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Stanford & Westenhanger

Golden Jubilee

2002

Recipe Book

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Contents

Pages

1. Foreword 3

2. Soups and Starters 4-10

3. Main Courses, vegetables and salads 11-35

4. Fish Dishes 36-46

5. Cakes and Desserts 47-71

6. Miscellaneous 72-81

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Foreword

The notion of creating our own local recipe book for H M Queen Elizabeth 11 Golden Jubilee Year came to me out of the blue at the beginning of 2002. I thought it would be an interesting exercise to compile residents’ and parishioners’ favourite fare. Having sampled many varieties of cakes and jams during the 6 years I have been living here I knew there should be a very productive parish to tap into. I have not been let down!

The 124 contributions in this book are indeed varied and fascinating and most of all mouthwatering – ranging from the Queen Mother’s favourite cake to recipes from the Friends of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Malawi including grasshoppers and bee larvae.

My grateful thanks to all who have contributed, helped with the typing and those who have purchased this book. All proceeds will be going towards All Saints Church, I CAN & Barnardos.

Happy cooking and even happier eating!

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Soups and Starters

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Page

1. Cucumber Soup Elaine Brown 4

2. Spicy Tomato and Bean Soup Rev’d Gill Mack 5

3. Butternut Pumpkin Soup Barnardo’s 5

4. French Onion Soup Alwyn Walker 6

5. “Hairy” Soup Peter Hill 6

6. Mystery Soup Dorothy Bultitude 7

7. Chilled Almond and Garlic Soup Dorothy Bultitude 7

8. Courgette Soup Patricia Smallwood 8

9. Lentils and Apple Paté Elaine Brown 9

10. Asparagus with Tangy Herb Sauce Sue Lewis 9

11. Mushroom and Thyme Paté Sue Lewis 10

12. Caviar and Consommé Ramekins Dorothy Bultitude 10

Cucumber Soup

This recipe comes from a book called “Eating with Friends,” Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Malawi.

1 cucumber

1 oz butter

½ onion

¾ pint milk

½ teaspoon curry powder

1 tablespoon plain flour

1½ pints chicken stock

Method: Fry chopped onion in butter, add thinly sliced cucumber and skin. Add flour and curry powder and fry for 5 minutes. Add stack and boil for 30 minutes. Add milk and season to taste.

Elaine Brown, St George’s, Kennett Lane

Spicy Tomato and Bean Soup

Serves 4 (can be served hot or chilled)

1 x 397gm/14oz can tomatoes in natural juice

1 clove of garlic, peeled

1 x 450gm/1lb can baked beans in tomato sauce (or chilli beans in chilli sauce)

½ cucumber

1 red pepper, cored and seeded

300ml/½ pint chicken or vegetable stock

4 tablespoons olive oil

salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

splashes of Worcester sauce (optional)

Method: Place the tomatoes, garlic, beans, cucumber, pepper, stock and olive oil in a blender or processor and blend until smooth.

Season with salt, pepper and Worcester sauce. If soup is too thick for your liking add more stock. Either cover and chill for 3-4 hours or heat and eat! Garnish with chopped pepper, onion rings, croutons or chopped herbs.

Rev’d Gill Mack

Butternut and Pumpkin Soup

1lb of peeled and chopped pieces of butternut pumpkin

1 pint of vegetable stock

1 large onion

2 oz of butter

Salt & pepper to taste

Method:

Fry the onions in the butter until they are translucent. Add the butternut pumpkin and the vegetable stock. Boil until the pumpkin is cooked. Place the onions, stock and pumpkin pieces into a blender and blend until the consistency of the soup is smooth. Add salt to taste.

Barnardo’s Big Bite

French Onion Soup

Serves 4

2 large onions

3 tablespoons oil

1 ½ pints/900mls vegetable stock

1 teaspoon mixed herbs

1 teaspoon yeast extract

Salt & pepper to taste

Wholemeal croutons to serve

4 oz/100gm Cheddar cheese, grated

Method: Finely slice the onions. Heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the onions until golden brown. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve with wholemeal croutons and grated cheese.

Alwyn Walker, Westenhanger

“Hairy” Soup or Kipper and Tomato Soup

A really tasty soup for winter or served cold in summer. However much one tries the odd, very fine bone will appear to give it its hairy appearance!

2 kipper fillets 1 pint hot milk

1 ½ lbs tinned tomatoes 1 pint single cream

2 tablespoons plain flour Salt & black pepper to taste

1 small clove garlic – crushed 2 oz butter

Method: Cut up the kipper fillets into small pieces: melt the butter in a large, heavy saucepan. Take off heat: stir in kipper, tomatoes and crushed garlic. Stir in the flour. Gradually stir in hot milk mixed with another half pint of water seasoned with salt and black pepper. Put on a lid and simmer for 20 minutes; allow to cool before putting the lot through an electric blender (I think that is a food processor). Stir in cream and season to taste. Serve hot or cold; with hot a wee dram of sherry gives it some body; cold a squeeze of lemon juice makes it refreshing.

Peter Hill, Hawthorns, Stanford

Mystery Soup

Serve this delicate green soup to guests and ask them to guess the ingredients – in my experience they rarely do. The soup is equally delicious hot or cold.

Serves 4 – 6

2 pints of chicken stock, made from stock cubes if need be

1 lb of thin leeks, washed well and sliced thinly into rings

1 large ripe avocado

Juice of half a small lemon

¼ pint of double cream

Large handful of parsley, chopped very finely

Salt and cayenne pepper

Method: Bring the stock to boiling point in a large saucepan and then add the leeks and simmer for 8 – 10 minutes till soft. Meanwhile, blitz the avocado flesh, the lemon juice and the cream in a liquidiser (or food processor) until smooth. Spoon this puree into the cooked leeks in the saucepan and stir to mix evenly. Now liquidise the whole lot (you’ll probably have to do it in two batches). Season to taste, return it to the saucepan and bring back up to the boil just for a minute. Add the chopped parsley and serve. You can delay serving the soup till later, but don’t add the parsley until you have re-heated it and don’t boil it for more than a minute. It is equally good served chilled.

Dorothy Bultitude

Chilled Almond and Garlic Soup

Serves 4

I have a friend who says he doesn’t like garlic – well, he ate this soup and could not believe how much garlic went into it. Cooking the garlic slowly in milk brings out their sweet, mild flavour and so the soup doesn’t taste strongly of garlic. Try it and see! The recipe is from Spain.

1 head of garlic (yes, a whole head!) Juice of small lemon

1 large onion, chopped roughly 2 teaspoons of paprika

1½ pints of full cream milk 4 oz ground almonds

3-4 pinches of cayenne pepper Salt

Method: Separate the garlic cloves from the head and peel them. (This is very quick to do if you place them on a board and bash them with flat of a broad-bladed knife, the skins then come off very easily). Put the peeled cloves and the chopped onion into a largish saucepan and add ½ pint of the milk. Bring just up to the boil, then turn down the heat, cover and simmer very gently for 20-25 minutes. The onions and garlic should then be very soft. Pour into a food processor or liquidizer, add the ground almonds and blitz till you have a smooth paste. Turn this paste back into the saucepan and stir in the remaining 1 pint of milk. Season generously with salt. Bring to the boil, stirring all the time, and simmer, still stirring, for 8-10 minutes. Pour into a bowl, leave to cool and then chill in the fridge. When you are ready to serve it, mix the lemon juice with the paprika and cayenne pepper in a small jug with a teaspoon. Spoon the chilled soup into bowls and swirl some of the lemon mixture on top of each bowl.

(This soup is meant to be thick, but you can thin it a little with more milk if necessary after it has chilled).

Dorothy Bultitude

Courgette Soup

2 large onions 1½ pints chicken stock

3oz butter Salt and pepper

1 clove garlic 10oz double cream

½ teaspoon curry powder Chopped parsley

2lbs courgettes

Method: Chop onions. Melt butter and sweat onions, crushed garlic and curry powder. Add sliced courgettes and stock and simmer for 20 minutes. Liquidise lightly. Season and add cream. Reheat gently and serve sprinkled with chopped parsley.

Patricia Smallwood

Lentils and Apple Paté

4 oz lentils 2 small sweet apples, chopped

½ pint (300ml) water 4 tablespoons olive oil

1 bay leaf Salt and pepper

1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter or tahini (sesame seed paste)

1 medium onion, chopped

Method: Put soaked lentils into a saucepan with the water and bay leaf. Cover, bring to the boil, then simmer for 1 hour or until tender and the water is almost all absorbed. Lift out bayleaf, season and taste and either mash well or liquidise. Heat oil and soften onion and apples, then cover and cook them and mix well. Put into a small saucepan and carefully mix in the peanut butter. Press into small individual pots and chill until firm. Garnish with parsley and serve with hot brown toast. May also be made with 3oz cooked cranberries instead of apple and a little brandy is added with the peanut butter.

Elaine Brown, St George’s, Kennett Lane

Asparagus with Tangy Herb Sauce

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 4 minutes

Serves 8

1 cup watercress leaves – stalks removed

½ cup mint leaves

1 ¼ cups sour cream

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Method: Add asparagus to a pan of boiling water, cook over high heat for 4 minutes or until tender but not mushy; drain.

Combine watercress and mint leaves in blender or food processor bowl; blend for 1 minute or until finely chopped. Add sour cream and lemon juice; blend for 1 minute or until combined. Transfer mixture to medium sized pan and stir over medium heat for 3 minutes or until hot. Divide asparagus into eight portions and serve each with a spoonful of sauce sprinkled with chives. Sauce can be made a day ahead. Store covered in plastic wrap in the fridge. Heat before serving. Not suitable for freezing.

Sue Lewis, Westenhanger

Mushroom and Thyme Paté

Preparation time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 12 minutes

Serves 12

60 gm butter 250 gm chicken livers

1 small onion, chopped 2 rashers bacon, chopped

1 garlic clove crushed 60 gm small mushroom caps

1 tablespoon thyme leaves ½ cup port

½ cup thickened cream

Method: Melt butter in medium pan and add the garlic and thyme; stir for 2 minutes or until onion is tender. Add chopped livers and bacon; stir fry for 3 minutes or until browned. Add mushrooms and port and stir fry for 10 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Place mixture into a blender or food processor bowl, add cream and process to a smooth texture. Spoon into serving dishes. Store covered in plastic wrap in fridge. Paté can be made up to one week in advance.

Sue Lewis, Westenhanger

Caviar and Consommé Ramekins

Serves 6

This starter is really special – make it when you want to impress! It is also very easy and quick to make.

2oz lumpfish caviar

10oz can of consommé – beef or chicken as you prefer

8oz cream cheese – full fat, but you could use a half fat variety

Parsley to garnish

Method: Blend the consommé and cream cheese in a liquidiser. Pour into six ramekin dishes and set in the fridge for at least 2 hours. When ready to serve, spoon 1 teaspoon of lumpfish caviar onto each ramekin and garnish with a parsley sprig. Serve with very thinly sliced bread and butter.

Dorothy Bultitude

Main Courses, vegetables and salads

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Page

1. Coronation Chicken Patricia Smallwood 12

2. Chicken Cacciatora Peter Hill 13

3. Chicken Normandy Style Lesley Goodwin 14

4. Pesto Chicken and Potato Bake Moira Price 15

5. Mediterranean Chicken Moira Price 15

6. Cold Chicken Curry Marian Bebbington 16

7. Chicken in Vermouth Elaine Brown 16

8. Braised Turkey Fillet Moira Price 17

9. Creamy Squash and Ham Gratin Jackie Mitchell 17

10. Pork and Green Veg. Stirfry Moira Price 18

11. West Country Pork Chops Mrs Palmer 18

12. Spiced Pork Roast Paul Smallwood 19

13. Breast of Pheasant ‘en papillote’ Moira Price 20

14. Medallions of Venison Moira Price 21

15. Rigatoni Sausage Bake Jackie Mitchell 21

16. Sunshine Special Lesley Goodwin 22

17. Orange Stuffed Loin of Lamb Patricia Smallwood 23

18. Lamb and Lentil Bake Anon 24

19. Minted Lamb Steak Moira Price 25

20. Tjalknol Sally Dillon 25

21. Flemish Steak Elaine Brown 26

22. Stifado Anne Duncan 26

23. Parish Salad Ken Bultitude 27

24. Stuffed Peppers Martin de Wolf 29

25. “Fat Free” Roast Potatoes Martin de Wolf 29

26. “Wind Free” Brussels Sprouts Jackie Mitchell 29

27. Rice Cooked the Eastern Way Judy Maxwell 30

28. Singapore Noodles Moira Price 30

29. Romantic Risotto Nigel Songhurst 30

30. Vegetarian Quiche Evelyn Holt 31

31. Mushroom Ragout Emma Getliffe 32

32. Briam Anne Duncan 33

33. Savoury Cauliflower Platter Elaine Brown 33

34. Aubergine Bake Emma Getliffe 34

35. Quick Base Pizza Elaine Brown 34

36. Grandma’s Head Dorothy Bultitude 35

Coronation Chicken

Serves 6-8

2 young roasting chickens Salt

Water and a little wine to cover 3-4 peppercorns

Carrot Cream of curry sauce

Bouquet garni

Method: Poach the chickens with water, wine, salt, peppercorns and bouquet garni for about 40 minutes or until tender. Allow to cool in liquid. Joint birds and remove bones with care. Prepare sauce given below. Mix chicken and sauce together, arrange on a dish and coat with extra sauce.

Cream of Curry Sauce

1 tablespoon of oil A slice or two of lemon

2oz onion, finely chopped Squeeze of lemon juice

1 dessertspoon curry powder 1-2 tablespoons apricot purée

1 good teaspoon tomato purée ¾ pint mayonnaise

1 wine glass red wine 1 wine glass water

1 bay leaf Salt, sugar and a touch of pepper

2-3 tablespoons lightly whipped cream

A little extra whipped cream

Method: Heat oil, add onion, cook gently for 3-4 minutes and add curry powder. Cook again for 1-2 minutes. Add purée, wine, water and bay leaf. Bring to boil, add salt, sugar to taste, pepper and lemon and lemon juice. Simmer with pan uncovered for 5-10 minutes. Strain and cool. Add by degrees to the mayonnaise with the apricot purée to taste Adjust seasoning adding a little more lemon juice if necessary. Finish with the whipped cream. Take a small amount of sauce (enough to coat the chicken) and mix with a little extra cream and seasoning.

One can use Hellman’s if the idea of homemade mayonnaise frightens you!

Patricia Smallwood

Chicken Cacciatora

Serves 4

8 breasts/thighs of chicken

2 large cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed

1 tablespoon tomato puree

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves bruised and finely chopped

10 fl oz (275ml) dry white wine

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

Salt and freshly milled black pepper

2 largish onions, peeled and thickly sliced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1lb 8oz (700g) ripe red tomatoes or tinned tomatoes

1 bay leaf

You will also need a lidded flame proof casserole with a capacity of 6

pints (3.5 litres)

Method: First of all heat the oil in the casserole over a high heat and

season the chicken with salt and pepper. Then, when the oil gets

really hot and begins to shimmer, fry the chicken - in two batches –

to brown it well on all the sides: remove the first batch to a plate

while you cook the second; each piece needs to be a golden brown

colour all over. When the second batch is ready leave it to rest with

the first batch. Now add the onions to the casserole, turn the heat

down to medium and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until they are

softened and nicely brown at the edges.

Meanwhile, skin the tomatoes (unless you are using tinned tomatoes).

To do this, pour boiling water over them and leave them for exactly 1

minute before draining and slipping off their skins, then chop them

quite small. When the onions are browned, add the garlic to

the casserole, let this cook for about one minute, then add the tomatoes,

tomato puree, rosemary, bay leaf, white wine and white wine vinegar.

Now add some seasoning and bring it up to the boil, then let it

bubbleand reduce (without covering) to about half its original volume,

which will take about 20 minutes. Now add the chicken pieces, stir

them around for a bit, then put the lid on and allow to simmer gently for

40 minutes, until the chicken joints are cooked through.

Peter Hill, Hawthorn House, Stanford

Chicken Normandy Style

A family favourite. You can adapt this and use pork or pheasant instead.

1 chicken cut into portions with skin removed.

1 large onion roughly chopped

2 sticks celery roughly chopped

1 Bramley apple roughly chopped

3 rashers streaky bacon diced/sliced

Glass of dry cider

½ pint stock or water

1 tablespoon flour

Cream and brandy (optional)

Method: In a little oil brown the chicken pieces in pan and set aside.

Cook bacon and set aside with chicken. Add onion, apple and celery to

pan having poured off excess oil/fat. When onion turns translucent add

flour and stir and cook for I minute. Add cider stirring continuously

(may need to remove from heat as flour thickens). Add stock and bring

to the boil. Add chicken and bacon and any juices in dish and simmer

until chicken is cooked (approx. 45 minutes) – this can be done either

on the hob or in the oven. When cooked take out the chicken portions

and keep warm while you finish the sauce. Liquidise or mash the

apple/onion and celery to thicken. Season to taste and add shot of

brandy and drizzle of cream as a treat. Pour over chicken.

ESSENTIAL: serve with fried bread triangles as croutons. Good old

creamed potatoes, carrots and peas make a great partnership here.

Lesley Goodwin, Lyvedenhurst, Westenhanger

Pesto and Chicken Bake

2 tablespoons olive oil

350 g new potatoes

450 g skinned chicken breast

1 small jar red pesto

Grated Cheddar cheese to top

Basil leaves to garnish

Pre heat oven to 200 degrees C; gas mark 6

Method: In a lightly oiled shallow ovenproof dish arrange the thin sliced potato to form the base. Drizzle oil over slices and season. Coat the chicken in the pesto and place on top of potato slices. Cook for 40 minutes uncovered. Remove from oven, top with cheddar and place under hot grill for 3-4 minutes until cheese is bubbling and golden brown. Serve immediately garnished with basil leaves.

Moira Price, Stanford

Mediterranean Chicken

Serves 4

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 small boneless chicken breast skinned and cut into strips.

1 yellow or green pepper, de-seeded and cut into strips

295 g can of Campbells Condensed Vegetable Blends Mediterranean Soup

½ pint water

2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Method: Heat oil in a large frying pan and stir fry chicken for 3-4 minutes. Add pepper and stir fry for a further 2-3 minutes. In a small bowl combine soup and water, pour over chicken and simmer for 10 minutes or until chicken is tender, stirring occasionally. Just before serving sprinkle on basil and serve with rice or pasta.

Moira Price, Stanford

Cold Chicken Curry

This is a very old favourite given to me some thirty years ago, by a friend, way before Coronation Chicken became famous. By all accounts our present Queen had Coronation Chicken served as one of the dishes for her coronation, I hasten to add, not this recipe.

Serves 5

2kg chicken 1 medium onion

Juice of a lemon 50g butter

Method: Put onion inside chicken and pour lemon juice over. Cover with butter and roast until tender. Cool. Remove flesh and cut into bite size pieces.

Sauce:

110g clear honey

4 tablespoons chutney (2 sweet pickle and 2 apricot or mango)

2 dessertspoons curry powder

Scant glass white wine

¾ pint double cream

½ point real mayonnaise

Melt honey, add chutney and curry powder and simmer for 25 minutes, then add wine, stir well and remove from heat to cool. Beat up cream and mayonnaise. Then pour into spice mix, add chicken and put into dish. Refrigerate. Serve with salad and cold rice mixed with walnuts and dried fruit or whatever you like. ENJOY!

Marian Bebbington, Connaught Lodge, Westenhanger

Chicken in Vermouth

6 quarters of chicken Oil

¼ bottle vermouth 4 slices bacon

½ lb mushrooms Tarragon

Small onion ½ pint double cream

Method: Seal chicken in oil and fry bacon and onion. Put into casserole and cover with vermouth and onions. Put in moderate oven for 1 hour. Add cream and thicken with cornflour if necessary. Serve with pasta and salad.

Elaine Brown, Kennett Lane

Braised Turkey Fillet with Garlic and Lemon

Serves 4

2 large or 4 small fresh turkey fillets.

1 tablespoon seasoned flour 25g butter

2 turnips, quartered ½ Swede, sliced

1 parsnip, roughly chopped 100g French beans

2 sticks celery, roughly chopped ½ onion, peeled and sliced

2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 pint chicken stock

4 tablespoons cream

Grated zest and juice ½ lemon

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Method: Wash and clean the turkey fillets, toss in seasoned flour and fry in butter for 2 minutes. Put turnips, Swede, parsnips, celery and beans into the base of a casserole, place the turkey steaks on top, add zest and juice of lemon. Fry onion and garlic, add to casserole and pour on chicken stock. Cover and bake at 200 degrees C; gas mark 6 for 1 hour. Remove fillets from casserole, mix together remaining ingredients. Serve with mashed potato and cabbage.

Moira Price, Stanford

Creamy Squash and Ham Gratin

Preparation time: 15-20 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Serves 4

1 butternut or acorn squash

2 leeks

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 clove garlic finely chopped

350g/12oz chunk of ham diced into bite sized pieces

200ml carton crème fraiche or cream

100 g/4ozs fresh breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon olive oil

50 g/2ozs mature Cheddar cheese, coarsely grated

Method: Preheat oven 180 degrees C/gas mark 4. Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut off the skin. Dice the flesh into bite sized pieces and put into a saucepan. Thickly slice the leeks and add to the saucepan with the squash along with the rosemary, garlic and plenty of seasoning. Add about 1 inch of water to the pan and cook for 10 minutes until just softened. Drain well. Add the diced ham. Stir in the crème fraiche, add more seasoning if required. Spoon the mixture into a 3 pint shallow ovenproof dish. Mix the breadcrumbs, olive oil and grated cheese together and sprinkle over the mixture to cover completely. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden.

This tasty supper dish is so quick and easy to make and very filling. Serve on its own or with a side salad or jacket potato.

Useful tip: Put a large loaf or left over stale bread through a food processor to make breadcrumbs and store in freezer bag or plastic box in the freezer. Take out as and when required.

Jackie Mitchell, Stanford

Pork and Green Vegetable Stir Fry

225g lean pork steaks, cut into strips

225g green vegetables – celery, beans, courgettes – thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

5 tablespoons Hoi-Sin sauce

Method: In a non-stick wok or large frying pan dry fry the meat for 3-4 minutes until browned. Add the vegetables and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the Hoi-Sin sauce and bring to the boil. Serve immediately with rice or egg noodles.

Moira Price, Stanford

West Country Pork Chops

1lb cooking apples 1 chopped onion

1 teaspoon castor sugar 1 tablespoon dried sage

4 pork chops ¼ pint cider

4 tablespoons toasted breadcrumbs 3oz grated cheese and1oz butter

Method: Peel, core and slice apples. Lay on base of dish. Sprinkle with onion, sugar and sage. Arrange chops on top of apple. Pour on the cider and season with salt and pepper. Mix breadcrumbs and cheese and cover the chops. Add a knob of butter. Bake in a hot oven (400F/200C) for 45 minutes or until the chops are cooked with a crispy golden crust. Mrs Palmer, Manor Cottage, Stanford

Spiced Pork Roast with Apple and Thyme Cream Sauce

St Patrick’s Day Delight

Belly of pork makes a tender, flavoursome roasting joint; cooked simply on the bone it has the advantage of a large area of skin to make crackling. Serves 4

1 pork belly – about 3lb

Stuffing:

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, crushed

3oz butter

1 egg, beaten

8oz fine breadcrumbs

A bunch of fresh mixed herbs, finely chopped

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Spicy Paste:

2 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons chutney

2 tablespoons mustard

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, crushed

Sauce:

2 large cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped

1 medium onion, peeled and chopped

2 cloves garlic

2 sprigs thyme

125ml medium/sweet white wine

125ml chicken stock

250ml cream

Method: First prepare the stuffing. Cook the onion and garlic in butter until soft, then add the herbs and breadcrumbs. Cool a little before mixing in the egg and seasoning well with salt and freshly ground pepper. Preheat oven to Gas Mark 2 or 150C. Prepare the meat. Trim off any excess fat and prick the centre of the meat with a kitchen fork, then combine all the Spicy Paste ingredients together and brush the meat with this mixture. Spread the stuffing over the meat, then roll it up and tie firmly with cotton string. Brown the meat with a little oil in a hot roasting tin and cook in the preheated oven, seam side up – preferably on a rack over the tin – for 3 hours. Halfway through cooking, remove the joint from the oven and brush liberally with Spicy Paste; return to the oven seam side down and continue cooking.

Make the sauce. Bring everything to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes, then discard the thyme, liquidise the mixture, strain and season to taste. If it seems too thick, adjust the texture with extra stock. Serve the sliced meat on heated plates with its sauce. Accompany with mashed potato, pickled carrots and a seasonal salad.

Paul Smallwood, Stanford

Breast of Pheasant ‘en papillote’ with Wild Mushrooms

Serves 4

4 pheasant breasts

8oz mixed wild mushrooms

1oz butter

Salt and freshly ground white pepper

4 sprigs of thyme

4 tablespoons Madeira

120ml pheasant stock

Method: Trim pheasant breast of any sinew and excess skin. Using a small sharp knife, remove any dirt and root from the mushrooms and cut into bite sized pieces. Take 4 sheets of greaseproof paper or foil. Divide the butter into four and place a piece in the centre of one half of a sheet. Place the breasts on top. Fold the paper over, sealing the edges. Pour 1 tablespoon of the Madeira into each bag along with a quarter of the stock. Seal the remaining open edge of each bag. Place on to a baking tray and cook in an oven heated to 230C/Gas Mark 8 for 12-14 minutes. To serve either transfer the unopened bags to warmed serving plates and serve immediately while they are still inflated letting your guests experience the breaking of their own bags. Or, open each bag in the kitchen and transfer the contents to the plates, being careful to arrange them neatly.

Moira Price, Stanford

Medallions of Venison with Chestnuts

Serves 4

Portions of venison (12 x 2oz) medallions

Salt and black pepper

3 fluid oz port

12 fluid oz game stock

2 tablespoon oil

1oz unsalted butter

20 whole shelled chestnuts

4 fluid oz red wine

1 tablespoon double cream

5 oz unsweetened canned chestnut purée

12 flat parsley leaves

Method: Lightly season the medallions. Heat the oil in a frying pan and add half of the butter. When sizzling add the medallions and sear. Reduce the heat and gently cook for 4 minutes on each side. Pour off the fat from the pan, add the remaining butter and the whole chestnuts, toss these in the butter for 1 minute then transfer to a roasting pan. Keep warm. Pour off the fat from the roasting pan, add the red wine and reduce over high heat until almost gone. Add the port and stock, bring to the boil and reduce to almost half. To serve mix the cream with chestnut purée in a bowl. Return the medallions and roast chestnuts to the oven for about 2 minutes to reheat. Place 3 spoonfuls of chestnut purée through a fine strainer or muslin and pour over the medallions and plates. Arrange 5 chestnuts on each plate and top each medallion with a parsley leaf.

Moira Price, Stanford

Rigatoni Sausage Bake

Another hearty supper dish.

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Serves 6

140z good quality sausages, skinned and chopped into small pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 large carrot, grated

¼ pint red wine

½ pint vegetable stock

3 tablespoons tomato purée

Sauce:

2oz butter

2 oz flour

1 pint milk

Good pinch of nutmeg

20 oz rigatoni or penne pasta

8oz fresh spinach

5oz mature cheddar grated

Method: Heat oil in a large pan, add the sausage pieces and onions and fry gently until lightly coloured. Add the carrot, wine, stock, tomato purée and season. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 minutes until thickened. Taste and season and set aside. Put butter, flour and milk in a pan. Gently heat, whisking, until thickened and smooth. Add a sprinkle of nutmeg, season and simmer for 2 minutes. Preheat oven to 190C/Gas Mark 5. Bring large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta, stir well, then cook for 10-12 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the spinach and, when just wilted, drain well. Tip half the pasta into a shallow 4 pint ovenproof dish and level. Spoon over the sausage sauce, then cover with remaining pasta. Pour the white sauce evenly over the top and sprinkle with the cheddar cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Leave for 5 minutes before serving. You can make this scrummy dish several hours ahead or freeze.

Jackie Mitchell, Stanford

Sunshine Special

Family favourite – ‘All in one dish.’ (If you use vegetarian sausages serve along side if they are the type that will collapse when cut)

Pasta shells of macaroni

Sausages

Onion, sliced

Red pepper, sliced

Tinned tomatoes, chopped

Grated cheese

Fresh chopped chilli/chilli sauce (optional)

Mushrooms, sliced

Garlic, chopped finely (optional)

Method: Cook pasta, drain and set aside. Cook sausages until flesh is firm enough to cut into rings. In a large pan add a small amount of oil (to stop sausage rings sticking) and heat. Add fresh chilli and sausage slices. When sausage is cooked, remove and set aside. Add onion slices and red pepper to pan and cook in juices/oil. Add garlic and mushroom slices. Add tinned tomatoes and bring to the boil. Add sausages and cooked pasta and bring back to the boil. Stir in some grated cheese. It’s ready to eat!

Lesley Goodwin, Lyvedenhurst, Westenhanger

Orange Stuffed Loin of Lamb

1 loin of lamb, boned out

1 large white onion, finely chopped

2oz butter

2 rashers bacon, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

Grated rind of orange

2 cups breadcrumbs from stale bread

1 large egg

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons orange juice

Method: Melt butter, add onion, garlic and bacon. Cook until bacon is slightly crisp and onion tender. Bind with egg and orange juice and rind. Spread along loin. Tie up with string. Bake in dish in moderate oven 180-190C for 1 hour for slightly pink in centre oven (1 ¼ hours for a little more well done).

Serve with Orange and Mint Sauce

2 teaspoons cornflour ½ cup chicken stock

1 tablespoon redcurrant jelly 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint

Rind and juice 1 large orange 1 tablespoon white vinegar

Segments of 1 large orange

Method: Place cornflour mixed with redcurrant jelly, rind and juice of orange, stock, mint and vinegar. Cook until lightly thickened. Peel orange and remove segments so no membrane is left on them. Add to pan at last minute and warm slightly. Sauce can be made before, up to doing the orange pieces. Very good with baby new potatoes and a green vegetable.

Patricia Smallwood

Lamb and Lentil Bake

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 1hour 15 minutes + cooling

Serves 4

4oz onion

1 inch piece fresh root ginger

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 garlic clove

½ level teaspoon chilli seasoning

½ level teaspoon paprika

½ level teaspoon dried marjoram

8oz minced lamb (or beef)

6oz red lentils

2 level tablespoons tomato paste

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2oz raisins

1 pint vegetable stock

Salt and pepper

2oz butter

4oz filo pastry

Poppy seeds

Method: Finely chop the onion; peel and finely chop the ginger. Heat the oil in a saucepan. Fry the onions until translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in the ginger, crushed garlic, chilli seasoning, paprika and marjoram. Cook, stirring for one minute. Add the mince and stir until it changes colour and is free of any lumps. Mix the lentils, tomato paste, lemon juice, raisins and stock. Cover and cook over a low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the lentils and mice are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Uncover and bubble off any excess liquid, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning then turn into a bowl and cool completely. Melt the butter and lightly grease a 9 inch base measurement, 1 1/3 inch deep, loose based fluted flan tin. Line with sheets of filo pastry, brushing with butter between the layers and overlapping them in a random manner. There should be no gaps in the pastry and the excess pastry should hang over the sides of the tin. Spoon the cold filling into the flan case. Wrap over the pastry to enclose the filling. Brush with butter and garnish with crumpled up pastry trimmings. Brush with butter again. Sprinkle with poppy seeds. Cook at 190C/Gas Mark 5 for about 50-55 minutes, covering lightly with foil after about 30-35 minutes. Cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

Anon – apologies from the editor for having no name!

Minted Lamb Steak

Serves 2

2 lean lamb steaks or chops

25g fresh breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon redcurrant jelly

1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped.

Method: Grill one side of steaks or chops. Meanwhile mix together the other ingredients. Turn over steaks or chops, press mixture onto the meat and cook for a further 3-4 minutes or until golden. Serve with potatoes, rice or a mixed salad.

Moira Price, Stanford

Tjalknol (Frozen lump in English!)

A recipe from a Swedish friend.

Put a frozen joint of beef in the oven at 75C overnight. After 8-9 hours test with a thermometer to see when the meat reaches 65C. At this point take the meat out and let it stand until warm but not very hot. Mix 1 decilitre of rock or sea salt and 1 tablespoon crushed black pepper with ½ litre water. Boil this and let it cool, then pour over the meat and leave for 5 hours, turning occasionally. Carve and serve cold.

Sally Dillon, Stanford

Flemish Steak

1 ½ lb rump steak, cut into fine strips (or fillet if preferred)

3 tablespoons oil

Salt and pepper

3 medium onions, skinned and sliced

Large knob of butter

4 oz button mushrooms 2 level tablespoons Demerara sugar

1 clove garlic, skinned and crushed

Flour

1 bottle of lager Dash of whisky

Method: Marinade the meat overnight in the oil with a little seasoning. Sauté the onions in the butter until lightly coloured and put in a casserole, with the mushrooms. Drain the steak and coat with flour, fry lightly in the pan in which the onions were sautéed, adding any remaining marinating oil. Put the steak in the casserole with onions and mushrooms. Mix together the lager, whisky, sugar, garlic and salt and pepper, and pour over meat. Cover and cook in oven at 150C 300F for 3-3 ½ hours. If available use whole small pickling onions instead of large sliced ones.

Elaine Brown, Kennett Lane

Stifado

This is a meaty stew with beef and baby shallot onions. The best part is the thick sauce, which is made slightly sweet by the onions. (Incidentally the correct pronunciation is Stifatho)

Serves 4-6

1kg lean beef, cubed

500g baby shallot onions, peeled

2 large onions, chopped

3 juicy tomatoes, chopped

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 whole nutmeg crushed (put it into a bag and hit it with a rolling pin!)

1 cinnamon stick and 3 cloves

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Rosemary sprig

1 small wineglass of extra virgin olive oil

2 glasses of red wine

A good splash of vinegar

Fresh coarsely ground black pepper

Method: Add beef to large frying pan with the olive oil, chopped onions, garlic and cook on a high heat until the meat is sealed and the onions have turned soft. Next, add the chopped tomatoes, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, rosemary and a good pinch of black pepper. Keep stirring while the ingredients blend on a moderate heat. Keep heating while adding the wine, vinegar and tomato paste. Stir well. Turn out into a casserole dish – terracotta is best. Add warm water so as to cover the meat. Cook in oven until meat is nearly cooked – about 1 hour. While waiting, peel the baby shallot onions, wash them and shallow fry them in a little olive oil, until soft, not letting them burn. Remove casserole from the oven and add the shallots (but not the oil) to the simmering meat. Return to oven and leave until the meat is thoroughly cooked (soft and tender) – add water as needed so that you end up with a thick sauce.

Anne Duncan, Hayton Manor

Parish Salad

I don’t know how this started but for many years now, whenever there is a parish lunch – and sometimes when there is a harvest supper, Evelyn Holt rings me up to ask if I will do ‘one of my wonderful salads’. “Please” she says. Here is my secret.

The ingredients vary in nature and quantity but the overall effect is the same. To feed half the parish you may need to increase the quantities but these will make enough for a big family. If your ambitions are more modest you can reduce the scale and/or the variety. The dressing recipe comes from an ancient St Michael book (another church connection?) - I don’t measure the ingredients any more – nor do I always use the same ones – its very nice with a crushed clove of garlic. If you make too much you can keep it in the fridge in a screw-top jar.

Salad:

1 red pepper – once halved you can cut out the innards with a grapefruit knife

1 yellow or orange pepper

2 courgettes

About half a cucumber – remove about half the peel

A bunch of spring onions

A red onion

4 medium tomatoes

Most of a head of celery – the heart and inner stalks are best

100 grams (or so) of mushrooms, washed but raw

2 dessert apples (don’t peel them, the colour is important)

Grapes - red, green or black - unseeded and halved

An orange or two - peeled, pithed and sectioned

A bunch of radishes – sliced

A big handful of raisins

Method: All the ingredients should be cut into small pieces – no larger than a centimetre in any dimension - and mixed together in a big bowl or serving dish. Season with salt and pepper.

Dressing:

150 ml/quarter pint of oil – olive, corn or vegetable

3 tablespoons of vinegar - any sort

Freshly ground pepper (I like quite a lot)

Teaspoon made mustard – any sort

Tablespoon lemon juice (or another tablespoon of vinegar)

Teaspoon of sugar

Teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce

Salt – about half a teaspoon

Put them all in a screw-top jar with the lid tight on and shake like crazy. Taste it and add more of whatever it needs.

The salad is best kept for a while to allow the raisins to soak up some liquid but the dressing is best stirred in just before serving.

Ken Bultitude

Stuffed Peppers

One red pepper per person. Important to select peppers that "stand up" on their own and have a stalk.

Aberdeen Angus meatballs or Quorn mince for vegetarians

Red onion chopped

One small red chilli (optional)

Extra virgin olive oil

Method: Cut out top of pepper and clean out the inside making sure all seeds are removed. When preparing several peppers it helps not to mix up the lids! Fill the peppers with the meat or Quorn adding the chopped onion and chopped chilly if you dare Pour half a teaspoonful of olive oil into the pepper and add a pinch of salt. Replace the lids and lightly wrap in tinfoil Place in a pre-heated oven at 180 deg centigrade for 45 minutes When cooked carefully remove the tinfoil and serve immediately.

Martin de Wolf, Westenhanger

“Fat Free” Roast Potatoes

Peel the number of potatoes you require and cut into small pieces. Place in boiling salted water with two vegetable stock cubes Cook for five minutes maximum. Drain water off and then shake the potatoes in the pan to fluff up the edges. Place in a preheated hot oven, using a heavy heated earthenware dish. After five minutes remove and unstick any potatoes from the surface of the utensil using a wooden spoon. Return to the oven and roast for 60 minutes.

You will find that you never do enough!

Martin de Wolf, Westenhanger

“Wind Free” Brussels Sprouts

A delicious recipe that event the kids will eat!

500g Brussels sprouts, roughly shredded

1 onion, finely sliced 25g butter

Method: Melt butter in a large frying pan or wok. Add the sprouts and onion, season to taste and fry gently for 5 minutes until tender. YUMMY. This method can also be used with finely shredded cabbage.

Jackie Mitchell, Stanford

Rice Cooked the Eastern Way

This method was taught to me by a lady who lived in Indonesia for years – and can be used for any rice except pudding, of course.

Take as much rice as needed. Place in a large saucepan. Place hand flat over the rice and pour on water until it just covers the knuckles. Add salt to taste. Put on medium heat with a tight fitting lid. Watch for first signs of steam. Turn down to lowest setting. Leave for 11 minutes. DO NOT OPEN. Remove from heat. Leave unopened for further 5 minutes. If lid is unopened rice will stay hot for best part of 1 hour.

Judy Maxwell, Westenhanger

Singapore Noodles

1 packet Sharwood’s fine noodles

Vegetable oil

3-4 cloves garlic (crushed)

4 skinless chicken breasts, sliced

1 tablespoon curry paste

1 packet beansprouts

300g prawns

2 tablespoons soy sauce

Spring onions to garnish

Red pepper – finely sliced

Method: Cook noodles as instructed on packet. Heat oil in wok, add garlic, chicken, and red pepper. Stir in curry paste, beansprouts, prawns, soy sauce and noodles. Heat to serve in wok. Serve immediately, garnished with spring onions, chopped finely.

Moira Price, Stanford

Romantic Risotto

Serves 2

115 g (4 oz) Arborio rice 55 g (2 oz) unsalted butter

½ tablespoon olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped

115 g (4 oz) flat mushrooms, coarsely cut

0.6 litres (1 pint) vegetable stock

2 tablespoons of finely grated Parmesan

Salt and fresh coarsely ground black pepper

Method: Melt 40 g (1½ oz) with the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the chopped onions and cut mushrooms, cooking gently for a few minutes until the onions are translucent. At the same time bring the stock to a simmer in another saucepan. Add the rice to the onions and mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring, for a few minutes. Add the stock to the rice a ladleful at a time, stirring slowly, and allowing the risotto to simmer gently. When the rice has absorbed the stock, add another ladleful. Continue to do this and keep stirring to prevent the rice from sticking. The risotto will take 20-25 minutes to cook. The rice should have a slight bite in it at the end as this will prevent it from becoming too starchy. Add the Parmesan and the remaining 15g (½ oz) of butter. Season with salt and pepper.

Alternatively: Instead of the mushrooms, add 115 g (4 oz) of cooked peeled prawns to the risotto with the final ladleful of stock.

Nigel Songhurst

Vegetarian Quiche

300g shortcrust pastry mix (200g flour, 50g margarine, 50 g lard)

Water to mix

Line 9 inch flan dish, prick base with fork. Keep cool.

Cook 1 medium diced onion till soft.

3-4 tablespoons peas

3-4 tablespoons sweetcorn

3-4 tablespoons diced peppers

3 tomatoes, sliced

Method: Put all the vegetables in the flan case, arrange tomato slices round outside edge. Beat 2 large eggs, 5oz single cream, 3oz milk and pour over. Dust with black pepper lightly. Grate 120g strong cheddar cheese and scatter over. Cook for 45-60 minutes at 175C until firm. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Evelyn Holt

Mushroom Ragout

A delicious recipe for a dinner party.

Merchant Gourmet mushrooms (1 packet for 4 eaters)

Fresh mushrooms (about 2oz per person)

Good vegetable stock, reduced

8 shallots, finely sliced

2 sticks celery

Garlic (1 clove per person)

Salt and pepper

Pinch of cayenne or chilli pepper

Pinch of mace

Fresh mixed herbs, chopped

Lots of fresh parsley

Butter (a little)

Olive oil (a little)

Tomato purée

1 glass of red wine

1 measure of sweet sherry

1 dollop of Worcestershire sauce

1 red pepper, sliced

1 green pepper, sliced

Method: Soak dried mushrooms in 1/3 pint boiling water. Gently sweat the shallots, peppers, celery, garlic, herbs (except parsley) and seasoning in butter and oil. Add purée, then soaked mushrooms, wine and sherry and stock, then boil and reduce. Add fresh mushrooms (sliced), fresh parsley (keep some to sprinkle on at the end) then simmer for about 40 minutes. To make large, square vol au vents roll out a sheet of frozen puff pastry and cut into four large squares. Score smaller inner squares and place on greased baking sheet. Cook as per packet instructions. Once cooked you can gently remove the inner squares, leaving a base, and set aside. Spoon mushroom mix into the square sections and garnish with parsley or replace the inner square ‘lids.’ Serve immediately with fresh vegetables.

Emma Getliffe, Westenhanger

Briam

Serves 4-6

1kg potatoes, peeled and chopped coarsely

1kg aubergine, chopped coarsely

1kg ripe tomatoes, sliced coarsely

2 green peppers, sliced

3 onions, sliced coarsely

2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

1 tea cup olive oil

1 vegetable stock cube

Method: Place chopped vegetables in a large baking tray, mixing them up. Pour over olive oil. Sprinkle parsley and crumbled vegetable stock cube over. Bake for 1 ½ hours and from time to time open the oven and gently stir. If it becomes too dry add a little water. Try not to overcook the Briam, the vegetables should retain some body, not go soggy! Serve immediately.

Anne Duncan

Savoury Cauliflower Platter

1 large cauliflower 2 onions

Salt and pepper Parsley

3 oz butter or margarine 3 oz soft breadcrumbs

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon garlic seasoning

2 red peppers

2 tomatoes

4 oz cheese

Divide cauliflower into sprigs and cook in boiling salted water for 8 minutes or until tender. Drain chopped onions and fry in 2 oz butter till soft. Add paprika and garlic seasoning. Add to cauliflower and mix gently. Put into ovenproof dish and top with diced pepper and sliced tomato (blanch pepper for 5 minutes in boiling salted water). Cover with crumbs and cheese mixed and dot with remaining butter. Heat in oven until golden brown. Garnish with parsley.

Elaine Brown, Kennett Lane

Aubergine Bake

One of our favourites and very easy.

2lbs aubergines, thickly sliced

8oz Mozzarella cheese, sliced

5oz Ricotta cheese

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Olive oil

Handful of fresh basil leaves

Large tin chopped tomatoes

Pesto sauce

Parmesan cheese, finely grated for topping

Method: Sprinkle the aubergines with salt and leave to sweat for half an hour, then wipe dry with kitchen towel. Brush lightly with olive oil and place on oiled baking trays in single layers. Bake at 220C for 12 minutes or until golden brown and soft. Mix 1 tablespoon of pesto sauce into the tinned chopped tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Layer the aubergines with this tomato mix, Mozzarella and Ricotta in a lightly oiled casserole dish, sprinkling each layer with a few basil leaves. Finish with a layer of Mozzarella and then sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake at 180C for 40 minutes. Serve hot with a tossed salad and fresh bread.

Emma Getliffe, Westenhanger

Quick Base Pizza

6oz flour – cake or bread

3 fluid oz water

6oz oil

Pinch of salt

Combine all ingredients into a plastic container with top. Shake all ingredients. Join together to make the dough. Roll out and put topping on of your choice. Bake for 30 minutes.

Elaine Brown, Kennett Lane

Grandma’s Head

So christened when my grandchildren asked what the dish they were eating was called and were told: ‘No name, it’s just out of my head’.

I have given no quantities for the vegetables as this is a ‘see what’s lurking in the fridge and use it up’ job!

Serves 3 or 4 (or more!)

Method: Fry some finely chopped onion with a crushed clove or two of garlic in 2 tablespoons olive oil until softened and translucent. Add some sliced courgettes; a red and yellow pepper (each deseeded and cut up into small pieces); small broccoli florets; sliced mushrooms; skinned and chopped tomatoes (or a tin of chopped tomatoes); a couple of celery sticks chopped small; (whatever you have to hand, in fact). Season with salt and pepper and gently simmer until all the vegetables are tender but not overcooked. While the vegetables are softening, cook some pasta spirals (or other shapes) in lightly salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain, and stir into the cooked vegetables. Transfer this mixture to an oven dish (such as a lasagne dish).

Make a cheese sauce with 2 oz butter; 1 pint milk, 1 ¼ oz plain flour and 3 – 4 oz grated cheddar cheese. Season, pour over the pasta and vegetables, mixing it in a little with a fork. Scatter the top with grated parmesan (optional) and bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 F/180 C/gas mark 4 for 20 – 30 minutes or until nicely browned and bubbling.

Dorothy Bultitude

Fish Dishes

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Page

1. Fried St Peter’s Fish Sheila Palmer 37

2. Salmon Steaks Anon 37

3. Sundowner Salad Nigel Songhurst 38

4. Salmon en Croute Patricia Smallwood 38

5. Spiced Fish Pie Wendy Peachey 38

6. Avocado and Prawn Salad Valerie Rudd 39

7. Rollmop Herrings Lesley Goodwin 39

8. Fish al Nuria Lesley Goodwin 40

9. Cockle Cakes Clive and Ruth Fielding 40

10. Fried Fillets of Whiting Clive and Ruth Fielding 41

11. Fish Stew Clive and Ruth Fielding 41

12. Cod and Prawn Supper Dish Doreen & Percy Coleman 42

13. Smoked Fish Pate Terrine Tony Bartolo 43

14. Mackerel in Marsella Sauce Carol Zielinski 43

15. Prawn Saganati Anne Duncan 43

16. Grilled Fish and Almonds Peter & Elfriede Devanney 44

17. Salmon Mousse Jane Smallwood 45

18. Mackerel Paté Maureen Meedy 45

19. Smoked Mackerel Mousse Elaine Brown 45

Fried St Peter’s Fish

2 whole St Peter’s Fish, cleaned and gutted

2 – 3 tablespoons (15 ml) vegetable oil

3 – 4 tablespoons (15 ml) light soy sauce

Finely chopped spring onions for garnish

Method: Using a non-stick wok or frying pan, heat the vegetable oil over a medium heat. Fry fish for approximately 5 minutes on each side.

When cooked, lift fish out on to a warmed serving plate and pour over the soy sauce. Pour a little oil from the wok/pan over the fish. Sprinkle over the chopped spring onions to garnish and serve immediately with rice or noodles.

Tip: you can tell if the fish is cooked by gently lifting the bone to see if the flesh falls off easily.

Sheila Palmer, Manor Cottage, Stanford

Salmon Steaks with Pepper and Citrus

Serves 4

50 g butter

4 salmon steaks

Zest and juice of ½ a lemon or lime

75 g fresh ginger, peeled and cut into matchsticks (or 2 teaspoons ground ginger)

2 spring onions cut into strips

1 red pepper, peeled and diced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon honey

Method: Butter four pieces of foil, place each salmon steak in the middle and then sprinkle with lime or lemon zest, ginger, spring onions and red pepper slices. Mix lime or lemon juice, seasoning and honey together and spoon over steaks. Fold foil into parcels. Put parcels on a baking sheet and bake at 400 F/200 C/gas mark 6 for 20 minutes. Leave to stand for a few minutes and then serve with crispy leeks and potatoes.

Anon – apologies from the editor for not knowing your name!

Sundowner Salad

Handful of rocket salad leaves

Handful of tiger prawns

Shavings of Parmesan cheese

Drizzle extra virgin olive oil

Black pepper to season.

Method: Throw first three ingredients into a bowl and stir to mix. Drizzle over the oil, season with black pepper. Easy!

Nigel Songhurst

Salmon en Croute

Get fishmonger to skin a side of salmon and remove major bones. Place uncooked salmon on a thinly rolled out rectangular sheet of puff pastry. Spread salmon with Boursin cheese (after sprinkling fish with a little lemon juice, salt and pepper). Now cover fish with pastry and seal edges with beaten egg. Cook in a fairly hot oven for about 20/25 minutes – you need to watch the pastry! Serve hot with baby new potatoes and a good green salad.

This is also good with a layer of well-drained cooked spinach placed underneath the salmon and on top of it instead of the Boursin cheese. It looks very pretty when cut in slices.

Patricia Smallwood, The Old Rectory, Stanford

Spiced Fish Pie

1 ½ lb smoked cod or haddock

1 teaspoon curry powder

¼ pint fish stock

Chopped spring onions

Little grated nutmeg

Mashed potato

1 ½ oz margarine

½ pint milk

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Cayenne pepper

Method: Cook fish and flake coarsely. Make a sauce of margarine, flour, seasoning, curry powder, milk, fish stock, Worcestershire sauce and spring onions. Cover fish with the sauce and top with mashed potato, seasoned with cayenne pepper, grated nutmeg. Brown in oven 400 F/200 C/gas mark 6 for 25 minutes.

Wendy Peachey, The Drum Inn, Stanford

Avocado Pear, Melon and Prawn Salad with Seafood Sauce

Serves 4

10 minutes preparation time and NO cooking!

2 average sized avocado pears

200 g frozen prawns

½ a small melon (not water melon)

Small jar of seafood sauce

Method: Defrost the prawns. Remove the flesh from the avocado pear and the melon. Cut the pear and melon flesh into a mixing bowl in rough 1 – 2 cm chunks. Add the prawns to the bowl. Mix generous spoonfuls of the sauce with the other ingredients. Spoon the salad into a large or several individual bowls and place in the fridge until 15 – 20 minutes before required.

Valerie Rudd, Westenhanger

Rollmops with Apples and Onion

A quick starter or light lunch for lovers of rollmop herrings.

6 rollmop herring fillets 1 cup (8 fl oz) sour cream

Juice of one lemon ½ tablespoon sugar (optional)

Freshly ground black pepper 1 apple, cored and cut into

1 onion, sliced finely slices

1 tablespoon finely chopped dill

Method: Cut herrings into slices and arrange on a serving dish. Mix sour cream, lemon juice and sugar. Add pepper and let mixture stand for 10 minutes. Arrange apple and onion slices in a layer over the herrings. Cover with cream mixture and sprinkle with dill.

Serve with thin slices of brown/rye bread and butter.

Lesley Goodwin, Westenhanger

Fish al Nuria

A recipe from my Spanish sister-in-law. Best when made 2 days in advance. This has been passed down the generations – a traditional style of preparing and serving fish as a cold dish. Buffet, party, starter – often eaten at Christmas (fish on Christmas Eve tradition).

2 lbs white fish

Onion

Parsley

2 – 3 bay leaves

Salt

Method: Cover fish with water, add the other ingredients above and boil gently till fish is cooked. Drain and cool. Remove skin and bones and separate into chunks. Put fish into a serving dish.

Add garnish: Chopped stuffed green olives; chopped gherkins; hard boiled eggs;1 sweet red pepper (grilled and skinned, or tinned); onion; green pepper. Scatter garnish on top of the fish and lightly mix. Mix equal quantities of water, olive oil and wine vinegar (say, 1 cup of each) and pour over – enough to cover the fish and vegetables. Cover and keep in the fridge for at least 24 hours (48 hours is best).

Lesley Goodwin, Westenhanger

Cockle Cakes

4 oz S R flour

4 oz oatmeal (medium)

2 eggs

10 fl oz milk

Salt and freshly ground black pepper (for seasoning)

8 oz cooked cockles

Oil for frying

Method: Make a batter with the first five ingredients. Fold the cockles into the batter. Heat oil in a deep pan or wok. Drop rounded tablespoons of the mixture into the hot oil and cook until golden brown. Drain and serve with a dipping sauce of your choice.

Clive and Ruth Fielding, Stanford

Fried Fillets of Whiting

Serves 2

Cooking time: marinade for 1 hour, cook for 5 minutes

8 small fillets of whiting

Seasoned flour (method 1)

1 lime

Breadcrumbs (method 2)

1 lemon

4 oz butter

Method: Dry the fillets and place in a bowl. Squeeze the juice of half a lime and half a lemon over them. Marinate for 1 hour, turning every 15 minutes.

Method 1: Remove the fillets from the marinade, drain, cover in seasoned flour and fry in butter for 2 minutes each side.

Method 2: After marinating, cover the skinless side of the fish in white breadcrumbs and grill until that side is golden brown.

Serving: Add the juice from the remaining halves of fruit to the residue of the cooking butter (in method 1) or to melted butter (method 2) and pour over the cooked fish. Serve with green salad and croquette potatoes.

Clive and Ruth Fielding, Stanford

Fish Stew

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Serves 4

1 large onion 1 lb squid

5 cloves garlic 1 lb monkfish tail

Olive oil ½ lb smoked cod

Tin of chopped tomatoes ½ whole prawns

¾ pint fish stock 4 large Dublin Bay prawns

2 tablespoons chopped chives 1 smoked mackerel fillet

¼ lb mushrooms ½ pint mussels (cooked)

Method: Finely dice onion and garlic, fry in olive oil, when opaque add mushrooms. Clean squid and cut into rings. Add to pan (including tentacles), fry until they just go white (about 1 min). Add chopped tomatoes and stock. Fillet the monkfish and cut into 1inch cubes. Roughly cut the cod and mackerel. Bring the contents of the pan to simmer and add the fish and all remaining ingredients. Cook for 2 – 3 minutes. Serve in large bowls with chopped chives and hot ciabiatta bread.

Clive and Ruth Fielding

Cod and Prawn Supper Dish

4 x 3 oz frozen cod steaks 4 oz frozen prawns

1 oz butter 1 oz flour

13 fluid oz milk Seasoning

3 oz coloured cheddar, grated Crispy breadcrumbs

Tomato and parsley for garnish

Method: Arrange the cod in a suitable dish, pierce packets. Microwave on defrost for 5 – 6 minutes. Set aside. Microwave prawns in soup bowl, covered with pierced cling film for 2 minutes on defrost. Set aside. Microwave the butter in a litre jug for 1 minute on full power. Stir in flour and gradually stir in milk. Season. Microwave on full power for 2 minutes. Beat well. Microwave for a further 2 minutes on full power. Beat in cheese to melt, and any water from fish or prawns. Cut fish into bite-sized pieces and arrange in entrée dish with the prawns. Pour over sauce to coat. Decorate with crispy crumbs and tomato and microwave on defrost for 7 – 8 minutes, or full power for 4 – 6 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Alternatives: use drained tinned tuna instead of cod; use creamed potato as an alternative topping, and retain a little cheese for decoration.

Doreen and Percy Coleman, Westenhanger

Smoked Fish Paté Terrine

6 skinned and smoked mackerel

150 g full fat soft cheese

150 g natural yoghurt or crème fraiche

Juice of 2 lemons

1 tablespoon water to bind

Method: Place all ingredients in a blender and blitz till smooth. Turn out into a medium sized bowl or terrine and serve with black olives, French bread and crackers.

This was tasted at a party: we liked it so much we asked for the recipe.

Tony Bartolo, Westenhanger

Mackerel in Marsella Sauce

4 filleted mackerel 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon mustard seeds 1 teaspoon turmeric

½ inch ginger root ½ inch cinnamon stick

6 dried chillies, seeded 6 cloves garlic

2 medium onions, chopped finely Black peppercorns

Olive oil Water

Method: Salt mackerel and put into a frying pan with the olive oil. Fry gently for 5 minutes until cooked.Blend all the remaining ingredients, with the exception of the ginger, cinnamon and peppercorns and add to the fish. Add the cinnamon, ginger and peppercorns and simmer with some water for 5 minutes and then serve.

Quite an old recipe and a favourite dish of ours: a tasty, hot and spicy fish dish that my Polish father Stefan used to make, and still does.

Carole Zielinski, Westenhanger

Prawn Saganati

Serves 6 - 8

1 kg large prawns, peeled and heads removed (leave tails)

500 g fresh chopped ripe tomatoes

1 large onion, finely chopped

300 g feta cheese, coarsely crumbled

Pepper

5 big garlic cloves, crushed

Oregano and paprika

Parsley, coarsely chopped

Vegetable stock cube

Olive oil

Method: Put olive oil, onions and garlic in a deep pan and seal. Add chopped tomatoes, pepper, stock cube, half of the paprika, oregano and parsley, and cook, stirring gently for 5 minutes. Add prawns and feta cheese and cook for a further 3 minutes. (If your feta cheese is not very creamy then add 150 g of fresh cream during this stage). Place in a large terracotta pot (or portion-sized individual ones) and sprinkle the remainder of the oregano, paprika and parsley over. Bake for 30 minutes at 200 C/400 F/gas mark 6 until starting to brown.

Anne Duncan, Hayton Manor

Grilled Fish and Almonds

8 small fish fillets (or 4 large)

3 tablespoon (45 ml) lemon juice

2 oz (50g) flour

3 ½ oz (100 g) butter

1 onion

½ pint (227 ml) single cream

2 oz (50 g) flaked almonds

Chopped chives or parsley

Method: Place fillets in a shallow dish and pour over lemon juice. Leave for at least 15 minutes then remove fish and dry with kitchen paper. Save the marinade. Season the fish with salt and pepper and coat with flour. Place on a grill pan covered with greased foil. Melt half the butter and pour over the fish. Grill each side for 4 minutes. While the fish is grilling, peel and chop the onion. Melt the rest of the butter in a frying pan, add onion and cook over gentle heat until transparent. Add the almonds and cook till golden, turning the mixture over constantly. Stir in the cream, add salt, pepper and reserved lemon juice (marinade) and stir gently till fish is ready.

To serve: pour half the sauce into a warmed serving dish, place fish on top then pour over remaining sauce. Garnish with chives or parsley and serve with rice or chips and a green salad with a light French dressing.

Peter and Elfriede Devanney, Stanford

Salmon Mousse (a recipe from Eileen Catty)

Serves 4

8 oz tin of salmon

1 gill (2 ½ fl oz) cream

1 envelope Symington’s aspic jelly crystals

1 oz butter

1 oz flour

¼ pint milk

Seasoning

Method: Make a white sauce with the butter, flour and milk and add seasoning to taste. Allow tcool. Beat salmon till quite smooth, add to sauce and beat well. Dissolve aspic in ½ pt of hot water. Let cool. Whip cream and then mix cream and cooled aspic into salmon mixture. Pour into a serving dish and chill till set.

Jane Smallwood

Mackerel Paté

160g packet smoked mackerel fillets, skinned

125g pack low fat soft cheese

2 tablespoons low fat natural yoghourt

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon creamed horseradish sauce

Black pepper

Method: Put all the ingredients into a food processor or mash with a fork and blend until smooth. Serve with crusty bread, crudité or hot toast.

Maureen Meedy, Swan Lane

Smoked Mackerel Mousse

225g smoked mackerel fillets

1 tablespoons horseradish sauce

150ml fresh soured cream (cream and lemon juice)

150ml cold thick white sauce

Black ground pepper

2 tablespoons gelatine

2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 egg-white

Method: Remove skin, any large bones from fish and mash flesh well. Stir the horseradish sauce, soured cream cold sauce and black pepper into the fish. Mix well. Dissolve gelatine in the lemon juice. Gradually pour into the fish mixture, stirring continuously. Whisk the egg white until stiff. Fold into mixture. Spook into a lightly oiled mould or serving dish. Chill until set. Turn out on a serving dish if desired.

Elaine Brown, Kennett Lane

Desserts and Cakes

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1. Lemon Posset Jane Smallwood 48

2. Lemon Whip Jane Smallwood 48

3. Almond and Lemon Tart Jane Smallwood 49

4. Plain Fudge Anne Duncan 49

5. Blackcurrant Cheesecake Vanessa Ashman 49

6. Pineapple and Ginger Shaun Hillman 50

7. Fruit Quark Shaun Hillman 50

8. Cynth’s Chocolate Crunch Patsy Loft 51

9. Patsy’s Carrot Cake Patsy Loft 52

10. Kent Lent Pies Patsy Loft 52

11. Chocolate Brandy Trifle Marion Bebbington 53

12. Orange Ice Cream Peter Hill 53

13. Apricot Dessert Debbie Bray 54

14. Welsh Cakes Clive and Ruth Fielding 54

15. Tiramisu Jackie Mitchell 55

16. Lemon Mascarpone Custard Sue Lewis 55

17. Toffee Bread and Butter Pudding Sue Lewis 56

18. Gypsy Tart Gary Rhodes 56

19. Muffins Lesley Goodwin 58

20. Cherry Cake Evelyn Holt 58

21. W. I. Cake Dorothy Bultitude 59

22. Jean’s Chocolate Cake Dorothy Bultitude 59

23. Coronation Fruit Cake Robert Needham 60

24. Chocolate Fudge Pudding Patricia Smallwood 60

25. Christmas Pudding Diane & Catherine Nichols 61

26. Fruit Baked with Crème Fraiche Rangy Holt 61

27. Royal Treacle Tart Georgina Howard 62

28. Christmas Cake Peggy Getliffe 63

29. Fruit Cake Andrew McCall 63

30. Appeltaart Jacqui Porter 64

31. Dutch Pancakes Jacqui Porter 65

32. Strawberry Cream Cups Christine Oliver 66

33. Queen Mother’s Cake Christine Oliver 67

34. Bible Study Cake Rev’d Gill Mack 68

35. Marbled Chocolate Cheesecake Val Carey 69

36. Bombe Tortoni Maureen Meedy 69

37. Strawberry Hawaii Elaine Brown 70

38. Rhubarb Alsage Elaine Brown 70

39. Banoffi Pie Emma Getliffe 71

Lemon Posset (own version)

Serves 5

1 pint thick cream

1/8 pint dry white wine

4 lemons, juice and rind

3 eggs (whites only)

Sugar

Method: Add grated lemon rinds to cream and whip gently till stiff. Stir in lemon juice and wine. Add sugar to taste. Whip whites of eggs stiffly and fold into mixture.

Don’t make too long before use as liquid sinks to the bottom.

Jane Smallwood

Lemon Whip

Serves 4

½ lime jelly tablet 3 oz sugar

Grated rind of one lemon 5 tablespoons lemon juice

4 tablespoons water to melt jelly 3 eggs

Method: Melt jelly in hot water and leave until just nearly setting. Beat sugar and yolks of eggs till fluffy and add jelly, lemon juice and rind. Beat whites of eggs till stiff and fold into mixture. For a richer mixture, put only 2 tablespoons of water and ¼ pint of cream.

Jane Smallwood

Almond and Lemon Tart

One 9 inch pastry case

3 eggs

4 oz ground almonds

6 tablespoons double cream

2 lemons, juice and rind

2 oz light brown sugar

Method: Beat eggs and sugar till light and fluffy. Add almonds and cream, lemon juice and rind. Pour into pastry case and bake for 20 minutes. (Oven180 C/gas mark 4)

Jane Smallwood

Plain Fudge

Makes 2 ½ lbs

My aunt’s recipe which she makes every Christmas.

½ pint (300 ml) milk

1 large can condensed milk

8 oz (225 g) butter or margarine

2 rounded tablespoons golden syrup

2 lb (900 g) granulated sugar

Method: Put all the ingredients into a large pan and heat slowly, stirring ALL the time until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil and cook, stirring constantly, until a little of the mixture dropped into cold water forms a soft ball, or until mixture reaches 240F or 116C on a sugar thermometer. Remove from heat and after a minute or two, beat with a wooden spoon until the mixture thickens and loses some of its shine. Pour into greased baking trays – it begins to set very quickly. When partially set, mark into squares and then leave to get cold.

Anne Duncan, Hayton Manor

Blackcurrant Cheesecake

250 g (10 oz) blackcurrants 150 g (6 oz) caster sugar

2 tablespoons water 100 g (4 oz) digestive biscuits

50 g (2 oz) butter (melted) 500 g tub mascarpone

300 g tub fresh custard or home made custard

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method: Line a 1 kg loaf tin with a strip of baking parchment that covers the base and reaches up the long sides. Place blackcurrants in a small pan with half the sugar and the water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 minutes until fruit is softened. Pass currants through a sieve, pressing out as much of the pulp as possible. Divide into 2 equal portions and leave to cool. Crush the biscuits and mix with the melted butter. Lightly beat the mascarpone in a large bowl until soft. Beat in the custard, a little at a time, until smooth. Stir in the remaining sugar and vanilla extract. Using one portion of the blackcurrant sauce, drizzle a little over the covered base of the tin. Spoon half the cheese mixture over the top and then drizzle a little more of the sauce. Add the remaining cheesecake mixture and drizzle the remaining sauce on top. Swirl the mixtures together with a skewer or chopstick, then smooth the top. Sprinkle on the buttery crumbs evenly and press lightly to firm. Cover tightly with freezer film or foil and freeze until firm – at least 4 hours or overnight. Freeze the remaining blackcurrant sauce if not using immediately. This dish will freeze for 3 months.

To serve, transfer the cheesecake to the fridge for 1 hour until slightly softened. Turn out onto a serving dish and peel off the paper lining. Cut into slices and serve with the reserved sauce poured over.

I particularly like this dessert as it can be made the day before. Other fruits can be used, such as raspberries.

Vanessa Ashman, The Rectory, Lyminge

Pineapple and Ginger

1 McVitie’s ginger cake

1 tin custard

1 tin crushed pineapple, drained (keep juice)

Method: Slice ginger cake and place in base of a large serving bowl. Place drained crushed pineapple on top. Add 1 – 2 tablespoons of pineapple juice if cake looks too dry. Pour over the custard and serve cold.

Shaun Hillman, Stanford

Fruit Quark (a form of cheesecake)

1 tub of quark juice of 3 lemons

4 oz sugar 1 small pack digestive biscuits

1 tin of soft fruit (pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)

1 pack gelatine 4 – 6 oz cream

4 oz margarine

Method: Make biscuit base with 4 oz margarine and crushed biscuits, then place in 8 – 10 in loose-based spring clip tin, smooth with back of a spoon and put in fridge to cool and allow base to harden.

Place lemon juice, sugar, juice from tinned fruit and gelatine in a saucepan and warm slowly till all melted.

Beat cream with 2 teaspoons sugar until stiff. In a fresh bowl, mix the quark and the soft fruit together then add the gelatine mix. Stir, then add the cream and mix until smooth.

Once the base has hardened, pour in the quark mixture and allow to set in the fridge. Once set, remove from tin and serve on its own or with cream.

Shaun Hillman, Stanford

Cynth’s Chocolate Crunch

1 large packet rich tea biscuits

8 oz margarine

2 tablespoons caster sugar

2 tablespoons golden syrup

2 tablespoons drinking chocolate

6 oz cooking chocolate

Method: Crush biscuits, melt margarine and add sugar, syrup and drinking chocolate. Add crushed biscuits, then press into tin. When cold, melt cooking chocolate and pour over the top.

Makes 48 pieces.

Patsy Loft, Westenhanger

Patsy’s Carrot Cake

8 oz S R flour (or sieved wholemeal)

2 level teaspoons baking powder

¼ pint oil

5 oz Demerara sugar

2 eggs

2 oz chopped walnuts

4 oz grated carrot

2 oz sultanas

1 tin crushed pineapple

Method: Mix all the ingredients together well, put in baking tin and bake for 1¼ hours at 180C/350F

Icing:

3 oz cream cheese 2 oz butter

¼ tsp vanilla essence 6 oz icing sugar

Mix well and use to ice cake when cold.

Patsy Loft, Westenhanger

Kent Lent Pies

3 oz ground rice

½ pint milk

3 oz butter

4 oz caster sugar

6 eggs

Pinch salt

Grated lemon peel

Currants

Puff pastry

Method: Boil ground rice in milk, then add butter, caster sugar, eggs, salt, and lemon peel. When the mixture is nearly cold, line patty tins with puff pastry and three parts fill with the mixture. Add currants on top of each pie and bake in a hot oven for 14 – 20 minutes.

Delightfully different!

Patsy Loft, Westenhanger

Chocolate Brandy Trifle

225 g good plain dessert chocolate 75 g granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence 75 g butter

75 g caster sugar 5 egg yolks

5 egg whites 5 tablespoons milk

2 packets sponge cakes brandy

Method: Melt chocolate and add granulated sugar, milk and egg yolks. Stir until thick. Cool. Then cream butter and caster sugar together and add to chocolate mixture. Add essence and fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Halve trifle sponges and place first layer in bowl. Soak with brandy and then add chocolate mixture. Do this with alternate layers of sponge and chocolate mixture. Decorate with whipped cream or whatever your choice.

This is rather alcoholic, so be warned!

The above dessert was given to me by an old friend. She told me she used to serve it on Boxing Day: it was part of her family’s tradition. I find the amounts above are enough for a buffet party. Reduce the amount if only for a dinner party.

Marian Bebbington, Westenhanger

Orange Ice Cream

3 Seville oranges (or 1 eating orange and 2 limes)

175 g (6 oz) icing sugar

Large pot (584 ml/just over 1 pt) double cream

Wafers to serve (optional)

Method: If using Seville oranges, grate the zest of two of them. Squeeze the juice of all three and pour into a bowl with the zest and sugar. (If you’re going for the sweet orange and lime option, grate the zest of the orange and one of the limes, juice them and add to the sugar as before.) Stir to dissolve the sugar and add the cream. Whip everything until it holds soft peaks, then pour into an airtight container (approx 2 l) with a lid. Cover and freeze until firm for 3 to 5 hours. Take out of the freezer 15 – 20 minutes before eating.

Then enjoy!

Peter Hill, Stanford

Apricot Dessert

A lovely summery dessert, easy to make and always popular.

4 oz ‘ready to eat’ dried apricots ¾ pint water

1 level tbsp sugar 1 orange jelly

1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 oz butter

1 tablespoon golden syrup 2 oz cornflakes

¼ pint double cream

Method: Place apricots and sugar in a saucepan – boil for 10 minutes until tender. Drain fruit and leave to cool, reserving the syrup.

Dissolve orange jelly in reserved syrup over gentle heat, add lemon juice. Liquidise apricots with a little of the jelly mixture. Stir the apricot puree into remaining jelly, put into a decorative glass serving bowl and place in the fridge to set. For the crunchy topping, melt the butter and golden syrup in a saucepan. Lightly crush the cornflakes and add to the butter/syrup mixture. Allow to cool. Meanwhile, softly whip the double cream and spread over the set apricot jelly. Finally, sprinkle on the cornflake topping.

Debbie Bray

Welsh Cakes

8 oz (225 g) S R flour 3 oz (75 g) caster sugar

Pinch of salt 1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon mixed spice 1 teaspoon golden syrup

2 oz (50 g) butter or margarine 2 oz (50 g) lard

3 oz (75 g) mixed currants and sultanas

Serves 4. Method: Sieve the flour, salt and spice into a mixing bowl. Rub in the fats until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and dried fruit. Pour in the beaten egg and syrup and stir to make a fairly firm dough. On a floured board, roll or press the dough out to approximately ¼ inch (5mm) thick. Cut into rounds with a 1 ½ inch (4 cm) or 2 inch (5 cm) cutter. Bake the Welsh cakes on a medium hot griddle, turning once, until golden brown on both sides but still a little soft in the middle. Dust the cakes liberally with caster sugar whilst still hot. These are best eaten straight from the griddle, but will keep for up to 10 days in an airtight container.

Clive and Ruth Fielding, Stanford

Tiramisu

My favourite SERIOUSLY FULL FAT dessert recipe!

16 sponge fingers

60 ml (1/2 fl oz) dark rum or Amaretto liqueur

2 tablespoons brandy

125 ml (4 fl oz) strong cold black coffee

10 small macaroons or Amaretti biscuits

3 tablespoons apricot jam

425 g (14 oz) mascarpone cheese

2 eggs, separated

4 tablespoons icing sugar

125 g (4 oz) grated chocolate

Method: Bake the sponge fingers in a preheated moderate oven

(190C/375 F/Gas mark 5) for 10 minutes until crisp and dry. Mix half the rum/Amaretto with the brandy and coffee. Dip the sponge fingers into this mixture, then layer them evenly on the bottom of a serving dish/glass fruit bowl. Beat the cheese with the egg yolks, sugar and remaining rum/Amaretto. Whisk the egg whites until they stand in soft peaks. Fold into the cheese mixture with a metal spoon.

Spread the macaroons with the apricot jam. Spoon half the cheese mixture over the sponge fingers. Spread the macaroons over the top. Spoon the remaining cheese mixture evenly over the top. Sprinkle with the grated chocolate.

Jackie Mitchell, Stanford

Lemon Mascarpone Custard

Serves 6

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

2 tablespoons custard powder

½ cup sugar

½ cup orange juice

1 cup water

¼ cup mascarpone

¼ cup lemon butter

2 tablespoons Cointreau

Method: Combine custard and sugar in a medium pan, add orange juice and water. Stir until combined. Stir constantly over medium heat for 3 minutes, or until the mixture thickens. Boil for a further minute.

Add mascarpone, lemon butter and Cointreau. Stir until heated through.

Note: Mascarpone is an Italian fresh cream cheese. It is extremely rich and can be used as a substitute for cream.

Sue Lewis, Westenhanger

Toffee Bread and Butter Pudding

Serves 4

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

4 brioche rolls

30 ml banoffee toffee

3 medium eggs

300 ml milk

30 g sultanas

15 g light muscovado sugar

Method: Thinly slice each of the rolls. Spread half with the banoffee toffee and sandwich with the remaining slices. Arrange in 4 individual dishes or one medium sized gratin dish.

Beat the eggs and milk together and slowly pour over the sandwiched brioches. Scatter over the sultanas and leave to soak for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle the sugar over the top and place the dishes in a roasting tin. Pour enough boiling water into the tin to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake in a preheated oven at 170C/325F/Gas mark 3 for 35 – 40 minutes until just set and golden brown. (Kcals per portion 265)

Sue Lewis, Westenhanger

Gypsy Tart

Serves 6 – 8

1 ready-baked tart case

1 400 g (14 oz) can evaporated milk, chilled for one hour before whisking.

350 g (12 oz) muscovado sugar (no other sugar will work)

Preheat the oven to 200 C/400 F/gas mark 6

Method: Whisk together the evaporated milk and sugar with an electric mixer for a minimum of 10 – 15 minutes. The mix will become coffee coloured with the consistency of whipped cream. It is important to get to this stage before going on to the next. Pour the mix into the pastry case and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool before slicing and serving with some pouring cream to finish it off. Best eaten at room temperature.

This is a childhood favourite of mine and one that becomes very moreish!

A yummy recipe from one of Britain’s best-loved chefs, Gary Rhodes

Muffins

‘The marvels of spelt flour’

300 g spelt flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

150 g brown sugar

150 g fresh or frozen blueberries or chopped apple

1 egg, lightly beaten

180 ml milk

125 ml vegetable oil

Method: Grease muffin tins. Heat oven 190 C/375 F/gas mark 5

Sift dry ingredients into mixing bowl.Stir in remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture into tins. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes. The muffin tin I use makes 12, so I cook for 20 minutes. If making larger muffins (6 to a tray), test after 25 minutes. This recipe is very user-friendly and quick to do. I have some-times reduced the sugar, used bottled cherries and substituted the milk for the cherry syrup – it worked wonderfully.

Try savoury muffins – cheese/herbs. The variety is endless. The flavour of the spelt flour is wonderful and the texture is light.

Lesley Goodwin, Westenhanger

Cherry Cake

250 g S R flour

175 g caster sugar

175 g margarine

175 g glace cherries (cut in quarters and dusted with flour)

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Grated rind of a lemon

3 eggs

Milk to mix if necessary

Method: Put all ingredients (except cherries) in a food processor and mix. Lightly fold in cherries. Pour into an oiled, lined 8 inch tin. Dredge with caster sugar and bake at 165 C for 45 – 60 minutes.

Evelyn Holt

W. I. Cake

½ lb S R flour ¼ tsp salt

¼ lb margarine ¼ lb moist brown sugar

1 tbsp black treacle (optional) 1 egg

4 tablespoons milk grated rind of 1 orange

½ lb mixed fruit (including peel and cherries)

Method: Sift flour and salt, rub in fat, add sugar and treacle. Add beaten egg and milk and stir with wooden spoon. Add grated rind of orange and mixed fruit and mix well. Turn mixture into well greased and prepared loaf tin (approx 2 lb) and bake 1 ½ hrs at 325 F/170 C/gas mark 3. Check with skewer after 1 hr 20 minutes. Keeps well in an airtight container.

This recipe was one used by my mother who used to enter it in competitions at her local W.I. She won the Rose Bowl so often that she eventually felt too embarrassed to enter!

Dorothy Bultitude, Stanford

Jean’s Chocolate Cake

This recipe comes from a friend. It is a lovely moist cake and keeps well in a tin (if given a chance!)

5 oz SR flour

6 oz caster sugar

6 oz soft margarine

3 oz drinking chocolate powder

3 eggs

3 tablespoons boiling water

Method: Grease and line an 8 – 9 inch round cake tin. Place all ingredients in a bowl and beat well with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes (or with an electric hand mixer for one minute). Bake for approximately 1 hour at 350 F/180 C/gas mark 4.

Fudge Icing for the top: 1 oz soft margarine; 5 oz icing sugar; 3 teaspoons cocoa powder; 1 tbsp boiling water; few drops vanilla essence. Cream margarine, beat in icing sugar and cocoa. Gradually stir in boiling water, add essence and beat well. Use to spread over top of cake when cooled.

Dorothy Bultitude, Stanford

Coronation Fruit Cake

I think this fruit cake recipe is the one my aunt used for the Coronation Day celebrations (must have used up 6 months’ rations!) and the dog jumped up at the sideboard and had the lot while everyone was outside at the street party.

6 oz margarine 4 oz sultanas

6 oz brown sugar 3 eggs

4 oz plain flour 4 oz S R flour

2 oz mixed peel (chopped) 2 oz glace cherries (chopped)

Blanched split almonds Pinch of salt

Method: Lightly grease and line an 8 inch cake tin. Cream together the margarine and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Fold in the flour and salt. Stir in the cherries, peel and sultanas and mix well.

Place mixture into tin. Sprinkle the almonds over the top and place in a hot oven until golden brown and the mixture is completely set.

Leave to cool where a dog cannot get to it!

Robert Needham, Westenhanger

Chocolate Fudge Pudding

3 oz S R flour

4 oz butter or soft margarine

2 level tablespoons cocoa

4 oz sugar

2 eggs

Pinch of salt

Milk to mix, if necessary

Method: Make a sponge with the above ingredients and put into a well buttered dish, only half full (I use a soufflé dish). Pour over 4 oz soft brown sugar and 2 level tbsp cocoa powder mixed into ½ pt of hot water. Bake at 375 F/190 C/gas mark 5 for 40 minutes. Cake will rise to the top with a delicious sauce underneath.

Eat hot with cream, or maybe ice-cream, but beware of pain in teeth if you do!

Patricia Smallwood, Stanford

Eliza Acton’s Christmas Pudding

Eliza Acton was born in 1799 in Battle, Sussex. Her book ‘Cooking for modern private families’ first published 1845

3 oz (75 g) flour 3 oz (75 g) breadcrumbs

6 oz (175 g) stoned raisins 6 oz (175 g) currants

6 oz (175 g) suet 4 oz (110 g) apples, minced

5 oz (150 g) sugar 2 oz (50 g) candied peel

Small glass brandy ½ tsp mixed mace and nutmeg

Salt 3 eggs

Method: To three ounces flour and the same weight of fine, lightly grated bread crumbs, add six of beef kidney suet chopped small, six of raisins weighed after they are stoned, six of well cleaned currants, four ounces of minced apples, five of sugar, two of candied peel orange rind, lay a teaspoon of nutmeg, mixed with pounded mace, a very little salt, a small glass of brandy and three whole eggs. Mix and beat these ingredients well together. Tie them tightly in a thickly floured cloth and boil them for three hours and a half.

Diane and Catherine Nichols, Stanford

Fruit Baked with Crème Fraiche

225 g (8 oz) strawberries

125 g (4 ½ oz) white grapes, seedless and halved

1 peach, sliced

8 – 10 ratafia biscuits

2 x 200 ml tubs crème fraiche

125 – 175 g (4 – 6 oz) light brown soft sugar

Fresh mint to decorate

Method: Arrange all sliced fruit in the base of a 1litre soufflé dish or 4 individual dishes. Place biscuits on top. Spoon over crème fraiche to completely seal the fruit and chill for at least 1 hour.

Sprinkle over the sugar and place under hot grill for 1 – 2 minutes.

Alternatives: any fresh or canned fruit; add liqueur, brandy or sherry; use natural Greek yoghurt.

Rangy Holt, Stanford

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Royal Treacle Tart

- as served by The Hind’s Head, Hotel, Bray to HM the Queen.

More than 32 years ago, when I still lived in Maidenhead, Princess Alexandra got married. Most of the Crowned Heads of Europe came over for the wedding and the Queen gave a big party for them all at The Hind’s Head at Bray. They came in several motor coaches. For the occasion, the chef created Royal Treacle Tart and it remained on the menu afterwards. The recipe (which remained a closely guarded secret) came to us through a friend of my mother’s who worked there. My late mother and I were terrible pastry makers and our attempts were disasters. My late grandmother was a pastry maker superb, as is my daughter, and they could make it beautifully. If you are good at pastry it is great, but it does take two different kinds of pastry.

To make a good treacle tart the secret lies in the top pastry, which should be made at least an hour before using, or, preferably overnight. An egg can easily be divided into two if well beaten with a fork.

Top Pastry Cream 4 oz butter with 2 oz caster sugar, add half beaten egg and cream again. Sift 6 oz S R flour into a basin and fold the above cream gently into it. Chill.

Short Pastry Sift 6 oz SR flour into a basin. Add 3 oz butter and work in with fingertips. Dough up with 2 fluid oz milk, half an egg and a pinch of salt.

Filling Mix 2 cups Lyle’s best golden syrup with 2 ½ cups of fresh white breadcrumbs.

Method Line a 9 inch sandwich tin with the short pastry, working the edges well up. Pour in filling and cover with the top pastry, having egg-washed the sides well to adhere the two pastries together. Egg-wash the top, sprinkle with granulated sugar and prick all over with a sharp knife. Cook in moderate oven, gas mark 4 or 5 for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Serves 8

Georgina Howard, Stanford

Christmas Cake

This is my Mother in Law’s scrummy recipe.

12 oz plain flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon mixed spice

½ teaspoon salt

4 oz candied peel

4 oz glace cherries

2 lb dried fruit (1 lb currants, 8 oz sultanas, 8 oz raisins)

4 oz blanched almonds (chopped)

Finely grated rind l lemon

4 eggs

4 tablespoons milk/sherry/brandy

8 oz margarine or butter

8 oz Demerara sugar

1 tablespoon black treacle

9 inch round or 8 inch square tin lined with 2 thicknesses greased greaseproof paper

Method: Sieve together all the dried ingredients (mixed peel, cherries, fruit, chopped almonds and lemon rind). Whisk eggs, milk, sherry or brandy together. Cream fat and sugar and black treacle until soft. Add the flour and egg mixture alternatively to the fruit mixture. Put into cake tin and bake in a moderate oven 150 to180 C/300 F/gas mark 2 for 3 ¼ to 3 ½ hours. (After 1½ hours, reduce heat to 150 C). Cool in the tin and store in an airtight tin. Make cake at least 3 weeks before Christmas. For a moist cake, prick the cold cake and pour over a little sherry at intervals before icing.

Peggy Getliffe

Fruit Cake

Into a saucepan put: 6 oz butter or margarine; ½ pint milk;

6 oz sugar; 8 oz glace cherries; 12 oz mixed fruit.

Bring slowly to the boil, stir for a bit at the boil and leave to cool.

When mixture has cooled, add: 2 beaten eggs; ½ teaspoon mixed spice; ½ teaspoon nutmeg and (sieving it in gradually) 12 oz S R flour.

Preheat oven to 180 C/350 F/gas mark 4. Pour cake mixture into an 8 inch cake tin lined with buttered greaseproof paper.

Bake in oven at 180 C/350 F/gas mark 4 for 15 minutes, then lower heat to 150 C and cook for another 3 ½ hours or so, testing with a skewer, till skewer comes out dry.

Andrew McCall, Westenhanger

Two Dutch Recipes by courtesy of my grandmother, Mrs Bakker-Pieters and the Margriet Kookboek and diligently translated by Jacqui Porter

Appeltaart

My grandmother’s secret recipe for a true Dutch Apple Flan from the south of the Netherlands (and if you do not tell her that the secret is out, neither will I!)

For the base:

250 g plain flour

80 g sugar

175 g unsalted butter (much, much nicer than using margarine)

1 ½ eggs

For the filling:

5 – 6 large cooking apples 4 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla sugar (optional) 2 teaspoons cinnamon

4 tablespoons sultanas 2 tablespoons flaked almonds

Rasp of 1 lemon 1 egg

To make the base:

Put the flour in a large bowl (I never bother to sieve it) with the sugar. Cut the butter in small pieces and then work into the mixture with your hands until it is crumbly. Make a well in the middle and put the beaten eggs in. Mix it all together thoroughly until you have a nice ball of dough. It must be springy to the touch but not too moist. Chill for 15 minutes while you prepare the filling.

To prepare the filling:

Peel and core the apples and cut into thin slices. Mix thoroughly with the sugar, cinnamon, sultanas, lemon rasp and flaked almonds (vanilla sugar if using).

You will need a large flan tin with a loose bottom – the cake will be sufficient for 12 portions. Butter and flour the flan tin. Roll the dough out fairly thinly, ensuring that there will be enough left for the lattice work. Cover the flan base with dough and then put in the apple filling. Roll the remainder of the dough and make

long strips to put over the filling in a criss cross fashion. (Make sure you have some broader strips to put along the edge of the cake. Beat the egg and brush over the pastry. If any egg is left, pour over the apple mixture. Cook in the middle of a medium hot oven for 45 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Switch off the oven and leave the flan inside for another 15 minutes. Take out of the oven and leave to cool further before removing from the tin (leave the loose base underneath it). Serve with sweetened, whipped double or whipping cream. Nice eaten the same day, especially whilst still slightly warm.

Pannekoeken

Serves 4 – 6 large ones

Dutch pancakes have always been the meal of the poor as they are filling and a meal in itself. They can be made either savoury or sweet They are a firm favourite with children and in Holland often made on Saturday when mum would traditionally cook an easy hearty meal for the family.

200 g plain flour

sniff of salt (just a tiny bit – we call it a ‘snufje’!)

1 egg

400 ml lukewarm milk butter or margarine

Sieve the flour into a large bowl and make a hollow in the middle. Break in the egg and gradually add the milk beating constantly to get a smooth mixture. Put a small amount of butter/margarine in a large non-stick frying pan and put about a soup ladle of mixture in the pan when the butter has melted and the pan is hot. (These are supposed to be thick pan-cakes, not the thin French jobbies!) Turn the pancake only once when the bottom is golden brown and the top starting to dry out. Spread a little butter on the pancake and serve immediately with sugar. Keep hot in the oven if you are making a batch.

Appelpannekoeken (Apple pancakes) Fry some slices of apples in the frying pan until they become soft. Then pour the pancake mixture over them and continue as above.

Spekpannekoeken (Bacon pancakes) Fry some slices of streaky bacon in the pan until they start to brown, then add the pancake mixture and continue as above.

Jacqui Porter, Stanford

Strawberry Cream Cups

This is a favourite recipe with my family and friends so I always love making these strawberry tartlets, especially when our wonderful English strawberries are in season. It’s also a great way of using up your spare bread.

8 thin slices white bread (crusts removed)

2 oz (50 g) butter

11 oz (25 g) caster sugar

½ teaspoon ground mixed spice

Filling:

6 oz (175 g) strawberries

¼ pt (150 ml) natural yoghurt (thicker variety, but not set)

¼ pt (150 ml) double cream

caster sugar to taste

Set oven to 350 F/180 C/gas mark 4.

Method: Flatten bread with rolling pin and cut a 4 inch (10 cm) round from each slice. Beat butter, sugar and mixed spice together and spread over both sides of bread. Press rounds into bun tins and gather sides to form fluted cups. Bake for about 20 minutes until golden and crisp. Leave to cool.

Filling: Reserve a few strawberries for decoration. Mash the remainder and stir in the yoghurt. Lightly whip the cream, fold into the yoghurt and strawberry mixture. Chill. Spoon mixture into bread cups. Decorate with reserved strawberries and lightly sprinkle with icing sugar.

Delicious!

Christine Oliver, Stanford

The Queen Mother’s Cake

This was the Queen Mother’s favourite cake recipe. At her request it must not be given, but sold for a suitable donation to a charitable organisation.

Pour 1 breakfast cup of boiling water over 8 oz chopped dates and add one teaspoon Bicarbonate Soda.

Let stand for the time it takes to mix the following:

8 oz sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 oz butter

1 teaspoon salt

1 beaten egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 oz chopped walnuts

10 oz plain flour

Add all the above to the date mixture and bake for 35 minutes in moderate oven in 9 in x 12 in pan.

Topping:

5 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons cream

Mix these ingredients together and boil for 3 minutes. Spread on cake and sprinkle with chopped nuts (be careful not to boil this mixture longer or it will turn to toffee!) It should have the consistency of fudge.

Christine Oliver, Stanford

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Bible Study Cake

1) 8 oz (225 g) Judges, 5:25 (last clause)

2) 8 oz (225 g) Jeremiah, 6:20

3) 1 tablespoons I Samuel, 14:25

4) 3 x Jeremiah, 17:11

5) 8 oz (225 g) I Samuel, 30:12

6) 8 oz (225 g) Nahum, 3:12 (chopped)

7) 2 oz (50 g) Numbers, 17:8 (blanched and chopped)

8) 1 lb (450 g) I Kings, 4:22

9) 2 Chronicles, 9:9 to taste

10) A pinch of Leviticus, 2:13

11) 1 teaspoon Amos, 4:5

12) 3 tablespoons of Judges, 4:19

• Preheat oven to 350 F/180 C/gas mark 4

• Beat 1, 2 and 3 to a cream

• Add 4, one at a time, still beating

• Add 5, 6 and 7 and beat again

• Mix 8, 9, 10 and 11 together, then add to the mixture

• Add 12

• Turn into prepared 8 in cake tin

• Bake for 1 ½ hours

If you have followed Solomon’s advice (Proverbs, 23:14), then your cake will be good.

Explanation: 1 = butter; 2 = sugar; 3 = honey; 4 = eggs;

5 = raisins; 6 = figs; 7 = almonds; 8 = flour; 9 = ground spice;

10 = salt; 11 = leaven ! baking powder; 12 = milk.

The advice of Solomon is to beat in well. Is this Bible bashing?

Rev’d Gill Mack

[pic]

Marbled Chocolate Cheesecake

Serves 10-12

250g chocolate-flavoured biscuits, crushed finely

60g coffee-flavoured biscuits, crushed finely

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

155g butter, melted

750g cream cheese, softened

250g caster sugar

3 eggs beaten

4 floz cream

1 teaspoon brandy essence

185g pure cooking chocolate

Whipped cream for decoration

Method: Combine the crushed biscuits with the cinnamon and cooled butter, mix thoroughly and press onto the sides and base of a well greased 23cm (9inch) spring form pan. Chill for 30mins.

Preheat the oven to 150 C (300 F/gas mark 2). Beat the cream cheese until well blended in a bowl. Gradually add the sugar, then the beaten eggs, beating well after each addition. Mix the cream and essence through. Spoon all but about a cup of the mixture into the crumb crust.

Combine the remaining mixture with the just-warm melted chocolate, and drizzle this over the plain mixture; with a thin-bladed knife or skewer, swirl the chocolate mixture through the plain mixture to create a marbled effect. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Open the oven door and leave the cheesecake in the oven until cold. Chill for several hours or over night, then decorate with whipped cream and cut into slices.

Val Carey, Tendresse, Stanford

Bombe Tortoni

½ pint double cream

¼ pint single cream

3 oz icing sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla essence

2 egg whites

4 oz crushed macaroons

2 tablespoons sherry or brandy

Method: Pour double and single cream into a bowl and whip until thick. Stir in ½ icing sugar and vanilla essence. Whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold in remaining icing sugar. Fold the egg whites into the cream, stir in macaroons and sherry. Spoon into foil lined pudding basin, cover and freeze. Unwrap mould and decorate with raspberries or strawberries and serve.

Maureen Meedy, Swan Lane

Strawberry Hawaii

250g strawberries 1 tin pineapple or 1 fresh one

Castor sugar

1½ packet ginger biscuits

Sour cream

Method: Wash strawberries. Cut into slices. (reserve 4). Sprinkle sugar on strawberries and put into fridge. Leave to marinade. Cut pineapple into small pieces, crumble biscuits. Put into glass coupes: alternate biscuits, pineapple, strawberries. Stir the sour cream and put 2 spoonfuls over each couple. Serve with a whole strawberry on top.

Elaine Brown, Kennett Lane

Rhubarb Alsage

8 oz (225g) short crush pastry 2 tablespoons honey

1lb (450g) trimmed chopped rhubarb 2 oz (50g) brown sugar

2 small eggs 2oz (50g) castor sugar

½ pint (250ml) milk (add some cream to make richer)

A few drops of almond essence

Method: Line flat tin with pastry, then brush with beaten egg. Cover the bottom with small pieces of rhubarb, sprinkle with sugar and pour honey over. Preheat oven 400F and cook for a bout twenty minutes.(If using older rhubarb it is best to cook it slightly before putting into pastry). Meanwhile, heat up the milk, eggs, essence and add the sugar. Pour over the rhubarb (after previous 20 minutes). Lower heat to 350F and cook for another 20-25 minutes or until creamy filling is set. Take out and serve warm. (Edges sometimes get too brown so may be covered with foil as cooking progresses).

Elaine Brown, Kennett Lane

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Banoffi Pie

Serves 8-12

200g McVitie’s Digestive biscuits

Pinch of salt

75g salted butter

450g jar Merchant Gourmet Dulce de Leche

3-4 bananas

300ml double cream

½ teaspoon instant coffee

½ teaspoon freshly ground coffee

Method: Crumble the biscuits to a fine powder – place in a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin. Transfer to mixing bowl and add salt (optional). Melt the butter and pour into biscuit crumbs and mix thoroughly to a paste. Tip into 25.5cm tart tin with detachable base and press into a smooth case. Place in fridge to firm up. Spoon the Dulce de Leche over the base, peel bananas, slice lengthwise and cover the caramel completely. Whip the cream and instant coffee until firm but floppy. Spoon the cream over the bananas and sprinkle with fresh coffee. Place in fridge for at least one hour to allow flavours to merge. Remove the pie from the collar and slice and serve.

Seriously moreish and incredibly easy.

Emma Getliffe, Westenhanger

Miscellaneous

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Page

1. Grasshoppers Elaine Brown 73

2. Bee Larvae Elaine Brown 73

3. Banana Chutney Sally Russell 73

4. Beetroot and Ginger Relish Sue Lewis 74

5. Homemade Lemonade Gary Rhodes 74

6. Beetroot in Jelly Evelyn Holt 75

7. ‘Crunchie’ Breakfast Cereal Lesley Goodwin 75

8. Homemade Herb Cheese Lesley Goodwin 75

9. Chutney in the Raw Gerti Boyle 76

10. Recipe for Life The Loft Family 76

11. Uncle Ernie’s Punch Sarah Massey 77

12. Tankermans Breakfast Stephen Dougal 77

13. Margarita Stephen Dougal 77

14. English Bishop Stephen Dougal 79

15. Grandma’s Piccalilli Margaret Burchett 79

16. Spiced Oranges Evelyn Holt 80

17. Lemon Curd Evelyn Holt 80

18. Lemon Greek Yoghurt Anne Duncan 81

I dare you to include these typical Malawian recipes that the bambo’s live on. I DARE YOU JUST!!!!

Dziwala (Grasshoppers)

Acanthacris ruficornis or Cyrtacanthacris aeriginosa

These large grasshoppers are mostly found in the late dry season although a few a seen throughout the year.

Method: Remove the wings and the horned part of the legs. Boil them in water for 5 minutes. And dry them in the sun. Winnow off any remaining wings (it means shake the wings off) and fry in a pan with a little salt. They may also be fried with a little fat. You can serve it as a relish or if frying with fat a little chopped onion and tomato may be added to the pan.

Ana a Njuchi (Bee larvae)

Taxonomically, these insects are not far removed from shrimps.

Method: Remove the nest from the tree and boil, (not the tree but the nest). Take out the larvae from the comb and dry them, fry with a little salt and dry again if desired. Serve as an appetiser.

Now you know why we don’t live there anymore!!!

Elaine Brown, Kennett Lane

Banana Chutney

9 bananas 1lb sugar

1 ½ - 2 pints vinegar ½ lb stoneless raisins

½ lb stoneless dates 1lb onions

½ teaspoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon turmeric

Method: Skin and slice the bananas, add the raisins, cut up small the dates and onions, add the ginger and salt and cover with vinegar. Bring this to the boil in a covered pan then cook slowly for one hour. Mix the turmeric with a little vinegar and add it with the sugar to the mixture. Cook for a further 15 minutes stirring all the time. Cool and put into warmed jam jars. Our son, now aged 40, would not eat bananas as a child but would eat this chutney either as a sandwich or with cheese. Still hates bananas but will eat as much of this as I make.

Sally Russell, Postling

Beetroot and Ginger Relish

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Makes about 4 cups

6 medium beetroot

1 cup of sugar

2 cups white wine vinegar

1 onion, chopped

1 green capsicum, chopped

2 green apples, peeled and chopped

2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1 tablespoon seeded mustard

Method: Cook beetroot until tender. Peel beetroot and cut into cubes. Combine vinegar, sugar, onion, capsicum, apple, ginger and mustard in a large pan and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered for 15 minutes or until reduced by half. Add beetroot to cook for further 10 minutes. Spoon into hot sterilised jars and seal while hot.

Store relish in fridge for up to one month.

Sue Lewis, Westenhanger

Gary’s Home-made Lemonade or Limeade

A quick and refreshing drink. Orangeade can also be made, but half the quantity of water should be replaced with orange juice for a really rich flavour.

2 whole lemons or 3 limes, chopped (including the pith and peel)

1 tablespoon caster sugar

600 ml (1 pt) water

Blitz all the ingredients to a puree in a liquidizer and then push through a sieve. More sugar may be added for a sweeter finish. This can now be chilled and served on ice.

Gary Rhodes

Beetroot in Jelly

1 kg cooked diced beetroot (or bottled beetroot, but discard liquid)

2 raspberry jellies made up to 500 ml

50 ml (2 tablespoons) red wine vinegar

Method: Combine all ingredients and chill.

Evelyn Holt

‘Crunchie’ Breakfast Cereal (Granola)

3 cups porridge oats

1 cup wheatgerm, allbran or branplus

½ cup brown sugar

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

1/3 cup sesame seeds

½ cup chopped hazel (or mixed nuts)

½ cup oil

1 cup raisins

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons honey

Lump of butter

Method: Mix all the dry ingredients except the raisins. Melt butter and honey in the oil and mix into dry ingredients thoroughly. Put in a shallow ovenproof dish and bake slowly at 325F/160C/Gas 3. As it browns turn it over. Keep an eye on it stirring every 8-10 minutes especially towards end of cooking time otherwise it could burn. Takes approximately 45 minutes. When cool add raisins and store in airtight container. Enjoy!

Lesley Goodwin, Westenhanger

Home Made Herb Cheese

You can make this as a low fat cheese or use richer cream cheeses – also works with cottage cheese.

¼ lb curd cheese

¼ lb cream cheese

Generous mug full of chopped herbs

i.e. parsley, chives plus one other recommended. (Can include nuts)

Method: Mash cheeses together in a small basin. Add ½ the herb mixture and thoroughly combine. Make into a cake shape (or whatever takes your fancy). Sprinkle remaining herbs on a board and lightly press cheese into it, turning and coating both sides and edges. Put paper towel on a plate, cheese on top and cover with a basin or foil and leave in the fridge for at least 2 hours. As the cheese firms you can change the paper as it will become saturated. Note: Garlic can be added but go easy as it will overpower and make the cheese ‘hot.’ Experiment!

Lesley Goodwin, Westenhanger

Chutney in the Raw

I find the advantage of this recipe is that the chutney does not have to be cooked.

1lb stoneless dates

1lb sultanas

1lb apples (weighed when peeled and cored)

1lb onions

1lb brown sugar

1 pint vinegar

1 teaspoon salt and sprinkling of pepper

Dash of cayenne pepper

1oz pickling spices in muslin bag

3 pieces whole ginger

Mince fruit and onions, stir together with sugar and vinegar. Add salt, pepper, cayenne, spices and ginger. Leave mix to stand 24 hours stirring at intervals. Remove bag of spices and ginger. Bottle and tie down. The chutney is best kept for a month before using.

Gerti Boyle, Westenhanger

Recipe for Life

Take equal parts of faith and courage, mix well with a sense of humour. Sprinkle with a few tears and add a large helping of kindness to others. Bake in a good-natured oven and dust with laughter. Remove all pity for self, scrape away any self-indulgence that is apparent and serve in generous helpings. Taken from an old book 1836-1936

The Loft Family, Westenhanger

Uncle Ernies Fruit Punch

1 gallon red or white wine

1 quart of sweet cider

4 oz sugar syrup to ½ pint water

1 bottle vodka

Orange juice to taste

2 oranges and lemons, sliced

Sarah Massey, Newingreen

Recipes from Stephen Dougal, a Churchwarden of All Saints Church, Stanford.

Tankermans Breakfast

During the 1980's I was a Deck Officer with the Cunard Steamship Company. My favourite ships were the three Tankers in the fleet 'Lumiere', 'Luminetta' and 'Lucerna'. This was mainly because these were tramp ships and would trade whereever a cargo would take them. On the short time I would spend on these ships we traded the coasts of North Africa, East Africa, South Africa, Namibia, Europe, Home trade waters, Columbia, Falkland Islands, the  Bahamas and so on. In port deck officers would supervise the loading and unloading of cargo and watch hours were 6am to noon and 6pm to Midnight. When loading cargo at 2000 tons per hour it was sometimes difficult to get off the deck and into the duty mess for meals so I used to look forward especially to the morning watch when the steward would bring us breakfast on deck (in all weathers I might add). This would consist of a mug of hot tea or coffee and the following variation on a bacon sandwich:

2 slices of toasted bread Salt & pepper

2 grilled or fried rashers of bacon Tomato Ketchup

1 well cooked grilled or fried medium tomato 

1 fried egg (soft or hard yoke depending on preference)

Spread the cooked tomato onto one side of toast. Lay the bacon

on top followed by the fried egg and seasoning. Spread one side

of the second slice of toast with tomato ketchup and complete

the sandwich. This was always so good that the stewards would always have number two on the way by the time we finished the first one!

As a "salty seadog", having the odd drink or two comes as second nature and I must confess that the favoured drink of those 'ruined mothers' - a large Gin & tonic, is perhaps my most frequent tipple after a long hard day. However, for special occasions my number one cocktail emanates from Mexico and its main ingredient is a spirit made from the sap of the agave plant (related to the lily), which grows in abundance around the small town of Tequilla.

Margarita (apparently named after an American actress called Majorie King)

Ingredients :

Ice cubes

2 measures Tequilla

1.25 measures of cointreau

0.75 measure of Freshly squeezed lime juice

Lime wedge

Seasalt

Equipment required:

Coctail shaker

Saucer or dish for the salt.

Champagne Saucer type glasses.

Method:

Rub the wedge of lime around the rim of the glass and dip

the rim into a saucer of sea salt.

Half fill the cocktail shaker with ice cubes.

Pour in the lime juice, Tequilla and Cointreau.

Shake well and strain into the glass.

Enjoy it - but not too many.....

Its not often that the Bishop comes to Stanford these days but in the years between 1377 and 1399 All Saints Church had to be re-consecrated by an Irish Bishop after some bloodshed in the churchyard. What bloodshed occurred and why an Irish Bishop came no one seems to know but at least we can toast our English Bishops with this hearty winter drink:

English Bishop

Ingredients: (serves 6)

12-14 Cloves

1 large Orange

1.25 pints cheap port

2 tablespoons brandy

1 teaspoon allspice

1 tablespoon honey

Equipment:

Saucepan

6 cups

Method:

Stick the cloves into the orange and bake on a low heat for 30 minutes.

Remove from oven, cut it into quarters and place in a saucepan. Pour

in the Brandy, port and add the allspice and honey.  Simmer gently on a low heat for about 15-20 minutes. Do not boil or the it will tarnish the flavour. Serve in warmed cups.

Stephen Dougal

Grandma’s Piccalilli

This recipe has been handed down through several generations and really is delicious with cold ham or poultry and cheese.

1lb marrow 1lb cucumber

1lb cauliflower 1lb onions

2 ¾ pints vinegar 10 dried chillies

4 cloves 1 ¼ oz mustard powder

¾ oz ground ginger 1 ¼ oz turmeric

8oz Demerara sugar 1 ½ tablespoons cornflour to thicken

Method: Cut up all the vegetables and salt slightly, leave overnight then strain off the liquid. Mix together mustard powder, ground ginger and turmeric in a little of the vinegar to make a paste. Boil up the vinegar in a large pan then add the vegetables, the paste, Demerara sugar, chillies and cloves. Simmer for about 20 minutes and then 5 minutes before the end add the cornflour mixed with a little water to thicken the mixture. Leave in the pan to cool.

Margaret Burchett, Hayton Cottage

Spiced Oranges

Makes about 4lbs

One of the best gifts of all is a large jar packed with rounds of spiced oranges, or, even better, whole kumquats. They are quite delicious with cold and hot meat and your friends will bless you with every mouthful.

4lbs thin skinned navel oranges 1 ½ pints cider vinegar

2 teaspoons coriander seeds, lightly crushed

2 ½ lbs sugar 12 cloves

6 cardamon pods, lightly crushed 2 sticks cinnamon

6 blades mace 2 teaspoons allspice berries

Method: Cut the oranges into ¼ inch slices. If using kumquats, leave them whole. Place them in a large pan and just cover with water. Simmer, covered, until the peel is tender – about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, dissolve the sugar in the vinegar and spices and boil together for a few minutes. Drain the cooked orange slices and reserve the cooking liquid. Place drained fruit in the sugar syrup and if necessary add just enough reserve liquid to cover the fruit. Simmer, covered for 35 minutes. Remove pan from the heat and leave uncovered for 24 hours, turning the fruit in the syrup once or twice. The next day bring the fruit and syrup to the boil, drain the fruit and pack in jars. Arrange some slices, if using oranges, to lie flat against the sides of the jars. Bring the syrup back to the boil and boil hard to thicken slightly. Pour over the slices, distributing the spices between the jars, seal and label. Keep for six weeks before giving ready to use.

Evelyn Holt

Lemon Curd

2 large lemons

125g butter, unsalted

250g caster sugar

3 No 2 eggs

Method: Grate lemon rind and squeeze juice. Melt butter in top of double saucepan with water simmering underneath. Stir in rind, juice and sugar. Heat over low heat till sugar dissolves. Beat eggs together thoroughly, stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon mixture into the eggs. Repeat twice more as this prevents the eggs curdling. Remove lemon mixture from heat and slowly add the eggs to it. Return to heat and cook stirring gently until the mixture coats the back of a wooden spoon. Pour into hot sterilised jars and cover. It will keep about 4 weeks in a fridge.

Evelyn Holt

Greek Lemon Yoghurt

Serve in individual glass dishes or wine glasses. Line the bottom of the glass with crushed ginger biscuits. Add a layer of natural Greek yoghurt, then a layer of lemon curd. Finish with another layer of yoghurt decorated with grated lemon zest.

Anne Duncan, Hayton Manor

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