Sharon fruit and pomegranate chili and ginger jam

Sharon fruit?  Pomegranate?  I really am not a fruit expert.  I know I "should" eat more of it, but it doesn't come naturally to me.  OK, if you eat puddings, chop it up and have a fruit salad, in lots of combinations... but I don't eat pudding more than once a month.  So here I am with 3 sharon fruit and 3 pomegranates, what to do?  Lots of snuffling in the house as well, so a good faff in the kitchen mucking about with stuff kind of a Saturday, so I though chutney... and then I though again.. chili jam!

2 smallish onions, finely chopped
olive oil
3 sharon fruits
2 pomegranates
dried rosemary
gralic, crushed - at elast 4 cloves, more if you like it garlicky
ginger - also crushed - about a thumb sized piece, but to taste
chili flakes (about 1 tsp)
granulated sugar (about 250g)
cider vinegar
splosh of red wine
juice of 1 lime
juice of 2 oranges
water

1. Sautee onion in olive oil.
2.  Add chopped sharon fruit and pomegranate buds (well, whatever they are -- the bobbles, cut pomegranate in half and squeeze the sweet kernels into the pan, squeeze in juice of 1 lime.
3. Sprinkle a little dried rosemary in.  Stir, and gently sautee.
4.  Add garlic, ginger, chili paste, sugar and vinegar.  Simmer.  don't let t dry out.
5.  Taste - I added orange juice and simmered again for a bit.
6.  spoon a bit onto a cold plate, and taste when it cools down a bit.  adjust seasoning to taste.
7.  Put into jars.

Eat with cheese/ cold meats.

Baked potato with quorn chili

When the beloved victim is under the weather there is, fairly frequently, a request for chili.  Today, there was also a request for baked potato.  But speedily! Well, a chest infection does that to a person.  So, prick big potatoes and rub with olive oil. In microwave at nuke force max for 10 minutes.  Then transfer to hot oven for at least 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, usual story with the chili, chop and sautee in olive oil - onion, celery, red pepper and mushrooms.  Add chicken type Quorn pieces.  Stir in chili mix and herbs and season, add tin of kidney beans and tin of chopped tomatoes.  Simmer until potatoes are done - taste, season, serve.  Receive compliments from adoring victims, well, single short but appreciative comment as they go back to the Star Trek movie!  Hey ho - will be watching Corrie in the kitchen again, then!

Chili con carne

I'm not sure that victim has got the gist of this no repeat February malarky - this time chili con carne was DEMANDED no less.  By next week there will be another hankering, but it'll have to be refused... scoffing all your favourites early in the month can lead to disappointment later - however, it may leave room for some more adventurous dinners.  Saute onion, carrot, celery and garlic - add chopped green and yellow peppers - add mince and chili powder and cumin - season - add chopped mushrooms, chopped fresh tomatoes.  Add tinned chopped tomatoes and simmer, after 20 minutes add tinned kidney beans and simmer again.  Check seasoning and spritz in lime juice at the end.  Serve with brown rice and yogurt.  Victim happily scoffed the treat, and so far is not phased by the rest being packed into the freezer for later (post February).

Chicken and vegetable noodle soup

OK Victim nearly had a soup refusal today - and then admitted having soup for lunch too (smoked haddock chowder).  So, I had to persuade with one of current favourites... well-ish... it could have been more chinese, but it was declared "yum" when every last drop was gone.  So, sautee onion, ginger and garlic in peanut oil,  add chopped chicken breast - then toss in chopped carrot, red pepper, green beans, mushrooms, radish and chili.  Add about 2 pints of chicken stock and liberal splashings of soy sauce and rice wine.  When veg is almost done add egg noodles, simmer for a minute add handful of frozen peas, sprinkle of chili flakes and good squeeze of lime, simmer then add handful of chopped kale.  Tasty, hot and sour, clean tasting and nutritious.  Victim declared yum. 

Turkey and sweet potato chili with brown rice

Gently fry chopped onion and garlic, add pepper, chopped kholrabi and fry a little longer  Add chili mix (I often make my own but today was persuaded to use a mix - sod that in future!).  Fry again, add turkey in tiny peices and chopped runner beans and mushrooms.  Add a little water to make sure it does not stick.  Add drained black and kidney beans.  Simmer, then add a tin of tomatoes.  Add about half a pint of water. Cover simmer until done (about 40 minutes - but could be on, or stuck in an oven for much longer and not be ruined).  Serve with brown rice and natural yogurt.  A spritz of lime on serving zings it up a bit.  Victim enjoyed, and I am pleased to have got a low fat, high veg meal into us as we start our health kick.   Loads left for sticking in freezer - and taking to work for nuking.  Egg news:  3 today (my money's on Sophie, Clarissa and Rosemary)