Posts Tagged recipes

Roasted aubergine, tomato & basil pasta

“Fast and filling, this pasta dish will bring a hint of the Mediterranean to your mealtime”

  • 1 large aubergine, cut into chunks
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 large garlic clove, unpeeled
  • 300 g cherry tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp caster sugar
  • 1 handful basil leaves, plus extra to serve
  • 250 g pasta

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Toss the aubergine chunks with the oil and whole garlic cloves in a roasting tin with some seasoning. Roast for 10 mins, add the tomatoes, vinegar and sugar, then cook for another 5 mins. Meanwhile, cook the pasta, then drain.

When the veg is tender remove the garlic cloves, snip off their ends and squeeze the roasted garlic onto a board. Mash with a fork, then stir this garlic paste back into the veg with the basil leaves – squashing most of the tomatoes as you go. Tip in the cooked pasta, stir everything together in the roasting tin, divide between 2 bowls, then scatter with a few more basil leaves to serve.

Notes : Making it meaty - Snip 4 bacon rashers into pieces and spread in a roasting tin. Add the garlic cloves, rubbed in a little oil, then roast as recipe left. Add the tomatoes, vinegar, sugar and 1 tsp dried thyme, then continue as recipe, swapping the basil for a handful chopped flat-leaf parsley.

I roughly calculated this meal to cost under 4 Euro for 2 people, making it a great low-budget meal.

Source : Good Food : August 2009

Servings/Yield : 2 servings

Rating : 5 out of 5

Difficulty : Easy

Preparation Times : Prep: 5 Minutes Cook : 15 Minutes

Nutritional notes : Per serving: 610 kcalories, protein 18g, carbohydrate 108g, fat 15 g, saturated fat 2g, fibre 9g, salt 0.1 g

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Tortino Alle Verdure

“This recipe was originally given to us as an appetiser, we made this as a complete meal, and look forward to doing it again”.

  • 500 g puff pastry
  • 200 g zucchini, cut in strips
  • 200 g carrot, cut in strips
  • 200 g emmental cheese, sliced
  • 100 g green onion, sliced
  • 30 g butter
  • 3 eggs
  • salt and pepper

Prepare the vegetables by cutting them into strips (julienne cut)

Melt the butter and fry the green onions, add the other vegetables, salt and pepper and cook for 7 minutes. Add the cheese and two beaten eggs and cook until sightly set.

Place half the pastry on a non-stick baking sheet (or use baking paper). Place the filling allowing a small border all the way around. Prepare the cover with alternative slits to open when stretched sideways. Seal the edges, brush with beaten egg. Place in a 220ºC oven for 20 minutes.

Notes : If preparing as a Main meal allow for 4 people.

Source : La Cucina Italiana : April 1995 – Page 36 (Translated and then adapted slightly from the original)

Servings/Yield : 6 servings (4 as a main)

Rating : 5 out of 5

Difficulty : Easy

Cuisine : European : Mediterranean : Italian

Course : Appetizer or Main

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Dog\'s dinnerNot my sort of thingGood but not for meWould try againLoved it! (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Basic Cake Frostings

frosting

“These frostings make enough to frost 12 cupcakes. To cover a cake (top and sides), double the recipes. They are used in cupcakes and cake recipes throughout the book. Dye the vanilla or Cream Cheese frostings any shade you like with a couple of drops of food colouring mixed in until evenly incorporated. At the Hummingbird, we like our cupcake frostings in pretty candy colours, but you can choose any colour you like.”

Vanilla

  • 250 g icing sugar, sifted
  • 80 g unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 25 ml whole milk
  • vanilla extract, a couple of drops

Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium0slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed. Turn the mixture down to slow speed. Combine the milk and vanilla extract in a separate bowl, then add to the butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time. Once all the milk has been incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.

Chocolate

  • 300 g icing sugar, sifted
  • 100 g unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 40 g cocoa powder, sifted
  • 40 ml whole milk

Beat the icing sugar, butter and cocoa powder together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed. Turn the mixer down to slow speed. Add the milk to the butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time. Once all the milk has been incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.

Cream Cheese

  • 300 g icing sugar, sifted
  • 50 g unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 125 g cream cheese, cold

Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed. Add the cream cheese on one go and beat until it is completely incorporated. Turn the mixer up to medium-high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Do not over beat, as it can quickly become runny.

 

Source : The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook : by Tarek Malouf
Servings/Yield : Makes enough to frost 12 cupcakes (double the recipe for 20cm cake)

Difficulty : Easy

Course : Dessert

Equipment : Food Processor; Hand Mixer

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