A Spring treat

Last September we talked a lot about the Autumn fruit harvest – in my case damsons. From that harvest came damson vodka. You don't need an Autumn harvest to make a fruit vodka. If you're interested check out the vodka label on the blog – it gives you complete recipes for the roasted damsons to the vodka and a recipe using frozen fruit too.

Leave your liqueur alone for three months if you can – you'll be glad you gave it a chance to mature a little – the longer the better.

I said back then – purely in the interests of quality control you understand - that there will be a tasting later on in the year and full and frank feedback given! In one word – wow – in another - it certainly hits the spot – take it easy!

They look pretty, me thinks – a nice idea for a gift.

If “shots” are your thing then enjoy neat!

If they aren't then have a shot on the side of a dessert indulgence of your choice.

Tip a shot of the cherry liqueur over frozen cherries and serve with ice cream.

Thank you Rockwright!

Comfort photos!

 

 

Here's another thought – if you have dinner guests who have hearty appetites you could transfer a portion of the Alfredo with a Parmesan dumpling into a individual pot complete with lid – serve as a starter but bear in mind your main should balance.

Trust me if you want comfort food look no further but a word of warning – these comfort food ideas are not for the calorie conscious nor meant for everyday more healthy eating. Perfect however for a weekend treat and hey rules are meant to be broken!

Two for the price of one …

… the dumplings to go with the steak and gravy, or

... a recipe for a veggie bowlful requiring only a spoon and a boxed set!

Either way ideal if you're in the mood to put your feet up and relax. I love minimum effort that gives maximum deliciousness.

Here's the dumpling recipe :

Parmesan Dumplings

In a large bowl, mix together

100g (4oz) self raising flour

50g (2oz) vegetarian suet

pinch of salt

15g grated Parmesan cheese

add 5 tbsps of ice cold water – 100ml approx

– enough to give a

firm but pliable dough. Divide into 8 dumplings – 6 if

you'd like big ones!

30g grated Parmesan cheese to garnish

Pre-heat oven 180fan/200c/Gas 6.

Add the dumplings to the steak and gravy and sprinkle the 30g of parmesan cheese over the dumplings and cook for 30 minutes.

Serve in a warmed bowl. For extra decadence if you've got leftover mashed potato in the fridge, warm it through place in warmed bowl, place steak on top with a generous helping of gravy, add a dumpling – or even two.

You can cater for the veggies too.

Baked Mushrooms in Alfredo Sauce

Serves 2

500g chestnut or portabellini mushrooms -

quartered

Place the mushrooms on a baking tray that has sides and bake in a pre-heated oven 180fan/200c/Gas 6 for 10 minutes so that the mushrooms release their liquor – drain and set aside.

Place the mushrooms in a small casserole dish measuring 7x24x5 cms ish. Pour over a batch of Alfredo Sauce – see “The hot idea” for the recipe. Place the dumplings into the mushrooms and sauce. Sprnkle with the remaining Parmesan, cover with large pieces of pleated foil and bake in a pre-heated oven as before, for 30 minutes and piping hot.

Photo proof up next!

Stew and Dumplings …

… actually it's slow cooked shin beef steaks with Parmesan dumplings.

Shin beef used to be considered an old fashioned cut of meat – it has become more fashionable of late. It is perfect for slow cooking – it has connective tissue which is broken down over a long cooking time resulting in tender meat, full of flavour.

The weather is messing with everyone at the moment – Easter has just been and gone and it hasn't exactly been kind - we are still walking round wearing sweaters and two pairs of socks and so not in the mood to surrender our comfort food yet awhile.

I hope, in the nicest way, that what follows is my last “comfort” recipe for some while :

Steak, Gravy and Parmesan Dumplings

Serves 4

1kg shin beef – cut into thick steaks

glug of rapeseed oil

2 cloves of roasted garlic

500g Passata

1 tbsp tomato paste

2tsps soft light brown sugar

2 tbsps soy sauce

250ml red wine – I used Chianti

300ml water

2 beef stock pots

salt and black pepper

Using a large frying pan heat the rapeseed oil and seal the steaks on both sides, seasoning with salt and black pepper. Set the steaks aside in the slow cooker.

Add the garlic, tomato paste, sugar, soy and stock pots and fry gently so that the tomato paste is cooked out and the stock pots melted combining all the ingredients. Add the red wine and bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer, add the water and the passata bring back to the boil then tip over the steaks in the slow cooker. Cook for 4-6 hours on low.

You don't have to do anything with the steak and gravy, if you leave it overnight – covered of course - in a cool place all that will happen is that the flavours have time to develop and it'll taste even better.

The perfect supper to make ahead.

Dumplings up next!

Assembly photos

Serve with the halloumi fries – see “Halloumi – seasoning and dips to go with” for photos and if you'd like the recipe, see “A bit of fun”.

Here's the slaw base, ready to add whatever dressing you desire!

My best effort yet in my veggie burger quest.

Then there's the slaw …

I realise I've mentioned slaw more than once but it does not harm to refresh a good idea especially when it's to go with your bazzin' burger and relish – all your own work.

The raw slaw

110g white cabbage, finely shredded – approximately

one third of a medium size cabbage

1 carrot – peeled and shredded with a

julienne peeler

1 spring onion – 15g finely sliced

or a finely sliced sweet variety of onion

First up shred a “cheek” of cabbage – a sharp paring knife is the best piece of kit – smaller and easier to control – with care! Bag, clip and fridge.

The julienne peeler is an essential piece of kit - every serious cook should have one - without being ridiculous try and keep your slaw to a similar size. Keep in mind carrots bleed especially if you decide to grate them – good luck clearing up having pebble dashed every nook and cranny in your kitchen – grated carrot flies everywhere, it's impossible to control. Bag, clip and fridge separately.

Bag, clip and fridge the onion – I'd double wrap it to prevent it tainting.

There is another speedier option – you can buy bags of coleslaw mix – in theory ready to use. The downside is that this product is mass produced so you may get larger pieces of cabbage, however it's nothing a chefs knife can't put right – tip it onto a chopping board and refine! The upside is it's practical and if you want to road test creating your own slaw it's worth a shot.

The recipe given will give you a box of slaw – measuring approximately 11cms x 6.5cms x 5cms. One box lasted me a week, a spoonful here and a spoonful there – you'd be surprised how well it fits as a side to lots of main dishes or – dare I say it – even another burger!

Here's what the cabbage should look like together with the julienne cutter and carrots :

 

I'm sure by now you're thinking that this might be a step too far just for slaw but can only say that I find the convenience of being able to grab a handful of ingredients and add a dressing of my choice extremely virtuous not to mention healthy – well may be depending on the dressing.

It's a bit like the beetroot relish – it may not be the most complicated stuff but it's your own, designed to your taste.

More photos next.

The burger – assembly

A very serious business!

You'll need brioche buns – either lightly toasted or split and warmed in the oven.

For those who are watching their waistlines – really – or have suddenly decided not to eat bread the fashion is to serve the burger on a bed of lettuce – Little Gem lettuce cups would do nicely for this purpose.

Spread the relish – generously - on the base of the bun or spoon into the lettuce cups,

Place the burger on top of the relish, add a cheese slice, an onion ring or steeped sweet raw onion and add the “hat”.

I'd serve the burger with the Halloumi fries and a slaw.

You could use shop bought onion rings or, if you like the idea of a quick version of “pickled onions” I've mentioned in the past steeping onions in sweetened vinegar, here's a reminder :

225g/8oz demerara sugar

600ml/1 pint malt vinegar

15g/½oz pickling spice

or 1 pint of ready spiced pickling vinegar

Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar over a low heat, bring slowly to the boil and boil for a few seconds.

Leave to cool and then bottle in jars that have been sterilised - I use the dishwasher.

Slice an onion thinly and submerge it in the spiced vinegar. Leave it for a few hours or overnight – preferably not in your fridge – you'll taint everything.

Help with the raw slaw is coming next but whilst I think it would be perfect dressed with the recipe below which we used in the tandoori chicken tikka salad :

The dressing

4 tbsps extra virgin olive oil

1½ tbsps balsamic vinegar

1½ tsps brown sugar

¼ tsp coarse black pepper

¼ tsp cumin powder

pinch of salt

Whisk together all the dressing ingredients and decant into a screw top jar – easier to shake when ready for use.

Ready for the slaw!