Turkey and Gravy

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For the turkey

  1. Place the turkey in the large roasting tin.
  2. Stuff the neck cavity only – I tend to cook any stuffing separately, we have more than once forgotten that the stuffing was in the bird until too late! If not putting stuffing into the bird, peel and cut up an onion and push that into the cavities, with a little butter. Weigh the turkey after it has been stuffed to calculate the cooking time.
  3. Smear the bird with some butter, then cover it tightly with foil.

Slow roasting the turkey:

  • If your turkey weighs more than 16 lb (7 kg), put it into a hot oven for an hour, then transfer to a simmering temperature oven overnight.
  • For turkeys under 16 lb (7 kg), just put into the ESSE’s main oven at 120 (thermo dial at about 20 to the hour) and let the cooker do the rest!

As a rough guide:

  • 8 – 10 lb (3 – 4½ kg) Turkeys will take about 8 – 10 hours
  • 10 – 16 lb (4½ – 7 kg) Turkeys will take about 9 – 12 hours
  • 16 – 22 lb (7 – 10 kg) Turkeys will take about 10 – 14 hours

Next day, check the turkey mid-morning, it should be almost cooked. Pierce the thigh with a skewer and if the juices run clear from the hole, it is cooked.

If it is completely cooked at 11am and you plan to eat at 3pm, DON’T PANIC! Re-cover with the foil then lay a large bath towel, folded into quarters, or a cot duvet or your fleece jacket, or all three, over it and place it beside the ESSE and just leave it. It has taken about 12 hours to get really hot and cooked through; it won’t cool down in any sort of hurry!

If it is not cooked through, re-cover and return it to the simmering oven. Check it again in an hour.

Fast roasting the turkey:

Put the foil-covered turkey into the ESSE at 210 (thermo dial at about 25 past the hour) and cook it.

Timing:

  • 8 – 10 lb (3 – 4½kg) Turkeys will take about 2 hours
  • 10 – 16 lb (4½ – 7kg) Turkeys will take about 2 ½ to 3 hours
  • 16 – 22 lb (7 – 10kg) Turkeys will take about 3 to 3 ½ hours

Finishing the turkey, both methods:

When you and the turkey are ready, pour off the juices – this is easiest if you have a second, clean roasting tin and just transfer the bird from one tin to the other, leaving the juices in the first. Put the turkey into the ESSE main oven at 210 (thermo dial at about 25 past the hour), uncovered, for half an hour to brown the breast, while you make the gravy. Once the breast is browned, transfer to a serving plate and allow to rest for 15 minutes before carving.

For the gravy

Serves 6 – 8

  • 1 pint (550ml) Turkey stock or giblet stock or stock mixed with wine or water and a stock cube
  • 2 tbsp Plain flour
  • 1 tbsp Turkey fat or the juices from the roasted bird
  • Salt and pepper

Oven: ESSE 210 (thermo dial at about 25 past the hour)
Prepare ahead: Yes
Freeze: Yes

  1. When the turkey has cooked, pour off the juices from the roasting tin. This is easiest if you have a second, clean roasting tin and just transfer the bird from one tin to the other, leaving the juices in the first. Cover the bird with foil and allow it to rest while you make the gravy and dish up all the vegetables.
  2. Pour the juices into a jug, leaving a tablespoonful or two in the bottom of the pan. Stir in the flour, then gradually blend in the stock and seasoning.
  3. Put the tin onto the floor of the roasting oven to boil. Stir after about 5 minutes, then return to the oven for a further 5 minutes until boiling and thickened. Strain and serve.

Mini Sausage Wraps With Crispy Onions

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Wraps, filled with sticky sausages and onions, make great party fare. Children will love these as they are sweet and easy to eat. For a more adult party try other speciality and spicy sausages and perhaps add some tongue[1]tingling mustard or chilli relish to the wraps.

Makes: 6

Ingredients

  • 12 pork chipolata sausages
  • 2 red onions, cut into wedges
  • 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
  • 1 tbsp clear honey
  • 1 tbsp dark brown muscovado sugar
  • 1 tbsp ordinary dark or Indonesian sweet soy sauce
  • 6 plain or seeded tortilla wraps

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 220°C/ ESSE Dial Guide HOT. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the top end of HOT).
  2. Line a roasting tin or baking tray with baking parchment or easy glide. Place the sausages and onion wedges on top.
  3. In a small bowl, mix the oil with the tomato ketchup, honey, sugar and soy sauce. Drizzle over the sausages and onion wedges and toss to coat well. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the sausages are thoroughly cooked and have browned without burning, and the onion wedges are starting to crisp.
  4. To serve, place 2 of the sausages and some onion wedges on each wrap and fold up to enclose. Allow to cool a little then serve with napkins.

Tip

Vegetarians can still be catered for with this recipe, simply replace the traditional meat sausages with Quorn sausages or Quorn fajita style strips (cooked according to the pack instructions).

Roasted Tomato Soup With Crispy Bacon

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This wonderfully warming soup is made with English vine-ripened tomatoes that are oven-roasted to bring out their natural sweetness. It’s perfect to serve on Bonfire Night with crusty bread. For outdoor eating serve in warmed mugs.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 950g English vine-ripened tomatoes, quartered
  • 2 red onions, finely sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 rashers dry cure smoked streaky bacon
  • 1 litre hot vegetable stock
  • 4 tsp balsamic vinegar

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 220°C/ESSE Dial Guide HOT. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the top end of HOT).
  2. Place the tomatoes, red onion and garlic in a roasting tin. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Roast for 20 minutes until softened and slightly charred.
  3. Meanwhile, put the bacon on a rack et over a baking tray and place in the oven for the last 15 minutes of the tomatoes cooking time. Remove when crisp, leave until cool then break into pieces.
  4. Bring the stock to the boil in a large pan, add the roasted tomato mixture and mix well. Puree until smooth.
  5. Reheat if necessary then ladle into warmed bowls or mugs. Drizzle with the balsamic vinegar and scatter with the crispy bacon to serve.

Variation

This soup is also delicious served cold in the warm Summer months. Prepare as above, chill and serve drizzled with balsamic vinegar and torn Parma ham rather than crisply bacon.

Sticky Ginger and Beetroot Muffins

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These muffins have a dark side to them… from the beetroot added to give colour and flavour.  Great for Hallowe’en, they provide a sweet, sticky end to the festivities!

Makes: 12 large muffins

Ingredients

  • 200g golden syrup
  • 200g black treacle
  • 150g unsalted butter
  • 125g dark brown sugar
  • 100g stem ginger, finely chopped
  • 4 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 250g pack cooked beetroot
  • 250ml milk
  • 2 medium eggs, beaten
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 300g plain flour

Icing:

  • 150g icing sugar
  • zest of 1 lemon, plus 1 tbsp
  • lemon juice

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 180°C/ESSE Dial Guide MODERATE. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the top end of MODERATE or very low end of HOT). Line a large 12-hole muffin tray with cases.
  2. Place the golden syrup, black treacle, butter, sugar, stem ginger, ground ginger and cinnamon in a pan and warm until the butter and sugar have melted.
  3. Meanwhile, puree the beetroot with the milk, eggs and bicarbonate of soda. Add to the slightly cooled sugar mixture, mixing well.
  4. Sift the flour into a bowl then beat in the beetroot mixture until the mixture is smooth.
  5. Divide between the muffin cases. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until firm but springy to the touch. Be careful not to overcook the muffins, they are nice a little sticky. Remove from the rack tray and leave to cool on a rack.
  6. While the muffins are cooling make the icing. Mix the icing sugar with the lemon zest and lemon juice to make a smooth paste. Drizzle over the muffins when completely cold.

Get Ahead

These muffins keep really well for up to 4 days if stored in an airtight tin.

Penne With Roast Shallots and Pumpkin Seeds

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This is a delicious vegetarian pasta dish with contrasting flavours and textures from the soft shallots and pumpkin, to the al dente pasta (with a bite) to the crunchy pumpkin seeds.

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 small pumpkin
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 20 small shallots, peeled
  • 300g dried or fresh penne pasta
  • 1 chilli, seeded and finely sliced
  • 15g butter
  • 6 tbsp water
  • 1 sprig rosemary, chopped
  • Grated Parmesan cheese, to serve

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 180°C/ESSE Dial Guide MODERATE. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the top end of MODERATE or the very low end of HOT).
  2. Peel and cut the pumpkin into bite-sized pieces, reserving the pumpkin seeds. Place the pumpkin in a pan with the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Sauté for about 5 minutes until coloured on the outside. Add the shallots and cook for a further 5-10 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling, salted water according to the packet instructions. Drain, rinse and keep warm. Toast the pumpkin seeds in the oven for 5 minutes.
  4. Return a quarter of the pumpkin and shallot mixture to the pan with the chilli, butter, water and rosemary. Heat through to make a bubbly sauce. Add the remaining pumpkin mixture then finally fold in the cooked pasta.
  5. Serve on warmed plates dusted with a little Parmesan cheese and scattered with the pumpkin seeds.

Variation

Those who miss meat might welcome the addition of come cooked and sliced spicy sausage at the end of cooking.

Lemon Tart With Fresh Fruit Topping

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This creamy lemon tart is perfect all year round but especially good in the late Summer or Autumn months when fruit choice for the topping is abundant. The fruit selection in the photograph gives some ideas but feel free to choose your own favourites.

Serves: 8

Ingredients

Filling:

  • 3 eggs
  • 160g caster sugar
  • grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
  • 160g butter, melted
  • 90g ground almonds

Topping:

  • selection of fresh fruit like sliced
  • green apples (dipped in lemon juice), sliced fresh or canned peaches, apricots and pears, sliced strawberries, sliced kiwi, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, sliced and halved grapes
  • mint sprigs, to decorate (optional)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 190˚C/ ESSE Dial Guide HOT. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the low end of HOT).
  2. Make the pastry according to the recipe instructions. Roll out and line a 23cm fluted flan tin and chill for 10 minutes. Cover with foil and weight with baking beans then bake ‘blind’ for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and cook for a further 5 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs and sugar until they are very thick. Stir in the lemon zest and juice then the melted butter and almonds. Pour into the prepared pastry case. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is golden and set. Allow to cool.
  4. To serve, top the tart with a selection of fresh fruit and decorate with mint sprigs if liked. Cut into wedges to serve with cream, crème fraîche, yogurt or ice cream

Get Ahead

The tart can be made up to 24 hours ahead but to avoid the fruit drying out, glaze with a mixture of 2tbsp apricot jam warmed until syrupy with 2 tbsp water. Spoon over the fruit when cooled but still liquid

Five Spiced Pork with Roots

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Bring a touch of the Orient to a Sunday lunchtime in Autumn with this wonderfully spicy and slightly sweet flavoured roast. Pork offers great value for money and when served with root vegetables in season has a great taste. Vary the roots if liked to include parsnips, beetroot, salsify, celeriac and swede.

Serves: 6

Ingredients

  • 2tsp Chinese 5 spice powder
  • 3tbsp olive oil
  • 15g fine sea salt
  • 1.3kg pork loin roast, rind scored
  • 2tsp grated root ginger
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • ½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)
  • 3 large floury potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 6 carrots, scrubbed and trimmed
  • 6 small turnips, scrubbed and trimmed
  • 2 sticks celery, each cut into 3 pieces
  • fresh herbs, to garnish (optional)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 200°C/.ESSE Dial Guide HOT. (Aim for the dial reading to be in the middle of HOT).
  2. Rub the Chinese 5 spice powder, 1 tbsp of the oil and the salt over the pork, making sure it gets into the cuts in the rind. Place on a rack over a roasting tin and cook for 1 hour.
  3. Mix together the remaining oil with the ginger, sesame oil and chilli if used in a second roasting tin. Add the potatoes, carrots, turnips and celery, tossing well.
  4. Pour the fat and juices from the pork over the vegetables and return both to the oven (place the vegetables above the pork). Roast for a further 1 hour, turning the vegetables once, until both are tender and cooked.
  5. Allow the pork to rest in warm place, wrapped in foil, before slicing to serve with the roasted vegetables. Garnish with a few fresh herbs if liked.

Variation

Summer 5 Spiced Pork:

Prepare as above but use a selection of Summer vegetables like sliced courgettes, quartered peppers, wedges of red onion, cubes of aubergine and whole cloves of garlic instead of the roots. Roast for the final 40 minutes of the cooking time.

Wild Alaska Salmon Korma Bake

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This is a wonderful, lightly-spiced, curried, family main meal dish. It is equally good made with either cooked fresh salmon or canned salmon (so makes a good store cupboard standby). Make it in a large roasting tin for a one-pot meal or, to make this meal easier to serve, cook in individual baking dishes.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 400g cooked fresh wild Alaska salmon or 2 x 213g cans red or pink wild Alaska salmon
  • 500g butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 small cauliflower, broken into florets
  • 150g fine green beans, trimmed and halved
  • 300g low-fat natural yogurt
  • 2 tbsp Korma curry paste
  • 2 tbsp mango chutney
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
  • 4 poppadoms, lightly crushed

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 170˚C/ ESSE Dial Guide MODERATE. (Aim for the dial reading to be in the middle of MODERATE).
  2. Skin the cooked fresh salmon and break into chunks or drain the canned salmon (discarding the liquid, skin and bones) and flake into large pieces.
  3. Put the butternut squash in a large roasting tin, add the oil, cumin seeds and salt and pepper to taste, tossing to coat. Roast for 25-30 minutes until tender, turning once.
  4. Meanwhile, cook the cauliflower in lightly salted boiling water for 3-4 minutes. Add the green beans and cook for a further 3-4 minutes. Drain well and add to the cooked squash with the chunks of salmon.
  5. Mix the yogurt with the curry paste, mango chutney and coriander. Spoon over the vegetables and salmon, then sprinkle with the poppadoms. Bake for 10-15 minutes until piping hot. Serve at once

Tip

Vary the hotness of this curried dish according to your preferred taste. This recipe uses mild strength Korma paste but experiment with medium Madras, Tikka Masala or Passanda strengths or spicy and hot Jalfrezi and Vindaloo.

Parmigiano-Reggiano and Butternut Squash Soup

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This superb soup has a fantastic taste, enhanced by adding the rind from the cheese as it cooks, to extract every bit of flavour. You’ll need roughly 500g butternut squash when peeled and deseeded. If you have any leftover, simply roast to serve as a vegetable with another meal.

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

  • 150g Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, with rind
  • 25g butter 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and chopped into chunks
  • 900ml hot vegetable stock
  • 150ml milk
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4-6 slices French bread
  • chopped fresh parsley or thyme, to garnish

Method

  1. Reserve the rind from the Parmigiano-Reggiano and cut into chunks, then finely grate the cheese.
  2. Melt the butter in a large pan, add the onion and cook gently for about 3 minutes, until softened but not browned. Add the squash, stock and cheese rind. Heat until the mixture is just simmering, then partially cover with a lid and cook gently for about 20 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and tender.
  3. Remove the rind from the pan and discard. Purée the mixture with most of the grated cheese until smooth (reserve just a little for the garnish). Return the soup to the pan, add the milk and salt and pepper to taste and stir to mix. Reheat until piping hot.
  4. Meanwhile, toast the bread, sprinkle with the reserved cheese and grill or bake to melt.
  5. To serve, ladle the soup into warmed bowls and top each with a piece of French toast. Sprinkle with chopped parsley or thyme and serve at once

Tip

Other edible squashes can be used to make this soup. If using small round squash why not keep the scooped out shells and ladle the soup into them for serving? Takes care of the washing up too!

Pot roast pheasant with celery

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Pot roasting pheasant produces a beautifully tender bird where the meat literally falls from the bone. Serve with creamy mashed potato and some buttered greens or broccoli for a deeply satisfying meal.

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

  • 50g butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 oven-ready pheasants
  • 6 shallots, peeled and cut in half
  • 4 large sticks celery, each cut into 3 pieces
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 2 tsp fennel seeds, lightly crushed
  • 500ml white wine
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 160 C/Esse Dial Guide MODERATE. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the low end or middle of MODERATE).
  2. Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large flameproof casserole that is large enough to hold both pheasants snugly. When foaming, add a pheasant and fry until crisp and golden on all sides. Transfer to a plate and cook the second pheasant in the same way. Transfer to the plate.
  3. Reduce the heat, add the shallots and cook for 10 minutes until softened. Add the celery, garlic, fennel seeds and salt and pepper to taste. Pour in the wine and return the pheasants to the dish. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook in the oven for 1-11/2 hours, until the meat is very tender.
  4. Remove the pheasants from the dish and divide into serving pieces. Keep warm while simmering the sauce on the hob until slightly thickened. Serve with the meat.

Tip

For a glossier and slightly more thickened sauce stir in 2 tbsp conserve into the juices after reducing. Blackcurrant or Wild Blueberry conserve are ideal choices.

Spiced chicken with mango salsa

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This zingy spiced chicken with fruity but cooling salsa is delicious both hot and cold. I like to serve it cold as a picnic dish with a rocket leaf salad and plain or herby couscous, Toss the salad in a lemon or lime-based dressing for a memorable meal.

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 ½ tbsp Jerk seasoning
  • 12 chicken thigh fillets

Salsa:

  • 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped
  • 200g natural yogurt
  • 1 red onion, very finely chopped
  • 10g chopped fresh coriander

Method

  1. Place the lemon juice, oil and Jerk seasoning in a large bowl, Add the chicken fillets and stir to coat. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or ideally overnight to allow the flavours to develop.
  2. When ready to cook preheat the oven if necessary to 200°C/Esse Dial Guide HOT (Aim for the dial reading to be in the middle of HOT).
  3. Place the chicken on a rack over a roasting tin and cook in the oven for 30 minutes, until tender and cooked through. To check, pierce the chicken flesh, the juices should run clear.
  4. Meanwhile, make the salsa by mixing the mango with the yogurt, red onion and coriander.
  5. Serve the chicken hot or cold with the mango salsa.

Variation

The spicy chicken can be served with an avocado salsa instead. Simply mix the flesh of 1 ripe chopped avocado with half a small chopped red onion, 2 chopped tomatoes, the juice of half a lime and salt and pepper to taste. Serve sprinkled with chopped coriander if liked.

Shallot dartois

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This is the vegetarian equivalent of the traditional sausage roll… where the usual sausage meat has been replaced with a deeply-satisfying shallot mixture. Meat lovers could add a little very finely chopped ham or chicken to the shallot mixture.

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 100g butter
  • 24 echalion (banana) shallots, peeled and finely sliced lengthways
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 bottle red wine
  • 10g chopped fresh thyme
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 320g pack pre-rolled puff pastry
  • beaten egg, to glaze

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 200˚C/ Esse Dial Guide HOT. (Aim for the dial reading to be in the middle of HOT).
  2. Melt the butter in a heavy-based pan until sizzling. Add the shallots with seasoning to taste and cook for about 10 minutes.
  3. Add the wine, thyme and sugar and continue to cook until all the liquid has evaporated. You should be left with a rich, deep, dark red shallot mixture. Allow to cool.
  4. Cut the sheet of pastry lengthways in half and, with a rolling pin, carefully roll to make each rectangle a little wider. Spoon half the filling along each in a sausage shape, leaving a small margin. Brush with egg and fold the pastry over to enclose the filling, pressing down firmly. Brush with egg and chill for 30 minutes.
  5. To cook, cut each dartois into 5cm slices and place on a non-stick baking tray or conventional one lined with easy glide. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden. Serve warm or cold.

Get Ahead!

The shallot mixture can be made up to 2 days in advance. Chill until required.

Strawberry and macadamia blondies

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Who doesn’t like a sweet treat? These are a great alternative to the traditional chocolate brownie, bursting with strawberries, white chocolate and nuts. Perfect as an afternoon or morning coffee treat, they are equally delicious as a pudding.

Makes 6

Ingredients

  • 125g unsalted butter
  • 200g white chocolate
  • 100g light muscovado sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 130g plain flour
  • pinch of salt
  • 120g Viva strawberries, chopped
  • 100g macadamia nuts, roughly chopped

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 180˚C/Esse Dial Guide MODERATE. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the top end of MODERATE or very low end of HOT).
  2. Line a 22cm square baking tin with greaseproof paper.
  3. Place the butter in a pan, heat to melt then cook on a low heat for 5 minutes or until the white solids start to turn golden. Pour into a cold bowl, add half of the chocolate and stir until melted.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar until they are thick and golden. Add the flour, salt, prepared chocolate butter and fold in with a spatula until smooth.
  5. Add the strawberries, nuts and remaining chocolate and stir briefly to combine. Pour into the prepared dish or tin and bake for 30 minutes. The Blondies are cooked when they have a light golden crust but are still a little squidgy inside. Allow to cool in the dish or tin then cut into 16 pieces to serve.

Get Ahead!

The Blondies can be made ahead and will keep for 1-2 days if stored in an airtight tin – if they last that long!

Pink Lady French Crepes

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This recipe is loosely based on the classic French crepe suzette but uses sweet apples as well as orange and lemon. It would be lovely served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Serves 4

Ingredients

Crepes:

  • 125g plain flour
  • 1 vanilla pod, split in half
  • 2 large eggs
  • 200ml milk
  • 15g butter, melted plus extra for cooking

Topping:

  • 150ml fresh orange juice
  • grated zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon
  • 3 tbsp caster sugar
  • 3 cardamom pods, crushed
  • 30g butter, melted
  • 2 Pink Lady apples, cored, thickly sliced and slices halved

Method

  1. To make the crepes, put the flour and vanilla seeds in a bowl and add the eggs. Gradually whisk in the milk and butter to make smooth batter.
  2. Heat a large frying pan and brush with a little extra melted butter. Pour in  a ladleful of the batter, swirl the pan to make a large thin pancake and cook for 1-2 minutes, turning halfway through until golden and cooked. Fold into quarters, transfer to a warm plate and keep warm. Repeat with the remaining batter to make 4 large crepes in total.
  3. To make the topping, put the orange juice, orange and lemon zest, sugar and cardamom pods into the frying pan and bring to the boil. Gradually stir in the melted butter. Add the apples and crepes and gently warm through, tossing in the sauce. Serve at once.

Tip

Adults might like the addition of 2 tbsp Curacao or Grand Marnier to the topping for a special occasion.

 

Wild Alaska Pollock And Prawn Pancakes

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Why not add a twist to your normal pancake repertoire, by making these scrumptious savoury pancakes? They’re made by simply adding flakes of Pollock and prawns to a creamy cheese and herb sauce that’s perfect for filling home-made pancakes.

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 400g smoked wild Alaska Pollock

Pancakes:

  • 100g plain flour
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium egg
  • 300ml milk
  • Vegetable oil for cooking

Sauce:

  • 300ml milk
  • 40g butter
  • 40g plain flour
  • 100g mature Cheddar cheese, grated
  • 75g cooked peeled prawns
  • 1tbsp chopped fresh parsley, dill or chives

Method

  1. Put the smoked Pollock in a frying pan and cover with water. Heat and simmer for 5-6 minutes until the fish is cooked. The flesh should be opaque and should flake easily. Drain and cool, then flake into large chunks. Set aside.
  2. To make the pancakes, put the flour, a little seasoning and egg in a bowl. Gradually whisk in the milk to make a smooth batter.
  3. Heat a medium heavy-based frying pan and add a few drops of oil. Pour in a ladleful of the batter, swirl the pan to make a thin pancake and cook for 1-2 minutes, turning halfway through until golden and cooked. Transfer to a warmed plate and repeat to make a total of 8 pancakes.
  4. To make the sauce, put the milk, butter and flour in a pan. Heat, whisking constantly, until smooth and thickened. Add the cheese and stir to melt. Add the Pollock, prawns, seasoning to taste and most of the herbs. Heat gently then use to fill the pancakes. Sprinkle with the remaining herbs to serve.

Get Ahead!

The pancakes can be made ahead and placed in a large greased baking dish. Cover with foil and chill. Reheat in the oven at 180°C/Esse Dial Guide MODERATE. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the top end of MODERATE or very low end of HOT) for about 10 minutes.

Beetroot And Vanilla Cupcakes

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These dainty little cupcakes with their rose butter icing will make the perfect gift. Top each with a ready-made flower decoration or crystallised rose petal. To make your own see GET AHEAD! below. Pack into a decorative box or deliver on a special plate for maximum impact.

Serves 12

Ingredients

  • 175g unsalted butter
  • 175g caster sugar
  • 3 large eggs, separated
  • 175g self-raising flour
  • 175 g plain cooked beetroot, pureed (with a little juice reserved for the icing)
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Icing:

  • 300g icing sugar
  • 150g unsalted butter
  • few drops rose flower water
  • 12 ready-made flower decorations or crystallised rose petals, to decorate

Method

  1. Preheat the oven if necessary to 180 C/Esse Dial Guide MODERATE. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the top end of MODERATE or very low end of HOT). Line a 12-hole cupcake tray with cases.
  2. To make the cupcakes, cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks, flour, pureed beetroot and vanilla and beat until smooth.
  3. In a clean bowl whisk the egg whites until fairly stiff. Take a large spoon of the egg white and beat into the flour mixture to loosen a little, then gently fold the remaining egg white through the mixture, taking care not to overbeat.
  4. Divide between the cupcake cases and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cakes are firm to the touch. Remove from the tray and leave to cool on a rack.
  5. Meanwhile, to make the icing, beat the icing sugar with the butter until fluffy. Add a few drops of rose flower water and few drops of the reserved beetroot juice to flavour and lightly colour, mixing well. Spread generously or pipe over the cooled cupcakes and decorate with a flower or petal to serve.

Make Ahead!

To make your own crystallised rose petals then prepare at least the day before they are required. They will keep in an airtight box for a few weeks. Lay out a piece of silicone-coated baking paper on a tray. Brush 12 organic rose petals with egg white and sprinkle all over with caster sugar. Allow to dry in a warm place for 8 hours before using.

 

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