Easy Christmas Treats

Hey All,


As Christmas is fast approaching I have decided to give you a few really easy but tasty recipes to see you through the festive season. If your anything like me come the 26th of Dec you'll have over done it and if you see another rose or quality street you might get sick, so instead try out the really easy to make Rocky Road.


For just when you think you have had enough turkey... think again! Try out my delicious turkey and pesto sandwich with sun-dried tomatoes on fresh or toasted white (its xmas why not) bread!


Last but most importantly try out my festive Christmas Cocktail, guaranteed to give you any lacking Christmas cheer. Try not to be the person who gets inappropriately drunk at low key family gatherings though! Happy Christmas everyone!

Cold Blooded Chiller - Christmas Cocktail

Try this cocktail to warm your blood on the cold Christmas nights! 

• 4 fresh strawberries - add more if desired
• 1- shots of vodka - add more if desired
• 2 tsp superfine sugar
• 5 oz of Pineapple juice
• Dash of 7-Up

Easy Peasy

1. In a blender, blend the vodka strawberries, sugar and pineapple juice together. add some ice at this stage if you like crushed ice in your cocktails.
2. Pour the mix into tumbler shape glasses.
3. Top with 7-Up.
4. Serve!!

Here's a tip for getting that cool frosting on the top of the glass. pour some sugar into a saucer and add about 2 table spoons of lemon juice or orange juice, dip the top of the glass into the mix and rotate. place upright and allow to dry for a minute.

Turkey Sambo

Give this sandwich a try. I wont make the recipe too detailed, I think every one knows how to make a sandwich. This is great for the day after Christmas. 


You Need

• Some left over turkey (shouldn't be a problem!)
• Basil Pesto
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Mayo/Butter/Both
• Thick white bread or roll - Fresh or Toasted or even a wrap if you want to go down the healthy route.

Optional

• Red Peppers
• Rocket Leaves
• Mozzarella - if your toasting the sambo!

I'm sure you will work out how to put all these bits together to get a good sandwich but here's a picture of what it should look like when your finished. 

Christmas Rocky Road

Try this Rocky Road recipe this Christmas, its very easy, you get credit for getting up and making something instead of watching Harry Potter re runs and its yum, everyone wins!


Ingredients

• 125g soft butter
• 300g best-quality dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa)
• 3 generous tablespoons golden syrup
• 200g digestive biscuits
• 100g mini marshmallows
•  icing sugar for dusting later

Method

1. Melt the butter, chocolate and golden syrup in a saucepan. Scoop out about a quarter of the mixture and set it aside.
2. Put the biscuits into a bag and then bash them up with a rolling pin or else blend them in the blender for a few seconds- you want there to be chunks as well as crumbs so dont bash them or blend them too much!
3. Fold the bashed up biscuits into the melted chocolate mixture in the saucepan and add the marshmallows.
4. Tip   your mixture into a tray (24cm square) and press it down until flat on top. Pour the set aside quarter of melted chocolate mixture over the top just to make it nicer looking and flatter.
5. Refrigerate until fully set, could take 2-4 hours.
6. Cut into squares (as many as you like depending on what size you want them) and dust with icing sugar.
7. Optional- If you want throw a few nuts (like pecans or almonds) or even a few rice crispies into the mixture with the biscuits.

Hannigan fair loves beef!!

 Hi Readers,

This week I've decided to do a really easy recipe for Shepherd's Pie! I'm dedicating this blog post to Hannigan who recently informed me that he loves beef! Its very easy to make shepherd's pie, it's a recipe that you cant go wrong with, I have given measurements below but it doesn't have to be followed exactly, you can add in more veg if you like or more mash. Its a tried and tested recipe, never fails so give it a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs minced beef
• 1 - 2 onions chopped
•  Vegetables - chopped carrots & peas
• 1 1/2 - 2 lbs potatoes aka about 3 big ones
• 8 tablespoons butter 
• 1/2 - 1 cup of beef gravy: you can even use the instant stuff to save time
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce:  you can leave this out if you want!
• Grated cheese for the top - optional
• Salt, pepper or any other kind or seasoning/ herb you fancy.

Method

1.Peel and quarter potatoes, boil in salted water until soft (about 20 minutes).

2 While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 Tablespoons butter a frying pan.

3 Sauté onions in butter until soft over medium heat (10 mins). If you are adding vegetables, add the carrots next (you can pre boil these too if you want to speed up the frying time) then add the pea's. you can throw in some crushed (or powdered) garlic at this stage if you like it.

4 Add the mince and fry until no longer pink. Add salt and pepper. Add worcesterchire sauce. Add the gravy sauce, leave the pan uncovered over low heat for 10 minutes, adding more gravy as necessary to keep moist.

5 Mash potatoes in bowl with remainder of butter, season to taste.

6 Place beef and veg from the pan in baking dish. Distribute mashed potatoes on top, you can put cheese on top of the potatoes also. 

7 Cook in 400 degree oven until bubbling and brown (about 30 minutes).

These measurements makes enough to feed about 4.

Brownies! you cant beat them!

• Hey Everyone,

This week I made some brownies, everyone loves brownies and their really easy to make once you have all the ingredients, you don't have to get expensive ingredients, you could probably buy it all for under 15 euro. So if its raining outside and you decide your not going into college at lease do something productive and make brownies for your house mates!!

• Ingredients
• 450g  Butter
• 790g milk chocolate (or 100g less if you think your over doing it)
• 170g dark chocolate
• 6 extra-large eggs
• 2 tbsp pure vanilla essence
• 315g caster sugar
• 175g plain flour

1 tbsp baking powder

• 1 tsp salt
• 360g chopped pecan nuts - Or leave them out if your not a nut fan!
• Method

1) Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/Gas 4. 

2) Butter a baking try, the smaller the tray the deeper the brownies so use your own preference

3) Melt together the butter, 450g of chocolate, and the dark chocolate in a bowl (do this by placing the bowl over simmering water) or put it in the microwave to melt but keep an eye on it in case it burns!! Allow to cool slightly.

 In another bowl, stir together the eggs, vanilla, and sugar. Stir the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature. 

4) In another bowl,(you need a few bowls) sift together 140g of flour, the baking powder, and salt. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the pecan nuts (if using) or some extra chocolate chips chocolate, then add them to the chocolate batter. Pour into the baking tray. 

5) bake for about 35 - 40 mins, depending on how you like them, well done or squishy. Do not overbake! Allow to cool thoroughly, and cut into 20 large squares.

Enjoy people!

                

Easy Chicken Stir Fry

Hey All,

Here is my first recipe, its for a tasty but easy chicken stir fry, perfect for people who don't like complicated recipes. The recipe is designed to feed 2 but double or triple the ingredients if your cooking for more, likewise cut it in half if your flying solo. Don't be afraid to add more veggies! be creative!!

Takes about 10-12 mins to prepare.

You Will Need...

4 Chicken Fillets, cut into small pieces
1 onion red slices
 pepper red sliced
3-4 mushrooms sliced
Mange tout or sugar snap peas
Peanuts
Soy Sauce
Noodles

>Cook chicken - fry for at least 7-10 mins.
>In a wok or frying pan quickly fry the veg  then add nuts for 30 seconds, take off heat- dont add the sugar snap pea's until after to avoid them going soggy!
>Get a teacup and 3/4 fill with soy sauce
>Put veg back on heat add soy mix and cook for 1 minute.
>Cook Noodles- you can boil the noodles but only for max 4 mins
>When the noodles are cooked strain and add add other ingredients.

>Plate up and enjoy!!

Hey everyone,

I’m Annie, I am going to be blogging some SIMPLE but yummy recipe’s for everyone. Long and complex recipes can be very annoying and useless when your hungry and in a hurry to eat, that’s why I will be keeping my recipe’s short and sweet! I will also be posting pictures of the dishes I have prepared and videos on how to prepare them.

I will be providing recipe’s for sweet treats and also daily meals, like I said, nothing too complex and boring and no fancy expensive ingredient’s. I will be posting my first recipe on Monday so keep an eye out!

I am happy to answer any questions so if you have any thing you fancy making and need a hand with it please ask!!

Thats all for now.