A Plaice for Everything

Meatball Soup with Lovage

2008-03-08T05:31:00.001-08:00

I saw this on The Peoples Cookbook earlier this week and decided I just had to give it a try. Although I had to wait three days for a packet of lovage from my favourite veg shop, I still attempted it.
Servings: 6-8
Level of difficulty: Easy
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients
For the meatballs
1 tbsp Olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
450g lean minced beef
small bunch Lovage, finely chopped
2 tbsp ground rice
1 egg
5-6 drops Tabasco
For the soup
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 celery stick, finely chopped
1.5 litre water
3 tbsp tomato puree
2 beef stock cubes
100ml white wine vinegar
1 tsp granulated sugar
small bunch Lovage, leaves only, roughly chopped
Method

2008-02-26T02:02:00.000-08:00

This is my Foodie Blog. Click 'My Other Blog' in the sidebar to go to 'A Place for Everything'

Lamb Cutlets on a Spiced Vegetable Broth

2008-01-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

(Serves four)

12 lean lamb cutlets
125g soaked soup mix (red split lentils, green split lentils, pearl barley and marrowfat peas)
1 white onion

2 sticks celery
2 med potatoes
1 eggplant (aubergine)
2 carrots
1 red pepper
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cumin
2 cloves crushed garlic
salt
freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 180o
Cook the cutlets for 15 minutes

Meanwhile...

Dice the vegetables small
Fry onion till soft and add the spices
Add the vegetables and sweat for 5 minutes
Add soup mix and stock, bring to the boil
Simmer for 20 minutes
Season to taste
Plate up and arrange 3 cutlets on top of each dish
I added a sprig of fresh coriander for extra colour

My Meatballs

2008-01-25T04:17:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

1 cup breadcrumbs
1 cup parmesan cheese
1lb lean minced beef
mixed herbs
garlic
1/2 cup water
salt and pepper to taste

For the sauce

2 tins chopped tomatoes
small tin tomato paste
garlic
1/2 chopped onion
1 tsp oregano
salt and pepper to taste
Mix ingredients together, slowly adding the water
Mould the mixture into meatballs
Brown the balls on each side and simmer in the sauce for 20 minutes
Add to pasta (I used fresh penne)
Top with parmesan

Menu Planner Monday

2008-01-14T01:17:00.000-08:00

My Menu Planner is so easy this week. Because we’re going away on Wednesday night/Thursday morning, I only have half a week to plan. Chef’s brother (also a chef) is minding the children, with his fiancee for the first couple of days, so good healthy meals guaranteed there! Then Chefs two sisters are coming to stay, they are pasta fans, so are my children. Sorted.
Monday~ Pasta Carbonara or leftover lamb casserole
(Us, Lamb Balti and basmati rice)
Tuesday~Sausage, mash and green beans
(us, not sure yet)
Wednesday~Scrambled eggs, potato waffles, peas and sweetcorn
(us, not a clue!)

Thanks for dropping in, have a look around!

Roasted Vegetable Jumble

2008-01-08T14:47:00.000-08:00

This pic looks much tastier if you click on it to enlarge!

1 aubergine
2 courgettes
1 butternut squash
3 sticks celery
4 large garlic cloves
2 large potatoes
6 cherry tomatoes
2 red onions
few snub carrots
2 sweet potatoes
sprigs of rosemary
seasalt
freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Prepare vegetables to bite-size pieces

Drizzle with GOOD oil

Add rosemary sprigs

Season

Roast for 45 minutes

Menu Planner

2008-01-07T02:32:00.000-08:00

Whilst cleaning the freezer last night, I couldn’t believe how many fishy stuff I had in there, so this week the children will be stuffed to the ‘gills’ (hehe) with a few fish dishes.
In no particular order, here’s the menu for this week. Myself and Chef will be having more grown up food!

Cod fillets with sweetcorn and boiled potatoes
Vegetable fingers with peas and fresh mashed potatoes
Chicken and sweetcorn lattice with basmati rice and green beans
Fish fingers in batter with jumbo wedges and cauliflower
Whiting with garlic sauce and steamed vegetables
Fried/scrambled eggs, potato waffles and baked beans
Roast lamb with roasted potatoes, carrot and swede mash, Brussels sprouts, Yorkshire pudding and the worlds best gravy for all of us.

More menu planners here

My First Ever Meatloaf

2008-01-05T17:58:00.000-08:00

2 grated carrots
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 cup Heinz tomato ketchup
600g lean pork mince
200g leftover roast beef
100g spicy chorizo sausage chopped fine
2 eggs, beaten slightly
1 tbsp dried mixed herbs
2tbsp butter
1/2 cup chopped pistachios
11/2 tsp seasalt
11/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large heavy skillet cook the onion, garlic and carrot in butter, over moderate heat, stirring, for about 5 minutes.
Cover and stir occassionally until the carrots are tender, about 5 more minutes.
Stir in salt and pepper, tabasco and balsamic vinegar and 1/3 a cup of ketchup.
Cook for 1 more minute.
In a large bowl, combine the meats, eggs, bread crumbs, vegetables, pistachios and mixed herbs
Form into a loaf and put into a rectangular baking pan with 2 inch high sides
Cover loaf with a few squirts of ketchup!
Bake meat loaf in oven for 1 hour.

Menu Planner

2007-12-17T02:52:00.000-08:00

Monday~ Vegetable Casserole
Tuesday~Spaghetti Bolognese
Wednesday~ Cod Fillets, rustic fries and buttered peas
Thursday~ Chunky Tomato and Meatballs with homemade soda bread
Friday~ The Chipper
Saturday~ Homemade pizza
Sunday~ 40 Clove garlic chicken with all the trimmings!

More menu planners here

Roast Duck

2007-12-16T13:39:00.000-08:00

Gatorfan posted a recipe I tried today. Although it was a very straightforward recipe, the results were very disappointing. I bought a duck which should have fed three of us (others were having Salmon) there was very little meat on the bird which only fed Chef. I ended up with large plate of vegetables!

I wouldn't even take a pic of the result!

Spinach Bacon And Parmesan Pasta Recipe

2007-12-04T01:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Irishmama for passing this onto the Foodies!

Ingredients

1/2 box of penne pasta, preferably Barilla plus
6 slices bacon or turkey bacon
2 T garlic butter, divided
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pkg button mushrooms, sliced
garlic salt to taste
1/2 bag of baby spinach
1 T flour
1 c half and half
1/2 c fresh grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook penne pasta and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a big skillet, cook the bacon. (If you’re using real bacon, you’ll need to drain most of the extra grease off.)

Set the cooked bacon aside on a plate and crumble once cool.

In the leftover fat and 1 T of the garlic butter, sauté the garlic and onion over medium-low until very well browned, 20-30 mins

Add mushrooms, season with garlic salt, and cook until reduced, 10 or so minutes.

Add the spinach and cook over medium for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Mix together the pasta, bacon and the sautéed vegetables in a large serving bowl.

In the still hot pan, melt the remaining T of garlic butter. Add flour and make a paste.

Add a couple of ounces of half and half and stir well until no lumps remain.

Slowly add the rest of the half and half, stirring constantly.

Once smooth, boil 30 to 60 seconds until just slightly thickened, still stirring constantly.

Add the parmesan to the sauce and stir just until melted.

Pour sauce over pasta, bacon and veggie combo, and mix well.

Serve with additional parmesan cheese if desired.

Pea & Ham Broth

2007-11-29T05:21:00.000-08:00

For the recipe and more pics, go here

Tournedos Rossini

2007-11-11T06:54:00.001-08:00

When I made the beetroot with goats cheese, although the starter was lovely, this time I added creme fraiche. It was much creamier

Red wine jus

Fois gras

Fillet steaks sealed

I wish I'd have taken a few more photographs of last nights dinner. I feel awkward doing it when we have guests, especially if they don't know I have a food blog!
So these pics were taken just before they arrived.

Tournedos Rossini

2007-11-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

This is what Chef has asked me to make for main course on Saturday evening. His brother, (also a chef) and girlfriend are coming over for dinner. Look here at the video...

Beetroot ~ the Posh Way

2007-11-04T01:49:00.000-07:00

I saw this recipe on UKTVFood. I just had to try it. It's probably the most complicated starter I've ever made, but it was well worth the effort.

Click on pic to enlarge

Raspberry Balsamic Chicken

2007-11-03T05:07:00.000-07:00

Raspberry Balsamic Chicken*

- 2 tsp. olive oil

- 1/2 cup purple onion, sliced thin

- 1 1/2 tsp. minced fresh or 1/2 tsp.dried thyme

- 4 skinned, boneless chicken breasts

- 2/3 cup seedless raspberry preserves

- 4 tbls. balsamic vinegar

- kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Sprinkle each side of chicken with equal parts of the thyme, salt and pepper.Add the chicken to skillet.

Cook chicken about 5-8 minutes, when you turn it over, add the onions
Continue cooking about 10 minutes, stirring up onions. Remove chicken to a platter, reduce heat to medium-low, add the vinegar, preserves, and salt and pepper to taste.
Stir constantly until the preserves melt. Add the chicken back until it's just cooked through

Thanks to the Food Snob

Saltimbocca alla Romana

2007-11-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

4 veal scallopini (thinly sliced and pounded thinner)
4 slices prosciutto
4 sage leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup white wine

Directions:

1. Lay the veal out flat and top with a slice of prosciutto.
2. Place a sage leaf at one end and roll the veal up.
3. Pierce the roll with a toothpick to hold it together.
4. Heat the oil in a pan.
5. Add the veal rolls and brown on all sides.
6. Add the wine and deglaze the pan.

I don't want to wash dishes!

2007-10-27T05:53:00.000-07:00

Jenn over at Leftover Queen is the host for the Royal Foodie Joust each month. Last month the challenge was won by the Brittany at The Pie Lady. The winner chooses 3 ingredients for the next challenge. She chose mushrooms, herbs and cheese.

Ingredients

4 large flat mushrooms

12 balls of Broilie

I small onion, chopped finely

Few chopped coriander leaves

I cup breadcrumbs

salt and freshly milled black pepper

Preheat oven to 200 degrees

Cut the mushroom stalks, chop them and add to other ingredients. Mix and divide mixture between the four mushrooms. Add a little more breadcrumbs on the top for extra crunch.

Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. I drizzled a little oil on the plate from the cheese tub. I added a little coriander for garnish.

'All Irish' Stuffed Mushrooms

2007-10-26T13:21:00.001-07:00

I love the choice of ingredients for my very first Royal Foodie Joust. Thanks to The Pie Lady for that.
In this recipe I have used local Irish produce where possible and kept it simple. I could have pored over many of Chef's (Hubby) recipe books for hours, but decided to go with my instinct and not to try too hard! Maybe next month I may show off a little.
I love soft cheese and used Boilie which is very tasty and goes well with most types of mushrooms. I could eat it till the cows come home!
I chose large flat mushrooms because they were most suitable for what I wanted to cook. Although the cheese already has herbs, I decided to add my favourite herb, coriander.

The Joust

2007-10-20T02:58:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt at the Joust, I'm a little excited, a little nervous, but what the hell!
I have my ingredients in the fridge, a little advice from Chef (Hubby) and the rest is up to me.
Chef was given a great camera for his 40th birthday. He has hardly used it, so here's my chance. The first few pics on the blog will be from my camera, an Olympus digital which I use a lot on my other blog.

I wrote a letter to santa last month to ask for a couple of kitchen gadgets. I think if I'm a good girl, I'll get most items on the list!