-
March 16th, 2012Sweets, Let Her Eat Cake
Best served generously with a pot of Earl Grey for company!Recipe and Image www.rachelsorganic.co.uk
Lemon Drizzle CakeIngredients
- 175g unsalted butter
- 175g caster sugar
- Grated zest & juice of 2 lemons
- 120g Rachel’s Low Fat Natural Bio Live Yogurt
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 175 self raising flour
- 3tbsp caster sugar
- 150g icing sugar, sifted
- ½ tbsp water
Method
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/gas 4. Grease and line a round 15cm/6” loose bottom cake tin.
- Cream together the butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add the grated zest of lemons and yogurt then add the eggs.
- Add the flour, mix well and spoon the mixture into the prepared tin, ensure a level surface.
- Bake in the oven for 35 minutes or until golden brown or until a skewer comes out clean.
- Transfer to a cooling wire.
- In a small saucepan add the juice of the lemons with the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar and allow to reduce on a high heat. Leave to cool slightly.
- Using a skewer or cocktail stick prick the cake all over and then pour the lemon sugar syrup all over the top, allow it to soak in.
- Leave to cool completely before icing.
- Mix the icing sugar with the water until a runny paste consistency is achieved. Using a spoon drizzle the icing liberally backwards and forwards over the cake.
-
Kisses
0
March 16th, 2012Sweets, Keep Her Sweet
Show her how much you care with these pretty little fancies which make an impressive gift. Join two together with some jam or yummy icing . . .Recipe and Image www.4ingredients.co.uk
KissesIngredients
- 115g butter, softened
- 175g self raising flour
- 1 tbs icing sugar
- 1 tbs arrowroot
Method
- Preheat oven to 160C.
- Cream butter and sugar and add arrowroot and flour and mix well to combine.
- Line a baking tray with baking paper, then using a teaspoon, scoop a spoonful of mixture and roll it into a ball. Place it on the tray, and repeat until all the mixture is gone.
- Press each ball gently with a fork and bake for 10 minutes. Cool.
-
March 16th, 2012Sweets, Keep Her Sweet
This delicate cake is perfect for afternoon tea. Serve warm with butter or cold with cream cheese icing.Recipe and Image www.4ingredients.co.uk
1, 1, 1, 1 CakeIngredients
- 120g coconut
- 250ml milk
- 200g caster sugar
- 175g self raising flour
Method
- Preheat oven to 180C.
- Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix.
- Line a loaf tin with baking paper and pour mixture in.
- Bake for 40 minutes.
-
March 16th, 2012Blog
Dawn Cromar discovers that indoor picnics are the best way to keep the kids happy when the sun is shining, but it’s still cold outside . . .Words Dawn Cromar / Image istock
We have been enjoying some unseasonably warm weather so far this year – very unexpected but very welcome!
This climate has led my children to think that it is already summer time – and more specifically, picnic time!! While it has been warm, other than a couple of particularly sunny days, it hasn’t been THAT warm as yet. So we have only tried to brave the great outdoors for lunch once so far – and, unsurprisingly, it was a tad chilly.
So we have taken to having indoor picnics – or car picnics. For indoor picnics, we get a travel rug, spread it out on the floor and have our picnic as if we were outside. And you have the added bonus of knowing there shouldn’t be any ‘beasties’ crawling into your sandwiches or wasps trying out the doggy paddle in your juice.
Indoor picnics can feature any foodstuffs you like, traditional sandwiches, crisps and fruit or you have the added advantage of being able to serve up hot food on plates as you’re only likely to be a few feet from the kitchen.
Of course the disadvantage is that there don’t tend to be birds in your living room to snaffle up any crumbs.
Our most recent indoor picnics have featured the usual suspects of sandwiches, crisps, yoghurts and fruit, but we have also had crackers with different cheeses, we’ve had GG’s special bready sausage rolls (as featured in a previous blog!) and we’ve also had pizzas, chicken fillets and salad. So you can really have whatever you fancy.
The other option, although not quite as comfortable, is to have a car picnic. We have used this method when we have ventured out to the park in less than balmy conditions, where you don’t feel too cold if you’re wrapped up and moving about, but when you would certainly feel the chill if you were to sit down for a good while to have lunch! So to warm ourselves up and fill our tums, we retreated to the car for a straightforward packed lunch style picnic, before heading back out to the park for a while.
But I have to say the living room picnic is the favourite so far. So next time the kids fancy a picnic but you look outside and our more traditional British summer weather – rain – has returned, you don’t need to pack away the hamper, just relocate from the park to your living room. With the added comforts of warmth, a clean bathroom and no beasties!
-
March 15th, 2012Sweets, Mother's Day Mission
What better way to help fit in that five-a-day than with this fruity, chocolatey pud.Recipe and Image www.missioninyourkitchen.com
Plum and Chocolate Mission PuddingIngredients
- 3 Mission Deli Original Wraps
- 15g butter, softened
- 55g demerara sugar
- 2 large oranges, zest from 1 and juice from 2
- 650g juicy, ripe plums, halved, stones and each half cut into 3
- 55g dark chocolate, finely grated
Method
- Pre-heat the oven to 190C/375F/gas mark 6.
- Spread each wrap with a little butter, scatter over 1tbsp of the sugar and orange zest. Roll up tightly and shred into 1cm slices. Place in a bowl and toss with the plums, orange juice and remaining sugar.
- Arrange half the mixture into a large, ovenproof, gratin dish and scatter over half the chocolate. Repeat again finishing with a layer of chocolate.
- Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until bubbling hot.
- Serve straight away with vanilla ice-cream.
-
March 15th, 2012Mains, Mother's Day Mission
A simple supper that’s a real crowd pleaser. Keep it simple and serve with a mixed green salad.Recipe and Image www.missioninyourkitchen.com
Twice Baked Chicken FlorentineIngredients
- 4 Mission Deli Mediterranean Wraps
- 110g cream cheese
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 75g baby spinach leaves
- 225g cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters
- 225g cooked, skinless, boneless chicken breast, shredded finely
- 55g Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 350g jar ready-made tomato sauce
Method
- Mix together the cream cheese and garlic and spread over the wraps.
- Place the spinach leaves on top of each, scatter over the tomatoes, chicken and sprinkle over half the parmesan. Season well with black pepper.
- Roll up each wrap and place in a large ovenproof gratin dish or non-stick roasting tray.
- Drizzle the sauce over the wraps and scatter over the remaining cheese.
- Place in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden and bubbling hot. Serve with a rocket salad.
-
March 15th, 2012Mains
This makes a perfect light lunch – and it’s healthy too!Recipe and Image www.missioninyourkitchen.com
Double Decker QuesadillaIngredients
- 6 Mission Mini Wheat & White Deli Wraps
- 6 tbsp houmous
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and grated
- 3 spring onions, finely sliced
- 200g skinless, boneless chicken breast, thinly sliced
Method
- Spread 2 mini wraps with half of the houmous.
- Sprinkle over half the carrots, spring onion and chicken. Top with another mini wrap and press down firmly.
- Spread both the tops with the remaining houmous, carrot, onion and chicken and top with another mini wrap. Press down firmly.
- Cut each double decker into quarters and pop into a lunchbox or serve with a green salad.
-
March 15th, 2012Mains
It’s easy to fall into lunchtime monotony, eating similar foods every day. Lesley’s sushi style wraps use fragrant rice and smoked haddock to create a lunchbox treat that combines healthy ingredients with oriental flavour, all in a tasty Mission Original Deli Wrap.Recipe and Image www.missioninyourkitchen.com
Sushi Style WrapsIngredients
- 4 Mission Deli Original Wraps
- 115g Thai rice
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp sushi ginger, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
- 1 ripe avocado, stoned, peeled and diced
- 125g spoked trout fillets, flaked
- For the salad:
- 1 bunch of watercress, washed
- 2 oranges, segmented
- Freshly ground black pepper
Method
- Cook the rice as directed on the packet and allow to cook slightly. Stir in the caster sugar, salt, rice wine vinegar and ginger and chill well.
- Add the flaked fish to the rice and combine well.
- Spread the chilled rice and fish mixture over the wraps.
- In a bowl, toss together the sesame seeds, avocado and spring onion. Scatter the mixture evenly over the rice.
- Roll tightly into a sausage and shape and tightly wrap in cling film. Chill for at least 1 hour.
- Toss all the salad ingredients together.
- Remove the wraps from the fridge and unwrap. Using a sharp knife trim off the ends and slice each wrap diagonally into 4 or 6. Arrange on a serving board or plates and serve with little bowls of soy sauce and wasabi for dipping and the salad on the side.
-
March 15th, 2012Mains, Mother's Day Mission
Whipping something up out of leftovers and cupboard basics can be a challenge, but Lesley has come up with a delicious dish for those evenings when going to the supermarket is not an option. These tarts use Mission Mini Wheat and White Deli Wraps, are very easy to prepare and can inspire you to create your own open tart recipes using a different choice of ingredients.Recipe and Image www.missioninyourkitchen.com
Potato Open TartsIngredients
- 4 Mission Deli Mini Wheat and White Wraps
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 large onions, finely sliced
- 2 tsp wholegrain mustard
- 450g cooked new potatoes, sliced
- 250g Greek style yogurt
- 55g Cheddar, finely grated
- 1 small bunch of chives
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6.
- Line 2 baking trays with parchment paper. Lay 2 mini wraps on each.
- Heat the oil in a pan, add the onions, cover and cook over a medium heat for 10 minutes until softened. Take off the lid, turn up the heat and cook for a further 3 minutes or until lightly golden. Stir in the mustard and spread the mixture evenly over the base of each mini wrap.
- Arrange the potatoes over the top of each.
- Mix together the yogurt, 3/4 of the cheese and chives. Spread over the potatoes.
- Grind over a little black pepper and remaining cheddar.
- Place in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Serve with watercress and crispy bacon if desired.
- An exclusive Lesley Waters recipe.
-
March 15th, 2012Mains, Mother's Day Mission
If you’re looking for something healthy for the family, this dish uses Mission Mediterranean Herb Deli Wraps and is a modern, tasty twist on a traditional family favourite, with a lot fewer calories!Recipe and Image www.missioninyourkitchen.com
Salmon En Croute with Roasted Tomato ChutneyIngredients
- 4 Mission Deli Mediterranean Herb Wraps
- 225g petit pois
- 1 small garlic clove, crushed
- 110g cheddar cheese, finely grated
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4x 100g skinless, boneless salmon fillets
- Fresh basil leaves to serve
- For the chilli roasted tomato chutney:
- 400g baby plum tomatoes, halved
- Pinch of dried chilli flakes
- 1 tbsp balsamic olive oil
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Method
- Cook the peas in boiling water until tender. Refresh under cold water and drain well.
- Place the peas, garlic, cheddar, oil and black pepper in a blender and whiz until smooth-ish.
- Preheat the ovento 200C/400F/gas mark 6.
- Lay the salmon fillets in the centre of each wrap. Spread the top of the salmon fillet with the pea pesto. Fold over the two wrap halves over the salmon fillet and tuck in the two ends. Place seam side down on a baking tray lined with baking parchment.
- Prepare the tomato sauce, place all the ingredients in a small non-stick roasting tin and toss well. Place in the oven for 25 minutes.
- Brush each salmon parcel generously with olive oil and place in the oven for 20 minutes.
- To serve, cut each parcel in half on the diagonal and arrange on a warm serving plate and top with fresh basil leaves. Serve with the roasted tomato chutney.