Mini Lamb Kebabs and Baby Onions

Ingredients
450g Lamb (minced)
1 Onion (thinly chopped)
1 Teaspoon Each Garam Masala, Garlic (crushed) Salt
4 Tablespoons Fresh Coriander (chopped)
6 Green Chillies (sliced, de seeded for a cooler kebab)
1 Tablespoon Flour
12 Baby Onions (de-skinned but left whole)
12 Cherry Tomatoes
Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok
1 Blender
1 Spatula
1 Mixing Bowl
Wooden Skewers (soaked in water for 20 minutes before hand)
1 Pastry Brush

The Good Bit

1. Ok, in the mixing bowl along with the minced lamb, add the chopped onion, garam masala, 1/3 of your chillies, 1/2 the coriander, salt and flour, get your hands in there and give it a good mix, then transfer to your blender and give it a blast for about 1 minute.
2. Now take out clumps of the mixture about the size of a lime and form around the skewers, you should be able to get 2 clumps on each skewer, continue until all the mixture is used up.
3. You now want to brush the kebabs with a little oil then stick them under a very hot grill, turning and re basting occasionally for 12-15 minutes, until the meat is evenly brown all over.
4. Now heat a good splash of oil in your wok and drop in the onions, when they start to brown you can add the tomatoes and the rest of your chillies, now slide the kebabs carefully from the skewers into the wok and cook, stirring slowly for 3 minutes.
5. Serve and garnish with a sprinkling of coriander which you should have left.
   

Serves 4

Camembert Fritters

Ingredients
1 Good Sized Camembert Cheese
Parsley Sprigs (for topping off)
Oil
Butter
25g Plain Flour
5 Tablespoons Milk (warmed but not boiling)
1 Egg
2 Tablespoons Water
1 Tablespoon Brandy
3 Tablespoons Breadcrumbs (mixed with 1 Tablespoon Flour for coating)

Equipment
3 Mixing Bowls
2 Forks
1 Sauce Pan
1 Wooden Spoon

The Good Bit

1. Take the rind off the cheese and mash it in a small mixing bowl until you have a nice smooth mixture, then melt a good knob of butter in the sauce pan and add the flour, cook for 2 minutes, stirring all the time and don't let the mixture brown, stir in the brandy and milk until you have a nice thick sauce then season to taste with pepper only, now add in the cheese (which will give it the salt required) and blend well.
2. In one of your other bowls, beat together the egg and water, now coat your hands with flour and take small amounts of the cheese mixture and roll into cocktail sausage sized pieces, then dip in the egg.
3. In the final bowl you should have your breadcrumbs and flour, once you've dipped your cheese mixture in the egg, roll it into the breadcrumbs, then deep fry (in a wok or chip pan) quickly until they are golden brown, drain on kitchen paper and serve garnished with the parsley sprigs. (I like to put a bit of dried basil in with the breadcrumbs for an extra bit of flavour, they go great served with dipping sauces like tomato, barbecue or soured cream and chive)
   

Serves 4

Chicken Wings

Ingredients
8 Chicken Wings (with the tips removed)
1 Small Onion (chopped as fine as you can)
2 Cloves Garlic (crushed)
2 Tablespoons Honey (clear)
4 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
4 Tablespoons Tomato Ketchup
2 Teaspoons English Mustard
2 Teaspoons Tabasco Sauce
2 Tablespoons Flour (seasoned with salt and pepper)
Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Frying Pan
1 Baking Tray (covered with grease proof paper)
1 Garlic Press
Napkins

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat your oven to 200c 400f gas mark 6. Start by frying the onion and garlic until soft in a splash of oil, then add in the sauces, honey and mustard and simmer for about 2 minutes.
2. Next you want to dust the chicken wings in the seasoned flour then brush with the sauce and place on the baking tray. cook for 30 minutes until they are well browned (even a little burned isn't bad, adds to the flavour) Serve, with napkins!!
   

Serves 4

Christmas Cake

Ingredients
125g Self Raising Flour
200g Plain Flour
250g Butter
250g Brown Sugar
250g Currants
250g Raisins
250g Sultanas
75g Mixed Peel (chopped)
75g Glace Cherries
50g Ground Almonds
5 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Treacle
1 Teaspoon Mixed Spice
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
50ml Sherry
1 Lemon (zested)
4 Tablespoons Brandy

Equipment
1 Large Mixing Bowl
2 Wooden Spoons
1 9inch Round Baking Tin (or 8inch square tin) (greased)
Greaseproof Paper
1 Sieve
2 Mixing Bowl
1 Airtight Tin

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat your oven too 140c 275f gas 1. Line the baking tin with a double thickness of grease proof paper and leave a good 5 cm sticking out above the rim of the tin.
2. Start by sieving the flours into the large mixing bowl, add the salt and spices and give a little stir, in an other bowl cream the butter and sugar together until you have a light mixture then add the treacle and mix well, in the other mixing bowl, drop in the eggs, vanilla and sherry and beat gently together.
3. Now what you need to do is, beat half the egg mixture into the creamed mixture then fold in 1/3rd of the flour, then add 1/2 the egg mixture again and fold, then add 1/2 the remaining flour and fold, finally add the last bit of egg, fold, and then the flour and fold again.
4. Now add in all the other ingredients (except the brandy) and fold in well then pour the mixture into your cake tin and flatten out the top. Now chuck this in the oven for 4-4 1/2 hours)
5. If the cake begins to brown too much you can cover it with a double layer of greaseproof paper, check to see if it is done by sticking it in the centre with a skewer, if the skewer comes out clean it's done, if it comes out sticky then leave it in. Turn the cake out on to a wire rack and allow it to cool completely then finally prick the top all over and drizzle over 4 tablespoons of brandy, leave it to mature for 3 months in an airtight tin (adding brand 1-2 tablespoons every couple of weeks)
   

Oysters in a Cream Sauce

Ingredients
12 Oysters (opened, rinsed, liquor strained and reserved)
White Wine
2 Tablespoons Butter (unsalted if possible)
2 Spring Onions (chopped)
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
1 Tablespoon Flour
1 Egg (yolk only)
50ml Double Cream
25g Button Mushrooms (finely chopped)
75g Prawns (peeled and cooked, finely chopped)
15g Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 Tablespoons Fine Fresh Breadcrumbs
Tabasco Sauce
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Oven Proof Dish
Tin Foil
Blender
1 Pot Washing Brush
1 Saucepan
1 Wooden Spoon
1 Small Mixing Bowl

The Good Bit

1. Start by topping up the reserved liquor with white wine, make up 250ml and set aside, then with the brush scrub the inside of the deeper shells and then place an oyster in each. Now arrange the shells on crumpled tin foil in the oven proof dish, Pre heat your oven to 200c 400f gas mark 6.
   
2. OK now melt the butter in the saucepan and cook the onion and garlic until soft but not coloured then stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute stirring all the time, now pour in the liquor, keep stirring whilst doing this and bring to the boil, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, keep stirring, season and add Tabasco if wanted.
3. In the small mixing bowl, mix the cream with the egg yolk and add 2 tablespoons of the hot sauce then pour this back into the hot sauce and continue to stir until you have a thick sauce, now remove from the heat and add the mushrooms and prawns then spoon over the oysters.
4. Finally mix the breadcrumbs (these should be done in the blender to make them really fine) with the parmesan, sprinkle over the oysters and then whack the dish in the oven, cook for 15-20 minutes until the breadcrumbs are golden and the edges of the oysters begin to curl.
   

Serves 4

Smoked Haddock and Leek Pie

Ingredients
500g Smoked Haddock Fillet (unskinned)
300ml Milk
2 Tablespoons Butter
2 Leeks (sliced)
2 Teaspoons Mustard
1 Cup Mascarpone
3 Eggs (hard boiled and quartered)
1 Large Potato
75g Cheddar Cheese (grated)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Cheese Grater
1 Pan
1 Large Pan
1 Ovenproof Dish

The Good Bit

1. Preheat your oven too 200c 400f gas 6. Place the fish in the heatproof dish, in the small pan, heat the bring the milk to boiling the pour over the fish and set aside for 5 minutes.
   
2. In the large pan heat the butter until it melts then add the leeks and cook for about 3 minutes until it begins to soften, now add the flour and keep stirring for a minute, now strain the milk from the fish into this pan and stir well, when you have a thick sauce add in the mustard and mascarpone, mix well then season with salt and pepper.
3. Now break off into chunks the fish and add the quartered eggs to this dish (the ovenproof one) pour in the leeks and sauce and give everything a gentle stir, at this point grate your potato and mix it with the grated cheese, season this with a little salt and plenty of pepper and then spread evenly over the top of the fish.
4. Bake for 30 minutes (until the top is golden) serve immediately.
   

Serves 4

Seafood Chowder

Ingredients
1 Onion (finely chopped)
1 Clove Garlic (finely chopped)
2 Sticks Celery (sliced)
1 Large Carrot (diced)
40g Flour (preferably Wholemeal)
750ml Fish or Chicken Stock
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
Handful Fresh Parsley (roughly chopped)
2 Tablespoons Parmesan (grated)
1x120g Can Sweetcorn (drained)
250ml Milk
250g Prawns (shelled)
250g White Fish such as Haddock (chopped into bite size chunks)
250g Baby New Potatoes (or large potatoes cut to bite size chunks)
4 Bay Leaves
A Good Splash of Oil
Salt and Pepper to Season
Crème Fraiche (optional)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan

The Good Bit

1. Heat the oil in the pan and cook the onion and garlic together until soft (3 minutes) add in the celery and carrot and cook for a further 2 minutes, then whilst stirring, drop in the flour for another minute, finally add in the stock, potatoes, oregano and bay leaves, bring to the boil and cover, lower the heat so you have a slow simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Once the 15 minutes is up add in the fish and cook until it goes opaque (3 minutes or so) stir in the milk and sweetcorn and bring back to the boil before adding the parmesan and parsley (at this stage you can add 5 Tablespoons of Crème Fraiche to make a really creamy chowder)
   

Serves 6-8

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 in Cider

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts
2 Tablespoons Flour
2 Small Onions
400ml Cider
3 Large Peppers (cored and de seeded then chopped to small chunks)
2 Tablespoons Single Cream
Salt and Pepper
A Splash of Oil
Parsley (chopped for garnishing)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Plastic Food Bag

The Good Bit

1. Put the flour in the food bag, season with salt and pepper then fry off the chicken breasts in the frying pan until golden all over. remove and set aside.
2. Add the onions to the frying pan and a little more oil if needed, fry over a gentle heat until they are clear and soft then remove and put with the chicken.
3. take the left over seasoned flour and stir fry for 1 minute before adding the cider, season and bring to the boil.
4. Return the chicken and onion to the pan and add the chopped peppers, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes (make sure the chicken is cooked through and the peppers are soft)
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream, serve immediately and garnish with the parsley.
   

Serves 4

Fish and Chips

Ingredients
4 Large Potatoes (or 4 servings that would do for 4 people)
4 Cod Fillets
Sunflower Oil
8 Tablespoons of Flour
2 Teaspoons Bicarbonate of Soda
200ml Cold Water
Juice of 2 Lemons
Salt and Vinegar!!

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Mixing Bowl
1 Small Bowl
A Chip Pan (if you have one)
OR
A Large Wok
Colander
Kitchen Paper
Slotted Spoon
1 Balloon Whisk

The Good Bit

1. Cut the potatoes into chips (whatever size you prefer) and wash well in the colander and then dry them on kitchen paper, heat the oil in the chip pan too 190c or in the wok (a good amount for deep frying) until a cube of bread takes about a minute to turn golden brown. cook the chips for 5-7 minutes until golden brown then remove with the slotted spoon and place back on kitchen paper.
2. Whilst the chips are cooking make the batter, mix the flour and bicarbonate of soda together in the large bowl and whisk in the water until you have a smooth batter, then add the lemon juice and a pinch of salt and stir in well, in the smaller bowl whack a little flour in, then dust each of the cod slices in this flour before dipping them into the batter, shaking off any excess, deep fry these in the chip pan or wok for 5 minutes until the batter is a lovely golden brown then remove onto kitchen paper.
3. Now turn up the heat on the chip pan to 210 or on the wok until your cube of bread takes about 30seconds to get to the same colour as last time, and reheat the chips for 2 minutes, then serve! and enjoy.

Serves 4

Peppered Steak

Ingredients
4 Beef Steaks (a serving each)
4 Tablespoons Pepper corns
200g Mushrooms (button, chestnut, sliced)
4 Tablespoons Brandy
300ml Red Wine (something good but not your best from the wine cellar that you've been saving for the last 5 years)
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
2 Tablespoons Redcurrant Jelly (Cranberry will also do)
450g Potatoes (grated with the largest grating holes)
A Splash of Oil
Flour
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Chives or Fresh Thyme to Garnish

Equipment
2 Frying Pans (1 large 1 small)
2 Spatulas
1 Sharp Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Grater
Rolling Pin (or something heavy)
1 Food Bag
Pastry Brush

The Good Bit

1. In the food bag crack the pepper corns with the rolling pin or your heavy item, then sprinkle this onto your steaks when all the pepper is used, push the cracked corns into the meat with your fingers. Now Brush each steak with a little oil and fry in a hot pan for 3-4 minutes on both sides until its well browned on both sides.
2. Split the grated potato into four even amounts and add a tablespoon of flour to each, your going to have to fry each portion off separately. With a little oil in the other frying pan you need to pat the grated the potato down and fry on both sides until golden (3-4 minutes) then repeat for the other 3 portions.
3. If your steaks are looking done whilst you are doing this, take them out of the pan and place on a plate and cover to keep warm (they'll be nice and juicy like this) Add the mushrooms to the steak frying pan and fry for a minute until beginning to brown.
4. The add the brandy and ignite (be careful) once the flames have gone add the red wine, redcurrant jelly and thyme and boil until the redcurrant has dissolved, season to taste.
5. Place a golden potato pancake on each plate, top with a steak then spoon around the mushrooms and red wine sauce, garnish with fresh thyme or chives (ladies if you serve this to any man, he'll be yours! and men if you serve it to a lady, she'll think your a genius in the kitchen!)

Serves 4 (half the ingredients for a cosy but luxury meal for 2)