Spaghetti Bolognese

A classic which I absolutely love. To make it meatier added bacon.

Serves: 4

300g Spaghetti 

1 Onion finely chopped

1 small glass of red wine

1 bay leaf

500g minced beef

4 rashers of back bacon

5 tbps of tomato purée

Worcestershire Sauce

Mug of Beef stock

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

2 tbps of fresh oregano, chopped

Pinch of sugar

Salt and Pepper

1. Fry the bacon in a large frying pan with a bit of olive oil for a couple of minutes

2. Add the onion, bay leaf and garlic and fry until the onions soften.

3. Put the mince beef in the pan and break it up with a wooden spoon in the pan. Fry until it browns.

4. Add the red wine, sugar, salt and pepper, beef stock, tomato purée, couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce and sugar. Once it begins to boil reduce the heat and let it simmer. The mixture should reduce. While the bolognese is cooking begin to boil the spaghetti in water with a dash of olive oil. 

5. Once the pasta is cooked, drain the water from the pan. Place the pasta into bowls/plates and put the bolognese over the pasta. Serve with grated parmesan cheese (which I didn't have any, when I cooked this dish, woops)

Tomato and Cheese Gnocchi (V)

First time I ever cooked with this pasta so kept it safe and did a basic tomato sauce with bits of red pepper and cheese. It was lovely and fills you up a treat.

Serves 4

500g Gnocchi
Can of Chopped tomatoes, blended
Red Pepper, de-seeded and chopped
Small glass of red wine
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 onion, chopped finely
Basil leaves
Mozzarella Ball, sliced
Salt and pepper

1. Heat a bit of oil in a pan and fry the red pepper and onion on a low heat for about a couple of minutes then add the crushed garlic and cook for a further minute

2. Pour in the chopped tomatoes, red wine, gnocchi and seasoning. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked thoroughly.

3. Once the pasta is cooked add the basil. Transfer to a dish and place the sliced mozzarella on the top. Grill for about 5 minutes or until the a mozzarella is golden. Serve

Beef and Bean Tortillas

Cheap and cheerful Mexican dish

Serves: 4

500g Mince beef
1 mug of beef stock
1 Onion, chopped
2 tsp of chilli powder
1 tsp of cumin
400g Can of chopped tomatoes
1 red chilli, finely chopped
1 can of red kidney beans
Tortillas

Serve with: grated cheese, lettuce, guacamole and sour cream

1. Heat a frying pan with a little bit of olive oil. Add the mince beef and fry for a couple of minutes.

2. Add the onions and cook for a further 5 minutes.

3. Add the red chilli, cumin and chilli power and cook for about a minute.

4. Then add the chopped tomatoes and beef stock and reduce the heat so the mixture is simmering. Cook for about 25 minutes until beef is tender and the mixture has reduced.

5. While the mixture is cooking, grate the cheese, shred the lettuce and put in bowls.

6. Serve in a bowl and let them dig in.

Halloumi and Greens (V)

Quick, easy and provides those much needed veg for your 5 a day. That and I needed to use up the rest of the broad beans that were left over from one of the previous recipes.

Serves 4

1 Onion

250g Halloumi Cheese, sliced

300g Frozen Peas

300g Broad Beans (frozen or fresh)

1 medium glass of white wine

Handful of chopped mint

Sliced Artichockes (In oil)

Half a mug of Vegetable Stock

1. With a little oil fry the onions until soft. Add the peas, broad beans, wine, artichokes (with a bit of the oil) & vegetable stock. Reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced. Add the mint.

2. For the cheese, put the slices under a grill. Grill for a few minutes on each side making sure that they don't burn. Serve with crusty bread

Salmon and Asparagus Pasta (With a Kick)

One of the first few things I have ever cooked. It has been changed a fair bit but still tastes great and fills you up.

Serving Suggestion 4

Pack of Smoked Salmon, cut into pieces
Bunch of asparagus, chopped
1 Onion, finely chopped
4 Shots of vodka
Half a lemon, juice and rind
4 tablespoons of crème Fraiche
Parsley, roughly chopped
Tagilatelle (enough for four)
Salt and Pepper

1. For the sauce fry the chopped onions in a pan with a bit of olive oil. Boil another pan with water and add the tagilatelle, then after a few minutes add the asparagus.

2. Once the onions are soft add the smoked salmon.

3. Add the crème fraiche and vodka to the pan. If too thick add more vodka or a bit of the pasta water. If too thin add more of the crème fraiche. Add the lemon rind and juice and chopped parsley. Heat through

4. Drain the pasta and asparagus and mix the sauce in. Serve.

Flying Scotsman

Taken from one of the 'Come Dine With Me' episodes and I have made this quite a few times. Just changed one thing and that is the sauce. Not a big fan of whiskey so made a peppercorn sauce. Tastes lovely and a great winter warmer.

Servings: 4

4 Chicken Breasts
Pack of back bacon
1 Haggis
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Sauce
125 ml Chicken Stock
2 tsp of cornflour mixed with a bit of water
150 ml double cream
2 tsp of ground up pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 180c

2. Using 2 pieces of cling film, put the chicken breasts between them. Flatten

3. Take the haggis and make 4 patties and place in the middle of the flatten chicken breasts. Roll the chicken around and wrap in bacon.

4. Place on a baking tray with a drizzle of olive oil and cook for 40 minutes (35 minutes if fan assisted).

5. To make the sauce heat the stock on the hob and add the cornflour mixture to thicken up.

6. Begin to stir in the double cream. Once combined add the peppercorn and heat for a couple of minutes until thickened.

7. Serve

Serving Suggestions: Roast potatoes and mixed vegetables

Flapjacks (V)

An easy recipe that only needs 4 ingredients (5 if you want to top with chocolate).

Makes 12 Flapjacks

120g Butter

5 tablespoons of golden syrup

75g Brown Sugar/Golden Caster Sugar

280g Oats (Porridge Oats)

Optional Additions:

Dried Fruit and Nuts - Mix in with the main ingredients

Chocolate -  Add to the top or break into small chunks and mix.

1.   Preheat the oven to about 200c/ 180c fan assisted.

2.   Line a tin with baking paper. Make sure the tin is big enough to hold the mixture.

3.   Melt the butter in a pan. Once it has melted add the sugar and golden syrup.

4.   Take off the heat and add the oats to the pan. Mix well. Tip into the tin and press the mixture in. Make sure the mixture isn't too thin otherwise it will be too stiff and not to thick otherwise it wont bake properly.

5.   Bake for about 15 minutes. When done it should look golden. Leave to cool.

6.   Once cooled lift the flapjacks out with the greaseproof paper and cut the flapjacks into individual portions.