Thursday 21 September 2017

Steamed sweet potato and dill crab cakes





 

Put 200g peeled and chopped orange sweet potato in the first layer of a steaming basket and 2 large pointed cabbage leaves in the second layer basket. Steam on medium heat for 10 minutes.

Turn off the heat, drain the water and transfer the sweet potato into the lower part of the steamer and mash the potato whilst on the hob. The heat retention of the hob will give a smooth mash.

Transfer to another bowl and add the zest of half a lemon, 2 tsp drained finely chopped baby capers and 2 tbsp finely chopped dill, freshly ground black pepper, 1 tbsp plain flour, 1 finely chopped shallot and 2 tbsp multigrain dried breadcrumbs.

Add the crab meat from 1 prepared crab or use a can of crabmeat. Mix until well combined then divide the mix into 4 crab cakes. Add a dash more flour if the mixture is too wet to form into cakes. Pop them into a fridge for 10 minutes.

Heat 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a non-stick frying pan and heat over medium heat. Add the crab cakes, just leave and cook 3 minutes. At the same time pat the steamed  cabbage leaves with kitchen roll, roll them up lengthways around place around the outside of the frying pan.

Turn both the crab cakes and cabbage onto the other side and add one halved flat peeled mushroom right side up in the centre of the pan.  Cook 2 minutes. Turn the mushroom only and cook everything for a further minute until nicely browned.

Prepare a bed of washed / dried spinach sprinkled with extra virgin olive oil on your serving plate.

Top with the crab cakes, with the cabbage leaves and halved mushrooms on the outer edges of the plate.

Serve with a sprinkling of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
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My quick snacks blog -

September recipes –

Tomato Jasmine Rice with Kale Crisp topping

Kale Crisps

Roasted veg pasta bows


Mackerel Fillet Layer

Lemon & Rosemary Fried Brown Rice

August recipes –

Banana Fudge Muffins

Banana Tofu Mousse

Spelt Dahl

Brunch bake

Korean BBQ tofu and duck breast

Baked Sweet Potato Rosti

Baked Gammon n veg medley



Popular recipes:

Pulled pork salad with goat's cheese dressing

Lamb stir fry with home-made Teriyaki sauce

Crispy half duck with hoisin sauce

Jasmine chorizo fried rice

King prawn sweet potato rogan josh

Quorn Jasmine Rice  What is quorn?


Chilli quorn stir fry

 

My latest pudding recipes No butter chocolate pudding

Lemon drizzle muffins

Giant lemon pancake n Maple Syrup Dessert

 

If you want to know more about tofu check out
Check out my recipe Mushroom Tofu
and
another of my recipes
Tofu in pulses

Tofu n sweet potato lasagne


omega 3 (a guide)

5 ways to serve fish

Spot the dog 2017 (just a bit of fun)

My choice:-

By chance, or guidance, in 2015 I listened to Joyce Meyer on TBN UK television channel.

I liked what I heard and I try to watch her at least once a day.

Your choice:-

Check out knowing who I am in Christ by Joyce Meyer

You may have nothing to lose and much to gain.

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My most read September poem:-

Joy, pain andpleasure by Rosemary Ditchburn



My September poems:

Stupid o’ clock by Rosemary Ditchburn

Bake by Rosemary Ditchburn

Motion of the ocean by Rosemary Ditchburn

A rose for the brother I never had by Rosemary Ditchburn

2,969, jump by Rosemary Ditchburn

Impossible hope, impossible dreams by Rosemary Ditchburn 

I really wished thebest for you by Rosemary Ditchburn

Good living by Rosemary Ditchburn

What a Shame, town by Rosemary Ditchburn

Butt by Rosemary Ditchburn

Kilt or shorts by Rosemary Ditchburn

My most read August poem:-

When friends are better than lovers by Rosemary Ditchburn

My August 2017 poems

My most read July poem:

Neighbourly strangers by Rosemary Ditchburn

My July 2017 poems:

My most read poems in June 2017:
Listen to that, it smells like the colour of red wine by Rosemary Ditchburn

Doh Feelings by Rosemary Ditchburn
My June 2017 poems

My most read poem in May 2017:
That was a bud yesterday by Rosemary Ditchburn
My May 2017 poems: 
My most read poem in April 2017:
Your life in their hands by Rosemary Ditchburn
My April 2017 poems
My most read poem in March 2017:
Destined to be someone who does by Rosemary Ditchburn
My March 2017 poems 
My most read poem in February 2017:
Like bananas holdings hands by Rosemary Ditchburn
My February 2017 poems
My most read poem in January 2017:
The day after the eve before by Rosemary Ditchburn
My January 2017 poems
My most read 2016 poem:

To wassail or not to wassail by Rosemary Ditchburn
My year 2016 poems
Poems wot I wrote

My most read poems wot I wrote poems:
I was a 1960's Northumberland child by Rosemary Ditchburn
Pill popping damages your health by Rosemary Ditchburn
It's a cocktail bar now by Rosemary Ditchburn
Father to child to father by Rosemary Ditchburn
Two fingers or none by Rosemary Ditchburn
Someone who is not now there by Rosemary Ditchburn
2 preludes to this poem -
Don't let life's painful history drag you down by Rosemary Ditchburn
My dad's the best. Anyone remember him by Rosemary Ditchburn

missing people choir (A poem for them) by Rosemary Ditchburn


Sunday 17 September 2017

Tomato Jasmine Rice with Kale Crisp topping





Serves 1

Finely dice an onion and half a garlic bulb and gently fry for 5 minutes in 1tsp oil. Add 2 diced mushrooms, 1tbsp fresh basil leaves, 1tsp salt and white pepper, half tsp sugar and balsamic vinegar and 1 large can of chopped tomatoes.

Mix 1 tsp cornflour with 2 tsp water until smooth and stir in the tomato mix.

Bring to the boil, Stir in 4 tbsp well rinsed white jasmine rice, 1 tbsp spelt and a drizzle of olive oil. Lower heat to simmer and cook for 15 - 20 minutes when all liquid should be absorbed.

Serve  with a few more fresh basil leaves and a topping of retained Kale Crisps






.


My quick snacks blog -


September recipes –
Steamed sweet potato and dill crab cakes






Kale Crisps


Roasted veg pasta bows




Mackerel Fillet Layer


Lemon & Rosemary Fried Brown Rice


August recipes –


Banana Fudge Muffins


Banana Tofu Mousse


Spelt Dahl


Brunch bake


Korean BBQ tofu and duck breast


Baked Sweet Potato Rosti


Baked Gammon n veg medley





Popular recipes:


Pulled pork salad with goat's cheese dressing


Lamb stir fry with home-made Teriyaki sauce


Crispy half duck with hoisin sauce


Jasmine chorizo fried rice


King prawn sweet potato rogan josh


Quorn Jasmine Rice  What is quorn?




Chilli quorn stir fry


 


My latest pudding recipes No butter chocolate pudding


Lemon drizzle muffins


Giant lemon pancake n Maple Syrup Dessert


 


If you want to know more about tofu check out
Check out my recipe Mushroom Tofu
and
another of my recipes
Tofu in pulses


Tofu n sweet potato lasagne




omega 3 (a guide)


5 ways to serve fish


Spot the dog 2017 (just a bit of fun)







My most read September poems:-


Stupid o’ clock by Rosemary Ditchburn


Bake by Rosemary Ditchburn





My September poems:


Motion of the ocean by Rosemary Ditchburn


2,969, jump by Rosemary Ditchburn


Impossible hope, impossible dreams by Rosemary Ditchburn 


I really wished thebest for you by Rosemary Ditchburn


Good living by Rosemary Ditchburn


What a Shame, town by Rosemary Ditchburn


Butt by Rosemary Ditchburn


Kilt or shorts by Rosemary Ditchburn


My most read August poem:-


When friends are better than lovers by Rosemary Ditchburn


My August 2017 poems


My most read July poem:


Neighbourly strangers by Rosemary Ditchburn


My July 2017 poems:


My most read poems in June 2017:
Listen to that, it smells like the colour of red wine by Rosemary Ditchburn


Doh Feelings by Rosemary Ditchburn
My June 2017 poems


My most read poem in May 2017:
That was a bud yesterday by Rosemary Ditchburn
My May 2017 poems: 
My most read poem in April 2017:
Your life in their hands by Rosemary Ditchburn
My April 2017 poems
My most read poem in March 2017:
Destined to be someone who does by Rosemary Ditchburn
My March 2017 poems 
My most read poem in February 2017:
Like bananas holdings hands by Rosemary Ditchburn
My February 2017 poems
My most read poem in January 2017:
The day after the eve before by Rosemary Ditchburn
My January 2017 poems
My most read 2016 poem:


To wassail or not to wassail by Rosemary Ditchburn
My year 2016 poems
Poems wot I wrote


My most read poems wot I wrote poems:
I was a 1960's Northumberland child by Rosemary Ditchburn
Pill popping damages your health by Rosemary Ditchburn
It's a cocktail bar now by Rosemary Ditchburn
Father to child to father by Rosemary Ditchburn
Two fingers or none by Rosemary Ditchburn
Someone who is not now there by Rosemary Ditchburn
2 preludes to this poem -
Don't let life's painful history drag you down by Rosemary Ditchburn
My dad's the best. Anyone remember him by Rosemary Ditchburn


missing people choir (A poem for them) by Rosemary Ditchburn



Friday 15 September 2017

Greedy girl chicken stir fry








I usually only cook a piece of meat the size of my palm but being greedy today I had a nice fat juicy chicken breast because I am worth it! This will quite easily feed two people.


Cut the chicken breast into generous but thin slices, sprinkle with oil, grated garlic and sweet chilli sauce.


Put a handful of dried egg noodles into a bowl covering them with boiling water.


Preparing veg well is always more time consuming when cooking a stir fry but essential for a good result,


Heat the wok with 1 tbsp sesame oil in using med/high heat. Swirl the oil around the sides of the wok by turning the wok whilst off the hob.


Add the chicken and stir fry for 2 minutes until outer sides are sealed. Remove the chicken pieces for now.


This veg will be stir fried first for about 3 minutes as they are slower to cook. Put these all in at once:-


Matchstick size pieces – 6 snap peas,  a thumb sized piece of root ginger, half inch round of swede and sweet potato, 1 small carrot. Half a diced onion.


Add the following stir frying everything for another 2 minutes:-


2 tbsp frozen green beans, 1 tbsp frozen broan beans, a handful frozen of small floret broccoli, 1 small chopped red chilli and the pre cooked chicken breast.


Add all of the following together into the wok, continue stir frying everything for another 2 minutes.


1 flat mushroom cut into long generous slices.


3 spring onions chopped.


2 tbsp shredded pointed cabbage


1 tbsp light sauce


Place 3 whole pak choi leaves around the sides of the wok. Drain the egg noodles, and place in the centre of the cooked veg. Turn off the heat and put a lid onto the wok for 5 minutes before serving on a bed of washed spinach leaves, the cooked veg and chicken in the middle of the plate and pak choi leaves around the sides of the plate for using as a spoon if you like. Add sprinkling of olive oil and dark soy sauce.






.


My quick snacks blog -


September recipes –


Kale Crisps


Roasted veg pasta bows




Mackerel Fillet Layer


Lemon & Rosemary Fried Brown Rice


August recipes –


Banana Fudge Muffins


Banana Tofu Mousse


Spelt Dahl


Brunch bake


Korean BBQ tofu and duck breast


Baked Sweet Potato Rosti


Baked Gammon n veg medley





Popular recipes:


Pulled pork salad with goat's cheese dressing


Lamb stir fry with home-made Teriyaki sauce


Crispy half duck with hoisin sauce


Jasmine chorizo fried rice


King prawn sweet potato rogan josh


Quorn Jasmine Rice  What is quorn?




Chilli quorn stir fry


 


My latest pudding recipes No butter chocolate pudding


Lemon drizzle muffins


Giant lemon pancake n Maple Syrup Dessert


 


If you want to know more about tofu check out
Check out my recipe Mushroom Tofu
and
another of my recipes
Tofu in pulses


Tofu n sweet potato lasagne


 


My latest post in my Spaniel Quotes for Life blog:


What I learned in August 2017 - Real love is accepting a person as they are, not as you want them to be





My most read September poems:-


Stupid o’ clock by Rosemary Ditchburn


Bake by Rosemary Ditchburn





My September poems:


Motion of the ocean by Rosemary Ditchburn


2,969, jump by Rosemary Ditchburn


Impossible hope, impossible dreams by Rosemary Ditchburn 


I really wished thebest for you by Rosemary Ditchburn


Good living by Rosemary Ditchburn


What a Shame, town by Rosemary Ditchburn


Butt by Rosemary Ditchburn


Kilt or shorts by Rosemary Ditchburn


My most read August poem:-


When friends are better than lovers by Rosemary Ditchburn


My August 2017 poems


My most read July poem:


Neighbourly strangers by Rosemary Ditchburn


My July 2017 poems:


My most read poems in June 2017:
Listen to that, it smells like the colour of red wine by Rosemary Ditchburn


Doh Feelings by Rosemary Ditchburn
My June 2017 poems


My most read poem in May 2017:
That was a bud yesterday by Rosemary Ditchburn
My May 2017 poems: 
My most read poem in April 2017:
Your life in their hands by Rosemary Ditchburn
My April 2017 poems
My most read poem in March 2017:
Destined to be someone who does by Rosemary Ditchburn
My March 2017 poems 
My most read poem in February 2017:
Like bananas holdings hands by Rosemary Ditchburn
My February 2017 poems
My most read poem in January 2017:
The day after the eve before by Rosemary Ditchburn
My January 2017 poems
My most read 2016 poem:


To wassail or not to wassail by Rosemary Ditchburn
My year 2016 poems
Poems wot I wrote


My most read poems wot I wrote poems:
I was a 1960's Northumberland child by Rosemary Ditchburn
Pill popping damages your health by Rosemary Ditchburn
It's a cocktail bar now by Rosemary Ditchburn
Father to child to father by Rosemary Ditchburn
Two fingers or none by Rosemary Ditchburn
Someone who is not now there by Rosemary Ditchburn
2 preludes to this poem -
Don't let life's painful history drag you down by Rosemary Ditchburn
My dad's the best. Anyone remember him by Rosemary Ditchburn


missing people choir (A poem for them) by Rosemary Ditchburn


 




Spot the dog 2017 (just a bit of fun)



Tuesday 12 September 2017

Kale crisps












These are great for snacking or used as a topping for any savoury dish like my

Tomato Jasmine Rice with Kale Crisp topping

 

Preheat the oven to 180 fan / 200 C / 425 F / Gas 6 whilst preparing the kale.

Strip any stray stems from 200g pre chopped kale and wash in a large bowl thoroughly.
Dry thoroughly on kitchen towels. If it is not sufficiently dried it will not crisp well.


NB

Cavolo nero (black kale) will give a slightly better end product but there will be more preparation as this product is usually uncut from the stems. If you choose this kale – strip the stems from the kale and discard and roughly tear the remaining leaves into bite size pieces and wash and dry as previously described.
Click to see this recipe where I have used black kale.
Scallops, chorizo with white kidney beans
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In a bowl mix 1 generous tsp sumac, quarter tsp freshly ground garlic and herb salt with 1 tbsp olive oil.
For an alternative flavour grind quarter tsp flaky salt, half tsp smoked paprika and garlic with chilli salt or other spices to your taste. Put the spices into a large bowl with 1 tbsp olive oil.
Add the dried kale, get both hands in and massage well with the spices and oil.
Spread evenly in a single layer on two sheet baking tins.
Lower the oven heat to 100 fan / 120 C / 275 F / Gas 1. Put the baking tins into the oven for 30 mins turning the trays after 15 minutes.
Turn off the oven and using a metal spatula gently detach the kale from the trays. Check the  seasoning is to your taste and return the trays back into the turned off oven for at least 15 minutes to further crisp before serving as they are or as a topping for savoury dishes.




Spices I have recently tried - cumin and curry powder added to the oil work well.
Check out the benefits of this vegetable described as the new number 1 superfood.




My quick snacks blog -

September recipes –




Tomato Jasmine Rice with Kale Crisp topping

Roasted veg pasta bows




Mackerel Fillet Layer


Lemon & Rosemary Fried Brown Rice

August recipes –

Banana Fudge Muffins

Banana Tofu Mousse

Spelt Dahl

Brunch bake

Korean BBQ tofu and duck breast

Baked Sweet Potato Rosti

Baked Gammon n veg medley



Popular recipes:

Pulled pork salad with goat's cheese dressing

Lamb stir fry with home-made Teriyaki sauce

Crispy half duck with hoisin sauce

Jasmine chorizo fried rice

King prawn sweet potato rogan josh


Quorn Jasmine Rice  What is quorn?




Chilli quorn stir fry


 


My latest pudding recipes No butter chocolate pudding

Lemon drizzle muffins

Giant lemon pancake n Maple Syrup Dessert

 

If you want to know more about tofu check out
Check out my recipe Mushroom Tofu
and
another of my recipes
Tofu in pulses

Tofu n sweet potato lasagne

 

Spot the dog 2017 (just a bit of fun)

 

 




My latest post in my Spaniel Quotes for Life blog:


What I learned in August 2017 - Real love is accepting a person as they are, not as you want them to be








My most read September poems:-



Bake by Rosemary Ditchburn
Stupid o’ clock by Rosemary Ditchburn








My September poems:
2,969, jump by Rosemary Ditchburn




Impossible hope, impossible dreams by Rosemary Ditchburn 



Good living by Rosemary Ditchburn



What a Shame, town by Rosemary Ditchburn


Butt by Rosemary Ditchburn


Kilt or shorts by Rosemary Ditchburn


My most read August poem:-


When friends are better than lovers by Rosemary Ditchburn

My August 2017 poems

My most read July poem:

Neighbourly strangers by Rosemary Ditchburn

My July 2017 poems:

My most read poems in June 2017:
Listen to that, it smells like the colour of red wine by Rosemary Ditchburn

Doh Feelings by Rosemary Ditchburn
My June 2017 poems

My most read poem in May 2017:
That was a bud yesterday by Rosemary Ditchburn
My May 2017 poems: 
My most read poem in April 2017:
Your life in their hands by Rosemary Ditchburn
My April 2017 poems
My most read poem in March 2017:
Destined to be someone who does by Rosemary Ditchburn
My March 2017 poems 
My most read poem in February 2017:
Like bananas holdings hands by Rosemary Ditchburn
My February 2017 poems
My most read poem in January 2017:
The day after the eve before by Rosemary Ditchburn
My January 2017 poems
My most read 2016 poem:

To wassail or not to wassail by Rosemary Ditchburn
My year 2016 poems
Poems wot I wrote

My most read poems wot I wrote poems:
I was a 1960's Northumberland child by Rosemary Ditchburn
Pill popping damages your health by Rosemary Ditchburn
It's a cocktail bar now by Rosemary Ditchburn
Father to child to father by Rosemary Ditchburn
Two fingers or none by Rosemary Ditchburn
Someone who is not now there by Rosemary Ditchburn
2 preludes to this poem -
Don't let life's painful history drag you down by Rosemary Ditchburn
My dad's the best. Anyone remember him by Rosemary Ditchburn

missing people choir (A poem for them) by Rosemary Ditchburn