PURPLE VEGGIE RISOTTO

THIS is a special treat for the veggie people out there. Again it is an experiment, that came out pretty much fantastic at the least. This weak I have been spoiled rotten by my LDNboy!

INGREDIENTS:

400g risotto rice

1/2 teacup red wine

2 teacups hot water

1 yellow paprika

1 carrot

100g mushrooms

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon seasonal mixed spices

2 tablespoons olive oil

you can also add onion (we don't because we don't like them onion!)

PREPARATION:

All vegetables should be fried in a pre-heated pan with the olive oil for no more than 3 minutes. Add the rice to the mix for another 3 minutes. Then add the wine and the water. Add the spices at the very end, right before moving it from the oven. DON'T STOP STIRRING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COOKING PROCESS!

Always yours,

The Cookbook Fairy

PURPLE RICE AND CHICKEN

WE are all about that rice, 'bout that rice, and chicken! We eat it every day, everyday, like Chinese! This time, though, we added some chicken, because yours trully cannot have a meal without meat... Roar! 

INGREDIENTS:

200g chicken filet

100g risotto rice

50g mayonaisse

50g mustard

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon seasonal mix

1/2 paprika

50g mushrooms

1/2 carrot

PREPARATION:

The rice is done the same way as the PURPLE RISOTTO. In a bowl mix the mustard, mayonaisse, the sayce sauce, the lemon juice and the spices. Roll the chicken into the mixture and leave it in there for 15 minutes. Then add the rice into a pan, without oil. And 2 minutes later add a glass of water and the chicken. Cook for 35-40 minutes on low heat.

Always yours,

The Cookbook Fairy and her LDNboy!

LAST NIGHT'S RISOTTO

I told you I am gonna teach you a thing or two about left overs some weeks back, right? So this is another leftovers trick from our humble LDNboy!

INGREDIENTS:

what is left from last night's risotto

100g cheddar

1 egg

200g pork mince

1 teaspoon seasonal spice mix

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 toast of white bread

200g flour

PREPARATION:

Mix up really well all ingredients and mould meatballs. Then roll them into the flour and fry them for around 8-10 minutes or until crispy. Add mini Gherkins, olives, white cheese and fresh paprika! Serve hot or cold. Either way they would be a treat!

Always yours.

The Cookbook Fairy

JUICY MEATBALLS

THIS one is from yours truly LDNboy, because this week I started my new job, and I hadn't had that much time for cooking, what's left for blogging or any other social media. Although, I promise as soon as I figure this new job out I will be back on track with the food blog. 

INGREDIENTS:

500g pork mince

2 slices of toasted bread

4 medium potatoes, boiled for the mashed potatoes

150ml warm skimmed  milk

50g butter

Shepard's pie MIX

mini gherkins

white cheese

olives

PREPARATION:

What you are going to do is very easy and simple. You mix the bread and mince, and form balls the size of ping-pong balls. Then you roll them in flour. You dissolve the Shepard's pie into 400ml boiling water and bring it to boil again. then you add the meatballs and boil them for around 20mins. You serve them warm with mashed potatoes, gherkins and olives.

Always yours,

The Cookbook Fairy!

FRIED MEATBALLS

THIS week we are all about meatballs. The first recipe I am gonna share with you I learned from my grandma. It is very easy, very effective, very timely and very, very tastyyyy. Here are the
INGREDIENTS:

500g pork mince

2 slices of white bread

1/2 tablespoon black pepper

1/2 mixed seasonal spices

4 tablespoons white flour for rolling in the meatballs

mini Gherkins and tomato sauce for decoration

oil for frying

PREPARATION:

All you need to do, little crumbs, is mix the mince, spices and bread very well. Then you form little balls, the size of ping-pong balls roll them in the flour. Then you just drop them into the frying oil and they are ready in more or less 10 mins.

So this is my first tip for busy business ladies, or late working chaps. 

I hope you enjoy them!

Always yours,

The Cookbook Fairy!

ITALIAN PASTA ALA YANA

THE weekly pasta is here again. This time it is a little bit richer than usual, just because I felt like fating myself. 

INGREDIENTS:

400g Macaroni

100g white cheese

100g cheddar

250g pork mince

50g tomato sauce

50g paprika  powder

100g Creamy Tomato and Bacon sauce

2 tablespoons oil

4 olives

PREPARATION:

What you need to do is boil the macaroni. Meanwhile you need to fry the mince. In a sauce pan you heat the oil, then add the mince, the paprika and the tomato sauce. Cook until brown. After all is ready in a plate you serve the macaroni, mince and all cheeses. You top all of that with the sauce and the 2 olives. And this is our Sunday pasta treat.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Always yours,

The Cookbook Fairy!

ITALIAN BREAD WITH OLIVES

I don't think that there is anything better than warm bread. As a child I grew up in a neighbourhood that had bakery and every morning I woke up to the smell of fresh, softly baked, warm bread. Therefore, this Saturday I decided to make me some bread with olives. It came out better than expected! Here is the recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

500g/1lb 2oz strong white flour

15g/½oz salt

 55ml/2fl oz olive oil

20g/¾oz fresh yeast

275ml/9fl oz water

170g/6oz black Greek olives, pitted and chopped

PREPARATION: 

Mix all ingredients, apart from the olives and tomatoes, in a large bowl. Take care not to put the yeast in direct contact with the salt when they are first added to the bowl. Knead well with your hands and knuckles until the dough is elastic, smooth and shiny. Cover with a piece of cling film and leave to rise for one hour. Divide the dough into two and add half of the olives and sun-dried tomatoes into each. Mould both the doughs into rough round shapes OR whatever shape you like and press firmly down. Sprinkle white flour lightly over the top and mark them with a cross. Place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper (silicone paper) and prove for one hour in a warm place. Bake at 220C/425F/Gas 7 for 30 minutes until golden-brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

Always yours,

The Cookbook Fairy!!!

CHERRY ROSES FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

YESTERDAY as my LDNboy and I were on our weekly load the fridge tour we came across some awesome silicone rose cupcake forms and I had to be crazy not to buy them! So, I did! And with Valentine's day being so close I felt like baking some cupcakes with cherry jam. Personally, I am not a fan of this holiday, but I know that for so many of you it means a lot. And you spend days in preparation, cooking and reservations for the special day are made months ago, but in case your plans got wrong in the last minute here is the perfect desert plan B. It only takes a couple of minutes for preparation, although the baking itself takes a little bit more time than with the usual cupcakes. And I promise you'll bring a meme expression on you boyfriends face... the way I did with my LDNboy!!!! So here it is:

INGREDIENTS: 

½ cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

½ teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling

PREPARATION: 

Preheat oven to 200C fan. Spray with nonstick spray a cupcake tray. Set aside. Do not freak out on finding a rose petal cupcake tray, you can do it in a regular one, the cupcakes just won't be in the shape of roses. You can also do them in a heart shape cupcakes. In the bowl cream together butter and sugar, about 1-2 minutes. Add salt, eggs, and vanilla and continue stirring until fully incorporated. Add flour and baking powder and mix until just combined.  Press  dough into the prepared baking tray. Top with cherry pie filling. Drop remaining batter (1/2 cup) in small pieces over the cherry filling. Place in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Serve with yogurt or ice-cream!

And there it is a Valentine's day delight by yours faithful,

The Cookbook Fairy!

JAM TURNOVERS FOR BREKFAST

Hi, my dear, beloved, little crumbs. I apologize again for my absence but I caught the flu, and cooking wasn't my top priority. Well. except for chicken soup and grog, but this morning I  felt a tiny bit better so I made my LDNboy one of his favourite breakfasts Jam Turnovers. This a very tasty and easy recipe and it has only 3 ingredients. It is especially good to make with your kids or the quickest thing for a  party. This time I made them sweet, but you can make them with meat, cheese or what ever you think of!

INGREDIENTS:

200g ready puff pastry

150 jam of your preference

icing sugar

PREPARATION:

As I promised you, it is really easy. Just cut the puff pastry into squares. Put a teaspoon of the jam into the middle of the square and fold the pastry into two. Personally I do them in the shape of triangles, but you can also do rectangle,  or you can even cut the pastry into circles and then just stick two circles one to another.  Then all you need to do is preheat the oven on 200C fan. and bake the turnovers for 20minutes. Or until they rise. After that remember to leave them to cool down  and put some icing sugar on top!

Have a wonderful Sunday!!!

Always yours,

The Cookbook Fairy!