Tuesday 11 March 2008

Tuna Ciabatta Pizzas

These make a simple quick dinner

1 herbed ciabatta - I like Lidl's version
4 Tbsp tomato puree
1 tin tuna
1 ball mozzarela
50g grated cheddar
Dried italian herbs
4 ripe cherry tomatoes
1 roasted red pepper
S&p if required
Chili infused olive oil for drizzling

1) Carefully slice the ciabatta in half and place on a foil lined baking tray, pre-heat oven to 210 / 190 fan

2) Slice the mozzarela, tomatoes and pepper and drain the tuna and flake up

3) Spread the tomato puree over the two halves, top with the tuna, tomatoes, pepper then the cheese, sprinkle with herbs and drizzle a little chili oil over, bake for 10-12 minutes or until bubbling

Monday 3 March 2008

Apple and blue cheese salad

For mothers day I made this salad and it was a great cominbation!

1 pack of Salad of rocket, baby spinach and watercress
Few slices Serrano ham
2 Apples
Pack Castello creamy gorganzola
Jar tesco finest red onion relish
1 lemon

1) Slice the apple, discarding the core and place in a bowl of chilled water with half the lemon juice

2) On a small plate or dish place a small pile of the salad mix, place a good wedge of the gorganzola on the side, loosely shread over the ham and then dry the apple slices quickly and place on top, serve immediately with the relish on the side


So simple and easy yet delicious!

Strawberry Galettes

Following on from the Mothers Day thread, the yummy Dessert recipe is as follows:

Easy
Serves as many as you make (this makes about 6!)

Ingredients:

1 sheet ready to roll puff pastry
Plain flour for dusting
Handful ripe strawberries
1 tbsp Disarano liqueur
1 teaspoon granulated sugar + 1 more

1) Halve and quarter the strawberries, pour over liqueur and chill for a couple of hours

2) Pre-heat oven to 200o / 180 fan. Carefully roll out the pastry sheet and using a wide mug or bowl cut out circles (this can be done in advance and kept in cling film in fridge)

3) Sprinkle over some sugar and press onto the circles, make a small pile with the strawberries in the middle, with the leftover liqueur place in a small pan with the remaining sugar and boil until disolved, when cooled slightly brush gently over the strawberries and bake for about 12-14 minutes or until crispy, leave to cool for about 10 mins and serve with some lovely ice-cream (I used Rodda's clotted cream ice cream, which is creamy and buttery)


**I also made these with sliced tinned peaches but need a bit more sugar than strawberry version**

Mediteranean Vegetable Bake


Serves two:
Prep: 25 mins
Easy
Cooking time: 20-25 mins

Ingredients:

1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 medium sized aubergine
1 medium sized onion
2 handfuls mature grated cheddar
1 tin chopped italian tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon dried italian herbs
s&p to taste
Spray sunflower oil

1) De-seed and roughly dice the peppers, chop the onion and sliced the aubergine length ways into 1/2 cm slices

2) Place the tomatoes and herbs in a small saucepan and simmer for 25 minutes

3) Heat a griddle pan to medium, spray liberally with oil, fry the onions for 2 minutes, add the peppers and fry for about 8-10 minutes or until softened and golden, put to one side, pour some oil into the pan and fry the aubergines until opaque and soft but browned, drain on kitchen paper (you will need to do this in batches)

4) Pre-heat oven to 200o / 180 fan

5) In a smallish tin or baking dish, make a layer with aubergine slices, top with half the onion & pepper mix and pour oven 1/3 of the tomato sauce, sprinkle over 1/3 of the cheese, then repeat, the last layer being cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbling



Delicious and moreish!

Great cold for lunch the next day too!

Sunday 2 March 2008

Happy Mothers Day!!

Wishing a very happy mothers day to all the mummies out there!

I have had my mum over today and we had a lovely lunch of:

Salad of rocket, baby spinach and watercress with serrano ham, sliced apple and creamy gorganzola with red onion relish which was perfect!

Main we had maple roasted gammon on a bed of creamed cauliflower and roasted vine tomatoes mmm

Dessert was puff pastry galettes with disarano soaked strawberries and glazed with the leftover liquer boiled with sugar, served with some lurvely Rodda's clotted cream ice cream

Wine was a nice bottle of Macon Rose that went very well with menu!

Mum loved it all so that was the best thing!!
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