The birthday lunch – the puds

The old ones are the best and seasonal even better. I decided to showcase both - a traditional summer pudding using strawberries – two ticks! Three if you count the fact that you make it 12-24 hours ahead so another “make ahead” tick. It also looks spectacular when it's turned out.

I'm not sure why – I think I have OCOCD – obsessive compulsive over catering disorder - I have to serve two puds – so I've decided it will be roasted rhubarb too – more ticks, make ahead and freeze too.

Strawberry and rhubarb are another marriage made in heaven, so whatever combination the guests desire.

Back to the Strawberry Summer Pudding, I know I've mentioned it before on the blog but it's worth repeating - it uses fresh fruits in season and uses Madeira cake and not the traditional bread. For those out there who have been kind enough to follow the blog since the beginning, you'll know already of my aversion to dishes like rice pudding, sago and semolina – wet bread joins that list!

Strawberry Summer Pudding

Make double the quantity of strawberry compote

1kg ripe strawberries, hulled

8 tbsp caster sugar

4 tbsp lemon juice

Cut the strawberries in half – or quarters if large – place in a large saucepan with the sugar and lemon juice. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved and then simmer. Turn the heat to low, cover and cook for 8/10 minutes until dark in colour and syrupy. Let the compote cool.

Madeira cake – I use an inexpensive shop bought cake (265g) – sliced lengthways into quarter inch/5mm slices and neatened. Here's where it's difficult to predict whether you'd need one cake or two – cake size varies depending which supermarket you use. I'd err on the side of caution and opt for two. For the size of basin stated, it takes approximately 10 slices of cake.

Assembly up next.

The seafood dish, morphed!

You can make this dish into whatever you wish – instead of a starter or sides with other dishes, it makes a great lunch dish or a supper by adding ingredients of your choice. Raid your fridge for spring onions, sweet baby peppers and asparagus tips. All you need to remember is make sure they are of a similar size and I'd blanch the asparagus tips for 30 seconds for even stir frying. Use any veggies in season that you love!

My personal favourites - diced water chestnuts, baby corn, diced mushrooms, the world is definitely your lobster.

This is a perfect example of the marriage of treasure chest (aka freezer) and pantry/store cupboard ingredients.

I added another element and served the seafood on a bed of noodles for supper – here it is :

The noodles served in a dish with a deep bowl - exactly right - layer your scallops, king prawns and sauce on the top, duvet day supper anyone?

Verdict - “that was my kind of supper – fab!”

Just in case you thought I'd forgotten, or didn't serve any, it's the birthday lunch puds next!

The seafood fotos

Here's the dish I used for the starter

it measures 18.5 x 11.5cms - 7”x 4½” in old money!

The black bean sauce – a definite addition

to your pantry or store cupboard

The scallops in clock face formation!

The scallops, turned and sealed one side

The scallops and king prawns in the sauce

ready to serve

How good was it? I was asked for the recipe, which I had never committed to print, until now so I think it was a hit!

For the fish lovers … or strictly speaking seafood lovers!

I know that my salad menu is a long one – what can I say, I love what I call a creaking table!

I said at the beginning that we had two fish lovers. I want to make sure that I don't finish up meeting myself coming back when the guests arrive but by the same token want to serve food that everyone will enjoy.

The recipe/dish that follows I've served before and it went well then, so time for another appearance. If you're interested in dishes that can be prepped and served in minutes then I think you'll like this.

Scallops and king prawns in black bean sauce

Serves 2 as a starter

7 scallops per person (from frozen –

frozen scallops are usually smaller than fresh)

7 cooked king prawns (from frozen)

drop of rapeseed oil

salt and black pepper

Waitrose Cooks' Ingredients

black bean sauce

This is a dish that you pull from your freezer – the scallops and the king prawns and from your pantry/store cupboard - the black bean sauce.

As a guide I sourced the king prawns (200g) and the black bean sauce (220g) from Waitrose - £4.80 and £2.49 respectively. The scallops came from Marks and Spencer (300g) £9.00. Prices will vary.

You need to remember to take the scallops and king prawns out of the freezer the night before and fridge them. Make sure you drain any liquid and pat dry with kitchen roll before cooking.

I always use the clock face method when cooking scallops – heating the rapeseed oil until hot and beginning at 12 o'clock and forming an outer circle in your pan, sealing and seasoning with salt and black pepper. When you return to where you began turn each scallop again to seal on the other side. Add the king prawns, season and then toss together for 2 minutes to warm the prawns through. Add 100ml of the black bean sauce tossing to cover thoroughly. Serve immediately.

Some helpful photos on their way.

More beetroot … this time roasted

Here's the second of my favourite beetroot recipes. I said in “Back to reality – a birthday lunch” that I love to serve both hot and cold dishes. This beetroot selection is delicious either way and I use both as sides as part of a lunch or al fresco food especially at this time of year. They are great with burgers too!

Honey Roasted Beetroot

Balsamic vinegar – 2 tsp

Olive oil – 2 tbsp

Clear honey – 2 tbsp

Cooked beetroot – 500g

Salt and black pepper

Chopped fresh thyme – 2tsp or a sprinkle

of dried if you can't get fresh

Choose beets of a similar size and preferably as small as possible and roast in foil – 180fan/200c/Gas 6 for an hour and then test with a paring knife, leave to cool and then peel. If your beets are larger then you may need another 15 minutes, then test again.

Pre-heat your oven to 200fan/220c/Gas7.

Mix together the thyme, vinegar, olive oil and honey in a bowl until well combined.

Cut the beetroot in half and place into the bowl with the honey mixture and season, to taste, with salt and black pepper.

Place the beetroot into a deep roasting tray and roast in the oven for 15 minutes, or until the beetroot is sticky and glazed.

Don't forget – you can use plan b mentioned at the end of “Beautiful beetroot” if you run out of time!

Beautiful beetroot!

I get that cooking fresh beetroot is a bit of a faff. I roast mine, it's cleaner and you don't have to stand around watching it boil on your hob. All you need to remember is to set your timer. The other benefit with roasting beetroot is that you can, once again, cook it ahead of whenever you need it.

Choose beets of a similar size - preferably as small as possible and roast in foil – 180fan/200c/Gas 6 for an hour and then test with a paring knife, leave to cool and then peel. If your beets are larger then you may need another 15 minutes, then test again.

Take full advantage of what's in season, which is why beetroot is front of stage on this menu and not just a usual salad suspect.

I'm including two of my favourite beetroot side recipes, adaptable for so many dishes both hot and cold, here goes :

Bazzin' beetroot relish

300g of cooked beetroot

peeled and cut into small cubes

1 sharp eating apple, peeled, cored and cut

into small cubes

1 medium onion, finely chopped

75g soft dark brown sugar

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp olive oil

salt and black pepper

Don't forget to use gloves when prepping your beetroot!

Mix well and place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan – 16cms in diameter. Simmer on a low heat, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has been absorbed.

Take the pan off the heat and allow to cool. Box up and fridge until ready to use.

This recipe is one of my favourites and I use it all the time – anywhere you want a relish or a side it fits the bill - from baked salmon or honey glazed gammon to plain and simple with bread and cheese.

If you don't have the time, there's a plan b - use the organic vac packs of beetroot you can get in the supermarket – good too when it's out of season - I try and choose beetroot that is approximately the same size – a 300g vac pack gives you 8 small to medium beetroots, which I will then cut in half.

More beetroot ...

Hot potatoes – a plan and the prep.

My “to do” list :

Boil the potatoes and cool, ready to slice when I'm not in a hurry. I made this my first job in the morning the day before the lunch. I softened the onion too. They had plenty of time to cool whilst I was doing other stuff. Later the same day I assembled the tartiflette and baked it for 45 minutes, cooled, covered and fridged it. It needs a further 15 minutes cooking time, uncovered, on the day. Big tick!

I mentioned too that I wouldn't be including the bacon in the recipe. I'll be serving bacon bits on the side – this way you cater for vegetarians too.

It matters not how much bacon you bake - you can use any leftover bits, as I did, for a Spanish omelette on another day. As a matter of principle in my kitchen I always make more than I think I need – why – because I'm automatically creating ingredients for lunches or suppers and half the work.

Back to the bits … line a baking sheet with rashers of bacon and bake on 180fan/200c/Gas 6 for 15 minutes, turn the bacon and repeat. Set aside to cool – it will be crispy, snap into tiny bits box and fridge. Another tick.

If there's one thing I love it's making the best use of my oven and saving myself time and stress into the bargain. You can bake your tart on the day and add your tartiflette too, you just need to set your timer for 25 minutes when the tart goes into the oven then add the tartiflette, uncovered for the remaining 15 minutes of tart cooking time. Don't worry that there's a slight difference in oven temperature, leave it at 180fan/200c/Gas 6 for the tart, they'll be perfectly crispy! The tartiflette shouldn't be served piping hot but warm to compliment the tart.

P.s. I'd be keeping my fingers crossed for leftovers – tartiflette is even better the following day warmed, creating even more crispy edges. Happy days.