Hash Browns

We had loads of potatoes left and no bread for breakfast, so hash browns were the perfect answer.
Ingredients

4 medium potatoes
1 medium onion
1 egg
Some oil

Method

Grate the onion and potatoes into a clean towel
Squeeze the towel until all the excess liquid comes out of the vegetables
Pour the dried veg into a bowl
Beat the egg, pour it into [...]

Clementine Cake

We had five clementines that were over ripe and about to go off. So I did what anyone would do in my position and Googled for help. Nigella Lawson came to the rescue with a butter-less and flour-less recipe that was intriguing as it was difficult to cook. It took a long time, and, as [...]

Beef Steak with Goat’s Cheese Butter

Scotch beef steak with goat’s cheese butter from the Scotch Beef and Lamb website – I picked up this recipe from the Taste of Edinburgh Festival whilst learning about local produce North of the border. Scotch beef has a brilliant reputation and I’ll be trying out this recipe with some sirloin steak from the local [...]

White Chocolate Mousse

Another recipe courtesy of Thorntons.
Ingredients

100ml single cream
1 vanilla pod split length ways and seeds scraped
250g White Belgian Chocolate
284ml double cream
3 medium egg whites
1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

Put the single cream, vanilla pod and seeds in a pan over a medium heat.
Bring to just below boiling, then set aside for 15 minutes to infuse.
Discard the vanilla pod.
Meanwhile, [...]

Mushroom Risotto

Risotto is relatively easy to make, but it does involve a long time spent stirring to stop the rice sticking. However, it is filling, tasty and a great alternative once the usual old recipe get boring.

Ingredients

Arborio rice
Stock (I just used a stock cube)
Handful of chopped mushrooms (any sort will do)
Seasoning

Method

Following the instructions on the packet, [...]

Orange Marmalade

Marmalade is a Portugese invention that originally began with quince hence the root of the name “marmelo”. However, it has been adopted as thoroughly English fare, gracing traditional breakfast tables up and down the country and considered a national dish. It is more tart than jam and considerably more difficult to make – hence the [...]

Mashed Potato

Potato mash is one of the most basic ways of serving potatoes and provides real comfort food. It goes well with pie and gravy, or can even be used for baby food. Left over mash can be used in other recipes such as fishcakes and French croquettes.

Ingredients

Potatoes, peeled and quartered
Milk
Margarine, butter or olive oil

Method

Boil the [...]

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce goes perfectly with cold meats,game, turkey or crumbed, deep fried camembert.

Ingredients

300g of fresh cranberries
4 clementines (juice and zest)
120g white granulated sugar
25-50ml of Port (to taste)

Method

Wash the cranberries and discard any bad fruit.
Put the cranberries in a saucepan.
Wash the clementines and grate a little zest into the saucepan. Squeeze the juice in [...]

Caesar Dressing

Caesar salad has become immensely popular over the last few years, though most people no longer include the anchovies and prefer to include chicken and bacon. If you have the time, it can be interesting to try making the dressing for yourself instead of off the supermarket shelves.

Ingredients

1 fat garlic clove
1 anchovy fillet
1 egg yolk
1/4 [...]

Parmesan Baskets

On New Year’s Eve we went to a friend’s for dinner and were amazed by the construction of some parmesan funnels filled with cream cheese and prawns. I don’t like prawns at all but this dish was delicious. Parmesan baskets can be used as a fancy presentation device for salad, seafood and savoury mousse.

Ingredients

1 cup [...]