Spicy Pork Meatballs

May 8, 2018 by Angie In Dinners, Pork, Pastas Tagged pork, onion, tomatoes, meatballs, spaghetti, cabbage, kale Leave a comment

Spicy Pork Meatballs

Meatballs are always a favourite and these spicy pork meatballs are cooked in a chilli tomato sauce.

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Spicy Pork Meatballs

Prepares: 4 servings

Preparation time: about 30 minutes
Standing time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 50–55 minutes
Ingredients
450g (1 lb) minced/ground pork
85g (3 oz) fresh white breadcrumbs (1¾ cups)
1 egg, medium (U.K.)/large (N.A.), beaten
1 lemon, zest only
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
2 pinches crushed dried chillies
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 x 400g tin (or ½ × 796 ml can) chopped/diced tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato purée/paste
1tsp chicken bouillon, or 1 × organic stock cube, mixed in 300ml (10 fl oz) (⅔ cup) boiling water
1 tsp sugar
200g (7 oz) spaghetti
½ a small Savoy cabbage, finely shredded (or other green leafed vegetable finely shredded*).
*Savoy cabbage in Canada can be very pale and so I prefer to use something like kale. The dark green colour works well with the spaghetti, although it does sound an unusual combination.
You will also need a large lidded frying pan/skillet.

Method
In a large bowl mix together the pork, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, lemon zest, finely chopped onion, half the garlic and half the sage, a pinch of the crushed chillies, and plenty of seasoning. Once everything is well mixed in, shape into 30 meatballs. Then refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.
Heat half the oil in the frying pan/skillet and add the meatballs. Brown over a medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally to brown all sides. This may need to be done in two batches. Remove and set aside.
Now add the remaining oil to the pan, reduce the heat, and add the chopped onions. Cook gently for 5 minutes until they have softened. Then add the remaining garlic and sage and cook for a further minute. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato purée/paste, stock, sugar, a pinch of crushed chillies, and season. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer for 5–10 minutes until the sauce has reduced a little.
Return the meatballs to the pan, then gently simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, turning them halfway through.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in plenty of salted, boiling water, adding the cabbage or other green vegetable for the last 4 minutes of cooking. Drain.
Serve the spaghetti alongside the meatballs and sauce.

Updated: May 8, 2018

Angie’s Lasagne

May 3, 2018 by Angie In Beef, Dinners, Pastas Tagged onion, tomatoes, beef, parmesan, lasagna, lasagne, mozzarella Leave a comment

Angie's Lasagna

This is a lasagne recipe that I stumbled across many years ago and that has always been a great family favourite. The dish has three layers of pasta, a meaty tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese, topped with Parmesan.

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Angie's Lasagne

Prepares: 8 servings

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Standing time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
9 lasagne sheets
450g (1 lb) mince/ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 x 400g tins or 1 x 796ml can Italian chopped/diced tomatoes
156ml (5½ fl oz) tin tomato paste (⅔ cup)
½ tsp dried oregano
salt and freshly ground black pepper
450g (1 lb) mozzarella cheese, grated/shredded* (4 cups)
28g (1 oz) Parmesan cheese, finely grated/shredded (¼ cup)
For this recipe you will need a deep sided frying pan/skillet or sauté pan.
Also a 32.5 x 22.5 x 5 cm (13 x 9 x 2 inch) ovenproof dish.
*In the UK the prepackaged grated mozzarella cheese contains only cheese and anti-caking ingredients. In Canada it has more additives, so I buy the block mozzarella and grate it myself. Just pop it in the freezer for ten minutes before grating to firm it up.
To serve
A Caesar salad can be served as an accompaniment.

Method
Brown the meat in the frying pan/skillet over a medium heat, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat, add the onion and garlic, and cook for a further 5 minutes.
Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, ⅔ cup water, and seasoning. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) (gas 4)
Many brands of lasagne pasta require no pre-cooking but I have found they benefit from cooking for a short time anyway. A baked lasagne using uncooked pasta isn’t as moist.
So, bring a large pan of water to the boil and add a glug of olive oil. Drop 5 of the lasagne sheets into the water one at a time (crossing each one over the other) and boil for 4 minutes. They need to be cooked in two batches or they will stick together while cooking. Remove the sheets with a pair of tongs and rinse under cold water, then lay the sheets separately on a clean tea-towel. Repeat with the remaining four sheets.
To layer up the lasagne. First, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of the lasagne pan. Then layer 3 lasagne sheets, a third of the remaining meat sauce, and a third of the mozzarella cheese on top. Repeat layering the pasta, meat sauce, and cheese twice more. Finally sprinkle the Parmesan over the top.
Bake, covered with foil, in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for a further 10 minutes.
Let it stand for 10 minutes before serving into portions.

Updated: May 3, 2018

Lemon Meringue Pie

May 2, 2018 by Angie In Desserts Tagged lemon, meringue, pastry, shortcrust Leave a comment

Lemon Meringue Pie

This lemon meringue pie is a true family favourite and was one of the first pies I ever baked. The filling is very easy to make from scratch. It gives a mixture that is both creamy and full of zingy lemon flavour to complement the sweetness of the meringue on top.

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Lemon Meringue Pie

Prepares: 4–6 servings

Preparation time: About 45 minutes
Standing time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: About 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
For the shortcrust pastry
170g (6 oz) plain flour/cake and pastry flour (1 cup + 3 tbsp)
pinch of salt
40g (1½ oz) butter, cut into cubes (3 tbsp, or ⅜ stick)
40g (1½ oz) lard, cut into cubes (3 tbsp)
about 2 tbsp cold water
For the filling
3 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch
150ml (5 fl oz) water (⅔ cup)
2 lemons, zest and juice
115g (4 oz) granulated/white sugar (½ cup + 2 tbsp)
2 egg yolks (reserve the whites for the meringue)
For the meringue
2 egg whites
115g (4 oz) caster sugar/white sugar (½ cup + 2 tbsp)
You will also need an 18cm (7 inch) round deep pie plate with rim

Method
For the pastry
Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Rub the fat into the flour until the mixture resembles fresh breadcrumbs. This can be done by hand or in a food processor.
Sprinkle the water evenly over the surface (if it is not evenly sprinkled it can cause blistering when the pastry is cooked). Start bringing the dough together using a pallet knife and, once it starts clumping, finish off by hand, until the dough is smooth and leaves the bowl clean. Pop in a plastic food bag and refrigerate to rest for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F) (gas 5) and place a baking tray/sheet in the oven to warm up at the same time.
Roll out the pastry onto a floured surface to a thickness of 6mm (¼ inch) and 2.5cm (1 inch) larger than the pie plate. Now cut a 1.25cm (½ inch) strip from around the edge of the pastry. Dampen the rim of the pie plate with water and then use the strip to cover the rim, pressing it down. Next dampen the strip of pastry. Then line the pie plate with the remaining pastry, gently pressing it down into the pie plate and around the rim to make sure no air is trapped but being careful not to stretch the pastry. Remove any excess pastry from around the edge of the rim and prick the base of the pastry with a fork.
Place the pie plate on the baking tray/sheet in the oven and bake blind for 15 minutes.
Then carefully remove the paper and baking beans, and return the pastry to the oven for a further 5–10 minutes until it is cooked through. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Reduce the oven temperature to 150°C (300°F) (gas 2).
For the filling
While the pastry is cooking, the filling can be prepared. Mix the cornflour with the water in a saucepan. Then stir in the zest and juice of the lemons. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring, until the mixture thickens.
Now reduce the temperature to medium and add the sugar, stirring until it has dissolved. Remove from the heat, cool the mixture for a couple of minutes, then beat in the egg yolks. Set aside.
For the meringue
Whisk the egg whites until stiff. Then gradually add the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, whisking well between each addition, until the mixture is stiff and glossy.
To finish
The pastry case can either be left in the pie plate or carefully removed. Place the pie plate or the pastry case only on the warmed baking tray. Now pour the lemon filling into the pastry case and then pile the meringue on top, making sure it completely covers the filling. Finally pull the meringue up into peaks using the tip of a knife.
Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. The meringue will be crisp and lightly browned on the outside but still soft on the inside.
It can be served warm or cold. If it is to be served warm, let it rest for 20 minutes after taking it out of the oven before slicing into portions.

Updated: May 2, 2018

Stuffed Sole

April 28, 2018 by Angie In Dinners, Fish Tagged lemon, parsley, sole, cream cheese Leave a comment

Stuffed Sole

Sole fillets are a delicate fish and here they are cooked with a cream cheese, parsley and lemon stuffing, which adds to the flavour of the fish without overpowering it. Cooks in just 20 minutes for a delicious meal.

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Stuffed Sole

Prepares: 4 servings

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes (oven)
Ingredients
8 sole fillets, about 140g (5 oz each)
55g (2 oz) cream cheese, softened (¼ cup)
½ cup fresh breadcrumbs (1 slice bread with crusts)
3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1½ lemons
freshly ground black pepper
paprika
You will also need an ovenproof dish large enough to take 4 fillets in a single layer, lightly greased.

Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) (gas 6)
Zest half a lemon and set aside.
Tip the breadcrumbs into a large frying pan/skillet and, over a medium heat, toast them until quite crispy, about 5 minutes. Shake the pan often to turn the crumbs.
Now tip the breadcrumbs into a large bowl and add the cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of the chopped parsley, black pepper, and the juice of the whole lemon. Mix to combine.
Place four of the fillets in the ovenproof dish in a single layer. Spread the filling over the four fillets then top with the four remaining fillets.
Squeeze the juice of the half lemon over the fish and then sprinkle a little paprika and the lemon zest on top.
Bake, uncovered, in the oven for 20 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
Garnish with the remaining parsley.
Serve with asparagus when in season. It is delicious with this dish as it complements the delicacy of the sole. Serve with whole green beans/haricot beans at other times.
Note
This dish can also be microwaved, covered, on high for 8 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes before serving.

Updated April 28, 2018

Leftover Chicken

April 17, 2018 by Angie In Chicken, Dinners Tagged courgettes, zucchini, chicken, tomato, leftover, linguini Leave a comment

Leftover Chicken

This is a very tasty way to use up leftover chicken. The chicken is coated in tomato and basil sauce with sautéed courgettes/zucchini and linguini. Just serve with crusty bread for a quick supper.

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Leftover Chicken

Prepares: 4 servings

Preparation time: about 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
340g (12 oz) cooked chicken (3 cups), sliced
1 jar tomato and basil pasta sauce
2 courgettes/zucchinis, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
225g (8 oz) linguini
basil leaves to garnish
To serve
crusty, white bread

Method
Pour the pasta sauce into a large pan and add the cooked chicken. Gently simmer for 15 minutes to heat through.
Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and add the pasta along with a little olive oil (this will avoid the pasta sticking together while cooking). Cook for the time as directed on the packet, then drain.
Heat the oil in a large sauté pan and add the sliced courgettes/zucchinis. Toss to coat with the oil and sauté for about 5 minutes over a medium heat, tossing frequently, until they are cooked through and beginning to colour.
Now add the drained pasta to the chicken and stir through. Then add the courgettes/zucchinis and stir to coat with the sauce.
Serve with a chunk of crusty, white bread.

Chicken Parmigiana

April 15, 2018 by Angie In Chicken, Dinners Tagged courgettes, zucchini, tomatoes, chicken, parmesan, mozzarella, tagliatelle, parmigiana, parmiagana 2 Comments

chicken parmigiana

Parmesan coated chicken breasts are baked in a tomato and basil sauce covered with mozzarella. They are served with tagliatelle tossed in chopped parsley and garlic butter and sautéed courgettes/zucchini.

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Chicken Parmigiana

Prepares: 4 servings

Preparation time 45 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
For the parmigiana
For the tomato sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
400g tin chopped/diced Italian tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato purée/paste
2 tbsp fresh basil, shredded
salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the chicken
28g (1 oz) Parmesan, finely grated (¼ cup)
28g (1 oz) flour (3 tbsp)
1 egg, beaten
28g (1 oz) butter (2 tbsp, or ¼ stick)
4 boneless chicken breasts, skinned
8 thin slices mozzarella cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper
fresh basil sprigs to garnish
For the tagliatelle
8 tagliatelle nests
28g (1 oz) butter (2 tbsp, or ¼ stick)
1 garlic clove, crushed
2–3 tbsp fresh flat-leaf/Italian parsley, chopped
To serve
2 courgettes/zucchini cut into 1.25cm (½ inch) slices
1 tbsp olive oil
You will also need an ovenproof dish large enough to take the four chicken breasts in a single layer

Method
Preheat the oven to 200C/400°F/gas mark 6
For the parmigiana
Put the olive oil and garlic into a pan over a medium-low heat and, as soon as the oil starts to sizzle, stir in the tomatoes and tomato purée. Simmer gently for 10 minutes to thicken the sauce a little. Remove from the heat and add the shredded basil leaves. Season.
Meanwhile, measure the flour into a plastic bag and season. Then add half the grated Parmesan and shake to mix. Spread out onto a large plate.
Tip the egg into a shallow dish.
Dip the chicken pieces in the egg, shaking off any excess egg while lifting them from the dish. Then coat with the flour and cheese mixture.
Melt the butter in a large frying pan/skillet and add the chicken pieces to the pan. Cook over a medium heat for 3 minutes on each side until they are lightly golden in colour. Transfer to the ovenproof dish and pour the tomato sauce around the chicken.
Lay two slices of mozzarella on top of each chicken breast then sprinkle over the remaining Parmesan.
Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for a further 10 minutes until the cheese is lightly browned.
For the tagliatelle
Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the tagliatelle and cook for the length of time directed on the packet.
While it is cooking mix the butter with the garlic and chopped parsley.
Drain the tagliatelle, return to the pan with the parsley butter and toss together.
For the courgettes/zucchini
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan/skillet over a medium heat. Add the the courgettes /zucchini and toss in the oil. Sauté for 3–5 minutes turning frequently until cooked through and beginning to colour.
To serve
Lift the chicken breasts from the pan onto four serving plates and spoon the tomato sauce around. Garnish the chicken with the basil sprigs.
Serve with the tagliatelle and courgettes/zucchini.

Updated: April 15, 2018

Spaghetti Bolognese with Cherry Tomatoes

April 15, 2018 by Angie In Dinners, Pastas Tagged tomatoes, beef, spaghetti, spaghetti bolognese, spag bol Leave a comment

Spaghetti Bolognese with Cherry Tomatoes

This spaghetti bolognese uses cherry tomatoes instead of chopped or diced tomatoes. The Italian tomatoes add a burst of sweetness to the sauce which makes it just a little bit different.

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Spaghetti Bolognese with Cherry Tomatoes

Prepares: 4 servings

Preparation time: 35 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour 10 minutes (hob)
Ingredients
1½ tbsp olive oil
400g (14 oz) minced/ground beef
115g (4 oz) streaky bacon/side bacon (about 4 rashers)
1 onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tbsp tomato purée/paste
120ml (4 fl oz) red wine (½ cup)
250ml (8 fl oz) hot beef stock (1 cup)
2 x 400g tins/cans cherry tomatoes
1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
1 bay leaf
a little grated nutmeg
2 tbsp curly leaf parsley, chopped
To serve
grated Parmesan
spaghetti
You will also need a large sauté pan.

Method
Heat half a tablespoon of the oil in the pan and brown the beef, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set to one side.
Cut the bacon rashers into cubes and add to the pan. Once the fat starts to run and they begin to brown, remove from the pan using the slotted spoon and set aside with the beef. This will take about 3–4 minutes.
Now, reduce the heat and add the remaining oil to the pan with the onion, celery, and carrot. Gently cook the vegetables for about 10 minutes until they soften, stirring frequently.
Stir through the garlic and tomato purée/paste and cook for a further minute.
Then return the beef and bacon to the pan. Stir in the red wine and increase the heat to medium. Let the wine bubble away until it has reduced by half.
Next, stir in the beef stock and add half the oregano, nutmeg, bay leaf, and tomatoes. Bring to the boil, cover and reduce the heat to very low. Simmer very gently for 45 minutes.
Just before serving, stir in the remaining oregano and half the parsley.
Serve the spaghetti sauce over the pasta and scatter the top with the remaining parsley and some grated Parmesan.

Updated: April 15, 2018

Basic Sponge Sandwich

April 14, 2018 by Angie In Cakes Tagged sponge, sandwich Leave a comment

Basic Sponge Sandwich

A simple light sponge recipe that is the basis of many kinds of sponge cakes, the famous one being the Victoria Sponge Sandwich. This basic sandwich sponge can be filled with a conserve or creamy filling and the top iced, usually with a soft icing, or simply covered with caster or icing sugar/powdered sugar.

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Basic Sponge Sandwich

Prepares: 6–8 servings

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20–25 minutes
Ingredients
115g (4 oz) self-raising/self-rising flour (⅔ cup + 2 tbsp)
½ tsp baking powder
115g (4 oz) butter, softened (½ cup, or 1 stick)
115g (4 oz) caster/white sugar (½ cup + 1 tbsp)
2 eggs, large (U.K.)/extra large (N.A.)
½ tsp vanilla extract
You will also need 2 x 18cm (7 inch) sandwich tins, greased and base-lined.

Method
Preheat the oven to 170C° (325°F) (gas 3)
Using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer makes this cake very quick to prepare.
First, sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl to introduce as much air as possible.
Then add the rest of the ingredients and mix for 1 minute until the mixture is creamy.
Divide evenly between the two pans and level the tops.
Bake towards the top of the oven on the same shelf for 20–25 minutes until firm to the touch. The sponge should spring back when gently tapped with a fingertip.
Leave in the tins for 1–2 minutes then carefully remove, peel off the lining, and cool on a wire rack.
Note
This is known as a two-egg cake, for a deeper sponge use 3 eggs and increase the rest of the ingredients accordingly, and bake for 30–35 minutes.
Tips
Always line the base of the tin even if it is non-stick. When greasing, brush butter on evenly. The cake will still stick if it is greased unevenly.
Have everything weighed or measured before beginning to mix.
No self raising flour? Add 1 level teaspoon baking powder to every 115g (4 oz) plain flour/cake and pastry flour. Sift the flour twice to incorporate as much air as possible and mix the two ingredients together thoroughly.
Butter should be at room temperature for baking. If you’ve forgotten to take it out of the fridge, it can be microwaved on defrost for 20–30 seconds, until the butter is soft but still holds its shape.
Leave at least 1 inch space all round tins so that the heat can circulate freely.
Give the sponges the baking time suggested in the recipe but use this as a guide. Ovens vary – some are hotter and so cakes will take less time to cook and vice versa. It is better to start checking a few minutes before the allotted time. and if the cake is cooked in less time take it out of the oven. Conversely, if it is not ready at the allotted time allow a couple more minutes and check again. Also, when a cake is ready you can smell it. So your sight and smell are good allies.
To tell when they are ready, gently touch in the centre with the fingertips and, if the mixture feels springy and no imprints remain, the cakes are baked. They should also shrink away from around the sides of the tin.
For more tips, here's a link to my page on Baking Cakes.

Beef Goulash

April 14, 2018 by Angie In Beef, Dinners Tagged onions, beef, tomato, goulash, green pepper Leave a comment

Beef Goulash

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Beef Goulash

Prepares: 4 servings

Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Ingredient
675g (1½ lb) stewing steak, cut into 2.5cm (1 inch cubes)
3 tbsp seasoned flour
2 medium onions, peeled and chopped
1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped
2 tbsp oil
2 tsp paprika
3 tbsp tomato purée/paste
nutmeg
salt and freshly ground black pepper
55g (2 oz) flour (⅓ cup + 1 tbsp)
600ml (20 fl oz) beef stock (2½ cups)
2 large tomatoes, skinned and quartered
bouquet garni*
150ml (5 fl oz) beer (⅔ cup)
*In Canada these little bags of bouquet garni aren’t available so I make my own. A simple bouquet garni consists of a sprig each of parsley and thyme, a bay leaf, 2 cloves, and a few peppercorns, tied together in muslin to form a sack.
To serve
egg noodles
You will also need a deep sided large sauté pan. A stove-top to oven pan is ideal, otherwise you will also need a large casserole dish.

Method
Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F) (gas 3)
Tip 3 tablespoons flour into a plastic storage bag and season. Shake bag to mix. Add the meat to the bag and shake again to coat the meat with the flour. Set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the pan over a medium-low heat and gently cook the onions and pepper for 5 minutes to soften, stirring occasionally. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and keep warm.
Add the remaining oil to the pan and increase the heat to medium. Add the beef cubes and lightly brown on all sides, about 5 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and stir through the paprika. Cook for a further minute.
Stir in the tomato purée/paste, seasoning, flour, and a little grated nutmeg. Cook for a further 2 minutes.
Gradually add the stock, stirring until well blended. Increase the heat to medium and cook the sauce until it is smooth and thick.
Remove from the heat. Return the onions and peppers to the pan. Then stir through the tomatoes and add the bouquet garni.
Cover and cook the goulash in the oven for 1¾ hours.
Stir in the beer and return the pan to the oven, covered, and cook for a further 10 minutes.
Serve over egg noodles.

Updated: April 14, 2018

Fish Pie Florentine

April 14, 2018 by Angie In Dinners, Fish Tagged potatoes, peas, haddock, spinach, salmon, cod, egg Leave a comment

Fish Pie Florentine

A fish pie made with chunks of white fish and salmon in a zesty cream sauce, with baby spinach and egg, topped with mashed potato sprinkled with cheese.

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Fish Pie Florentine

Prepares: 6 servings

Preparation time: 50 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Instructions
1kg (2 lb 4 oz) potatoes (about 7), cut into chunks
85g (3 oz) butter (⅜ cup, or ¾ stick)
55g (2 oz) flour (⅓ cup + 1 tbsp)
420ml (14 fl oz) milk (1¾ cups), plus extra for creaming the potatoes
60ml (2 fl oz) white wine (¼ cup)
3 tbsp lemon juice
salt and freshly ground black pepper
nutmeg
450g (1 lb) white fish fillet (e.g. haddock), skinned
450g (1 lb) salmon fillet, skinned
55g (2 oz) baby-leaf spinach
3 eggs
115g (4 oz) Cheddar cheese, grated/shredded (1 cup)
To serve
petit pois
You will also need a large ovenproof dish.

Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) (gas 6)
Put the potatoes in a large pan of cold salted water, bring to the boil, and cook for 20 minutes, until tender.
Add the eggs during the last 10 minutes (saves on another pan!). Once the eggs are ready, remove from the pan and run them under cold water. (This will prevent a dark rim forming round the yolk while they are cooling.)
Drain and mash the potatoes with 28g (1 oz) (⅛ cup, or ¼ stick) of the butter and a little milk, until creamy. Set aside.
Next, melt the rest of the butter in a pan and, once foaming, tip the pan and quickly add the flour. Stir to form a smooth paste and cook over a low heat for 2 minutes. Warm the milk (a microwave makes this quick) and gradually stir into the roux until smooth. Stir in the wine. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and gently cook for 5–10 minutes until the sauce is very thick, stirring constantly. (The sauce needs to be very thick because once the fish is added and cooks in the sauce, its juices will thin it.) Add the lemon juice, salt and pepper and a good grating of nutmeg.
Now cut the fish into bite-sized chunks and mix into the sauce with the spinach. Spoon into the ovenproof dish.
Peel the eggs, carefully cut into quarters and scatter them evenly over the top of the fish.
Cover with the mashed potato and sprinkle with the cheese.
Cover the dish with foil and cook in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil then cook for a further 10–15 minutes until the top is golden and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.
Serve with petit pois.

Updated: April 14, 2018

Lamb Meatballs in a Creamy Sauce

April 14, 2018 by Angie In Lamb, Dinners, Pastas Tagged lamb, meatballs, yogurt, wholegrain mustard, tagliatelle Leave a comment

Lamb Meatballs in a Creamy Sauce

These tasty nutmeg seasoned meatballs are cooked in a creamy, wholegrain mustard sauce and served with tagliatelle.

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Lamb Meatballs in a Creamy Sauce

Prepares: 4 servings

Preparation time: 50 minutes
Refrigeration time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 1 hour (oven)
Ingredients
2 slices white bread
2 tbsp milk
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
450g (1 lb) lamb mince/ground lamb
2 eggs, medium (U.K.)/large (N.A.), beaten
salt and freshly ground black pepper
¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
28g (1 oz) butter (2 tbsp, or ¼ stick)
600ml (20 fl oz) chicken stock (2½ cups)
1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
300ml (10 fl oz) crème frâiche (1¼ cups)
2 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch
To serve
serve with tagliatelle and a green salad
You will also need a large frying pan/skillet and a deep sided casserole dish

Method
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) (gas 4)
Remove the crusts from the bread and cut into rough pieces. Place in a bowl and moisten with the milk. Mix with a fork to break up into crumbs.
In a large bowl, mix together the soaked breadcrumbs, onion, lamb, eggs, seasoning, and nutmeg until thoroughly combined.
Shape into 32 meatballs, using wet fingers. Just keep a small bowl of water nearby. (Fingers dipped in flour will just become sticky.) Place them on a plate, cover, and chill for 1 hour to firm up.
Heat half the butter in the pan/skillet over a medium heat. When the butter is foaming, add half the meatballs. Shake them in the pan to keep them moving and cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer them to the casserole dish using a slotted spoon. Repeat with the remaining meatballs, adding extra butter if needed.
Pour the stock into the panskillet. Bring to the boil, scraping off any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Then stir in the mustard. Pour over the meatballs. Cover the dish with foil and cook above the centre of the oven for 45 minutes.
Mix the crème frâiche and cornflour/cornstarch together in a bowl, then stir into the casserole until well blended. Return to the oven for a further 15 minutes, uncovered, until bubbling. The sauce will become thick.
Serve over tagliatelle, and a salad on the side.

Updated: April 14, 2018

Simmered Tuscan Chicken

April 14, 2018 by Angie In Chicken, Dinners Tagged potatoes, chicken, saute, tuscan, beans Leave a comment

Simmered Tuscan Chicken

Chicken is cooked in one pan in a Tuscan sauce with diced potatoes, red peppers, and whole green beans. It is a very tasty dish is quick to prepare.

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Simmered Tuscan Chicken

Prepares: 4 servings

Preparation time: 35 minutes
Cooking time: 55 minutes
Ingredients
4 boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1.25cm (1 inch) cubes
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp olive oil
675g (1½ lb) potatoes (about 5 medium), peeled and cut into large chunks
1 red pepper, diced
1 jar Tuscan-style olive and garlic pasta sauce (Classico)
150ml (5 fl oz) good chicken stock (⅔ cup)
340g (12 oz) fresh or frozen whole green beans/haricot beans, cut in half
2 tsp fresh basil leaves
You will also need a deep-sided sauté pan with lid.

Method
First, add the potatoes to a pan of cold, salted water and bring to the boil. Parboil for 7 minutes then drain and leave until they are cool enough to handle. Dice into 1.25cm (1 inch) cubes and leave in a large bowl.
Now heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the sauté pan over a medium heat and add the chicken. Lightly brown on all sides, 4–5 minutes. Then remove from the pan and keep warm.
While the chicken is browning, add the diced pepper to the bowl of potato cubes and toss together with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
Once the chicken has been removed from the pan, add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
Now tip the potatoes and pepper into the pan, and sauté for a further 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Next, return the chicken to the pan and add the pasta sauce, chicken stock, and green beans. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover the pan, and simmer for 35 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Add the basil leaves during the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Updated: April 14, 2018