Skinflint soup recipe: broccoli stalk, last week’s courgettes and post Christmas Stilton combine and rule
I hate throwing out the thick broccoli (calibrese) stalks. The Penultimate Paramour used to chop them and use them in stir fries but they always tasted a bit rough and to be quite honest, stalky. They are tough miniature tree trunks and probably needed a bit more time than a quick whisk in a hot pan. This morning I tottered downstairs. Before you could say “bacon sandwich” I was chopping an onion. I had an hour before leaving for work. The broccoli stalk was going to be the heart of a tasty soup. Poking about in the fridge I found...
read moreThe ultimate soft pork meatballs recipe
Years ago when so called witches were awaiting trial, they were fed mouldy bread and water. Mouldy bread, in excess, causes hallucinations. And in the case of the witches probably sealed their fate. So I tend to avoid mouldy bread. We have been working on the ultimate pork meatball recipe. We now have a recipe for the softest melt in the mouth meatballs with the addition of a beaten egg. I decided to give Magimix her first run chez Cottage Smallholder. I oohed and aahed so much that Danny rushed into the kitchen to check what was going on....
read moreCheat’s pork meatballs with tagliatelle
A few years ago, one of the Sunday papers had a weekly column “How to Cheat at Cooking”. Canny recipes created by Delia Smith. Danny and I loved trying these. They introduced us to new ingredients and showed us how to cut corners. They encouraged us to experiment and become a bit more relaxed about all our cooking. After a while we lost interest as we were striving to cook everything from scratch. Great if you are home early. If you totter in at eight, scratch cooking means that you could well be eating at ten. As we have found to...
read moreQuick and delicious lamb meatballs in a creamy tomato sauce
I’m quite particular about meatballs. They have to melt in the mouth. And they need a good, mellow sauce. I am not keen on fried meatballs, so often a chewy exterior extends to the interior. And I checked out other meat ball recipes on the internet this evening. What a palaver – make the meatballs, transfer to the fridge for 2 hours. If you are really gentle with your meatballs you can be snatching a pack of mince one moment and within half an hour, or so, serving this meal. Danny was back late from London this evening. I planned...
read moreCheesy Crackles snack lunch recipe
This summer has had its high points, weather wise. Recently the winds and the chill that heralds torrential rain have prevailed. I think of soup and warming savouries if I can get back home for lunch. Planning lunch is a tricky, think on your feet, task while Jalopy and I are rumbling home through the driving rain. Whilst Jalopy copes with the elements, I am considering what I might discover in the fridge, if I can drive though the flood water that stands to the south of the village when it rains hard. Yesterday I rushed in, hung up my...
read moreSunday lunch: Pot roast Poussin (gypsy style) recipe
“Danny, I’m really sorry but I’ve forgotten to take the pheasant out of the freezer.” It was eight in the morning and my mum was arriving for lunch in a few hours. Danny turned over. “Thank God for that. I much prefer the poussin version of the dish.” We snoozed until 9.47 and then D jumped into Jalopy and shot down to Newmarket. He arrived at the supermarket as the doors opened and was back at 10.10 with two plump poussin. My Mum is a foodie. At the eating rather than the cooking end of the spectrum. Her...
read moreSimple melt in the mouth calves liver recipe
I found some calves liver knocked down to half price in Waitrose last weekend and bunged it in the freezer. Danny is a big eater and normally I’d have to shell out over seven quid for the two of us at full price. Generally my trolley wheels glide hopefully up to the calves liver section only to spin silently towards the sausages. It was the first time in five years that I found enough calves liver for under £3.50. I was jubilant as I swung the carrier through the front door. I knew that Danny wasn’t impressed but he was too polite...
read moreQuick sausage and bean casserole recipe
This is my version of our friend Bunty’s delicious sausage and bean casserole. It’s delicious and really quick to prepare. She bought a large casserole of this to a party and I spotted someone guzzling it straight from the pot when it was cold. This is a great supper party dish as it keeps warm for ages and just looks after itself. Quick sausage and bean casserole recipe (for 2-3) Pre heat the oven to 210c (190c fan) Ingredients: 450g of plump sausages 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 400 tin of borlotti beans 400g tin of flagelot...
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