Vegetable and red lentil stew

This is really filling, yummy winter food that doesn't require much effort apart from chopping vegetables and slicing and buttering some good bread.

You need lots of root veg in this stew to make it really good, so grab some carrots, sweet potato, squash and anything else you can find that came from the ground (and that will not send you to the hospital) and stick it in the stew.

Mince pies!

Just to show you what's going on in my house, I thought I'd tease you with a picture of my mum's traditional home-made mince pies- they are delicious, and not complete without the star on the top!
It's almost christmas! :D

Jambalaya-take 1

I made jambalaya a few days ago, but unfortunately, as I was cooking for a non meat-eating family, I couldn't use any of the sausage or meats traditionally used in it. As a result, I couldn't get the full jambalaya flavour that was supposed to be there, meaning that I am deeming it unworthy of a recipe on my blog!
However, I will be trying it out again at a later date with all the appropriate ingredients, so there will be a recipe for jambalaya here one day!
In the mean time, you can gaze at the picture, start dreaming of jambalaya, and go off and Google jambalaya recipes to satisfy your cravings!

Feta and Spinach Fritters.

If you have ever tried those little spinach pies that are traditionally made in Greece, then you can imagine what these taste like- its the combination of feta, spinach, garlic and the flaky/crumbliness of the fried finish that makes them taste so similar.

Cinnamon, pistachio and almond filo swirls.

About a week ago, my flatmate came back from a Turkish market that was held somewhere in Cardiff. She had bought two of her favorite Christmas treats that she admitted to gorging on every Christmas. These two luxury foods were stuffed vine leaves, and Turkish baklava rolls- both of which she allowed me to try.

I had tasted baklava before, in Crete, but the ones my flatmate allowed me to try were something else! The baklava I had tried in the past were sticky and overwhelmingly sweet, without any other flavours really coming through, but these Turkish baklava were sweet, sticky, nutty, and spiced with a touch of cinnamon. Unbelievably delicious!

Smoked Salmon, Watercress, and Egg Bake.

This is really rich dish- super wintery and full of flavour. I'm lucky enough to be able to make stuff like this now that I'm home for Christmas, and have a larger number of people to feed.

Burgers take 2!

I used the same recipe for the meat as last time, since it worked so well. The only difference was this time I used lean minced beef, but it didn't seem to make a difference to the flavour or texture at all so I see no problem in using it- just health benefits!

I decided to use the kind of peas i used in the Gnocchi with peas and chorizo, except mashing them rather than blitzing them,

Linguine with Garlic and Oregano Meatballs.

A fresh vegetable sauce contrasted with rich garlicy meatballs and a sprinkling of parmesan. 

Ingredients for the sauce:

• One red pepper, sliced

Nut roast.

Nut roast is one of my favorite winter treats. You can really use any nuts you like to make it- I was planning on using chestnuts in this one until I couldn't find any anywhere.

Normally though, for this recipe, a mixture of cashew nuts and ground almonds is used.

Most people don't seem to have tried nut roast before, but trust me, it is worth trying- just because its a vegetarian dish does not, by any means, mean it is lacking in flavour.

D.I.Y Improvised Little Pizzas.

I often feel like pizza. Now that's not surprising since pizza is delicious. However, takeaway pizzas are expensive, and shop bought pizzas can be unhealthy because of all the cheese. I have made pizza from scratch many times now- making the dough, sauce and topping; and it has turned out great. Making pizza from start to finish can, however, take quite a lot of effort and require your time- which sometimes you just don't have to give.

Never fear! A solution is here in the form of little homemade 'lets only go half the mile' pizzas.

I have made these before quite a few years ago- I made them on a whim at lunchtime one day in the holidays.

Homemade chicken nuggets.

Chicken in the form of crispy nuggets. Simple. (But an easy way to make juicy, tasty chicken)

Burgalicious.

I was quite happy with my first attempt at a burger- the meat was juicy and rich in garlic and herbs, with crunchy bread and melted cheese. The only change i would make, I think, would be the extra fillings. For example, to add a sauce with a bit more pop, or another layer of texture. I can always experiment with fillings though- maybe some avocado? Some rocket leaves? Slasa? Crispy bacon or chorizo?
Whatever the extra fillings, I think the actual meat of the burger was a winner here, and I will be repeating it again.

Tuna and Sweetcorn Fishcakes with roasted veg.

These fishcakes aren't exactly for the sophisticated pallet, but hey- what student can afford sophisticated fish?!
However, before you leave this page, shaking your head in disappointment with my lack of posh fishcakes, I should let you know that they are still rather tasty. You'll just have to wait till I get home to Devon before I can do something fancy with salmon.

You may have noticed that there are two types of fishcakes here: one with breadcrumbs, one without.
This may have been because I ran out of breadcrumbs, but never the less, it allowed me to experiment with different ways of

Gnocchi with peas and chorizo

The sweetness of the peas is really complemented by the complex smoky, garlicy flavours of the chorizo in this dish. What's more is its cheap!

Pasta Fazool (variation)

Another wintery, heartwarming dish that originates in Italy- pasta fazool was once a peasant's dish. Although created for the poor, it packs a full comforting flavor- perfect when sheltering from wintery evenings.

This is a one-pot dish, which, although requires little effort, does call for your patience. The overall cooking time will be approximately an hour at least, to allow all the flavours to mingle and grow. On the plus side, you don't need to be stuck to the cooker for the majority of this time- do what you like and allow the flavours to deepen with time. 

Ingredients (serves 3-4):

• 2-3 carrots, sliced
• 1 stick of celery, chopped
• One onion, chopped

Thick, smooth (easy peasy) chocolate custard from scratch.

Its chilly outside and you're in the mood for something warm, rich and comforting..what could be more comforting than a bowl full of temptingly smooth, thick chocolate custard?

Just what you fancy, eh?

Here's a recipe that's super easy and better yet, doesn't require any ingredients that will mean you need to take a trip to the shops.


Your ingredients list (serves one):

• 250ml milk
• 3 egg yolks
• Good quality hot chocolate powder
• 2 tsp corn flour

 The method: