Pages

  • Contact Me
  • MAKE YOUR OWN (a list of make your own mixes)
  • Recipe Index
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertising and Disclosure
  • Post Index

Search This Blog

Powered by Blogger.

Social Icons

The English Kitchen

Pages

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Cook Booklets
  • Categories
  • _Kitchen Wisdom
  • _In The Larger and Pantry
  • _Couldn't Live Without
  • _Kitchen Wish List
  • Additional Recipes
  • _Vegetarian
  • _Salads
  • _Breads
  • _Sandwiches

A Simple Rice Pudding

Monday, 24 June 2013

  photo SAM_5001_zps9be9863a.jpg

 We had the Missionary Elders over for their tea last night and  I made them a very tasty Moussaka.  It went down a real treat.  Neither one of them had had it before, but they both had second helpings.  I think it is fair to say . . . Missionary Elders like Moussaka!

 photo SAM_6818_zpscabd5369.jpg

Because Moussaka is such a hearty and rich dish I wanted to make something not too heavy for dessert.   I took a chance and decided to make them a simple rice pudding . . .

  photo SAM_6819_zps555f96d7.jpg

Not a baked rice pudding, or anything elaborate.  No sultanas, or other fruit stirred in . . . no eggs either . . . just a simple mix of milk, cream, rice and simple flavours . . .

 photo SAM_6821_zpsdd26a105.jpg

A bit of orange zest and vanilla . . . and a knob of butter stirred in at the end . . .

 photo SAM_6825_zpsca5dd0b7.jpg

I like to spoon it into pretty glasses . . . wine glasses, atop a nice dollop of jam.   But you can do as you wish.   The jam though . . . adds a nice touch.  It's nice to bring it up from the bottom with your spoon when you are eating it . . . like a sticky, sweet and fruity surprise.

 photo SAM_6827_zpsdd0f7288.jpg

It's not a difficult pudding to make.  It uses simple ingredients.  It's not slimy or lump . . . it's just comforting and simple and delicious.   What more could a body ask for.  (Needless to say, the pudding went down a real treat as well!)

 photo SAM_6820_zpsfafa4797.jpg

*A Simple Rice Pudding*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

Easy to make, using simple ingredients . . . but there's nothing simple about the flavour here.  It's fabulous.

200g of short grained rice (arborio or pudding rice) (1 cup)
750ml of  full fat milk, or a mixture of low fat milk and heavy cream (3 1/4 cups)
(I like to use the low fat milk and cream myself.  It's really nice.)
7 to 8 TBS golden caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
pinch salt
1/2 tsp of orange extract, or 1 TBS finely grated orange zest
1 TBS unsalted butter
Jam to serve (optional)

Put the rice into a colander and rinse it under cold running water until the water runs clear.  Drain well.   Put the rice in a saucepan.  Cover it with cold water.  Bring it to the boil and then allow it to boil for about 5 minutes.  Drain well.
Return the drained rice to the saucepan along with the full fat milk, or the mixture of low fat milk and cream.   Add the salt along with 1 TBS of the sugar, the vanilla bean paste and the orange extract or zest.   Bring the mixture just up to the boil.  (Little bubbles should just appear around the edge of the saucepan.)  Turn the heat down to the lowest temperature and pop a lid on, leaving it just ajar. 

 photo SAM_6816_zps80a04c13.jpg

Cook for a further 30 to 35 minutes, giving it a good stir every 10 minutes or so,  cooking until the rice is very soft and almost melting in the mouth. Most of the liquid should be absorbed.  The pudding should be creamy, not too runny or too dry.  If it is too dry, it is okay to add a bit more milk or cream to slacken it a bit.  Remove from the heat.  Stir in the butter and  enough of the remaining sugar that you want as far as taste goes.  You may not want the full amount.

 photo SAM_6817_zps9d650a03.jpg

I like to put a dollop of raspberry jam in the bottom of the serving dishes and then spoon the warm rice pudding over top.  You can serve this warm or at room temperature.  It is delicious either way.
read article

Strawberry Cardamom Bread

Sunday, 23 June 2013

Strawberry Cardamom Bread





Hooray for Strawberry Season!! My favourite time of year! I know we can get strawberries pretty much all year round here, with berries being flown in from Africa and Spain, but . . .

Let's be honest here though. They are not a touch on the flavour of a freshly picked home-grown English Strawberry.



Strawberry Cardamom Bread




The warmth of the sun still resting on it's sweet red flesh and pieces of straw still clinging to it's bright green leaves . . . ok, so you will only get that if you pick your own, but still . . .



Strawberry Cardamom Bread
 



A berry that has only just been picked and transported a few miles tastes infinitely better than one that's been flown thousands of miles and held in a cold warehouse for days before it reaches the store shelves!



Strawberry Cardamom Bread 




I just can't get enough of them!! I love them fresh and eaten out of hand . . . 


sliced and sprinkled with a bit of sugar and then doused in cream, dipped in chocolate, baked into pies and cakes, made into jam, crushed and dolloped on top of fresh scones . . . 


oh the possibilities are endless!!!



Strawberry Cardamom Bread 




One of my favourite ways is to bake them into this delicious, moist tea bread. 


There is no tea in it, that is just what we call a quick bread over in North America. I reckon that's because they go so well with a cup of tea . . . in my case herbal tea . . . Mint tea is lovely with it!



Strawberry Cardamom Bread
 



It smells heavenly when it is baking . . . the cardamom is so sweetly fragrant . . . the lemon drizzle adds just an extra touch of sweetness. 


 All in all it is a real winner. I guarantee!



Strawberry Cardamom Bread





*Strawberry Cardamom Bread*
Makes one 9 by 5 by 3 inch loaf
Printable Recipe

A deliciously moist bread stogged full of fresh strawberries and glazed with a tangy lemon glaze.

4 ounces unsalted butter ( 1/2 cup)
150g granulated sugar (3/4 cup)
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
280g plain flour, sifted (2 cups)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cardamom
(remove the seeds from green cardamom pods and grind them
with a pestle and mortar or a coffee grinder if you cannot find it already ground)
175g sour cream (1/2 cup) or plain yoghurt
55g toasted walnuts (1/2 cup), coarsley chopped
300g of fresh strawberries, chopped (1 1/2 cups)

For the glaze:
the juice of 1/2 lemon
enough icing sugar to make a drizzable glaze

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter and lightly flour a 9 by 5 by 3 inch loaf. Set aside.

Beat the butter until softened. Add the sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the vanilla.

Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cardamom together. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix only to combine. Gently fold in the chopped strawberries and the nuts.

Spoon into the prepared and bake for about 1 hour, or until the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let stand in the pan for 10 minutes before removing from the pan to a wire rack to cool.

Whisk together the lemon juice and enough icing sugar to make a drizzle glaze. Drizzle over the cake. Let set.

Serve warm or at room temperature. This bread also freezes very well.
read article

Skillet Meals

Friday, 21 June 2013





Salmon Fillets with Cucumber and Dill






*Salmon Fillets with Cucumber and Dill*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe



Cucumber, dill and Salmon go so very well together.  A nice light meal with wonderful flavours.



4 large salmon fillets, about 1 inch thick and weighing about 6 ounces each
fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
a bit of olive oil (I didn't use any in this pan and it worked a charm)
1/4 cup dry white wine

For the cucumber salad:
1 english cucumber
1 TBS rice wine vinegar
1 tsp fresh chopped dill weed
a pinch of salt

For the sour cream sauce:
6 TBS sour cream
2 TBS fresh chopped dill weed
2 TBS rice wine vinegar
1 1/2 TBS finely chopped shallot
1/4 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced
fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

First make the sauce.  Whisk together the sour cream, dillweed, vinegar, shallots, lemon zest  and juice, and garlic.  Season to taste and set aside.

To make the cucumber salad, trim the ends off the cucumber.  Using a vegetable peeler, shave lengthwise into ribbons.  Place into a bowl.  Toss together with the remaining ingredients and set aside to marinate while you cook the salmon.

Season the salmon well on the flesh side.  Heat a bit of olive oil in a large nonstick frying pan until hot.  Add the fillets, presentation side down, and cook for 3 minutes, without disturbing.  Carefully turn the salmon over and cook for an additional minute.  Remove from the heat.  Add the wine, then cover and allow to sit until the salmon flakes easily with a fork, about 3 minutes.

Divide the cucumber salad amongst 4 plates.  Top each with 1 salmon fillet.  Divide the sour cream sauce evenly amongst each serving and serve immediately. 

Small  baby potatoes, unpeeled and steamed until tender, go very well with this!



 Simple Pan Fried Haddock





 *Simple Pan Fried Haddock*
Serves 2
Printable Recipe

Quick to cook and oh so easy and delicious.  We both really enjoy this!

2 boneless, skinless haddock loins
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 TBS flour
a knob of butter  (I only needed a very small knob of butter.  You could probably get away
with none, but the butter really adds to the flavour of this recipe)
several sprigs of fresh thyme
the juice of one lemon

Pan Fried Haddock







Season your Haddock filets well on both sides then sprinkle with flour to coat, patting it lightly into the flesh.  Set aside.  Melt a knob of butter over medium high heat in a skillet until it begins to foam.  Add the springs of thyme and then brown the Haddock fillets, starting with the presentation side, and then turning them after about 2 minutes.  



 They should only take about 2 minutes per side to cook through, depending on the thickness of your fillets.  After you have cooked both sides, squeeze the juice of a lemon over all and allow it to bubble up.  Remove from the heat and let stand for several minutes before serving.  Delicious!





Potato Pancakes







*Potato Pancakes*
Makes about 10
Printable Recipe



These are easy to make and so delicious! You can tell from the grease splattered piece of paper I’ve got it written down on that it’s a winner, but don’t take my word for it. Try them for yourself! We like to have them with applesauce and sour cream, with a few chives sprinkled on top, but you can have them with whatever strikes your fancy.

 

3 cups raw potato, peeled and finely grated
2 eggs, well beaten
1 tsp salt
2 TBS plain flour
2 TBS grated onion
Sunflower oil for frying (I just used a light spritz)



Grate your potatoes and squeeze as much liquid from them as you can, working quickly so that the potatoes don’t turn brown. Put into a bowl along with the remaining ingredients, mixing well.

Heat a skillet to medium hot, and grease well with some oil. I add about 3 TBS and swirl it around.

Once the oil is hot, drop the batter by tablespoonsful onto the hot skillet. Press with the back of the spoon to flatten a bit. Fry for about 3 minutes on each side until browned. Place in a low oven to keep warm while you fry the rest.

Serve hot with applesauce and sour cream. Delicious!




 Beef Bourguignons





*Boeuf Bourguignon*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

A fancy beef stew which hails from the south of France. Plan ahead as you need to make it the day before you want to eat it.

1 3/4 pounds of braising beef or steak
3 TBS olive oil  (I used half the amount with this pan)
1/2 cup cubed pancetta
3 onions, peeled and finely chopped
2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
1 1/2 TBS plain flour
1 3/4 cups of full bodied red wine, plus an extra splash if need be
(I normally use a Shiraz)
a bouquet garni (A few springs of thyme, a bay leaf and a few parsley stalks
tied together)
2 TBS butter  (Only used one TBS, again for the flavour)
1/2 pound of chestnut mushrooms, cleaned and halved
2 TBS finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Pat the meat dry. Trim well, discarding any sinew or excess fat. Cut into large chunks. Heat 1 TBS of oil in a dutch oven and brown the pancetta lightly. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl and set aside. Brown the meat in two batches in the fat that remains in the pan. Once browned scoop out and add to the pancetta, once again setting it aside. Add the remaining oil and fry the onion in it very slowly, covering the pan, until very soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes in time, stirring occasionally and adding the garlic to the mixture halfway through the cooking time. Stir the flour into the onions and cook for about a minute, then add the wine and bring to the boil, stirring. Add the meat and pancetta, along with the bouquet garni and bring back to the boil, then reduce the heat to a slow simmer and cook, covered, over very low heat until the meat is tender, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Turn off the heat and leave the casserole overnight. Next day bring the dish back to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer. Melt the butter in a skillet. Add the mushrooms and fry until lightly browned. Tip them into the stew and allow to cook for another 15 minutes or so. Season the stew with some salt and black pepper to taste and, if you think it needs it, another splash of wine. Sprinkle with the parsley to serve.

Serve hot with some mashed potatoes on the side. Delicious!





 Sauteed Chicken Curry





*Sautéed Chicken Curry*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe



I love cooking with chicken breasts. They can happily accept many flavours and I love coming up with new ways of preparation. I think this is a delicious experiment of mine that I will be repeating often! You needn't serve this curry with anything more than some plain steamed basmati rice, and maybe a steamed green vegetable on the side. It really is delicious!



4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 TBS butter  ( I used half this amount and half of the required oil as well)
2 TBS olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 fat cloves garlic, minced
1 TBS curry powder (I use a medium strength)
1 TBS peeled and grated fresh gingerroot
The grated zest and juice of 1 large orange
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup hot chicken broth
2 heaping TBS mango chutney
1 TBS chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
1 TBS chopped fresh mint
½ cup lightly toasted cashew nuts

Thinly slice the chicken breasts lengthwise and then again in half so that you end up with four thin pieces from each. Season well with salt and pepper.

Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium high heat until hot and the butter sizzles. Toss in the chicken pieces and brown them well on both sides. Remove to a plate and cover to keep warm.

Reducing the heat sauté the onion, stirring until tender and translucent. Thisshould take 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute longer, taking care not to brown it as this makes it bitter. Add the curry powder, orange zest, ginger and orange juice, stirring to scrap up the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Add the coconut milk and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes to reduce somewhat and then return the chicken to the pan, simmering for 3 minutes or so to cook through. Stir in the chutney and sprinkle with the coriander, mint and cashew nuts before serving.

Serve hot with some steamed or pilau rice on the side and some naan bread to sop up all that lovely sauce.

pancakes
 





*Anthony’s Favourite Fly-Off-The-Plate Pancakes*
Family size (must mean at least 4 or five people)

Printable Recipe

This is another oldie from my big blue binder. In the amount area it only says family size so I take it to mean that means a lot, because I had a rather large family. My Anthony loved these and for good reason. They are quite simply delicious. The addition of sour cream gives them a wonderful tenderness. I always made them silver dollar size when I was making these. I think he liked them that way because he could get a whole one into his mouth at one time, you know how boys are! Break out the butter and Maple Syrup, you’re in for a real taste treat today!

2 cups plain flour
¼ tsp salt
2 TBS white sugar
6 tsp baking powder
2 large free range eggs
2 cups milk
5 TBS sour cream
4 TBS melted butter
Oil for frying (I only lightly spritzed with oil)

Whisk together the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl. Put the eggs, milk, sour cream and melted butter into a large beaker and whisk them together well. Make a well in themiddle of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients all at once. Whisk together vigorously until they make a smooth batter.

Heat a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium high heat. Grease lightly with a little bit of oil, swirling it to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Drop the pancake batter onto the heated pan or griddle in heaping tablespoonfuls. Cook over medium high heat until the surface is coated with small bubbles and the underside is lightly browned before flipping them over to cook and brown the other side. Remove to a plate and keep warm in the oven while you are cooking the rest, using up all the batter. Serve warm with knobs of ice cold butter on top and sweet lashings of Maple Syrup.

These freeze very well. Just pop them between layers of grease proof paper and pop them into a zip lock baggie. You can then take out as many or as few as you want at any given time, warming them up for a few seconds in the microwave.

PS - You can very easily cut this recipe in two if you don't want to make quite so many. I did.



Jammy Breakfast Sandwiches





*Jammy Breakfast Sandwiches*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Quick, delicious and different! A hot eggy bread sandwich filled with lovely meltingly rich cream cheese and sweet jam, all brown and butterly crunchy on the outside and dusted with caster sugar. Quite simply, lovely . . .

3 large eggs
1 TBS of caster sugar
2 TBS whole milk
A few drops of pure vanilla essence
8 slices of brioche
4 heaping TBS of your favourite flavour of jam
4 heaping TBS of cream cheese
A large knob of butter for cooking
More caster sugar for sprinkling

Lightly beat together the eggs, caster sugar, milk and vanilla in a shallow dish large enough to fit the bread slices into.

Open the slices of bread and spread the cream cheese on half of them and the jam on the other half. Put them together cheese sides to jam sides in the middle, pressing firmly so that they stick firmly together.

Melt the butter over medium low heat in a large skillet until it is foaming. Soak each sandwich in the beaten egg mixture until all the egg has been absorbed, allowing them to soak on both sides. Place the soaked sandwiches into the foaming butter and fry for one to two minutes on each side until golden brown and crusty all over, adding more butter as necessary.

Remove to warm plates and slice into fingers. Dust lightly with caster sugar to serve and enjoy!




read article

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownie Torte

Thursday, 20 June 2013



I had some leftover brownie batter the other day, as you do . . . and I wanted to do something unusual with it. (I know . . . what kind of person has leftover brownie batter? ME, that's who!)



Anyways, we(I) fancied a pie . . . or a cake . . . or something inbetween. And, well . . . you know how it is . . . peanut butter and chocolate just go so very fantastically well together, don't they?



And so I came up with this torte, which is like a cross between a cake and a pie. It's round like a pie. It's round like a cake. But that's where the similarity to either one ends.



It's soft and fudgily scrummilicous!



Each bite has all the moreish qualities of a chocolate brownie, but also the tastiness of a peanut butter cookie.




The only way it could taste any better is with a nice scoop of Vanilla Bean Ice cream on top . . . and some fudge sauce drizzled over it all . . . but I didn't have any.

We had to make do with clotted cream. Oh ♥ ♥ ♥ the pain of it all!

 photo Pnutbuttercookiedough_zpsa08dfc2a.jpg

*Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownie Torte*
Serves 8
Printable Recipe

Peanut Butter and Chocolate are a marriage made in heaven. This is a tasty, moist brownie pie, just stogged full of peanut butter cookie dough. Oh so scrummy. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to serve if you dare!

For the Brownie part:
3 ounces continental style dark chocolate (at least 70%cocoa solids)
3 ounces butter (1/4 cup plus 2 TBS)
2 large free range eggs
1 TBS vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
12 ounces of sugar (1 1/3 cup approx.)
6.5 ounces plain flour (1 1/4 cups)

For the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough part:
8 ounces creamy peanut butter (1 cup)
2 ounces caster sugar (1/4 cup)
2.5 ounces soft light brown sugar (1/4 cup)
4 TBS butter, melted
2 TBS plain flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 large free range egg, beaten

Vanilla Bean Ice cream to serve (optional)

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a 9 inch round baking tin and line with parchment paper. Butter the parchment paper. Set aside.

Make the brownie batter. Melt the chocolate and butter together in a saucepan, stirring until smooth and amalgamated. Stir in the sugar, vanilla and salt. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Fold in the flour. Set aside.

Cream together the peanut butter and sugars for the cookie dough part. Stir in the beaten egg, butter and vanilla. Stir in the flour.

Drop the peanut butter batter into the prepared pan in mounds spaced somewhat apart. Drop the brownie batter in between the peanut butter mounds. Drag a knife through to swirl the batters together somewhat and then smooth the top over.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until completely set and shiny on top. Allow to cool completely before slicing into wedges to serve. A scoop of vanilla ice cream goes very well!
read article

Baked Top Hat Pork Chops

Wednesday, 19 June 2013



I found some really lovely rack pork chops in the freezer the other day and decided to cook a real treat up for the Toddster. He does love himself a good pork chop.



This is a recipe I have had for many years. I got it out of an old cookbook of my mother's, called Martha Logan's Meat Cookery Book. It's a book that she got when she was first married, back in 1954. When I was about 17, I copied down, in hand writing, every recipe in the book that I found interesting, and this particular one has become a real favourite of ours through the years.



When I first moved over to the UK, Creamed Corn was not something that I could very easily find. It's quite readily available now though, which pleases me to no end. I just couldn't make my corn chowder without Creamed Corn and this delicious recipe wouldn't be possible without it either.



Imagine delicious tender meaty pork chops, baked beneath an herby corn and bread stuffing. Nom Nom!! We love this. You can use either ready made stuffing crumbs for the bread stuffing or dried bread crumbs. If you are using plain dried bread crumbs, do add some herbs as they give it a lovely flavour. I would suggest 1/2 tsp of dried sage and 1/2 tsp of dried thyme. A bit of onion would also be a nice addition.



With some potatoes on the side and a vegetable or two, it goes down a real treat with the men in the house . . . and I confess . . . this woman is mighty fond of it as well!


 photo BakedTopHatPorkChops_zps345f882e.jpg

*Baked Top Hat Pork Chops*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Moist and delcious pork chops baked beneath a delicious corn stuffing. Quick, easy, economical and very tasty.

4 thick centre loin pork chops, fat and rind trimmed off and discarded.
1/2 of a 418g tin of creamed corn (1 cup)
2 ounces of dried bread crumbs, or seasoned stuffing mix (1/2 cup)
1 stalk of celery, washed, trimmed and chopped
1 TBS finely chopped parsley
salt and black pepper to taste
butter

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a shallow baking dish. Set aside.

Dust the pork chops lightly with some salt and black pepper. Place into the baking dish. Combine the bread crumbs, creamed corn, celery and parsley. Mound an equal portion on top of each pork chop. Dot with butter.

Cover lightly with aluminium foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes longer, until lightly browned. Serve hot, with your favourite side dishes.
read article

Chicken and Ham Lasagna

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Chicken and Ham Lasagne
 
Chicken and Ham Lasagna.  Not a usual combination, but incredibly delicious. Lasagna noodles are somewhat different over here in Europe.

They're  not long and ruffle edged.  They are flat edged, and about 4 by six inches in size, small rectangles.

I had some cooked chicken and some cooked ham that needed using up today.  I could have made a cordon bleu type of casserole, but I wanted something different.   

I was craving pasta . . . which as you know my husband hates.  I think I finally found a pasta dish he sorta likes though. Maybe.

Chicken and Ham Lasagna

Chicken and Ham Lasagne.  I found the recipe in a cookbook I love. Rachel Allen Home Cooking.  I didn't follow it exactly . . . 

I rather adapted it a bit, but then again . . . that's what I like to do.  

I find a recipe that works for me and then I adapt it to our tastes and my rather lazy way of cooking.

 Chicken and Ham Lasagna

I have always loved Rachel Allen's recipes and her cookery shows.   She is the daughter in law of Dorinda Allen, the doyenne of the Ballymoe Cooking school in Ireland.

The food Rachel cooks is real food.  Nothing artsy fartsy there.   You don't  have to run out and buy special ingredients or equipment.  

That's my kind of cooking.  Simple and wholesome ingredients.   Simple cooking methods.  Economical use of what you have in the larder . . .

 Chicken and Ham Lasagna

I added some frozen spinach to the recipe  I like to get veggies in wherever I can.   

I also added extra cheese to the top . . .

Chicken and Ham Lasagna

. . . because we like cheese, and that's how I roll.   You can never have too much cheese to my way of thinking.  

 Its like bacon . . . more is . . . delicious.  Things just taste better if there's cheese and/or bacon involved.

 Chicken and Ham Lasagna

This was quite simply fantastic!   It helped me to use up my leftovers.   It was cheap to make.  

My husband almost loved it.  Ok, so maybe love is a bit of an exaggeration.  

I LOVED IT . . . he just  kinda liked it . . . a lot.  That's as much as he would concede.

Chicken and Ham Lasagna

I think he's afraid that if he actually ever admitted to loving anything with pasta in it . . . that would open a dam or something . . . pasta would start raining down on him like cats and dogs . . . 

Perish the thought.

Chicken and Ham Lasagna

And for someone like him, who isn't fond of pasta . . . that just wouldn't do.  

He did really really like it though . . . trust me on this.  He had two servings.

Chicken and Ham Lasagna

*Chicken and Ham Lasagne*
Serves 4 to 6
Printable Recipe 

Not your traditional lasagne.  Deliciously different and makes good use of leftover cooked chicken and ham.

75g unsalted butter (1/3 cup)
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped fine
1 fat clove of garlic, peeled and chopped fine
50g plain flour (1/2 cup)
700ml of milk (scant 3 cups)
300ml chicken stock (1 1/4 cup)
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 cubes of frozen leaf spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
400g of cooked chicken, diced (scant pound)
200g cooked ham, diced (1/2 pound)
8 sheets of dried lasagne (you will need three layers)
250g of strong Cheddar cheese, grated ( 2 cups)

 Chicken and Ham Lasagna

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4.  Butter an 8 by 12 inch baking dish.  Set it aside.
Melt a third of the butter in a saucepan.  Add the onions and cook gently for a few minutes until it begins to soften without browning.   Add the garlic.  Cook for a further two minutes.  Scoop out and set aside.  Add the remaining butter to the pan.   Whisk in the flour to make a smooth paste.  Slowly whisk in the milk, until it is completely mixed in and smooth.  Whisk in the chicken stock as well.  You should have a thickened sauce which coats the back of a spoon.  Season with the nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.


Chicken and Ham Lasagna 

Mix together the ham and chicken.    Place half of it into the bottom of the baking dish.   Cover with half of the spinach.  Spoon 1/3 of the sauce over top.   Top with four lasagne sheets.   

Spoon the remainder of the ham/chicken mixture and the spinach over top.  Spoon over another 1/3 of the sauce.  Top with the remaining four sheets of lasagne.  Spoon the remaining sauce over all and sprinkle the cheese over top to cover.

Place onto a baking sheet and bake in the heated oven for 55 minutes until it is deliciously golden brown and bubbling.  Allow to stand a few minutes before serving.  Cut into squares to serve. 

Chicken and Ham Lasagna 

This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at mariealicejoan at aol dot com. 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
read article

French Dip Burgers and Deviled Appetizer Meatballs

Monday, 17 June 2013

 kikkoman 





I was recently challenged to use Soy Sauce in a unique way by the Kikkoman people.   They sent me three bottles of sauce . . . their regular Soy Sauce, their Teriyaki Sauce and the Low Salt Soy Sauce.   I do admit I am a great fan of their sauces.  



I think their Soy Sauce is the best ever and I am being totally up front and honest when I say that.  It's naturally brewed, with only four ingredients (soybeans, wheat, salt and water) and has a fabulous flavour and colour.

The challenge was to come up with a recipe that was not Oriental in nature . . . hmmm . . . I am awfully fond of using it in stir fries and such . . . and I always like to give my Chinese takeaway a liberal splash of the stuff . . . but . . . could I possibly do it?   


Let's see . . .  I came up with several . . .

 

French Dip Burgers
 




One of my favourite things has always been the Beef Dip Sandwich.   This is a sandwich  composed of shaved roast beef in a toasted baguette that you dip in a hearty beef broth to eat.   


Scrummo!   I love em!



 French Dip Burgers





I also love a good burger . . . who doesn't.   


I decided to combine the two, and created a hearty burger served up in toasted French Bread with a beef broth dip.



French Dip Burgers




I used the low salt Soy Sauce in both the meat mix for the burger and in the broth for the dip.  It turned out to be quite, quite delicious.




French Dip Burgers



Not only was it quite delicious . . . but it was quite simply very easy to execute as well, AND economical too!



French Dip Burgers



Hearty, filling, economical and easy.  You just can't get better than that!



French Dip Burgers



*French Dip Burgers*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe


A restaurant favourite served up at home with a delicious twist!


1 package of dry onion soup mix
(If you can't get the family sized packet, use three single
serving size packets)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper or to taste
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
2 TBS Kikkoman low salt soy sauce
1 pound of extra lean minced steak
8 (1/2 inch thick) pieces of French Bread, sliced on the diagonal
softened butter

For the Dip:
250ml of boiling water
1 beef stock pot
1 TBS Kikkoman low salt soy sauce
cracked black pepper to taste
chopped fresh parsley and sliced dill pickles for garnish (optional)


French Dip Burgers 




Heat the grill or broiler in your oven to high.  Combine the water, stock pot, soy sauce and pepper in a small saucepan.  Bring to the boil, then keep warm at a low simmer until you are ready to eat.


In a medium bowl, combine the minced steak, soup mix, soy sauce, garlic and black pepper.   Mix together well and then divide into 4 equal portions.  Pat each portion lightly into an oval shaped patty about 1/2 inch thick and large enough to cover the bread. 

 Place the patties under the broiler and broil for 5 to 6 minutes per side until nicely browned and thoroughly cooked, turning once.


While the meat patties are grilling, toast the bread and butter them on one side.   Place each patty between two slices of toast, buttered side out and cut in half on the diagonal.  

Place two halves onto each of four heated plates along with a small bowl of the dip for each.  Garnish with some sliced dills and chopped parsley if desired.  Serve immediately.



 Deviled Appetizer Meatballs




The second recipe which I came up with was these delicious appetizer meatballs. 


 I have seen a lot of recipes for appetizer meatballs through the years which make use of chili sauce and jam, melted together to glaze them.



 Deviled Appetizer Meatballs




I created my own sauce for these using honey, tomato ketchup, Worcestershire Sauce, Mustard, horseradish, garlic and . . . Soy sauce!  (Natch!)



Deviled Appetizer Meatballs




They're zippy, easy and very tasty if I don't say so myself.  


The recipe makes enough for two to three servings, but amounts can be very easily multiplied to make more for a larger crowd.  Enjoy!



Deviled Appetizer Meatballs




*Deviled Appetizer Meatballs*
Makes 2 to 3 servings
Printable Recipe



Simple to make and delicious with a zippy  honey and tomato glaze!


For the meatballs:
1/2 pound of extra lean minced steak
1 tsp Kikkoman soy sauce
1 tsp tomato catsup
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp prepared mustard
1 tsp creamed horseradish
1/4 tsp salt
1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced


For the sauce:
250ml  of tomato catsup (1 cup)
125ml of boiling water (1/2 cup)
1 tsp Kikkoman soy sauce
2 dessert spoons of runny honey
1 TBS sweet chili sauce (optional)
Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6.  Have ready a small shallow casserole dish.

Mix all of the meatball ingredients together lightly in a bowl.  Shape into 16 balls.   


Spray a non stick frying pan with some cooking spray and brown the meatballs carefully on all sides.  Place them into the casserole dish.  

Pour all of the ingredients for the sauce into the frying pan.  Bring to the boil and then pour over top of the meatballs in the dish, turning them to coat them with the sauce. 

 Bang the dish into the oven and allow to cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the meatballs are well glazed and the sauce has thickened nicely.   Serve hot.

Many thanks to Kikkoman for providing me with these sauces and for coming up with this blogger challenge!
read article
new entries old entries
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

If You Like What You See

If you like what you see and wish to donate to help pay for butter, sugar, eggs and whatnot, every little bit is appreciated. Thanks!
PRIVACY POLICY

Buy the Book!

If you are a Baking Enthusiast and a fan of British Baking you are going to love this new book I wrote. From fluffy Victoria sponges to sausage rolls, the flavors of British baking are some of the most famous in the world. Learn how to create classic British treats at home with the fresh, from-scratch, delicious recipes in The Best of British Baking. Its all here in this delicious book! To find out more just click on the photo of the book above!

Translate


This is a book I wrote several years ago, published by Passageway Press. I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment. It is now out of print as my publisher went out of business after Covid, but you can still find used copies for sale here and there. If you have a copy of it, hang onto it because they are very rare. This was a real labor of love for me and a dream come true as I had always wanted to write a book since I was a child. Hopefully I will be able to republish it one day. If you know of a publisher who is looking for something let me know!

Welcome, I'm Marie

Welcome, I'm Marie
Canadian lover of all things British. I cook every day and like to share it with you!
A third of my life was spent living in the UK. I learned to love the people, the country and the cuisine. I have always been an Anglophile. You will find plenty of traditional British recipes here in my English Kitchen. There are lots of North American recipes also, but then again, I am a Canadian by birth. I like to think of my page as a happy mix of both. If you are looking for something and cannot find it, don't be afraid to ask! I am always happy to help and point you in the right direction, even if it exists on another page, or in my extensive collection of cookbooks. I moved back to Canada in the year 2020 and have been busy building a new life for myself back in my homeland. I am largely retired now, except for this little space on the internet that I call home. I hope you will stay a while and have a good boo around. There's lots of deliciousness here to explore!

Search This Blog

Featured

Peanut Butter Parfaits
  Back when I was a very young woman, much younger than what I am now, I used to work as the Pastry Chef at the Old Orchard Inn, which was c...

Popular Posts

  • Fried Cabbage with Bacon & Onions
      I have always loved fried cabbage.  I first had it when I was in high school.  We cooked it in our Home Economics Class. It was just ...
  • Sticky Lemon Chicken
    I am always on the look out for a good chicken breast recipe.  We eat a lot of chicken in this house, and it mostly comes in the form of...
  • Lemon Friands
    Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a nut for anything lemon flavoured. It's always been one of my absolute favourite taste thril...
  • Quick and Easy Bacon and Egg Tarts
       You might not think that you have time to do a bacon and egg breakfast on a weekday, but this recipe here today proves that just isn...
  • Mary Berry's Cheese Scones
    I wanted to make some scones to enjoy the other day.  I have made quite a few scones here on the blog and I love them all. I do like to try ...

My Favourite Places

  • Welcome Home Kitchen Blog
  • Cookbooklets
  • Categories
  • _Kitchen Wisdom
  • _In the Larder and Pantry
  • _Couldn't Live Without
  • _Kitchen Wish List

Archive

  • ▼  2025 (252)
    • ▼  September (13)
      • Peanut Butter Parfaits
      • Oven Swiss Steak
      • How To Make Ghee - Quick, Easy & Economical
      • Five Meatball Recipes Guaranteed to Make You Drool
      • Easy Curried Orange Chicken – An Old Family Favori...
      • The Best Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole Recipe For...
      • Meals of the Week, August 31st - September 6th, 2025
      • Brown Sugar Quick Bread – Perfect for Tea Time
      • Old-Fashioned Cornflake Cookies Recipe – Just Like...
      • How to Make Spicy Portuguese Potatoes – Authentic ...
      • Simple Chicken Valdostana Recipe – A Quick & Easy ...
      • Simple Tomato & Lentil Soup – Nourishing, Budget-F...
      • Delicious Air Fryer Ham & Cheese Toastie – Ultimat...
    • ►  August (29)
    • ►  July (29)
    • ►  June (30)
    • ►  May (31)
    • ►  April (30)
    • ►  March (31)
    • ►  February (28)
    • ►  January (31)
  • ►  2024 (349)
    • ►  December (29)
    • ►  November (30)
    • ►  October (29)
    • ►  September (29)
    • ►  August (26)
    • ►  July (26)
    • ►  June (30)
    • ►  May (31)
    • ►  April (30)
    • ►  March (30)
    • ►  February (29)
    • ►  January (30)
  • ►  2023 (342)
    • ►  December (27)
    • ►  November (28)
    • ►  October (27)
    • ►  September (28)
    • ►  August (25)
    • ►  July (31)
    • ►  June (30)
    • ►  May (31)
    • ►  April (28)
    • ►  March (31)
    • ►  February (28)
    • ►  January (28)
  • ►  2022 (366)
    • ►  December (26)
    • ►  November (29)
    • ►  October (30)
    • ►  September (29)
    • ►  August (32)
    • ►  July (33)
    • ►  June (29)
    • ►  May (33)
    • ►  April (30)
    • ►  March (29)
    • ►  February (31)
    • ►  January (35)
  • ►  2021 (372)
    • ►  December (36)
    • ►  November (31)
    • ►  October (31)
    • ►  September (31)
    • ►  August (30)
    • ►  July (32)
    • ►  June (35)
    • ►  May (28)
    • ►  April (29)
    • ►  March (31)
    • ►  February (28)
    • ►  January (30)
  • ►  2020 (317)
    • ►  December (30)
    • ►  November (23)
    • ►  October (31)
    • ►  September (29)
    • ►  August (27)
    • ►  July (30)
    • ►  June (26)
    • ►  May (26)
    • ►  April (26)
    • ►  March (25)
    • ►  February (23)
    • ►  January (21)
  • ►  2019 (334)
    • ►  December (20)
    • ►  November (23)
    • ►  October (23)
    • ►  September (31)
    • ►  August (32)
    • ►  July (25)
    • ►  June (32)
    • ►  May (34)
    • ►  April (29)
    • ►  March (30)
    • ►  February (28)
    • ►  January (27)
  • ►  2018 (363)
    • ►  December (30)
    • ►  November (30)
    • ►  October (31)
    • ►  September (29)
    • ►  August (31)
    • ►  July (34)
    • ►  June (30)
    • ►  May (30)
    • ►  April (28)
    • ►  March (33)
    • ►  February (27)
    • ►  January (30)
  • ►  2017 (372)
    • ►  December (32)
    • ►  November (32)
    • ►  October (32)
    • ►  September (36)
    • ►  August (29)
    • ►  July (30)
    • ►  June (30)
    • ►  May (31)
    • ►  April (32)
    • ►  March (29)
    • ►  February (29)
    • ►  January (30)
  • ►  2016 (410)
    • ►  December (35)
    • ►  November (32)
    • ►  October (33)
    • ►  September (35)
    • ►  August (37)
    • ►  July (36)
    • ►  June (32)
    • ►  May (35)
    • ►  April (31)
    • ►  March (36)
    • ►  February (34)
    • ►  January (34)
  • ►  2015 (396)
    • ►  December (34)
    • ►  November (32)
    • ►  October (34)
    • ►  September (36)
    • ►  August (43)
    • ►  July (32)
    • ►  June (29)
    • ►  May (33)
    • ►  April (33)
    • ►  March (32)
    • ►  February (26)
    • ►  January (32)
  • ►  2014 (431)
    • ►  December (38)
    • ►  November (38)
    • ►  October (41)
    • ►  September (32)
    • ►  August (31)
    • ►  July (36)
    • ►  June (40)
    • ►  May (42)
    • ►  April (39)
    • ►  March (34)
    • ►  February (27)
    • ►  January (33)
  • ►  2013 (385)
    • ►  December (41)
    • ►  November (36)
    • ►  October (36)
    • ►  September (32)
    • ►  August (30)
    • ►  July (32)
    • ►  June (31)
    • ►  May (29)
    • ►  April (25)
    • ►  March (33)
    • ►  February (30)
    • ►  January (30)
  • ►  2012 (384)
    • ►  December (34)
    • ►  November (38)
    • ►  October (35)
    • ►  September (33)
    • ►  August (35)
    • ►  July (28)
    • ►  June (33)
    • ►  May (30)
    • ►  April (29)
    • ►  March (30)
    • ►  February (30)
    • ►  January (29)
  • ►  2011 (338)
    • ►  December (32)
    • ►  November (29)
    • ►  October (28)
    • ►  September (28)
    • ►  August (28)
    • ►  July (29)
    • ►  June (28)
    • ►  May (26)
    • ►  April (26)
    • ►  March (29)
    • ►  February (27)
    • ►  January (28)
  • ►  2010 (288)
    • ►  December (32)
    • ►  November (30)
    • ►  October (32)
    • ►  September (25)
    • ►  August (24)
    • ►  July (5)
    • ►  June (27)
    • ►  May (23)
    • ►  April (14)
    • ►  March (23)
    • ►  February (25)
    • ►  January (28)
  • ►  2009 (173)
    • ►  December (27)
    • ►  November (24)
    • ►  October (26)
    • ►  September (23)
    • ►  August (26)
    • ►  July (21)
    • ►  June (23)
    • ►  May (3)

Contact Form


© The English Kitchen.
Customized by My Fairy Blog Mother.