Monday 26 March 2012

Mexican Bean Wrap

Here is a really simple to follow recipe for Mexican bean wraps, they are low in fat and are suitable for all the vegetarians out there. Enjoy!!



You Will Need

  • 1 small onion , sliced
  • 1.0 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 400g can mixed beans , drained and rinsed
  • 400g can chopped tomatoes
  • 30g sachet fajita seasoning or 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
  • 8 soft corn tortillas wraps 
  • grated cheese , guacamole and soured cream
Method
  1. Gently fry onions for 5 mins in oil, until softened. Tip in beans, tomatoes and seasoning, then simmer for 10 mins, stirring occasionally.
  2. Meanwhile, warm the wraps in the microwave on High for 1 min.
  3. Take a large spoonful of beans and spoon along the centre of each wrap. Top with some grated cheese, a spoonful of guacamole and soured cream. Wrap into a cigar shape and eat straight away.
  4. Optional: Add peppers, lettuce or sweet corn to your wrap for extra flavour.
You could also use the this recipe as a dip for tortilla chips, simply follow the cooking instructions, pour over tortilla chips, sprinkle with cheese and microwave for 2 mins at high heat, then pour the sour cream on top.

Sunday 18 March 2012

Mother's Day Sponge

So it's mothers day and what better way to show your appreciation than to bake a nice cake for your mother. After much consideration I decided that a butter sponge cake was the best option because for some weird reason the older generations seen to have an obsession with all things sponge (maybe thats just my family). Hope this earns ye some brownie points with the Mammy!
 

You will need

  • 250g butter, softened
  • 1 cup caster sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups (300g) self-raising flour
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • Strawberry jam
  • Strawberries, Chopped,
  • Whipped Cream.
  • Icing sugar and Lemon juice

Method
  1.  Preheat oven to 180C. Grease and line the base of two 20cm round cake pans.
  2. Use an electric mixer to beat the butter, sugar and vanilla in a bowl until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  3. Add the flour and milk until just combined. Divide mixture evenly among the prepared pans and use the back of a spoon  to smooth the surface. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
  4. Remove from oven and cool in pan for about five minutes before turning on to a wire rack to cool completely. Place one cake on a serving platter.
  5. When cool, spread the jam evenly on top of the base sponge, then spread the whipped cream over that and then the chopped strawberries. Place the top sponge on top.
  6. You can take the lazy option and sprinkle some icing sugar on top or you could go to the effort of combining about 6 table spoons of icing sugar with 2 table spoons of lemon juice to form a thick icing and spread it on top. Place something nice on top, like a flower (make sure she doesn't eat it) or a strawberry!

Thursday 15 March 2012

Green Thai Curry

Okay, I know it's not exactly Irish but it's tasty, green and everyone loves it!


You Will Need

1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp Thai green curry paste (according to taste)
1 tbsp soft dark brown sugar
3-4 chicken breasts, cut into chunks
400ml/14fl oz coconut milk
Good shake of Thai fish sauce or light soy sauce
1 tbsp Lime Juice
1 Green Pepper , Sliced
2 Spring onions, chopped
 
Hand full of pea's or Green beans
Boil in the bag rice - as much as you fancy

I added some chopped chilli to mine to make it more spicy, if you don't like it too hot, leave this out.
Method

1.Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan
2.Add the green curry paste and sugar and cook over a fairly high heat for about a minute.
3.Reduce the heat slightly and stir in the chicken pieces, the peas and the peppers until coated in paste.
4.Add the coconut milk, fish sauce or soy sauce and bring to a simmer, cooking for 25-30 minutes until thickened slightly.
5.Seasoning to taste, adding more fish sauce or soy sauce if needed.
6.Sprinkle the chopped onion on top when cooked.
Boil rice as per instructions on packet and enjoy!


Monday 12 March 2012

Paddy's Pea Soup

You Will Need
  • 1 tbsp of olive oil 
  • 25g butter
  • 1 medium red onion, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
  • 5 cups/750g or frozen peas
  • 1 cup/ 75g mint leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 liter vegetable stock
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Method


  • Gently heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan, add the chopped onion and cook on a gentle heat for 10 minutes or until the onion is soft but not brown. Add the garlic and cook for a further 3 minutes.
  • Add 3/4 of the peas, the chopped mint leaves, and 3/4 stock. Cover the saucepan with a tight fitting lid and cook on a medium boil for 10 minutes.
  • Blend the soup in a food processor, you will have a thick puree. Return the puree to the pan, season with salt and pepper and add the remaining peas and stock. Cook for a further 5 minutes.

Paddy's Day Key Lime Pie

As St Patrick's Day is fast approaching I will be keeping this weeks recipes nice and patriotic in colour! Starting off with a deliciously refreshing Key Lime Pie, it only takes about 10 minutes to prepare and its green! 




    You will Need

  • 375g/12oz plain  digestive biscuits, crushed
  • 150g/5oz butter
  • grated zest and juice of 8 large limes
  • 570ml/1 pint double cream
  • 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk

    Preparation

    1. Melt the butter in a small pan, Place the biscuits and the melted butter in a food processor. Lightly press into the base of a 23cm/9in deep  flan tin. Chill while preparing the filling.



    2. To prepare the filling: place the lime juice into a large bowl, add the cream and condensed milk. Whisk for 1-2 minutes. Add the lime zest and lightly stir. Pour onto the prepared biscuit base. Place onto a tray and chill in the fridge for 2 hours.


Friday 9 March 2012

Chocolate Biscuit Cake Video

Hey Ladies and Gents,


Just found this viral video about making chocolate biscuit cake, It was by a Cully and Sully chef factor hopeful but it's shows you how to make biscuit cake and its pretty entertaining. Hope ye like it!




Chocolate Biscuit Cake Viral

Thursday 8 March 2012

Spinach & Red Pepper Tart


This is great for when your cooking lunch for a group of people, it is full of flavour and not too heavy. It goes very well with a side salad, wedges or even some couscous.




You Will Need

  • 1 frozen short crust base 
  • (10-ounce) package frozen leaf spinach and butter sauce (such as Green Giant), thawed and drained 
  • 1/2 cup chopped drained  roasted red peppers (you can buy these pre roasted in a jar)
  • 1/2 cupt crumbled feta cheese 
  • 1 Teaspoon of dried basil 
  •  sun-dried tomatoes - as many as you like
  • 2 eggs - whisked gently with fork
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt & Pepper
  1. Method
  2. 1. Preheat oven to 400°.
  3. 2. Unroll dough, and roll into a 12-inch circle. Fit dough into a 9-inch round removable bottom tart pan coated with butter, press dough against sides of pan. Pierce bottom and sides of dough with a fork. Place pan on bottom rack in oven. Bake at 400° for 14 minutes or until golden.
  4. 3. While crust bakes, combine spinach, peppers, and cheese in a bowl. Combine eggs, salt, and pepper in another bowl.
  5. 4. Remove crust from oven; sprinkle spinach mixture over bottom of crust. Pour egg substitute mixture over spinach mixture. Return tart to oven. Bake 37 additional minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is set. 
An easy cheat on this recipe is to substitute the short crust base with a pre-prepared puff pastry base, puff pastry doesn't require pre cooking so you can skip step 1, leave out the egg but place the rest of the ingredients about half a finger length distance in from the edge of the rolled out puff pastry. Add some pesto for extra depth in flavour. Reduce prep time with out compromise on flavour!!


Wednesday 7 March 2012

Old School Apple Cake



It may seem very old school but there's often nothing nicer than a good slice of Apple Cake, You might think it's difficult to make but it's not, you don't have to be a long standing cook or baker to put this apple cake together. Once you stick to the measurements, it would be almost impossible to get this wrong! It always goes down a treat when I make this for my family. 

You Will Need
225g/8oz  Self Raising Flour 
1 level teaspoon Baking Powder 
225g/8oz Caster Sugar 
2 Eggs 
Few drops Almond Essence/Vanilla Essence 
150g/5oz Butter (melted) 
350g/12oz Cooking Apples (peeled&sliced) 
25g/1oz Flaked Almonds



Method
1.Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Lightly grease and base line a 20cm/8" deep cake tin.


2.Place the flour, baking powder, caster sugar, eggs, almond essence and melted butter into a mixing bowl and mix well together.

3.Spread half the mixture into the prepared tin. Place the sliced apples on top of the mixture in the tin, piling them mainly towards the centre!


4.Using two tablespoons, roughly spoon the remaining mixture over the apples. Do not worry if it is a bit rough looking as it spreads during baking.


5.Sprinkle with the flaked almonds and bake for about 45 minutes to an hour until brown and set.







Try this with some warm custard or vanilla ice-cream!

Monday 5 March 2012

White Chocolate Tart

Hey Ladies and Gents,

Here is a recipe for a white chocolate tart. Its surprisingly simple to make, you can prepare it in roughly15mins, its the waiting for it to cool/set the requires the patients. Enjoy!



Ingredients

180g white chocolate, chopped
  • 2 eggs, separated
  • 300ml thickened cream
  • 1/3 cup (70g) caster sugar


In the interest of being lazy, use pre-made frozen short crust base -prepare to instructions on packaging.
     

  • Method
  • 1.Place chocolate  in a medium heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Cook, stirring with a metal spoon, for 2-3 minutes 
  • or until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Add the egg yolks and whisk to combine.


2. Whip cream until firm peaks form. Add half to the chocolate mixture and stir to combine. Add remaining cream and gently fold to combine.


3. Whisk eggwhites in a clean dry bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and whisk until mixture is thick and glossy. Add to the chocolate mixture and gently fold until just combined


4.Spoon the chocolate mixture into  pastry case and place in the fridge to chill.

TIP: If you fancy incorporating some fruit ie rasperries into the mixture simply mix them through (whole) during step 3, alternatively you could place them on top when the tart has been cooked.

Saturday 3 March 2012

Moist Lemon Cake

I absolutely hate when you get a slice of dry cake, I think if your going to make a cake you might as well make it right. Here is a recipe for a super Moist lemon cake! 


You Will Need
175g / 6oz  Self Raising Flour (sieved) 
2 Eggs 
175g / 6oz Sugar 
150g / 5oz soft Margarine 
Rind of Lemon 
150ml / 1/4 pint Milk 



Method

  1. Pre heat oven to 180°C. Grease a 2lb loaf tin, or circular cake tin.
  2. Put the eggs and sugar into a food processor and process for about a minute.
  3. Remove the lid and drop spoonfuls of the soft margarine onto the mixture along with the lemon rind and process again until margarine mixes in well. 
  4. Finally, add the flour, milk and salt and give another quick mix in the blender until mixture is smooth.
  5. Transfer to the prepared tin and bake for about 45 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch.
  6. Serve with a generous helping of whipped cream!!!


Thursday 1 March 2012

Curried Chicken & Cashew Nut Salad

Hey Readers,
Here is a very simple recipe for a brilliantly tasty salad, it will not disappoint!

You Will Need

  • 1/4 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt 
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil 
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon honey 
  • 1/4 teaspoon  salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon  ground black pepper 

  • 5 cups loosely packed baby spinach 
  • 2 cups chopped cooked skinless chicken or turkey 
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped roasted, salted cashews
  • 1/2 cup of thinly sliced red onion.
Method
1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Add spinach and remaining ingredients; toss well to combine.

Add some rocket leaves to bulk up the salad if you feel the need.