Chocolate peppermint traybake

500g shin of beef 2 tablespoons oil 2 large carrots peeled and roughly chopped 1 onion, roughly chopped 2 sticks celery chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon tomato puree 750ml beef stock 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons balsamic 350g pasta - I used pacheri 75g grated parmesan or hard cheeseHeat a tablespoon of the oil in a casserole until smoking hot. Season the beef with salt and sear on both sides for a couple of minutes. Remove from pan and add the onion, celery and carrots and the remaining tablespoon of oil. Cook for 5 minutes to colour then add the tomato puree and stir well. Cook for a minute and add the stock, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to boil and return beef to pan. Cover and bake in a 140oc oven for about 2 hours or until fork tender. Cook the pasta according to the pack. Remove carrots and add 150ml of liquor and blend well. Take the remaining liquor and boil to reduce by half. Blend and check seasoning. Shred the beef and add to the meat liquor. Drain the pasta and add to the meat with the carrot puree, stir well and add a bit of cooking water to loosen if needed. Mix in half the cheese and spoon into bowls. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top and serve.Show less

Paula shows John how to make chocolate peppermint traybakes.

Coconut cheesecake cream 250g cream cheese 250g mascarpone 50g castor sugar 250ml double cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 50g desiccated coconut 25g icing sugar Take 125g of the cream and add the vanilla and sugar. Bring to a simmer until sugar has dissolve and add the coconut. Turn off the heat and cool for 30 minutes. Whisk the cream cheese, mascarpone, remaining cream together and add the coconut cream mixture and icing sugar. Orange Crumble 100g plain flour 80g soft butter 100g castor sugar Zest 1 orange. Rub the flour and butter to coarse crumb texture. Add the sugar and orange zest Spread over a tray lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes at 180oc or until golden and crisp. Cool and break up into a crumble.Poached Rhubarb 4 stalks rhubarb, cut into 2cm pieces 500ml local apple juice 250ml water 50g castor sugar 2 tablespoons grenadine Place the water and sugar in a large saucepan and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Add the apple juice and bring to a simmer. Add the grenadine and gin and then the rhubarb. Cover the surface with parchment paper and lower the heat to as little as possible. Cook for about 3 minutes then turn off and allow the rhubarb to cool in the liquor. Store in the fridge and use as necessary. The juice can be added to sparkling water, wine or gin and tonic. Spoon the coconut cream into bowls, make a well in the centre, spoon in some rhubarb and scatter over the crumble.

1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry 60g soft butter 60g castor sugar 1 egg 50g ground almonds 15g plain flour 15g cocoa powder 1 egg yolk 10g melted butter 1 tablespoon Demerara sugar 1 tablespoon maple syrup 175g cherries, stone removed Place the pastry on a lightly greased baking tray. Beat the castor sugar and butter until pale and fluffy. Add the egg and mix well. Mix in the almonds, cocoa and flour to a smooth paste. Score a border of 1cm thick around the pastry, prick the middle with a fork and brush all over with the egg yolk. Spread the frangipane into the centre rectangle within the border. Press the cherry halves into the frangipane. Brush all over with the melted butter and sprinkle the Demerara sugar over evenly. Bake in a 180oc preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until frangipane is cooked through. Brush with the maple syrup and cool slightly before serving.

Spiced Courgette fritters with yoghurt dressing 125g mashed potatoes 250g coarsely grated courgettes ½ teaspoon salt 4 scallions, finely chopped 45g rice flour 1 teaspoon garam masala ½ teaspoon cumin seeds ½ teaspoon nigella seeds Oil for shallow frying Mix the courgettes with the salt and leave for 10 minutes. Squeeze through a sieve to get rid of as much water as possible and place in a bowl with the potatoes, scallions, rice flour, and spices. Mix well. Form into small golf ball size pieces – roll and then flatten. Heat a quarter of thumb nail depth of oil in a frying pan and add the fritters. Cook until golden on both sides – about 2 minutes each side. Drain on kitchen paper and serve with the yoghurt dressing.Yoghurt Dressing 250ml Greek style yoghurt ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons oil 2 teaspoons cumin seeds 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons curry leaves ½ teaspoon turmeric ½ teaspoon Kashmiri chilli powderSeason the yoghurt with salt in a bowl. Heat the oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds. When they pop add garlic and curry leaves. Cook gently until the garlic is golden. Add the turmeric and chilli powder and remove from heat. Pour the mixture over the surface of the yoghurt and serve with the fritters.

Braised local beans with parma ham and spaghetti 1 stick celery, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 25g butter 4 slices parma ham, shredded 1 tablespoon tomato puree 250g mixed beans ( runner beans and green beans) topped tail and cut into 2cm pieces 250g local tomatoes cut the same size or whole if cherry tomatoes 250ml stock 300g dried spaghetti 75g hard cheese like parmesan/ Cais na Tire/ pecorino Handful fresh basil, parsley or lovage, chopped 1 tablespoon of good olive oilCook the onion, garlic and celery in the butter in a pan over low heat – keep a lid on and give it a stir occasionally, for 15 minutes or until soft. Add the ham and cook for a couple of minutes. Mix in the tomato puree and add the beans, tomatoes and stock. Place the lid on and simmer for 10 minutes. Cook the spaghetti for 10 minutes and then drain and add to the braised beans. Mix in the cheese and herbs. Check seasoning and serve in bowls with a drizzle of the good oil.

RecipeFlorentines 50g butter 50g soft brown sugar 50g golden syrup 50g plain flour 100g chopped mixed nuts ( pistachio, hazelnuts, almonds) 75g mixed dried fruit ( apricot, cranberry, raisins etc) Set oven to 180oc and line 2 trays with parchment paper. Melt the butter, sugar and syrup in a pan. Remove from heat and beat in the flour to a smooth paste. Mix in the buts and fruit. Take a tablespoon of the mixture and place on the baking tray and flatten slightly. Repeat with remaining mixture, leaving space in between as they spread when cooking. Bake for about 10 minutes and cool to set.Blackcurrant icecream 150g blackcurrants 1 tablespoon Brandy or fruit liqueur 1 tablespoon liquid glucose Juice ½ lemon 250g sugar 4 egg yolks 500ml double creamPlace the blackcurrants with the brandy, glucose, lemon juice and 50g of the sugar in a pan and simmer for 10 minutes. Blend and cool Whisk the remaining sugar with the egg yolks in a heat proof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Whisk for 2 minutes then whisk with an electric whisk for another 3 minutes or until pale. Whisk the cream to soft peaks. Fold the egg yolk mixture into the cream and then fold in the blackcurrant mixture. Place in a plastic tub and freeze until set.Scoop the icecream and sandwich between 2 Florentines.

RecipeScones 225g soda bread flour ½ teaspoon baking powder 50g butter 35g castor sugar 1 egg 125ml buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg yolkSift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add the butter and rub until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. ( For best results chill at this stage for an hour) Add the sugar and mix well. Set oven to 190°C and lightly butter 2 baking trays.Whisk the egg, buttermilk and vanilla together and add to the flour mixture Mix to a soft dough and place on a floured surface. Knead gently. Roll to 2cm thick and cut into desired shapes and place on baking trays.Brush the top with egg yolk and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden, risen and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.Strawberry and elderflower jam 500g strawberries 500g jam sugar or granulated sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 elderflower heads If the strawberries are large, cut them in half. Put the strawberries and lemon juice into a large pan. Heat for a few minutes to soften, add the sugar and stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add the elderflower heads. Once the sugar has dissolved and the liquid is clear, boil steadily for about 6 minutes, or until at setting point. To test if the jam is at setting point, spoon a little onto a cold plate, leave for a minute and then push the jam with your finger. If the jam crinkles and separates without flooding back, setting point has been reached. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the elderflowers. Spoon into sterilised jars, label and seal with wax paper and a lid.Split the scones, add some jam and a little clotted cream.

Recipe Southern Fried Chicken8 boneless skinless chicken thighs 150ml buttermilk 1 teaspoon fresh chopped thyme 1 clove garlic, crushed 150g plain flour Half a teaspoon mustard powder 2 teaspoons onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder Half a teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprka Half a teaspoon of salt Oil for cooking Mix the buttermilk with the minced garlic and thyme. Add the chicken and marinate in the fridge for a few hours Mix the flour with the mustard, onion, garlic powders, pepper, salt and paprika. Remove chicken from buttermilk and dredge in the flour mixture. Set oven to 180oc.Heat half a thumb nail depth of oil in a pan until a little flour added sizzles. Add 4 of the thighs and cook for 2 minutes each side. Transfer to a baking tray. Repeat with remaining chicken and cook in oven for 10 minutes or until crisp and cooked through.Waldorf Salad75g walnuts 35g castor sugar 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 4 sticks celery, finely chopped plus leaves 2 red apples, quartered, cored and chopped 75g smoked cheddar cut into half cm dice 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 150ml sour cream Heat the sugar in a small pan until it turns amber. Add the balsamic and 25ml water. Cook to a liquid and toss in the walnuts and place on parchment paper to cool. Chop the walnuts and mix into the other ingredients.

Recipe4 mackerel filleted, pin bones removed and trimmed ( ask your fishmonger) Oil for brushing Seasalt for seasoning Heat your barbecue or a hot pan ( if you’re worried the pan might stick, line the bottom with parchment paper). Brush the skin with oil and season with salt. Place skin side down and cook for about 3 minutes or until skin is crisp. Season the flesh with salt and flip over. Cook for another minute and rest. Elderflower Yoghurt 200ml Greek Style yoghurt 1 teaspoon black onion seeds 1 teaspoon hot honey 1 dessertspoon elderflowers chopped ½ teaspoon seasalt Toast the onion seeds in a dry pan until they pop then mix into the yoghurt with the hot honey, elderflowers and salt and mix well.Beetroot Salad 2 medium beetroots, peeled and coarsely grated 1 red onion, finely sliced 1 tablespoon oil 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar Salt and pepper to tasteFry the onion in the oil until soft and mix into the beetroot with the vinegar and season well. Allow to marinate for an hour, tossing occasionally, before serving. Serve the mackerel on some beetroot salad with a dollop of the yoghurt on the side. Garnish with some elderflowers and parsley/lovage