Bertrands 'World Peace' Soup

Ingredients
A Good Knob of Butter
3-4 Carrots (sliced)
2-3 Sticks of Celery (sliced)
2 Onions (roughly chopped)
1 Chilli (de seeded and sliced)
3-4 Cloves Garlic (finely chopped)
7 Tomatoes (quartered)
1x400g Can Chopped Plum Tomatoes
A Handful of Basil Leaves (torn)
2 Pints Vegetable Stock
300ml Single Cream

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan
1 Blender

The Good Bit

1. Melt the butter in the pan and gently soften the onion and garlic for about 5 minutes before adding the carrots and celery, cook for another 5 minutes then add in the tomatoes (canned and chopped) along with the chilli and basil.
   
2. Cook this lot until the tomatoes are soft, then add 2 Pints of vegetable stock and transfer the mixture to a blender. blend until smooth then add in the cream, re heat and serve topped with sprigs of parsley and a nice warm baguette.
   

Serves 4

Fried Rice With Pork

Ingredients
150g Pork Fillets (sliced into bite size pieces)
3 Tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
1 Onion (sliced)
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
2 Eggs (beaten)
1 Tablespoon Tomato Purée
1 Tablespoon Sugar
750g Rice (cooked already maybe from the day before)
A Splash of Oil
1/4 Cucumber (Thinly sliced)
1 Lemon (cut into wedges)
2 Tablespoons Fresh Coriander (roughly chopped)
1 Red Chilli (de seeded and thinly chopped) OPTIONAL


Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Garlic Press
1 Frying Pan/Wok
1 Spatula

The Good Bit

1. It is a good idea to have all your vegetables ready and everything at hand near the cooker for this recipe as you have to move fairly fast. Heat the oil in the frying pan and add the garlic, stir frying for 1 minute, add the pork and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and stir fry over a medium heat for about 5 minutes.
2. Drop the eggs in and really stir now (you don't want an omelette!!) for 2 minutes then add the tomato purée, sugar and the rest of the soy sauce along with the onion, keep stirring for 1 minute.
3. Now add the rice and cook for a further 5 minutes to insure all the rice is warmed through, stir very well, serve onto plates and top with the cucumber slices, chopped coriander and if you are using a chilli, sprinkle some of that on too!
   

Serves 4

Spicy Chicken Masala

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts
2 Lemons (juiced)
1 Inch Ginger (grated)
1 Teaspoon Dried chilli (flakes will do)
1 Teaspoon Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Clear Honey
A Good Handfulls Chopped Coriander
1 Fresh Green Chilli (finely chopped)
A Pinch of Salt

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Oven Proof Dish
1 Mixing Bowl
Paper Towel
1 Large Frying Pan (if you have no grill)

The Good Bit

1. Score the chicken breasts several times 1-2mm deep then wash and dry them with a little bit of paper towel and set them aside.
2. Mix the lemon juice, ginger (1 teaspoon of crushed garlic if you are aloud) dried chilli, sugar, honey and a pinch of salt and then place the chicken in this mixture for an hour.
3. Transfer the chicken to an oven proof dish, pour over the remaining sauce and add the coriander and the chopped green chilli, then place under a preheated grill (medium) for 15-20minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, or fry for 10 minutes on each side or until the chicken has browned off. For each method flip the chicken over a couple of times and try to recover it with whatever marinade you have left.
4. Serve COLD, this is wonderful with (cant believe I'm saying this) salad, or you could go with the old favourite, rice.

Serves 4

White Chicken Curry

Ingredients
2 Onions (thinly sliced)
8 Long Green Chillies (thinly sliced)
1 Inch Fresh Ginger (grated)
1 400g Can Coconut Milk
4 Chicken Breasts (cut into chunks)
1 Lime (juiced)
A Splash of Oil
A Pinch of Salt
What About Nan Bread or Rice to Serve? (250g of rice in a large pan, 2/3rds full of boiling salted water for 10-15 minutes and follow the packet instructions for warming up nan bread)

Equipment
1 Large Frying Pan/Wok
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Spatula
1 Juicer

The Good Bit

1. Heat the oil in the pan then add the onions and cook until they begin to go soft (3 minutes) do not let them colour!!!
2. Add in the chillies, ginger, a pinch of salt and the coconut milk and stir well before adding the chicken and bringing to the boil.
3. Gently simmer the dish for 30minutes stirring occasionally (after this time cut a piece of chicken in half with your spatula and look to make sure there are no pink bits left, it should be perfectly white) don't be afraid to add a little water to the sauce if it begins to burn to the sides of the pan.
4. Once cooked, remove from the heat, stir in the lime juice and serve.
   

Serves 4

Chili Burritos

Ingredients
200g Mince Beef
2 Beef Stock Cubes
1 Sachet Chilli Sauce Mix
1 400g Can Chopped Tomatoes
1 400g Can Kidney Beans
1 Small Onion
1 Pack Tortillas (these usually come in 8's)
150g Grated Cheddar Cheese
A Dash of Olive Oil
Salad Leaves and Chips to serve

Equipment
A Wok or Large Frying Pan
A Large Oven Proof Dish
1 Wooden or Plastic Spatula
1 Wooden or Plastic Serving Spoon
1 SHARP Knife
A Chopping Board (Acrylic or Wood, Glass blunts your blades very quickly!!)

The Good Bit

1. Start by warming your dash of oil in the wok/frying pan and preheat your oven to 180C 350F or gas mark 4
   
2. Whilst your oil is warming peel and cut your onion into small chunks. Open your cans and drain the kidney beans
   
3. Now your oil is warm cook your onions in until they feel soft and look to have gone clearer, about 5 minutes
4. Add your mince and keep stirring until all the pink has gone, you should now add the 2 stock cubes and stir in well.
   
5. Add your chilli sauce mix and stir in well then add the tomatoes, kidney beans and leave to simmer.
6. Cook your chips and lightly grease your oven proof dish, the next bit gets a bit messy!
7. Fill each tortilla with a generous portion of the chilli mix and roll into a sausage shape, place in the greased oven proof dish, once they are all done (I only use 4 here as my dish isn't big enough for all 8, i use the other 4 tortillas in one of my other Mexican dishes)
8. Sprinkle the cheese on top and place in your pre heated oven for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted and has begun to bubble, serve a burrito to each person with salad leaves and chips.

Serves 4

Vegetable Chili

Ingredients
1 Vegetable stock Cube
1 Sachet Chilli Sauce Mix
1 400g Can Mixed Beans
1 400g Can Chopped Tomatoes
1 400g Can Kidney Beans
1 130g Can Sweetcorn
150ml Strong Black Coffee
1 Large Onion
1 Pepper (any colour you want)
250g Rice (just not pudding rice)
A Splash of Olive Oil

Equipment
A Wok or Large Frying Pan
1 Large Pan
1 Wooden or Plastic Spatula
1 Wooden or Plastic Serving Spoon
1 SHARP Knife
A Chopping Board (Acrylic or Wood, Glass blunts your blades very quickly!!)

The Good Bit

1. Start by warming your dash of oil in the wok/frying pan, don't worry about how much you put in just give it a good drizzle just take into account your not deep frying chips!
2. Whilst your oil is warming, its prep time. Peel and cut your onion and pepper into small chunks. Open your cans and drain the kidney beans and sweetcorn. 2/3rds fill your large pan with water and add a sprinkle of salt and bring to the boil.
   
3. Now your oil is warm (if it's smoking turn it down a little) put your onions and pepper in until they feel soft and the onions look to have gone clearer, about 5 minutes
4. Add your cans of mixed beans and kidney beans, you should now add the stock cube and stir in well.
   
5. Add your chilli sauce mix and coffee and stir in well then add the tomatoes and sweetcorn, stir and leave to simmer.
6. The water in your other pan should now be boiling so add the rice and stir with the spoon, cook the rice to packet instructions, usually 10-15 minutes.
7. Have a kettle of boiled water ready for when your rice is done, once the rice is done (you can taste a small amount to see if it is soft (done) or a little crunchy (needs a Little longer) put it in a colander and wash with the boiled water.
8. Serve the rice in a ring and heap the chilli in the centre and how about a dollop of soured cream at the side of the plate sprinkled with chilli powder or cayenne pepper for when you are entertaining
   

Serves 4.

Chili Mince Tacos

Ingredients
500g mince beef (or turkey if you want to be healthy)
1 Large Onion
1 400g Can Kidney Beans
1 400g Can Chopped Tomatoes
150ml STRONG Black Coffee
1 Teaspoon Chilli Powder
1 Teaspoon of Chinese 5 Spice Powder
1 Pack of ready to serve Tacos
Dash of Oil
Salad to garnish
Maybe some Soured Cream with a sprinkle of Paprika on top

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Can Opener
1 Large Frying Pan/Wok
1 Plastic/Wooden Spatula

The Good Bit

1. Heat the oil in your pad/wok, whilst that is warming, chopped your onion into small pieces and open all your cans.
2. Add the onion to the pan/wok and cook until it begins to go clear and feels soft when pressed with the spatula, 5 minutes, add the meat the chilli and 5 spice powder and cook until the meat is brown, 5 minutes.
3. Now add the kidney beans, tomatoes and the hot black coffee and leave to simmer for about 20 minutes, this will look thicker and a lot darker than the chilli I have already made (if you have made that) due to the coffee, it also has a very authentic rustic taste.
4. Heat the tacos to the packet instructions, only a few seconds in a microwave, for best results oven warm.
5. Serve 2 taco shells on a bed of lettuce with a healthy dollop of the chilli mix next to it and at the side of the plate a good spoonful of soured cream sprinkled with paprika.
6. I also like to add sliced tomatoes to the plate, it gives it more colour and also when eaten can take the heat out of the chilli (because I like my chilli hot!)

Serves 4

Fajitas

Ingredients
2 Chicken breast cut into strips
1 Large Red Onion
1 Green or Orange Pepper
1 Lime
1 Pack of Fajitas (usually these come in 8's this recipe uses 4)
Chilli powder
Oregano
A Dash of Oil
Salad to serve with

Equipment
1 Wok/Large Frying Pan
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wooden/Plastic Spatula
1 Lemon Zester/Juicer
1 Serving Spoon

The Good Bit

1. Heat the oil in the wok/frying pan, whilst doing this cut the onion and pepper into strips 1/2cm wide, collect the zest from the lime (do this before cutting it as it is easier) then juice the lime.
2. Place the onion, peppers, chicken, lime zest and juice, 1 teaspoon chili powder and a sprinkle of oregano in your pan and mix well.
3. Leave this to cook well for about 15 Minutes stirring occasionally until the chicken has begun to brown.
4. Just before serving warm the fajitas through according to packet instructions (couple of minutes in an oven of 30 seconds or so in a microwave)
5. I like to place 2 spoonfuls of the chicken mixture into the fajitas and then fold the 2 sides in first and then fold up from the bottom, serve on your plate with salad.

Serves 2 (use another 2 chicken breast and double up on the veg if you want to serve 4)

Mexican Chicken

Ingredients
250g Chicken Breasts (pieces and fillets will do but always seem poorer quality)
1 Can Tomatoes
1 Can Kidney Beans
1 Large Onion
1 Pepper
1 Bag Tortilla Chips
1 Small Carton of Soured Cream
Any Vegetables you want to bulk out if you need.
250g Rice (any rice but pudding rice)
Chilli powder
Oregano (not necessary but adds more flavour)
Olive Oil (any will do, sunflower, vegetable etc.)
Salt

Equipment
1 Large Frying pan/Wok
1 Large pan
1 Wooden/Plastic Spatula
1 Wooden/Plastic serving spoon
1 Sharp Knife
1 Chopping board
1 Colander

The good bit

1. Start by heating a dash of oil in the wok/large frying pan and heating the large pan which should be 2/3rds full of water with a generous sprinkle of salt in.
2. Cut the onion into small chunks, (a size you are happy to eat, not onion ring size though!) try to cut the pepper into similar size chunks and then the chicken into bite size pieces.
3. Put all this in your heated oil and cook through until the chicken begins to brown stirring fairly often.
4. Once the chicken is browning open the cans of kidney beans and tomatoes and drain your kidney beans, add these to the pad along with a teaspoon of chilli powder (2 if you are daring!) and a sprinkle of oregano if you have it.
5. Bring to a light simmer and now add your rice to the salted water, cook to packet instructions, usually 10-15 minutes but al lot longer for brown.
6. Bring a kettle of water to the boil to wash the rice, when the rice is done, tip into a colander and wash.
7. Serve the rice and a portion of the chicken mixture, add a hand full of tortilla chips and a dollop of soured cream at the side.

Serves 4

Chili Con Carne

Ingredients
200g Mince Beef
2 Beef Stock Cubes
1 Sachet Chilli Sauce Mix
1 400g Can Chopped Tomatoes
1 400g Can Kidney Beans
1 130g Can Sweetcorn
1 Large Onion
250g Rice (Long Grain,Basmati whatever you have, just not pudding rice)
A Splash of Oil (Olive or Extra Virgin Olive Preferred but Vegetable/Sunflower are fine)

Equipment
A Wok or Large Frying Pan
1 Large Pan
1 Wooden or Plastic Spatula
1 Wooden or Plastic Serving Spoon
1 SHARP Knife
A Chopping Board (Acrylic or Wood, Glass blunts your blades very quickly!!)

The Good Bit

1. Start by warming your dash of oil in the wok/frying pan, don't worry about how much you put in just give it a good drizzle just take into account your not deep frying chips!
2. Whilst your oil is warming, its prep time. Peel and cut your onion into small chunks. Open your cans and drain the kidney beans and sweetcorn. 2/3rds fill your large pan with water and add a sprinkle of salt and bring to the boil.
   
3. Now your oil is warm (if it's smoking turn it down a little) put your onions in until they feel soft and look to have gone clearer, about 5 minutes
4. Add your mince and keep stirring until all the pink has gone, you should now add the 2 stock cubes and stir in well, this will give your mince a lovely brown colour.
5. Add your chilli sauce mix and stir in well then add the tomatoes, kidney beans and sweetcorn, stir and leave to simmer.
6. The water in your other pan should be boiling by now so carefully add the rice and stir with the spoon (if the water is boiling you should be able to leave this pan alone without fear of the rice sticking) Cook the rice to packet instructions, usually 10-15 minutes.
7. Have a kettle of boiled water ready for when your rice is done, once the rice is done (you can taste a small amount to see if it is soft (done) or a little crunchy (needs a Little longer) put it in a colander and wash with the boiled water.
8. Serve the rice in a ring and heap the chilli in the centre, you can garnish with coriander if you want to be fancy, and how about a dollop of soured cream at the side of the plate sprinkled with chilli powder or cayenne pepper.

Serves 4. (I added a chopped green pepper to the onions 2 bulk out a little (I was hungry!)