Blueberry Sauce

I made this little sauce up the other day while wondering what to do with a crown of duck. Simple and delicious. I did duck but this fruity number is perfect for any red meat or pork. You could also subsitute the blueberries for redcurrants.

Ingredients

25cl white wine

4cl cider vinegar

2cl balsamic vinegar

2 shallots/1 onion, chopped finely

200g butter

200g blueberries

Method

1. In a saucepan melt the butter

2. Add the shallots/onions cook, stirring occasionally until the shallots/onions are soft

3. Add the white wine, vinegars and blueberries

4. Simmer gently for 5 - 10 mins

5. Remove from the heat and squash the berries with the back of a wooden spoon

6. Set aside, letting the juice from the berries seep into the sauce

7. Just before serving return a high heat and bring just to the boil stirring continuously

Or if you've roasted your meat in the oven

When you've removed your meat from the oven add the sauce to the meat tray, mixing the sauce with the juices from the meat. Return to the oven for 3-5mins or until hot. This gives the sauce a fuller and more meaty flavour.

Respite and Repos

I went back to Blighty last week for a little visit and catch up with family. A lovely mini break chilling in the wilds of Northumberland. Obviously I was treated to some great English delights courtesy of my mum, Di from designersblock. Sunday dinner, mince and dumplings, bacon sandwiches, heaven :) Don't get me wrong I love France, and the food is to die for out here, but you can't beat your mum's Sunday dinner!

Chinese Stir Fry Beef

The Chinese certainly got it right when they invented this quick and hassle free dish. Chop everything up and throw in a wok et voila! Here's my recipe for a quick beef delight.

Ingredients

500g rump steak, cut into chunks
4 tblsp hoisin sauce
4 tblsp soy sauce
1 tblsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tblsp oil
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped finely
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 tin sweetcorn (optional)

Method

1. In a large bowl mix the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, red wine vinegar and beef, set aside to marinate about 20-30mins
2. In a large wok or frying pan heat the oil
3. Add the onions and garlic and fry for 2-3 mins
4. Add the beef and the sauce fry for 5 mins
5. Add the pepper, sweetcorn and ginger, add a little more hoisin and soy sauce
6. Simmer gently for 5 mins

Serves : 4
Preparation time : 30 mins
Cooking time : 15 mins

Boeuf à la Badara

Yesterday tiredness got the better of me, but luckily my chéri came to the rescue and made us a beautiful African style dish. It was delicious and I had many helpings! A couple of the ingredients you'll have to pop to your local chinese/indian supermarket*, but believe me it's well worth the trip.

Ingredients

1kg beef bourginon, chopped into chunks

3 onions, peeled and chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped finely

1 tin chopped tomatoes

1 small tin tomato paste

700ml water

5 large potatoes, peeled and quartered

4 kub d'or/maggi stock cubes *

salt & pepper

1 tin (200g) sauce graine *

2 tblsp oil

Method

1. In a large saucepan heat the oil

2. Add the onions, garlic and beef and fry gently for 3-4mins

3. Add the tomato paste and 200ml water, cook for 5 mins

4. Add the chopped tomatoes and 500ml water

5. Crumble in the stock cubes, season with salt & pepper

6. Simmer over a low heat for 30 mins

7. Add the potatoes and simmer for a further 30 - 45 mins, until the potatoes are tender

8. Add the sauce grain and simmer for 15 - 20 mins, until the oil from the sauce grain appears on the surface of the sauce

Serves : 6

Preparation time : 10 mins

Cooking time : 1 1/2 - 2 hours

Look what I got for Christmas

My friends know me well. I'm at my most happiest when in the kitchen, this year I was spoilt with a brand spanking new bread machine (you can even make jam in it!), an electric steamer and a raclette set. Since Christmas day I've been knocking out the baguettes in my machine but today I'm going to be a little adventerous and make Banana Bread. So for those of you who have a bread machine:

Banana Bread

Ingredients

200ml water

1 egg

1 tblsp oil

45g milk powder

1 banana, peeled and chopped into small pieces

300g bread flour

40g sugar

4g salt

5g yeast

Method

1. Add all the ingredients, banana last, and press start :)

Bubble and Squeak

I love this recipe. Traditionally eaten on a Monday with the leftover vegetables from the Sunday dinner.

Ingredients

4 large potatoes, peeled chopped and boiled

1/2 cabbage, par boiled/leftovers

leftover carrots, broccoli, brussel sprouts chopped finely

2 tblsp butter

salt & pepper

1 onion, chopped

Method

1. In a large frying pan melt the butter

2. Fry the onion until soft

3. Add all the vegetables, season with salt & pepper

4. Cook until golden brown and the pan bubbles and squeaks!

Serves : 4-6

Preparation time : 10 mins

Cooking time : 20 mins