Bicerin - coffee & chocolate drink

 

Ingredients

• small jug of really good quality drinking chocolate
• strong espresso
• sugar, to taste
• single cream
• Easy
  Serves 2
   

  Method

  Make up a small jug of really good-quality drinking chocolate (I use Charbonnel & Walker, which is quite expensive, but tastes fantastic). Make some strong espresso. Third-fill two glasses with the coffee, adding sugar to taste. Add another third of chocolate. Whisk some single cream until frothy, pour over the mocha so that it sits on the top. Drink and enjoy.
   

Foolproof slow roast chicken

 

Ingredients

• butter, for greasing
• 1.6kg chicken
• 1kg roasting potatoes, halved or quartered if large
• 2 whole garlic heads, halved through the middle
• 100ml white wine
• 100ml chicken stock
• 2 stems rosemary, broken into sprigs
• 6 bay leaves
• 1 lemon, cut into wedge
  
  Prep: 15 mins Cook: 2 hrs, 20 mins
  Easy
  Serves  
   

  Method

  1. Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Brush a large roasting tin all over with butter and smear some over the skin of the chicken.
  2. Place the chicken in the tin and arrange the potatoes around it. Put the halved garlic heads in the tin, pour over the white wine and stock, then cover with foil and place in the oven. Cook for 1 hr then remove the foil and give the potatoes a shake. Add the herbs and lemon wedges, then cook uncovered for 50 mins.
  3. Turn the heat up to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cook for 30 mins more, then remove the chicken and potatoes from the pan. Cover the chicken loosely with foil and leave to rest on a plate for at least 10 mins before carving. Keep the potatoes warm. Serve with any pan juices.

Cappuccino cake

 

 

Ingredients

• 250g pack butter, softened
• 250g light soft brown sugar plus 2-3 tbsp
• 300g self-raising flour
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 50g walnuts, toasted and finely chopped (a food processor is easiest), optional
• 200ml very strong coffee (made fresh or with instant), cooled

For the frosting

• 500g tub mascarpone
• 2 tbsp light soft brown sugar
• cocoa powder or drinking chocolate to decorate
•   Prep: 15 mins Cook: 30 mins
  Easy
  Cuts into 12 slices

  Method

  1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter 2 x 20cm sandwich tins and line the bottoms with greaseproof paper. Beat butter and sugar together with electric beaters until pale and creamy. Add the fl our and eggs in one go and keep beating until evenly mixed. Fold in the walnuts (if using) and half of the coffee. Spoon the mix into the prepared tins and bake for 25-30 mins or until golden and well risen.
  2. Leave the cakes in their tins for 5 mins before turning onto a wire rack. Sweeten the remaining coffee with the extra sugar and sprinkle 4 tbsp over the sponges. Leave to cool completely.
  3. While the cakes cool, make the frosting. Tip the mascarpone into a large bowl and beat in the sugar and remaining coffee until smooth and creamy. Use about half of the frosting to sandwich the sponges together then, using a palette or cutlery knife, spread the rest of the frosting over the top of the cake. Decorate with a dusting of cocoa powder or drinking chocolate. If you’re making this cake to eat at home, it will keep covered in the fridge for 2-3 days

   

Warm mackerel & beetroot salad

 

Ingredients

• 450g new potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
• 3 smoked mackerel fillets, skinned
• 250g pack cooked beetroot
• 100g bag mixed salad leaves
• 2 celery sticks, finely sliced
• 50g walnut pieces

For the dressing

• 6 tbsp good-quality salad dessing
• 2 tsp creamed horseradish sauce
  
  Prep: 10 mins Cook: 15 mins
  Easy
  Serves 4 
   

  Method

  1. Boil the potatoes for 12-15 mins until just tender. Meanwhile, flake the mackerel fillets into large pieces and cut the beetroot into bite-size chunks.
  2. Drain the potatoes and cool slightly. Mix the salad dressing and horseradish sauce together in a salad bowl and season. Tip in the potatoes – they should still be warm.
  3. Add the salad leaves, mackerel, beetroot, celery and walnuts, and toss gently. Serve with crusty bread.
   

Hearty winter veg soup

 

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 swede, peeled and cut into chunks
• 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
• 3 sprigs thyme, leaves removed and roughly chopped
• 850ml vegetable stock
• 500ml semi-skimmed milk
• 2 x 410g cans mixed beans in water, drained
•   Prep: 5 mins Cook: 20 mins
  Easy
  Serves 4 
   

  Method

  1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan, then gently soften the garlic without colouring. Tip in the swede, carrots and two-thirds of the thyme, then pour in the stock and milk. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 mins.
  2. Ladle a third of the soup into a blender, whizz until smooth, then pour back into the pan along with the beans. Check for seasoning, then return to the heat and warm through. Serve sprinkled with the remaining thyme and some warm, crusty bread rolls.

Quinoa with stir-fried winter veg

 

Ingredients

• 200g quinoa
• 5 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 3 carrots, cut into thin sticks
• 300g leeks, sliced
• 300g broccoli, cut into small florets
• 100g sundried tomatoes, drained and chopped
• 200ml vegetable stock
• 2 tsp tomato purée
• juice 1 lemon
• Prep: 15 mins Cook: 15 mins
  Easy
  Serves 4 
   

  Method

  1. Cook the quinoa according to pack instructions. Meanwhile, heat 3 tbsp of the oil in a wok or large pan, then add the garlic and quickly fry for 1 min. Throw in the carrots, leeks and broccoli, then stir-fry for 2 mins until everything is glistening.
  2. Add the sundried tomatoes, mix together the stock and tomato purée, then add to the pan. Cover, then cook for 3 mins. Drain the quinoa, then toss in the remaining oil and the lemon juice. Divide between warm plates and spoon the vegetables on top.
   

Summer-in-winter chicken

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 200g pack cherry tomatoes
• 3 tbsp pesto
• 3 tbsp crème fraîche (half fat is fine)
• fresh basil, if you have it
•  Ready in 25 mins
  Easy
  Serves 4 
   

  Method

  1. Heat the oil in a frying pan, preferably non-stick. Add the chicken and fry without moving it until it takes on a bit of colour. Turn the chicken and cook on the other side. Continue cooking for 12-15 mins until the chicken is cooked through. Season all over with a little salt and pepper.
  2. Halve the tomatoes and throw them into the pan, stirring them around for a couple of minutes until they start to soften. Reduce the heat and stir in the pesto and crème fraîche until it makes a sauce. Scatter with a few basil leaves if you have them, then serve with rice and salad or mash and broccoli.

Golden veggie shepherd’s pie

 

Ingredients

For the lentil sauce

• 50g butter
• 2 onions, chopped
• 4 carrots, diced
• 1 head of celery, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 200g pack chestnut mushrooms, sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tbsp dried thyme
• 500g pack dried green lentils (we used Merchant Gourmet Puy lentils)
• 100ml red wine (optional)
• 1.7l vegetable stock
• 3 tbsp tomato purée

For the topping

• 2kg floury potatoes, such as King Edwards
• 85g butter
• 100ml milk
• 50g cheddar, grated
  
  Prep: 30 mins Cook: 1 hr, 45 mins
  Easy
  Serves 10 
   

  Method

  1. To make the sauce, heat the butter in a pan, then gently fry the onions, carrots, celery and garlic for 15 mins until soft and golden. Turn up the heat, add the mushrooms, then cook for 4 mins more. Stir in the herbs, then add the lentils. Pour over the wine and stock – it’s important that you do not season with salt at this stage. Simmer for 40-50 mins until the lentils are very soft. Now season to taste, take off heat, then stir in the tomato purée.
  2. While the lentils are cooking, tip the potatoes into a pan of water, then boil for about 15 mins until tender. Drain well, mash with the butter and milk, then season with salt and pepper.
  3. To assemble the pies, divide the lentil mixture between all the dishes that you are using, then top with mash. Scatter over the cheese and freeze for up to two months (see tips, below) or if eating that day, heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5, then bake for 30 mins until the topping is golden.