NUT ROAST RECIPE

4 shallots, 2 sticks celery, 200g mushrooms, 2 garlic cloves, 90g fine almonds, 90g hazel nuts, 30g dried cranberries, 150g gruyere, 300g green lentils, 60g breadcrumbs, chilli flakes, 1 tsp dried sage, 3 eggs…… then 1tbsp caster sugar and 200g fresh cranberries cooked for 2 minutes and then put in the bottom of the loaf tin before the rest. Cook 45mins at 160C – then rest for 10 minutes and turn out upside down.

Sage and onion twists

Makes 12-15
olive oil 50ml
red onion 1, finely chopped
bread flour 400g
fresh sage 2½ tbsp, finely chopped
black pepper ½ tsp
fast action dried yeast 1 sachet (7g)
salt 1 tsp
lukewarm water 200ml
sesame seeds 1 tbsp

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small saucepan and fry the onion over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes until softened. Set aside to cool. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, fresh sage, black pepper, yeast and salt. Make a well in the centre, pour in the water and the remaining olive oil and stir to make a shaggy dough.

Turn the dough out on to a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until the dough is soft and smooth. Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover and let the dough rise for 1½-2 hours or until doubled in size.

Once risen, turn the dough on to a lightly floured surface and use your fingertips to flatten into a rough rectangle. Pour the cooled onions on to the surface and press them into the dough. Give the dough a brief knead to incorporate all the onions – this part will be a little messy and if any onions fall out just knead them back in.

Heat the oven to 180C fan/gas mark 6. Let the dough rest on the work surface for 10 minutes before dusting a rolling pin with flour and rolling the dough out into a large rectangle, about 25cm x 35cm.

Slice the dough into thin strips about 1cm wide, take two at a time and twist them around each other. Place each twist on a baking tray, brush with a little more olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt and sesame seeds. Bake for 18-22 minutes until golden. Serve warm or at room temperature.

LEMONS

I have some more coming so I have made some lemon biscuits. 190C for 15 mins. 80g butter and 70g caster sugar, 240g plain flour, 1 egg, zest of 4 lemons and juice of one. 2 tbs baking powder.

I also made an olive loaf with mix of rye flour, wholemeal and 50% plain white.

DINNER IDEAS

CHRISTMAS DINNER IDEAS

Jamies Xmas

Prawn Cocktail 18

Roast apple and squash soup 22

Roast chicken  64

Flavoured butters 66

Rack of lamb 74

Nut roast 88

Cheese pie 90

Baked squash 92

Cracker ravioli 96

Roast potatoes 108

Potato al forni 112

Champ pie 114

Tuscan potatoes 116

Balsamic potatoes 120

Roasted parsnips 128

Red onion gratin  130

Brussel sprouts 134

Clapshot 138

Cauliflower cheese 142

Red cabbage 144

Get ahead gravy 152

Vegan gravy 154

Cranberry sauce158

Pigs in blankets 164

Veggie stuffing 168

Yorksire puds 170

Apple pie 226

Icelandic rice pudding 234

Granita 248

Apple carpaccio 250

Mincemeat strudels 268

Cannoli Brandy Snaps 274

Billionaires shortbread 276

Badass brownies 280

Gingerbread 286

Truffles 292

Biscotti 294

Florentines 296

Lemon curd 306

Chilli sauce 308

Winter slaw 320

Roasted carrot and ado salad 322

Baked Camembert 336

Sausage roll mania 342

Smoked salmon blinis 344

Quasadillas 350

Samosa cigars 352

Baked buns 354

Party dips 356

Mediterranean cookery

Meat briquets 73

Falafel 77

Spanish empanadilles 75

Green lentil soup 96

Soup 100

Garlic soup 114

Spicy pumpkin soup 113

Fresh tomato soup 116

Potato and onion tortilla

Stuffed toms and peppers 132

Couscous stuffed pepper 135

Veg moussaka 140

Potato and pumpkin souffle 144

Polpettes 148

Spinach with raisins and pine nuts 152

Spanish potatoes 161

Roast potato withered onion 162

Kleftiko 256

Moussaka 254

Roast leg lamb with saffron 258

Roast lamb with rosemary 262

Lamb casserole with garlic and broad beans 264

Persian chicken + walnuts 338

Chicken thighs +garlic +lemon 340

Onion focaccia 401

GINGER AND CINNAMON BISCUITS

Ingredients

  • 350g Plain flour 
  • 1 tsp Ground ginger 
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon 
  • 1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda 
  • 100g Butter 
  • 175g Dark muscovado sugar 
  • 1 Egg 
  • 4 tbsp Golden syrup 

Method

  1. Mix together the flour, ginger, cinnamon and bicarbonate of soda in a mixing bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs.
  2. Add the sugar, egg and golden syrup and mix with a spoon until it forms a dough.
  3. Tip the dough onto a clean, lightly floured work surface. Knead the dough for a couple of minutes until it is smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  4. Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to 180°c / 350°f / Gas Mark 4.
  5. Roll the dough to 3-5mm thickness on a lightly dusted surface.
  6. Cut out the cookies using a cutter and place them on a greased or lined baking tray.
  7. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for approximately 8 minutes or until lightly browned.
  8. Transfer the biscuits onto a cooling rack to cool.
  9. Decorate with currents, icing or sweets if required. Store in jars to keep fresh.