Sunday 26 December 2010

How to cook a Gammon

This really is the easiest way to cook a full round gammon or ham. You do not need to add any seasoning, it really is a great way to cook this joint and ideal for any buffet.

Place the gammon in a large pan and cover with water. Let the water boil then simmer for aprox 2 to 3 hours depending on the size of the joint. Empty water out and leave on a plate to rest for at least 1half hours before serving.

Friday 24 December 2010

How to cook a turkey breast

If you are going to cook a turkey breast as opposed to a full christmas turkey then here is a simple no nonsense way to do it.

pre heat your oven to approx 200
cover your turkey breast in plenty of butter
add some streaky bacon on the top
now place in a roasting bag and make a few pricks in the bag and cook for approx 35mins per kilo.
use the juices to make gravy....Now how simple is that!



Saturday 18 December 2010

Omelet Pizza

Salad Omelet Pizza

This is great if you want to lose weight but really good for you.

First chop up your salad very fine,you can use lettuce,toms,onions,cucumber,peppers, grated carrots, shredded beetroot, almost any salad you have in your fridge. Put a frying pan on a low heat with just a wipe of oil on the bottom, use a piece of kitchen paper for this.whisk up for one person two eggs, if you want to lose some weight use only one egg yolk, but both whites no salt but some pepper, add to pan, as its heating add all salad, start with the lighter bits and so on, you can then put tuna, chicken, ham or what you like on top, sprinkle with herbs and garlic powder, Cayenne or any other herbs or spices you like, then you can add some grated cheese but not too much if you want to lose weight. By the time you have put all the bits on top, the base will be almost cooked, pop under the grill to brown it will look like a pizza.put back on the hob till it moves easily when shaken. THEN EAT."

Submitted by Pamela Ann Williams - Spain

Friday 17 December 2010

30 minutes with Jamie Oliver

  7 minute Cheesecake -  Jamie Oliver is without a doubt one of the most popular chefs on our TV at the moment and his 30 minute meals are not only great tasting but easy and simple to make. I have tried out a few of his recipes. My favorite one is homemade cheesecake. The reason is that its so easy and very cheap to make that I doubt I will every buy a ready made one again. I may have changed it slightly from how he showed it on TV, but that's the idea, you can make it with the flavours you like best. I purchased only the most basic of products from the local supermarket, so use their own brand to save money.

Ingredients 
digestive biscuits or ginger nut biscuits to add extra flavour to the base
creme fresh either low fat or normal depending on if you are watching your weight
lemon curd (marmalade or jam if you prefer)
small tin of mandarins (use whatever fruit your prefer)
half pack of butter

Directions
Crush the biscuits but not too fine if you want to keep a nice rustic crunch to the base
add quarter pack of butter to a pan and melt then add the biscuits and stir in until all mixed together
remove from heat and place in 4 glasses or whatever you want to serve your cheesecake in then add a spoonful of lemon curd on top then add spoonful of the mandarins then add the creme fresh.  Put in fridge for half hour and serve with some grated chocolate on top.

Tuesday 14 December 2010

Cooking For Health: How to use a Wok

Cooking For Health: How to use a Wok: "Cooking with a wok is both simple and easy but just a few tips if you have never used one before can make the difference to how successful y..."

Pork Ribs with bbq sauce

PORK RIBS WITH BBQ SAUCE
These ribs will melt in your mouth if cooked correctly. They are easy to make and make a great starter or serve half a rack per portion as a main meal. If you prefer to leave out the marinade then they taste just as delicious served with salt and pepper.

Ingredients
Rack of pork ribs
Tomato Sauce
Worcester sauce
honey
sherry

Directions
Boil a large pan of slightly salted water
add the rack of ribs and simmer for 1half hours
Remove and leave to drain




Marinade
Combine the sherry, tablespoon of tomato sauce, tsp Worcester sauce and tsp honey and mix
pour over the ribs and place on a backing tray and leave to marinade for half hour

turn oven to med to high heat and cook until the sauce has turned slight sticky



How to use a Wok

Cooking with a wok is both simple and easy but just a few tips if you have never used one before can make the difference to how successful your Chinese dish will be.


Rub some oil on the inside of the wok using some kitchen roll before use. Ensure the wok is placed on a high heat and is very hot before adding any food. You should hear your food sizzle as its added. Stir the food quickly then serve.

To Clean
Rinse under warm water and dry with kitchen paper. You can also re oil before storing the pan ready to use next time. 


Purchasing a Wok
Woks come in all various sizes and shapes. You can buy non stick, even electric woks but by far the best and most authentic woks are make from cast iron. You will need to ensure this is kept oiled at all times.


Monday 13 December 2010

Cooking For Health: Cooking with eggs

Cooking For Health: Cooking with eggs: "Boiled, Poached, Fried, Scrambled, you name it they are the most important ingredient to always have at hand. So I am dedicating this page t..."

Cooking with eggs

Boiled, Poached, Fried, Scrambled, you name it they are the most important ingredient to always have at hand. So I am dedicating this page to Eggs and what you can do with them to make a nice healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner or supper.

Breakfast - Perfect Boiled egg with soldiers

2 Eggs and 2 Toast
add cupful of water to a pan
add tsp salt (helps stop the eggs breaking)
                                                                  simmer until cooked, ie  2half mins soft boiled 3mins med

For the Soldiers - butter toast and cut into long strips to dip into your egg.

French Toast

add two or 3 eggs to a bowl and whisk
get a non stick frying pan nice and hot with just a touch of spray oil added
dip a thick slice of bread into the egg mixutre ensuring its coated on both sides
add to the hot pan and fry until golden brown on both sides





Poached Eggs on Toast

Add warm water to a saucepan and add 2 or 3 drops of vinegar (this is very important)
crack two eggs into the pan and simmer gently
you can see when they are cooked as the yolks will be covered in egg white
use a draining spoon to remove and place onto toast. Add black pepper for more taste.

Scrambled eggs in seconds

Add two eggs to a plastic jug
quarter cup of milk or water
whisk with fork
place in micro for 30 secs then take out and stir with fork, put back in microwave for further 30 secs and add to toast for a filling breakfast
(times may vary depending on microwave)


Seafood Spaghetti

This dish is so simple to make but looks like something you would have in a Italian restaurant. Its simple to make, taste lovely and also very healthy, so if you want to impress your girlfriend/boyfriend and show that you can coo more than just spaghetti bolognaise then try this dish for a delightful change.

You may notice that most of the dishes have actual measurements, and as most people ignore them anyway feel free to guess. You will be amazed at how often you are right.

Ingredients
Handful of spaghetti
half tub of creme fresh or low fat cream cheese
half tsp chills
large drizzle of olive oil
cooked prawns 

Directions
Add spaghetti to a large pan of boiling water
cook until tender and not too soft or too hard then drain
place back in the pan and replace on a low heat then add the creme fresh or cream cheese and stir
finally add the cooked prawns and a drizzle of olive oil
you can now season to taste for example I add salt, pepper and sometimes a small sprinkle of dried chilli's and fresh coriander. This not only makes the dish look superb but really does add that little bit of extra taste.















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Saturday 11 December 2010

Cheap Chinese

Chinese Chicken/Pork or Vegetable Stir Fry       

The beauty about cooking Chinese food is its simplicity. Its cheap, its healthy and its so tasty. So all you need is a Wok or a large frying pan, some sesame oil and you can make almost any dish taste fantastic. 

Chicken or Pork - uncooked  and marinated in soy sauce, tsp tomato sauce, sherry and garlic or chili  for minimum of 20 mins.
handful of Sugar snap peas or any other hard veg such as peppers or cucumber
Mushrooms
Noodles - pre cooked are great which you can buy from most supermarkets

Directions:
Add a couple of teaspoons of sesame oil to the pan and get the pan very hot. Then add the meat until it sizzles and coat with the hot oil. Cook for aprox 1 or 2mins then add the peas & mushrooms. Finally add the noodles and stir until heated through. Serve in a bowl and get yourself a pair of chopsticks to add that authentic feel to the dish....

Hummus

Simple Hummus - quick - simple - tasty                        

1 small can chick peas (drained)
1 tablespoon of tahini (sesame seed mush) Tesco's etc
1 garlic clove
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
salt, coarse black pepper

Blitz all this in a blender until smooth, simples!  Serve as a dip or a side dish and taste delicious with crusty bread.

 Receipie submitted by Martino Catalano 

Williams-Sonoma Simple Classics Cookbook: The Best of Simple Italian, French & American Cooking (Complete Series (San Francisco, Calif.).) 

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Spinach with Goats cheese on toast

Cheese on Toast with a difference
This is my own concoction. Cook spinach, place on bread already toasted on one side, top with sliced goats cheese, tomatoes, olive oil and salt and pepper, then grill until cheese bubbles and bread toasted. Healthy in that iron is absorbed into your body with the help of vitamins from tomatoes. Olive oil of course is good for maintaining and promoting healthy bone structure. Voila!"

Submitted by Mandy Catalano 

Tuesday 7 December 2010

Tasty Tandoori Chicken

Tasty Low Fat Tandoori Chicken

This is one of my favourite dishes. Simple to make and really tasty. You can make it mild medium or really hot depending on your taste. Ideal for snacks, suppers with dips or served with rice and pitta bread for a filling dinner.



You can use chicken legs, wings, thighs or breasts. Just choose your favourite part of the chicken and add to the following marinade. Best to leave overnight to get the real flavour but I have left for just an hour and it still tastes great.

To Make the Marinade:- 
Medium to large tub of yogurt (plain or low fat plain will do)
tsp tomato sauce or paste
3 cloves of crushed garlic
tsp lemon juice
3 tsp olive oil
few dried or fresh chilli's if you like yours spicy
tablespoon of tandoori paste or powder
grated ginger (optional)

Mix together then before adding your chicken score the meat so it will absorb the sauce. Leave to marinade then when ready to cook ensure your over is preheated to med to high heat. Place chicken or tray or cooking rack uncovered and cook for aprox 20 - 30 minutes depending on what cuts of meat are using. You can use this marinade for chicken chunks and then grill if you want something quicker.Add to a pita bread with chopped cabbage for a really healthy and filling lunch.


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Breakfast in a rush

Porridge in a hurry  

Without a doubt the best way to start  the day is with a bowl of filling porridge. Its great to keep your hunger at bay until lunch time and by following this very easy method will take you less than 2 half mins to make.

1 x Pack Ready Break
cup of milk or use half water half milk
1 small banana

Directions: - Empty the content of the packet into a bowl, then using the packet fill it up with milk. Pour over the porridge, and add sliced banana. Microwave for 2 - 2 half mins.

Cooking For Health: Butternut Squash Soup

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Butternut Squash Soup

  Spicy Butternut Chilli Soup
Served with garlic croutons

This spicy soup is ideal for a winter warmer and if you are watching your figure you will be even more pleased to realise this is very low calorie, in fact if you are on weight watchers you can make this a zero point soup by following the recipe and omitting the garlic croutons & Mozzarella. 

Serves 2 large portions or 4 small 

half chopped onion
half peeled butternut squash diced
2 peeled and diced carrots
2 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
pint half of chicken or veg stock
liberal sprinkle of dried chilli's or 3 fresh chopped
Sprinkle of sea salt

Get your pan hot and put all the above ingredients in. Boil water and add stock cube or heat ready made stock up and pour over the veg. Bring to boil and simmer for 20mins. Blend to your liking, either very smooth of chunky depending on taste. 

Crusty bread spread with garlic butter, or olive oil and rub some garlic on top. Grill until toasted then dice into squares and sprinkle on top of soup. Add a few bits of mozzarella into the hot soup and serve. This soup really is a fantastic healthy option, easy to make and low in fat & cals.

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