Assembly for the Fast Fish Pie

Fast Fish Pie – assembly, plus hints and tips

When you're ready to assemble, preheat your oven 180fan/200c/Gas 6.

You can use foil trays – 24x24cms to serve 4 or smaller if you want individual servings, otherwise a square casserole.

Open up your foiled fish and tip it into a large mixing bowl. Break the fish into chunks, gently, then season with black pepper.

If you're using cooked, peeled prawns, now is the time to add them – if you're using frozen prawns make sure they are properly defrosted in the fridge and discard any defrosting liquor.

There will be jelly from the cooked fish – discard or include – it's all flavour and will combine with the sauce you've made. If you've not used any smoked fish then you may want to add a sprinkle of salt. Add your Mornay sauce and fold to mix, gently.

Tip the mixture into your tray or casserole.

Add the sliced cooked potatoes, add a knob or two of butter and ground black pepper. If you're feeling really decadent then sprinkle grated Parmesan over the top.

Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown.

Serve with vibrant fresh veggies, preferably steamed or, dare I say, with a coleslaw or, if feeling really Northern, mushy peas!

A final word on fish.

Some may say it's extravagant to use cod loin in a fish pie – they'd be right. However if you're trying to convince your family to eat fish it would be a good idea to use a fish that doesn't have any bones. Using smoked fish with non-smoked gives a far less “fishy” taste. Shop smart if you can and a reminder that Aldi's range of fish – including cod and haddock loin too – is excellent and the best value. The trick here is the delicious strong cheese sauce. Tick, tick and tick!

Oh and by the way the Dijon mustard is optional but it does give an excellent zing so worth a try even if you're not a fan of mustard generally. It adds flavour without blowing your head off.

My final tip - each of the elements for this filling and the pie as a whole can be made ahead, all that remains is assembly, and whilst I probably shouldn't be advocating eating supper in front of Netflix all that's required is a deep bowl and a fork – delicious comfort food!

Sandwiches with a difference … do-it-yourself “subs”

Here's my version of a “submarine slob” it is truly the ultimate sandwich.

This is the burger recipe but made into meatballs – a little imagination goes a long way!

It might seem a tad long winded, since these elements will require cooking ahead but I assure you it will be well worth it.

The recipe is easy and makes really tasty meatballs, together with a delicious tomato sauce – a great idea for a batch cook.

Meatballs

450g minced beef, pork, turkey or Quorn

*salt and black pepper

*garlic – either 2 tsps of paste or 2 cloves, crushed

*mixed herbs or garlic Italian seasoning – a generous sprinkle

*half a tsp of chilli

*heaped tbsp of tomato paste

*1 egg

sprinkle of plain flour

Rapeseed or vegetable oil for shallow frying

Place the mince in a large mixing bowl then add the remaining ingredients marked *, mix well. At this point your mixture may be too wet. If it is, sprinkle a little plain flour over the mixture and fold in gently.

Use a teaspoon as a measure and heaped with mixture, roll it between your hands and set aside on a board. When the meatballs are ready, heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry on a low heat, gently and carefully shaking the pan to ensure they are evenly coloured – use tongs if you are accident prone! Seal the meatballs in batches - 8 at a time and then transfer to an oven-proof dish or foil tray ready for later – place the dish or tray containing the meatballs in a pre-heated oven 180fan/200c/Gas 6 and complete the cooking for 15/20 minutes – this time will vary depending on the sizes of the meatball – ensure that they are properly cooked – cut a larger one in half to be sure, then cool, cover and fridge until you're ready for action.

The sauce that goes with …

Burger night!

If I had a pound for every burger I've made over the years I'd be a rich girl! Here's the tried and tested recipe which, by the way, makes excellent meatballs too – the other major plus is that you can make them ahead and freeze!

Burgers

Makes 5 x 100g burgers

500g minced beef, pork, turkey or Quorn (other meat substitutes are available...)

*salt and black pepper

*garlic – either 2 tsps of paste or 2 cloves, crushed

*mixed herbs or garlic italian seasoning – a generous sprinkle

*half a tsp of chilli

*heaped tbsp of tomato paste

*1 egg

sprinkle of plain flour

Rapeseed or vegetable oil for shallow frying

Place the mince in a large mixing bowl then add the remaining ingredients marked *, mix well. At this point your mixture may be too wet. If it is, sprinkle a little plain flour over the mixture and fold in gently.

The easiest way of making uniform burgers is to weigh whatever amount you wish – 50g or 100g depending on size of appetites - with damp hands. Using a large frying pan, heat the oil gently and seal the burgers on both sides.

At this point you have a choice, you can continue to cook the burgers in the pan or you can transfer to an oven-proof dish and pop into a pre-heated oven 160fan/180c/Gas 4 for 20 minutes.

Serve on burger buns or a brioche version, toasted – add a cheese slice for a cheeseburger with salad and salsa. Wrap in a square of greaseproof paper and a serviette – your very own fast food.

I made 12 burgers of different sizes, to suit all appetites, so everyone gets the size they want.

Perfect for a Saturday night relaxing in front of whatever takes your fancy on the tv!

Or … how about a sandwich?

Snug or Cosy?

Depending on what you fancy, the following is for either a “Snug Shepherd” or a “Cosy Cottage” – minced lamb for the shepherd and minced beef for the cottage – pie that is!

A Shepherd or a Cottage

700g minced lamb or beef (or Quorn)

1 tbsp rapeseed oil (Canola USA)

2 tbsps Madeira

2 tbsps Ruby Port

2 tsps Worcestershire Sauce

2 tbsps tomato paste

2 lamb, beef or veggie stock pots

50-100 ml water

Using a large frying pan and preferably one that is suitable for transfer to the oven. Heat the oil and then add the mince and brown, turning until thoroughly browned. Add the Madeira and the Port and bring to the boil for 2/3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and the stock pots and mix well until absorbed and melted.

Your filling should not be too dry but not too wet either. You should be able to see tiny puddles of liquid. If you need to add water then add it gradually – you can add more you can't remove it!

It's difficult to predict how much fat there'll be in minced meat. Lamb, generally speaking, will have more than beef.

You can transfer the filling into a foil tray or, as I did, leave it in the frying pan.

As a guide, my frying pan that is suitable for hob and oven is 28cms in diameter – 3 very large appetites or 4 normal.

I feel the need to describe the “puddles” :

See them glistening – not too wet but definitely not too dry.

Next - to mash or not to mash, that is the question!

Cheat's Chilli

This is a speedy supper that won't break the bank and thrifty too – it only takes 20 minutes!

Cheat's Chilli

650g minced beef or Quorn mince

glug of rapeseed oil

*½ tsp each of cumin, coriander

and cinnamon

*500g carton of passata

*1 can of red kidney beans

60ml sweet chilli sauce

l large onion, finely chopped

1 Knorr garlic flavour pot

*¼ tsp chilli powder

Only piece of kit required – a large frying pan.

Heat the rapeseed oil, add the onion and garlic and soften on a moderate heat for 2/3 minutes. Add the cumin, coriander, cinnamon and chilli and cook to allow the spices to release their umph!

Add the minced beef and break up and mix thoroughly to ensure that the mince is browned. Add the passata and the sweet chilli sauce, mix again, finally add the beans – bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally .

Variations

Add 50g of dark chocolate broken into small

pieces and drop into simmering chilli to enrich

Use spiced mixed beans instead of red

kidney beans

Add 150g of diced chorizo – (remember you can

get Plant Chorizo Puppies) (reduce the amount of minced

beef to 500g). Fry off the chorizo first until it begins

to crisp and set aside - the rapeseed oil is not necessary since

you're making use of the oil released from the chorizo – continue

with the recipe adding the onion, garlic and spices

as above, add the chorizo back when the mince is

browned

Add a topping of sour cream

Serve with bread of your choice or wraps or how about tacos?

Why not serve with a raw slaw!

If this doesn't disappear it'll be a miracle. If by some chance there are any leftovers, freeze portions in microwave boxes.

By the way those ingredients marked * are great store cupboard items!

OR … perhaps you'd prefer a Shepherd or a Cottage?

The alternative rice!

Once you've made the curry sauce, it takes minutes and like I said, it can be made ahead, cooled and fridged until you're ready to roll.

Stir fried rice

Serves 2

280g pilau rice

130g cooked chicken

generous handful of petit pois, cooked leftovers

or microwave for 2 minutes if frozen

medium brown onion, sliced

Wok

Add a drop of rapeseed oil – 5ml - to your wok and stir fry your onions over a medium heat – 2/3 minutes, followed by the rice - toss it to ensure it is all evenly coated then add the peas and chicken – 3-4 minutes.

Do not reheat.

Serve in warm bowls with the curry sauce drizzled over the top.

Another template which you can adapt to whatever you've got leftover in the fridge and “store cupboard” staples like rice, an onion and peas.

The curry sauce is so easy and lifts boring leftovers to “I want to eat this dish!”

P.s. It is not safe to reheat rice that you have already cooked, hence the reason why the curry sauce is ready to reheat from the fridge – a word to the wise!

Another template …

… this time using rice and in particular pilau rice.

These days you don't have to struggle with specifics cooking rice - you can buy products that are microwaveable or ready to stir fry in minutes.

Here's a photo of the pilau rice which you can buy from Aldi :

The following recipe again is a template with a curry sauce thrown in for good measure!

We're going to begin with the curry sauce since it can be made ahead and reheated.

Rendang Sauce

160 ml coconut cream

3 tsp brown sugar

2 tsp curry powder

(I used mild)

1 tbsp kecap manis

(also known as sweet soy sauce)

Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over a low heat for 3/4 minutes

and serve. Can be made ahead and re-heated.

Now for the stir fried rice!

When you're ready

When you're ready to stir fry, begin with the rapeseed oil and the onion on a medium heat, stir fry for 2/3 minutes, add the peas, prawns and noodles and stir fry for 2/3 minutes and finally add the hoi sin sauce and toss everything for a further 2 minutes.

Serve in a warmed bowl, with optional soy sauce on the side.

Here's a couple of photos :

a noodle nest

Amoy hoi sin sauce

Oh and by the way, you have to remember to take the prawns out of the freezer!

I appreciate that prawns may be outside your budget – it's the original recipe – use it as a template, anything goes from leftover chicken and veggies from your Sunday roast.

Then there's the rice alternative!

Noodle stir fry

Have you run out of steam, nay inspiration, for a quick and easy mid week supper? How often have you arrived home without a clue?

What follows isn't rocket science, as I'm fond of saying, the recipe – if you can call it that – uses “store cupboard” ingredients and by store cupboard I include pantry and freezer.

Store cupboard stir fry

Serves 1

1 noodle nest

vegetable stock pot

generous handful of petit pois, microwaved for 2 minutes

1 medium brown onion, sliced

drop of rapeseed oil

80g large king prawns, defrosted

hoi sin sauce – 1 pouch

soy sauce to serve

Wok

When you arrive home and are getting organised as you're passing place your wok on the hob, boil a kettle, add the noodle nest with the stock pot and pour boiling water over the two so that the noodles loosen and are flavoured with the stock. Leave it be, whilst you're doing other things, then when you're passing turn the nest so that the loosening is even, leave again whilst you're in the shower!

Drain through a sieve and set aside.

When you're ready …

Noodles!

Before I continue I should say that I realise that budgets don't necessarily run to prawns, I've left the recipe as is, so that you can see how versatile it is.

Now for the Mie Goreng - the noodle version of the Nasi Goreng. The Mie includes two ingredients you may not have come across previously – kecap manis – aka sweet soy sauce and sambal paste – a paste made from chillies and spices and both ingredients are easily available in larger supermarkets.

Mie Goreng

Serves 4-6

3 eggs

1 tbsp water

1 tbsp oil

1 onion, finely sliced

Drop of rapeseed or vegetable oil

3 cloves of garlic, crushed or tsps of paste

2 carrots, finely sliced (you could use cooked leftovers)

2 spring onions, finely sliced

Pinch of ground ginger

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp ground cumin

1 red chilli, seeded removed and finely diced

1 tsp sambal paste

250g medium egg noodles, cooked

30ml dark soy sauce

60ml kecap manis

100g beansprouts

350g cooked prawns, defrosted

100g chopped roasted peanuts to garnish (optional)

Beat the egg lightly with the 1 tbsp water. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or frying pan. Pour in the egg and cook until set underneath, flip it and repeat. Slide the omelette out of the pan on to a board, roll up into a cigar shape and slice into strips – set aside.

Heat a large wok or frying pan and add a drop of oil. Add the onion and stir fry for 2 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger and carrots and fry for a further 2 minutes. Add a drop of water to prevent drying out.

Add the sambal paste, coriander and cumin and fry for 20/30 seconds – again you can add a drop of water if required. Add the cooked noodles, spring onions, beansprouts and prawns – turning until warmed through. Add the dark soy sauce and the kecap manis and repeat.

N.B. For a vegetarian version, substitute the prawns with 300g of shredded Chinese cabbage – aka bok choy or pak choi and 1 yellow pepper (cored, deseeded and diced). Sweet baby peppers – red, yellow and orange – would work well too. You could add sliced water chestnuts and/or bamboo shoots.

Serve straight from wok or spoon into individual bowls and garnish with the omelette strips and peanuts.

On the other hand – if you love fish …

Rice and Noodles – The Gorengs

I know I've talked about these recipes previously but I think it's time for a refresher particularly in that they are most adaptable for leftovers – perfect in these times of frugality – desperate times call for desperate measures!

To recap, Nasi Goreng is Indonesian and began life as a breakfast dish using up leftover rice from the previous evening but has evolved into a popular street food choice, right up to being served in posh restaurants. It can be spicy, mild, vegetarian, vegan – you name it, the world is your lobster!

There's Mie Goreng too using noodles instead of rice.

Here's the original recipe :

Nasi Goreng

Serves 4-6

3 eggs

1 tbsp water

1 tbsp oil

4 tbsp vegetable oil

2 onions, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed or garlic paste

half tsp chilli powder

8oz (225g) cooked rice

6oz (175g) cooked chicken or turkey meat, diced

6oz (175g) peeled prawns, defrosted if frozen

2 tbsp dark soy sauce

1 tsp soft light brown sugar

1 tbsp lemon juice

6oz (175g) cooked wafer ham, thinly sliced

black pepper

Beat the egg lightly with the 1 tbsp water. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or frying pan. Pour in the egg and cook until set underneath, flip it and repeat. Slide the omelette out of the pan on to a board, roll up into a cigar shape and slice into strips – set aside.

Add the vegetable oil to the wok and heat gently. Add the onions, garlic and chilli powder and fry until lightly browned. Add the rice and cook for a few seconds then stir in the chicken and prawns. Cook for 2/3 minutes.

Mix the soy sauce, sugar and lemon juice together, then stir thoroughly into the rice mixture. Fold in the ham then season to taste with pepper. You can place the wok in the middle of the table and “dive in” or spoon into serving bowls and garnish with the omelette strips.

This is an excellent recipe for leftover chicken and veggies from the Sunday roast – it's quick, easy and tasty. If this dish doesn't fit the “dive in” category then I don't know what does. It's an all time favourite in our house. A definite crowd pleaser and lip smackingly good to boot.

Then there's Mie Goreng, using noodles in case you're not fond of rice!

Chapter XVII – handy snacks and lunches - for those who love mushrooms

Messing about in the kitchen I came up with this recipe for a quick lunch, admittedly you have to love mushrooms – it's not rocket science but useful and above all tasty!

I give you :

M's Moreish Mushrooms

serves 4

300g Chestnut mushrooms, chopped finely

1 banana shallot (10cms approx), chopped finely

30g unsalted butter

glug of dry sherry or red wine

1 Knorr mushroom stock pot

celery salt

300ml double cream

to serve

50g Panko breadcrumbs, roasted

Yorkshire Puddings – 4 (7cms x 4cms approx)

Using a medium saucepan, sauté the shallot gently in the butter until opaque (5-8 mins approx). Add the mushrooms and a glug of dry sherry and cook gently until the liquid has been absorbed. Add the stock pot and celery salt and heat gently until the stock pot has melted. Add the double cream and heat gently for 15 minutes.

Pre-heat oven 180fan/200c/Gas 6) . Line a medium baking sheet with parchment and sprinkle over the Panko breadcrumbs. The Yorkshire Puddings will take 5 minutes from frozen - synchronise the timings to serve – so 10 minutes in to heating the mushroom mixture pop both the Panko crumbs and the Yorkshire Puddings in the oven.

Spoon two generous tablespoons into each of the Yorkshire Puddings and top with the Panko crumb.

Hints and tips :

The mushroom mixture can be made ahead and frozen

A glug = 1-2 tablespoons

If you want a veggie or vegan version of the sauce then use a plant based spread instead of the butter. Use Elmlea Plant Double Vegan Alternative for the cream. The Knorr mushroom stock pot is vegan.

Serving suggestions :

as a side with a roast, as the veggie option

over pasta

as a sauce over Quorn fillets, chicken or pork

on toast with thick slices of soda bread

Then there's

Mushrooms in Balsamic

4 tbsp rapeseed oil or similar

500g chestnut mushrooms, sliced

4 cloves garlic, crushed

pinch of salt

4 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp brown sugar

60g grated/shaved parmesan

Heat the oil, add the mushrooms and garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook on high for 5 minutes until browned. Mix the vinegar with the sugar and pour over the mushrooms.

Stir until syrupy – 1-2 minutes, serve on toasted broad. Sprinkle with parmesan to serve.

It's delicious on thick, toasted soda bread or would serve 6 as a bruschetta/crostini topping

OR

You could quarter the mushrooms and serve as a topping on a risotto and add shavings of parmesan – I'd not recommend using grated parmesan.

Versatility is the key!

Editor's June Pick #6: Method – The Jam Jar salad

Editor's note: To continue where we left off, we have the how and the where of the Jam Jar Salad. Now as with all recipes this isn't set in stone, you could use the Asian Spiced Salmon recipe from the blog as I bet that would fit perfectly, or perhaps the roasted chickpeas - the world is your lobster. Pickled onions are in this editor's opinion, an absolute must though!

Method – The Jam Jar salad

Method

smoked gammon joint

Using a drop of rapeseed oil, seal your joint on all sides and slow cook in vegetable stock for 2.5/3 hours on low. I use the Knorr Stock Pots.

Once your gammon is cooked remove from the stock and take off any excess fat and rind and allow to cool. Shred the gammon – your aim is to create bite size pieces - approximately 2cms in length. You don't have to be meticulously precise - it should be easy to pick up with a small fork or spoon. Box and fridge until required. The gammon can be slow cooked ahead.

Potatoes

Cook the potatoes in salted boiling water until a paring knife passes through easily. Cool the potatoes. If they have skins you may prefer to remove them. Halve the potatoes or quarter depending on the size of the potatoes. As mentioned above the aim is easy to eat with a small fork. I used 5 potatoes per person and chose the smallest and most uniform. The potatoes can be cooked and prepped ahead.

Sweetcorn salsa

340g tin of sweetcorn – drained and rinsed

half a small red onion, finely chopped

1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped

juice of 1-2 limes

salt and black pepper

Tip the corn into a large mixing bowl and break up with a masher or a pestle. Add the remaining ingredients. Box and fridge until required. I used 2 heaped dessert spoons of salsa per jar. If you don't want to use fresh limes, 2 tbsps of juice is equal to one fresh lime.

Here's what it should look like :

silverskin onions

The onions are small to begin with but should still be finely chopped. I used 5 per jam jar – it's personal preference.

piccalilli sauce for drizzling

For those who would like to make their own sauce, there are recipes out there – for those who'd like a short cut – try this on for size. Bartons Smooth & Tangy Piccalilli Sauce.

All the elements for the salad can be prepped when it suits and non are time consuming.

Assembly next!

Lip-smacking Leftovers

I cooked all the potatoes at the same time which meant I had leftovers – I made the fastest potato salad ever. A touch of seasoning, a heaped teaspoon of curry powder – strength to suit your taste. A blob of mayo and a blob of sour cream, mix well.

You'll find that you have salsa leftovers too – as an alternative why not combine the potatoes and the salsa. Add extra seasoning of your choice – salt and black pepper – a touch of sumac to add a lemony hit with the lime in the salsa.

You'll find that you have leftover gammon – slice and serve as part of your alfresco “table”. If not required then I'd freeze it (in a lump if possible – it doesn't dry out) and use later as part of a pie filling. It may not qualify as lip-smacking – I just hate waste!

Assembly – The Jam Jar salad

This is the fun bit but before we begin a couple of tips :

• for your piccalilli drizzle, trim a disposable piping bag – approximately 20cms – it should be small so that you can control it. You don't need a nozzle, just snip off the end of the bag – the tiniest of snips - and you're ready to go.

• Recently I bought a pair of small tongs – the type you would use in sugarcraft – now is the time they come into their own – you can spoon ingredients like the potato and the salsa but you might like to control the gammon and the tongs will help you achieve this so you can garnish your jam jar salad without scattering it all over the kitchen!

You are layering your prepared ingredients in the jar as follows :

Baby new potatoes

a sprinkle of salt and a drizzle of piccalilli sauce

Sweetcorn salsa

Shredded gammon and a drizzle of piccalilli sauce

Finely chopped silverskin onions

It will look as if you'll never pack all the layers into the jar – yes you will! As you add your salsa layer press down, gently but firmly, repeat with each layer.

It does occur that not everyone likes the idea of piccalilli sauce. If you really don't want to step outside your taste box, you could substitute it with a honey and mustard dressing or another of your choice – plain mayonnaise if you prefer or check out Farringtons Mellow Yellow garlic mayonnaise – made with cold pressed rapeseed oil.

Ta-dah!

Editor's June Pick #5: Jam Jar Salad

Editor's note: For this week's selection I've gone with a couple of interesting ideas for summer meals. One for when it's super hot - as it currently is in some parts of the UK, and one for when it's not so warm and you can stand to be in the kitchen for a bit longer! First up is the Jam Jar Salad - a fantastic idea for grabbing and eating in the garden whenever the mood takes! Ingredients and kit first, as MiamMiam says, jam jars for when you're eating them yourself, Kilner for if you're entertaining!

Jam Jar Salad

Since we are approaching all things summer – alfresco dining, bbq'ing et al, here's an idea that can be adapted to suit your own taste.

You will need jam jars – preferably those with twist off lids - you can buy the lids separately if you need to.

If you want a posher more up-market version, use a kilner jar – see photo below. If you want to do fancy the jar would be nice to serve as part of a lunch or supper party and you can of course re-use it afterwards.

I used the Bonne Maman conserve jars – posh jam really – I love these jars, they have the pretty lids. As an aside - the conserve may be expensive (keep your eyes open for offers) but the way I look at it is that I get an excellent store cupboard product and a useful, attractive jar that can be used again. I get the feeling that Bonne Maman know that their jars will be re-used – the labels on the jars are really easy to remove in hot soapy water - then you can sterilise them in the dishwasher.

The jam jar salad

Serves 4

You'll need four jars – capacity 370g

1 x 750g smoked gammon joint

(£2.68 from Tesco)

Silverskin onions, finely chopped

Piccalilli sauce for drizzling

(Bartons Piccalilli Sauce)

750g baby new potatoes

Sweetcorn salsa

Method and assembly next!

Editor's April Pick #8: Asian Spiced Salmon

Editor's note: I am extremely privileged and honoured to have sampled this recipe, and do brag about that given the chance - for those who aren't so lucky I implore you to try the Asian spiced salmon. Now more than ever, the post title rings true as some of us in limbo - "Mostly working from home" - to  "Why was I dragged into an office, it could have been an email" - this is a fantastic, tasty and above all fast idea for an evening meal!

Fast food for the working week …

Here are three ideas for your protein choice. First is a recipe I've used gazillions of times – it's just as good hot or cold.

Asian Spiced Salmon

Serves 2

2 x 4oz Salmon fillets

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp powdered star anise or one star anise

1 tbsp dark soy sauce

Mix together the marinade and - using an ovenproof dish – pour it over the salmon fillets, turning to coat thoroughly, cover and leave in fridge for an hour or so.

Bake in a pre-heated oven 160fan/180c/Gas 4 for 15 minutes.

If you're using whole star anise then remove before serving. The salmon has a charred look when cooked which is aromatic and delicious with the raw slaw and particularly with the pomegranate dressing.

For a chicken option :

Miso Maple Glazed Chicken

Serves 4

4 chicken breasts

1 tbsp baking powder*

4 fl oz/½ cup maple syrup*

2 fl oz/¼ cup white miso paste*

Mix * together, add the chicken breasts and

marinate for 24 hrs

Sprinkle with chopped spring onions

Bake in a pre-heated oven 180 fan/200c/Gas 6

for 35 minutes

Takes no time at all and, if you marinate the chicken in a foil tray, it can go straight from the fridge, into the oven – no washing up!

Now for the vegetarian option – that old faithful halloumi – cubed, coated in a seasoning and sealed in a drop of rapeseed oil in a non-stick frying pan. I know I've mentioned this recipe recently but it is excellent and tasty with the slaw together with a dressing of your choice!

250g Halloumi cheese

50g plain flour

1 tbsp seasoning of your choice

check out Halloumi Seasonings and dips to

go with 3^rd March 2018 or a ready made option!

Definitely food for thought!

Editor's Pick#2: Another Retro Thought – Stromboli

Editor's note: I love this one, and not just because it it's a fun word to say with a very bad Italian-American accent. Who doesn't love pizza, but even better than that pizza in a different way! A quick recipe that can be pulled together in the blink of an eye and guaranteed to have any guest marvelling at your preparedness, just don't tell them you were saving the ingredients for yourself for a treat evening! The toppings can be customised but don't skimp on the seasoning to take this to the next level.

Another retro thought …

and another candidate to dunk in the mayo – Stromboli – it would also be perfect to pop on a buffet table, especially if you've got younger guests – it's just rolled up pizza after all!

Stromboli

400g prepared pizza dough or ready-made base

4 tbsp tomato paste

100g thinly sliced salami

120g baby spinach

100g thinly sliced mozzarella cheese

1 tbsp olive oil

Generous sprinkle of oregano or garlic Italian seasoning

Pre-heat your oven 220fan/200c/Gas 8. Place a large baking tray in the oven.

Place a dampened J cloth on your work surface. Place a piece of baking parchment on top of the cloth – it will stop it sliding – make sure you leave enough to get hold of – you're going to lift it onto the hot baking tray that's in the oven at the moment. Unroll the pizza dough gently on the parchment.

Spread the tomato paste onto the base. Add the slices of salami, followed by the spinach and then the mozzarella and sprinkle with the oregano or garlic Italian seasoning. Roll up the base from the shortest side and brush with the olive oil - make sure it's seam-side down when placed on the tray.

WITH CARE remove the tray from the oven and then carefully lift the parchment and the rolled up pizza onto it. Place back in the oven for 20/25 minutes until golden brown – check at 20 minutes.

When removed from the oven slice into portions to suit and serve.

Choose any of your favourite pizza toppings to create your own Stromboli – the fastest pizza ever.

You'll need an oblong base for the Stromboli – it looks like the biggest sausage roll ever that you'll then slice! I'd suggest Asda's own brand - found in the chiller cabinet - for the prepared pizza dough - £1.00 per 400g pack.

Another perfect emergency item for your freezer stash.

The holidays are short this year – they fall in the middle of the week – however there's a weekend to follow after New Year so still time for a final festive treat or two before reining in the waistline!

The bites of time

10 minutes here, 10 minutes there Part 2 – The bites of time

The first ten minutes …

is taken up with prepping your whole chicken and placing in the slow cooker as per the recipe given in Bite size cooking.

Next ten minutes …

When the chicken is cooked and cooled strip it and cut into medium chunks, wrap and fridge. Strain the stock into a jug, cover and “fridge”.

If you wanted to be exceptionally economical you could place the carcass in a large saucepan with an onion, leek, carrot and celery, garlic, mixed herbs and 12 black peppercorns, cover with water, bring to the boil and then simmer for 1½ – 2hours. Your very own home-made stock, which can then be frozen in small amounts, ready to use.

Next ten minutes …

Seal a gammon joint (smoked or unsmoked to suit your taste) and slow cook in vegetable stock (or chicken if you prefer).

Next ten minutes …

Remove the gammon joint and cool, cut into similar sized chunks as the chicken, then wrap and fridge – reserve the stock and when cooled freeze it for another day and don't forget to label and date – as previously mentioned small amounts are more practical.

Next ten minutes …

Make your Velouté sauce and/or your Sauce Supreme using your stock from the slow cooked chicken – cool, cover and fridge. At the same time you can multi-task and sweat 2 leeks, sliced, in a glug of rapeseed oil and an optional knob of unsalted butter – this will take 2/3 minutes on a low heat. Cool, box and fridge.

Next ten minutes …

Assemble all your elements to create your pie. In a large mixing bowl combine the chicken, gammon and leeks, sprinkle generously with black pepper and then fold in the sauce. Tip your pie filling into a casserole or foil tray. Top with sliced cooked jacket potatoes and sprinkle with grated cheese. (You shouldn't need any salt, you've already seasoned the Sauce Supreme and there's salt in the smoked gammon, the stock and in the cheese topping).

Bake in a pre-heated oven 180fan/200c/Gas 6 for 30 minutes until your cheese is golden. Freeze two portions individually, for another day.

You might want to add the Campbell's condensed chicken soup to your store cupboard – there's a mushroom version too – another very useful emergency stand-by for making another sauce.

Now for a sample menu ...

Fast food suppers … speaking of chicken

Remember I mentioned the meal deal and picking up the chicken that I roasted? Remember too that I mentioned making the most of the time in the kitchen and the slow cooker? If you're roasting a different meat this is where your slow cooker comes into its own - slow cook a whole chicken.

If you'd like the anise stock instead of sprinkling with herbs I added two whole star anise to the cavity.

Slow Cook a Whole Chicken

1 chicken – between 1.5kg – 1.75kg

1 chicken stock pot

2 tsps of garlic paste or 1 garlic stock pot

generous sprinkle of oregano or garlic

Italian seasoning

Alternatively use two whole star anise in the cavity

and omit the herbs

Place your chicken in the slow cooker and mix the stock pot with the garlic paste and spread over the chicken. Sprinkle with the herbs or add the whole star anise to the cavity. Switch your slow cooker to the low setting and leave it for 8 hours.

Strain the stock and freeze the resultant liquid gold, strip the chicken and bag – divide the stripped chicken into two bags.

What happens next is up to you. I have to confess that I buy a chicken when it's part of a meal deal and slow cook it – the best value – every morsel can be frozen and used whenever – the perfect emergency food.

However, if you'd like another idea – just for the fun of it – perfect for a weekend treat or a lunch with a few other bits and pieces.

Way back when I'd slow cooked and stripped a chicken just before visiting the kids – big kids - and decided to take the chicken with me - some delicious bread and chicken sandwiches for lunch? We've already had chicken soup for the soul - now we have a sandwich for the soul – I've never seen food disappear as quickly for a long time. They loved the chicken – tender, moist and full of flavour.

Very often you find that an afterthought turns into a huge hit. I'll be serving chicken sandwiches for the soul again – soon.

It's time for some feedback …