Eggy hotpot ...

I'm not sure what to call this.  It's chock full of early autumnal vegetables and potatoes, simmered until almost done, with eggs added and poach/steamed on top.  The idea came from shashuka , but it's a much more English version.  The spicy ragu mix just gives it a little chilli heat.

Olive oil
Onion
Garlic
Spicy ragu mix
New potatoes
Green beans
Tomatoes
Cavolo nero
Frozen peas
Veg stock
Eggs

1.  Soften the chopped onion and crushed garlic in olive oil, add a pinch of spicy ragu mix.
2.  Add chopped new potatoes, green beans and chopped tomatoes and simmer in stock until they are almost done.
3.  Add shredded cavolo nero, cover and allow to wilt.
4.  A couple of minutes later add a good handful of frozen peas, cover and thaw.
5.  Check that the mixture has still got some stock, crack the eggs on top, cover and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes.
6.  Season, serve, scoff.

Easy, delicious and quick.  What more could you want.

Dinner ... Greek inspired pork escalope

"Pork, chips and courgettes - I don't see what's so Greek about it"   Tsk … that's the appreciation you get sometimes!  Well, let me explain veg dodger …. the pork was marinated in garlic, lemon and oregano - the salad is Greek salad with feta (but you dodged that) - and the courgettes were tossed in garlic and oregano.  Said veg dodger had thirds, by the way.

Chips

Open bag from freezer, follow instructions (yes, I cheated, but we didn't have any potatoes)

Pork Escalopes

Olive oil
Garlic
Lemon
Salt & Pepper
Oregano
Pork

Mix marinade ingredients together (crushed garlic, lemon juice) - pop in the pork, making sure all surfaces are coated and leave to marinate for an hour or so.
Fry, in a hot pan, on each side for a few minutes when everything else is ready.


Greek Salad

Lettuce
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Red onion
Feta
Oregano
Olive oil

Prepare salad bits, top with feta and a sprinkle of oregano, drizzle with olive oil.

Courgettes

Mix a spoonful of olive oil with a pinch of herbs, crushed garlic and a squirt of lemon juice.  Toss sliced courgettes in the dressing and fry on each side.

Done …. serve, scoff … Yamas!

National Burger Day ....

It's National Burger Day today!  To celebrate this Nick (Fielden's Family butchers) has developed a double cheese burger … made with steak, cheddar and mozzarella and spiced up with jalapeno … it's delicious.  Scout around the market a little further and you can find the ingredients to make your own special burger.  Here's ours in toasted sourdough and avocado salad

… with chips (rude not to!).  No recipe required as you chop the salad, fry the burger for a couple of minutes each side … toast the "bun" and construct.

There are a wealth of fresh and frozen burgers for you to choose from in Tod Market …. including … the featured steak, jalapeno and cheese, minted lamb, low fat piri piri chicken, pepper steak, steak, world famous thai burger from Nick … and venison, Moroccan, lamb and mint, pork and apple, steak burger … from Bracewell's

If you don't fancy making your own you could always order one from the Market Café … go on, treat yourself on National Burger Day.

Sausage casserole

Sausage casserole for veggies and meat eaters alike - made deliciously tasty using some Spicy Ragu mix … a bit hotter than you might think, so go carefully.

Olive oil
Onions
Garlic
Sausages - meaty and veggie
Mushrooms
Courgette
Spicy Ragu mix
Wholegrain mustard
Tin chopped tomatoes

1.  Sautee chopped onion and garlic in olive oil, in two separate pans - one for the veggie and one for the meaty.
2.  Add the sausages to the appropriate pans and brown.  Give them a few minutes, then turn them, so that they are brown on all sides.
3.  Add chopped veg to the browned sausages, then add a couple of teaspoons of spicy ragu mix and a teaspoon of mustard.
4.  Stir in, then add a tin of chopped tomatoes and the same of water to each pan.
5.  Simmer for about 20-30 minutes until the sauce is thickened and the sausages are cooked through.
6.  Serve, with whatever, we had boiled new potatoes and some had grated cheese on top, scoff.

Smoked mackerel, courgette and green bean pasta

Cheap, quick and healthy - can't beat it.  All ingredients (except frozen peas) available at Tod market.  Mackerel from Paul outside, veg from Kev outside and everything else from The Mediterranean Pantry inside.

Olive oil
Onion
Garlic
Courgette
Italian seasoning
Green beans
Frozen peas
Pasta (GF, or otherwise)
Smoked mackerel

1.  Gently fry chopped onion in olive oil until soft, then add courgette and garlic and continue to cook until courgette is soft, stirring occasionally.
2.  Cut green beans into bite sized pieces and place in a steamer pan.
3.  Boil the kettle, pour boiling water into a pan, bring back to the boil and add pasta and a pinch of salt.
4.  Steam the beans over the pasta, after 5 minutes add frozen peas.
5.  Break the mackerel into bite sized flakes, discarding the skin.
6.  When the pasta is done, drain and then throw in all the other ingredients and stir.
7.  Serve, scoff

Under 20 minutes and under £1 per portion.

Cauliflower and hazelnut carbonara

This "carbonara" has no cream, but is still silky smooth and luxurious. The idea is that the hot pasta cooks the egg, making the sauce for the pasta.  I would use 1 egg per 2 portions. We used gluten free pasta, but obviously you could use "normal".  The nuts add a lovely crunchy sweetness.  It's quick too!

Olive oil
Cauliflower
Mushrooms
Garlic
Egg
Soya milk (or normal milk, or single cream)
Parmesan (or other hard cheese)
Hazelnuts

1.  Break the cauliflower into florets, slice mushrooms into thickish slices, peel and roughly chop peeled garlic cloves.  Toss in olive oil and roast, at 180, for about 30 minutes.
2.  Roughly chop (or zizz in a food processor) a good handful of hazelnuts.  Grate parmesan.
3.  Whisk egg with a fork.
4.  Boil pasta - when it is done, drain, add roast veg and stir in the egg - quickly.  If it looks like it is going a bit dry add a splosh of soya milk.
5.  Chuck in the grated cheese, mix in.  (If you think it's a little cold by now put it in the oven for 5 minutes).
6.  Serve, sprinkle the top with hazelnuts and a healthy grind of black pepper. Add a simple green salad.
7.  Scoff, sigh … scoff seconds.

Feta stuffed courgette, tomato and garlic green beans

Making the most of the lovely summer vegetables … today courgettes and green beans.  The feta added to the courgette adds a lovely salty sharpness.

Olive oil
courgette
red onion
oregano
feta
green beans
cherry tomatoes
garlic
new potatoes







1.  Cut the courgettes in half length ways, scoop out the central flesh with a spoon.  Dice this flesh finely.
2.  Finely chop a red onion, mix with the courgette flesh, a good pinch of oregano and a splosh of olive oil.  Mix well, squishing the courgette and onion together.  Fold in chunks of feta.
3.  Heap the mix back into the courgettes.  Drizzle with olive oil and bake for about 30 minutes.
4.  Top and tail beans, and cut into bite sized pieces.  Splosh a little olive oil into a frying pan - add beans, cherry tomatoes, crushed garlic and a cup of water.  Bring to the simmer and cook for about 15 minutes (add a little more water if it looks like its going dry).  The tomatoes will split - I usually help them along by squishing them with a spatula.
5.  Boil/steam new potatoes.
6.  Serve, scoff  … lovely summery goodness.