Tag Archives: Dairy Cookbook

Good Food, Fast Dairy Cookbook on sale now!

When you have rushed in from work or have hungry people patrolling the kitchen, thinking of meals let alone cooking them can be difficult.

Giving you the inspiration to rustle up tasty meals that everyone will find irresistible, Good Food, Fast is packed with delicious, stress-free recipes that can be whipped up in just 30 minutes or less!

Good Food, Fast Dairy CookbookWith 116 recipes that cleverly use store-cupboard staples as well as combinations of fresh and frozen ingredients, Good Food, Fast ensures you can create something tempting even under pressure. Great if unexpected guests have dropped in or your day has not quite gone to plan.

The book is clearly divided into seven handy sections.

There is always something to suit the occasion or your store-cupboard and each of the 120 recipes is illustrated with striking photography – so even the most impatient of dinner guests know just what’s in store.

The first section covers ‘Speedy Soups’ with recipes such as Tomato Soup with Pesto Cream (see below). Once you have tasted it, you will never reach for a can of Heinz again. The ‘Quick Fixes’ and ‘Everyday Eating’ sections show that even being short of time does mean you have to revert to the same tried and tested meals. With 47 refreshingly different options – you could have something different everyday of week for over a month.

Preparing in advance when you have time is always a winner and the ‘Frozen Assets’ section gives plenty of inspiration for pizza bases, sauces, gravy and even cakes and desserts that can be made ahead ready for when you need them. Finish off with something from scrumptious ‘Desserts’ or ‘Take the Biscuit’ – so easy, there is no need to buy in a pudding ever again.

The new Good Food, Fast Dairy Cookbook is priced at £9.99 (plus £2 P&P).

To order a copy or for further information call 0845 0948 128, speak to your local milkman, or visit www.dairydiary.co.uk

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Ratatouille and Ham Pasta Bake

Ratatouille and Ham Pasta BakePreparation time 15 minutes
Cooking time 40 minutes
Calories per portion 594 Kcal
Fat per portion 21g
of which saturated 9g
Serves 4
Suitable for freezing

Aubergine 1
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pasta shapes 300g (11oz)
Olive oil 2 tbsp
Onion 1, peeled and chopped
Red pepper 1, deseeded and chopped
Courgette 1, trimmed and chopped
Chopped tomatoes with garlic 2 x 400g cans
Dried mixed herbs 1 tsp
Cooked lean ham 225g (8oz), diced
Mozzarella 175g (6oz), grated
Grated Parmesan cheese 4 tbsp

1 Trim the aubergine and cut into small pieces. Layer in a colander or large sieve, sprinkling with salt. Set aside to drain for 30 minutes, then rinse well in cold water and pat dry.

2 Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the packet’s instructions. Drain well and set aside.

3 While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large saucepan and gently fry the onion and pepper for 5 minutes until just softened. Add the aubergine and courgette, and cook, stirring, for a further 5 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, herbs, ham and black pepper and stir. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and leave to simmer for 15 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

4 Preheat the grill to hot. Stir the pasta and 110g (4oz) of the mozzarella into the vegetables. Pile into a large shallow ovenproof dish and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and the Parmesan cheese. Place under the grill and cook for 4–5 minutes until the cheese has melted and is bubbling. Serve immediately or cool and freeze, as described opposite.

Cook’s tip
To freeze, allow to cool. Transfer to individual freezer containers. Freeze for up to 6 months. Allow to defrost overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the oven in a small ovenproof dish, covered with foil, until piping hot.

Shopper’s tip
For a quick version, replace the vegetables and chopped tomatoes with 4 x 390g cans ratatouille.

Recipe taken from Clever Cooking for One or Two, Dairy Cookbook.

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Pea and watercress soup with crispy pancetta

The peppery, sweet soup contrasts wonderfully with the salty pancetta.

Time 30 minutes
Calories per portion 275 Kcal
Fat per portion 12.1g
of which saturated 3.7g
Serves 6

Pea and watercress soupOlive oil 2 tbsp
Butter 15g (½oz)
Onion 1 large, chopped
Garlic 1 clove, peeled and finely chopped
Floury potato 1 large, cubed
Chicken stock 1.5 litres (2½ pints)
Frozen peas 900g (2lb)
Watercress 100g bag
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pancetta or thin rashers smoked streaky bacon 75g (3oz), chopped

Heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan, add the onion and garlic and cook gently for 5 minutes, until beginning to soften.

Add the potato and toss with the onion and garlic, then pour in the chicken stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pan and simmer the soup for 15 minutes, until the potato is tender.Add the frozen peas and simmer for 3 minutes. Then add the watercress and stir in until wilted.

Remove from the heat, let it cool for a few minutes then purée with a hand-held electric wand or in a food processor or blender, until smooth. Return to the pan, if necessary, season to taste and keep warm over a gentle heat.Meanwhile, preheat the grill to hot.

Grill the pancetta or bacon for 2–3 minutes on each side, until crisp. Remove and drain on kitchen paper and then break up into pieces.Ladle the soup into warm bowls and top each with some of the pancetta pieces.

Cook’s Tip
Pancetta is cured pork and is usually sold ready-chopped near to the bacon in the supermarket..

Recipe taken from Good Food, Fast. Dairy Cookbook.

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Salmon with Minty Salsa

Preparation time 10 minutes
Cooking time 15 minutes
Calories per portion 596 Kcal
Fat per portion 45g
of which saturated 10g
Serves 2

Salmon fillets 2 (approximately 150g (5oz) each), skinned
Lime ½ , grated zest and juice
Butter 15g (½ oz)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cooked rice to serve, optional

For the salsa
Olive oil 2 tbsp
Lime ½ , grated zest and juice
Papaya ½ –1 small, peeled, deseeded and chopped
Avocado 1, stoned, peeled and chopped
Chopped mint 2 tbsp

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. To prepare the salmon, brush the lime juice over the fish. Place a knob of butter on each fillet and scatter with the lime zest and season with salt and pepper.

2 Place the fish on a buttered baking sheet and bake in the centre of the oven for 12–15 minutes, or until it is just starting to turn golden in colour.

3 To make the salsa, tip the olive oil, lime zest and juice into a bowl and add the papaya, avocado and mint. Mix well. Season to taste.

4 Serve the fish on a bed of rice. with the salsa spooned on to the plate.

Cook’s tip
If the papaya is large, then only use half of it. Keep the other half wrapped in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Shopper’s tip
Make sure the avocado and papaya are ripe to get the best flavours. Buy the fruits a few days early and allow them to ripen.

This scrummy summery recipe is taken from Clever Cooking for One or Two.

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Happy St George’s Day

Hi all, a very quick blog this week as I am holidaying in the Cotswolds.

Let’s hope Nick survives alone in the office all week!

Not only will we be celebrating being on holiday but of course we can celebrate St George’s Day on Friday. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/george_1.shtml

Regardless of what you think about St George, the myths and legends, it’s the perfect excuse to celebrate fantastic English food. In our cosy cottage we will be indulging in this fabulous traditional roast beef dinner from Around Britain Dairy Cookbook. Always a winner with all the family!

Saint George’s Day Roast Beef

To early Christians, the legendary slaying of a dragon by Saint George symbolised Christ’s triumph over evil. But it was not until the mid 14th century that Saint George was made patron saint of England, reputedly by Edward III when he founded the Order of the Garter in St George’s name.

Roast beefPreparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: approximately 2 hours
Serves 6

Fore-rib of beef, approximately 2kg (4lb 8oz)
Olive oil 1 tbsp
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Yorkshire pudding:
Plain flour 110g (4oz)
Egg 1 large
Milk, full cream 300ml (1/2 pint)

For the hot horseradish sauce:
Butter 15g (1/2oz)
Plain flour 15g (1/2 oz)
Milk, full cream 300ml (1/2pint)
Hot horseradish, freshly grated (2-3 tsp)
Soured cream 3 tbsp

1 Preheat the oven to240degC/475deg.F/Gas 9. Wipe the beef well with kitchen paper, and then smear it all over with the olive oil. Sprinkle the fat liberally with salt.

2 Place the beef in a roasting tin, standing it upright, and cook for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 and continue cooking for 1 hour, basting frequently – this cooks the beef to medium-rare. For meat that is more well done, continue cooking until done to your liking – testing every 10-15 minutes.

3 While the beef is cooking, prepare the batter for the Yorkshire pudding. Sift the flour and a good pinch of salt into a mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Break the egg into the centre of the flour, and then gradually start to whisk it into the flour –preferably with a hand-held electric whisk. As the mixture starts to thicken, gradually add the milk – whisking well until all the milk is incorporated and the batter is smooth. Cover and leave to stand.

4 Meanwhile, make the horseradish sauce. Melt the butter in a small saucepan, stir in the flour, add the milk and bring to the boil – stirring continuously until the sauce thickens. Stir in the grated horseradish, season well with salt and stir in the cream. Cover the surface of the sauce closely with cling film, cover the pan with a lid and keep warm.

5 When the beef is done to your liking, carefully remove it from the roasting tin onto a serving plate. Loosely cover with foil and leave to stand until ready to carve. Increase the oven temperature to 220degC/425degF/Gas 7.

6 Skim 3 tablespoons of the fat from the roasting tin into a 19cm (71/2in) round, ovenproof glass or metal pie plate, and heat in the oven until sizzling hot. Stir the batter, carefully pour it into the pie plate and cook for 30-40 minutes, until the pudding is very well risen, golden brown, and crispy.

7 To make the gravy, skim all but approximately 2 – 3 tablespoons of the fat from the roasting tin into a small bowl and use for roasting potatoes. Stir flour into the fat remaining in the tin, and add the beef stock.

8 Place the roasting tin over a moderate heat and bring to the boil stirring continuously, and scraping the browned residue from the bottom of the tin. Simmer for 5 minutes, season well with salt and pepper and then strain into a warmed gravy boat.

8 While the gravy is simmering, reheat the horseradish sauce and pour it into a serving jug or bowl.

Recipe taken from Around Britain Dairy Cookbook.

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