chopped up in some cous cous for lunch the next day.

For 2-3 portions you need:
2-3 courgettes, sliced lengthways into 0.5 cm thick slices
juice 1 lemon
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 pack feta, crumbled
pepper
olive oil

Dress the slices of courgette in some olive oil and then griddle on a hot pan till lightly cooked (don't over do them or they'll become all yukky and mushy). Meanwhile place the feta, lemon juice, garlic and pepper in a shallow dish. Place the cooked courgettes straight into the dressing and toss well. Omit the feta for a vegan dish, adding some salt for seasoning.

St Delia's Creme Caramel

I lurve creme caramel, and especially love this recipe as it gives copious amounts of delicious caramel with each portion.

For 6-8 portions you need:
175g caster sugar
2 tbsp water
150ml milk
275ml single cream
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Begin by placing the sugar in a pan and gently heating it. Once it starts to dissolve, swirl the pan to ensure it melts evenly. Keep going until all the sugar has dissolved and has changed to a dark golden colour. Take off the heat and add the water (careful it might spit!). Return to the heat and mix well till smooth and runny. Pour 75% of it into a souffle dish and carefully swirl it up the sides.

Place the milk and cream in the caramel pan with the remaining caramel and slowly bring to the boil. Meanwhile mix the eggs and vanilla together in a bowl. Once the milk mixture has come to the boil, pour it quickly into the eggs, mix and then strain into the souffle dish. Place in a bain marie and bake for about 30 mins or so will set. Leave to cool and then chill for at least a few hours.