Pesto Rice Salad

July 9, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda

Another gem from Delia Smith..

Just as homemade pesto does wonders for pasta so it does for rice too. This salad can be served warm as a first course and it’s really good as an accompaniment to fish or chicken main-course dishes. Served cold it makes a lovely addition to a selection of salads for a buffet.

Serves 4 -6

Italian arborio rice measured to the 8fl oz of a glass measuring jug.
1 quantity of pesto sauce, preferably homemade. (See recipe below)
16 fl oz boiling vegetable or chicken stock
5 scallions (spring onions) finely chopped
juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
A good handful of fresh basil leaves
3 oz Parmesan Reggiano cheese shavings (made with the potato peeler)
salt and freshly ground pepper

First of all measure the rice into the glass jug then add about one quarter of the pesto sauce to it and stir it around to coat all the grains.
Tip the mixture into a shallow saucepan or frying pan with a lid and pour the boiling stock into a jug (pitcher) then pour this over the rice.
Now turn on the heat and stir with a wooden spoon adding 1 tsp salt.
Then, when it begins to boil, put a lid on, turn the heat down to low and let the rice cook for exactly 20 minutes.
As soon as it’s ready, tip all the rice into a serving bowl. then simply pour in the lemon juice, olive oil and the remaining pesto sauce.
Combine all the ingredients together stirring and tossing.
At this stage, taste and season with salt and pepper.
Finally, scatter some torn basil leaves, finely chopped scallions and then some of the Parmesan shavings over the surface f the salad as a garnish.
If you want to serve the salad cold, then add the basil, onion and parmesan just before serving.

PESTO SAUCE

2 oz fresh basil leaves
1 large clove garlic, crushed
1 tbsp pine nuts, lightly toasted
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 oz Pecorina Romano cheese, grated
salt and pepper

In a blender, put the basil,pine nuts, garlic and olive oil with some salt and blend until you have a puree.
Then transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the grated Pecorino cheese.

Appetizers · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Whole30 compliant

Roasted red peppers with basil, garlic, tomatoes, anchovies and olives

July 9, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda

Make sure you have lots of crusty bread for these, as the juices are gorgeous!! This is a recipe I use a lot in the summer months and it’s from the wonderful Delia Smith.
This recipe is quite simply stunning and is better when served at room temperature. It’s important to use a solid, shallow roasting tray 16 x 12 inches, approx. If the sides are too deep, the roasted vegetables won’t get those lovely nutty, toasty edges.

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Serves 4 as a starter

4 large red peppers (green are NOT suitable)
4 – 6 medium, sweet tomatoes
8 – 10 tinned anchovy fillets, drained
6 large cloves garlic
10 dessertspoons Italian extra virgin olive oil
freshly ground black pepper
A really good handful of fresh basil leaves
2 to 3 Kalamata olives per pepper half, halved or quartered (optional)
Lots of really good focaccia bread (preferably with olives in it!)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
Begin by cutting the peppers in half lengthways, removing the seeds but leaving the stalks intact. (They’re not edible but they do look attractive and they help the pepper halves to keep their shape)
Lay the pepper halves in a lightly oiled roasting tray. Line the base of each pepper with fresh basil leaves, then cut the tomatoes into quarters and place two quarters in each pepper half. Keep some basil for shredding and garnishing the dish at the end.
After that, snip 1 or 2 anchovy fillets per pepper half into rough pieces and add to the tomatoes. Don’t be put off by the anchovy, you don’t taste it in the final dish, as it melts and just enhances all the flavors.
Peel the garlic cloves, slice them thinly and divide the slices equally among the tomatoes and anchovies. Add the Kalamata olives if using.
I sometimes put more garlic, basil and anchovy than it says to, as I love the flavors, so you can play with this a bit!
Now spoon a good dessertspoon at least, of olive oil into each pepper half and season well with ground pepper, but no salt because of the anchovies.
Place the tray of peppers in the oven and roast for at least 50 minutes and up to 1 hour. Transfer the cooked peppers to an attractive serving platter with ALL the precious juices poured over, and garnish with more fresh slivered basil.
These do need good bread to go with them as the juices are sublime!
Focaccia with olives would be perfect!

Fish · Gluten Free · Salad · Whole30 compliant

Cilantro, lime and sardine salad in avocado halves

July 9, 2012January 7, 2017 Belinda

I am posting this because it is a really delicious, quick lunch dish that is packed with calcium, protein, Vitamin B12, Omega 3 and 6 via the sardines and avocados.
It’s a sort of retro dish, and you can also use smoked trout instead of sardines.

Serves 2

1x 3.75 oz can boneless, skinless sardines packed in oil, drained
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 tbsp good mayonnaise (or Whole 30 compliant mayonnaise)
1 tbsp fresh lime juice, divided
1 ripe avocado
salt and pepper
salad greens
Good granary bread, optional

In a small bowl combine the drained sardines, cilantro, mayonnaise and 2-1/2 tsp of lime juice.
mash together thoroughly with a fork and season to taste with the pepper and a pinch of salt, if needed.
Cut the avocado in half lengthwise and remove the pit. Using a large spoon, with a wide shallow bowl, scoop each avocado half from it’s skin, run the tip of the spoon around the edge of the avocado to loosen it, then plunge the spoon between the skin and flesh. Keep the back of the spoon as close to the skin as possible, and work from the wider to the narrower end of the avocado.
Rub each half with the remaining 1/2 tsp lime juice to prevent discoloration.
To serve, scoop half of the sardine mixture into the hollow of each avocado. Serve over dressed salad greens if desired.

Dessert · Do-ahead

A great no-cook pud idea

July 9, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda1 Comment

I don’t get any marks for great photography for this picture, except to show you the container of booze with the raisins plumping up as you read this!

My favorite recipe book, “Cook Simple” by Diana Henry, has this idea in it and it’s brilliant.

There are so many uses for these raisins, in baked apples, poured over ice cream, heated or kept cold, in bread puddings, in trifles ……

Put either “Chilean Flame” raisins ( in Los Angeles, they are just called “Flame”) or good Moscatel raisins into a tall sealed jar, leaving enough room for the fruit to expand as it plumps up.

Pour over enough booze (it should be something sweet like Madeira or Marsala) to cover the fruit completely, put the lid on tightly and leave to plump up.

In a day or so, top up with more booze if the fruit is starting to come over the level of the liquid.

These are delicious served with vanilla ice cream, or big dollops of Greek yoghurt or creme fraiche. Scatter the serving with toasted hazelnuts, pine nuts or almonds.

Breakfast · Do-ahead

Overnight blueberry french toast

July 9, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda

This is well worth doing and make sure you start the night before. It’s worth it!
From the blogger, “One Perfect Bite” and adapted from a Patricia Wells recipe

Serves 8 to 10

Casserole

1 (1lb) loaf day-old blueberry streusel bread, cut into1 inch cubes, or make up the Betty Crocker or Marie Callender’s blueberry muffin mix the day before.
1 8oz package cream cheese, cut into half inch cubes
1-1/4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, divided use
12 extra large eggs,organic preferably
2 cups light cream or half and half (cream is best!)
1/3 cup maple syrup

Sauce

1 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 cup water
1 cup blueberries
1 tbsp butter

Directions

Grease a 9x13x2 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
Cover the bottom of the baking dish with half of the cubed bread.
Dot the cubes of bread with small evenly placed pieces of the cream cheese.
Sprinkle with 1 cup of blueberries.
Cover with remaining bread cubes.
In a large bowl, beat the eggs, add the half and half/cream and maple syrup and mix well.
Pour over the bread mixture.
Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the reserved 1/4 cup of blueberries.
Cover and chill 8 hours or overnight.
Remove from the fridge 30 mins before baking.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 30 to 50 minutes or until puffy and golden brown before baking and the center is set.

To make the syrup;

In a saucepan, combine the sugar and cornstarch. Add water and bring to the boil over medium heat.
Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
Stir in the blueberries; reduce the heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until the berries have burst.
Stir in the butter. Serve over the French toast.

Makes 1-3/4 cups sauce

Cut casserole into desired portions. Transfer to plates for serving. Lightly drizzle each serving with about 1 tbsp of the sauce. Pass remaining sauce at the table
Enjoy!!

Dessert · Do-ahead · Gluten Free

Lime Coconut Truffles

July 9, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda

In this recipe for lime-coconut truffles, a white chocolate truffle base is infused with fresh lime zest and juice, then rolled in sweet coconut for a refreshing tropical candy. Like many truffle recipes, this recipe requires several extended periods of chilling, so be sure to plan ahead. Yield: about 12 one-inch truffles.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp cream

zest of one lime

1 tbsp fresh-squeezed lime juice

1.25 cup (9 ounces) chopped white chocolate (or chips)

pinch salt

1/2 stick (4 tbsp) butter, cut into small pieces

1 cup shredded coconut

Preparation:

1. Combine the cream and the lime zest in a small saucepan over medium heat, and heat until it starts to simmer and bubble around the edges. Immediately remove from the heat and cover the pan with a lid, allowing the cream to infuse for 20 minutes.

2. While the cream is steeping, combine the chopped white chocolate (or white chocolate chips), the salt, and the diced butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the chocolate and butter for 45 seconds, to begin to melt the chocolate and butter. Set aside.

3. After the 20 minutes is up, return the cream to the heat and reheat it, stirring occasionally, until it once again reaches a simmer. Remove the simmering cream from the heat, and stir in the fresh lime juice.

4. Place a wire mesh strainer over the bowl of chocolate and butter, and pour the hot cream through the strainer over the chocolate. Press down on the lime zest in the strainer with a spoon to extract all of the remaining juice.

5. Gently whisk the cream and chocolate together, stirring until the mixture is smooth and all of the chocolate has melted. Cover the surface of the chocolate with cling wrap and refrigerate the candy until firm enough to roll, 4 hours or overnight.

6. While the candy is chilling, prepare the coconut by chopping it finely by hand or in a food processor. It is much easier to roll truffles in coconut that has been finely chopped, and the texture is more palatable as well.

7. Once the chocolate has set sufficiently, use a teaspoon to scoop a ball from the chocolate and roll it between your hands until it is round. Roll the truffle in the chopped coconut until it is completely covered. Repeat with the remaining chocolate and coconut.

8. These truffles should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Properly stored, they should last for a week. For optimal taste and texture, bring them to room temperature before serving.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Appetizers · Gluten Free · Nuts

Goat cheese stuffed radicchio

July 9, 2012February 7, 2016 Belinda

Again, I am so keen to get this out, that I haven’t yet got a photo. Although I’ve made this several times and always to raves, I keep forgetting to have my camera handy!

INGREDIENTS:

2 heads radicchio

8 ounce goat cheese

1/2 cup pistachio nuts, lightly toasted and chopped

2 tablespoons minced shallots

2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaved parsley

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Halve radicchio heads down the middle. Cut out hard core and remove

several layers of inner leaves to hollow out a small hole for stuffing. Chop up radicchio leaves and combine

with goat cheese, pistachios, shallots, parsley and olive oil; season to taste with salt and black pepper. Fill

radicchio halves with stuffing. Bake until hot and golden, about 30 minutes.

Yield: 4 servings

Appetizers · Gluten Free · Holiday Food

Bacon wrapped dates in a cream sauce

July 9, 2012 Belinda

These are not for the faint hearted or calorie conscious, but are delicious as a little starter. I don’t yet have a photo, but for now you can just picture them in your mind! Unctious!!

Serves 6 as a starter
12 rashers of bacon (streaky)
24 pitted Medjool dates

Sauce
Large knob of unsalted butter
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 large shallot, finely chopped
5 fl oz dry white wine
1 ¼ cups whipping cream
2 heaped tsp grain mustard
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Chopped parsley to garnish

Preheat the oven to 450F
Hold a rasher of bacon by one end and use the blunt end of a knife to gently stretch it out by another quarter – this helps make the bacon crisper when cooked. Repeat with all the bacon. Cut each rasher in half and roll one half around each date.
Refrigerate while you make the sauce
Melt the butter in the frying pan over a gentle heat, add the garlic and shallot and sweat gently for about 5 mins until soft but not colored
Add the wine, turn up the eat and boil until the liquid is reduced by half.
Strain the mixture through a sieve and return to the pan. Add the cream and mustard bring to a rolling boil and boil for 30 secs. Season if necessary (bear in mind that the bacon is salty)
Divide the mustard /cream mixture between six 4 inch diameter gratin dishes.
Add four dates to each dish.
Bake for 8 to 10 mins until the sauce is bubbling and the bacon browning.
Finish off the dish with 2 minutes under a very hot grill to really crisp up the bacon.
Serve sprinkled with parsley and serve with some granary bread

Baking · Do-ahead

Mary Berry’s ultimate lemon tray bake

June 12, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda2 Comments

This is similar to the previous recipe I posted, but it’s what I call a “one bowl” cake.
Everything is done in one bowl with no whipping of the butter and sugar. If you don’t have much time and want a light, moist tray bake to serve with fresh berries and cream or ice cream, nothing beats this.
This also has the lemon/sugar syrup poured over at the end. It’s more of a tray bake than a cake.

This makes about 30 squares

Ingredients

225 grams butter, softened

225 grams caster (superfine) sugar

275 grams self raising flour

2 tsp baking powder

4 large free range, organic eggs

4 tbsp milk

2 lemons, grated zest only (save the juice for the syrup)

For the crunchy topping

175 grams granulated sugar

2 lemons, juice only

(You can also add the grated rind of 1 large orange to this as an extra touch)

Method

Cut a rectangle of non stick baking parchment to fit the base and sides of a 11 by 9 by 1 1/2 inches roasting tin. (approximately, it doesn’t have to be those exact measurements)

Grease the tin with butter and line the tin.

Preheat the oven to 300F

Put all (except the crunchy topping ingredients) the ingredients for the tray bake in a large bowl and beat well for 2 minutes. An electric mixer is best for this.

Empty all the mixture into the prepared tin and level it off with the back of a spoon.

Bake in the middle of the oven for around 40 to 45 minutes until golden and the sponge springs back when lightly pressed.

Leave the cake to cool in the tin for about 15 minutes and remove from the tin using the parchment paper to help.

Carefully remove the paper and allow to cool on a rack.

For the crunchy topping, mix the ingredients together in a measuring jug or small bowl until the sugar dissolves and pour it evenly over the cake while it’s still just warm.

Cut into squares when completely cooled and serve.