Lenten Food!

For lent James (my boyfriend) and I have given up meat, junk food and caffeine!

We are a couple of weeks into it and the usual ideas of quorn chilli and potato curry were getting a bit old.

So I wanted to try something new. I am a bit weary of using quorn chicken pieces without masking them in a heavy sauce as I think in previous experiences it has not taken on the flavour of the spices and herbs at all and seemed bland.

I came up with this and think it was really nice!
The taste was kind of like a schezuan flavour.

1/2 bag of quorn chicken pieces
1 medium onion
1 red pepper
1 small sweet potato
1 can chopped tomatoes
1tbsp tomato puree
2 cloves of garlic
1 medium red chilli chopped
1 inch sq of ginger
1 tsp star anise
1 tsp ground chilli powder
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tbsp vegetable oil

1. Grind the garlic, salt, fresh chilli, ginger and stir in half the oil. Chop the sweet potato into small chunks and add to a saucepan of boiling water. Dice the onion and pepper.
2. Put the rest of the oil in a saucepan on a medium heat. Sauté the onion and pepper until softened. Add the spice and oil mixture to the pan and turn down the heat.
3. Once the sweet potatoes are soft enough to cut easily, drain them and add them to the sauté pan. Add the quorn pieces, tomato puree, chopped tomatoes, star anise, ground chilli and pepper. Leave to simmer with the lid on, on a low heat for 30mins. Remove the lid and simmer for another 10mins.

Serve with rice or noodles

Enjoy :)

Delicious Foods!

I was doing a brief shop just to top up the cupboards before I get more money and came across some venison meatballs. So my mind started tucking over with possibilities. This is what i came up with.

Venison Meatballs with Tomato, Raisin & Wine Sauce
served with: Tagliatelle and Blue Cheese, Tomato & Basil Foccacia


400g Venison Meatballs or Mince
1 Onion
1/2 Red Pepper
2 Cloves of Garlic
400g Chopped Tomatoes

2 tbsp Raisins

1 Glass of White Wine

500g Tagliatelle

1 tbsp Tomato Puree
1tsp Oregano
1/2tsp Parsley
1tsp Basil
1tbsp Olive Oil
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of Pepper

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Chop the onion, garlic and pepper into small pieces and fry in the oil until softened.
2. Add the meatballs to the pan and stir lightly until the meat is browned. Add the raisins and put the lid on the saucepan. Leave for 5mins.
3. Add the tomatoes, wine, seasoning and herbs to the saucepan and replace the lid. Simmer for 15mins.
4. Whilst the meatballs simmer, fill a large saucepan with water and put on a high heat. Once the water comes to the boil add the tagliatelle. Remove the lid from the meatballs.
5. Check the meatballs and tagliatelle is cooked and serve.

( I also served mine with a foccacia bread made from a mix and a mixed leaf salad.)

NEW YEAR! NEW FOOOOOD!

Hi!

I have been super naughty and not put up any posts recently!
I'd say an excuse was working all the time now but I am still cooking loads :)

I have just finished a batch of Yorkshire Fat Rascals (or Turf Cakes). Got the recipe from 'A Taste of Yorkshire'.

First go worked out great! They are Deee-lish!! :)

I have also purchased "Cook Yourself Thin" 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cook-Yourself-Thin-Delicious-dress/dp/0718153510/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295469332&sr=1-1

So expect some attempts at those recipes too!! :D