Accompaniments · Fish

Curried tuna salad to put in sandwiches or pita pockets

Belinda

 

Such a divine  filling for sandwiches or even just wrapped in a lettuce leaf.

2 cans (about 6 oz each) solid light tuna packed in olive oil, well drained and broken into large chunks
1/4 cup drained sliced pickled jalapeno peppers, chopped
1/2 cup good mayonnaise
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp best quality curry powder
1/4 cup diced celery heart
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/2 cup dark raisins
1/2 cup coarsely chopped Granny Smith apple, unpeeled
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Gently combine the tuna, jalapenos, mayonnaise, lime juice, curry powder, celery heart, red onion, raisins, apple, basil and salt and pepper to taste, in a medium bowl.
Serve with bread or pita pockets.

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
 

Breakfast · Egg based · Gluten Free · Vegetable-related

Eggs poached in kale and tomato sauce

Belinda
Such a tasty, healthy dish for brunch or Sunday supper.
Serves 4 to 6
 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, peeled and minced
1 small carrot, scrubbed and minced
1 celery stalk, minced
3 tbsp Italian parsley, minced
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 small sprig fresh rosemary
1 to 2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bunch kale, washed and finely chopped
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 x 28 oz can whole San Marzano tomatoes
Salt and pepper
4 to 6 large eggs (depending on how many each person wants to eat)
3 oz crumbled goat cheese, for serving (optional)
In a large, deep frying pan, heat your olive oil over medium heat until shimmering, then add the onion, carrot, celery and parsley.
Cook, stirring frequently, until deeply browned, about 10 mins.
Add the garlic, rosemary, thyme and cook for 1 minutes, then add the kale.
Cook, stirring, until the kale has softened somewhat, about 5 mins.
Add the tomato paste and canned tomatoes, plus their juice.
Smash up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon and add a few pinches of salt and pepper, cover the sauce and simmer for 8 to 10 mins . taste and add more salt and pepper to taste.
 Use your wooden spoon to make wells in the sauce for your eggs.
Crack each of the eggs into it’s well and sprinkle them with a little more salt and pepper.
Cover the pan and cook over low heat until the egg whites have set but the yolks  are still runny, about 5 mins.
Crumble the goat cheese over the eggs, if using, and serve warm.
Crusty bread for mopping up the sauce is a great idea too.

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.

 

Asian flavors · Pasta · Vegetarian pasta

Sesame-Ginger and Cucumber Soba Noodles

Belinda
 

Gorgeous!! Soba noodles tossed with scallions, cucumber and a light yet creamy sesame -ginger tahini sauce.

8 oz soba noodles (about 2 bundles)
1 large or 2 small English cucumbers
1 bunch scallions (green onions), chopped (about 3/4 cup, chopped)
1/3 cup tahini<
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger
1 tbsp white miso
2 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
A handful fresh cilantro, chopped
pinch red pepper flakes
1/3 to 1/2 cup water
2 tbsp sesame seeds, (preferably black)
sea salt, to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the soba noodles until al dente, according to the package directions. (Do not over cook them) Drain and rinse under cold water.
Using a chef’s knife or better yet, a julienne peeler, slice the cucumber into long skinny strips. Toss out the super-seedy inside strips. Then you can slice the remainder into 3 inch long strips or leave them long.

In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, rice vinegar, ginger, miso, soy sauce, sesame oil, cilantro and red pepper flakes. Once blended, whisk in water until you reach your desired consistency.
Toss the soba noodles in the sesame-ginger sauce. Toss in the cucumber strips, scallions, sesame seeds and extra cilantro if desired.
Season to taste with salt or more soy sauce.
This dish is best served promptly, as the salt will draw out the water from the cucumbers and dilute the flavors.

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.

Poultry · Whole30 compliant

Simple roast chicken with rosemary, garlic and lemon

Belinda
 

A great weekday meal, full of flavor and all you need is a simple salad and some good bread to mop up those juices.
A good tip- Never buy a chicken over 3.5 lbs in weight , as you will lose the flavor and texture in the bigger ones. If necessary, buy 2 chickens if you are feeding a crowd.

Serves 4
1 (3.5 lb) chicken, cut into pieces
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup fresh rosemary leaves
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
10 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 lemon, peel removed, pith and pulp chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Toss the chicken pieces with oil, rosemary, lemon juice, garlic, lemon and salt and pepper in bowl.
Marinate for 1 hour.
Heat the oven to 475 F.
Arrange the chicken in a 9″ by 13″ baking dish; add remaining marinade.
Roast, flipping once, until cooked through, 30 to 40 minutes.

 

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