Twinings - Intensely Tropical Smoothie

Looking for something cool and refreshing - try my Intensely Tropical Smoothie for Twinings:

http://www.twinings.co.uk/blog/2016/january/intensely-tropical-smoothie

Twinings - Chicken, Sweet Potato and Spinach Curry With Jasmine Infused Rice

After something to warm you up on this miserable weekend? 

Curries are a perfect thing to cook when it is grey and cold outside, the smell can make you feel like you’re immersed in India! They're also very simple and cost effective when you have all the spices and ingredients ready in the cupboard, as well as being much healthier than buying pre-made sauces. It’s useful to keep chillies in the freezer, so they’re available when you need them. The sweet potato can always be swapped for butternut squash or aubergine and the good thing about curry is it doesn't matter what vegetables you use. Don't be afraid to experiment.

http://www.twinings.co.uk/blog/2016/january/chicken-sweet-potato-and-spinach-curry

Twinings - Mango, Avocado and Rocket Salad with Mango Tango Tofu

Salads aren’t just for summer! This is a great dish if you’re craving something light, healthy and refreshing after a heavy winter. The sweet flavours of mango team nicely with the sharp rocket and tangy dressing to make an easy salad which you’ll want to make time and time again.

Please have a look at my sixth January Twinings recipe: http://www.twinings.co.uk/blog/2016/january/mango-avocado-and-rocket-salad-with-mango-tango

Twinings - Lamb Chops with Celeriac and Potato Mash and Garden Min Pea Puree

 After a long days work, we know it can be hard to motivate yourself to cook something fresh and healthy for dinner. This recipe however will change that attitude. It is quick and easy to create, as well as being super healthy and delicious.

Contrary to potato mash, celeriac mash is packed with interesting flavours, and therefore needs no butter or dairy to liven it up - perfect for the health conscious or those with dairy intolerances. Any leftover pea puree can be used again during the week to smother over fish for baking, or coat chicken for grilling. 

Try my fifth January Twinings recipe here: http://www.twinings.co.uk/blog/2016/january/lamb-chops-with-celeriac-and-potato-mash

Twinings - Lemon Infused Courgetti with Winter Pesto

I'm not sure what it is, but courgetti seems to always leave you feeling energised and refreshed. Try my third January recipe for Twinings: http://www.twinings.co.uk/blog/2016/january/lemon-infused-courgetti-with-winter-pesto 

Twinings - Gingery Butternut Squash Soup

This recipe is great for keeping away colds and bugs, or warming you up on these chilly winter days. The kale crisps add a delicious crunchy texture to the soup, and the Root Ginger tea accentuates the fiery ginger flavours. Check out my full recipe here: http://www.twinings.co.uk/blog/2016/january/gingery-butternut-squash-soup

Twinings - Baked Camomile and Sweet Fennel Seabass

For one of those days when you don't want carbs - this will fill you up! Take a look at my second January recipe for Twinings: http://www.twinings.co.uk/blog/2016/january/baked-marinated-camomile-and-sweet-fennel-seabass

Twinings - Steamed Green Tea and Avocado Smoothie

Doing dry January? Try my Steamed Green Tea and Avocado Smoothie recipe on the Twinings Blog:

http://www.twinings.co.uk/blog/2016/january/steamed-green-tea-and-avocado-smoothie

Prune and Almond Tart with Raspberry Jam

I have made this super simple recipe a few times now, and it always seems to blow people away. Unfortunately I can't take credit for it, as it was in one of my mum's old cookbooks. Hope you like it!

Ingredients (serves 8)

for the frangipane -

225g unsalted butter

225g caster sugar

175g ground almonds

50g plain flour

4 eggs

4tbsp brandy

for the tart - 

200g shortcrust pastry

2 tbsp raspberry jam

225g soft pitted prunes

10g flaked almonds

frangipane mix (above)

1. Firstly, pre heat the oven to 180°c. Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer to make the frangipane, until almost white. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and ground almonds. Add one egg to the butter and sugar, one at a time, with a tbsp of ground almond and flour mix. Once all the eggs have been added, drizzle in the brandy and continue to add the rest of the ground almond and flour mix.

2. Grease a 9-10" flan dish with a little butter, roll out the pastry and fill the dish. Spread the raspberry jam over the bottom and then pour in the frangipane mix. Finish by sitting the prunes on the top.

3. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes. Half way through cooking, sprinkle the frangipane with almond flakes and return it to the oven.

Allow to cool before serving. Try it with yoghurt, cream or ice cream.

Any leftover pastry or frangipane (depending on the size of your dish) can be used to make a smaller frangipane.

TWININGS - Guilt Free Banana, Date and 'Fudge Melts Green Tea' Flapjacks

Who doesn’t love a delicious batch of flapjacks? With this recipe, there is no compromise, as it happens to be dairy, gluten and sugar free! I have teamed up with Twinings this month and will be doing some healthy tea recipes for their blog. The recipes can be found here: http://www.twinings.co.uk/blog.

The Fudge Melts Green Tea helps bring out the gooey, sweet flavours of the dates and lessons the amount of vegetable oil used, making this a super healthy recipe for all to enjoy.

Ingredients (makes 12 square pieces)

- 180g gluten-free oats

- 175g chopped dates *these don’t have to be fancy Medjool dates!*

- 2 very ripe bananas

- 1 Twinings ‘Fudge Melts Green Tea’ Bag

- 60ml vegetable oil

- 1 tsp vanilla essence

1. Start by turning your oven to 175°c. It should be nice and hot by the time you put the flapjack batch in.

2. Boil the kettle and get a mug ready to brew your tea bag. While the kettle is boiling, start mashing the bananas in a large bowl, until they are runny and completely mashed. *It is important to use over-ripe bananas so that they mash easily and give moisture to the mixture.*

3. Once the kettle is boiled, fill your cup of tea like normal and leave the bag to brew for a few minutes. Take in all those beautiful smells of fudge and green tea!

4. Add the vegetable oil to the bowl with the mashed bananas, and then spoon in 6 tbsp of infused tea (60g if using weighing scales).

5. Next stir in the oats, vanilla essence, and chopped dates. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes so that the oats absorb the oil and tea.

6. Place the flapjack mix into a suitable greased baking dish (a square or rectangular baking tin or glass dish should suffice) and flatten it down with a fork.

7. Cook the flapjacks for 30 minutes, until nice and golden. Remove them from the oven and leave them to rest for 10 minutes before tucking in.

Super Simple Parma Ham Egg Muffins

This is one to wow your guests! The effort is minimal but the impact is great :) Perfect for any brunch or breakfast, adding a little diversity. Plus, they're divine.

Ingredients

- eggs

- 1 piece of parma ham for every egg

- a couple of tomatoes, finely sliced (optional)

- chilli flakes

- any herbs or mixed herbs

1. Turn the oven to 180°c, or the grill if you prefer.

2. Rub your muffin tin with a little oil or butter.

3. Line the holes with one slice of parma ham each, trying not to leave any gaps.

4. Place a tomato slice at the bottom (if using), and then crack an egg in each hole. 

5. Top with chilli flakes or herbs, and season well with pepper. The parma ham is already pretty salty!

6. Put them in the oven for around 6-8 minutes, or until the white is cooked and the yolk looks runny.

Eat straight away!

Dairy-Free Carrot, Cinnamon and Walnut Cake

This was a perfect dinner party dessert last week, a recipe that never fails! Sunflower oil is used instead of butter, which helps keep the cake moist and light. It's delicious served with a yoghurt topping, for those that can eat dairy, or simply dusted with icing sugar or cinnamon.

Ingredients (serves 8)

- 6oz (170g) caster or light brown sugar

- 6oz (170g) sunflower or vegetable oil

- 3 eggs

- 5.4oz (153g) plain flour

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 1 1/3 tsp baking powder

- 2 tsp cinnamon

- 12oz (340g) grated carrot, roughly 2 1/2 large carrots

- 1oz (28g) walnut pieces (or more!) 

* I didn't use raisins this time, but you can add a handful if you feel like it *

1. Heat the oven to 170°c.

2. Mix the sugar and the oil in a bowl and then add the eggs one at a time. * Don't worry if the mixture curdles a bit *

3. Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon into another bowl and mix well. Fold the flour mix into the egg mix and stir until combined.

4. Then stir in the grated carrots and walnuts into the cake mix (and raisins if using) and place in a suitable round cake tin with a removable base. 

5. Cook the cake at 170°c for 25 minutes and then turn the heat down to 160°c and cook for a further 20/25 minutes.

6. When the cake is ready, remove it from the oven and leave it to cool for around 10 minutes (otherwise it will deflate in size). Then gently scrape around the sides with a spatular to remove it from the edge. 

* Sieve some icing sugar or grated cinnamon on top for decoration *

Sweet Minced Lamb with Aubergine and Apricots

If you're bored of bolognese, this sweet, curry inspired dish is the one for you. It can be made a few days in advance (which lets the juices flow) and served with boiled rice, couscous, or a baked potato. Perfect for dinner party preparation as it re-heats really well and can be kept in the fridge for up to a week.

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

for the sweet beef - 

- 1 tbsp groundnut oil (or veg oil)

- 1 small onion, chopped

- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed or finely chopped

- 500g beef or lamb mince 

- 1/2 an aubergine, chopped into small pieces

- 2 tsp curry powder

- 1/2 green chilli, chopped

- 2-3 tbsp mango chutney

- 2 tbsp tomato puree

- 10 cherry tomatoes, chopped in half

- 100ml chicken or vegetable stock

       - 8 dried apricots, chopped

   - 50g sultanas or raisins

- salt and pepper

for the couscous - 

couscous (roughly 280g - see instructions)

240ml chicken or vegetable stock

1 small handful of coriander, finely chopped (optional)

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp sugar

1 tbsp good quality olive oil

salt and pepper

1. Fry the onion and garlic in the groundnut oil for a few minutes and then add the chopped aubergine. Stir for another couple of minutes and then add the meat and start to brown it, stirring constantly. 

2. Next, stir in the curry powder, tomatoes, tomato puree and chutney. Cook for a few minutes and then add the stock, followed by the apricots and raisins. Season with salt and pepper and let the dish simmer gently for 20-30 minutes.

3. When the lamb has been cooking for 20 minutes, start to make the couscous. Place the couscous in a clear bowl and just about cover it with stock. Leave it for around 4 minutes with a lid or plate on top, and then fluff it up with a fork. Next add the chopped coriander (if using), lemon juice, sugar and oil, and season well. *For less faff, make rice not couscous*.

Gluten Free Lemon and Almond Cake

A fail safe recipe that goes down a treat! Perfect for any dinner party, or as a sweet fix with a cup of tea. When I first acquired this recipe from a friend, I changed the quantities as it didn't need 6oz sugar or butter - feel free to add more sugar if you like it sweet though! It still tastes great and it's got just the right amount of sweetness which compliments the sourness of the lemon zest. This got demolished by 6 girls last night, so you might want to make two if you've got 10-12 people over. 

Ingredients (serves 6-8)

- 6oz ground almonds (I whizz them up in a blender for a few minutes as it's cheaper than buying them ground, and adds a crunch to the cake)

- 5oz butter

- 4 oz sugar

- 3 eggs

- zest of 2 lemons

- 1 tsp gluten free baking powder (or normal)

- a few drops of almond essence (this is essential!)

for the icing -

- 3oz icing sugar
- juice from half a lemon

1. Heat the oven to 170°c.  

2. Blitz the almonds if you're doing them yourself, until they resemble granulated sugar or thereabouts. * Try not to over blitz them or they might start turning into almond butter * Remove them from the blender and set aside.

3. Beat the butter and the sugar together in a bowl or food processor for a few minutes until light and fluffy, then add the eggs one at a time. * You may need a spatular to scrape down the sides occasionally *

4. Finally, spoon in the ground almonds, lemon zest, baking powder and essence to form a good cake consistency.

5. Pour the mixture into a smallish cake tin lined with parchment paper, and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until it is cooked right through.

5. When the cake is cooked, take it out of the oven and leave it to cool for around 10 minutes, before transferring it to a plate or cake tin. Make the icing while it is cooling and pour it over the cake while it is still warm. When the cake completely cools, you'll have a tangy, crispy and delicious topping to add extra moisture to the cake.

6. Top with pomegranate seeds or almonds whilst the icing is still wet.

* Serve hot or cold, on it's own or accompanied with yoghurt or ice cream *

Naughty Chocolatey Brownies

A brownie recipe that never fails! I made these for 30-40 people in the summer and they were a huge hit. The brownie mix is extremely good, so expect to eat half the mix before cooking!

Ingredients (makes 8 very large pieces)

- 100g plain flour (I have made them using gluten-free flour and they're still very good. Next time I want to try ground almonds)

- 250g unsalted butter

- 300g caster sugar or soft brown sugar

- 1 tsp baking powder

- 75g good quality cocoa powder

- 4 eggs

- 100g plain chocolate or white chocolate (drops or from a bar - not too dark unless you like rich brownies), mashed into small pieces

1. Start by turning the oven to 180°c. Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer for a few minutes and then gradually add the eggs one at a time.

2. Add the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder and blitz until smooth. 

3. Stir in the chopped chocolate drops or pieces and then place in a suitable lined square cake tin.

4. Put the brownies on the floor of the oven for 25 minutes and then turn the oven down to 140°c (simmering oven) and bake for another 20 minutes in the centre of the oven.

* If you have doubled the mixture, then 40 minutes for baking and 35 for simmering * Try adding chopped nuts or raspberries for someting different *

Easiest Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cups for Valentine's Day

With very little prep and hassle, you can make these sweet tasty bites and wow the special someone on the receiving end. Unfortunately this post is going to ruin my surprise, but I wanted to share these with you before Valentine's Day on Saturday. They are probably the quickest tasty treat I have ever made...and cheap too, with only 4 ingredients! They are not the healthiest things however, but who doesn't like a naughty something once and a while.

Ingredients (makes 8 large chocolates)

- 400g chocolate, around 52% cocoa (very cheap from Lidl!)

- 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter (or dairy free nut butter if preferred)

- 1 tsp maple syrup or natural sweet syrup such as 'Sweet Freedom'

- goji berries to decorate

You will need silicone moulds, so that the chocolates come out easily. Mini cupcake cases would also work.

1. Place all of the chocolate into a glass bowl resting on a saucepan with a little water in it. Heat up the saucepan to melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally. When the choc is melted, after around 3 minutes, pour a little into your moulds - about 1 1/2 tbsp each depending on the size of your mould, or 1/2 tsp if using mini cupcake cases. 

2. Put the chocolate in the freezer for a few minutes while you prepare the peanut butter filling.

3. Mix together the peanut butter and sweetner. If you find it won't mix, heat it up a little in a pan. 

4. By this time, the chocolate in the freezer should be nice and hard. Remove is and spoon one tsp of peanut butter filling in the centre. Return them to the freezer for another few minutes.

5. If the chocolate that was heated up has gone a bit hard, pop it back on the hob to heat it up.

6. Finally, once the peanut butter filling has hardened, remove them from the freezer and place another 2 tbsp of chocolate on top, levelling the cups out as much as possible. Decorate with a few goji berries, nut sprinkles or rose petals before returning them to the freezer for a final set - around 2 hours. 

7. If you have used silicone moulds, the chocolates should pop out extremely easily. The outside should be nice and hard, and the centre all gooey and delicious.

Extremely quick and scrumptious - ENJOY!