Hold those thoughts …

… the first of the short cuts.

I am happy to report that these days you don't have to go through the palaver of adding pickling spice to infuse in vinegar – you can buy ready spiced pickling vinegar and it's a great product.

Try making up a batch of the sweetened vinegar :

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.

Check out these photos :

Nice colour don't you think?

Way back when … and the second short cut coming next.

A serious word about … pickled onions

Is there anyone out there who loves pickled onions but can't be bothered to go to the trouble of preserving their own or are disappointed with shop bought – despite paying lots of dosh?

I suppose it's considered old fashioned to create your own “preserves” these days although it has to be said it's a fairly long winded, nay messy process, so no big surprise.

If the mood should take, here's the recipe I use, given to me by my Mum. I've no idea where it came from – what I can tell you is that they are the best I've ever had.

Sweet and Sour Onions

1kg/2lb pickling onions

225g/8oz salt

2.25 litres/4 pints water

225g/8oz demerara sugar

600ml/1 pint malt vinegar

15g/½oz pickling spice

Place the onions in a large saucepan with the salt and water and stir.

Put a plate on top to keep the onions under the brine.

Leave for 12 hours.

Peel the onions carefully and return to the brine for a further 24-36 hours.

Meanwhile, make up the spiced vinegar – dissolve the sugar in the vinegar over a low heat, stir in the spice, bring slowly to the boil and boil for a few seconds.

Leave with the spices to cool.

Drain the onions well and pack into jars suitable for vinegar and pickles.

Strain the vinegar and pour over the onions. Cover and seal. Leave for 3-4 months before eating.

You may think it's too late this year but remember that pickles are not just for Christmas!

Now for the good news – there are one or two short cuts which you may find useful, whilst you're waiting impatiently for those you've bottled to mature.

Hold those thoughts ...

A mid week rummage …

… in your freezer.

It's Wednesday and I've no idea what's for supper – not a clue. That's the trouble with this endlessly tedious “hamster wheel” of producing food. I'm off for a rummage in my freezer, in the faint hope that I'll find inspiration and, hopefully, a solution that will not involve too much work.

Five minutes later and I've the answer to all my problems and I give myself a pat on the back for all the occasions I've bagged and frozen leftover bits and pieces along the way – hurray!

I've pulled out a small bag – 145g approximately – of slow cooked gammon, which I'd frozen in chunks and ditto of slow cooked chicken, together with a box of sauce supreme. They are all out defrosting ready for assembly later. Now is the time I use my supply of baked jacket potatoes that are in my fridge.

No cooking required, unless you count sliding the “pie” into a pre-heated oven – that would be nit picking in my book!

Ingredients

Serves 2 generous portions

145/150g cooked gammon

145/150g cooked chicken

200g sauce supreme

1 large baked jacket potato, sliced thinly

skin on or off, whichever is preferred

50/75g grated cheese – mature cheddar or gruyere

to sprinkle over sliced potato topping

salt and black pepper

Mix your chicken and gammon in a medium size bowl. Add a drop of boiled water to the sauce and whisk to loosen, then fold into the gammon and chicken. Tip your filling into a small casserole or a foil tray measuring 20x11x5cms approximately. Add the sliced potatoes, salt and pepper and top with the grated cheese.

Bake in a preheated oven 180fan/200c/Gas 6 for 25 minutes or until golden.

Equal or exact amounts of, in this case the chicken and gammon, aren't important. Check out your fridge – you may find a leek lurking – or is it a lurking leek. Slice finely and soften in a small saucepan with a glug of rapeseed oil.

The moral of the rummage … 

Speaking of apple sauce …

… reminds me of the recipe that I'd used previously when wanting a foolproof sauce.

There's a book by Elizabeth David – An Omelette and a Glass of Wine (if you don't have it in your collection you might want to consider a purchase). This book is a collection of various articles, one of which is called “Big Bad Bramleys” and refers to Eliza Acton and her recipe for apple purée – here comes another book recommendation - Eliza Acton – Modern Cookery for private families – to give perspective Ms. Acton's book was first published in 1845!

Here's that recipe, with modern oven temperatures of course.

Eliza Acton's apple sauce

Pre-heat oven to 160fan/180c/Gas 4.

Grease a glass dish with butter.

This sauce is so easy – the only emphasis is on the preparation of the apples. All the peel and core must be removed. There are no amounts here, you can cook as much sauce, or purée if you prefer, as you desire – it freezes well.

Peel, core and slice your apple – if you can slice them a similar size, so much the better, they will cook more evenly.

Place your apples in your dish and cover with a lid or foil – NO WATER, SUGAR OR ANYTHING ELSE.

Bake for 20/30 minutes. Check after 20. The apples should be soft. Here's the satisfying bit – whisk the apples until they begin to break up, sprinkle with caster sugar plus a generous knob of unsalted butter, whisk again – enjoy.

This would appear to be almost identical to the previous recipe – the only difference being the inclusion of 2 tbsp of water and made on the hob instead of in the oven. Having made both versions the hob method is quicker - the quality of the sauce is great using either.

Another post script – if you subscribe to the “chicken soup” cure for all ills, then this is the sweet alternative!

The roast photos!

Here's the stuffing :

Here's the “roast” plate :

Whatever else you serve is entirely up to you – I opted for sprouts and cauliflower cheese – you can never have enough veggies.

I was tempted to serve “parrots” too – a firm favourite in our house - that's a combination of parsnips and carrots mashed, with a generous knob of butter and loads of black pepper – but since I'd already decided on the roast parsnips drizzled with maple syrup I thought I may have gone over the top – just a smidge!

Bits to go with … continued

The stuffing – my favourite!

Do whatever suits your time – make your own crumb mixture or use a packet and “zhuzh”. I like to zhuzh stuff and make it my own.

As a basic guide :

190g crumbs – your own or a packet of sage & onion

add 400ml boiling water together with a large knob of butter

salt and black pepper

allow the mixture to stand, then fold in 2 tbsp of that apple

sauce you've just made

1 medium onion, finely chopped and

softened with a drop of rapeseed oil and a small

knob of butter

1 small leek, finely chopped softened as the onion

Use a dessert spoon of mixture to give a consistent measure to form the balls which will give you 9 with everything plus 4 without onion.

Pre-heat oven 180fan/200c/Gas 6 and bake for 30 minutes

The stuffing can be made ahead.

Here's the dilemma, shape into balls or make like a “meatloaf” which can then be sliced.

Personally I like balls – another advantage is that if you have guests who don't like onion it's easier to make up however many are required with the basic mixture and the apple and/or the leek and then add the softened onion to the remainder and everyone's happy.

If you'd prefer the “meatloaf” route you could use a cake liner in a loaf tin so that you finish up with the “meatloaf” shaped stuffing. Use a 1lb loaf tin with the appropriate liner and pack the mixture evenly. Bake as above.

You'll notice that the cooking time is 30 minutes – again – which fits in perfectly with your “pull it all together” plan to serve your roast.

Ps. I always make more than I need. There is nothing quite like a sandwich filled with pork (for the meat eaters) and stuffing with coleslaw – not forgetting the mayo. A good source of protein for the veggies is the deli style Quorn wafer thin slices if you like that sort of thing - it ticks the box for sandwiches. An idea that you might want to bear in mind when planning your “C” shopping list – can't bring myself to mention the word, it's too early!

The bits to go with …

Despite the fact that I don't eat meat I've always loved a roast – why - I love all the bits and pieces that go with the meat.

In this particular case apple sauce – there are some food “marriages” you just don't mess with and roast pork and apple sauce is one of them. There is nothing finer than an apple sauce packed with flavour – try this recipe – you won't be disappointed.

Apple Sauce

400g Bramley apples

Juice of half a lemon

2 tbsp water

1½ tbsp caster sugar

a knob of butter and a sprinkle of salt

Peel and dice the apples. Place in a small pan with the lemon juice, 2 tbsp water and the caster sugar. Heat gently until the apples are really soft, then help them along by squashing them with the back of a spoon. When you are satisfied with the consistency add the butter, stir until melted and then add salt to taste.

I know that periodically I mention delicious. Magazine, (sorry – no pun intended) this is another example of what this publication does well – easy, practical recipes.

Those who follow the blog (and thank you) will know that I'm not a food snob and don't believe in “arm twisting” to make your own. There are many great products out there but some come at a hefty price. You don't have to put yourself under pressure – try making stuff when you have the time and then freeze – in this case, the apple sauce. If I thought there wasn't much difference I would say so. If you make this sauce I suspect, and hope, that you'll never buy a jar again.

I made the apple sauce the day before the “roast” - one job less and if anything it tastes even better.

Definitely worth a shot!