Watermelon & Chèvre Salad

 

 

Ingredients:

 

Cherry Tomatoes

Watermelon

Chèvre (good French goat's cheese)

Basil/Parsley

Lemon Juice

Extra virgin olive oil

½ tsp black vinegar (could use balsamic)

Black pepper

 

Method:

 

This was simple.  My watermelon had lots of seeds so removing those was the fiddliest bit.  Cut up your watermelon into bite sized chunks, removing as many seeds as you can.

 

Add some halved cherry tomatoes – mine were orange

 

Crumble your cheese on top.

 

Sprinkle with chopped fresh green herbs.

 

Liberal grindings of black pepper.

 

Make up a little dressing with your oil, vinegar and lemon juice and squirt it over your salad – and that's it!

 

Easy and so, so refreshing.

Ham & cheese toastie with brown sauce

 
 

I don't have anything fancy for you today – just reminding you of a slightly changed up toastie using some leftover ham and also some of my brown sauce I made.

 

Ingredients:

 

4 slices of bread (I used mixed grain)

Spread or butter

Grated cheese

Finely sliced leftover ham

Salt and pepper

Brown sauce

Chilli pieces for garnish

 

Method:

 

Heat up your oven or grill till it's quite hot.  While it is heating, butter the bread and then put it butter side down onto some baking paper on a baking sheet.

 

Sprinkle each piece with grated cheese – trying to get it evenly across the slice – without falling off the sides.  Sprinkle your ham on and then a bit more cheese and some salt and pepper.  Spoon some dots of brown sauce onto each slice – you don't want to put too much so that the bread goes soggy but just enough to give a bit of a kick of flavour.

 

Cook in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes – don't forget to check them – it can be a fine line between golden and burned.  Serve after letting them sit for a minute or two with some chilli pieces for a garnish.

Olive Cheese Bread

 

 

First, thanks to Ree Drummond for the recipe idea!  Simple, tasty and effective.

 

Ingredients:

 

Black olives – 2 parts

Green olives – 1 part

2 spring onions

Mayonnaise

Grated cheese

¼ pound butter

1 loaf of bread

 

Method:

 

I defrosted my loaf in the microwave.  We have discovered that the texture of the bread is closer to fresh this way than just leaving it on the bench to defrost.

 

Heat your oven up to hot

 

Slice the loaf of bread in half lengthways.

 

Chop your olives and spring onions.  Mix together with all the other ingredients.  It's best if the butter is softened.

 

Spread the mix onto the loaf and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Note this recipe did not call for added salt or pepper and was tasty without.

Mac n Cheese with Smoked Fish and Bacon

 

 

I like my Mac n Cheese but am not a true connoisseur like many of you.  This time I wanted to use up some smoked fish and bacon pieces so a dish was born.  The flavours worked well together.

 

Ingredients:

Oil

Macaroni

Bacon pieces

Smoked fish (ruby fish)

Store bought Mac n Cheese sauce

Cauliflower

Lemon juice

Salt & pepper

Mustard (Dijon)

Breadcrumbs

Butter

Parsley

 

Method:

Heat up your oven to moderate

Pre-cook the Macaroni (about 10 mins)

Pre-cook the bacon

Flake the smoked fish

Oil your baking dish

Fill it with the pasta, bacon, fish and cauliflower (in florets)

Mix together the sauce, mustard, lemon juice and pour it over – mixing it with a spoon.

 

Cover with a layer of breadcrumbs and then add some knobs of butter on top.

 

Bake for about 45 minutes.  Garnish with chopped parsley to serve.

Using Up Frozen Peking Duck Wrappers

 
 

I had some Peking Duck Wrappers (or wonton?) in the freezer that needed using so I did this little recipe.

 

Ingredients:

Cherry bocconcini balls (2 in each one)

Slice of Jalapeno peppers (boy are they hot!)

Salmon

Parmesan (grated)

Celery salt & pepper

Slice of gherkin

Slice of tomato

Softened ghee or butter

 

Method:

Soften the ghee or butter and grease your muffin tin – pop the wrapper into each one once it has softened enough.

Then in goes the salmon, cheeses and then the rest on top.

Cook in a moderate oven until crispy and cheese is melted.