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Granola Muffins

May 7th, 2013 by

A while ago, I received an email from the lovely Sophie at Limetree, asking me to try Lizi’s Granola. She said: “It is a healthy, completely natural granola with no additives or added sugars, unlike so much other granola on the market. I believe it is a great addition to any household as it is G.I certified and releases it’s energy slowly ensuring that you are full for longer.”

Of course, I agreed to give it a try!

After ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the fancy packaging, I decided I’d make some Granola Muffins.

I found a Nigella recipe at NY Times online (originally published with AT MY TABLE; The Ritual of Breakfast, Without the Stress), but I’ve made so many adjustments, I’ll post my own version of it now.

The Nigella recipe was in “cups”, and I used a standard tea mug. I couldn’t find any buttermilk, but read online that a tbsp of lemon juice left in my cup of milk for 20mins would do the trick!

Here’s what I did:

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Ingredients (Made 12 muffins)

  • 1 x cup self-raising flower
  • 1 x cup milk (with 1 x tbsp. lemon stirred in and left for 20 mins)
  • 1 x cup light brown sugar
  • 1 x tsp salt
  • 1/3 x cup vegetable oil
  • 2 x cups Lizi’s Granola
  • 1 x large egg

I preheated the oven to 180 degrees and lined my muffin tin with paper cases.

Into a large bowl, I whisked together the milk, sugar, egg and oil.

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I combined the flour, salt and baking soda, then added to the bowl of egg/milk mixture, stirring it all gently until just combined and no more. Then I added the granola.

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Another gentle stir, incorporating all the ingredients, and it was ready to go into the cases. Don’t overfill… they will rise.

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I baked these babies for 25 minutes, until they were nicely golden. I made sure they were ready by popping a skewer in the thickest part and making sure it all came out clean & batter free.

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You could wait until they cool before eating… or suffer burny fingers like us!

I very much enjoyed having one with my tea at the office the next day, and they went down a treat with all who tried them…

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My colleague, Selina, especially enjoyed the granola over her fruit and yoghurt.

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These muffins are sweet and dense, and the seeds through the granola give it a perfect crunchy balance.

Plus, you don’t feel half as guilty than if it was a triple chocolate chip chunky thing. Our consciences are clear…

Give them a try and see what you think!

Enjoy :) x

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Posted in Budget Friendly, Comfort Food, Dessert, Food, Food Review, freezer friendly, Frugal Food, Healthy, Home Baking, menu planning, midweek meal | No Comments »

Blue Cheese Lasagne

Jan 17th, 2013 by

 

The whole “cheeseboard” thing has never appealed to me. It’s downright sacrilege to put it anywhere near a dessert menu, if you ask me. Perhaps if they’d put it on the “Starters” menu, we’d be having a different conversation right now. Don’t ever make me choose between you and chocolate fudge cake. You’ll lose. ;)

So, when I was given a block of blue cheese from a post-festive glut, I have to say I was a tad feart. Blue cheese? That… veiny stuff? In an admission that will appall many a foodie, my cheesy repertoire extends to goats cheese, mozzarella balls and a nice, mature cheddar. You could smother any of those over any dish and it would be wonderful.

Could the same be said for this St. Agur blue cheese? I decided to incorporate it into a lasagne and find out.

I padded the mince out with some red peppers and chopped tomatoes; I thought it would be a nice contrast to the tangy blue cheese. Since I don’t drink, I just bought a teeny bottle of wine for around £1.50. Some people are particular about the type of wine they cook with. I’m not. When you add red wine to a dish like lasagne, you’ll undoubtedly improve the flavour of the dish, but you’re not going to detect the “accent of black cherry” or “pungent aroma of vanilla”.

Here’s what I did:

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Ingredients (Serves 6-8, dependant on greed)

  • 500g beef mince (I used lean steak)
  • 2 x onions, diced
  • 5 x cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 x Oxo cube
  • 500ml passata
  • 3 x tomatoes, diced
  • 2 x red peppers, diced
  • 1 large glass (175ml) red wine
  • 2 x tbsp Italian style seasoning
  • 2 x tbsp tomato puree
  • 12 lasagne sheets
  • 100g grated mozzarella cheese
  • Grated Parmesan (Optional. I used dehydrated Fallini Formaggi)
  • 70g butter
  • 70g flour
  • 450ml milk
  • 90g blue cheese (I used St. Agur)
  • Salt & Black pepper (to taste)

First, I browned the mince then drained the fat (even lean steak has excess fat). I added the onions & garlic, then crumbled over an Oxo cube.

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Once the onions were translucent (around 5-10 mins), I stirred in the passatta, red wine, Italian style seasoning, salt & pepper and tomato puree.

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Next went in the chopped tomatoes and red peppers. I let it all simmer for around 30 mins, stirring frequently.

 

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Then it was time to make the white sauce. I melted the butter and added the flour, stirring quickly to make a roux. In went the milk, then I whisked furiously till smooth. After a few minutes, you’ll feel the mixture start to thicken and expand into a perfect sauce consistency. I crumbled in 90g of the blue cheese and added a generous dash of pepper, then poured into a measuring jug for easy assembly of the lasagne.

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My lasagne comprised of two layers, in this order: Mince, lasagne sheets, white sauce, grated Mozzarella, Parmesan and black pepper. Repeat.

I baked in the oven at 180 degrees for 45 mins, covering with foil for the first 30 mins.

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I served up with a nice side salad and plenty of garlic bread. Divine. Just divine.

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I’d thoroughly recommend this. The cheese wasn’t too overpowering at all. This is lasagne on steroids. It tastes even better the next day and freezes extremely well (should it make it to the freezer… good luck with that one!)

Give it a try!

Enjoy :) x

 

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Posted in Budget Friendly, Comfort Food, Food, freezer friendly, Frugal Food, Italian, menu planning, midweek meal | 2 Comments »

Carrot and Coriander Soup

Jan 15th, 2013 by

I’m always looking for new soups to try. For years, I thought I hated Carrot & Coriander Soup. I’d only tried it once – a shop bought carton – and it was vile.

That’s what I get for not making my own. Shame on me.

I love carrots. I love coriander. Something had to be done here… it was time to have a go myself.

This recipe actually came about by accident. I thought I had two veggie stock cubes, but one of them turned out to be beef! I popped it in anyway… it tasted so good I won’t be making any changes to the recipe. I love it when that happens! :)

You can, however, omit the beef cube and have two veg cubes, to make it Vegetarian.

This one’s nice and simple. Here’s what I did:

Ingredients (Serves 6-8)

(Easily Doubled/Quadrupled/Centupled if you must!)

  • 1kg carrots, roughly chopped
  • 2 x onions, roughly chopped
  • 2 x cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 x tbsp ground coriander
  • 1 x tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 veg stock cube
  • 1 beef stock cube
  • 1.5 litres boiled water
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 x tbsp fresh coriander, chopped finely

I sautéed the onions for 5 mins in a little oil (you can use some of the stock if you’d prefer to make it Zero Pro Points), before adding the garlic, carrots, ground coriander and paprika.

After stirring for a few minutes, mixing it all together, I added my stock and brought to the boil.

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I simmered for 30 mins, until the carrots were soft, then used my hand blender to whizz it into submission.

I stirred in the juice of half a lemon & fresh coriander, and served with crusty, buttery bread.

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Good grief, it’s delicious. Perfect for days like today, when the snow is falling and you just want to curl up with a blanket, a good book and plenty of hearty food.

If you have a big enough pot to make double… do it. It freezes exceptionally well: ideal for work lunches (microwave permitting). It’s also very diet-friendly, if you’re into that kind of thing. I’ve been reliably informed that this recipe is Zero Weight Watchers Pro Points. Hard to imagine, as it’s so filling!

Have a wee go and let me know what you think.

Enjoy :) x


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Posted in Budget Friendly, Comfort Food, Food, freezer friendly, Frugal Food, Healthy, Lunch, midweek meal, Soup, Vegetarian | No Comments »

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