Shortbread Biscuits

Ingredients
300g Plain Flour
250g Butter
125g Caster Sugar (extra for sprinkling)
50g Cornflour

Equipment
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Sieve
1 Fork
Electric Whisk (optional)
1 Oven Proof Baking Tin (12x8 inches approx)
1 Wire Rack
1 Storage Tin (air tight)

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat your oven too 140c 275f gas 1. beat together using a metal fork the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (you may find an electric whisk does the job even quicker) then sift in both flours and combine well. Press this mixture into your baking tin then jab all over with a fork.
2. Bake for 30 minutes then turn down the heat to 120c 150f gas 1/2 and continue to bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle immediately with caster sugar, then cut into biscuit size pieces or shapes and allow to cool in the tin before moving to a wire rack. Store in an sir tight box (if they get that far!!)
   

Stir Fired Lamb with Ginger

Ingredients
500g Lamb Fillet (cut into 1/2cm thick slices)
250g Mushrooms (shiitake if you can) (sliced)
175g Mangetout (topped and tailed)
6 Spring Onions (sliced diagonally into inch long chunks)
1 Inch Fresh Ginger (thinly sliced)
2 Cloves Garlic (finely chopped)
2 Tablespoons Sherry
1 Teaspoon Cornflour
1 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
Sesame Seeds to Garnish
Egg Noodles to Serve
Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok
1 Spatula
1 Glass and 1 Teaspoon

The Good Bit

1. Heat a splash of oil in the wok then stir fry the lamb for 2 minutes, chuck in the vegetables and ginger and give it another 2 minutes, stirring all the time.
2. Mix the cornflour in the glass along with the sherry then pour it into the wok, add in the soy sauce and sesame oil, stir well.
3. Serve on a bed of egg noodles (cooked to packet instructions, usually about 3-5 minutes in a pan of boiling salted water) then sprinkle over a few sesame seeds to make it look pretty!
   

Serves 4

Stir Fried Prawns

Ingredients
170g Raw Prawns (peeled)
1 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Egg White
1 Teaspoon Cornflour (mixed with ! 1/2 Teaspoon water)
300ml Vegetable Oil
1 Spring Onion (cut into inch long strips)
1inch Fresh Ginger (thinly Sliced)
1 Green Pepper (cored, de seeded and chopped)
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
1 Teaspoon Sherry
Sesame Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok
1 Spatula
1 Slotted Spoon
Kitchen Paper

The Good Bit

1. Mix the prawns with a pinch of salt, egg white and cornflour paste then stir fry in a hot wok with all the oil for 40 seconds only then remove and place on a paper towel.
2. Drain off most of the oil, leaving just a splash then add the spring onion and ginger for a few seconds then add the pepper and fry for 1 minute, next add the remaining salt, the sugar and the prawns and cook for a further minute before finally adding the soy sauce and sherry and a sprinkle of sesame oil then serving.
   

Serves 4

Chilli Prawns

Ingredients
625g Tiger Prawns
5 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
5 Tablespoons Sherry
5 Tablespoons Water
3 Red Chillies (de seeded and thinly chopped)
2 Cloves Garlic (crushed)
1 Inch Fresh Ginger (grated)
90g Cashew Nuts
2 Teaspoons Cornflour
A Handful of Spring Onions (thinly chopped)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok
1 Spatula
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Slotted Spoon

The Good Bit

1. Mix the soy, sherry, water, chillies, garlic and ginger together in the mixing bowl and then drop in the prawns, spring onion and nuts, stir well then cover and leave for a good 2 hours.
2. Using the slotted spoon, remove the prawns, nuts and onion from the sauce and cook rapidly in your wok with a little oil, cook for 2 minutes. Mix the little bit of cornflour with the sauce and stir it into the wok for about 30 seconds until the sauce thickens.
3. Serve with rice
   

Serves 4

Prawn Stir Fry with Lemon Grass

Ingredients
1/2 Cucumber (cut into thin strips)
2 Teaspoons Cornflour
2 tablespoons Water
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce (dark)
1/2 Teaspoon Fish Sauce
6 Spring Onions (halved lengthways and cut into 5cm chunks)
1 Stalk Lemon Grass (sliced thinly)
1 Clove Garlic (chopped)
1 Red Chilli (thinly chopped)
125g Oyster Mushrooms (any will do but oyster give a good look and texture)
1inch Fresh Ginger (grated)
350g Frozen Prawns (defrosted)
2 Tablespoons Sherry

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok
1 Spatula
1 Small Mixing Bowl

The Good Bit

1. Mix the cornflour, water, soy and fish sauce until you have a nice paste then set aside., meanwhile with a splash of oil in your wok, add in the spring onion, cucumber, lemon grass, chilli, mushroom and ginger and fry for 2 minutes.
2. Then add in the prawns and stir fry until the prawns are warmed through (1-2 minutes) now pour in the sauce mixture along with the sherry and cook until you have a thick sauce, serve immediately with rice.
   

Serves 4

Beef Stew With a Healthy Twist

Ingredients
500g Beef (cut into chunks)
750ml Chicken Stock
120ml White Wine
1 Carrot (halved lengthways then sliced)
1 Clove Garlic (finely chopped)
1 Stick Celery (finely sliced)
300g Baby Onions (peeled, if using shallots 1/4 them)
180g Button Mushrooms (quartered)
1 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
1 Bay Leaf
1 Teaspoon Dried Parsley
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons Cornflour
125g Natural Yoghurt
Knob of Butter
Splash of Oil
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan
2 Small Frying Pans
1 Large Bowl
1 Slotted Spoon
1 Spatula

The Good Bit

1. In the pan, heat a little oil then cook the meat until it is evenly browned on all sides, add 500ml of stock, the wine, carrot, celery, thyme, garlic and bay leaf, bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
2. In the frying pan, pour in the rest of the stock and drop in the onions, cooking until all the stock has gone, then remove from the heat and set aside.
3. In the other frying pan, heat another splash of oil and drop in the knob of butter, went it is bubbling add in the mushrooms and cook until they are soft then stir in the lemon juice and remove from the heat then set that aside too.
4. With the slotted spoon, remove the meat and vegetables from the broth and place in the large bowl, remove the bay leaf and throw away, blend a the cornflour in a cup with a little of the broth then tip it back into the pan, simmer away until the broth has thickened, reduce the heat again now and stir in the yoghurt, finally add all the other ingredients and the teaspoon of parsley, heat through then serve.
   

Serves 4

Spicey Peppered Steak

Ingredients
1 Tablespoon Peppercorns (freshly crushed)
3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
500g Steak (cut into thin strips)
1 Red Pepper (cored, de seeded and cut into thin strips)
2 Red chillies (de seeded and finely chopped, leave seeded for extra heat)
1in Ginger (cut into matchstick size strips)
2 Cloves Garlic (crushed)
2 Tablespoons Cornflour
4 Tablespoons Water
3 tablespoons Soy Sauce
2 Teaspoons Dark Soft Brown Sugar

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok
1 Garlic Press
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Spatula
1 Bowl

The Good Bit

1. Mix the cornflour and water into a smooth paste then add the soy sauce and sugar and set aside. With the oil in the wok add the beef and crushed peppercorns and stir fry rapidly for 4 minutes a until the meat is evenly browned.
2. Tip the meat along with its juices into the spare bowl, then turn down the heat and stir fry the rest of the ingredients together taking care not to brown them, just get them soft (use a low heat if you are not comfortable doing this without browning the vegetables)
3. Add the beef and its juices back to the wok and mix well then give the sauce a final stir before adding that into the pan, turn the heat back up and cook until the beef is hot and the meal is warm all the way through, serve immediately.
   

Serves 4

Ginger Beef with Peppers

Ingredients
500g Steak (thinly sliced)
2 Teaspoons Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil
1in Fresh Ginger (finely sliced)
2 Teaspoons Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Cornflour
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
1 Red Pepper (cored, de seeded and chopped into bite size chunks)
1 Green Pepper (cored, de seeded and chopped into bite size chunks)
1 Tablespoon Water
A Pinch of Chinese 5 Spice Powder
Thin Slices of Red Chilli (de seeded) to decorate.

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Garlic Press
1 Wok
1 Spatula
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Slotted Spoon

The Good Bit

1. Put the steak in the mixing bowl along with the soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of the oil, the ginger, vinegar, water, salt and cornflour, mix well and leave to stand in a fridge for 20 minutes.
2. With the rest of the oil in the wok, heat the garlic and 5 spice for 30 seconds then add the marinated steak, stir fry over a high heat to colour the the meat evenly on all sides but still leave the middle a little pink, remove the meat and set aside.
3. Now stir fry the peppers for 3 minutes then add the meat back in for a quick 1 minute blast along with any remaining marinade, serve and garnish with thin slivers of red chilli
   

Serves 4

Pot Roast Beef

Ingredients
1.25kg Beef (topside or silverside)
2 Large Onions (quartered)
2 Carrots (cut into 1cm long chunks)
1 Bouquet Garni (or 2 Sprigs each Thyme, parsley and Marjoram)
4 Black Pepper Corns
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
150ml Red Wine
450ml Water
2 Teaspoons Cornflour
4 Tablespoons Oil
25g Butter

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Casserole Dish With Lid
Silver Foil
1 Slotted Spoon
1 Cup

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat the oven to 150c 300f gas 2. Heat the oil and butter in the frying pan and cook the beef until browned evenly all over. remove and place in the casserole dish, surround with the vegetables, add the herbs, salt and peppercorns and top up with the wine and water.
2. Cover with foil then the lid and place in the oven for 3 hours.
3. Pull the beef out when done and leave to rest on a serving plate, surround it with the vegetables, discard the bouquet garni (or sprigs) and transfer the juices to the frying pan and bring to the boil.
4. In the cup add the cornflour and approximately 1 1/2 teaspoons of water, mix until you have a smooth paste then add a little of the gravy, stir well then pour this mixture into the frying pan too stirring continuously, if the sauce is too thick just add a little water. pour the sauce over the beef and vegetables and serve
   

Serves 4

Oyster Sauce Beef

Ingredients
300g Beef (cut into strips)
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
1 Teaspoon Sherry
1 Teaspoon Cornflour (mixed with 1 1/2 teaspoons cold water)
1 Carrot
60g Mangetout
60g Bamboo Shoots (canned will do fine)
60g Straw Mushrooms (any mushroom will do)
1 Spring Onion (cut into bite size strips)
2 Small Slices Root Ginger
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Oyster Sauce
3 Tablespoons Chinese Stock (or water)
60ml Vegetable Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Wok
1 Slotted Spoon
1 Spatula

The Good Bit

1. place the meat in the mixing bowl along with the sugar, soy sauce, sherry and cornflour (and water) mixture, set aside and marinate for 30 minutes.
2. Heat the oil in the wok and add the beef slices for about 1 minute, remove and keep warm.
3. Pour off the oil leaving about 1 tablespoon in the wok, add all the vegetables and the ginger and stir fry for about 2 minutes, then add the salt, beef, oyster sauce and stock (or water) mix really well and serve when piping hot through out.
   

Serves 4

Beef and Noodles

Ingredients
500g Beef (cut into thin strips)
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoon Sherry
2 Tablespoon Hoisin Sauce
4 Tablespoons Cornflour
4 Tablespoons Oil
50g Rice Noodles (the thin white ones)
200g Broccoli Florets
2 Red Peppers (de seeded and sliced)
Handful Basil (torn)
250g Rice (cooked as described in the tips column)
for the sauce
8 Tablespoons Sherry
4 Tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
2 Teaspoons Sesame Oil
2 Tablespoons Clear Honey
2 Teaspoons Sweet Chilli Sauce

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Mixing Bowl
1 Small Mixing Bowl
1 Wok
1 Slotted Spoon
Kitchen Paper

The Good Bit

1. Mix the beef with the soy sauce, hoisin, sherry and cornflour, mix well and set aside. Deep fry the noodles in hot oil for about 30 seconds, remove with the slotted spoon and set aside on kitchen paper
2. Mix all the sauce ingredients together in the small bowl, In the wok add a little oil and drop in the beef and what ever marinade you have left, cook for about 1 minute then add the broccoli and pepper and cook for a further 2 minutes, then add the sauce and cook for 2 minutes more.
3. When the meat is tender, drop in the basil, check the seasoning then serve on a bed of rice topped off with the crispy noodles.
   

Serves 4

Stir Fried Pork With Vegetables

Ingredients
250g Pork Fillet (thinly sliced)
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
1 Teaspoon Sherry
1 Teaspoon Cornflour (mixed with 1 1/2 teaspoons cold water)
1 Carrot (cut into slices diagonally)
1 Green Pepper (de seeded and chopped into bite size chunks)
175g Mixed Salad Leaves (shredded)
1 Spring Onion (cut to the same size as everything else)
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Ginger
1 Teaspoon Salt
3 Tablespoons Vegetable or Pork Stock (water will do)
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
2 Mixing Bowls
1 Slotted Spoon
1 Wok
1 Spatula

The Good Bit

1. In one of the mixing bowls mix together the pork strips, 1/2 of the sugar, 1/2 the soy sauce, the sherry, corn flour and water mixture, mix well and set aside in the fridge whilst you prepare the rest.
2. Get the oil warm in the wok then drop in the pork and stir fry over a high heat for a minute to seal in the flavours then remove with the slotted spoon. Chuck in the vegetables and ginger and stir fry for 2 minutes.
3. Add in the salt, the rest of the sugar and soy sauce along with the stock, bring to the boil, stirring well then serve.
   

Serves 4

Lemon Chicken

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts
1 Tablespoon Sherry
1 Egg (beaten)
4 Tablespoons Flour
2 Tablespoon Water
250ml Water
1 Tablespoon Caster Sugar
1 Lemon
1 Tablespoon Cornflour
1 Teaspoon Salt
Oil
Lemon Slices to Garnish
250g Rice (or serve with whatever you fancy)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Small Frying Pan
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Small Mixing Bowl
1 Zester
Kitchen Paper
Slotted Spoon
1 Large Pan 2/3rds full with boiling salted water if you are having rice.

The Good Bit

1. Start by heating a splash of oil in the little pan, add in 250ml of water, the sugar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, the cornflour, salt and 1 teaspoon of lemon rind, bring to the boil and stir until smooth, remove from the heat.
2. Cut the chicken into strips about 1cm across, drop in the mixing bowl along with the sherry and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, leave for 30 minutes.
3. When you are ready to start cooking the meal, if you are having rice, put that on now. then make a batter from the egg, flour and 2 tablespoons of water, dip each chicken strip in it then fry in a shallow amount of oil in the large frying pan/wok, when they are all golden and crispy pull out and drain on a piece of kitchen paper.
4. serve on a bed of rice with the lemon sauce drizzled over the top.
   

Serves 4

Chicken Chop Suey

Ingredients
125g Chicken (chopped into chunks)
1 Onion (chopped thinly)
1 Carrot (julienne/grated)
1 Green Pepper (julienne/grated)
125g Bean Sprouts
1 Egg (split, white is all we need)
1 Teaspoon Sherry
1 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
2-3 Tablespoons Chinese stock (or water)
2 Teaspoons Cornflour
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
Pinch of Salt
Splash of Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Small Glass
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Wok
1 Spatula

The Good Bit

1. Mix the cornflour into a paste in the glass with 3 teaspoons of water, then in the mixing bowl in this order mix in the chicken, a pinch of salt, 1/4 of the egg white and the paste you have just made.
2. Stir fry the chicken in a splash of oil until it is no longer pink, it should be white all over, take out of the wok and set aside. Add all the vegetables apart from the bean sprouts and cook for about 2 minutes then add the bean sprouts and fry off rapidly for a few seconds.
3. Now add back in the chicken, another pinch of salt, the sugar, soy sauce and sherry mix this well then add in the stock or water, give it a good stir then serve, for authenticity you can sprinkle over a dash of sesame oil if you like.
   

Serves 4

Kung Po Chicken

Ingredients
250g Chicken Breast (chopped into chunks)
1 Egg (split and only the white used)
1 Green Pepper (cored, seeded and chopped into chunks)
1 Spring Onion (chopped diagonally into inch long chunks)
1 Fresh Ginger (grated or thinly sliced)
4 Dried Chillies or 1 teaspoon chilli powder (take the seeds out and cut thinly)
2 Tablespoons Yellow Bean Sauce
1 Teaspoon Sherry
125g Nuts (not salted, peanuts, walnuts, cashew or almond)
250g Rice (cooked)
A Splash of Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Small Bowl
1 Wok
1 Spatula
1 Large Pan 2/3rds full boiling salted water (for the rice)

The Good Bit

1. Get the rice on first then in the bowl mix in in this order the chicken, a pinch of salt, 1/3rd of the egg white and the cornflour.
2. Heat the chicken then in the wok until it browns, take out and set aside. Now stir fry the spring onion, ginger, chilli and pepper for about 1 minute then put the chicken back in along with the yellow bean sauce and sherry, stir well and cook for a further minute, lastly just before you serve up, chuck in the nuts.
   

Serves 4

Chicken + Pineapple

Ingredients
150g Cooked Chicken (sliced into chunks)
1 Onion (thinly chopped)
1 Spring Onion (sliced diagonally into inch long pieces)
1inch Fresh Ginger (sliced as thin as possible or grated)
1 Carrot (grated)
1 125g Can Pineapple
2 Tablespoons of Syrup (from the can)
1 Tablespoon Cornflour
1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
A Good Splash of Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok
1 Spatula

The Good Bit

1. Fry the onion in the oil until it has gone clear, add the ginger, spring onion and carrot and stir fry for another minute.
2. Add in the chicken, pineapple, vinegar and pineapple syrup with a pinch of salt and mix till well blended.
3. Sprinkle in the cornflour and stir in until the mixture has thickened then serve, you can serve with a black bean sauce or rice if desired. This also goes well with duck!
   

Serves 4

Autumn Crumble

Ingredients
250g Blackberries (picked fresh in august they are at their sweetest, i know i went picking some yesterday!)
2 Cooking Apples (peeled, cored and chopped into slices)
150g Sugar
2 Teaspoons Cornflour
125g Plain Flour
50g Butter (diced)
50g Demerara Sugar
25g Bran Flakes (optional but adds texture and crunch)
50g Chopped Mixed Nuts

Equipment
2 Mixing Bowls
2 Wooden Spoons
1 Oven Proof Dish

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat your oven too190c/ 375f/ gas 5. Mix the fruit in a bowl then sprinkle over the sugar and cornflower, gently stir this with a wooden spoon, pour mixture into your oven proof dish.
2. Sift the flour into the other mixing bowl and add the butter, mix together with your fingers until you have breadcrumbs then add the nuts, bran flakes and demerara sugar and mix this together, whack on top of the fruit and level out with the back of a spoon.
3. Cook for 40-45 minutes until golden brown, serve hot with either custard or ice cream.

Serves 4

Lemon Cheesecake

Ingredients
150g Digestive Biscuits
50g Butter (melted)
2 250g Cartons Mascarpone
200ml Double Cream (makes the traditional thick cheesecake, if you want it a little lighter use crème fraiche and 100g caster sugar)
2 Egg Yolks
2 Tablespoon Cornflour
1 Lemon (juiced)
Ice Cream/Cream to serve

Equipment
2 Mixing Bowls
1 Rolling Pin (or something heavy)
1 Strong Plastic bag
1 Big Spoon
1 Oven Proof Dish (20cm/8 inch)

The Good Bit

1. Pre-heat your oven to 190c 375f gas mark 5. Place the biscuits in the bag and crush with your rolling pin, then mix in one of the bowls with the melted butter, spread out evenly over the base of the oven proof dish and whack it in the freezer to set.
2. Mix all the other ingredients in a bowl together and pour over your now set base and smooth out, or leave a little jagged for that rustic look (that's what i tell everyone anyway and I'm sticking to it)
3. Slap this in a preheated oven for45 minutes, it should be golden when done, still a little jiggly but that will set, LEAVE it in the oven to cool with the oven door OPEN, then and only then when you can take it out by hand place it in the fridge for a few hours before serving, it's better if you can leave it over night.

Serves 6 (yeah right, if I'm one of your guests then it serves 1, ME!!)