Saturday, March 29, 2014

Beef and bean stew

For the last couple of weeks I've been celebrating spring :) Hurray!Days are much longer now and the sun is showing more often.Hurray! First plants for my garden already bought, they are just waiting for me to find some spare time to be planted. The evenings are still quite chilly though, so I haven't got rid of my cosy jumpers yet and  I still like to warm myself up with some hearty meals like this delicious stew.If you like beans you will fall in love with it, just like I have :) BTW!IT'S FRIDAY :D






RECIPE:

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS:

2 tbsp rapeseed oil/or any other oil
4 shallots, sliced
3 garlic cloves,sliced
200g potatoes, peeled and chopped
50g tomato puree
2x400g tins of chopped tomatoes
200g mixed beans (I soak mine and cook the day before - you might as well use tinned)
400g beef, diced
250ml water
2 bay leaves
small bunch of thyme(I used dry bunch of thyme)
salt and pepper

METHOD:

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Cook the onions,garlic and beef, stirring for around 10-15 minutes until onions are soft and meet is cooked.

2. Add the potatoes, tomato puree, chopped tomatoes, water and herbs:bay leaves and bunch of thyme tied with a string.Season with salt and pepper.Simmer for around 30 minutes.Add beans and simmer for next 5-7 minutes.

3. Divide the stew among bowls, top with parsley leaves, then serve.

Monday, March 24, 2014

RICOTTA PANCAKES

My favourite pancakes :) So fluffy, so soft, so tasty. Just disappear too quickly...




 
Recipe by Nigella Lawson with my little twist :)

RECIPE:

Makes about 16

INGREDIENTS:

250 grams ricotta cheese
125 ml milk (I used organic soya milk - mniam!)
2 large eggs (separated) 
100 grams plain flour 
1 teaspoon baking powder  
2 teaspoons oil 
1 ripe banana, mashed
2 tbsp honey or caster sugar

Serve with:

1 banana, sliced
liquid honey
handful of hazelnuts, chopped

METHOD:

1.Place the ricotta, milk,egg yolks, mashed banana and sugar into a bowl and mix well to combine. Stir in the flour, baking powder and  gently whisk to make a smooth batter. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks and fold them into the ricotta mixture.

2.Heat the oil in a large frying pan and drop in heaped tablespoons of batter.

3.Cook the pancakes for about 1 minute until golden and then flip them over and cook for another minute.

4. Serve with bananas, hazelnuts and honey.











Sunday, March 16, 2014

ROASTED CHICKEN

A special roast for a special occasion or just a special roast for an ordinary Sunday :) Enjoy :)



RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS:

whole chicken(around 1.5kg)
50 ml rapeseed oil
handful of fresh thyme, chopped
6 garlic cloves,crushed
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
salt
pepper

METHOD:

1.Preheat the oven to 180C/160Fan/Gas4

2. Mix oil with lemon juice, crushed garlic, thyme, salt and pepper and cover chicken with this mixture.

3.Place the chicken on a baking tray and bake for 2 hours and 15 - 30 minutes.To check that it’s cooked, push a skewer through the thickest part of the thigh. The juices will run clear when ready.I like to keep mine in the oven for a little bit longer so the meat is literally melting...

Saturday, March 15, 2014

BREAKFAST IN BED

I can't remember last time having lie in, not even on Saturday or Sunday. I normally get up at 7.30 - 8.00 at the weekends.I don't just wake up - I set my alarm :) No, I don't have kids :) and I don't have to get up for work either :) I'm working in a bit different way - at home. Studying, reading, taking photos, cooking....my day it's like a whirlwind and by the time I realize it's late evening and I haven't done everything I intended to. This Saturday wasn't going to be any different...

For the last couple of days it was really foggy here in Tamworth.On Thursday I was walking to work and couldn't stop raving over the beautiful milky mist that was setting around the town.Took few pictures with my phone, but didn't really like them. Right I thought - I'm going to take my camera for my Friday morning walk to work, and I did. It was beautiful.I've never taken any pictures of foggy scenery before so by the time I set my camera I only had time to take few pictures and had to dash to work. But I wanted more!So the plan was that Saturday morning I'm getting up at 7.00, taking all my equipment and I'm setting off on a quest to ''catch'' the beautiful fog :) I checked the weather forecast the day before - ''chance of fog'' - sounds promising....

7 o'clock - my alarm goes off!I'm getting out of bed, peeping my head through tick curtains and much to my surprise there is no fog...but beautiful sunshine instead.Hmm...no fog, no other plans....maybe?.... lazy Saturday? - and nice breakfast in bed!!! :)






What do you need?

1 person that will do it for you :)

ALSO:

500ml greek - style yoghurt
1- 2 kiwi fruit, sliced
2 tbsp oats
1 tsp milled flaxseeds
2 tbsp sunflower seeds
handful of mixed nuts
one half of grapefruit

FOR A DRINK:

2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp honey
150 ml warm - but not hot water

WHAT TO DO?

1.Place yoghurt in your favourite bowl, top it up with oats, seeds,and kiwi fruit.Ready!
2. For the lemon drink.Add honey and lemon juice into warm water and mix well.Ready.
3. Serve with grapefruit and a handful of nuts :)

EATEN ONLY IN BED!