1. Camomille Panna Cotta, English Honeycomb & Alpine Strawberries

     Panna cotta

    300 g double cream

    75 g milk

    75 g sugar

    1.5 sheets of gelatine (soaked in cold water)

    30 g camomile

    Honeycomb

    160 g sugar

    25 g honey

    60 g glucose

    30 g water

    7 g bi-carb

     Method

    1. Boil the cream and milk with camomile.
    2. Take off the heat and allow to infuse for 15 minutes.
    3. Bring back to the boil, then add the sugar and soaked gelatine.
    4. Pass through a sieve and into mould.
    5. Allow to set in a refrigerator for approximately 2 hours.
    6. To make the honeycomb, add all the ingredients except the bi-carb and bring to a light caramel.
    7. Very quickly whisk in the bi-carb for 2 seconds (do not over mix).
    8. Tip the mixture onto greased paper and allow to cool until crisp.
    9. To serve, de-mould the panna cotta, break the honeycomb into pieces and serve with fresh strawberries.
    Posted by on 28. July 2011
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  2. Braised Beef Suet Pudding

    Serves 6

    Suet Pastry

    1 kg self raising flour

    15 g salt

    500 g suet

    600 ml water

    Meat Filling

    Flour for dusting

    2 kg beef braising steak

    2 chopped onions

    4 chopped carrots

    1 chopped leek

    250 ml red wine

    4 tbsp vegetable oil

    2 litre beef stock

    6 sprigs of thyme

    1 bay leaf

    50 g tomato puree

    Method

    1. First make the suet pastry by sifting the flour and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the suet and add the water a little at a time until the dough comes together. (Do not over work the dough). Cover and leave to rest for 20 minutes.
    2. Dust the meat in the flour. (This helps to thicken the sauce).
    3. Fry in a hot pan with the oil until the meat is browned all over.
    4. Add the vegetables and colour for 2 minutes, add the tomato puree and de-glaze the pan with the red wine. Simmer until almost all the liquid has reduced.
    5. Cover with the stock, add the bay leaf and thyme. Cook on a low heat until the meat is tender. This will take 2 ½ hours.
    6. Take out meat, discard the vegetables, then past the stock through a sieve.
    7. Reduce the stock until it coats the back of a spoon.
    8. Save half the sauce to one side for serving. Bind the rest of the sauce with meat and leave to cool slightly.
    9. Take 6 pudding moulds. Butter and flour the sides to prevent sticking.
    10. Roll out pastry and line moulds. Add the meat mixture and then cut a round disk of pastry for the top.
    11. Cover with cling film and steam for 30 minutes.
    12. When ready, turn out the puddings and serve with creamy mash, braised red cabbage and pour over the warmed remaining sauce.
    Posted by on 20. October 2010
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  3. Char grilled Asparagus, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Feta Cheese

    Serves 4 people either as a starter or light lunch

    24 large spears of asparagus
    12 cherry tomatoes
    Drizzle of olive oil
    ½ lemon
    Balsamic vinegar
    1 bag roquette salad
    100 g feta cheese

    1. Peel the bottom half of the asparagus and lightly coat with a little olive oil.
    2. Place the asparagus on a hot griddle turn frequently and cook until tender.
    3. Drizzle olive oil over the cherry tomatoes and season with a little salt and pepper. Place in a hot oven for 5 minutes.
    4. Dress the asparagus on the plate with the cherry tomatoes, add the Roquette leaves, crumble the feta cheese on top, drizzle with the Balsamic vinegar and squeeze of lemon.

    Posted by on 4. May 2010
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  4. Pumpkin Panna Cotta

    Serve with mixed salad leaves to create a perfect starter to impress guests over the festive period…

    Make Balsamic Caramel base first with:

                              100g Sugar

                              Balsamic Vinegar

    Make the caramel by bringing the sugar to the boil in a non-stick pan. Pour the caramel into moulds with balsamic vinegar.

    Rest of ingredients:

    250g   Pumpkin purée

    250g   Pumpkin Juice

    100g   Double Cream

    25g    Sugar

    5g      Salt

    5 leaves of Gelatine

    2tbsp  Maple Syrup

    Parmesan to taste

    Method

    Bring all the ingredients to the boil except parmesan and gelatine.

    Add the parmesan to taste and then blitz to emulsify. Soak the gelatine leaves in cold water until soft. Squeeze out the exist water before adding to the warm mixture. Pour the mixture into moulds on top of the caramel.

    Leave in the fridge to set for 4 hours or overnight.

    Posted by on 11. December 2009
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  5. Gazpacho Soup

    A simple soup served cold – perfect for summer’s evening or a light lunch.

     Serves 4/6 people

    500 g              Tomatoes

    ½                    Cucumber

    150 g              Red Pepper

    50 g                Bread

    50 g                Olive Oil

    150 g              Onion

                            White Wine Vinegar

                            Garlic Clove

                            Chilli

                            Tomato Juice

                            Tomato Puree

     Method

    1. Roughly chop all the raw vegetables and dice the bread.
    2. Place all the ingredients (except the tomato juice & puree) in a bowl and cover.
    3. Leave to marinate overnight in the fridge for 24 hours.
    4. The next day liquidize all the ingredients together with a little tomato juice and puree to taste.
    5. Serve cold with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and chopped fresh herbs.
    Posted by on 16. July 2009
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  6. Pork Osso Bucco

    Serves 4 people

    4 Slices Pork Shin (with bone in)

    OR –  750g lean diced pork leg for braising

    A pinch of 5 spice curry powder

    50ml Maple Syrup

    20 ml Sherry Vinegar

    1 x Star Anise

    ½ Stick Cinnamon

    400ml Beef Stock

     Method

    1. Season the meat with salt, pepper & the 5 spice powder. Fry off in a hot pan with a little vegetable oil to seal it on all sides.

    2. Add the maple syrup & cook until it is sticky.

    3. Add the sherry vinegar & fully reduce.

    4. Add the beef stock, star anise & cinnamon. Reduce heat & simmer very gently for 1 – 1½ hours until meat starts to ‘break’.

    5. Remove meat from stock & reduce the stock to a sauce consistency. Return meat to warm through & serve with roast sweet potatoes & baby pak choi.

    Posted by on 27. May 2009
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  7. Lemon Posset with Warm Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb and Almond Madelines

    Serves 4 people

    Lemon Posset
    4 lemons juiced
    250 g caster sugar
    500 ml double cream

    Rhubarb Compote
    300 g Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb chopped
    50 g caster sugar

    Almond Madelines
    75 g warm melted butter
    3 eggs
    80 g sugar
    40 g ground almonds
    80 g plain flour

    Lemon Posset Method
    1. Bring the sugar and lemon juice to the boil for 2 minutes.
    2. In a separate pan boil the cream over a gentle heat.
    3. Add the lemon mixture with the cream.
    4. Pour into serving glasses – Martini glasses are ideal.
    5. Set in the fridge for about 2 hours.

    Rhubarb Compote Method
    Cook the rhubarb and sugar over a low heat until soften but still chunky.

    Almond Madelines Method
    1. Whisk the egg and sugar together until light and fluffy.
    2. Sieve the almonds and flour together.
    3. Gradually fold the flour mix into the egg mixture.
    4. Pour in the warm butter carefully.
    5. Scoop into buttered and floured moulds.
    6. Cook at 175 ºC for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

    To serve spoon the warm compote on the top of the set Lemon Posset and enjoy with the Madelines.

    Posted by on 27. March 2009
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  8. Recipe of the Month

    Salmon Fish Cakes with Pea Purée and Poached Egg

    salmon-fish-cakes

    Fish Cake

    • 450 g (1lb) salmon, filleted and skinned
    • Salt and freshly ground white pepper
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 2 shallots, finely chopped
    • 150 ml (5 fl oz) dry white wine
    • 350 g (12 oz) mashed potatoes without cream or butter
    • 2 tablespoons plain flour
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
    • 100g (4oz) fresh breadcrumbs for coating
    • 2 eggs, beaten
    • Vegetable oil for deep-frying

    Pea Purée

    • 350 ml chicken stock, made with 350 ml of boiling water and 1 chicken stock cude
    • 250 g frozen petit peas
    • 1 shallot, finely chopped
    • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
    • 1 sprig of thyme
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • Salt and pepper
    • Poached Egg
    • 1 hens egg
    • Boiled water

    Method

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C / 400ºF/ gas 6 and butter and season a baking tray.
    2. Sprinkle shallots on to the baking tray, place the salmon on top and season again with salt and pepper. Add the white wine, cover with foil and bake in the pre-heated over for about 8-10 minutes. The salmon should be just firm on the outside and still pink in the middle.
    3. Sit the salmon in a colander over a pan to collect all the cooking juices. When all the juices have been collected, boil to reduce them to a syrup consistency.
    4. Break up the salmon, then add the syrup reduction and the chopped parsley. Fold in half of the potato, and then add it a spoonful at a time until you have a binding texture. Check for seasoning then roll into 8 balls. One fish cake per portion will be enough for a light meal. Lightly pass through the flour, beaten eggs and then the breadcrumbs; repeat the process of egg and breadcrumbs once more.
    5. Leave aside while you prepare the pea purée. Sweat the garlic and shallot in a saucepan with the olive oil and thyme. Add the chicken stock with the peas and bring to the boil. Once boiled pour into a blender, season with the salt and pepper and blitz to a course texture.
    6. The fish cakes are now ready for pan-frying in a hot frying pan with a little knob of butter. Fry on each side for 3-4 minutes until it give them a good all-round colour. Drain well on kitchen paper.
    7. In a saucepan containing boiling water softly poach an egg.
    8. Serve the fish cake on 2 tbsp of pea purée and sit the poached egg on top. Enjoy.
    Posted by on 15. January 2009
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