Tag Archives: recipes

Soda Bread Pizzas

Soda Bread Pizza

Perfect for a drizzly Saturday at home. Enjoy creating these simple pizzas with the kids and, when the pizzas are cooked, enjoy eating them too!

25 minutes preparation time
20 minutes cooking time
406 Kcal per portion
14.2g fat per portion of which 4.6g is saturated
4 servings

For the topping:
Olive oil 2 tsp
Onion 1 small, peeled and diced
Garlic 1 clove, peeled and crushed
Chopped tomatoes 200g can
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sugar a good pinch
Double Gloucester cheese 75g (3oz), grated
Kabanos sausages 2, totalling 75g (3oz), sliced
Cup mushrooms 75g (3oz), wiped and sliced
Basil 8 leaves, finely shredded, to garnish

For the base:
Plain flour 250g (9oz)
Bicarbonate of soda 1⁄2 rounded tsp
Salt 1⁄2 tsp
Buttermilk 284ml tub

1 Make the tomato paste for the topping first. Heat a small frying pan, add the oil, onion and garlic and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes until softened.

2 Add the tomatoes. Season well, adding sugar. Cook for 8–10 minutes until thickened to a paste.

3 Preheat the oven to 230°C/450°F/ Gas 8. To make the base, sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large bowl. Pour in about 250ml (9fl oz) of the buttermilk and mix, using a fork, to make a soft but not too sticky dough. Add more of the buttermilk if you need to, or more flour if it gets too sticky.

4 Put the dough onto a work surface lightly dusted with flour. Knead briefly then divide it into four. Form each piece into a ball and place it on a greased heavy baking sheet. Flatten out with your knuckle each to a 15cm (6in) round.

5 Spread the tomato paste over each pizza, almost to the edge. Scatter with half the cheese, then the slices of sausage, the mushrooms, basil and, lastly, the rest of the cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve warm with salad.

Recipe taken from Year Round Dairy Cookbook

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Asparagus is early due to March sunshine

Early asparagus

The British love affair with asparagus dates back hundreds of years, and it is also said to be a powerful aphrodisiac.

In 19th-century France, bridegrooms were served three courses of the spears at their prenuptial dinner.

Asparagus ‘stirs up lust in man and woman’, 
wrote English herbalist Nicholas Culpepper 
in the 17th century.

Asparagus is a good source of potassium, fibre, vitamin B6, vitamins A and C, thiamin and folic acid. The latter is said to boost histamine production which has an aphrodisiac effect on both men and women.

Asparagus is a member of the lily family. Under ideal conditions, it can grow an astonishing 10 inches in a 24 hour period.

The Romans brought it to England and by the 16th century all the royal courts were mad for it. By the 17th century, asparagus was being grown commercially and one of the main areas it was grown in was Battersea in London. They called it Battersea Bundles!

Try these two asparagus recipes this week:

Asparagus Risotto, a Dairy Diary recipeAsparagus Risotto
Recipe taken from Dairy Diary.

 

 

 

 

Asparagus and Eggs

Asparagus withPoached Eggs

Recipe taken from Year Round Round Dairy Cookbook.

 

 

 

 

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Asparagus Risotto

Full-flavoured, deliciously sweet and tender, British asparagus is regularly described as the ‘best in the world’.

Asparagus Risotto, a Dairy Diary recipeServes 4
Time 40 mins
Calories 518 per portion
Fat 20g of which 11.9g is saturated
Suitable for vegetarians

Butter 25g (1oz)
Shallots 4, peeled and finely chopped
Garlic 1 clove, peeled and crushed
Risotto rice 300g (11oz)
White wine 150ml (¼ pint)
Hot vegetable stock 900ml (1½ pints)
Small asparagus spears 125g pack, trimmed
Frozen peas 110g (4oz)
Chopped flat-leaf parsley 2 tbsp
Stilton cheese 150g (5oz), cubed

1 Melt butter in a sauté pan and fry shallots and garlic for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in rice and fry for a further minute. Pour in wine and simmer to evaporate off.

2 Gradually stir in hot stock, cooking for 18–20 minutes, until rice is tender, and all stock has been absorbed.

3 About 5 minutes towards end of cooking time, add asparagus and peas.

4 Before serving, stir in parsley and half cheese, then season to taste. Spoon into bowls, scatter over remaining cheese and serve immediately.

A Dairy Diary recipe.

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Squash, Bean and Stilton Risotto

Rich and creamy with a fantastic colour, this combination of textures and flavours results in simple, modern, comfort food!

This Squash, Bean & Stilton Risotto is a Dairy Diary recipe.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

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It’s St David’s Day but why the daffodil?

Not only is it new sofa day (sorry, I am quite excited!) on Thursday, it’s also St David’s Day.

David was a Celtic monk who lived in the 6th century. He was one of the early saints who helped to spread the word about Christianity in Pagan Britain. He also founded a monastery (in the place now known as St David’s), which helped to clothe and feed the poor.

St David’s Day has been celebrated ever since 1120, when David was canonised by the Pope.

St David’s is a lovely, miniature city, with a particularly spectacular cathedral. I have fond memories of wandering its lanes surrounding the ecclesiastic buildings, enjoying the sunshine and quiet whilst getting a very tiny little one off to sleep.

So, why is the daffodil worn to commemorate St David’s Day?

In comparison with the ancient Welsh associations of the leek, the daffodil has only recently assumed a position of national importance. An increasingly popular flower during the 19th century, especially among women, its status was elevated by the Welsh-born prime minister David Lloyd George, who wore it on St David’s Day in 1911.

 

Fancy a go at some St David’s Day crafts with the children or grandchildren?

I am going to give these Activity Village ideas a try:

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/handprint_daffodil.htm perfect for the twins.

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/bunch_of_daffodils.htm great for Isaac (provided he can be tempted away from the train track for long enough!)

Have fun!

 

Sausage and Leek Supper

I think this is the most requested recipe of all time. People absolutely love it and, despite mislaying their book, can’t live without it! Enjoy it everyone, it’s perfect for St David’s Day and it’s legendary.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

A recipe from The Dairy Book of Home Cookery. For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

Sausage & Leek Supper

I think this is the most requested recipe of all time!

This Sausage & Leek Supper recipe is perfect for St David’s Day! Celebrate with this hearty dish or enjoy this recipe any time. A recipe from The Dairy Book of Home Cookery. For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

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