Category: Do-ahead

Accompaniments · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Sauces

Creamy ginger soy sauce

Belinda

This is a great dressing for a fresh salad or as a sauce for your favorite Asian cuisine featuring meat, fish or chicken. It’s also divine as a dipping sauce for vegetables or shrimp.
Really easy to make and so exotic!

3 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp Asian sesame oil
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
1 tsp cayenne pepper (or less if you don’t like too spicy)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 cup good quality mayonnaise

In a small bowl, combine and thoroughly mix the white wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, sugar, minced fresh ginger, cayenne pepper and black pepper.
Gradually whisk in the mayonnaise until completely blended.

 

Do-ahead · Meat · Pasta

Easy baked penne

Belinda

Everyone needs one of these meaty, creamy, cheesy dishes that are universally adored, easy to make and can be made as much for large crowds as for 4 people.

 

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Serves 4 to 6
8 oz penne pasta
1/2 lb ground beef, lamb, sweet Italian sausage or even chorizo
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 (24 oz) jar of good quality Marinara sauce or similar spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
6 oz Provolone cheese
6 oz shredded or sliced Mozzarella
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
chopped parsley

Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown the ground beef or other meat.
Add the onion and cook until softened.
Add the spaghetti sauce and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
Stir in the sour cream.
Add the drained pasta and stir to coat

Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Spray a 2 quart baking dish with non stick cooking spray.
Pour half of the pasta into the baking dish.
Top with half of the Provolone and half of the Mozzarella.
Pour the remaining pasta on top and top it with the remaining Provolone and Mozzarella and sprinkle the Parmesan on top.
Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Baking · Dessert · Do-ahead

Heavenly one bowl apple cake

Belinda

 

This is a dark, dense, gooey apple cake. The one extra step in this recipe is for soaking the dates in Apple Brandy or Calvados.

Serves 12 to 16
3/4 cup chopped dates
3/4 cup Calvados or apple brandy
2 cups unbleached, all purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
3/4 tsp salt
4 cups slightly tart apples; peeled, cored and roughly chopped
1/2 cup melted butter
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
icing sugar for decorations

About 1 hour before starting to bake, place the dates in a small bowl and cover with the Calvados or apple brandy. Stir from time to time and if they get too “tight” just add more brandy.
Preheat the oven to 325 F.
Using butter, grease a baking pan. (approx 13″ x 9″ x 2″)
Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
Add the chopped apples, dates, melted butter and the eggs. This will be a heavy, thick batter, but don’t worry, just make sure you mix it well together.
Spread in the prepared pan, place on a rack in the center of the oven and bake for 1 hour.
Test with a skewer, if it comes out a bit gooey, then bake for another 5 to 10 mins.
It will be a nice dark color  and should spring back to a light touch.
Serve with some icing sugar (powdered sugar) sprinkled over the top. This is delicious hot, warm or cold.

 

Baking · Do-ahead · Nuts

One-bowl easy banana cake

Belinda

 

This is the easiest one-bowl banana cake recipe. Use a flat rectangular baking tin for this, as it will cook  more evenly.

4 bananas
11 oz superfine sugar (caster sugar)
4 large eggs
8 fl oz sunflower oil
15 oz plain flour
2 tsp baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2  tsp salt
5 oz walnut pieces
4 oz raisins

Preheat the oven to 350 F
Mash the bananas until they are smooth. A potato masher is good for this.
In a large bowl, put the mashed bananas, and add all the other ingredients, one by one, stirring with each addition. It doesn’t matter in what order you put them in, except I recommend putting the raisins and walnuts in at the end.
Lightly grease your baking tin and pour the cake mixture in.
Bake for 1 hour.

 

Baking · Do-ahead

One-bowl golden raisin (sultana) cake

Belinda

 

Another one-bowl gem and this is packed with golden raisins, or, as they say in New Zealand, sultanas. This is terrific with a cup of tea, midday, and it lasts for 2 weeks!

4 1/2 oz melted butter
1 1/2 lbs golden raisins
3/4 cup plain flour
2 tbsp marmalade
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup self-raising flour
1/4 cup sweet sherry

Preheat the oven to 300 F.
Grease a cake tin or loaf tin, line the base with parchment paper.
Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, beat with a wooden spoon until the ingredients are combined well.
Spread  into the prepared tin. ( You can decorate the top with blanched almonds if you like.)
Bake in the oven for 1.5 to 2 hours.
Remove from the oven when firm to the touch and a skewer comes out clean when pushed into the cake.
Cover with foil and leave to cool in the tin.

Baking · Do-ahead

One-bowl sticky lime and coconut drizzle loaf

Belinda

 

This is an incredibly easy recipe as you throw everything into one bowl. The flavors send you straight to the Caribbean and it’s very moist and sticky. You will love this one!

4 oz butter, softened
6 oz self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
6 oz golden caster sugar, or superfine sugar
2 large eggs
Half a 400g can of coconut milk (use the other half for the icing)
finely grated zest of 2 limes (use the juice for the icing)

For the icing and decoration
 Remaining coconut milk
8 oz golden caster sugar or superfine sugar
finely grated zest 1 lime plus the juice of all three limes

Heat the oven to 350 F
Line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment.
Tip all the cake ingredients into a large mixing bowl, then beat until completely combined and the mixture drops off the spoon.
Tip the mixture into the loaf tin, then smooth the top with the back of a spoon.
Bake for 40 mins until golden and firm to the touch.
While the loaf is baking, make the icing and sugar.

To make the icing;
Tip the coconut milk and 6 oz sugar into a saucepan. Boil for 5 mins until syrupy and you see the bottom of the saucepan when you stir.  Stir in the lime juice and set aside.
Meanwhile, crush the remaining sugar with the lime zest until you have a damp green paste and set aside.
When the loaf is cooked, remove from the oven and pour the icing a little at a time, waiting for the cake to absorb it before adding more.
By the time all the icing is used, it will be coming up the sides of the tin.
Leave everything to cool.
To serve, carefully remove the loaf from the tin, sprinkle with the lime sugar and cut into pieces
 

Asian flavors · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Meat

Thai-style lamb shanks

Belinda

 

These succulent shanks of lamb are subtly flavored with coconut milk and Thai spices and baked until meltingly tender.

Serves 4
4 lamb shanks
1 x 14 oz can coconut milk
1 tbsp vegetable oil
18 fl oz vegetable, lamb or chicken stock
2 large onions, finfely chopped
3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsp Thai green curry paste
salt and pepper
2 tbsp chopped fresh lemon grass
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander

To garnish
fresh cilantro leaves or finely sliced chili
finely sliced scallions  or wedges of lemon

Preheat the oven to 400 F
Place the lamb shanks in a roasting tin and roast for 40 minutes, turning them halfway through the cooking.
Lift out the lamb shanks, drain off all the fat, then transfer to a casserole dish or Dutch oven in which they fit snugly.
Lower the oven temperature to 350 F.
Heat the oil in another pan, add the onions and saute until light golden.
Add the curry paste, lemon grass, cumin and coriander and stir fry for 1 minute.
Add the coconut milk, stock and chopped fresh cilantro.
Pour this mixture over the lamb shanks, cover and cook in the oven for 2.5 hours until the meat is very tender.
Check the seasoning of the sauce.

To serve, place each lamb shank in a warmed shallow serving bowl.
Spoon over some of the sauce and scatter with fresh cilantro leaves and any other garnish you fancy.
Serve with Thai jasmine rice and a steamed green vegetable such as bok choi.

 

Chocolate · Dessert · Do-ahead

Simply, Chocolate Marquise

Belinda

 

This is a rich, indulgent, make-ahead dessert with a kick of mint in it for a special dinner party.

Serves 8 to 10
12 oz 70% Valrhona or Green and Blacks chocolate
6 oz unsalted butter, softened
6 oz superfine sugar (caster sugar)
6 tbsp cocoa powder
6 large eggs
16 fl oz heavy cream
300 gram box of After Eights (available on Amazon or at Cost Plus World Market)

Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a heatproof bowl.
Pour a little water in to a sauce pan and place the bowl over the saucepan, making sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl. (Or use a double boiler)
Set the pan over gentle heat and warm the water until the chocolate is melted.
Take off the heat and leave to cool a little.

Meanwhile, place the butter and half the sugar into another large bowl. Using a mixer or electric hand whisk, beat until the mixture is really light and creamy, then beat in the cocoa powder.
Separate the eggs and put the yolks in a third bowl.
Tip in the remaining sugar, then beat together until pale and creamy.
(To check if it’s ready, make a figure-of-eight in the mixture with the beater, it should hold it’s shape for a moment)
In a fourth bowl, whip the cream until thickened with soft peaks.
Pour the melted chocolate into the butter mixture and carefully stir through until it is well combined.
Gently fold in the egg mixture.
When this is amalgamated, stir in the whipped cream.

Now line a 2.5″ by 8.5″ tin with 3 layers of cling film, leaving a 4″ overhang. You can use a regular loaf tin, but as it’s wider, only make three layers of After Eights.

Spoon the mixture into a large piping bag with a large nozzle.
Pipe a layer over the bottom of the tin, then cover this with a layer of After Eights (cut some in half to ensure they fit)
Pipe over another layer of chocolate cream, followed by a layer of After Eights.
Continue until you have 4 layers of chocolate mints and the tin is full, finishing with a chocolate cream layer.
Fold over the cling film , then chill overnight or up to 2 days.
Just before serving, place the marquise in the freezer for 10 minutes to make it easier to slice.
Place the tin, bottom-side up, on a serving plate, slide off the tin, then peel away the cling film.
Dip a palette knife in some boiling water and smooth the surface of the marquise.
Use a serrated knife dipped in boiling water to cut the marquise into slices.

Do-ahead

Carrot puree with ginger and orange

Belinda

 

This is the most delicious side dish with the freshness of orange juice, lemon juice and grated orange peel and the exotic, refreshing flavor of fresh ginger. A must to try!

8 servings
3 lbs carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch rounds
4 tbsp sugar
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
1 1/2 tbsp minced peeled fresh ginger
1 tbsp grated orange peel
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Cook the carrots and 3 tbsp sugar in a large pot of boiling and salted water until the carrots are tender, about 25 minutes.
Drain well, return the carrots to the same pan, stir over medium heat until any excess moisture evaporates.
Meanwhile, bring the orange juice to a simmer in a heavy, small pan over medium heat.
Add the butter, ginger and orange peel; whisk until the butter melts.
Whisk in the lemon juice and remaining 1 tbsp sugar.
Puree half the carrots and half of the juice in a food processor until smooth.
Repeat with the remaining half and season to taste with salt and pepper.
You may need to reheat it before serving, otherwise, transfer it to a large serving dish

Baking · Do-ahead · Grains

Chewy, healthy flapjack bars

Belinda

 

Instead of buying cereal bars, these are so much more tasty and nutritious.
They keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days, but you won’t have any left after 1 day.

Makes 12 bars
10 oz jar apple sauce
4 oz (1/2 cup) ready to eat dried apricots, chopped
4oz (3/4 cup) raisins
2oz (1/4 cup) raw sugar
2oz (1/3 cup) sunflower seeds
1oz (2 tbsp) sesame seeds
1oz (1/4 cup) pumpkin seeds
3oz (scant 1 cup) rolled oats
3oz (2/3 cup) self raising wholewheat flour
2oz (2/3 cup) desiccated (dry unsweetened) coconut
2 large eggs

Preheat the oven to 400 F
Grease an 8 inch square shallow baking pan and line with baking parchment.
Put the apple sauce in a large bowl with the apricots, raisins, sugar and the sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds and stir together with a wooden spoon until thoroughly mixed.
Add the oats, flour, coconut and eggs to the fruit mixture and gently stir together until evenly combined.
Turn the mixture into the greased tin and spread to the edges in an even layer.
Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and just firm to the touch.
Leave to cool in the tin, then lift onto a board and cut into bars.

** Allow the baking parchment to hang over the edges of the pan, this makes it easier to remove the bars from the pan.