Eton Mess – The easiest summer recipe ever

Summer is here and the weather is getting warmer and stickier. Cooking large hot meals and homemade, time consuming puds, at this time of the year, is only for the hardy.

Many of us in summer are looking for light, simple and quick recipes to keep us satisfied during the next couple of months.

There are many easy summer pudding recipes using delicious fruits such as strawberries and raspberries. The choice is endless. Nothing beats the sheer simplicity and satisfying taste and texture combination of Eton Mess.

Eton mess is traditionally served at Eton college during their annual cricket battle with long time rivals Harrow.

The name Eton Mess as a dessert, has references that can be found well back into the 19th Century.

There is probably no easier dish to make than Eton mess which is more of a construction job than cooking, but nevertheless a beautiful dish, and many peoples favourite summer food.

Eton Mess Ingredients

1 punnet of fresh juicy strawberries.

A good sprinkle of sugar.

A dash of ruby port.

Good quality shop bought meringues, broken up.

Double cream, softly whipped.

How to make the easiest dessert ever

In a large bowl, slightly break up/mash the strawberries with the sugar and the ruby port.

Add the broken meringues and combine.

Finally fold in the whipped cream and you are done.

Pile the Eton Mess mixture high in your favourite dishes or dessert glasses.

Eton Mess Variations

There are many suggested variations for an Eton Mess recipe. Whether it remains an Eton Mess when the recipe changes or not is another thing, but many of the variations are equally delicious.

Try using raspberries as an alternative to strawberries, or have both for an extra summery taste.

Some time ago I followed the original recipe but added a large scoop of vanilla ice cream to the melee. This is my favourite way to eat this dessert by far.

Vanilla extract or essence can also be added to the cream before whipping.  The possibilities are endless.

Do you have a variation to this dessert you would like to share?

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Smoked Salmon Pasta Recipe

Smoked Salmon Pasta is often regarded as one of lifes taste luxuries, it has a light melt in the mouth texture.

When this beautiful fish is added to pasta along with creamy sauce, as in this easy to make smoked salmon pasta recipe, it becomes a meal fit to grace any table on any occasion.

Some may consider Smoked Salmon Pasta a little expensive for a midweek family meal and only make it for special occasions.

This very easy smoked salmon recipe uses trimmings of the fish that are readily available in any supermarket. Trimmings are odd shapes and irregular sizes but are equally as tasty and nutritious and a fraction of the price.

Ingredients

Pack of dried Penne Pasta. (egg or durum wheat). Use about 2 cups per person.
Bunch of fresh Dill or Chives roughly chopped. Use a good handful.
Small carton double cream.
Pinch of salt
Large handful freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Small knob of butter.
Twist of freshly ground black pepper.
zest of 1/2 lemon

How to make smoked salmon pasta

Take a large saucepan , fill it with enough water to cover pasta, add salt to water. Cook pasta until translucent but firm to the bite.

Take another saucepan, place on a moderate heat. Add to the pan, the knob of butter, smoked salmon trimmings and dill or chives. Stir for 1 minute.
Add the cream, bring to just below boiling point, do not let it burn or it will spoil.
Reduce the heat slightly and add the parmesan cheese. Stir until cheese has melted and sauce is thick, rich and creamy. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Drain pasta with a sieve or colander.

Add the salmon & cheese sauce to the pasta and toss to combine. Make sure all the pasta is coated with the sauce.

Serve in slightly warmed pasta bowls garnished with a few extra pieces of smoked salmon and snipped chives or dill. Sprinkle over the lemon zest and you are done.

Voila, simple yet delicious Smoked Salmon Pasta

About smoked salmon

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Ingredients- What’s in your store cupboard?

If you are a novice cook or a seasoned professional you will most likely have a list of ingredients that you always have at hand in your kitchen store cupboard  or larder.

You probably replenish these items whenever you are getting low as a matter of fact and without too much thought.

Store cupboard ingredients are an individual choice usually chosen by the types of food you cook most often.

The list of ingredients that can be found in store cupboards around the country vary greatly and it is likely that no two store cupboards are exactly the same.

We have put together below a list of basic food ingredients that will cover many of the items required for easy home cooking recipes and dishes found on this website and others across the internet.

This is a list of my personal “must have at all times” store cupboard, fridge & freezer contents, and works well for me.

Store Cupboard Ingredients

1) Stock cubes- chicken and beef.
2) Dried pasta such as penne, spaghetti, lasagne sheets.
3) Rice -easy cook long grain & brown.
4) Dried herbs and spices: sea salt, black & white pepper, garlic salt, fennel seeds, chilli flakes, coriander, cumin, turmeric, parsley, cinnamon, cloves, nutmegs, and smoked paprika. Others may include, thyme, bay leaves, and Bouquet garni.
5) Good quality tomato ketchup, tomato puree and brown sauce. worcestershire sauce, soy sauce light and dark. English mustard, mayonnaise and salad cream are also included.
6) Dry sherry, cider and a dark ale or stout such as Guinness.
7) Parmesan, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese.
8) Lentils, pearl barley, tinned beans, tinned sweetcorn, kidney beans and jars of olives, anchovies & roasted peppers.
9) vegetable oil, olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar and cider vinegar. Malt vinegar and homemade flavoured oils.
10) Plain, self raising and wholemeal flour.
11)Dried Mushrooms such as porcini.
12)Tinned chopped tomatoes, tinned cannellini, and pinto beans.
13)Granulated, caster, brown, and demerara sugars.
13)Other staple ingredients – milk, bread, butter, lard, eggs, bacon, cream, fresh garlic, fresh chilli peppers, fresh herbs, ready made pastry (homemade and frozen, or shop bought).

This is a basic list of my everyday basic store cupboard ingredients. Your list is likely to be slightly different as you will add extra items according to the styles of food you cook and the recipes you follow.

For a beginner, this basic list will get you started and stand you in good stead. What’s In Your Store cupboard?

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Fish Pie Recipe | Easy Home Cooking

There is nothing more satisfying for a tasty summer supper than homemade  fish pie with a mixture of smoked and white fish and a rich sauce and delicious potato topping . The recipe below is one of the easiest fish pie recipes we have ever seen but also one of the tastiest. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your fish pie by adding different types of fish and seafood according to what you prefer. Serve with a simple salad and watch the family smile.

Ingredients For Fish Pie

1kg Maris Piper (or similar) potatoes, peeled and Quartered

Large nob of salted butter for mashing

dash of milk (full fat is creamiest but skimmed can be used if you are watching your weight)

25g  salted butter

25g plain flour

4 spring onions, finely sliced

400ml full fat milk (skimmed or semi skimmed can be used)

1 x pack of quality fish pie mix (cod, salmon, smoked haddock etc. choose a pack around 320g-400g if possible.

Small pack ready cooked and peeled prawns

1 tsp Dijon or English mustard

a small bunch of fresh chives, finely snipped

handful frozen sweetcorn

handful frozen petits pois or garden peas

handful grated medium mature cheddar

Method-Easy Fish Pie

1.Preheat your oven to 200C/ 180 fan/ gas mark 6.
add the peeled and chopped potatoes to a deep saucepan and add just enough water to cover them.

Bring the potatoes to the boil and then simmer until just tender.

When the potatoes are cooked, drain them thoroughly and mash with some milk and lots of butter. Season them with freshly ground black pepper and a very Small pinch of salt.

2.Place the measured butter, plain flour and finely chopped spring onions in another saucepan and heat gently until the butter has melted, and has formed a smooth paste with the flour stirring regularly.

Cook for I minute or so to cook out the taste of the flour.

Gradually add to pan and whisk in the milk Bring to the boil, stirring to avoid any lumps and sticking to the saucepan. Cook until sauce become rich and thickened usually 3-4 mins.

3.Take the pan off the heat and stir in half of the grated cheese, fish pie mix and the peeled prawns, add the mustard, chives, sweetcorn and peas.

When thoroughly mixed spoon or ladle the mixture into an ovenproof dish or divide fish pie mixture into ramekins or similar if you wish to serve fish pie as a starter or light snack

4.Spoon the mashed potato on top and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. (we like to dust our fish pie lightly with Paprika Or Smoked Paprika at this stage but it is not necessary)

Place the fish pie on a rack in the middle of your oven for 20 – 25 mins or until topping is golden and bubbling at the edges.

Serve fish pie on its own or accompanied by a simple mixed salad .. Simple Delicious Meal for the whole family.

Origins of fish pie

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Poached Eggs – The Easiest Recipe

There is something homely and satisfying about the humble poached egg. Poached eggs are one of those foods that can easily be overlooked . The thought of creamy poached eggs on fresh hot buttered toast pops into your mind randomly, you decide to cook them, and instantly realise just how good they really are, and what you have been missing out on.

Quick and easy, poached eggs are an underrated national treasure.

Ingredients For Delicious Poached Eggs

Fresh eggs
1 to 2 teaspoons vinegar (rice vinegar works well) Adding vinegar is optional according to taste.

Method

First thing to do is to bring some water to almost boiling point (not boiling. Lower heat if neccessary) in a shallow saucepan or frying pan. You can at this point add vinegar to the water which will help the white of the eggs set more easily and stop them from breaking up.

Crack the eggs one at a time into a small cup, then place the cup close to the surface of the hot water and gently lower the egg into the water. With a spatula or spoon ease the egg whites closer to their yolks. This will help the egg whites stay together and give you a neater finished appearance.

work quicly and carefully. As soon as you have the required amount of eggs in the pan, turn off the heat, and cover with a close fitting lid or aluminium foil. Let the eggs sit undisturbed for exactly 4 minutes, until the egg whites are set and cooked

Lift eggs out of pan one at a time with a slotted spoon.

Serve on top of hot buttered toast as a meal or tasty snack or use the poached eggs as a garnish for many of your favourite dishes. Substitue fried eggs for poached eggs as part of a more healthy Full English breakfast.

Poaching

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Banana Bread with Applesauce

Grandma Muriel always used to make this delicious banana bread whenever she knew we were visiting at the weekend. Light and delicious, we would sit around the fire with a larger than necessary slice and a cup of proper tea made in a warmed pot. Memories come flooding back every time i make this easy but delicious banana bread for the family.

Granny always said this banana bread was easy to make and she was right, easy to prepare, easy to bake and way to easy to eat.

Ingredients

4 ripe bananas
1 cup of sugar
¾ cup of applesauce
2 eggs
2 cups of bread flour
½ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla

How To Make Our Applesauce Banana Bread

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9” x 5” loaf pan.
In a large bowl, slice the bananas and use an electric mixer or a potato masher to mash.
Add the sugar and blend.
Let mixture stand for 15 minutes.
Add applesauce and eggs and mix well.
Blend in the remaining ingredients.
Pour into the greased loaf pan and bake for 55 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let stand again for 10 to 15 minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack and leave the banana bread to cool completely.

This applesauce banana bread is ideal for packed lunches and picnics afternoon tea or for a supper treat. Try it with butter or even marmalade for an interesting change. We think bananas and marmalade are a great combination what do you think ?

this recipe is suitable for absolute beginners and no technical skills required.

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