Again, in honour of eat something hot and spicy day, a variation on the classic mozzeralla, tomato and basil salad.
For 2 servings you need:
1 ball fresh, good quality mozzarella
handful torn fresh basil leaves
1/2 finely chopped chilli
pepper/chilli flakes
6 cherry tomatoes
good quality olive oil
Slice the cheese and lay on a plate. Add slices of tomato. Top the cheese with the chilli then basil and finish with the pepper/chilli flakes and the fresh basil. Drizzle over the oil and serve either on its own or with some italian crusty bread to mop up the lovely juices.
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Spaghetti and Meat(less)balls
Today is eat something hot and spicy day. Apparently. So in honour of this we hat spicy meat(less)balls and spaghetti for dinner.
For 3-4 portions you need:
300g spaghetti
1 tin chopped toms
1 large onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 whole chili, deseeded and finely chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp stock powder
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
1 packet quorn swedish style meatballs
freshly grated parmesan
Begin by sauteeing the onion in some olive oil. After about 5 mins add the garlic and chillies. After a couple of mins add the oregano and fry for 1 minute. Then add everything else apart from the pasta and parmesan. Cook, covered, for about 15 mins till the sauce is reduced and the meatballs cooked. Check the seasoning.
Meanwhile cook the spaghetti. When cooked drain and add to the sauce. Mix till the pasta is covered then serve with a grating of cheese on the top.
For 3-4 portions you need:
300g spaghetti
1 tin chopped toms
1 large onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 whole chili, deseeded and finely chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp stock powder
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
1 packet quorn swedish style meatballs
freshly grated parmesan
Begin by sauteeing the onion in some olive oil. After about 5 mins add the garlic and chillies. After a couple of mins add the oregano and fry for 1 minute. Then add everything else apart from the pasta and parmesan. Cook, covered, for about 15 mins till the sauce is reduced and the meatballs cooked. Check the seasoning.
Meanwhile cook the spaghetti. When cooked drain and add to the sauce. Mix till the pasta is covered then serve with a grating of cheese on the top.
Tiramisu
This is a different version to normal as Tescos helpfully delivered me two tubs of ricotta with only a 1 day shelf life. Remind me again why I shop online?! Anyway. It seems to have worked and tastes nice.
You need
2 tubs ricotta
1 tub mascapone
250ml strong fresh coffee with 1 tbsp vanilla sugar added to it
1/4 cup kahlua
2/4 packet sponge fingers
2 tbsp cocoa
1/4 cup vanilla sugar
1 tbsp vanilla paste (or same quantity of vanilla extract if you can't find it)
Begin by making the coffee. Once it's brewed add 1 tbsp vanilla sugar to it along with 1/4 cup kahlua. Leave to cool. Meanwhile mix the ricotta with the mascapone, 1/4 cup vanilla sugar, vanilla paste. Soak the spong fingers briefly in the coffee and layer into a serving dish. Spoon the cheese mixture on top, dust over the cocoa and leave to chill before scoffing. Inauthentic, calorific and lovely.
You need
2 tubs ricotta
1 tub mascapone
250ml strong fresh coffee with 1 tbsp vanilla sugar added to it
1/4 cup kahlua
2/4 packet sponge fingers
2 tbsp cocoa
1/4 cup vanilla sugar
1 tbsp vanilla paste (or same quantity of vanilla extract if you can't find it)
Begin by making the coffee. Once it's brewed add 1 tbsp vanilla sugar to it along with 1/4 cup kahlua. Leave to cool. Meanwhile mix the ricotta with the mascapone, 1/4 cup vanilla sugar, vanilla paste. Soak the spong fingers briefly in the coffee and layer into a serving dish. Spoon the cheese mixture on top, dust over the cocoa and leave to chill before scoffing. Inauthentic, calorific and lovely.
Birthday Pancakes
Well, pancakes made with a different recipe to normal at any rate. And served on my birthday so therefore birthday pancakes.
This is a tweaked Jamie Oliver recipe.
For about 15 or so pancakes you need:
1 cup milk
1 cup self raising flour
1 egg
1 apple, grated (skin, core and all)
a pinch salt
Mix everything together into a batter and then pour, a ladle at a time, into a hot pan. Cook for about 1 minute before flipping over and cooking the other side. Serve with maple syrup and sit back and hear the moaning that these aren't the usual pancakes, why are there bits in them whilst enjoying them yourself.
This is a tweaked Jamie Oliver recipe.
For about 15 or so pancakes you need:
1 cup milk
1 cup self raising flour
1 egg
1 apple, grated (skin, core and all)
a pinch salt
Mix everything together into a batter and then pour, a ladle at a time, into a hot pan. Cook for about 1 minute before flipping over and cooking the other side. Serve with maple syrup and sit back and hear the moaning that these aren't the usual pancakes, why are there bits in them whilst enjoying them yourself.
Friday, 15 January 2010
Garlic Bread
Well this is cheats garlic bread really but it still tastes good. Take a part baked baguette and slash slices into it (being careful not to cut all the way through). Fill with garlic butter made with 100g butter and 1 large crushed garlic clove. Bake in the oven (uncovered) for about 10 mins and scoff. Then feel sick and mourn all the buttery calories consumed. Oh dear!
Garlic Bread
Well this is cheats garlic bread really but it still tastes good. Take a part baked baguette and slash slices into it (being careful not to cut all the way through). Fill with garlic butter made with 100g butter and 1 large crushed garlic clove. Bake in the oven (uncovered) for about 10 mins and scoff. Then feel sick and mourn all the buttery calories consumed. Oh dear!
Pasta Mozzarella Tomatoey Thing
I am sure there is a better name for this, but this is the name it has had in our house for years! It's a simple tomato and garlic sauce, which pasta is added to and then it's topped with fresh mozzarella and baked in the oven till it's crispy and crunchy on top. Lovely.
For 2 people you need:
200g pasta, fusilli or rigatoni is best
1 tin chopped toms
pinch sugar
salt and pepper
fresh basil, roughly shredded
2 cloves garlic, crushed
125g mozzarella, diced
2 tbsp olive oil
Begin by putting the pasta on to cook. Meanwhile put the toms into a large, flat based pan and heat with the garlic and olive oil. Season to taste with salt, pepper and sugar. When the pasta is cooked drain and add to the sauce. Stir through the basil then top with the mozz and maybe some fresh grated parmesan if you want. Bake in a hot oven for about 15-20 mins till the cheese has melted and the top layer of pasta has gone crispy. Serve with garlic bread and salad.
For 2 people you need:
200g pasta, fusilli or rigatoni is best
1 tin chopped toms
pinch sugar
salt and pepper
fresh basil, roughly shredded
2 cloves garlic, crushed
125g mozzarella, diced
2 tbsp olive oil
Begin by putting the pasta on to cook. Meanwhile put the toms into a large, flat based pan and heat with the garlic and olive oil. Season to taste with salt, pepper and sugar. When the pasta is cooked drain and add to the sauce. Stir through the basil then top with the mozz and maybe some fresh grated parmesan if you want. Bake in a hot oven for about 15-20 mins till the cheese has melted and the top layer of pasta has gone crispy. Serve with garlic bread and salad.
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