Tuesday 27 October 2009

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


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!


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

Tuesday 13 October 2009

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Egg


Beans




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

Wednesday 7 October 2009

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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