Here’s a really quick and easy meal which is still luxurious and impressive. From a can of coconut milk take the thick coconut cream and melt it in a wide saucepan over moderate heat. Add 1 tablespoon of Thai roasted chilli paste in soya oil (you will find this at any Asian store which sells Thai food…… Continue reading scallops in coconut sauce with fresh basil
Tag: recipe
ice cream
My niece Josie mentioned Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer and since buying the book I’ve become just a little obsessed. These egg free ice creams have a wonderful dense and creamy texture and the flavour combinations are inspiring. If (like me) you don’t live in the United States, you can drool over some of the…… Continue reading ice cream
sourdough
My very own home-grown sourdough is finally working! I don’t make bread every day so I’ve been cultivating my sourdough starter for quite a while. There are a myriad of recipes out there for sourdough starter but I decided to make it the old-fashioned way so I used only flour (unbleached organic) and water (spring). First you…… Continue reading sourdough
chicken in green almond sauce + red mexican rice
Simple poached chicken is taken to another level with this wonderful Mexican sauce. In a saucepan, cover chicken pieces with cold chicken stock. Bring to a simmer as slowly as possible. When barely cooked, take them off the heat and set aside. In a food processor combine 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped garlic cloves, 115g (4oz)…… Continue reading chicken in green almond sauce + red mexican rice
oat and ginger snaps
Chock full of ginger and deliciously crunchy. Combine 170g (6 oz) of butter, 175g (6 oz) of Demerara sugar and 100g (3½ oz) of golden syrup in a large bowl or saucepan and heat until the butter has melted. Stir in 85g (3 oz) of flour, ½ a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, 250g (9 oz) of…… Continue reading oat and ginger snaps
lamb meatballs with eggplant and tomato + couscous with cauliflower
Here’s a hearty meal with North African and Middle Eastern influences. To make the meatballs combine lamb mince with finely chopped parsley, ground cumin and ground cinnamon to taste and season well with salt and pepper. Form into small meatballs and set aside in the fridge. Dice a large eggplant (aubergine) and fry gently in some…… Continue reading lamb meatballs with eggplant and tomato + couscous with cauliflower
sambal with okra and prawns on coconut rice
A spicy Yotam Ottolenghi recipe (with the addition of prawns) from his book PLENTY. To make the sambal combine 5 de-seeded fresh red chillies, 5 de-seeded dried red chillies, 100g (3½ oz) of red shallots, 1 diced clove of garlic, 2 tablespoons each of oil and water and ½ a teaspoon of salt in a…… Continue reading sambal with okra and prawns on coconut rice
semolina pudding brûlée
I love crème brûlée but it doesn’t love me. Imagine my delight at finding this recipe for a wonderful burnt and creamy dessert which doesn’t use any cream! The recipe comes from my sister’s birthday present to me: MY LITTLE FRENCH KITCHEN by Rachel Khoo. In a saucepan bring 500ml (1 pint) of milk to boil and…… Continue reading semolina pudding brûlée
sichuan chilli chicken + smashed cucumber salad + peanuts in vinegar
Sichuan (or Szechuan) pepper from northern China has a unique aroma and flavour with slight lemony overtones which creates a tingling numbness in the mouth that sets the stage for hot spices. This traditional chicken dish demonstrates Ma la (麻辣) literally “numbing and spicy”, a combination of Sichuan pepper and chilli which is common in Sichuan cooking. Cut 650g (1½ lbs) of chicken…… Continue reading sichuan chilli chicken + smashed cucumber salad + peanuts in vinegar
tagliatelle with beef cheek and mushroom ragout
Wonderfully rich and gamey, this ragout would work equally well with polenta. In a pressure cooker or heavy pot heat a little olive oil and sear the ox cheeks briefly before setting them aside. Add a little more olive oil to the pot and gently fry 1 diced onion and 2 finely diced cloves of garlic until the onions are…… Continue reading tagliatelle with beef cheek and mushroom ragout
michelle picker cooks 