THEGAYUK

Tag: Pork

  • RECIPE | Brussels Brunch

    Prep 5 mins | Cook 30 mins | Serves 2

    It’s a little bit bubble and squeaky. It’s a little bit hashy. It’s even a little bit hair of the dog. But it’s definitely got the cure factor. Whether your shrouded in a hangover darkness you can’t seem to shake or if you just want a bloody good brunch with the boys- this is yours.

     

    The sprouts supply a fantastic amount of vitamin K to help your achy bones, and vitamin C / copper to give your immune system a kick in the right direction. On top of that, one medium potato on average will contain 20% of your recommended intake of vitamin C & copper, along with 31% B6, which helps the liver detox. Chorizo’s B-12 and thiamine will also pick up our energy levels for the day ahead.

     

    BRUSSEL SPROUTS – Around 155g of sprouts will supply you with the following of your recommended daily intake; 243% vitamin K (great for bones), 128% vitamin C, 23% folate, 16% vitamin B6, 16% fibre, 14% copper (good for immune system). To name a few. Glucosinolates are a plenty in sprouts, and it’s this that activates detoxification of carcinogens in the body. (SOURCE: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=10 ).

     

    BEER – Beer has small amounts of protein, fibre and B-vitamins. But what is going to work alongside the sprouts and the Vitamin K, is the silicon within the beer. Silicon is a compound to help maintain strong bones. Phosphorus and Magnesium are also in beer which are renowned for their healthy bone and teeth properties. (SOURCE: http://blog.cookingchanneltv.com/2013/09/23/health-benefits-of-beer/ )

     

    CHORIZO – One serving of chorizo contains 0.6mg of vitamin B1 (thiamine), which helps us convert our food into energy. Another great energy boosting benefit of chorizo is it’s 2mg per serving of vitamin B-12. The daily recommended intake only being 2.4mg. Chorizo is not only delicious but will certainly help us get the getup and go feeling much needed if you’re choosing to cook this on a hangover. (SOURCE: http://www.livestrong.com/article/466148-what-are-the-benefits-of-chorizo/ )

     

    Ingredients.

    ½ link chorizo, skin removed and sliced into rounds or wedges

    150ml beer

    240g trimmed sprouts (packet of), bottoms removed & halved

    2 potatoes, peeled and cubed

    2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

    2 shallots, finely chopped

    2 sage leaves (optional), finely shredded

    2 eggs

     

    Method.

    1. Get 2 pans of boiling water on the go and par-boil the potatoes for 10 minutes. Drain & set aside.
    2. In the other pan blanch the sprouts for 3 minutes, then drain and refresh by running under a cold tap. Set aside.
    3. Meanwhile, heat a tablespoon of oil in a large, deep frying pan over a medium to high heat. Cook the chorizo chunks for 5 minutes.
    4. Add the shallots and cook with the chorizo for a couple of minutes.
    5. Add the garlic and the sprouts and cook for 7-8 minutes. Stirring only occasionally. You want to get some crispy, charred bits on the sprouts. Don’t worry if it’s looking very dry as we will add beer in a bit. If the ingredients are starting to burn too quickly then reduce your heat.
    6. Add the potatoes to the pan with a bit of black pepper. Stir to combine and cook for a couple more minutes.
    7. Add the beer (and sage, if using) and let it bubble out undisturbed for a minute, then stir and have a go at any parts stuck to the bottom of the pan.
    8. You want all the beer to be absorbed before serving, and then let it continue to cook to get a bit of crisp on the potatoes. You can either fry an egg however you’re used to cooking eggs or you can follow my method which guarantees no broken yolks!

     

    Eggs Tip!

    Pre-heat your grill to high. Heat a dash of oil in a frying pan over a high heat, crack your eggs is so you cook the underneath of the egg, then shove the pan under the grill to cook the eggs on top. Once the egg looks pearly and cooked remove from the grill and use a spatula to pop on top of your chorizo hash on plates. A few drops of hot sauce if you like it spicy and you’re ready to gorge.

  • RECIPE | Green Eggs And Ham, Christmas Morning Surprise

    Makes 6 |  Prep 20 mins |  Cook 20 mins

    Whip the batter up for these make-ahead muffins on Christmas Eve and then place in the fridge in their baking tray until you’re ready to cook them in the oven on Christmas morning. Now that’s a wake and bake!

    They smell amazing as they’re cooking and come out festively green, packing an energy & antioxidant punch from Matcha green tea. You can of course leave the Matcha out if you want to (although it’s undetectable on the palette), and vegetarians can swap the pancetta for wild mushrooms or cherry tomatoes.
    INGREDIENTS.

    6 large organic eggs

    100-150g cubed pancetta

    25g grated parmesan (or cheese of choice)

    1 tsp dried oregano

    1/2 tsp garlic powder (or 1 finely chopped garlic clove)

    1 tsp baking powder

    1 tbsp matcha green tea powder (optional)

    small handful pumpkin seeds

    METHOD.

    • Grease a 6” mould muffin baking tray with butter or oil.
    • Dry fry the pancetta in a pan until golden and crisp (about 5 mins on high). Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen towel, placing another piece of towel on top, pressing down to soak up excess oil.
    • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 6 eggs.
      Sieve in the baking powder and matcha green tea. Add the garlic powder, oregano, and parmesan, continuing to whisk well together for a few minutes.
    • Transfer the egg mix to a jug so you can now easily pour the mixture into the muffin moulds. Distribute the pancetta pieces (reserve some for scattering at the end) between the moulds at this point too. Cover and put in the fridge until morning, or if cooking straight away, continue with below steps…
    • Have your oven heat to 200c / 180c (fan) / Gas Mark 6.
    • Use a teaspoon to give each muffin a little stir and top with a scattering of pumpkin seeds.
      Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes until they have risen slightly, and are firm to the touch.
    • Remove from the oven and leave to cool in their tin for about 5 minutes before serving, scatter over any reserved pancetta. Epic either hot, warm or cold.

     

  • RECIPE: Miel-Moutarde Pork Tenderloin

    Serves |  Prep 4 hours (minimum marinading, overnight is always good) | Cook 45 mins (+10 minutes resting)

    I love pork tenderloin. It’s a really lovely bit of meat that I think can often be avoided as some people just don’t know what to do with it. Here, tenderloin is paired with a honey, mustard and rosemary marinade, which is delicious, and the dish as a whole is inexpensive!

    There has been great debate as to whether you can serve pork pink. I am not a fan of this concept, thus cook my pork all the way through which is reflected in the recipe.

    Pork is always well suited with something sweet and sticky, so why not try with my Balsamic Shallots.

    PORK TENDERLOIN – Tenderloin is a good source of selenium and phosphorous. Selenium plays an important role in metabolism management, controlling thyroid hormones. 85g of pork tenderloin will contribute towards 48% of your daily recommended intake of Selenium. HIV has been associated with low selenium levels. Phosphorous will help healthy bones and teeth, digestion, energy levels, hormones, production of protein, and brain function. 85g tenderloin providing 30% DRI.

     

    Ingredients.

    Marinade

    ½ tbsp wholegrain mustard

    1 tbsp Dijon mustard

    1 tbsp soy sauce

    1 tbsp honey

    ½ lemon, juice of

    1 sprig rosemary

    1 pork tenderloin (350g)

     

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 210c / 190c (fan) / Gas Mark 6-7

     

    1. Mix all the marinade ingredients together in a bowl.
    2. Using a large freezer bag, place in the tenderloin along with the marinade and give the bag a squeeze to distribute the marinade. Tie the bag, pop on a plate, and into the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours.
    3. Remove the pork from the fridge 20 minutes before you are going to cook it.
    4. Heat a large frying pan with a few glugs of olive oil over a medium to high heat.
    5. Shake off any excess marinade from the tenderloin and place in the pan to sear it across every part. Do so for 10 minutes.
    6. Remove from the frying pan and place on a baking tray, and now into the oven for 35 minutes.
    7. Remove from the oven and wrap in foil, set aside to rest for 10 minutes.
    8. Remove the foil, transferring to a chopping board where you can begin carving the tenderloin on the slant. Serve.

  • RECIPE | Sausage and Greens with Polenta

    Sausage and Greens with Polenta

    Serves 2 | Prep 10 mins | Cook 25 min

    Take a break from mash and serve polenta instead. Some people naturally have an aversion to polenta because of it’s texture. Some people prefer the hard wedged grilled style, and for others it is this creamy mash-like version. Fresh spring greens flash fried in a cider vinegar make a good match for the creamy polenta and Italian herby, sweet sausage. I couldn’t possibly have anything less than two vegetables on my dinner plate, so I serve this meal with an Italian staple vegetable, the zucchini / courgettes, and carrots that have been steamed.

    POLENTA Traditionally, a peasant food from Northern Italy. Nowadays is served over the globe at breakfast, lunch, or dinner due to its versatility. Carotenoids from milled corn produce is easier to digest than those which lie in carrots and spinach. Carotenoids are fat soluble, and therefore easier to digest when eaten with some fats. (SOURCE) . The beta-carotene within polenta could be a useful aid with heart disease and cancer prevention.

    SPRING GREENS“Underrated & not eaten enough. Spring greens are delicious. I flash fry them usually in a little sesame oil and finish with a dash of soy . Simple. 1 cup (about 190g) of spring greens can provide 70% of your vitamin A and 20% vitamin C intake. Also a great source of iron, calcium, vitamin K, vitamin E. Being full of fibre and low in calories, spring greens also make a wonderful detox aid. (SOURCE)

    Ingredients.

    400g Italian Sausage (or a Sicilian style from your supermarket), removed from casings and each sausage made into 3 balls.

    2 heads spring greens, thoroughly washed, drained, root removed and shredded roughly.

    2 salad onions, sliced

    1 tsp cider vinegar

    100g polenta

    75g emmental (OPTIONAL)

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 180c / 160c (fan) / Gas Mark 4

    1. Begin to fry your sausage balls in a frying pan until they have browned, 8-10 mins. Remove with a slotted spoon into a baking dish (you will use the oil left in the pan to fry the greens later), transferring the sausage into the oven to keep warm.
    2. Add 400ml boiling water to a non-stick saucepan and gradually add the polenta. Keep the saucepan over a medium heat. The polenta will begin to thicken. Once it reaches boiling point, reduce to a slow simmer. If it starts to get to thick add some more hot water to thin it out. I serve mine with a consistency of a thin mash.
    3. Put the heat back on the pan with the sausage cooking oil.
    4. Add the cider vinegar and spring onions to the frying pan for a couple of minutes.
    5. Add the spring greens and fry for 3-5 minutes.
    6. Check the polenta’s consistency (stir in emmental if using), add seasoning to your taste and serve.
    7. Plate up the greens along side the polenta and scatter your sausage balls on top.

  • RECIPE | Pork Carnitas

    Serves 3 (or two cavemen) | Cook 3 ½ hours | Prep minimum marinade time of 1 hour, overnight would be great

    Slow Cook

    Deliciously sticky, sweet pulled pork can really be a show stopper at the table. Its slow cooking creates such a depth of flavour enhanced with the marinade spices that this meat does not require any effort to “dress up”. Serve alongside simple accompaniments, shredded lettuce, different coloured sliced tomatoes, grated local cheese, flour tortillas etc. Keep it simple, let the meat do the talking. The key is in the length of time you marinate your meat for.

     

    Ingredients.

    Marinade:

    650g pork belly, cubed into small pieces

    300ml apple juice

    1 tbsp garlic powder

    1 tbsp oregano

    1 tsp cumin

    2 bay leaves

    300ml ham stock (you could use pork or chicken)

     

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 180c / 160c (fan) / Gas Mark 4

     

    1. Combine all the ingredients for the marinade, except the ham stock, in a large bowl with the pork pieces and leave to marinade as long as possible, up to 1 day.
    2. Transfer the pork and marinade, and add the ham stock, into either a large oven-proof casserole dish with a lid, or a deep baking tray with foil wrapped over the top.
    3. Cook the pork in the oven, covered, for the next two hours.
    4. After two hours, remove the foil / lid and continue to cook for another hour.
    5. Remove from the oven and spoon out the pork pieces with some of their oil into a large frying pan over a medium heat.
    6. Remaining marinade juices can now be put into a small saucepan and simmered to reduce down to a sticky sauce to tip over the pork for serving.
    7. Cook the pork in the frying pan for about 30 minutes, stirring regularly.
    8. Transfer the pork to a dish where you can begin to shred the meat using two forks.
    9. Tip over the reduced sauce and serve alongside tortillas, pita breads, fresh salad, cooked onions etc.

     

  • RECIPE: Pigs In Trees

    Pigs in Trees

    Serves 2

    Prep 5 mins

    Cook 45 mins

    Easy / Minimal Ingredients / Gluten- Free

    With broccoli and fennel fumbled together in a fresh lemony marinade this works wonderfully alongside little herby sausage balls nestled amongst them. With it’s subtle mustard undertones I like to serve a side of plain roasted butternut squash and sweet potatoes, making this a simple throw together and bung in the oven meal. Just add gravy on the side and you have a twist on the Sunday roast.

    Use high quality sausages with no less that 90% sausage meat, the cheaper the sausage the more nasties you’ll find such as a high salt content. You wouldn’t want to counteract the positive influence that both fennel and broccoli have on blood pressure by opting for a low grade banger.

    With the other half of the fennel I made a simple low fat slaw as part of my lunch the following day by finely slicing the fennel, half a small onion, a handful of chopped walnuts with a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard, two tablespoons natural yoghurt and one of low fat mayo.

    BROCCOLI – Rich in vitamin C, A, folic acid, calcium and fibre. A good source of calcium particularly for those that avoid dairy products. Not only can calcium promote healthy bones but certain research has suggested that it may play a role in controlling high blood pressure, and could help prevent colon cancer. Sulforaphane within broccoli has anti-cancer properties. Broccoli is equal part soluble and insoluble fibre helping you to meet requirements for both types of fibre. (SOURCE; http://home.howstuffworks.com/broccoli3.htm )

    FENNEL – Fennel contains a healthy amount of flavanoids that give it strong anti-oxidant properties. When researchers tested the impact of fennel on animals, it has repeatedly shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and help prevent cancer. Fennel is a very good source of fibre too, as fibre helps flush out potential carinogenic toxins, fennel could be useful in treatment of colon cancer. High in potassium this vegetable is another winner for helping lower blood pressure. (SOURCE; http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=23 )

     

    Ingredients

    400g pack high grade gluten free sausages with herbs, casings removed and each sausage made into 4 meatballs

    1 head broccoli, split into small florets

    ½ fennel, sliced.

    ½ lemon, zested

    ½ tsp lemon juice

    1 tsp wholegrain mustard

    1 ½ tbsp olive oil

    Black pepper

     

    Instructions

    Preheat your oven to 220c / 200c (fan) / Gas Mark 7

    1. In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, mustard, lemon zest & juice.
    2. Tip the vegetables into a large casserole / baking dish and mix with the mustard lemon marinade to coat them.
    3. Arrange the broccoli florets and fennel slices in a single even layer.
    4. Nestle your sausage balls amongst the vegetables, drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of black pepper before putting in the oven for 45 mins or until the sausages are cooked through and browned. If you like crispy textures then pop the dish under the grill for a few mins before serving.
    5. Serve with vegetables of your choice.

     

  • RECIPE: Winter Lentil, Kale & Sausage Soup

    Winter Lentil, Kale & Sausage Soup

    Serves 2 large portions (this would comfortably serve 4 alongside a carb such as wild rice)

    Prep 10 mins

    Cook 1 hour

    Digestion Helper

     

    It’s difficult to decide whether this is in fact a soup, or a casserole. I am going with it being a butch soup. It’s packed full of goodness with a range of classic vegetables. It really is more-ish which is why I’ve put serves 2 large portions. If you wanted it to serve 4 people I would suggest a wild rice accompaniment. It’s nutty tones would work well against the soup’s earthy, herby flavours. I did have some leftover when I made this for the pictures (minus the sausage as that’s always the first bits to go!), so the next day I re-heated with some added water and blended for my lunch.

     

    It’s a great source of fibre from the green lentils and kale. The green lentils will also work along side the spinach with their healthy digestive properties, helping to ease constipation, protect you from ulcers, and flush toxins from the colon.

    GREEN LENTILS- Lentils are a slow-burning energy giver from it’s complex carbohydrate composition. The high levels of soluble fibre mean that lentils can help lower cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease (as they also contain folate & magnesium) , and have great digestive health properties; prevent constipation, slow down digestion and stabilise blood sugar levels. (SOURCE; http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5488/7-Health-Benefits-of-Lentils.html )

    Ingredients 

    90g dried green lentil, pre-cooked according to pack instructions- alternatively cook along side from when you start browning the sausages and they can finish cooking when you add them to the soup and simmer.

    1 bay leaf

    400g sausages with herbs, each sausage cut into 4 chunks

    1 onion, finely chopped

    2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

    110ml red wine

    2 celery sticks along with any leaves, if possible- finely chopped

    3 carrots, chopped into small pieces

    1 tbsp marjoram

    500ml chicken stock

    140g frozen baby leaf spinach

    50g kale, shredded

    1 ½ tbsp organic tomato ketchup

     

     

    Instructions

    1. Brown the sausage in a deep frying pan along with the bayleaf for 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
    2. Lightly fry the onion and garlic in the pan for 10 minutes.
    3. Add the wine and de-glaze the pan for a couple of minutes.
    4. Now you can add the lentils, stock, celery, carrots, marjoram, ketchup and reserved sausages. Bring the pan to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 45 mins or until the carrots are cooked through.
    5. If you see the pan going dry at any point then add some water to prevent it sticking. Stir often to prevent lentils clinging to the pan.
    6. Add the spinach and kale and get the soup really hot ready to be served in big bowls.

    Remove bay leaf. Check seasoning before serving and adjust if necessary.

     

     

     

     

     

  • RECIPE | Italian Sausage & Kale Bake

     Italian Sausage & Kale Bake

    Serves 4 | Prep 10 mins | Cook 45 mins

    If you are watching your waistline then opt for a low-fat version of both cheeses used here. Personally, this is my comfort food / treat yourself dish. I avoid dairy and wheat out of choice, but when I want to indulge- this is what I cook. I still used wheat free pasta when cooking this for the pictures. This dish could work either in Summer or Winter. If you cannot get Italian sausage then your supermarket should offer a Sicilian style sausage which you can substitute. I like making this dish and putting them into individual dishes for everyone with a big green salad to share.

    KALE– I use kale in this recipe as it bulks out the dish at no calorie expense. There are only 50 calories in 100g kale. Kale is really high in iron, per calorie more so than beef. (SOURCE: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4408/Top-10-Health-Benefits-of-Eating-Kale.html ) Rich in vitamins A, C, K, kale has been marked as a “superfood” for years now.

    I try and keep kale in my meals where I can as is great for the immune system.

    Ingredients

    2 tbsp oil (I used rice bran oil for it’s health properties)

    250g pasta (I used organic wheat free shells)

    100g kale, shredded

    400g Italian sausage / 1 pack Italian style sausages, removed from casings

    1 onion, finely chopped

    2 garlic cloves, sliced

    400g can Italian chopped tomatoes

    150g mozzarella, cubed

    1tbsp soft cheese

    1 tbsp italian seasoning

    ½ red chilli, finely chopped

    Splash of red wine (optional)

     

    Heat your oven to 210c / 190c (fan) / Gas Mark 6

     

    Instructions

    1. Cook the pasta according to packet instructions, adding the kale in for the last remaining minutes. Drain and set aside.
    2. Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a frying pan until brown, and remove from the pan.
    3. Cook out the onion with 2 tbsp oil for 8-10 mins
    4. Add garlic, chilli, Italian seasoning and cook for 1 minute further.
    5. If you’re adding the splash of wine to the dish, then do so now and let it bubble for a minute or 2.
    6. Add the tomatoes and most of your cooked sausage and cook out for a few minutes.
    7. Tip your sauce into the pasta and kale pot and mix well.
    8. Spoon your pasta mix into separate casserole dishes or a large casserole dish.
    9. Top with remaining sausage mix and a sprinkle more of Italian seasoning. You could even top with a bit more mozzarella if you have it, but just remember mozzarella is high in saturated fats.
    10. Place dish in oven and bake for 25 minutes, Serve.

     

  • RECIPE | Herby Pork Chop

    Serves 2 |  Prep 15 mins Cook 15 mins

    Herb up your life! This deliciously bronzed, herb spiked, panko crumb pork is super easy to put together and is a treat to the taste buds with a lemony undertone thrown in too. I served mine with Thyme Roasted Baby Leeks, steamed tenderstem broccoli, and a small whole jacket sweet potato each. The recipe is easily doubled and you could also apply the same method to flattened chicken breasts.

    Pork is a great source of protein, and is also another good way of getting zinc into your diet. 85g of pork contains just under 2mg of zinc, and men require about 11mg a day (women 8mg). Zinc is an important mineral to consider for healthy immune system function. 85g of pork chop is also only around 137 calories. (SOURCE: http://www.livestrong.com/article/415403-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-pork-chops/ )

    Ingredients.

    2 pork chops (without bone)

    60g panko breadcrumbs

    30g plain flour

    1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped

    1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped

    1 tsp fresh sage, finely chopped

    1 tsp basil, finely chopped

    ½ tsp garlic granules

    1 lemon, zested

    1 egg, lightly beaten

     

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 200c / 180c (fan) / Gas Mark 6

     

    1. Set out the following in 3 separate bowls / plates alongside one another to create yourself a little workstation; plain flour, beaten egg, and panko breadcrumbs that have been mixed with herbs / lemon zest. (See picture).
    2. Dust the pork chops in flour and shake off any excess.
    3. Dip in the beaten egg to coat and wait for any excess liquid to drip out over the bowl.
    4. Then fumble the chops in the breadcrumb mix coating thoroughly.
    5. In a frying pan large enough to accommodate both chops, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over a medium to high heat.
    6. Fry the chops for 3 minutes on each side.
    7. Place the chops on a baking tray and place in the oven to finish cooking for 8-10 minutes.
    8. Remove the chops from the oven and plate up with your desired sides.

     

     

  • RECIPE | Rustic Smoked Bacon, Goats Cheese, & Beetroot Tart

    Serves 4 (as a starter) | Prep 1 hour (you can reduce by buying pre-cooked beetroot in natural juices) | Cook 30 mins

    Starter / Vegetarian (without bacon)

    By calling this rustic, it means I’m able to be slap dash with the presentation of the pastry and not be sorry ’bout it. Scarred by how pedantic the process can be to create the flakiest puff in my chef’s course, I now opt for a ready made, ready rolled pastry. The smoked bacon in this tart makes it something different from the normal goats cheese & beetroot combo. For vegetarians that are fond of this combination, just omit the bacon, it’s a lovely dish either way.

    This would go nicely with Griddled Romaine Lettuce Hearts

    BEETROOT- Beetroot are high in potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin A, B6, C, folic acid and anti-oxidants. (SOURCE http://www.webmd.boots.com/healthy-eating/guide/beetroot-benefits ) The nitrates in beetroot help lower blood pressure and may help heart disease. Also, beets contain boron which is good for sexual stamina and all-round energy levels! (SOURCE http://www.undergroundhealth.com/12-healthiest-foods-on-earth/ )

    Ingredients.

    1 sheet ready made / rolled puff pastry

    2-3 small beetroot

    1 egg

    100ml cream

    150g soft goats cheese

    nutmeg, a small grating

    1 tsp thyme leaves, finely chopped

    80g smoked bacon lardons (optional)

     

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 210c / 190c (fan) / Gas Mark 6

     

    1. Peel the beetroot and drizzle in oil, wrapping in individual foil wraps and roasting in the oven for an hour or until tender when pierced with a knife.
    2. Dry fry the bacon pieces until crisp and set aside on kitchen towel to soak up any excess oils.
    3. Make the filling by whisking together the egg, goats cheese, nutmeg and thyme leaves.
    4. Slowly incorporate the cream a little at a time whilst whisking.
    5. With your ready rolled pastry sheet, keeping the pastry on the grease proof paper, transfer to a large baking sheet.
    6. Begin to roll up the edges so that you are creating a tall enough wall to accommodate your filling. Seal down edges with a little water.
    7. Pour the filling into the pastry case. Slice the beetroot thinly and lay on top of the filling. Be careful not to make the filling flow over the pastry wall. Scatter the bacon lardons on top.
    8. Bake in the oven for anything up to 30 minutes (depends on your oven) . Your filling should be set, and the edges of the pastry golden.
    9. Remove and leave to stand for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
  • RECIPE | Dermie’s Jerusalem Artichoke And Crispy Chorizo Soup

    RECIPE | Dermie’s Jerusalem Artichoke And Crispy Chorizo Soup

    The one winter vegetable which I absolutely adore is Jerusalem artichokes, which one could mistake as being a root of Ginger; small, bumpy, rough, Jerusalem artichokes are difficult to find in food stores generally confined to food markets or Farmers’ Markets but you can grow your own in early Spring if you so wish.

    (more…)