Change of Blogs...

I've migrated my blog to my new gmail account and it has a new url. Annoyingly. So if you're after new recipes please head to Becka Eats Veggie where you'll find everything on here and all the new stuff too!

Orange a la Cannelle (v)

All we seemed to eat in Morocco for pudding was orange a la cannelle. It's one of Lex's favourite dishes, and he's currently scoffing a couple of oranges with cinnamon for breakfast!

For one portion you need:
1 orange
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Peel the orange with a knife to remove the skin, pith and outer membrane of the orange segments. Either slice thin slices or segment the orange and place the slices/segments in a bowl and squeeze the juice on top. Sprinkle over the cinnamon and eat. Preferably outside in the sunshine in the shade of an orange tree and within earshot of a qsbah.

Sour Cream and Corriander Dip

This works well as a dip for lots of things but was particularly good with the spiced sweet potato wedges I had earlier today.

For 1-2 servings you need:
1/2 pot sour cream
1/2 red onion, very finely diced
large handful corriander, chopped finely

Mix together. Use as required. Simples.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Carrots and Onions with Chilli and Smoked Paprika (v)

This was a twist on my usual store cupboard standby of Moroccan spiced roasted vegetables. I fancied doing them with smoked paprika after buying some really nice powder from 8th day. It worked really well and Lex enjoyed them too. Bonus.

For 2-3 people you need
2 sweet potatoes, cut into wedges/fat chips
2 large carrots, cut in to fat batons
2 red onions, cut into 6ths
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp smoked paprika powder
salt and pepper

Toss the vegetables in the oil. Season and add the chilli and paprika. Turn out on to a baking sheet and roast in a hot oven for 20 mins or so till tender and slightly charred. Serve with sour cream and corriander dip.

Cheat's Curry with Random Ingredients (v)

I love the Shana brand of ready meal packet curries. They are authentic Indian curries which are probably dreadful on the ethical scale as they'll be air freighted :/ but they are as good as a takeaway on a night where you have no time. Last night was one of those nights...

For one person you need:
1 packet Shana Madras curry sauce
1 leftover cooked vegan sausage, cut into slices
1 cup random cooked vegetables (I had broccoli, brussels sprouts, frozen peas and sweetcorn)

Place the sauce in a pan and add everything else along with a dash of water. Heat. Serve with oven chips (waaaaay classy bird. That's me :D). Dinner in 10 mins.

Noodles with Tofu, Mushrooms and Watercress in Blackbean Sauce (v)

I love watercress and think it's highly underused as a cooked vegetable. Use it like spinach but appreciate the peppery bite of it more than metallic spinach. This was very quick to throw together and tasted lovely.

For one hungry person you need:
1 bundle noodles
1/2 packet watercress
1 onion, sliced
3-4 mushrooms, sliced
1/2 jar waitrose cooks ingredients blackbean sauce
1 marinated tofu steak, cut into bite sized pieces
1 tsp vegetable oil

Cook/soak the noodles and leave to drain. Fry the onion and mushrooms in the oil for 4-5 mins. Add the tofu pieces and cook for a further 5 mins till lightly browned. Add the blackbean sauce (and a little extra water to get it all out of the jar). Heat through. Turn off the heat and add the watercress. Allow to wilt. Serve on top of the noodles and scoff. Yummy.

Chocolate Cake (v)

I had some sweetened soya milk to use up and found this recipe in a Suma cookbook I picked up at the brilliant 8th day co-op in Manchester. It went down a storm with friends on Sunday, especially served warm with some fresh strawberries.

***warning*** this makes a HUGE cake so either scale back the ingredients, or freeze some for another day!

For 12-14 slices you need:
390g plain flour
440g vanilla sugar
6 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
500ml sweetened soya milk
185ml vegetable oil
2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tsp vanilla extract

Mix the dry with the wet and pour into a 23cm cake tin. Bake in a moderate (170 degrees) oven for about 45-60 mins. Leave to cool a little before slicing.

Apple Pie (v)

This of course could be any fruit pie, or indeed a savoury pie if you felt so inclined. The basics of the recipe remain the same: make pastry; make filling; fill; bake; eat.

For 6-8 slices you need:
700g peeled, cored and sliced cooking apples
2.5 tbsp vanilla sugar plus a little extra for the top
50g vegan marge or butter
1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
250g vegan marge
500g plain flour
a little water
a little soya milk

Begin by making the pastry. In a food processor (or by hand if you don't have one) process the fat and flour till it resembles fine breadcrumbs. With the motor running add just enough water to bring it together. Tip onto a work surface and knead very gently and briefly. Leave to rest for 30 mins or so.

Meanwhile make the filling. Place the apples, sugar and fat in a pan and heat gently for about 20 mins until most of the apple is puree but some biggish chunks still remain. Leave to cool a little.

Roll the pastry out and use it to line a pie dish. Trim the edges. Place the filling inside and then roll out the top piece. Brush the edges of the pie bottom with some soya milk and place the top on top. Crimp the edges with a fork and trim again. Brush the top of the pie with soya milk and then sprinkle over some more sugar. Make a couple of steam vents in the middle.

Place the pie on a pre-heated baking tray and bake at 190 degrees for 20 mins. reduce the heat to 170 degrees and bake for a further 25-35 mins till golden brown and cooked through. Leave to cool slightly before serving with vanilla swedish glace or vegan custard.

Blackbean Fried Rice with Peas (v)

I left my lunch on the counter in my flat today. And had back2back meetings all day so didn't have time to eat much. Cue being starving like a starving thing as soon as I got home... This was super speedy thanks to there being some leftover rice in the fridge.

For one person you need:
1/2 jar blackbean sauce
1 cup cooked rice
1/4 cup peas
1 onion chopped
1/2 red chilli, chopped
1 tsp oil

Fry the onion in the oil for 3-4 mins. Add everything else and cook for a further 5 mins till piping hot. Scoff. Feel better.

Creamy Sweet Potato, Spinach and Chickpea Curry (v)

Yes another curry. I like curry...

For 3-4 portions you need:
4 sweet small potatoes
1 can chickpeas, drained
1 can coconut milk
1/2 jar curry paste
1 onion, chopped
1/2 bag baby leaf spinach
1 tbsp oil

Begin by frying the onion in the oil till soft. Add the sweet potatoes and curry paste and cook out for about 5 mins. Add the coconut milk and chickpeas and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 mins till the sweet potatoes are tender. Add the spinach and cover with a lid. Cook for 2-3 mins till the spinach is wilted. Serve with rice.

Vegan Chorizo and Butterbean Stew with Red Wine (v)

This was lovely. Rich. Nicely spicy and with depth from the red wine and smoked paprika.

For 2-3 portions you need:
1 tin chopped tomatoes
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 pack vegan chorizo pieces
1 tsp smoked ancho chillies
1 tsp smoked paprika
200ml red wine
salt and pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tin butterbeans, washed and drained
2 tbsp olive oil

Fry off the onions in the oil for about 10 mins. Add the garlic and chorizo and cook for 5 mins till the paprika in the chorizo has coloured the onions. Add the chillies, smoked paprika, tomatoes, butterbeans and wine and bring to the boil. Season and add the oregano and sugar. Reduce to a simmer and cook gently for about 20 mins till the sauce has reduced and thickened. Check the seasoning and adjust as necessary. It's nice served with the feta, olive and tomato muffins but rice or cous cous or plenty of crusty bread would do just as well!

Warm Salad of Haloumi, Sweet Potatoes, Roasted Onions and Balsamic Tomatoes (v)

If you omit the haloumi, this is a delicious vegan salad.

For 2 people you need:
1/2 bag watercress
1/4 bag baby spinach
1 tin chopped tomatoes
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp vegetable oil
salt and pepper
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into thick slices
1 red onion, peeled and cut in to 8ths

Begin by roasting the sweet potatoes and onions. Toss them in a little olive oil and season then roast in a hot oven for 20-30 mins till tender and slightly caramalised.

Meanwhile put the tomatoes in a pan with salt, pepper, a pinch of sugar, the balsamic vinegar and the garlic. Heat till boiling then reduce the heat and simmer till thickened.

Cut the haloumi into thick slices and heat a frying pan with 1 tbsp oil. Fry the haloumi till crispy and golden on both sides.

Place the watercress and spinach on a plate. Toss through the sweet potatoes and onions. Top with the haloumi (if using) and serve with the sauce on the side.

The Best Vegan Sandwich Ever... (v)

This was described by someone as food a martian would eat. I disagree. It's basically a satay in a sandwich. What's not to like?

For one hungry person you need:
2 slices bread, preferably granary
smooth peanut butter
hot sweet chilli sauce
cucumber, sliced
1 carrot, grated or thinly sliced
handful fresh corriander, roughly chopped
large handful watercress/alfafa/other green stuff

Spread the both bits of bread with peanut butter (this prevents the sandwich from going soggy if making the night before). Top with sweet chilli sauce. Layer up sliced/grated carrot. cucumber slices, the corriander and top with the alfafa/watercress. Press shut. Eat.

Feta, Spinach, Olive and Tomato Muffins

This recipe is courtesy of @Goze01 who shared a pic of some amazing looking muffins on instagr.am and then sent me the recipe. I have tweaked it according to what I had available. And now I can't stop eating them. Lush indeed.

For 12 muffins and a loaf tin of mix you need:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, finely chopped
360g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp hot chilli powder pepper
125g grated cheddar cheese
220ml milk
1 egg
130g baby spinach leaves
1/2 tub semi dried tomatoes in olive oil
1 small tub chilli olives, cut into quarters
1 packet feta, crumbled into chunks.

Fry the onion in the oil till done. Meanwhile put everything else in a bowl. Add the onions and mix well.

Spoon the mixture into the paper cases/loaf tin. Bake in medium (170 degree) oven for 30-35 minutes. Leave the muffins to cool slightly before turning out on to a wire rack to cool completely. I topped the loaf tin with some quartered tomatoes that needed to be used up. A meal in a muffin!

Balsamic and Soya Garlic Dressing (v)

This is a really rich and unctious dressing which works very well with a crisp salad e.g. iceberg or chinese leaf.

For 3-4 portions you need:
2 tbsp balsamic syrup
2 tbsp dark soya sauce
1 clove garlic, crushed
4 tbsp olive oil

Mix together and serve. Hard innit.

Quick Lentil and Vegetable Curry (v)

This is very quick and makes good use of those veggies left languishing at the bottom of the fridge/cupboard...

For 4 portions you need:
100g red lentils
750ml stock
1/2 jar curry paste
2 onions, chopped
2 cups new potatoes, roughly chopped
2 sweet potatoes, cubed
2 carrots, thickly sliced
2 tbsp oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed

Fry the onion in the oil for 5 mins then add the curry paste. Cook out for 2-3 mins. Add everything else and bring to the boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 mins till the veggies and lentils are done. Serve with Indian Salad and bread. Yum.

Ginger and Garlic Teryaki with Sticky Rice (v)

This is stupidly healthy, very easy and delicious. What more could you ask for...

For 2-3 portions you need:
1 pack tofu
1/2 cup dark soya sauce
1/2 cup medium sweet sherry or mirin
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 inch piece of ginger, grated
2 carrots, thinly sliced
3 leave chinese leaf, shredded
1 leek, sliced

Cut the tofu into chunks and place in a bowl with the soya sauce, sherry/mirin, garlic and ginger. Leave to marinate for as long as you can, but at least 30 mins.

Place the tofu et al into a pan and heat to boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 mins, allowing the sauce to reduce by 1/3. After 5 mins add the carrots and cover. After 10-15 mins add the leek and chinese leaf and cook for a further 5 mins. Serve with sticky rice.

Pan Fried Haloumi with Garlicky Tomatoes

This is quick, easy and oh so good! A perfect store cupboard/fridge staple to keep in for those days when you just can't think of anything else to cook...

For 2-3 people you need:
1 pack haloumi, cut into thick slices
1 tin chopped tomatoes
3 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic
salt and pepper
a little sugar
1/2 cup cous cous
1/2 tsp vegetable stock powder
1 cup boiling water

Place the tomatoes, 2 tbsp olive oil and the garlic in a pan. Bring to the boil then reduce and simmer for 5-10 mins till thickened.

Meanwhile put the cous cous and stock in to a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Leave to soak.

Fry the haloumi in the remaining oil till browned and crispy. Serve with a green salad if you can be bothered.

Hazlenut Tofu with Japanese Broth and Sticky Rice (v)

This was lush. Really lovely and stupidly healthy too. I am a culinary genius. Just, please, don't try making this whilst intoxicated like I did. Muchos ouchos.

For 2-3 people you need:
1 packet hazlenut tofu (available from the rather marvellous 8th day in Manchester) cut into thin 1" square slices
1 leek, finely sliced
2 carrots, sliced on the diagonal
1 packet pok choi, shredded
1/2 packet snow peas, cut in half
4 florets of cauliflower, cut into slices the same size as the tofu
1 cup sherry
1/2 cup soya sauce
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1" piece ginger, grated
about 1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup sushi rice

Begin by cooking the rice - place in a pan with 1.5 cups boiling water. Bring to the boil, cover with a lid and simmer for 10 mins. Turn off the heat and allow to steam cook.

Meanwhile place the sherry and soya sauce into a pan. Add the garlic, ginger, leeks, carrots and tofu and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the water to taste to make sure the broth isn't too overpowering with the soya sauce etc. Once the rice has finished cooking add the remaining veggies and heat through briefly. Serve with the rice and feel disgustingly healthy.

Carrot and Corriander Salad (v)

This is a zingy, fresh salad which is nice as a side to something spicy.

For 2-3 people you need:
1 large carrot, peeled and grated
1/4 cucumber; diced
4 spring onions, sliced
small pack corriander, roughly chopped

Place everything in a bowl and mix. Scoff.

Minted Yogurt Dip

This goes well with the Butterbean, Cashew and Almond Patties along with lots of other things too.

For 4 people you need:
200g plain yogurt
1 tbsp mint sauce or 2 tsp dried mint or 2 tbsp fresh chopped mint

Mix together and dollop as necessary.

Spiced Butterbean, Cashew and Almond Patties

These are quick to make but taste delicious. You can vary the contents depending on what beans you have in the cupboard and what nuts you fancy.

For 4 people you need:
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 heaped tbsp curry paste
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tin butterbeans, drained
75g spicy cashew nuts, chopped
125g ground almonds
1 egg

Sautee the onion in the oil for 5 mins. Add the garlic and curry paste and cook out for a further 2-3 mins.

Blitz the beans till smooth then mix everything else in. Divide the mixture into 8 and form into patties. Lay on a baking sheet and bake in a moderate oven for 15-20 mins till lightly cooked.

Serve with roti and something like a minty yogurt dip.

Pasta with Rocket and Watercress Pesto

O. M. G. (as it were...). This is delicious. Am very impressed that something can taste so amazing with so few ingredients and take such a short time to make.

For two people you need:
1/2 cup pine nuts
handful each watercress and rocket
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/8 cup grape seed oil
200g pasta

Cook the pasta. Meanwhile toast the pine nuts (yes I know Jamie says don't bother but I like them toasted and think the heat helps to make the sauce too. So there.). Place the garlic, cheese, watercress, rocket and pine nuts into a mini blender and pulse, shaking it to ensure everything gets done. Add the oil and blend again. I used grapeseed oil as I wanted the individual flavours to come through rather than be drowned out by olive oil.

Drain the pasta and toss through the pesto. Serve with a little extra cheese on the top. Like I said, O. M. G.

Nigella's Brownies

I can't believe I haven't blogged these before now, given how many times I have made them. They were the original brownie recipe for me. Dark. Dense. Incredibly chocolatey. Horrifically calorific. But utterly gorgeous. Make with caution...

For about 36 pieces you need:
375g butter
375g good quality plain chocolate
6 eggs
500g vanilla caster sugar
225g plain flour
300g chopped walnuts (optional, I never use them)

Melt the butter and chocolate slowly. Meanwhile whisk the eggs and sugar till thick and fluffy. This will take about 5 mins with an electric whisk. Add the flour and mix well. Allow the chocolate and butter to cool slightly and then mix in well. Pour into a lined tin (I use a lakeland tray bake tin which is the perfect size) and bake for 45 mins or so at 180 degrees. This recipe is notorious for saying cook for 25 mins in the book but I find that this leaves the brownies far too soggy in the middle. Great for a fondant pudding but not good as a brownie. You want it cakey at the edges and squidgy for the middle pieces if that makes sense. Allow to cook and then cut into squares. This recipe freezes really well so is worth making the whole batch.

Chick Pea and Garlic Sauce (v)

This is a sort of houmous but it's not really houmous per se. I had it with moroccan roasted vegetables, cous cous and haloumi tonight. It worked as a sort of wet sauce to balance the dryness of the vegetables and cous cous.

For 2-3 servings you need:
1 can chickpeas, drained
2 cloves garlic, crushed
juice 1 lemon
1/3 cup water
3 tbsp light olive oil

Place everything in a blender and blitz till it's the consistency you want (I like mine slightly chunky). Eat as you wish.

Crustless Lime and Lemon Meringue Pie

Crustless cos I couldn't be arsed to make pastry. I mean, it's not the pastry you eat this for is it? And Lemon and Lime cos I only had two lemons and needed three...

For one pie you need:

Base:
Juice and zest of 2 lemons and 2 limes
3 egg yolks
450ml water
6 tbsp cornflour
45g butter
90g caster sugar

For the meringue:
3 egg whites
180g caster sugar

For the base, mix the cornflour with a bit of the water to slacken it and then place the remaining water in a pan with the sugar and bring to the boil. Once the sugar has dissolved add the lemon juice, zest and cornflour to the sugar syrup. Return to the heat and stir till thickened. Remove from the heat and add the butter and egg yolks. Leave to cool in the pie dish.

For the meringue whip the whites till really stiff then add the sugar. Mix till glossy.

Once the base is cold, and more solid, cover with the meringue taking care to spread right to the sides. Bake in a moderate (160 degrees) oven for about 45 mins. Leave to cool before eating, however hard that might appear cos it will smell gorgeous. Try not to eat it all on one day.

Coconut Broth with Citrus and Noodles (v)

Yes, another variation on the theme but this was delicate and spicy and sour and hot and basically delicious which is why it deserves being blogged. The addition of frozen kaffir lime leaves and lemon grass helped to lift the flavours more than freeze dried.

For 2-3 portions you need:
1 bundle ramen noodles
1 can coconut milk
1 small can cocomut cream
1 litre vegetable stock
4 cloves garlic, sliced
3 inch piece of ginger, grated
2 red chillies, sliced
small bunch corriander, roughly chopped
2 tbsp mirin
2 tbsp soya sauce
1 onion, sliced
1 large carrot, sliced
1/2 cup peas
2 pak choi, shredded
1 tbsp frozen kaffir lime leaves
4 pieces frozem lemon grass
juice of 2 limes
6 spring onions, chopped

Place everything apart from the spring onions in a large pan and gently heat. Cook for 1-2 mins and then serve topped with the spring onions.

Soda Bread

I have never really made this before, but after the success of the cut rounds last weekend; I had some buttermilk leftover that needed to be used up. So soda bread it was to compliment our celeriac soup.

For one loaf you need:
450g plain flour
1 tsp each: salt, caster sugar and bicarb
about 350ml buttermilk

Place the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix lightly. Make a well and pour in the liquid. Bring it together, but don't knead. Form into a ball and place on a floured baking sheet. Cut a deep cross in the top (supposedly to let out the faeries...) and bake in a hot (220 degree) oven for 15 mins. Turn down the heat to 200 degrees and bake for a further 30 mins or so.

Veggie Dawgs

I love veggie hot dogs. I used to love normal meaty hot dogs but I think veggie ones are even nicer as there's no lips and arseholes to worry about in the sausage. And L declared today that "nothing beats a hotdog on a Saturday" so what more excuse do you need...?

This might not seem like a particularly challenging recipe but I plead with you to do the onions as directed below. This way you'll end up with perfect burger van onions (minus the e-coli). And you have to use French's mustard. Or else.



For 2 people you need:

4 finger rolls, split
4 veggie hot dog suasages
tomato ketchup
proper american french's mustard
1 onion
A little vegetable oil
A small knob of butter
Freshly boiled water

Begin by preparing the onion. Peel and then cut in half through the poles. Slice finely and place in a frying pan (preferably not a non stick one) with about 1-2 tsp vegetable oil. Cook gently for 10 mins or so. Once the onion starts to soften add the butter and 1=2 tbsp boiled water and bring to the boil. Immediately reduce the heat and leave them to cook out. Add a little more water if the onions aren't that soft. After about another 10mins add the butter and turn up the heat slightly to brown them.

Meanwhile heat the sausages in a pan of boiling water for 3-4 mins. Drain and place in a hot dog bun. My preferred serving suggestion is a layer of ketchup, a layer of mustard, the sausage, some more ketchup and mustard and finally the onions. Enjoy.

Cut Rounds

L and I love watching Edwardian Farm, and we saw these being made last week so decided to give them a go. They were ridiculously easy and very tasty too.

For about 10 you need:
Ingredients
170g self-raising flour
170g plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
300ml buttermilk

Sift the flours in to a bowl with the bicarb and salt. Add the buttermilk and quickly but gently work into a dough. It should be soft but not sticky or dry. Knead briefly and then roll into a fat sausage. Cut into about 10 discs. Place these on a floured backing sheet and bake at 150 degrees for 20-30 mins till risen and golden brown. Serve with clotted cream and home made strawberry jam. Delish!

Sort of Tom Yum Soup with Coconut (v)

This was supposed to be just Tom Yum Soup, in honour of the delicious bowl my sister made for me over Xmas. But the Tom Yum paste I brought was mouldy :( (yes I know serves me right for cheating). So I had to rummage through the cupboards and find an alternative instead, hence the name. It worked, thankfully!

For 3-4 people you need:
6 tbsp thai red curry paste (check it's one suitable for veggies with no hidden fish sauce or shrimp paste...)
2 tbsp oil
1 litre boiling water
2/3 can coconut milk (or more if you want it milder)
1/2 pack baby sweetcorn cut in half
1/2 pack green beans, topped and tailed and cut in half
1/2 pack muchrooms, cut into quarter (or left whole if button ones)
4 spring onions, finely sliced
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
4-5 kaffir lime leaves
1 stick lemongrass, cut into quarters
1 pack marinated tofu chunks
1 red chilli, sliced
handful fresh corriander, roughly chopped
juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp soya sauce
2 tsp brown sugar

Heat the oil and fry out the paste for 2-3 mins. Add everything else apart from the chilli, corriander, lime juice and soya sauce. Cook for 2-3 mins till hot. Add the lime juice and soya sauce and serve garnished with the corriander and chillies.

Rarebit Topped Field Mushrooms with Thyme

A quick, easy and tasty lunch or starter dish. Serve with lots of crusty bread to soak up the juices.

For 2 people you need:
4 large field mushrooms
100g grated cheddar
1 tsp english mustard powder
1/2 tsp hot chilli powder
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1 red onion, finely diced
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
freshly ground black pepper

Begin by peeling the mushrooms and trimming the stalks. Lay in a baking dish. Mix together everything else and place a 1/4 on to each mushroom. Bake in a hot oven for about 20 mins till the mushrooms are tender and the filling is hot.

Raspberry and White Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla

The original recipe for these is on the BBC Good Food site. I have simply added vanilla to them.

For about 18 cupcakes you need:
300g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
100g white chocolate chunks
150g frozen raspberries
200ml milk
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g butter, melted
100g vanilla sugar

Melt the butter and allow to cool. Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix. Add the chocolate and raspberries and then the egg and milk and finally the butter. Mix lightly. Scrape into lined tins and bake at 160 degrees for about 15-20 mins till golden brown. Delicious!

Potato, Carrot and Chickpea Curry (v)

A friend has introduced us to the Minara brand of curry pastes. Do not ever buy another brand ever again. They are delicious! This recipe is based on the spicy root and lentil casserole on the BBC Good Food site.

For 4-6 people you need:
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 large carrots, sliced
700g potatoes, peeled and diced
1 tin chickpeas
100g red lentils
750ml vegetable stock
fresh corriander to serve
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Vegan/veggie yogurt to serve

Fry the onions in the oil for 10 mins then add the carrots and potatoes and fry, covered, for a further 10 minutes over a high heat. Once they are golden add the curry paste and cook out for 1-2 mins. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Add the lentils and chickpeas and then reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, for 15-20 mins till the carrots and potatoes are cooked.

Serve with a blob of yogurt on the top and some fresh coriander. Utterly lovely!

Quorn and Mushroom Pot Pie

Oh my. Oh my indeed. Yes I know it's not modest but I *am* an utter culinary genius if this pie is anything to go by (and I am also blogging this rather pissed...!). I had been hankering after a lovely, creamy, rich fake chicken and mushroom pie all xmas so this is what I made for dinner last night. It was lovely.

For a pie that will serve 3-4 people depending on greed you need:
1 packet quorn chunks
1 onion, diced
125g mushrooms, sliced
150ml white wine
75ml double cream
250ml vegetable stock
1 pack all butter puff pastry
2 tbsp fresh chopped flat leaf parsley
salt and pepper
2 tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 egg

Begin by frying the onion in the oil for about 5 mins. Add the mushrooms, and taking note from Julia Child DO NOT CROWD THE PAN ;-). Cook for a further 5-10 mins until the mushrooms are lightly browned.

Add the quorn and sprinkle over the flour and cook for 2-3 mins. Add the wine and boil briefly. Add the stock and the cream and parsley and cook for another 2-3 mins until the sauce is thickened and lovely. Check the seasoning.

Place the filling in a pie dish and top with the pastry. Decorate as you wish, not forgetting the steam holes, and brush with egg glaze.

Bake in a hot oven for about 30 mins until the filling is piping hot and the pastry is risen and golden. Serve with mash and veggies.

Parnsip and Celeriac Soup with Cream and White Wine

Yes. We're *still* using up the Christmas leftovers...

For 4-6 portions you need:
1 onion, chopped
1 leek, sliced
3 parsnips, peeled and diced
1 celeriac, peeled and diced
50g butter
2 tbsp ground nut oil
1-1.5 litres light vegetable stock
125ml double cream
250ml white wine
salt and pepper

Sautee the vegetables in the butter and oil, covered, for about 15 mins till tender. Add the wine and allow to boil for a minute or so. Add the stock and season. Bring to the boil and simmer covered for about 15 mins. Blend to a smooth puree, adjusting the seasoning if necessary. Serve with a dash of cream and some fresh chives snipped over the top if you have any.

Almond Brittle (v)

Lex wanted me to make peanut brittle. But he doesn't actually like peanuts... so I managed to talk him out of that and we made this instead. It's lovely, if a little dangerous for those with brittle teeth to eat..!

For one batch you need:
175g vanilla caster sugar
50g blanched almonds
1 tbsp water

Gently heat the sugar and water in a pan until the sugar has melted. Then keep cooking until it reaches a light caramel stage (or however dark you like it).

Meanwhile lightly toast the almonds. Roughly chop them. When the caramel is at the right stage, stir in the almonds and then tip everything out on to an oiled baking sheet to cool and set. Smash into pieces before serving. It's nice as a snack or on top of ice cream.