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!