Boxing Day Soup (v)

This is an excellent way to use up those leftover veggies.

For as many portions as you need simply take:
1 cup veggies per person
1 cup stock
salt and pepper
1/4 glass white wine
1/2 onion
2 sticks celery
1 tbsp veg oil

Fry the onion and celery in the oil and then heat the veggies in the stock and wine and blend when hot. Serve topped with left over crunchy roasties if you have any or deep fry some left over new potatoes/limp and soggy roasties. Add a swirl of cranberry sauce to the middle and scoff. Lovely.

Tempura (v)

I have never ever made tempura before. I was under the (mistaken) impression that it was difficult. How wrong I was. It's easy peasy and tastes delicious. Pass the batter!

This is based on the delectable Ottolenghi's recipe...

For 4-6 people you need:
About 1.5 kg of different vegetables (I used onions, peppers, carrots, broccoli, cauli, courgettes)
80g cornflour plus a little extra
80g self raising flour
200ml sparkling water
2 tsp oil
pinch salt
oil for frying

Chop the veggies in to bite sized pieces, taking care to make sure the harder ones are sliced quite thinly.

Mix the flours with the oil, salt and water. Mix lightly. Toss the vegetables in a little extra cornflour and then dip them, one at a time, in the batter. Heat some oil for frying in a large wok. Drop the batter coated veggies in one at a time, taking care not to crowd the pan or the temperature will drop and everything will go soggy. Turn in the oil to ensure even cooking and then drain. Serve with soya sauce and sweet chilli sauce for dipping.