A Simple Chili

We may have had some really nice sunny days here in the North West and tomorrow may be the first day of spring, but there's definitely still a chill in the air! Especially when the wind blows!!



We did a lot of work in the garden today and so ended up hungry as heck and chilled to the bone. I wanted to make something hearty and filling for our supper . . . and warming. Something that wouldn't be too high in fat though . . . and which would be somewhat healthy. I opted to make a simple and delicious chili.



Using extra lean minced steak, and an assortment of beans, chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic, herbs and spices . . . this is quite low in fat. I didn't use any to brown the meat, except one burst of a non stick cooking spray . . . and we used half fat cheddar and sour cream at the end.



Probably the most calorific part of the meal was the cornbread. But even that's not too bad. I used this recipe here, except that I added some chopped green chili peppers this time for an extra bit of a bite.



It really hit the spot and filled us up. We were most happy. I cut the recipe in half as there are just the two of us and that worked very well. We both had a nice full bowl of the stuff and there is enough left for Todd to have some for his lunch tomorrow.



My secret ingredient for this tasty bowl of red??? A tiny bit of Lindt dark chocolate with chili. It adds an extra depth of flavour and just a tiny bit of zip.




*A Simple Chili*
Serves 4 to 6
Printable Recipe

Hearty, filling, tasty and low fat. Makes a wonderful weeknight supper.

low fat cooking spray
1 pound extra lean minced steak
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
2 tsp cumin seeds, toasted and pulverized with a mortar and pestle
1 TBS mild Chili powder
1 tsp ancho chili paste
1 tsp oregano flakes
1 tsp coriander flakes
1 400g tin of black beans, drained and rinsed (2 cups)
1 400g tin of spicy mixed bean salad, undrained ( 2 cups, this is a mixture of cooked beans and corn in a spicy sauce)
2 400g tins of chopped tomatoes in tomato juice (about 4 cups), undrained
250ml of beef broth, lager or strong coffee
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 (100g) bar of lindt chili chocolate broken up into bits (1 3/4 ounces)
the juice of 1/2 lime

To serve:
grated strong cheddar cheese
chopped spring onions
sour cream

Heat a large deep non stick skillet over medium heat. Spray with some low fat nonstick cooking spray. Crumble in the beef and cook, stirring to break it apart, until lightly browned, adding the onion and garlic in the last few minutes. Add the cumin, chili powder, chili paste, oregano flakes and coriander flakes. Cook and stir until very fragrant. Add the beef broth, beans (both tins) and the tomatoes. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for 35 to 45 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. Break up the chocolate and stir it in until melted. Add the lime juice and stir again.

Ladle into heated bowls and serve with a dollop of sour cream, some grated cheese and chopped spring onions for sprinkling on top, along with some crusty rolls or cornbread on the side to mop up all those delicious juices!

A Simple Stew of Lamb

It may be almost spring, but there's still a chill in the air up here in the North. There have been no double digit temps here like they have been enjoying in the south, although it has been sunny. Not quite barbeque weather . . . but close. I'm still hankering for comfort food . . . something to take the chill out . . . we won't be able to enjoy these dishes for much longer . . .



It will soon be time to put these recipes away, like our woolie socks and mufflers . . . Spring is definitely in the air, and will soon be here to stay . . . but not just yet.



I love this simple lamb stew with it's simple ingredients . . . wholesome barley, deliciously tender lamb, leeks, earthy root vegetables . . .



Warming . . . comforting . . . wholesome and homey . . . yes, tis a bit old fashioned, but I'm an old fashioned girl at heart.



A delicious stew that bubbles away on the back of the stove all afternoon, tantalizing you with it's fragrance, and tasting better and better as the
minutes slowly tick by . . .



A tasty and simple stew that screams "home sweet home" from that very first deliciously moreish mouthful. .

I believe this is the cadillac of all stews. Thick . . . rich . . . and just stogged full of tasty pearl barley, winter root vegetables, tender lamb and aromatic herbs . . .



*A Simple Stew of Lamb*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Simple, tasty, hearty and filling. Comfort food at it's very best.

A knob of butter
100g pearl barley (a generous half cup)
1 large onion, peel and chop
2 sticks of celery, chopped
2 leeks, the white and light green part only, cleaned well and sliced
1 large parsnip, peeled and chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
1/3 of a medium swede, peeled and chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
400g of diced lamb (about 1 pound)
(I use leg of lamb)
a few spring of thyme
2 bay leaves
salt and black pepper to taste
lamb stock to cover
a small bunch of parsley, chopped



Place the barley into a pot of unsalted water. Bring to the boil and then simmer for about 25 minutes. Drain well and set aside. Pre-heat the oven to 160*C/325*F.

Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the lamb and brown slowly on all sides. When browned, add all of the chopped vegetables, stir to coat and then let sweat over medium low heat for about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place all the lamb and vegetables in a deep casserole dish. (make sure it is a dish that has a lid) Stir in the barley and all a spring of thyme and the bayleaves. Pour stock over to completely cover with about a half inch over. Cut a round of greaseproof paper large enough to cover. Cut a hole in the centre of it. (This is called a cartouche) Place on top of the stew and then cover with the lid of the casserole dish.

Place into the oven and bake slowly, without touching, for about 2 hours. Remove from the oven and take off the lid. Stir in the chopped parsley, adjust seasoning and serve. If you find most of the liquid has evaporated, you may add some hot lamb stock to thin.

You just know that the leftovers are going to taste even better after having sat in the fridge overnight . . . and you are not disappointed. They do.

Gnocchi Mac & Cheese with Purple Sprouting Broccoli

My purple sprouting broccoli is finally producing broccoli!! It seems like we have been waiting for it forever! Oh, I do love purple sprouting broccoli. Todd does too. It's really strange. He loves the purple stuff but hates regular broccoli. Wierd. Who can figure out men!



I've been trying to use it fresh in whatever way that I can. I never tire of it. Today I decided to make a tasty mac and cheese casserole with it, using potato gnocchi and a delicious homemade cheese sauce, flavoured with strong cheddar, parmesan and stilton.



We all know how wonderful broccoli tastes with a cheese sauce don't we? When my kids were growing up it was one of the only ways that I could get them to eat their broccoli! Slathered with melted cheese whiz. (Don't judge me!) (They also liked it raw with ranch dressing for dipping.)



The potato gnocchi get all puffed and tender . . . almost heavenly like marshmallows. The broccoli stays brilliant and crispy tender.



The lucious cheese sauce blankets them both lightly . . . richly . . . the crispy crumb topping adding an extra layer of taste and a moreish crunch.



All you need with this is a delicious salad on the side . . . oh and you may want some crusty bread to mop up all of that scrummy cheese sauce!



Simple, easy and delicious. What more could you ask for?



*Gnocchi Mac & Cheese with Purple Sprouting Broccoli*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

This is rich and delicous. Soft little potato dumplings, crispy tender purple sprouting broccoli bathed in a lucious cheese sauce, topped with crispy cracker crumbs and baked until golden brown and bubbling.

16 ounces homemade gnocchi, or fresh gnocchi from the store
2 TBS unsalted butter
1 TBS plain flour
250ml of whole milk (1 cup)
1 tsp Dijon mustard
4 ounces strong cheddar cheese, grated (1 cup)
1.5 ounces freshly grated Parmegiano Reggiano Cheese (1/4 cup)
3 to 4 TBS crumbled Stilton cheese (optional)
salt and white pepper to taste
12 ounces purple sprouting broccoli, washed and trimmed, then steamed until
crispy tender and then chopped (about 2 cups)

Topping
2 TBS freshly grated Parmegiano Reggiano Cheese
2 TBS grated strong cheddar cheese
2 TBS finely crushed cracker crumbs
Low fat cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 5. Butter a shallow glass baking dish. Set aside.

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Whisk in the flour and cook for one minute, stirring. Whisk the milk in along with the Dijon mustard. Cook, whisking constantly, over medium heat, until the mixture bubbles and thickens. whisk in the cheeses, stirring to melt completely. Whisk in the mustard and season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

Cook the gnocchi in lightly salted boiling water as per the package directions. Scoop into the prepared baking dish and toss together with the broccoli. Pour the cheese sauce over top to cover. Mix together the topping ingredients and sprinkle over top. Spritz lightly with the low fat cooking spray.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the gnocchi are lightly puffed, the sauce is bubbling, and the top is golden brown. Let rest for several minutes before serving. Delicious!

Bacon Cheeseburger Skillet Dinner

This is one of those delicious kinds of meals that you need to have up your sleeve when you have a house full of people, but don't want to spend hours slaving over a hot stove.



it's also a real family pleaser. My children always loved this and I confess to having a certain fondness for it myself. I also have been known to cook this for a few missionaries in my time. It always goes down a real treat.



They get lots of roast dinners during the week . . . everyone tries to feed them fab meals . . . so once in a while I like to treat them to a meal that would be similar to something that they would get at home, and cooked by their mums. This is comfort food, pure and simple, and something that keeps them coming back for seconds!



Something homey, comforting and filling, and incredibly tasty. Pasta combined with browned minced beef, garlic and herbs, onions, bacon, herbs and oodles of rich and gooey cheese. It has all of the elements of a bacon cheeseburger but without the bun.

All you need on the side is a delicious tossed salad and some crusty rolls. Really . . . this is VERY good . . . and quick . . . and easy . . . a real family pleaser. Another tasty treat from my Big Blue Binder. (It does make rather a lot, so if you want you can place half of the meal into a casserole dish, seal well, and freeze one for another time!)



*Bacon Cheeseburger Skillet Dinner*
Serves 8
Printable Recipe

This is one of those great family style dishes that not only tastes delicious, but is also quick, easy and feeds a crowd. You can cut the quantities in half if you like, but I'd also like to add that it freezes very well and so it's one of those things you can have in the freezer, ready to whip out at a moment's notice!

16 0unces uncooked pasta (I find shapes work well like fusilli or shells, rotini or something like that) (1 pound)
1 kg of extra lean minced beef (2.2 pounds)
16 ounces streaky bacon (1 pound)
1 onion, peeled and minced
2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
2 tins of tomato soup
1/2 cup tomato ketchup
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp mixed herbs (freeze dried basil, freeze dried oregano, parsley, marjoram)
8 ounces extra strong cheddar cheese, grated (2 cups I confess I probably do use more, but start at 2 cups and add as you wish)

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove with and set aside to drain. Add the minced beef, onions and garlic to the drippings. Cook, stirring from time to time, until the beef is lightly browned and the vegetables are soft. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and the herbs. Crumble inthe cooked bacon. Add the ketchup and tomato soup. Bring to the boil, then simmer while you cook the pasta.

Cook the pasta in lightly salted water according to the package directions until tender. Once tender, drain well and then stir into the beef mixture. Add 3/4 of the cheddar cheese and stir it in to melt, then sprinkle the remainder of the cheese on top and allow to melt. Serve right from the pan with lots of crusty bread and a tasty salad on the side.

Cherry Bakewell Breakfast Oats.

I think one of my favourite British flavours has to be the Cherry Bakewell Tart . . . and Bakewell Pudding. Bakewell Tart is an English confection consisting of a shortcrust pastry with a layer of jam and a sponge filling with almonds. The Bakewell Pudding on the other hand is a flaky pastry, with a layer of jam and an egg and almond filling. Some versions of the tart are covered with a layer of fondant. I do confess I love them all . . . the tarts, the pudding and the fondant!



I love the flavours so much that I adapted them to create my very own Cherry Bakewell Whoopie Pies a few years back, and I have to confess they were just about the scrummiest whoopie pies I have ever eaten! I've also created Bakewell Scones, and Raspberry Bakewell Cake, quite successfully and I adore them both!



Today for breakfast I decided to take the Bakewell flavours that little bit further and I created Cherry Bakewell Breakfast Oats! Just imagine it now . . .



Wholesome and hearty oats, rich and creamy . . . flavoured with the scrummy tastes of sour cherries, toasted almonds and dark cherry preserves . . .



The oats so filling and nutritious . . . cooked in milk . . . with just a touch of almond extract . . . stogged full of dried sour cherries . . .



Topped with a swirl of beautiful dark cherry preserves and a scattering of toasted flaked almonds, nutty and sweet . . .



Oh how moreish . . . oh how wonderful . . . this is the type of food that Enid Blyton made me dream about when I was a child!



As I sat there this morning devouring every delicious mouthful, I could almost imagine tucking into a scrummy bowl of this with my mates . . . storing up much needed energy for the adventures that the day ahead might hold . . .
Except there is no parrot named Kiki to amuse us . . . just a mad Cocker named Mitzie, who is in all truth probably quite a bit easier to handle and put up with.



Cherry Bakewell Breakfast Oats. Try some today. You won't be sorry you did and I dare to hazard a guess that it will become a firm favourite in your home as well. We loved this . . . we truly did.

Oh I am a very clever clogs to be sure . . .




*Cherry Bakewell Breakfast Oats*
Serves 2 generously
Printable Recipe

All the flavours of your favourite tart in a beautiful breakfast indulgence.

500ml of milk (2 cups)
80g of rolled oats (Old fashioned)
40g dried cherries (1/4 cup)
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 TBS black cherry jam
2 TBS toasted flaked almonds

Combine the milk, oats, dried cherries and salt in a medium saucepan. Stir and bring to the boil, stirring. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, until the oats are softened and the mixture is thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir in the almond extract. Spoon into heated bowls. Swirl a TBS of cherry jam into each and then sprinkle with some toasted almonds. Serve immediately. Delicious!

Crusty Chicken Pot Pie Buns

We had the missionaries over for supper the other night and I roasted a couple of chickens and did a nice roast dinner for them. There was lots of veg, and mash and stuffing . . . and for dessert, sticky toffee pudding with cream. Todd said to me, that's a lot of chicken . . . but you know . . . I like to have leftovers. Two chickens equals 4 drumsticks as well, and you know lads and drumsticks!



Anyways, I had all this leftover chicken and was wanting to do something different with it . . . something not like the usual chicken casserole, or chicken sandwiches, enchiladas . . . or whatever. I wanted to something really different.



Then I had a brain storm. WE do like chicken pot pie. We do like chicken sandwiches . . . hmmm . . . the wheels started to turn. What if I put the two things together???



I think it was a few years ago when I shared my Crusty Lasagne Buns with y'all . . . they're wonderfully delicious! I thought to myself . . . why not a Crusty Chicken Pot Pie Bun???? Just the idea sounded fabulous, and I found myself thinking why had I not thought of this before!!!!



I just happened to have some crusty rolls in the house as well . . . also leftover from the roast dinner. I didn't have any leftover gravy . . . so I used cream soup instead, but you could use leftover gravy and it would be even better!!! (I like my pot pies made with leftover gravy. They're the bees knees!) I just used frozen mixed vegetables, thawed out, but if you had leftover vegetables that would be good too.



I had leftover stuffing and so I crumbled some of that on top and it was oooooooohhhh so scrumdiddlyumptious, but you could just make some buttered bread crumbs from the bread that you pull out of the rolls and that would be fine too.

All in all, I decided that these were totally awesome as the kids would say!!!! (DO kids still say that?? I dunno!!)



Nice crusty rolls filled with a scrummy chicken pot pie filling and topped with crumbly stuffing bits and baked until the whole thing is bubbling delish and the stuffing bits are nicely browned on top. No faffing about with pastry or dumplings. Easy peasy lemon squeasy.

Todd says they are a new favourite. I call them fabulous. Sometimes I even surprise myself!



*Crusty Chicken Pot Pie Buns*
Serves 6 - 8 depending on the size of your buns
Printable Recipe

Chicken Pot Pie without the pastry . . . served up in your very own crusty roll. Deliciously different!

1 tin of condensed cream of chicken soup (415g or 10 3/4 ounces)
(In the UK this is the Batchelor's Brand of soups)
1 soup tin of milk
1/2 tsp savoury
1/4 tsp sage
1/4 tsp marjoram
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 large mug fulls of cubed cooked potato
2 large mugfuls of cubed cooked chicken
2 large mugfuls of frozen mixed vegetables, thawed (the one with peas, carrots, corn and beans)
salt and black pepper to taste
6 large crusty rolls (8 if they are not overly large)
leftover stuffing, crumbled, enough to top each bun, optional (can use buttered cracker crumbs, or even
the bread removed from the centre of the buns, crumbled and mixed with a bit of melted butter

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Have ready a baking tray.

Mix together the soup, milk, savoury, sage, marjoram, onion and garlic powders, cooked potato, cooked chicken, and mixed vegetables. Season to taste with some salt and black pepper.

Using a serrated knife, cut a sliver from the top of each bun. Using your fingers hollow each one out, by plucking out the soft bread inside, leaving a shell of about 1/4 inch all round. (Use the plucked out bits and tops to make bread crumbs or treat the birds.) Stuff each empty bun with the chicken mixture, allowing it to come a bit above the top. Place on the baking tray as you finish stuffing each one. Crumble the stuffing over top of each. (If using buttered crumbs sprinkle them over of each.)

Bake in the heated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until crisp and golden brown and bubbling on the insides. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.



Over in The Cottage today, Hot Cross Muffins.

Apple Butterscotch Pudding Cake

When I was really small my mother used to bake us delicious goodies several times during the week . . . there was always fresh baked cookies in the cookie jar and the occasional pie and cake. She went back to work when I turned 11 though, so all the baking stopped . . . or homemade baking at any rate . . . .at least until I was trusted and allowed to experiment in the kitchen on my own.



She did sometimes buy these pudding cake mix thingies for desserts once in a while. I think there was a chocolate one and a butterscotch one and a really fake apple tasting one . . . but as a child we were just glad to have dessert. It didn't really matter that it came from a mix or that it didn't really taste all that great. It was sweet and that's what counted.



Of course as an adult and experienced baker I have come to appreciate the finer qualities of desserts that are homemade. I love pudding cakes . . . I make a really good Gingerbread Pudding Cake from scratch, as well as a Cinnamon one, and an Apple and Blueberry version which is totally scrummy as well. Let's not forget Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake either, that is like the ultimate of the ultimate pudding cakes!



There is just something that is so very special about the alchemy and magic of a cake that makes it's own sauce when it's baking! It's like a tiny delicious little miracle happening in your very own oven, just for you!!

This is a really scrumdiddlyumptious version . . . with the sweet/tartness of Granny Smith Apples on the bottom . . . topped with a buttery sponge, filled with raisins . . . and a lucious butterscotch sauce that appears like magic and goes fabulously well with it all.



Eaten warm and topped with a nice cold scoop of vanilla bean icecream, I don't think you can get much homier or delicious. Of course my Brit husband would argue that fact and say that custard is much much better . . . but the Canuck in me still longs to have a nice big scoop of ice cream, preferably a good vanilla . . . on top of my cakes, pies and desserts. I just can't help it. Old habits die hard!



But what really is icecream though . . . it is frozen custard. So I guess you could say that we both like custard on our desserts . . . just in opposite forms! He likes his warm and dripping . . . and I like mine cold and melting.



In any case . . . this Apple Butterscotch Pudding Cake rocks! With custard or with ice cream. You just can't get much better than this. I do declare!



*Apple Butterscotch Pudding Cake*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

A delicious dessert topped with a fluffy raisin sponge atop tart sliced apples in a delicious butterscotch sauce that appears as if by magic!

4 large Granny Smith or other cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced (about 4 cups)

For the sponge:
150g self raising flour (1 1/3 cups)
50g caster sugar (generous 1/4 cup)
80g unsalted butter, chilled and diced (5 1/2 TBS)
1 medium free range egg
100ml milk (7 TBS))
the finely grated zest of one unwaxed lemon
50g of raisins or currants if you prefer (generous 1/3 cup)

For the Sauce:
80g light muscovado sugar (6 1/2 TBS)
25g unsalted butter (2 TBS)
100ml water (7 TBS)
Pinch fine sea salt
the juice of 1/2 lemon

Preheat the oven to 180*C/200*C/gas mark 6. Have ready a 2 litre ovan gratin or other shallow oven proof dish.

Whisk the flour and sugar for the sponge together in a bowl. Drop in the butter. Rub the butter in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Beat together the egg and milk. Stir in along with the lemon zest and the raisings. Arrange the apple slices in the bottom of the dish and smooth the sponge mixture on top.

Place the sugar, butter, water and salt for the sauce into a small saucepan. Bring to the boil. Whisk in the lemon juice and then pour this mixture over top of the batter in the dish. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cake is golden brown on top and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before spooning out into dessert dishes to serve. (A scoop of icecream goes nicely!)



Over in The Cottage today, a homely and comforting casserole, Heaven and Earth Casserole.