Monday, 5 October 2020

MACARONI CHEESE

Hello and welcome to our Vegetarian Kitchen and this week we have an old fashioned recipe which is ideal for lunch/supper and "easy eating" for children. Easy on the pocket, and nourishing - "MACARONI CHEESE". MACARONI CHEESE Serves 4 to 6 INGREDIENTS 400g Macaroni 2 oz Butter 2 oz Plain Flour 600ml (1 pint) Milk 6 - 8oz Mature Cheddar Cheese (grated) Salt and pepper to taste METHOD Heat oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6 Grease an oven dish (not tin) Cook Macaroni in boiling water for 8 - 10 minutes. Drain in a colander. Make a roux by melting the butter,stir in flour and mix, add milk gradually, stirring all the time to make the sauce smooth. Bring to the boil. Remove from heat,stir in Macaroni and 4-6oz cheese (keep 2oz cheese for topping). Pour Macaroni into ovenproof dish, sprinkle remaining cheese over Macaroni. Bake for approximately 20 - 30 minutes until brown on top and bubbling. Serve piping hot - a lovely supper dish. To accompany this, a nice green salad of mixed leaves and cucumber.

Thursday, 1 October 2020

CHILLI NON CARNE

Hi, and welcome to our vegetarian kitchen. It is now October, season of mist, showers and unpredictable weather. Our recipe this week will cheer you up and certainly warm you up. We have named our dish "CHILLI NON CARNE" for obvious reasons but it would fool your most carnivorous friends. It is a dish you can make in advance and it freezes well. CHILLI NON CARNE serves 4 INGREDIENTS 350g QUORN MINCE or Linda McCartney Soya Mince 400g TIN KIDNEY BEANS (do not drain) 400g TIN CHOPPED TOMATOES 4 tablespoons oil 1 Onion chopped 2 cloves Garlic chopped 1 red or green chilli (or half teaspoon Chilli Powder) 500ml Vegetable Stock (Green OXO) RICE. Long Grain 8oz METHOD Gently fry the chopped onion in oil for 2 minutes, add garlic and chilli and fry. Add quorn mince, and some of the stock and stir while frying. Do not brown. Add tin tomatoes, and stir thoroughly, add remainder of vegetable stock. Now add red kidney beans (do not drain). Bring the mixture to the boil. Now is the time to add Chilli Powder if you are using it. Simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure it does not burn or stick. Serve with boiled rice. RICE serves 4 To cook rice, it is always twice the volume of water to rice. i.e. 1 cup rice, 2 cups of water. Measure the rice and water, put in pan and bring to boil. Cover and simmer for 15 mins by which time all water should have been absorbed. Fluff rice with a fork. A lovely meal to share with friends. ENJOY!

Friday, 11 September 2020

VEGGIE PILAF

Hi and welcome to our vegetarian kitchen. This week our recipe is "PILAF" which is served in many countries on the "Med" but ours, of course, will be vegetarian. "PILAF" is rice, usually cooked in meat stock with the addition of meat and vegetables. We use Quorn "Chicken style pieces". It is a complete meal which only requires a side salad to accompany this. PILAF (serves 4 to 6) INGREDIENTS Quorn chicken style pieces(350g) 8 oz Long Grain Rice (250g approx) 3 tablespoons Vegetable Oil Half teaspoon Cumin Powder 500ml Vegetable Stock (GREEN OXO CUBE) 2 Courgettes (cut in rings) 1 Red or Green Pepper (chop into small pieces) 4 Fresh tomatoes (chopped) 1 Onion (finely chopped) 2 cloves Garlic (crushed or chopped) Parsley or Coriander to garnish Black Pepper Salt to taste METHOD Heat oil in large saucepan, add onion,garlic, Quorn pieces,tomatoes and fry gently, add courgette slices and stir. Add chopped pepper and fry for about 4 mins. Add vegetable stock, stir, and bring to boil. Add rice and stir in Cumin Powder, pepper and salt. Reduce heat, put on lid and simmer for about 20 minutes. Put in one large bowl, sprinkle parsley or coriander on top and let everyone help themselves. Serve with a green side salad. ENJOY Your taste of the "Med".

Tuesday, 18 August 2020

RATATIOULLE

RATATOUILLE Serves 4 to 6 Hi and welcome to our Vegetarian Kitchen. This week the recipe is for a Mediterranean Vegetable Stew, known as "RATATOUILLE". It is a lovely dish served on its own or you could serve it with Quiche or any savoury flans. INGREDIENTS 3 small aubergines 3 courgettes 400g (14oz) can choppped tomatoes (or if you prefer 4 fresh tomatoes) 2 onions 2 garlic cloves 6 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon parsley salt & black pepper to taste METHOD Slice the aubergines and the courgettes into 1/2inch rounds. Peel and cut the onions into rings. Crush the garlic cloves. If you use fresh tomatoes, cut into slices. Heat olive oil in saucepan,fry onion until soft, add garlic and stir. Add aubergines, fry gently, add courgettes and tin of chopped tomatoes. Stir, add basil and salt and black pepper to taste. Simmer gently with a lid on the saucepan for about 45 minutes until vegetables are soft. When cooked stir in the parsley. SERVE in a large dish. Crusty French bread would go well with this or wholemeal rolls. ENJOY!

Tuesday, 4 August 2020

FALAFEL PITTA BREAD



 

FALAFAL PITTA BREADS
Hi and welcome to the Vegetarian Kitchen. This week our recipe is for Falafel in pitta bread. Falafel is used a lot in Middle Eastern cooking and is made from chick peas - a good meat substitute. These are easy to prepare and great food to eat in the garden or on the go. For speed, we suggest you use ready made Falafel balls or buy a packet mix to make your own. However, in case you want to make your own Flafel, there is our recipe at the end of this menu.

SERVES 6




INGREDIENTS
6 Pitta Breads

1 packet of ready made Falafel balls or

1 packet of Falafel mix to make your own

1 small tub Hummus

1 small red onion finely chopped

1 Packet of mixed salad leaves

4 sliced tomatoes

 


METHOD
Fry the Falafel balls gently.

Cut the Pitta Breads in half and toast. Fill each half with 2 Falafel balls, a spoonful of Humus, tomato slices, salad leaves and chopped onion. You may add a trickle of olive oil if you wish.

For children, you could make Falafel Burgers instead of Pittas.

You may use salad cream or mayonnaise instead of humus.

Eat immediately. Delicious fast food.



RECIPE FOR FALAFEL

15oz can Chick Peas (drained)


1 small onion finely chopped

1 minced garlic

2 tablespoons fresh parsley

1 teaspoon Cumin

2 tablespoons flour

 


METHOD
Mash chickpeas in a basin. Add all other ingredients. Mash by hand or put in food processor to form a thick paste.

Form into small b alls the size of a golf ball. Fry 2 or 5 minutes in about 3 inches of oil until golden brown.

Wednesday, 22 July 2020

PEPPERONATA




PEPPERONATA SAUCE

Hi and welcome to our Vegetarian Kitchen.

This week we have a taste of Italy - Pepperonata Sauce. This sauce is made with all those wonderful Meditterranean vegetables and is delicious served with anything. You decide.

 


INGREDIENTS
3 Large Peppers (one yellow, one red, one green)

1 Onion

2 Cloves Garlic

500g Fresh Choped Tomatoes

4 tablespoons Olive Oil

Salt & Black Pepper

 


METHOD
Slice peppers into narrow strips. Chop the onion and garlic. Chop the fresh tomatoes.

Gently fry onions, add garlic. Add sliced peppers to pan and stir, and cook gently for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add the tomatoes and stir. Cook very gently for 30 minutes until the sauce becomes thick and the vegetables are broken down. Stir during this process. If the sauce becomes too thick or sticks to ther pan, add more Olive Oil.

Serve this sauce with pasta, with vegetable escallops or even vegetable burgers.You decide!

Wednesday, 8 July 2020

VEGGIE BOLOGNESE SAUCE



 

VEGETARIAN BOLOGNESE SAUCE
Hi and welcome to our Vegetarian Kitchen. This week we have our own recipe for vegetarian Bolognese Sauce. This sauce is the most well known of Italian sauces - most people have had Spaghetti Bolognese but is also used with other pasta dishes e.g. Lasagne.

 


INGREDIENTS
450g Quorn vegetarian mince

400g Tinned Chopped Tomatoes

3 cloves Garlic

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

1 small onion chopped

Half Pint vegetarian stock (Oxo Green)

1 teaspoon dried Basil or chopped fresh Basil

Salt & Black Pepper

 


METHOD
In a large saucepan heat the oil, fry the onion gently for 1 minute, add the garlic, fry for 1 minute. Add the mince and fry gently. Add chopped tomatoes and stir. Add Vegetarian Stock and bring to boil. Add Basil and salt and pepper. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

 

SERVE with pasta of your choice


 
VEGETARIAN BOLOGNESE SAUCE
Hi and welcome to our Vegetarian Kitchen. This week we have our own recipe for vegetarian Bolognese Sauce. This sauce is the most well known of Italian sauces - most people have had Spaghetti Bolognese but is also used with other pasta dishes e.g. Lasagne.
 

INGREDIENTS
450g Quorn vegetarian mince
400g Tinned Chopped Tomatoes
3 cloves Garlic
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 small onion chopped
Half Pint vegetarian stock (Oxo Green)
1 teaspoon dried Basil or chopped fresh Basil
Salt & Black Pepper
 

METHOD
In a large saucepan heat the oil, fry the onion gently for 1 minute, add the garlic, fry for 1 minute. Add the mince and fry gently. Add chopped tomatoes and stir. Add Vegetarian Stock and bring to boil. Add Basil and salt and pepper. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
 
SERVE with pasta of your choice


 
VEGETARIAN BOLOGNESE SAUCE
Hi and welcome to our Vegetarian Kitchen. This week we have our own recipe for vegetarian Bolognese Sauce. This sauce is the most well known of Italian sauces - most people have had Spaghetti Bolognese but is also used with other pasta dishes e.g. Lasagne.
 

INGREDIENTS
450g Quorn vegetarian mince
400g Tinned Chopped Tomatoes
3 cloves Garlic
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 small onion chopped
Half Pint vegetarian stock (Oxo Green)
1 teaspoon dried Basil or chopped fresh Basil
Salt & Black Pepper
 

METHOD
In a large saucepan heat the oil, fry the onion gently for 1 minute, add the garlic, fry for 1 minute. Add the mince and fry gently. Add chopped tomatoes and stir. Add Vegetarian Stock and bring to boil. Add Basil and salt and pepper. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
 
SERVE with pasta of your choice