Recipe of the month

Holiday Fish Pie

A fast and filling fish dish for hungry children and adults alike

             Serves 4

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb potatoes or use instant if you are short of time follow instructions provided

1 lb white fish, skinned and boned

1/2 pt each of milk and water, mixed

4 slices of lemon

Chopped fresh parsley

A bouquet garni (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

4 oz hard cheese, grated

a knob of butter

What you will need

1 medium pan (potatoes)

1 frying pan (fish poaching)

1 fireproof dish

Note anything in bold can be done any time previously and stored in the fridge until needed later

other fish recipes here

Method

Peel and evenly cut the potatoes rinse place in the medium pan and add to cold salted water to cover.

Bring to the boil on a high heat until cooked (a knife blade slipping out of a stabbed piece means they are cooked)

remove from the heat drain and mash with a little butter and milk. (If using instant mashed potato wait until the fish is nearly cooked before making it up).

Heat the milk and water in a frying pan nearly to boiling

Add the fish to the milk stock with 4 slices of lemon, some chopped parsley, a bouquet garni if available and a pinch each of salt and pepper to your taste.

Simmer the fish gently until cooked 5 to ten minutes,

Remove from the heat then flake it and add to the mashed potato. Keep the cooking liquor

Add half the grated cheese and some of the fish stock, sufficient to moisten the mixture, then heat gently on low heat, stirring all the time until hot.

Put the mixture in a large, fireproof dish and smooth roughly and go over the surface with a fork lifting the surface into lots of tiny peaks. Sprinkle the rest of the grated cheese over the surface and finish under a hot grill until the peaks are brown and the cheese is melted

Serves 4.

Enjoy!

Other ideas with potato

Note

A hard boiled egg, mashed up, could be added to the mixture at the same time as the fish. Also, smoked fish, either all or part, could be used as an alternative to white fish to give a stronger flavour.

more categorised recipe links below

SALADS

Fish

Pasta

Flotsam and Jetsam

Cheese

Rice

Lamb

Potato

Pork

Vegetable

Beef and mince

Fruit

Chicken

Egg

Beans

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new Autmn recipe

Cheese and Bacon Pasta

Pasta is popular with most children it is with mine and this just makes it more so with the adults too.

Serves 4

ingredients

1 oz cornflour

1 pint milk

3 oz strong, hard cheese, grated a good cheddar is spot on for this

A good knob of butter

Salt and pepper to taste

3 or 4 rashers of bacon

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

8 oz of pasta

other pasta recipes

What you will need

small dish

1saucepan medium

1 saucepan large (for pasta)

frying pan or grill

Method

bring a large pot of water to the boil and season the water

while the water is being boiled In the small dish, mix the cornflour to a smooth paste with a little of the cold milk.

Warm the remainder of the milk in a saucepan and pour it, little by little, on to the paste and mix it well.

Return the milk to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until it comes to the boil and thickens.

By now the water should have boiled so add the pasta to the water and cook as per the packet instructions.
While the sauce is cooking, grill or fry the bacon, when it is cooked remove and cut into small pieces.,

Add the grated cheese to the milk mixture and simmer very gently for 2 minutes stirring gently ensuring the bottom does not burn.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. Season to your taste. Add the bacon, along with the crushed garlic, to the cheese sauce. When it is tender, about 10 minutes, drain and mix the pasta with the cheese and bacon sauce.

Check seasoning ensure that you try it before you add any salt as the bacon will change the flavour radically.

N.B. If you wish and you are frying the bacon you can throw the garlic in after it has cooked for a few moments to take the rawness away from it

Enjoy!

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More category recipe links below

SALADS

Fish

Pasta

Flotsam and Jetsam

Cheese

Rice

Lamb

Potato

Pork

Vegetable

Beef and mince

Fruit

Chicken

Egg

Beans

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This weeks featured recipe happy guy fawkes

Bonfire Fish!

Picture a camping trip deep in blackest Scotland in the shelter of a isolated rocky shore ahh! Back to reality. A nice fat fish about 18 inches long is ideal, but whatever is available will do fine.


Please Make sure no local bye laws will be infringed in setting fires.


Ingredients


A good supply of dry driftwood and Kindling

Yesterday's paper (today's if it’s boring) some for setting fire and at least 95% for the parcel

A whole fish with inner workings removed: salmon, sea trout or sea bass roughly 500 grams of fish per person should be enough.

A crusty loaf or 2

Salt and pepper to taste

A good supply of bottled beer

A few cans of soft drink for the children and the driver, to keep them quiet.

Optional extras (butter, herbs; dill thyme parsley and basil all work well on most fish)



What you will need

Not much! See above

a similar fish dish

Other recipe links below


Method


First, in a safe place well away from any trees or other people,

Build a fire, keeping a watchful eye on the children and the fire make sure the fire is well stocked with wood. Soak several sheets of newspaper in water and place the fish ontop of paper, rub salt all over its skin and add any optional extras you have chosen.

Let the flames die down to embers.

Put the parcel on the embers and when the paper begins to char the fish should be cooked about 10 to 15 minutes depending on fire.

Set the fish in the middle of the party, open up the wrapping and attack it with fingers.

Eat it with the loaf, not sliced but torn off in chunks. At the end of the feast the only things needing washing are fingers, but do leave the fire safe and the area clean and leave it as you found it.





Enjoy!

 other recipe links below

SALADS

Fish

Pasta

Flotsam and Jetsam

Cheese

Rice

Lamb

Potato

Pork

Vegetable

Beef and mince

Fruit

Chicken

Egg

Beans

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Egg

Easy Spanish omelete
a meal that does not get any easier than this

Beans

 ehh bit short on recipes on this subject, but keep an eye on ityou never know it might treble in a few weeks.


Speedy bean stew  


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Featured recipe

Easy Bacon and Mushroom Risotto

As a change from the more usual fresh risotto, which can be quite complicated to cook, try this version which is a lot simpler.

Serves 4

Ingredients

250 grams back bacon rashers or lardons

1 medium onion, chopped

30 grams of butter or approximately 2 tablespoons of olive oil

8 oz Arborio rice (risotto for preference or whatever is available)

1 clove of garlic, crushed (if desired)

8 oz mushrooms, wiped and chopped

2 tomatoes, chopped (you could use a drained tin for ease if you wish)

Parsley, basil or mixed herbs (if desired)

11/2 pint of chicken stock keep the ½ pint in reserve

Salt and pepper to taste

What you will need

Frying pan

Stirring spoon

4 plates

Are you looking for other rice dishes? Click here

Method

Heat the frying pan to a light to moderate temperature.

Cut the bacon rashers roughly into about 1 to 2 centimetre pieces and fry gently (no browning on the pan from the bacon is a good indication) adding a little oil if necessary.

Drain the frying pan and set aside the bacon until later.

Melt the butter or heat the olive oil in the pan add the onion and fry until softened and lightly golden.

Stir in the rice and garlic and cook over a gentle heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the remaining ingredients, including the bacon pieces and the stock Raise the temperature to moderate if time is tight, and cook until the rice is tender.

Take care not to stir too much keep an eye on the liquid level, if you it needs more then add some of the reserve or lower temp to reduce liquid loss.

Serves 4.

Enjoy!

Are you looking for other recipes? Click here

Note normal rice will cook quicker than risotto rice so if time is tight this is your best option though be careful not to over cook or over stir it as it will break up easily

What recipe are you looking for

SALADS

Fish

Pasta

Flotsam and Jetsam

Cheese

Rice

Lamb

Potato

Pork

Vegetable

Beef and mince

Fruit

Chicken

Egg

Beans

Back to top

Most of us throw a piece of meat on the barbeque or the frying pan and hope that it turns out roughly right. But there is a very easy way to tell whether the meat you are cooking is to your taste or your guests for that matter.
Once you learn the trick avoiding cooking steaks for guests and friends will be a thing of the past. Just as you can enjoy the eating it will take the stress out of cooking them too.

It is so simple can you count to 5?

1. Take a look at your hand, under your thumb there is a large cushion of flesh, imagine that this is the steak, prod it with a finger on your other hand it feels quite soft with a lot of give in it

2. Repeat the above only this time place the thumb and index finger together lightly so they are just touching now prod with the same finger you used on the other hand below the thumb.

3. Repeat the process as above only replace the index finger for the second finger

4. Use the third finger remembering to prod the flesh below the thumb.

5. You guessed it thumb to pinkie finger remember not to press them make sure they are just touching.

I am sure you have figured it out roughly but here is a legend to help
1. Rare
2. Medium rare
3. Medium
4. Medium well
5. Well done (or as I call it done in!)

There you have it pick the favourite way you eat your steak and try it out it works every time

Enjoy!

Looking for recipes to try it out on? click here

Salads!

Salad Nicoise

A great salad for a light-ish lunch and simple too. Impress with this classic .

Honeyed chicken salad

A lovely rich and flavored chicken salad with an aromatic warmth to die for

Polynesian chicken salad

This Polynesian salad packs a punch; peeled Pawpaw partners this poultry delightfully in a mouth watering thirst quenching salad that would prop up any poolside patio party for sumer lunch!

Greek lamb salad

The best of both worlds! A roast meal as a salad for a hot summer’s day. A great salad to dress up and down depending on your need.What would be better with a beer or a glass of wine in the garden with the sun beating down.

Summer salad

SUMMER VEGETABLE AND PASTA SALAD Serves 4 A sensational summer salad to lay seige, savour and satiate the senses and the stomach! yada yada yada! Just look at it and eat it!

Hot spaghetti salad

This might sound a bit odd but give it a chance and I'm sure you will find a firm outdoor summer favourite. It is a very quick and impressive ladies lunch dish

French chicken and pasta salad

This is quite a filling salad with a very seventies feel to it, so you could throw together a light green salad to accompany. An ideal mid-week meal for all the family. The only thing missing now is the cheese and pineapple chunks on a stick!

Pear and Roquefort salad

This is a really simple and very moreish dish the piquancy of the cheese and yoghurt marries perfectly with the sweet and grain like textures of the Pear.

Chinese mushroom salad

A distinctly Chinese style salad a good accompaniment to other drier Chinese dishes on a table.

How about some fish recipes instead?click here

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Fish

Cod provencale

a most versatile dish most of it can be done before cooking the fish or even frozen idealk for a busy lifestyle




Mackerel in parcels
an easy dish to do inside or out open fire bar be que or oven it is a very down to earth dish


White fish chowder

 a classic one pan meal to serve 4


Fast Fish pie
does what it says on the link 
 


Bonfire fish

a brilliant family bonding meal







Can't find what you're looking for how about pasta dishes?


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Pasta recipes

Meat balls in cream sauce

Brilliantly tasty and very moreish meal


Eazy cheese and Bacon pasta 
a true winner with the kids and parents alike


 

Summer salad

I like to be optimistic and think that every day is a summers day and this i can assure you will brighten up a dull day or meal.



Chinese mushroom salad


If the day is hot or cold this is a real life saver obviously Chinese in style it can be made hot or cold all in one recipe there is value



French chicken pasta salad

A tasty and versatile dish that like many of my recipes can be hot or cold with some common sense added



Hot spaghetti salad

Yes you are seeing right a fabulous little ladies lunch dish


How about some cheese with that pasta?


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The flotsam and jetsam I can’t find a pigeon hole to place the recipe in!

Hatch your own yoghurt

I think it speaks for itself very economical and fun for the kids to make too.

Salad dressings 2 to be precise

When I get round to doing a salad page it will be on it in the mean time play about with these

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Cheese recipes

If only we could all eat loads of cheese it might be the end of war. Because we would, none of us be able to move!

Roquefort and pear salad

A piquant little beauty this looks great tastes even better the pear cancels out most people's objections to blue cheese but don't take my word for it.

Rice this way!

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Rice recipes

These are suitable to be eaten with rice rather than rice in them recipes tho over time there will I am sure end up being one or two though they are not my favoured kind of dishes.

Meatballs in cream sauce

Brilliantly tasty and very moreish meal

Burmese mince

An aromatic dish that works best with the lighter rice like basmati or Thai fragrant rice

Easy bacon and mushroom risotto

a mush quicker version of the italian dish you can mess with the maiun ingredients just think about the cooking time adjustment

Lamb recipes maybe?

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Lamb recipes

Lamb is one of my favourite meats though in truth I roast it or fry it depending on the meat.

Hot or cold Greek salad

Or Lamb salad with olives and garlic that can be made hot! This little gem sorts out the excess from a Sunday leg

potato dishes this way

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Potato dishes

Try these out for a bit of difference in your life

Potato Bolognaise

A variation on a theme

Mackerel in parcels
an easy dish to do inside or out open fire bar be que or oven it is a very down to earth dish

Beanie pork sausages

A firm kid's favourite thought the adults seem to take more than their fair share when it's on the table

PORK!

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Pork recipes

Beanie Pork sausages

A simple but tasty dish for the kids that need not be pork at all though it does taste that bit better with good porkers!

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Vegetable and Vegetarian recipes

Easy Spanish omelete

This is a flexible recipe in which many vegetables that are available and which are to hand can be used.

Cauliflower and mince

there maybe mince in it but cauliflower is definitely a vegetable and a very under used one at that

The one and only ratatouille

a very versatile dish I try to keep some of this in the freezer to augment dishes or just throw it in with some pasta when i'm short of time

Simple Vegetarian pie

A classic based dish with a

slightly modern slant, if preferred you can turn this into a non vegetarian option see the end of the recipe for options

Carrot spiced muffins

Just give them a go remember the first time you tried carrot cake well this little beauty can be used as a savoury dish wit a little tweak!

Courgette ( Zucchini) Pancakes

I'm British by the way and we call 'em courgettes anyway this is also a sweet or savoury kind of dish a snack or an accompaniment you choose

Summer colour salad

I like to be optimistic and think that every day is a summers day and this i can assure you will brighten up a dull day or meal.

Chinese Mushroom salad

if the day is hot or cold this is a real life saver obviously Chinese in style it can be made hot or cold all in one recipe there is value


Aubergine (Egg plant) Pate with melba toast

Ok it's that English American thing again and it might not look the best but it tastes amazing and looks at its best in a ramekin or in your favourite shape on the plate

Speedy Bean Stew
This is a tasty, economical one pan dish that only takes about half an hour to cook. Serves 4


From pork to vegetables not likely but click here anyway!


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