Basted Lamb and Ginger Rice

Ingredients
4x100g Lamb Steaks (boneless)
200g Long Grain Rice
100g Button Mushrooms (sliced)
450ml Vegetable Stock (hot)
1 Onion (finely chopped)
2 Cloves Garlic (finely chopped)
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
1 Teaspoon Each Lemon Juice, Lemon Zest, Ground Cumin, Dried Rosemary
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Turmeric
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons Fresh Coriander (chopped)
1 Inch Fresh Ginger (finely chopped)
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
1/2 Cucumber (cut into strips to garnish)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Garlic Press
1 Frying Pan
1 Pastry Brush
1 Spatula
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Wooden Spoon
1 Zester/Juicer

The Good Bit

1. In the mixing bowl, mix together the cumin, crushed garlic, lemon zest and juice, soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of oil then set aside.
   
2. Now add a splash of oil to the frying pan and cook the onion, chopped garlic and ginger for about 5 minutes until soft and golden, then add in the rice and cook for 1 minute, stirring all the time, next you want to add the mushrooms, stock and turmeric, stir well, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Whilst that is cooking, heat your grill to high, brush the lamb with the soy sauce mix and cook for 4 minutes, turn over and brush again cooking for another 4 minutes. When the rice is done, stir in the coriander and season to taste.
4. Serve strips of lamb on a bed of rice and sprinkle over the strips of cucumber.
   

Serves 4

Spiced Lamb Skewers

Ingredients
450g Minced Lamb
1 Small Onion (finely chopped)
3 Tablespoons Fresh Mint (chopped)
1 Tablespoon Fresh Parsley (chopped)
1 Tablespoon Fresh Oregano (chopped)
1/2 Teaspoon of Each Mixed Spice, Ground Coriander, Ground Cumin
450g New Potatoes
1/2 Small Cucumber
1 Tomato (de seeded and diced)
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
4 Pitta Breads
150g Natural Yoghurt
Salt and Pepper
Cucumber Slices, Cherry Tomatoes and Lemon Wedges to Serve

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Garlic Press
2 Mixing Bowls
8 or 12 Wooden Skewers (soaked for 20 minutes in water)
1 Pan (1/2 filled with boiling salted water)
1 Grater

The Good Bit

1. Mix the lamb, onion, oregano, parsley, mixed spice, cumin, coriander and 1 tablespoon of mint together, season with salt and pepper, divide the mixture into either 8 or 12 then squeeze around the skewers.
2. Cook the potatoes in the salted water for 10 minutes or until they are done (test with a fork) whilst they are doing, grill your kebabs for 8-10 minutes turning now and then to get a nice even colour all over.
3. In the other bowl grate your cucumber, then using your hands, squeeze out as much juice as you can, mix the yoghurt, tomato and another tablespoon of mint into that, add the garlic, stir well and season with salt and pepper.
4. Drain the potatoes when they are done and toss in the remaining mint, serve with the kebabs, pitta bread, a dollop of the yoghurt mixture and slices of cucumber and chopped tomatoes.
   

Serves 4

Smoked Salmon Mouse

Ingredients
90g Smoked Salmon Pieces
25g Cream Cheese
75ml Soured Cream
1 Teaspoon lemon Juice
1 Teaspoon Grated Lemon Rind
1/2 Cucumber (sliced)
Handful Cherry Tomatoes
Handful Fresh Dill (roughly chopped)
Crackers (bite size are best)
Cayenne Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Blender
1 Zester

The Good Bit

1. Blend the salmon for a few seconds then chuck in the lemon juice, zest, cream cheese and soured cream, blend until you have a smooth paste, season with the cayenne pepper.
2. Serve the crackers with a smear of the salmon mouse and a slice of cucumber on top, dress your plate with the cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of the chopped dill.
   

Serves 4

Chilled Cucumber Soup

Ingredients
1 Cucumber (chopped into slices, reserve 8 thin slices)
2 Shallots (chopped)
2 Cloves Garlic (chopped)
250g Cooked Peeled Prawns (reserve 8 for garnishing)
300ml Single Cream
300ml Milk
25g Butter
1 Bay Leaf
Fresh Mint (reserve 4 sprigs to garnish and use 1 tablespoon of chopped)
1 Tablespoon Chopped Fresh Chives
Salt and Pepper

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

The Good Bit

1. Start by melting the butter in the pan then cooking the shallots and cucumber for 5 minutes over a low heat until it begins to soften (use a lid on the pan to help with this) do not colour! Next add in the milk and bay then season to taste and simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Take out the bay leaf on pour the soup into the blender, blend well for a few seconds. Now pour into the serving bowl and stir in the herbs, prawns and cream and chill for 2 hours.
   
3. Serve garnished with a sprig of mint and the reserved prawns and cucumber slices.
   

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

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

Chicken Satay

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts
1 400g Can Coconut Milk
2 Teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
8 Tablespoons Crunchy Peanut Butter
2 Lemons
2 Carrots (cut into ribbons using a potato peeler)
1/2 Cucumber (cut into ribbons using a potato peeler)
50g Dry Roasted Peanuts
4 Warm Nan Breads
Tabasco Sauce (optional)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Potato Peeler
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Wooden Spoon
1 Rolling Pin (or something heavy)
1 Plastic Food Bag
1 Shallow Dish
8 Bamboo Skewers

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat your grill to high. Place each of the breasts in the food bag and bat them out as thin as possible with the rolling pin, take out and cut in half lengthways.
2. In the mixing bowl, mix together the coconut, peanut butter and Worcestershire sauce (Tabasco as well if using) then pour into the shallow dish. Toss in the chicken strips, coating well them thread each one onto a skewer and cook under the grill until well browned all over.
3. Heat the remaining satay sauce with a dash of water and squeeze in the juice from 1 of the lemons. Warm your nans to the packet instructions.
4. To serve, on each nan pile some of the carrot and cucumber ribbons with a splash of lemon juice from the other lemon, place on top 2 chicken skewers and drizzle over some of the peanut sauce.
   

Serves 4