Back with a ba..ss Italian pasta recipe.

Hi all!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything on here & I do apologise however as we all know past year has been a rollercoaster for all 🎢 Covid and all that huh

Instead of speaking… I’ll get down to business.

I’ve been given this recipe by my sister who has found it on ones blog however I have made a few changes which turned out pretty good I have to say

So for all Italians – no this is not authentic Italian Pasta All’Assassina – just to make it clear, don’t want to offend any Italians here 🇮🇹 🍝

As far as I’m aware the original recipe is from beautiful part of Bari in Italy – (beautiful part I mean let’s be honest the whole of Italy is breath taking , who doesn’t like a bit of an Italian land, food, wine, sun and could go on for while ♥️🇮🇹)

My recipe is from Scotland uk 😂🥴 ok I’ll stop here just scroll down for recipe.

Recipe for 2 :-

Ingredients :-

– Big handful of either already bought spaghetti pasta or homemade whatever you prefer

– 4 garlic cloves

– big pinch of sweet smoked paprika

– smoked bacon

– 2 cups of tomato passata

-2 tablespoons of tomato purée

3 tablespoons of olive oil

400ml water

Pinch of salt

Method :-

– Start by adding tomato purèe, passata and around 400ml water into a saucepan, bring it to simmer and reduce the temperature and keep shimmering for few until it reduces in size a little.

– Grab a frying pan large enough to fit the spaghetti pasta in it. Pour some olive oil and at this point you can add garlic, paprika, bacon pieces, little salt and some passata. Once all mixed add the pasta, keep frying for few minutes. After that time turn over the pasta you should notice that the pasta is a little bit brown/burned – that’s good. Fry the other side as previous.

– Once that’s done, start adding the liquid mixture you made before, start by adding a little each time to start with as it will go very bubbly, once all covered shimmer for at least 10 minutes- you will notice that the sauce has reduced and covered the pasta

– serve and enjoy 🙂

Detox/Plant based asparagus and courgette soup 🌱🌿

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⚠️ Warning ⚠️- only healthy vegan 🌱 food lovers will enjoy this ( purely because it doesn’t involve any salt, stock or any cremes etc)

With summer being pretty much here, everyone’s trying to fit into their best summer clothes it’s time for some detox food, this only plant based soup with definitely help you detox for the next day, with low fat and low calorie check ✅ 🌱

Scroll down for the recipe 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Ingredients for 2 servings :-

  • 2 courgettes
  • Bunch of asparagus
  • Handful of fresh basil
  • Handful of fresh dill
  • 1 lemon( two squeeze in)
  • Half of a leek
  • Handful of spinach
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • A LOT of fresh grind pepper
  • Dry basil
  • Splash of soya milk/ or any milk you like
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper

Method :-

  • In a medium saucepan with 1 cup of water, bring all the veg to boil, add all the herbs, once all soft.
  • Place it all in the blender and blend until smooth, add the splash of milk, apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper.

Enjoy

Meringue nest with rhubarb cream filling, garnished with crushed pistachios, rhubarb & figs

Who doesn’t like a good old meringue nest?! Specially if it’s loaded with some sweet goodies huh…

🧁🍒🍑🍭- Meringue nest with rhubarb cream, garnished with rhubarb , crushed pistachios & figs 🍇🍉🍪🍧

Recipe for the Meringue/Pavlova :-

  • 4 egg whites
  • 225g caster sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon cornflour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar

Method :-

  • Preheat the oven to 160c/fan. Lay a sheet of non-stick baking paper on tray, leave for later. Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then add the sugar, small amount at time, whisking at full speed. Blend the cornflour and white wine vinegar together, and wish into meringue. Spread the meringue as you wish on the baking tray. Place in the preheated oven and reduce the temperature to 150c. Bake for 1- 1 1/4 hours until firm to touch and meringue starts to brown a little, let it cool completely.

For the rhubarb cream filling :-

Ingredients:-

  • rhubarb ( as much as you want)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • Big squeeze of lemon
  • Splash of vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup mascarpone
  • Chopped unsalted pistachios

Method :-

In a small saucepan, simmer the rhubarb, sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice over moderate heat, stirring and mashing the rhubarb with the back of a wooden spoon, until the sugar is dissolved and the rhubarb breaks down. Remove the saucepan from the heat and rstir in the vanilla extract . Let cool completely.

Andalusian chicken 🥜

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One of my favourite chicken dishes is this Andalusian chicken, purely because it got everything in it- it’s sweet, spicy and rich of all the flavours, hint of saffron gives this recipe delicioussss taste 🥘👅

Scroll down and see the recipe 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Ingredients for 2 servings :-

    Stock cube dissolved in a half cup of water
    Large pinch of saffron
    Onion, sliced
    1 red chilli, chopped
    Large pinch of cinnamon
    2 chicken breasts, cut into bite sizes
    Big splash of sherry vinegar
    1 tablespoon honey
    Cherry tomatoes (optional)
    3 tablespoons raisins
    Toasted almond flakes & pine nuts
    Chopped coriander
    To serve rice/bread

Method :-

  • Dissolve stock cube in a half cup of water and add saffron, leave it for few minutes. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion until it is soft. add the chicken. Cook for a few mins until the chicken is browned all over.
  • Add the cinnamon and chilli, and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the stock, vinegar, honey, tomatoes and raisins. Bring to the boil, turn down the heat and simmer for 15 mins until the sauce is reduced and the chicken is cooked through. When ready to serve, scatter with the coriander and nuts.

Serve with your own choice, either rice/ bread or potatoes

Enjoy 😊

Passion fruit & mango meringue roll 🥭🍈🥭

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Hey,

It’s been a while huh?!?

Well I’m back with some summer treats for you for those tropical sunny days 😎

Follow the recipe below for this refreshing meringue cake roll, easy and tasty 😋

Ingredients :-

  • 5 egg whites
  • 150g sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornflour
  • 3 passion fruits
  • 1 mango
  • 300ml double cream
  • Icing sugar

Method :-

    preheat oven to 150c

    Whisk the eggs whites, once starting to become foamy start adding the sugar, make sure the the stiff peaks form, once nice and finished add the corn flour

    Spread on the already prepared tray with baking paper and put in the oven for around an hour, once taken out let it cool a little

    Lay a sheet of greaseproof paper on the work surface and sprinkle with the icing sugar. Carefully turn out the meringue onto the paper and peel away the sheet attached to its base. Carefully flip back over.

    Whip the double cream, spread over meringue, scatter the mango and passion fruit over the double cream.

    Roll the meringue to make a roll, I used the short side hence it cracked so much and it’s shorter (silly)

    Dust with icing sugar and put away for at least 30 minutes into a fridge before serving

    Enjoy 🙂

Mini macaroni pies 🥧

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There really is nothing quite like a freshly baked mac & cheese pie straight from the oven & knowing it’s very very easy to make 😛

Scroll down to see the recipe 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Ingredients for 12 serving :- (please be aware if you read ingredients I never follow grams etc I just see if enough or not so how you feel as well)

  • 400g macaroni pasta / or any pasta
  • 50g butter
  • 20g flour
  • 100ml milk
  • 1 onion
  • 4 tablespoons mustard – I used polish “sarebska”
  • Grated cheddar, I used half cheaper half grated mozzarella
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Vinegar I’ve been using sherry vinegar recently
  • Either pre bought puff pastry or homemade one- what’s easier for you

Method :-

  • Boil the pasta in the boiling salty water, according to the packaging instructions.
  • Chop the onion, drain the macaroni if ready and set aside.
  • Add the butter to the pot and then onion, sweat the onion until soft.
  • Add the flour and mix together until incorporated together. Once it’s mixed add the mustard, vinegar ( I usually give few big splashes of vinegar and then extra just so it’s enough 😂) and then add the milk, mix together so the mixture is runny but still thick, if you think it’s too thick add more milk if it’s too runny add little flour but you can just start adding cheese if you prefer, I use as much cheese as possible so it’s like gluey when you stir it around. – add salt and pepper to Taste
  • Heat up your oven to 180/200 degrees.
  • Add the cooked macaroni to your sauce and mix well.
  • Roll out puff pastry in the shells, and Fill the shells with your macaroni.
  • Cook for 12 minutes, then take out sprinkle some more cheese and bake for another 20 minutes, checking few times in between if it’s not burning

Take out and enjoy 🙂

Venison steak with red wine chocolate sauce 🥩🍫✨

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Ingredients for 1 :-

  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 2  shallots, chopped
  • 2  cloves  garlic, crushed
  • 1  sprig  rosemary
  • 1 cup  red wine, merlot
  • Few mixed peppercorns
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1/4  cup  dark chocolate, finely grated or chopped 
  • 1venison steak
  • 2  tbs  butter
  • Salt and pepper

Method :-

  • Sauté the shallots in butter with the garlic, rosemary, and peppercorns until the shallots have softened but haven’t begun to caramelize, few minutes.
  • Add the red wine and reduce until the liquid has almost entirely evaporated. Add the stock then reduce until thick and saucy, about 20 minutes.( do not add the chocolate just yet)
  • Let the steaks rest on the counter until they’ve reached room temperature.
  • season steaks with salt and paper , if desired. Heat medium skillet to high-medium temperature. Once warm, rub the steaks with some olive oil, and add the steaks to the pan, cook to rare, medium-rare (depending on the thickness, could be 1-2 minutes per side or 3-4 minutes).
  • After flipping the steak, add the butter. Spoon melted butter onto the steaks to baste them. Turn off the heat. And leave the steaks on the pan with butter for around 10 minutes. It’ll brown along with the steak, helping lock in moisture and adding a nice nutty flavor.
  • Transfer the steaks to a plate to let rest a minute or two before cutting.
  • Meanwhile, whisk the chocolate into the still warm sauce, making sure to avoid boiling. Strain the sauce before serving it alongside or on top of the steaks. 

Seared duck with five-spice and noodles 🦆✨

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Easy recipe if you feel a little bit more fancy but still want it to be done relatively quick.

Ingredients for 1 serving :-

  • 1 duck breast
  • 3 tablespoons five spice powder
  • Tablespoon butter
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • Chinese’s egg noodles
  • Some fresh coriander

Method :-

  • Cook the noodles following the instructions, let it set for a bit
  • Rub the duck breast with five-spice, preheat the frying pan to high-heat and put some butter on it, cook the duck breast skin down for 7 minutes depending the on the thickness on your breast, make sure the skin is crispy but it too burned. Pour out the duck fat and oils from the pan and put the breast on other side and fry for 6 minutes, take out of the pan and let rest for at least 10 minutes on warm plate, cut and assign.
  • Use the left duck fat and oil add orange juice and sugar and simmer on the pan for few minutes, add the noddles and toss around for another few minutes, take off the heat and add some fresh coriander
  • Serve.

Thai beef massaman curry served with jasmine rice 🍛

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Who doesn’t like a some Thai curry huh? Specially with this falling apart beef chunks.

I guarantee to you that this recipe will definitely get your taste buds going with it’s fragrant, savoury and authentic flavours. It is very rich beef dish with all the exotic flavours of Thailand.

Remember if you do not like it with beef it can be swapped for any kind of meat – chicken, lamb or even seafood

Follow the recipe below to see the method

Ingredients (serves 2) :-

  • Rump steak, cut into bite- sized chunks
  • 5 cloves
  • 10 cardamom pods
  • 200ml can coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons Thai fish sauce
  • 175 ml beef stock
  • Handful peanuts
  • 2 medium size potatoes
  • Small piece of fresh ginger
  • 2 teaspoons tamarind paste

For the curry pate ( you’ll need a blender) :-

  • 1 red chilli
  • 5 cloves
  • 1 stalk of lemongrass
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 10 cardamom pods
  • 4 garlic gloves
  • 2 shallots
  • Handful of coriander
  • Olive oil (splash)

Method :-

  • To make a curry paste, put all the ingredients into a blender and blend until nice and smooth, doesn’t need to be very paste looking like just so it all mix together
  • For the meat, heat up cloves and cardamom in the pan until it realise the flavours, take off and put aside.
  • In the same pan put the olive oil, and fry the curry paste, add the beef chunks and fry until the beef brown, around 5 minutes.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients and shimmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t burn.
  • Serve with jasmine rice, topped with extra peanuts and coriander

Pasta alla Carbonara

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Who doesn’t like traditional Italian pasta, with lots of cheese and pancetta?! .. exactly thought so🍝🧀 🥓 follow this recipe to see the right technique and make it perfect every time.

What I like about this dish, is that let’s be honest it’s easy, and the ingredients required are I believe everyone’s essentials in the kitchen, pasta? Check, bacon? Check, cheese? Check.. so just make it if you don’t have an idea what to have for dinner 🍝🧀 🥓🧀🥓🧀🥓🍝

Ingredients for 1 serving :-

  • Handful of pasta- any you like spaghetti, linguine or tagliatelle- I personally used tagliatelle.
  • 4 strips of pancetta or unsmoked bacon, I used both
  • 2 garlic gloves , crushed
  • Olive oil, salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 eggs
  • 20g Parmesan cheese grated, and some extra for serving
  • 20 g pecorino cheese, grated and some extra for serving
  • 1 spring of fresh thyme,optional
  • Method :-
    • Bring saucepan of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta, and cook for 10 minutes or until cooked, or following the instructions on the packaging
      Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the pancetta( chopped) and garlic, fry, stirring for 6-7 minutes, or until all crispy.
      Beat the eggs and cheeses together, add some pepper and salt to taste if required, and thyme if using. Drain the pasta and return to the pan. Add the eggs, pancetta, and the remaking oil, and stir all until well coated. Serve hot, sprinkled with some cheese and thyme

    Enjoy 🙂