Prawn and Pea Linguine

Think this is a simple but tasty dish. Had a craving for prawns and was part of a deal so plus on the tasty side and money side.

Serves 2

200g Linguine

185g King Prawn

1 / 2 Cloves Garlic, crushed

Half a small glass of white wine

Handful of Parsley, chopped 

Small Onion, finely diced

4 tbsp Double Cream

Mug of Frozen Peas

Olive Oil

1. Boil water in a medium sized pan. Put the linguine in and allow to cook according to the pack.

2. While the pasta is cooking heat oil in a frying pan. Fry the garlic and onions for 2 minutes. Then add the prawns to the pan and cook thoroughly (they should be pink coloured). Then add the lemon juice and white wine. Allow it to reduce a bit. 

3. Before the pasta is cooked, add the peas to the pan. Once peas have been cooked drain and return to pan. 

4. Add the double cream to the frying pan. Heat through for a minute on a medium heat. Then tip the sauce into the pan with the pasta and add half the parsley. Season to taste and give a final stir. Serve with a sprinkle of parsley.

Minestrone (V)

So you have just been out Christmas shopping or you have spent too much before your next pay cheque, you need something quick and cheap. This recipe is for you. All the ingredients here, you can find in your cupboards, bottom of fridges or freezers.

Serves: 4

100g-200g Pasta (Broken Bits, some left at the bottom of the bag)
2 tsp Red Pesto
1 Litre Veg Stock (If not got, use other stock in cupboard)
300ml Passata or Chopped Tomatoes
1 Mug of Frozen Peas
2 Mugs of Frozen Mixed Veg (3 if it includes Peas)
Can of Beans/Pulses (Brollotti, Cannellini etc)
Bit of Grated Cheese (Parmesan/Cheddar/Whatever is available)
1 Onion/4 Shallots
Knob of Butter/Knob of Garlic Butter (If any left from French Onion Soup Recipe)
Pinch of Thyme
Pinch of Sage
Salt and Pepper

1. Get a pan and add the butter and fry the onion/shallots for a couple of minutes. Add the stock and passata/chopped tomatoes. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to simmer.

2. Add the pasta and frozen vegetables to the pan and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the red pesto to the pan with the can of beans. Heat through for a couple of minutes. Add the herbs to the pan and stir. Taste and season. Serve with grated cheese


Tip: Just see what's in your cupboard or what you have lying around. Make this your own recipe and be creative.

Kedgeree

An indian dish with lots of interesting thing in it. Tweaked the original recipe a bit but tastes fantastic.

Serves 4

600g Smoked Haddock

50g Butter

1 onion, finely diced

1 cup of Frozen Peas

1 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Ground Coriander

2 tsp Curry Powder (Medium or Hot)

2 Green Chillies, finely sliced

1 cup of Basmati Rice

700ml Fish/Vegetable Stock

1 Cinnamon Stick

100ml Double Cream

3 Hard Boiled Eggs, cut into wedges

2 tbsp Fresh Parsley

2 tbsp Flat Leaf Coriander 

1. Poach the haddock in a shallow frying pan, skin facing up, cover with boiling water and simmer fot about 10 minutes.

2. Drain the fish and pat dry the fish with paper towels. Remove the skin and flake the fish into bite size chunks and put aside.

3. Heat the butter in a large pan and add the onion. Fry until golden then add the curry powder, cumin, ground coriander and chilli. Stir for about a minute.

4. Add the rice and stir well. Add the stock to the pan with the cinnamon stick.  Cover and simmer for about 10-15 minutes.

5. Remove the cinnamon stick from the pan and stir in the haddock, egg and herbs to the pan. Season and serve.

Pea Soup With Croutons

This soup is quick and easy and only needs a few ingredients, so cheap to make. Plus it's that time of year where it's getting colder and we all need something to warm ourselves up. 

Serves 4

Soup

400g Frozen Peas

1 Onion, finely chopped

1/2 tsp Mint

1/2 Garlic Clove, Crushed

3 Rashers of Bacon, chopped

Half a Pint of Vegetable Stock

Salt and Pepper

Croutons

1/2 tbsp Olive Oil

1 Garlic, crushed

2 Rashers of Bacon, chopped finely

1/2 Slices of Bread

1.  Fry the bacon for a few minutes. Then add the garlic and onion and fry until softened. 

2. Add the Vegetable stock to the pan with the peas and boil until the peas have cooked through.

3. While the peas are boiling, mix the olive and garlic together and dip the bread in oil. Fry the bread and bacon in a pan.

4. Once the peas have cooked, blitz with a handblender. Season if needed. Pour into bowls, top with croutons and bacon and serve with crusty bread. 

Lemon and Prawn Pasta

A quick midweek meal which is easy on the wallet and the stomach.

Serves 2

150g Linguine

Small Carton of Double Cream

100g Frozen Peas

Handful of Parsley

1 Lemon

200g Prawns

Parmesan, grated

1 Egg Yolk

Salt and Pepper

1. Put the pasta in a pan and boil according to the instructions.

2. In a bowl put the egg yolk, zest and juice on a lemon, cream, parmesan, salt and pepper. Mix well.

3. A few minutes before the pasta is cooked, add the prawns and peas to the pan. Drain the water and put pasta, prawns and peas back in the pan. Put the sauce in the pan and mix over a low heat for about a minutes. Serve with parmesan on top.