Ox cheeks – and beef cheeks – are amazing cuts of meat. When slow cooked, the become incredibly tender and melt in the mouth. Although the weather is warming up outside, the evenings are still cool enough to enjoy this delicious meal. This recipe easily feeds a family of four, with leftovers for another day. INGREDIENTS4 ox cheeks – ask your butcher to remove as much fat as possibleYare Valley rapeseed oil3 shallots, quartered3 or 4 bay leaves2 celery stalks, chopped2 large carrots, slicedA generous helping of white peppercornsDried parsley & fresh thyme500ml good red wineA beef stock potBoiling water…
Recipes
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Continue ReadingRisotto. That simple, comforting bowl of creamy goodness that we all need right now. We all know that we are living in difficult and challenging times – I am not going to use this space as a place to talk about that. Instead, I am offering some light relief from the news – along with a store cupboard recipe that everyone can enjoy. Many people say that risotto is difficult to make. I have never found it to be, and I actually find it quite soothing, gently stirring the grains of rice until they are perfectly al dente. Risotto is…
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Continue ReadingWe all need the comfort of cake right now – and this spiced apple cake is delicious! The caramel flavors of the butterscotch sauce really add to the flavour of the apple, but you can also serve it with cream, ice cream, custard – or a mix of all three! Just go with what makes you happy and your taste buds sing. SPICED APPLE CAKE INGREDIENTS200g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing200g self-raising flour200g soft brown sugar2 tsp mixed spice4 large eggs, beaten4 small eating apples, cored and diced into 1cm size piecesDemerara sugar for sprinkling Preheat the oven to…
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Continue ReadingOxtail is an underrated cut of meat – and a far cry from the soups of our childhoods. One of the cheapest cuts, if not the cheapest, of beef, oxtail is full of flavour and benefits from slow cooking. This recipe easily feeds a family of four, with leftovers for another day. INGREDIENTS1 oxtail, jointedYare Valley rapeseed oil2 red onions, quartered3 or 4 bay leaves2 celery stalks, chopped2 large carrots, slicedWhite and pink peppercornsHalf a swede, dicedDried parsley & dried oregano1 beef stock pot1 bottle Broadside beerTomato pureeAround 5g porcini mushroomsCornflour Add a splash of Yare Valley rapeseed oil to…
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Continue ReadingOld Hall Farm sausages are packed full of meat and therefore, are full of flavour. This simple recipe will feed a family of four and it is so easy to do. You can even cook in a slow cooker on low, meaning that you can get on with your day while the pot does its thing! INGREDIENTS8 Old Hall Farm beef sausagesYare Valley rapeseed oil2 small shallots, sliced2 celery sticks, sliced2 bay leaves2 large carrots, sliced2 parsnips, quartered and sliced4 medium potatoes, cut into piecesDried parsleyA beef stock potSalt & pepperA good handful of mushrooms, slicedCornflour You need a large…
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Continue ReadingWho doesn’t love a wrap? The most versatile of ingredients, it can be eaten on the move, sat on the sofa in front of a film (okay, cooking programme!), or even at your desk if you need to work through lunch. You can also use anything to be the ‘wrap’. I love chicken with a homemade Caesar dressing wrapped in a cos lettuce leaf – the ultimate version of a chicken Caesar salad and without the guilt of croutons. The more traditional among us will go for a tortilla wrap. I prefer wholemeal tortilla, lightly warmed in either a pan…
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Continue ReadingBonfire night. The night that could have dramatically changed the UK had the Gunpowder Plot gone ahead. Instead, people celebrate the macabre execution of Guy Fawkes et al by letting off fireworks into the sky. Over the centuries, the reason for the celebrations has been lost, but the ingrained need for earthy flavours that warm has remained. There is something about November. I find this is the month when all our deep-rooted instincts come to the fore. The darker days signal hibernation, and the need to feed our souls to keep us warm through these months. And the two seem…
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Continue ReadingMy favourite ice cream as a child was, without fail, mint choc chip. The lurid green ice flecked with chocolate pieces, it was the stuff of dreams and, no doubt, started what remains a life-long obsession with chocolate and mint flavours together. From the punch Bendick’s Bittermint to the easy going After Eight, combine those flavours together and I am a happy girl. However, being intolerant to lactose means that I can no longer grab a mint choc chip cornetto or, even crunchier, a slice or two of Vienetta for a creamy, frozen, choccie-mint treat. And that could only mean…
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Continue ReadingGood evening, my dear Delicate Diners. How are you today? I hope that you have had a good weekend with friends and family, or equally enjoyed some time just ‘being’. I had a lovely day off on Saturday and went to the Beccles Food Festival, which was being held for the second year. It was a glorious day, with beautiful weather and clear skies. The stalls were plentiful and there was lots of choice available for us Delicate Diners. My favourite was Graze, who have their own restaurant in Beccles in the White Horse pub. Their street food offerings were…
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Continue ReadingOutside, the sun is shining but it is cold! Mother Nature seems to tempt us with a few days of warmth before sending cold winds back to send us racing indoors in search of jumpers and warming cups of coffee. In spite of this weather rollercoaster, nature’s own bounty is plentiful and for that reason, May remains my favourite month of the year. From the cherry blossom dressing the trees to the arrival of fresh Norfolk asparagus in the shops, there are signs everywhere that summer, is at last, unfurling herself and is ready to warm us in her soothing…