Friday, 19 June 2009

Sausage, tomato and mustard rolls

500g pack of puff pastry
2 tb dijon mustard
500g sausage meat or sausages
1 tb sundried tomato paste
1 tsp dried oregano
pinch grated nutmeg
3 tb semi-skimmed milk
2 tb poppy seeds

Spread mustard over pastry. Place meat in a bowl, add paste, oregano and nutmeg and mix well. Spread on pastry.

Brush pastry with milk and seal. Cut up and you can freeze them at this stage. Otherwise preheat oven to 200c, 180 fan. Brush with milk and scatter popy seeds. Bake 25mins or until golden brown.

Sesame peanut noodles

Dressing:
1 tb sesame oil
1 tb garlic oil
1 tb soy sauce
2 tb sweet chilli sauce
100g peanut butter
2 tb lime juice

Salad:
125g mangetout
150g bean sprouts
1 red pepper
2 spring onions
550g egg noodles
20g sesame seeds
4 tb fresh coriander

Whisk together all the dressing ingrediants in a bowl. Mix the salad ingrediants in a bowl and pour the dressing over. Sprinkle with the seeds and coriander.

Sea bass with puy lentil salsa

2 sea bass fillets
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 lime, cut into wedges
salt and fresh black pepper

For the salsa
40g puy lentils (no need to soak), rinsed
120ml water
1 large tomato
1/4 medium red onion, peeled
1 small red chilli, halved and deseeded
2 tb fresh coriander leaves
juice 1 lime
salt and pepper

Place lentils in a small saucepan with the water and some salt. Simmer without a lid for 30mins, or until they are tender and most of the water has been absorbed.

Skin the tomato by placing it in a heatproof bowl and pouring boiling water onto it. After a minute, remove it from the water and slip off the skin (protecting your hands with a cloth if the tomato is too hot), then halve it and squeeze out the seeds. Now chop it into small pieces. Chop the onion and chill very small, add the tomato and coriander, and keep this aside, covered in clingwrap until needed.

When the lentils are cooked, empty them into a bowl and while they are still warm, toss them in the lime juice. Taste to check the seasoning and add the rest of the salsa mix. Leave aside in a cool place.

Grill fish and serve over a bed of lentils.

Frozen lemon pots with rosewater raspberries

4 egg yolks and 2 large egg whites
150g caster sugar
1tb grated lemon zest
130ml lemon juice
300ml reduced-fat double cream

For the raspberries
zest and juice 1/2 orange
1tb rosewater
1-2tb granulated sugar
150g fresh raspberries
6 x 150ml ramekins

Put the egg yolks, caster sugar and lemon zest in a bowl set over a pan of just simmering water and, using an electric whisk, beat until tripled in volume and looking like cake mix. Stir in the lemon juice, then set aside.

Lightly whip the cream, then fold into the egg yolk mixture. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the mixture. Pour into the ramekins and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.

To make the rosewater raspberries, put the orange zest and juice, rosewater and sugar into a small pan, and simmer for 2 mins to dissolve the sugar. Stir in the raspberries and chill until ready to serve with the frozen lemon pots.

Blueberry and Lemon tartlets

250g shortcrust pastry
4 large eg yolks
200g caster sugar
zest and juice 2 lemons
60g butter
200g fresh blueberries
icing sugar
4 x 10cm wide tart tins

Roll out the pastry and use to line th etart tins. Trim the edges and prick the base with a fork, then chill in the fridge for 30mins. Preheat oven to 190c, 170 fan.

Combine the egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest and juice and butter in a glass bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan on-third filled with water - the bottom of the bowl shouldn't touch the water.

Heat the water over a moderate heat, stir the egg mixture with a wooden spoon. Keep stirring until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Take the tart cases out of the fridge and line with baking parchment. Fill with baking beans and bake in the oven for 10mins. Remove the baking beans and parchment and bake for a further 5 mins or until the pastry is golden. Leave to cool.

Spoon the warm lemon curd into the bases, and set aside until the curd is completely cold. Top with a handful of fresh blueberries and dust with icing sugar to serve. These tarts will keep at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

Pink marbled berry meringues

3 large egg whites
165g white caster sugar
pink food colouring
100ml whipping cream, lightly whipped
300g mixed summer berries

Preheat oven to 150c, 130c fan. Put the egg whites in a large bowl. Using an electric hand whisk, beat for a few minutes until the whites become stiff. Now add the sugar, a little at a time, whisking until the mixture is stiff and glossy. You should be able to turn the bowl upside down and the mixture wont move.

Using a little of the meringue mixture, stick baking parchment on to a clean baking sheet. Using a spatula, dollop the meringue into 4 circles on the parchment, then make a dip in the centre of each. Dip a skewer into the pink colouring and swirl it into the meringues to make a marble effect.

Put the tray into the oven, then immediately turn the oven down to 130c, 110 fan and bake for 40mins.

Turn off the oven and allow the meringues to cool in the oven for a few hours. When you're ready to fill them, spoon over the cream and add the berries. They will sit happily in the fridge for up to 2 hours, but remember they wont be as crispy the longer they sit.

Mini Baked lemon cheesecakes with raspberries

100g plain, sweet biscuits (digestives)
1 tbs porridge oats
75g butter, melted
300g ricotta cheese
200g light cream cheese
125g caster sugar
juice 2 lemons, plus 2 tb finely grated lemon zest
1 large free-range eff, plus 1 large free-range egg white
250g raspberries, or small strawberries to decorate
1 x 15cm square tin, lined with greaseproof paper

Preheat the oven to 150c, 130 fan. Put the biscuits in a clear plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin, until they resemble breadcrumbs. Put the biscuit crumbs in a bowl with the porridge oats and pour over the melted butter. Stir well and press lightly into the base of the tin. Chill in the fridge.

Beat the ricotta, cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice and zest together in a bowl until smooth. Then beat in the egg and egg white. Pour into the tin, smooth the top with the back of a spoon so it is level, and bake in the oven for 35mins.

Once cooked, turn off the oven and leave the foor slightly open (wedge it open with a wooden spoon, so the cake cools slowly and doesn't crack. When cool, cut into 9 squares, decorate with the fruit and chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving.

Monday, 15 June 2009

WW Italian Chicken and Pumpkin Bake

Serves 6
Points 4.5

800 g fresh pumpkin, deseeded, peeled, cut into thin wedges
300 g chicken mince

2 tsp olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
800 g canned tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
200 g reduced fat ricotta cheese
1 whole whole egg
3 second spray Always Fresh Olive Oil Extra Light Olive Oil Spray, nonstick
100 g reduced fat mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 220C. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Place the pumpkin slices on the trays and spray with oil. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until golden and tender. Turn half way through cooking.Meanwhile place a non-stick frying pan over high heat. Spray with oil. Add chicken mince and cook, stirring to break-up any lumps. Season with salt and pepper.

Remove the mince from the pan and set aside.Heat the oilve oil in the same frying pan and place over medium -high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, or until tender. Add the chopped tomatoes and oregano and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the cooked chicken and simmer for 10 minutes, or until reduced. Place the ricotta cheese and egg in a food processor and blend until smooth.

Spray a 22cm deep pie dish with oil and line the sides and base with pumpkin. Add the ricotta cheese and gently spread over pumpkin. Pour the tomato and chicken mince over the cheese mixture and sprinkle with mozzarella. Reduce the oven temperature to 200C, and bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Slice into 6 pieces

WW Oven-Baked Chicken Schnitzel with Spicy Wedges

Serves: 4
Points per serve: 6

1/21 kg potatoes, well scrubbed but unpeeled and cut into wedges
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
4 small chicken breast fillets, skin removed
50 g plain flour
2 egg whites extra, lightly beaten
60 g cornflake crumbs

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Coat a flat oven tray with cooking spray.In a large bowl, toss the potato wedges, egg white and spices. Place the potato into a deep microwave-safe dish and microwave on high for 10 mins. Dry using absorbent paper, then place on the prepared tray.

Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden and tender.Toss the chicken in th flour, dip in the egg whites, and coat in the cornflake crumbs. Place on a flat oven tray and cook for 15-20 minutes or until golden and cooked through.

WW Beef & Pasta Bake

Serves 6
Points value per serve 7
1 onion diced
1 tsp minced garlic
500 g lean beef mince
3 slices Weight Watchers bacon, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stick, diced
300 g mushrooms, chopped
400 g canned ready-made tomato soup
2 tbs tomato paste
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp parsely
150 g spiral pasta, cooked
150 g Weight Watchers Tasty Cheese, grated

Preheat grill to medium-high. Coat a large baking dish with cooking spray.Coat a medium frying pan with cooking spray. Het to medium-high and cook the onion and garlic until lightly browned. Stir in the mince and bacon. Cook a further 2 minutes.

Add all the vegetables and herbs, stir and simmer for 5 minutes.Stir in the tomato soup, tomato paste and sauce and simmer for a further 20 minutes.Stir in the pasta and mix through.

Transfer the mince mixture to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the cheese.Place the dish under the grill and cook until cheese melts and is golden.

Saturday, 13 June 2009

Crispy fish with minted mushy peas (good for children!)

1 tb butter
375g frozen peas
400g white fish filled
2 tb plain flour
1 large egg
8 tb breadcrumbs
olive oil spray
2 large sprigs mint
2 lemon quarters

Heat grill. Put a pan on the stove and add the butter and 1/2 teacup of boiling water. Add the peas, cover and give them a good shake. Cook over a med-high heat while you prepare the fish.

Cut the fish into long fat fingers. Miz the flour with a good pinch of salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper, and toss the fish in it. Beat the egg lightly with 1 tb of water. Toss the fish pieces into the egg, then one by one, dip into the breadcrumbs, turning each piece so that it is well coated. Put on the grill tray, spray with oil and grill for 2 mins until golden. Turn, spray again, and grill for 2 mins more, until cooked through.

While the fish is cooking, chop the mint leaves. Give the peas a good stir and check that they are heated through. Remove the lid to boil off most of the liquid. WIth a hand blender, blitz a rough puree, taste and season with salt and pepper. Stire in the mint. Serve with the fish with a dollop of pea puree and lemon quarters.

Moroccan meatballs with herb couscous

Lean minced lamb, 500g
red onion, 1 grated
garlic, 2 cloves, crushed
root ginger, 2cm chunk, grated
dried chilli flakes, a pinch
ground cumin, 2 tsp
ground cinamon, 1 tsp
olive oil
plum tomatoes, 2 x 400g tins
chicken stock, 200ml
coriander, 1/2 bunch, chopped

Herb couscous
couscous, 200g
butter, 50g
chicken stock, 350ml boiling
coriander, 1/2 bunch, chopped
parsley, 1/2 bunch, chopped

Put the lamb, onion, half the garlice, half the ginger and half the spices in a bowl and season well. Mix and form into little meatballs.

Heat 1 tb of olive oil in a large non-stick pan and add the meatballs in batches, frying until browned all over. Scoop out, then add the rest of the garlic, ginger and spices and cook for 2 mins. Add the tomatoes and stock and season. Simmer for 10mins, then add back the meatballs and cook for another 20mins until sauce is thickened. Stir in the coriander.

Make couscous with the chicken stock and cover, leave for 10 mins. Stir in the herbs and serve with meatballs.

Grilled chicken with spicy guacamole & corn chips

4 tb olive oil
6 chicken breasts, skin on
6 corn tortillas
4 large ripe tomatoes, cut into 2cm chunks
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 long red chilli, deseeded and fniely diced
1/2 tsptabasco
juice 2 limes, plus extra limtes cut into wedges to serve
2 large ripe avocados
80g pack coriander, leaves picked and chopped
20g pack basil, leaves picked and chopped
handful flat-leaf parsly, leaves picked and chopped

Heat a driddle on a medium heat, rub 1 tb oil all over the chicken, and season with salta nd pepper. COok for 25mins, turning every 5 mins, until the skin is golden and the flesh juicy and cooked through. Lift onto a plate to rest.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 180/160 fan. Brush tortillas with 1 tb oil, then cut each into 6 triangles. Spread over a large baking sheet, then bake for 10mins or until golden and crisp.

Put the tomatoes and onion in a mixing bowl, then add a good pinch of salt and a grind of pepper. Add the remaining olive oil, chilli, tabasco and the juice of 1 lime. Leave to one side.

Peel and stone the avocados, then chop and mash lightly. Stir in the remaining lime juice and the tomato mix, then fold through the herbs.

Slice the chicken and serve it with the corn chips, guacamole and more lime wedges for squeezing over.

Thai style turkey (chicken) burgers

Turkey mince 400g
spring onions 4, finely chopped
root ginger, grated to make 1 tsp
red chilli 1, seeded and finely chopped
egg, 1 yolk
coriander, small bunch, chopped
sunflower oil, 1 tbsp
ciabatta rolls, 4
watercress, a few sprigs

Put the first 6 ingrediants in a bowl, season and miz well. Form into 4 burgers

Cook the burgers on the barbecue for about 5 minutes on each side until cooked through. Serve the burgers in rolls with some watercress.