All That I'm Eating

Recipe ideas for budget meals, everyday cooking and a little indulgence. Travel inspiration and restaurant reviews too.

Greek Salad, Hummus and Pitta Bread

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Greek Salad, Hummus and Pitta Bread
I don’t know about you but I find it difficult to know what to cook when it’s hot. I don’t want to be hanging around the oven or hob making unnecessary heat but I also don’t want to eat cold food all the time. The worst thing about it is having to do the washing up (no dishwasher in my house!) when all you really want to do is sit outside. I think this meal of Greek salad, hummus and pitta bread is a great compromise; there isn’t too much clearing up afterwards and the toasted pitta bread means that it’s not an entirely cold meal.

Ingredients

You will need (for four):

  • Pitta breads  £0.50

For the hummus:

  • 1 can chickpeas  £0.65
  • 1 garlic clove  £0.03
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil  £0.10
  • 1 tsp peanut butter  £0.10
  • Salt and pepper  £0.10

For the Greek salad:

  • 1/2 cucumber, sliced  £0.30
  • 3-4 tomatoes, sliced  £0.50
  • 1 small onion, sliced  £0.10
  • 1 small lettuce, chopped  £0.40
  • 1 pack mixed olives and feta  £2.20
  • 1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil  £0.10
  • 1 tsp dried oregano  £0.05

    Total £5.13

Method

Start by adding all the ingredients for the hummus to a food processor and blending until smooth. If the hummus is a little thick you can add a little extra oil or a small amount of hot water.

Mix all the ingredients for the salad together, except the olives, then top with the olive and feta mix.

Heat up the pitta breads according to packet instructions.

Pour a little extra virgin olive oil over the salad and sprinkle over the chopped oregano and a little salt and pepper. read more

Pulled Pork Ribs with Carrot & Ginger Slaw

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I’m often a bit slow on the uptake. Pulled food, more specifically pulled pork, has been doing the rounds for some time now and it’s not something that I had attempted. Yet. I wanted to make an Asian coleslaw that used some spring carrots (I demoed this at Eat Reading Live) but wasn’t too sure what to serve it with. It seemed an ideal time to attempt some sort of pulled pork. If, like me, you can’t be bothered with pulling anything I think this would be fantastic with some leftover roast pork or chicken in a nice soft roll. read more

Pea, Carrot and Paneer Pilaf

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Pilaf with peas, carrots and paneer

I hadn’t done a vegetarian option for my Feed 4 for £6 series for a little while so I thought it was about time I did. I am a big fan of recipes which involve putting ingredients into a pan, putting a lid on and leaving it to its own devices and this is one of those. If you can’t find paneer for this recipe you can use halloumi but it’s saltier. All you need otherwise is onions, carrots, peas, curry powder and rice. Sorted.

Ingredients

You will need (for 4):
Rapeseed oil for frying  £0.02
1 medium onion, diced  £0.10
2 medium carrots, diced  £0.18
200g frozen peas  £0.25
250g basmati rice  £0.45
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped  £0.05
2 heaped tsp curry powder  £0.05
700ml hot vegetable stock  £0.10
Salt and pepper  £0.02
225g paneer, cubed  £1.54
Total  £2.76

 Method

Heat around 1 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan on a medium heat and add the onion, carrot and garlic. Fry for around 10 minutes or until softened.  Add the curry powder and rice and cook for a further minute. Add the frozen peas and pour in the hot stock. Bring the pan to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer, put on a loose fitting lid.  Simmer the rice for 15-20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the stock has been absorbed. Check on the level of stock while it’s cooking and top up a little if needed. While the pilaf cooks heat a pan up on a medium heat and add a little bit of oil. Season the paneer all over with salt and plenty of pepper before adding it to the pan. Fry the paneer until golden brown. Check the seasoning before dishing up the pilaf and divide the cheese between the plates.

Rice is always welcome on my table in whatever form it comes. In this it’s got a lovely curried flavour along with the sweet carrot, peas and onion and the peppery slightly salted cheese. My favourite bits are the golden edges of the paneer. I have to say that this has to be one of the most filling things I have ever made, I almost couldn’t eat it all (but I had just had some cake!). This costs less than £3 for four, is very satisfying and is easy to make. Ideal weeknight grub. read more

Curried Lamb Pie with Bombay Potato Topping with Schwartz

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Curried Lamb Pie with Bombay Potato Topping All That I'm Eating (1 of 3)
Dinner parties have a set of criteria that they should fulfil; the host doesn’t want to be stuck in the kitchen away from guests, the food should be tasty and the guests want to be relaxed and leave full. This is why I think something that can be prepared in advance and then finished later on is ideal. I love lamb curry and I have really been enjoying my new Hairy Bikers curry book so I fancied having a go at a curry using lamb mince. So when Schwartz got in touch to see what dinner party ideas I could think of using their spices I set about creating an ideal dinner party dish: Curried Lamb Pie with Bombay Potato Topping. I thought this would meet the above ‘Caroline Criteria’ very well.

Ingredients

You will need (for 4):

For the lamb:
  • Flavourless oil for cooking
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 1 tomato, seeds removed and chopped
  • 2 tsp tomato puree
  • 3-4 tsp Schwartz Curry Powder (I used mild but you could use a hotter one if you like)
  • 400g minced lamb
  • 100g frozen peas
  • Salt and pepper
For the potato topping:

  • 700g potatoes, peeled and diced
  • Flavourless oil for frying
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp black mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • Salt and pepper
    • read more

    Dried Blueberry and Almond Cereal Bars

    By 19 Comments

    Dried Blueberry and Almond Cereal Bars
    You know when you buy an ingredient to make something and the remainder of it sits in the cupboard waiting to be used? I had a bit of this going on with oats, flaked almonds, seeds, maple syrup and dried blueberries. To use them (or as many of them as I could) up I made some lovely crumbly cereal bars. I wanted to keep the butter to a minimum to try and keep them a little on the healthy side.

    Ingredients

    You will need (for 12 cereal bars):

    • 225g oats
    • 100ml maple syrup
    • 150g butter
    • 75g dried blueberries
    • 50g flaked almonds
    • 1 tbsp poppy seeds

    Method

    Preheat an oven to 180C and lightly grease a baking tray. The one I used was about 20cm x 20cm.

    Melt the maple syrup and butter together in a saucepan on a low heat until melted and well combined.

    Mix the oats, dried blueberries, almonds and poppy seeds together then pour in the syrup and butter and stir together until well mixed.

    Press the mixture into the prepared baking tray and then place into the oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top.

    Mark into pieces while still hot then remove from the tray when cooled. read more

    Review: Maple Pecan Cupcake Recipe from Baking Mad

    By 16 Comments

    Goose Egg
    I learnt something about myself the other day: I am not a domestic goddess. Let me explain. I was sent some baking goodies from Baking Mad and I had chosen to attempt their recipe for Maple Pecan cupcakes. I planned to give them to my Mum for an early Mother’s Day treat. I went for a walk to the pub last week and was offered a goose egg to take home; excellent for my cupcakes. All was going well and I was ready for baking. In my head I’m swishing around the kitchen; mixing a bit there, sprinkling a bit here, birds are singing and the radio is playing non-stop jolly tunes. This is not quite how it happened.

    Ingredients

    You will need (original recipe here, mine is slightly different):

    • 2 eggs (I used half a goose egg)
    • 125g butter
    • 125g caster sugar
    • 225g self-raising flour
    • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
    • 2 tbsp maple syrup

      For the icing:
    • 2 tbsp maple syrup
    • 65g butter
    • 125g icing sugar (I used the Silver Spoon Chocolate icing sugar I was sent)
    • Chocolate chips to decorate (I used the Silver Spoon ones I was sent)

    Method

    Preheat an oven to 180C and line a cupcake tin with 12 cases. I don’t have a cupcake tin so I use silicone cupcake cases.

    Place the eggs, butter, sugar, flour, vanilla and maple syrup in a bowl and mix together until smooth. I used an electric hand whisk for this.

    Divide the batter between the cases then place in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until baked.

    Remove the cupcakes from the oven and leave to cool.

    Make the icing by beating together the butter and icing sugar then add the maple syrup and beat until light and fluffy. read more

    Maple Salted Popcorn

    By 22 Comments

    Popcorn ready to pop
    Nothing gets stuck in your teeth like popcorn. Every time I eat it I am optimistic about the forthcoming pearly white issues thinking, “No, it won’t be like last time. I’ll be extra cautious”, but yet I’m forever picking bits out of my teeth in the popcorn aftermath. This is never a good look. Why do we do it to ourselves? I know I’m not the only one. I can think of one very good reason: because it’s damn delicious, there’s nothing else like it and when you make your own you can truly make it your own.

    Ingredients

    You will need (for a big bowl for two):

    • 75g popping corn
    • 1-2 tbsp flavourless oil
    • 1 tsp nice sea salt
    • 2 tbsp maple syrup

    Method

    Get a large pan with a lid on a medium/high heat.

    Drizzle on a little oil and swirl it around so it covers the base of the pan.

    Put the popcorn into the pan and put the lid on (it helps if it’s a clear lid).

    Keep the pan swirling around so that the popcorn doesn’t catch and wait for the corn to start popping.

    Keep the pan moving until you can’t hear (or see) any more pops.

    Remove the pan from the heat and take the lid off to let any steam escape. read more

    Victoria Sponge with Rhubarb and Vanilla Compote

    By 20 Comments

    It’s always nice to see some bright pink rhubarb poking its head out at the market but as it’s the first of the season it can be quite pricey. So when you have only £1.80, what can you do with two rhubarb sticks? Make a lovely, vibrant rhubarb compote/jam to sandwich in the middle of two fat slices of cake of course. Other things that you can do with two sticks of rhubarb include: jousting, a spot of relay running or making a parasol (if you have the leaves left on) but none of those would be anywhere near as good as this cake. read more

    Cheat’s one pot Paella

    By 21 Comments

    I didn’t realise how much rice I had been eating until I thought about the last time I ate pasta or potatoes and I can’t remember when that was. I like rice as a plain side to something, a herb encrusted rice salad or as a risotto. This quick and easy rice dish (or a cheat paella) is not a paella by any means but it’s a great dish to knock up after a hectic day with a nice bit of chorizo for a mid-week Spanish pick me up. Get out your flamenco. read more

    Review: Easy Indian Cookbook by Manju Malhi

    By 17 Comments

    murgh makhani
    Spices in food have always made me curious. I like all spices, those that I’ve tried anyway, and a little bit of fresh or dried chilli is always welcome when spices are around. When I’ve attempted making a spiced dish before it’s always lead to interesting results. The ras-el-hanout I add to lamb is great, the fajitas are good but I am normally disappointed if I try to make a curry. The flavour never seems deep enough; too much of one thing and not enough of something else. Manju Malhi asked me to review her Easy Indian Cookbook published by Duncun Baird, so I thought I’d have one last attempt and try out her recipe for Murgh Makhani.

    ingredients

    The below recipe is from Manju’s book with a few of my own tweaks.
    For Murgh Makhani for two you will need:

    • 50g peeled plum tomatoes
    • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
    • 1 tbsp. natural yoghurt
    • 1 tbsp. double cream
    • Black pepper
    • 1/4 tsp paprika
    • 1 small dried chilli, ground
    • Pinch ground cinnamon
    • 2 tbsp. rapeseed oil
    • 250g chicken breast pieces
    • 1 onion, finely chopped
    • Salt
    • 1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves
    • Knob of butter
    • Pinch garam masala

    The below recipe for flatbreads is from Jamie Oliver and it makes fantastic cheat’s naan breads!

    For 6 cheat’s naan breads you will need:

    • 250g self raising flour plus extra for dusting
    • A pinch of salt
    • 1/2 tbsp. baking powder
    • 250g natural yoghurt
    Blend the tomatoes until smooth and put to one side. Put the chicken into a bowl and add the garlic, yoghurt, cream, a nice helping of black pepper, paprika, chilli, cinnamon and 1 tbsp. of the oil and mix everything together really well. Refrigerate this for at least 30 minutes but ideally overnight. Put a large frying pan on a medium heat and add the remaining oil. Fry the onions until golden brown then add the salt and dried fenugreek and fry for a few more minutes. Add the tomatoes to the onions and keep cooking until thickened. Add a small knob of butter to the pan then add the chicken and all the marinade, reduce the heat to low and simmer for around 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Add the garam masala and serve with rice and the easy naans. To make the cheat’s naan breads mix together all the ingredients in a bowl until well combined. You might need to add a little extra flour if the mixture is looking a little wet. Put some extra flour onto the worktop and divide the mixture into six. Get a frying pan on a high heat. Roll out the dough so it’s quite thin and then dry fry the breads until they puff up a little, turn them over and cook until each one is cooked through and has some nice brown patches all over. It takes less than two minutes per flatbread.

    I can safely say, hand down, that this is the best curry I’ve ever made.  The level of spice and chilli was perfect for me and I loved the creamy taste even though the actual quantity of cream and butter was very small. Guilt free! I think next time I would double the quantity of the sauce for the same amount of chicken. I really like this book, the pictures are clean and simple and the recipes easy to follow. The recipes are certainly a step up from other ‘easy’ recipes (which are only easy because they require you to open a jar of paste) but you’re not cooking and preparing for hours either. There’s a good balance between meat, fish and vegetable curries too. I will definitely be cooking from this book again; the only problem being which recipe to choose!
    Thank you to Manju for the book and for permission to print one of her lovely recipes. read more

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