Currently browsing Snacks and Sides
Cardamom is a widely used spice in Sweden and is used quite a lot particularly in baking. Roast vegetables and cardamom are a wonderful combination and with a little drizzle of honey these are the perfect accompaniment to any Christmas dinner.
This I suppose is an earthy flavoured take on the traditional French dish of potato Dauphinoise completely dressed down to accommodate the knobbly slices of Jerusalem artichokes. Adjust it to your taste, I always go slightly over board on the garlic so if you aren't a big fan stick to at least one clove.
The lemon juice is essential here as it cuts through the richness of dish and gives it an element of citrusy freshness. This dish goes best with roasted meat and a little steamed veg on the side.
Roasted nuts have to be the most simple addition to a Christmas party spread. I have experimented with different spices and flavors and these Indian spices are really an interesting addition.
Prawns can be a little daunting if you haven't cooked them before but to be honest they literally take minutes under the grill and this really simple recipe transforms them into the perfect sweet and spicy party food! They can be tricky if you can't get your hands on the prawns prepared, but don't be put off if you can't. Simply spend a few minutes removing the heads and peeling the outer shells, and they are ready to rock.
These are a truly elegant addition to any party spread. Oysters are always a talking point that can split any group of party goers, it's like marmite you either love them or hate them. I'm a huge fan of the salty fresh flavors and would normally eat them with just a little Tabasco sauce, but I find to entice first time oyster eaters, this delicious Vietnamese dressing does the trick!
Even my just about overripe Avocado, is one of the true underrated super foods- It's packed with essential fatty acids, Vitamin K and antioxidants- it also makes a lovely face mask! (But you didn't hear that from me...) Radish's are often linked to aiding digestive problems and are beneficial for the teeth and gum's- So overall this salad is packed with nutrition and is a perfect Good Mood Food recipe!
Isn't it amazing that some of the most tasty dishes are always the easiest. This recipe is hardly a recipe really, it's a case of assembly when you get down to it. Do try and get your hands on some good quality chorizo from a specialty Spanish food shop if you can, it makes all the difference in taste!
You can get chorizo in fine soft slices or in thick sausage form which I use in this recipe. If you are really stuck and can't get your hands on some chorizo for this recipe, don't panic, you can use a little leftover cooked chicken or some sliced cooked ham as a substitute. The great thing about quesadillas is that you can really adapt them to what you have, the classic ones I normally make are with some salsa, cheese and thinly sliced red onion, simple and delicious!
Wraps are extremely handy for a quick and tasty lunch! The best thing is that you can really go wild when it comes to the ingredients. There are so many variations on this recipe which I make regularely, like avocado and bacon, chicken and chickpea, or even tuna and rocket!
Find your favourite combo and experiment. If you can't get your hands on proscioutto just pick up some streaky bacon instead.
This recipe again comes from aunt Erica, and is adapted from her fairy cake recipe. If you are making these to decorate with kids, and want to limit the time it takes to put everything together, it may be easier to make the cupcakes ahead of time
As the winter months are thankfully coming to end, I am already starting to look towards more fresh and healthy dishes. Thankfully the days are becoming longer and brighter, now don't get me wrong, I'm all about comfort food, but as we start to look towards the spring nothing beats a really fresh and zingy salad. This Rocket Power Chicken Superfood Salad ticks all the boxes for me, it's perfect for a healthy lunch box, just save the dressing until the last minute.
Normally I make this herb paste for a full roast chicken, but I find pre-portioned chicken legs and thighs are perfect for entertaining as you don't have to fuss around with carving. The great thing about this dish is that you can prepare the two trays a few hours ahead of your guest arriving and pop them in the oven just before they arrive! If you don't grow your own herbs you can pick up little packets for about €1 in most supermarkets which are really handy for one off dishes. I love roasting whole garlic bulbs but if it's too much garlic for you just leave these out.
This little recipe came about after I ate at the California Pizza Kitchen in America; they served a really tasty crisp salad, with this rich and tasty peanut dressing. I recreated it from taste, adapted it and recently discovered it goes perfectly with noodles. This is another great little lunch box filler as it can be served hot and cold. Tahini is a creamy, yet smoky paste made from sesame seeds and is similar to peanut butter, which you can also use as a substitute. I sometimes add finely shredded raw Chinese cabbage to these noodles for extra crunch. I love this recipe because you basically combine all the wet and dry ingredients just before serving.
This snickers recipe makes delicious squares which are miles better and totally different than the commercial bars you can buy in the shops, way more chewy, crunchy and chocolatey and totally worth it! We used 100g of white chocolate and 100g of milk chocolate when we made these and swirled the two together to get a super marbled effect to make our squares a little unique.
Mince pies are a traditionally British festive sweet pastry which are very delicious. They are pretty popular here in Ireland but I'm not sure if they are seen in many other countries across the world, maybe you can tell me! The "mince meat" consists of apples, raisins, sultanas, currants, mixed peel and a mix of Christmas spices, so as you can see there is no real meat involved!
I came across the recipe for Hasselback potatoes when I was younger and they are so visually appealing that I had to make them. The traditional recipe, originally from Stockholm, calls for breadcrumbs and cheese, but I have tried to make it as simple as possible for this recipe. The potatoes go nicely alongside most dishes. If your potato slices don’t separate while cooking, increase your heat and you should get better results.
Kitchen Hero: Great Food For Less!
April 26, 2012
Kitchen Hero: Bringing Cooking Back Home!
December 16, 2010



