Sweetcorn Pancake Fritters

This recipe evolved from some experimentation when I wanted to make some corn fritters to serve with Chicken Gumbo, although it was not difficult to work out a satisfactory recipe.  I wanted a fritter that involved shallow frying using a minimum of oil, rather than a calorie laden deep fried version.  (I do not own a deep fat fryer.)  After [...]

Read Full Post »

Fried Plantain

I learned how to make fried plantain by following instructions given by a friend from the Caribbean.  It’s such an easy recipe you might wonder why it is here, nevertheless I think it is worth recording.  Plantain is still fairly new and may be unfamiliar to some people: I had to find out how to cook it!  Although they are the same family, Plantain differ from the yellow dessert bananas [...]

Read Full Post »

Baked Tomato Stuffed Marrow

Having bought a marrow on the market I wanted to find a simple recipe so I could stuff and bake it.  I found several online and eventually decided on this very simple meat free version.  It is worth spending time reducing the tomato mixture as this gives a really rich smooth sauce.  Don’t stint on the basil either [...]

Read Full Post »

Raw Beetroot Salad

Mostly we boil beetroot and serve it very plain as part of a salad, with or without a splash of vinegar.  In the past I made a delicious recipe where cooked chopped raw beetroot was used as part of a beef stew (lovely – must find that recipe and do it again!). I have also seen it used, grated, as an ingredient in [...]

Read Full Post »

Chickpea Couscous Salad

This is one of my favourite ingredient combinations for couscous.  It makes a good accompaniment for meat at a main meal but it could equally well be served as a light vegetarian lunch.  It is best when dressed with the oils and lemon while warm to allow the flavours to develop and is lovely served slightly warm as well, [...]

Read Full Post »

Rosy Potato Salad

This salad is both pretty and simple.  I used to serve potato salad and beetroot separately, but having discovered how tasty they were when mixed together on a plate I often now mix and place them in a bowl together.  For a bit of fun, this salad could be served as part of a pink themed meal!   To [...]

Read Full Post »

Special Coleslaw

There are so many different recipes for Coleslaw, but this is the one I always use. It comes from a shared lunch I attended a very long time ago and was so delicious I made sure I did not leave without finding out the ingredients. I was not given any quantities at the time and think this is a [...]

Read Full Post »

Tuna & Bean Salad

This speedy Italian style salad can be put together in minutes using tinned tuna and, for speed, tinned beans. I used black-eye beans but haricot or cannellini beans could be substituted.  A good mayonnaise, home made if available, could be used as an alternative to the olive oil and lemon juice dressing but the beans should be [...]

Read Full Post »

Sweet Pepper Salad

I found this recipe, a previously pulled out page from a magazine, when hunting down some recipes for salads with a difference.  It is good to have some simple ideas to hand as an alternative or addition to the usual green leaves and cucumber salad mixture.  I love cold ratatouille almost more than hot ratatouille so I knew [...]

Read Full Post »

Pork Sausages Indian Style

This recipe has made a welcome re-appearance in our house having not been made for several years.  It is relatively simple to make, with the very little extra work of cooking with fresh/frozen ginger, garlic and ground spices being well worth it: it beats a ready made sauce from a jar any day!  You know exactly what you [...]

Read Full Post »