All posts tagged: Winter

Golden Beetroot Soup with Maple Roast Walnuts & Feta…

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This one was a surprise to me!  Sweet, earthy goodness from the king of vegetables… The mighty, hearty, just plain delicious beetroot.  Can you tell I’m a fan? (Click here for ‘A Beetroot Affair to Remember’) I had a bag of beetroot in my latest veg box delivery, and in that bag was a golden beetroot almost the size of a swede… I pondered what to do?  A slaw?  Hide it in the kid’s mash?  Crisps?  Roast?  Actually any of those things would have been lovely, but today I panicked and decided it had to be eaten, and for lack of inspiration at 5pm today between beaver pick up (that’s scouts for 7 year olds for the sake of my transatlantic friends) and the dog escaping down the street (again) I souped it.  Plain and simple.  And actually I was more than pleasantly surprised with the result.  It’s smooth, sweet, a little earth and so so moreish…  Tim of course has had to make a side of eggy-bread to go with his (vegetables not being …

Mighty Minestrone & Other Winter Warmers

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In the thick of this cold snap, bundled up in chunky knitwear and just as I was gloating that I haven’t been ill since I can’t remember, it hit me.  The worst cold virus I’ve had since I can’t remember… hot & cold, aching all over, 3 days on the sofa and counting and most distressing (for me not my family), I’ve lost my voice, totally.  No sound, just whispers.  Actually I think my family are probably quietly relieved!!  So this is a recipe I meant to post a good few days ago, spurred on by Nigel over at The Hersham Hub and his request for winter warmer recipes…   Ingredients: 1 red onion 2 cloves crushed garlic 2 small leafy celery stalks 2 green chillis 1 courgette 1 pointed red pepper 1 sprig rosemary 2 tsp paprika 1 tsp mixed herbs 1 tsp vegetable bouillon 1/2 glass red wine 25g fresh basil 2 tins plum tomatoes 1 tin mixed beans 1/2 cup orzo (pasta) 20g butter 2 tbsp olive oil Method:   1. Heat …

Moroccan Chicken Casserole & Giant Cous Cous

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This is a warming, spicy dinner of good nourishment.  Great for a cold evening.  It’s hearty and fills the house with a sweet spicy smell…   Ingredients (serves 4): 4 Chicken Thighs 3 preserved lemons (or 1 unwaxed fresh lemon) 3 small red onions (or 1 large red onion) 4 cloves garlic 25 olives 12 organic dried apricots bunch of fresh coriander 2 tins plum tomatoes 2 cinnamon sticks Olive oil For the spice mix: 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp mace 2 cinnamon sticks 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp ground cumin For the cous cous: around 75g cous cous per person Method: 1. Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in an oven proof dish on the hob. Pre-heat the oven to 180C 2. Place the chicken thighs in the pan and brown all over for around 10 minutes.  Remove from the pan. 3. Chop the onion, crush the garlic and add to the pan that the chicken was in, adding a little more oil if …