Showing posts from 2015

Maple Roasted Carrots with Pecans

These Maple Roasted Carrots with Pecans are the perfect side dish to your Christmas lunch. Just pop them into the oven with your potatoes whilst your Turkey is resting - and don't forget you can prep them the night before and stash them in the fridge. I love how the maple syrup makes the carrots go sticky and caramelise.... and the nuts give the dish a lovely contrasting crunch! I'll let you into a little secret - If you've got any leftover they are really good in a wrap with hummus! MAPLE ROASTED CARROTS WITH PECANS Maple Roasted Carrots Yield: 6 as part of a roast Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image Maple Roasted Carrots with Pecans Carrots roasted in maple syrup with pecan nuts. prep time: 5 mins cook time: 25 mins total time: 30 mins ingredients: 1kg Chantenay Carrots, quartered 1 TBSP Olive Oil 4 TBSP Maple Syrup - I used Amber Maple Syrup from  We Love Maple 25g Pecans, chopped instructions


Parsley and Thyme Stuffing

A vegetarian stuffing recipe using store cupboard ingredients including breadcrumbs, eggs, dried parsley and thyme and onion.


Double Chocolate Cranberry Brownies

These happened by accident but my goodness I'm glad they did. I had a little bit of cranberry sauce leftover in a jar as well as half a packet of dried cranberries, so decided to develop this naughty chocolate brownie recipe full of festive flavour. The brownies turned out moist and fudgy - helped by the cranberry sauce - and were gobbled up by hubby's work colleagues in minutes. The chopped nuts on top are optional but added a really lovely crunch. I'm going to be making some more for Boxing Day! OTHER BROWNIES RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE Dark Chocolate Orange Brownies from Jam and Clotted Cream Chocolate Fudge Brownies from Jam and Clotted Cream Triple Choc Brownies from Jam and Clotted Cream DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY BROWNIES Baking, Brownies Baking Baking Yield: 12 bars Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image Double Chocolate Cranberry Brownies A moist fruity chocolate brownie using dried cranberries and cr


Mincemeat Crumble Slices

These mincemeat crumble slices take the flavours we love in traditional mince pies and package them into a convenient, individually portioned handheld bar. As easy grab-and-go treats, they make a wonderful alternative to regular baked mince pies for festive entertaining.


Festive Chocolate Truffles

The kids and I made these truffles as Christmas presents for their school teachers the other day. We made a big batch of the truffle mixture then rolled them in a variety of different ingredients - cocoa, desiccated coconut and chopped nuts (thank you Whitworths for sending these to us to try) before packaging them up in festive boxes. I wont lie, the kids will get very messy and this is from a person who absolutely cannot abide mess. In fact I got quite agitated watching the chaos unfold but I somehow managed to contain the urge to keep washing their hands and cleaning up behind them! They had a huge amount of fun though and that's what matters ...although I'm still finding desiccated coconut and chopped nuts in every crevice in my kitchen and probably will be for the next month. FESTIVE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES  Festive Chocolate Truffles Chocolate Yield: Makes 50 Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image Festive Chocolate Truffles


Christmas Spiced Red Cabbage

The festive season is now well and truly upon us and throughout December Waitrose are asking their social followers what #MakesChristmas for them. Whether it be opening presents, seeing family, listening to Christmas songs or eating that first mince pie, they are asking people to post their favourite festive moment on Twitter and Instagram, with one lucky person winning a Christmas Dinner for 12 people. What #MakesChristmas for me is smelling those lovely heady Christmassy aroma's for the first time. Think cinnamon, clementines, cloves and ginger... and this year Waitrose have rather handily incorporated them into their Signature Spice mix . Now, you probably already know I love getting ahead with my Christmas food preparations!  My freezer is already stashed with lots of festive treats like homemade mince pies, cheese straws and decadent desserts, but did you know you can make and freeze some of the traditional Christmas side dishes too? Freezing this Christmas Spiced Red C


10 Minute Mushroom Stroganoff

The rounds of Christmas disco's, parties and concerts have started this week. After school today we're off to a Christingle service at our local church and then a Brownies party later on for my eldest daughter! In busy times like this I love homecooked meals that can be made quickly and you wont find many meals as quick to make as this creamy mushroom stroganoff. It takes all of 10 minutes but is so tasty that people will genuinely think you've been slaving over a hot stove for hours. If you wanted to make it more meaty, fry some thin strips of steak with the mushrooms and add another spoon of creme fraiche at the end. A sprinkling of chopped parsley would be a nice garnish but not for my kids! 10 MINUTE MUSHROOM STROGANOFF Mushroom Stroganoff Yield: 2 Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image 10 Minute Mushroom Stroganoff A quick and easy mushroom stroganoff made in 10 minutes. prep time: 4 mins cook time: 6 mins total ti


Baked Meatballs in a Rich Tomato and Basil Sauce

Comfort food at its best and a recipe the whole family will love. I cheated and used Lidls Italian style meatballs which were very tasty and beautifully seasoned - they will be going on the shopping list again! I find meatballs tend to break up if I fry them so in this recipe I oven baked the meatballs separately before adding them to the tomato sauce just before serving. The kids enjoyed the baked meatballs with spaghetti but mashed potatoes or rice would be good as alternatives. BAKED MEATBALLS IN A TOMATO AND BASIL SAUCE Baked Beef Meatballs in a Tomato and Basil Sauce Meatballs Yield: 4 Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image Baked Meatballs in a Tomato & Basil Sauce Oven baked meatballs in a tomato and basil sauce prep time: 10 mins cook time: 50 mins total time: 60 mins ingredients: 24 ready made meatballs - I used Lidls Italian Meatballs which have a lovely flavour 1 Onion, chopped 2 Garlic Cloves, chopped


Microwave Jambalaya

Microwave meals are back and this is a fab bung it in the microwave recipe that's a real lifesaver when time is short...or when you don't have the use of an oven! People don't tend to use their microwaves for actually making meals but I've found I can do quite a lot in mine...veggie chilli, risotto's, as well as this really flavourful jambalaya with chorizo and red pepper. I'll be posting more easy microwave meals in the coming weeks so keep an eye out on the blog. MICROWAVE JAMBALAYA Microwave Jambalaya Yield: 4 Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image Microwave Jambalaya A jambalaya recipe made in the microwave prep time: 5 mins cook time: 22 mins total time: 27 mins ingredients: 400g Can of Chopped Tomatoes (with added chilli if you like it spicy) Canful (empty can of tomatoes) of Easy Cook Long Grain Rice 1 Red Pepper, chopped 120g Chorizo Sausage, cut into chunks 2 TSP Cajun Seasoning Handf


Spicy Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Spinach Curry

There's nothing better than a warming curry on a wet and windy evening. This is a lovely robust veggie version that will keep you feeling full until breakfast - and I even convinced hubby, who usually isn't satisfied unless there is meat on his plate (although he's still unconvinced by chickpeas). *RELATED RECIPE - SWEET POTATO & BUTTER BEAN STEW * If you wanted a milder curry then use Korma curry paste instead of Rogan Josh. I served this with naan breads and mango chutney but if you wanted to stretch it a bit further then serve some pilau rice alongside. SPICY SWEET POTATO, CHICKPEA & SPINACH CURRY Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Spinach Curry Curry, Vegetarian Yield: 4 Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Spinach Curry A tasty and spicy vegetarian curry with Sweet Potato, Chickpeas and Spinach prep time: 10 mins cook time: 45 mins total time: 55 mins ingredients: 2 Red Onions