Tikka Paste

Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Coriander seeds
2 Tablespoons cumin seeds
1 1/2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
2 Tablespoons Paprika
1 Tablespoons Garam Masala
1 Tablespoons Ground Ginger
1 Tablespoon Dried Mint
2 Teaspoons Chilli Powder
1/2 Teaspoons Turmeric
Pinch of Salt
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
150ml White Wine Vinegar
150ml vegetable Oil
A Few Drops Red and Yellow Food Colouring

Equipment
1 Wok
1 Mixing Bowl
2 Air Tight Jam Jars
Pestle and Mortar/Spice mill
1 Spoon

The Good Bit

1. Grind the coriander and cumin seeds until they make a fine powder, add to the mixing bowl, add the rest of the spices and stir well. Mix in the lemon juice and a few drops of each food colouring, then add 2 tablespoons of water and the vinegar until you have a thin paste.
2. Now transfer the mixture to the wok with the oil in it and heat, stirring occasionally and cook for about 10 minutes, once the oil floats to the top the sauce is done, spoon into the jars once cool and store in the fridge.

Makes 2 Jars

Haddock With Soured Cream and Mushrooms

Ingredients
600g Haddock Fillets
60g Butter
8 Tablespoons Water
100g Button Mushrooms (sliced)
300ml Soured Cream
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
Handful Fresh parsley (chopped)
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Ovenproof Dish
Tin Foil
1 Medium Sauce Pan

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat your oven too 160c 325f gas 3. place the haddock in the ovenproof dish, sprinkle with salt and pepper and taking half of the bitter, dot it over the fish, cover with tin foil and place in the oven for 20 minutes.
2. In the sauce pan, melt the remaining butter and then add the mushrooms and fry for about 1 minute, add in the sour cream and paprika, heat through and season to taste.
3. drain the fish, place on a serving plate and pour over the sauce, garnish with the parsley.
   

Serves 4

Beef Pepperpot

Ingredients
750g Beef (cubed)
2 Tablespoons Flour
1 Teaspoon Paprika
12 Shallots
125g Button Mushrooms
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
200g Can Chopped Tomatoes
450ml Beef Stock
1 Red Pepper (de seeded and chopped into 1 cm strips)
1 Green Pepper (de seeded and chopped into 1 cm strips)
Salt and Pepper
Rice to serve (cooked according to instructions)
Splash of Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Casserole Dish
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Garlic Press
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Wooden Spoon
1 Spatula

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat your oven to 160c 325f or gas 3. Mix together the flour, paprika and a pinch of salt and pepper, drop in the beef and make sure it is well coated.
2. Fry the shallots, garlic and mushrooms in a little oil in the frying pan until the onions just begin to colour, remove and set aside. Quickly fry off the meat until it has browned on all sides, then add back in the shallots, garlic and mushrooms.
3. Any seasoned flour that you have left, chuck that in to, stirring well for 1 minute before adding in the tomatoes and stock, bring to the boil and transfer to your casserole dish.
4. Cook in the oven for 1 1/2 hours then add in the peppers and cook for a further 30 minutes, serve with the rice.
   

Serves 4-6

Pork and Apple

Ingredients
4 Pork Fillets (about 2cm thick)
1 1/2 Teaspoons Black Pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
2 Apples ((cored and cut into 4 slices widthways)
1 Lemon (juiced and zested)
300g Cabbage (shredded)
1 Clove Garlic
150ml Vegetable Stock
200ml Crème Fraiche
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper for Seasoning

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
Plastic Food Bags
1 Frying Pan
1 Spatula

The Good Bit

1. Warm your grill up to high, whilst you are waiting for that to warm up, place each of the fillets in the plastic bag and squash with your palm until they are about 6mm thick.
2. In the mixing bowl, mix together the pepper, paprika, lemon rind, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of oil, place the pork in your dish and drizzle over the sauce, turn and drizzle over a little more sauce, grill for 5 minutes, then turn, add in the apple slices and and drizzle over any remainder sauce and grill for a final 5 minutes.
3. In the frying pan heat a dash of oil and then throw in the cabbage and garlic, cover and cook for 5 minutes, then pour in the stock and creme fraiche, stir well bring to the boil and season.
4. Mount the cabbage onto your plate, top with the pork fillet then decorate with the apple.
   

Serves 4

Moroccan Chicken

Ingredients
A Knob Of Butter
A Splash of Oil
4 Chicken Breasts
1 Onion (thinly chopped)
1 Teaspoon Crushed Black Peppercorns
2 Teaspoons Paprika
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 inch Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Fresh Coriander (roughly chopped)
1 Lemon (juiced)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Frying Pan
1 Sieve

The Good Bit

1. Heat the oil in the frying pan and drop in the butter, when the butter begins to bubble add in the chicken and fry until evenly browned all over, then remove.
2. Next fry off the onion until it goes clear and soft then add in the spices and the chicken pieces, top the pan up with water until you just cover the chicken, cover the pan and simmer for 1 hour.
3. Remove the chicken and keep warm then boil the juices hard until reduced by half, strain through the sieve then stir in the coriander and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper and pour over the chicken to serve.
   

Serves 4

Steak and Tomato Salad

Ingredients
1 Teaspoon Crushed Black Pepper
1 Teaspoon Paprika
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Cumin
2 Teaspoons Dried Oregano
4 Steaks (your choice of cut)
8 Large Tomatoes
Fresh Mint And Coriander
2 Red Onions
1 Lemon (zested and Juiced)
A Drizzle of Olive Oil
Salad Leaves (Rocket, Spinach and Basil are my choice)

Equipment
1 Large Frying Pan/ Griddles are really good for this if you have one
1 Sharp Knife
1 Spatula
A Couple of hours to spare! (for marinading purposes only)

The good bit

1. Mix together the black pepper, paprika, salt, oregano, cumin and lemon zest.
2. With your knife, score the steaks in lines vertically about 1cm apart then horizontally 1cm apart (not too deep, just enough so you can see they've been cut) rub the spice mix into the steaks, (both sides if you have plenty to spare) and leave in the fridge (or microwave) for 2 hours
3. Cut your tomatoes in half lengthways and dry fry (no oil) on your griddle until they begin to blacken 6-8minutess (do NOT turn them over)
4. In the meantime roughly chop your mint and coriander, dice your onion and mix together along with the lemon juice and a good drizzle of olive oil (if you really want to be Mediterranean then add a finely sliced clove of garlic, just don't expect to get kissed afterwards!)
5. Fry your steaks over a high heat (again using a griddle pan is excellent, use no oil if you are) Time scales is down to you, If done over a high heat, you should only need to turn over once after about 5 minutes (check to see if the side has burnt a little) after another 5 minutes on that side you should have a really juicy medium steak, obviously add a little longer for well done or less for rare.
6. Serve the steak with 4 of the charred tomato slices with a drizzle of the mint and coriander mixture over them and the salad leaves at the side.
7. Grab a beer and sit outside and enjoy, or for those of you back in Manchester, stay indoors out of the rain with your beer and just imagine your on holiday!

Serves 4