Tomato and Coriander Salad

Ingredients
1 Kg Mixed Tomatoes (get some yellow and cherry too if you can)
2 Teaspoons Lime Zest
1/2 Small Red Onion (thinly diced)
2 Tablespoons Fresh Coriander (roughly torn)
1 Tablespoon Lime Juice
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
1/2 Tablespoon Clear Honey
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
Salt and Pepper
1 Tablespoons Sesame Seeds (toasted) (optional)

Equipment
1 Balloon Whisk
1 Garlic Press
1 Sharp Knife
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Serving Bowl

The Good Bit

1. Whisk together the coriander, garlic, lime juice, honey, cayenne and the salt and pepper, then whisk in the oil and set aside.
2. Now quarter all your tomatoes and place in a serving bowl, sprinkle over the lime zest, onion and if you are using the toasted sesame seeds. Now whisk the dressing ingredients again and drizzle over the salad, cover the salad and set aside for 30 minutes (i like to put it in the fridge as a cold salad is awesome on a hot day)

Serves 4

Red Wine Risotto

Ingredients
300g Risotto Rice (long grain will do)
450ml Red Wine
600ml Chicken Stock
125g Butter
250g Mushrooms (sliced)
175g Parmesan (grated)
2 Red Onions (thinly chopped)
2 Cloves Garlic (thinly chopped)
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Spatula

The Good Bit

1. Pour the red wine and stock in your pan and bring to a gentle simmer, in the frying pan, heat up a little oil and add half the butter, gently cook the onions and garlic until they are soft (don't brown them)
2. Add the rice to the frying pan and stir well, now add the stock from the other pan until you just cover the rice, keep the liquid simmering and keep stirring, as the liquid soaks up, add a little more stock and keep stirring, keep this up, adding a little stock at a time until all the stock has been absorbed.
3. When you've got the point when you are half way through your stock, add in the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper, finally add in the butter when all the stock is gone and most of the parmesan, stir in and serve. sprinkle over the remaining parmesan.

Serves 4

Mexican Salsa

Ingredients
6 Tomatoes (skinned seeded and diced)
2 Cloves Garlic (crushed)
1 Red Onion (finely sliced)
4 Tablespoons Fresh Coriander (roughly chopped)
1 Lime (juiced)
2 Green Chillies (seeded and finely sliced)
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 Mixing Bowl
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Garlic Press
1 Juicer

The Good Bit

1. Mix all your ingredients together in your bowl and chill in the fridge for an hour or so before use. Excellent with nachos or served at a BBQ
   

Special Occasion Lamb and Pasta

Ingredients
2 Lamb Fillets
2 Red Onions (quartered)
4 Cloves Garlic (chopped as thin as possible)
A Few Rosemary Sprigs
1 Tablespoon Chopped Rosemary
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Freshly Cooked Pasta to Serve
Parmesan and Parsley to Garnish

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Griddle or Non Stick Frying Pan
1 Large Pan (2/3 rds full with boiling salted water for the pasta)
Pestle and Mortar (or bowl and spoon)

The Good Bit

1. Make small cuts all over the lamb fillets, and then push the thin garlic slices and rosemary sprigs into them, you want to put the fillets onto an all ready hot griddle pan and cook turning occasionally until sealed and charred all over (20 minutes for rare, 30 for medium and 40 for well done) for the last 10 minutes of cooking add the quartered onions.
2. Put the chopped rosemary in your pestle and add a good splash of oil (4 tablespoons roughly) work well and season.
3. Give the lamb 5 minutes before you cut it to rest, cut into strips and drizzle over the seasoned oil, add the onions and serve with pasta, for that special touch garnish with parmesan and chopped fresh parsley.
   

Serves 4

Spicey Lamb Meatballs

Ingredients
500g Minced Lamb
1 Onion (finely chopped)
A Pinch of Black Pepper
2 Teaspoons Cumin
1 Teaspoons Allspice
1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
4 Tablespoons Chopped Fresh Coriander
4 Small Nan/Pita Breads (or tortillas)
Salad Leaves
1 Red Onion (thinly sliced)
4 Tablespoons Greek Yoghurt
1 Lemon (cut into wedges to serve)

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

The Good Bit

1. Mix the lamb, spices, herbs and chopped onion together, wet your hands and make 20 or so little meat balls, fry in a pan for 10-15 minutes until browned evenly all over.
2. Warm up the nan/pita or tortillas, place on a plate, top with the salad leaves and a sprinkle of the red onion slices, scatter over a few of the meat balls, heap on a good spoonful of Greek yoghurt and add a slice of lemon at the side.
   

Serves 4

Tuna with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Ingredients
4x175g Tuna Steak (skinned)
1 Red Onion (finely chopped)
2 Cloves Garlic (Crushed)
1 Sprig Fresh Rosemary
1x125g Jar Sun-dried Tomatoes in Oil
75ml Red Wine
1 Tablespoon Capers
75g Olives (black preferably)
Handful of Fresh Parsley (chopped)
75g Flour
1 Lemon (cut into wedges to garnish)
Salt and Pepper
Olive Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Garlic Press
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Sauce Pan

The Good Bit

1. Heat a splash of oil in the sauce pan and cook the onion, garlic and rosemary over a low heat for about 5 minutes, Whilst that is cooking put your flour in the mixing bowl and season well, drop your tuna steaks into the flour and coat evenly all over.
2. Next fry the steaks for 4-5 minutes on each side ensuring it is nice golden colour all over then remove from the pan and keep warm in an oven (only has to be a low heat we don't want to cook the fish any more)
3. Now add the tomatoes to the onion pan, turn up the heat to high and add the wine, capers, parsley and olives, season to taste and them simmer for 2 minutes, serve the tuna with the sauce poured over and decorated with a lemon wedge.
   

Serves 4