Rustic mincemeat lattice tart

Once again "persuaded" to make mince pie before December - but resisted the crime of mince pies before December by making one big lattice pie... pastry, 2 jars of mincemeat, sprinkle with sugar, cook.  Easy, but really.... it' still November... only 2 birthdays this week and lots of pleading made me weaken.

Chicken and vegetable macaroni cheese

Chopped onion, garlic, red pepper, celery, green beans, mushrooms and chicken breast.  Fry gently for a couple of minutes, add chicken stock and simmer while the pasta starts to cook.  Drain pasta just before al dente and stir into chicken and veg mix.  Break in mozzarella and some grated cheddar... in the oven for 15 minutes... scoff.  Save left overs for work dinners... yums.

Lamb tagine with sharon fruit

What on earth are you supposed to do with a Sharon fruit?  Well, spicy sweet tagine, that's what.  Probably not an authentic tagine, but a slow cooked moroccan inspired stew.  Fry onion, garlic and spices (paprika, cinnamon, ginger, cumin, chili).  Add  lamb, red pepper, courgette and chopped sharon fruit - then chicken srock, tomato puree and a tin of chopped tomatoes.  Tasty - served with couscous, cauliflower, pita bread and greek yogurt.  Gathered victims scoffed it, but didn't comment, so I will have to deduce that it was OK, but not their favourite ... still, it did use up veg box sharon fruit, which was the main aim.  Update:  got compliment from one of the victims - "that tagine was really nice actually, it wasn't just weak curry"... result!

Chicken korma, Aloo Gobi and basmati rice

All beautifully presented to allow pic - but turned my back and  gathered victims took the opportunity to dive in.... seconds all round, so pots were even lower later.  Recipes later, perhaps.... sorting out multiple brews etc

Chicken and noodles in black beans

From scratch!   Bash black beans, garlic, chili and ginger to smithereens, add a little peanut oil to make a paste.  In a wok, or large frying pan, stir fry spring onion, black bean paste, chicken breast pieces, red pepper, mushroom and green beans.  Boil noodles for 4 minutes, drain.  Stir fry/ simmer chicken mixture in a splash water, for about 10 minutes, add soy sauce and rice wine, thicken sauce with slaked cornflour.  Stir in noodles, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve... feed to admiring victim.  Who was mostly complimentary except apparently there were too many mushrooms.

Onion and red wine tarte tatin, roast potatoes and green vegetables

Have been thinking about trying another savoury tarte tatin for a while - and visit from (nearly) vegetarian mother prompted me.  Was lovely - details will be sketchy as busy chatting - but - soften onions in butter and olive oil - make pastry - par boil poatatoes - then roast... chop leeks, celery, green beans - add herbs, white wine and stock - casserole for a while.  Drain potatoes and chuck inothot oil in roasting pan for 45+ mins.  When onions are good and soft add soft brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, red wine and seaoning... simmer until reduced.  Take onion mixture off the heat and cool a bit, add sliced brie and cover with pastry.  Bake for 20+ minutes.  Steam and butter cabbage.  Serve.  Listen to adoring fans... or not - they are too busy with sudoku.

National sausage week: day 4: butter bean ricey stuff - with a sausage and parmesan garnish

OK - so, not everyone wanted sausages again.  The solution was to make a nice vegetable ricey stuff (could call it paella if it had been more spanish) and cook sausages separately, then serve it all (with or without sausages) with a goodly sprinkling of grated parmesan.  Ricey stuff - onion, red pepper, romanesco sauteed in olive oil for a few minutes, then added rice and garilc, and some spicey seasonning (greekish, in this case) - then stock, a bit at a time as rice is cooking.  After about 15 minutes add frozen peas and buttter beans - adding stock to keep moist throughout.  When rice is nearly cooked (about 20 mins - but tase it) ... and sauce is nearly absorbed, pull off the heat and leave to rest for 5 minutes.  Serve - with, or without, grilled sausages, black pepper and grated parmesan.

British sausage week: day 3: sausage minestrone

Made by victim!! In the most part. We added some tweeks together at the end.  Contains sausage, carrot, salsify, potato, mushroom, mustard, sock ... simmer - then add tin tomatoes, tomato puree, pasta and cavolo nero - simmer again for a least 30 minutes.

British sausage week: Day 2: Hazelnut salami pasta salad

OK, day 2 of British sausage week and I am already facing resistance.  Which is odd, because victim is one of the sausage's greatest fans - admittedly normally for breakfast, and especially on a Sunday.  However, had some really nice salami (with hazelnuts, and sourced in the UK - but I have forgotten the compaby) in the fridge - so came up with this.  Gently sauteed chopped leek, fennel, courgette and mushrooms until just a little bie left - added chopped garlic, mixed herbs, and finely diced salami - then seasonned.  Put pasta (farfalle in this case) on... added about half a pint of chicken stock to vegetable and salami mix.  When pasta was nearly done added frozen peas to vegetable and salami mixture - stir through to heat.  Tipped sauce into big bowl, and stirred in spoonful of cream cheese.  Added drained pasta, and a big handful of rocket with a dollop of mayonnaise - stir gently until mixed and sprinkle with chopped parsley and grind of black pepper.  Thumbs up from victim, and I liked it too.  Bonus, though it won't freeze I have some left in a plastic pot for lunch tomorrow.