Butternut Squash Raviloi with Crispy Sage and Brown Garlic Butter

I went back to work in September, and coincidentally I haven't blogged since. Time to restart I think, and what better than a delicious recipe I've never made before eh?! I adore this ravioli and will always order it if it's on a menu somewhere. We gave Fuz's sister and her boyfriend a pasta machine for Christmas and it inspired us to dust ours off and use it for the first time in yeeeeeears. The pasta itself is a cinch to make. The rolling takes a little time (Fuz makes an awesome commis chef :)) but if you fancy a lazy afternoon in the kitchen, this is a lovely recipe to make. Don't be put off by the different stages, none of it is hard. Stick some tunes on and get stuck in :)

For enough ravioli for 2-3 people you need
Ravioli Dough
3 eggs
300g pasta (type 00) flour
1 tsp salt

Butternut Squash Filling
1 butternut squash cut into 1cm cubes
2 red onions sliced
2-3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

Sauce
7-8 sage leaves
2 cloves garlic, sliced
2 tbs olive oil
2 tbsp butter

Parmesan cheese to serve.

Begin by making the pasta dough. Blitz the ingredients in a food processor till a dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 10 mins until it goes all smooth and elastic. Cover with cling film and leave to rest for 30 mins.

Meanwhile roast the squash. Toss the suqash cubes in the oil and seasoning and roast in a 180 degree oven for 25 mins. Add the sliced onion and roast for a further 10 mins until the onions are soft and the squash is nicely coloured and soft. Puree to a rough consistency and leave to one side to cool.

Once the pasta dough has rested, cut it into three sections and roll through a pasta machine until it's on the thinnest setting. Leave to rest for a few mins once rolled and then assemble the ravioli. Place a scant tsp on a piece of dough, wet the edges and then place more pasta on top and stamp out a shape (there are numerous ways to do this, we had a ravioli stamp we used but cookie cutters will work equally well). The trick is to ensure no filling oozes out and the sides are completely sealed to keep the filling in once it's cooked.

Leave the ravioli to rest on a floured surface for a few mins.

When you're ready to cook, heat a pan of boiling water and cook the ravioli in batches for 3-4 mins until the pasta is al dente. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and butter in a pan with the garlic. When the butter foams, add the sage leaves and cook for 3-4 mins over a low heat until the butter browns and the garlic and sage crisp.

Drain the pasta and serve with the sauce spooned over and some cheese grated on top. Utterly delicious and you did it all yourself!

Bruschetta with Pesto, Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Poor ickle blog. No posts for ages. Bad Becka. But here is a quick, easy and tasty end of work feed me now recipe to get me back into the blogging groove again...

For 2 people you need:
1 garlic ciabatta
1 tub fresh green pesto
1 pack mozzarella
1 cup baby plum tomatoes, cut in to quarters
1 red onion, finely diced
handful fresh basil leaves

Bake the ciabatta in the oven according to the instructions. Meanwhile mix the onions with the tomatoes and 2/3 of the pesto. Once the bread is cooked, place the pesto onion and tomato mix on the bread, top with the cheese and basil leaves. Drizzle over the remaining pesto and season with black pepper. Eat with your fingers and sigh with pleasure...

Mr Strone Soup (v)

You can basically use whatever you want for this. I had carrots and cabbage to use up, so used up they were...

For 4-6 portions you need:
1 onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
6 new potatoes, cut into bite sized chunks
75g wholewheat spaghetti, broken into small lengths
1 can black eyed beans, drained and rinsed
1 tin chopped tomatoes
2 tsp vegan stock powder
salt and pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
2 tbsp vegan red pesto (I had this to use up but you don't need to add it)
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into bite sized chunks
1/2 savoy cabbage, finely shredded

Fry the onion in the oil. Add the carrots and potatoes after about 3 mins and cover with a lid. After 10 mins add the garlic and continue to cook for 2-3 mins more (keep stirring frequently to avoid it sticking). Add everything else along with 3 can fulls of water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 mins until everything is tender. Serve with fresh bread and some freshly chopped basil and oregano on the top.

Piedmont Peppers (v)

It's been hot today. 32 degrees of hotness in Bradford. Unheard of! And it's still uncomfortably close now. So what you need on a day like today is proper food from the Med. And these are to *die* for. OMG they are good. I love this recipe, but the original from St Delia contains anchovies and is therefore decidedly un-vegan friendly. My version substitutes olive tapenade, vegan pesto and salted capers, and by golly it works. Nom. Nom. Nom.Nothing beats the taste of the Med, with a glass of red vino to hand and a sunset to warm your soul. Serve with mountains of crusty bread and perhaps a rocket salad to cut through the richness of the peppers themselves.

For 2-3 people (depending on greed) you need:

3 peppers, cut in half with the stalks left on but de-seeded

2-3 baby plum tomatoes per pepper half, cut in to halves

2 tbsp salted capers, rinsed

1/2 jar black olive tapenade

6 dessert spoonfuls  of vegan red pesto

2-3 large cloves of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

freshly ground black pepper

2-3 tbsp good quality olive oil

Good quality bread to eat with them

Place the pepper halves on a shallow roasting tin. Fill the hollows with tapenade, then pesto, then garlic, then tomatoes and finally scatter over the capers. Season with pepper (no salt!!) and drizzle over the oil. Roast in a hot oven for 30-45 mins till soft and slightly charred. Scoff. Best served at room temperature.

Garlicky Aubergines and Tomatoes with Pesto (v)

I had an aubergine to use up, and vaguely remember Rick Stein starting a recipe off by sauteeing aubergine in olive oil till soft and then adding garlic so this is a variation on that theme. I served it with cous cous cos time was of the essence but it would have equally have been nice with bread, pasta or bulghar wheat.





For 2 portions you need:
1 aubergine, chopped into small dice
3 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp pesto
1 tin chopped tomatoes
pinch salt and pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp red wine vinegar
1/3 cup cous cous
1/4 tsp vegan stock powder
2/3 cup boiling water

Begin by frying the aubergine in the oil. Season (the salt will help to draw out the juices and speed up the cooking process). Once the aubergine is soft and golden (about 10 mins) add the garlic and cook for a further 2-3 mins, taking care not to burn the garlic. Add the pesto, tomatoes, sugar and vinegar. Cook for a further 5 mins or so till slightly thickened. Meanwhile place the cous cous and stock in a bowl and cover with the boiling water.

Feta, Spinach, Olive and Tomato Muffins

This recipe is courtesy of @Goze01 who shared a pic of some amazing looking muffins on instagr.am and then sent me the recipe. I have tweaked it according to what I had available. And now I can't stop eating them. Lush indeed.

For 12 muffins and a loaf tin of mix you need:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, finely chopped
360g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp hot chilli powder pepper
125g grated cheddar cheese
220ml milk
1 egg
130g baby spinach leaves
1/2 tub semi dried tomatoes in olive oil
1 small tub chilli olives, cut into quarters
1 packet feta, crumbled into chunks.

Fry the onion in the oil till done. Meanwhile put everything else in a bowl. Add the onions and mix well.

Spoon the mixture into the paper cases/loaf tin. Bake in medium (170 degree) oven for 30-35 minutes. Leave the muffins to cool slightly before turning out on to a wire rack to cool completely. I topped the loaf tin with some quartered tomatoes that needed to be used up. A meal in a muffin!

Mushroom and Tomato Baked Gnocchi

This is a simple and quick after work feast.

For 2-3 people you need:
1 packet gnocchi
1 tub 4 cheese sauce
1 punnet mushrooms, thickly sliced
1 medium tomato, cut into 6ths
Handful each of grated cheddar, emmental and parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil

Saute the mushrooms in the oil for 10-15 mins till dark and all the juices have run out and concentrated. Cook the gnocchi till they rise. Drain the gnocchi and mix in the sauce. Lay the mushrooms in the bottom of a baking dish and then tip over the cheesy gnocchi. Top with the tomato and cheeses and bake in a hot oven for 15-20 mins till golden and bubbly.

Cauliflower and Broccoli Risotto

This is a variation on the usual risotto bianco.

For 4-6 portions you need:
For 4-6 portions you need:
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
50g butter
2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for the squash
250g risotto rice
1 litre veggie stock
125ml white wine
salt and pepper
100g Parmesan, grated
1/2 head cauliflower
1 small head broccoli

Fry the onion in the oil and butter till soft and translucent. Add the garlic and rice and cook for a further 2-3 mins till the rice is lightly toasted. Add the wine and bubble off. Add the broccoli stalk (finely chopped) and then add the stock a ladle at a time till all absorbed and the rice is plumed up and delicious. About 10 ins before the end add the cauli and broccoli florets. Season and stir through a touch more butter. Serve with parmesan.

Risotto Bianco

This is the base to many a delicious risotto.

For 4-6 portions you need:
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
50g butter
2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for the squash
250g risotto rice
1 litre veggie stock
125ml white wine
salt and pepper
100g Parmesan, grated

Fry the onion in the oil and butter till soft and translucent. Add the garlic and rice and cook for a further 2-3 mins till the rice is lightly toasted. Add the wine and bubble off. Then add the stock a ladle at a time till all absorbed and the rice is plumed up and delicious. Season and stir through a touch more butter. Serve with parmesan.

Sicilian Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil and Olives (v)

OK so this isn't strictly Sicilian pasta I am sure. But I saw Rick Stein make something like this on his Mediterranean adventure programme a few days ago and thought I like the look of that. The experiment worked and this was totally lush.

For 2 hungry people you need:
200g long pasta
handful fresh tomatoes
handful olives, sliced
pinch chilli flakes
salt and pepper
handful shredded basil leaves
2 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, smashed

Begin by cooking the pasta. Meanwhile heat the oil in a saute pan and add the garlic. Stir to flavour the oil but don't colour the garlic. Strictly speaking you're supposed to remove the garlic now but frankly that's a heinous crime so keep it in and enjoy it in the sauce. Chop the tomatoes in half and squeeze out the seeds, discard the seeds. Roughly chop the tomato flesh and add to the hot pan. Season and stir well to cook down the tomatoes. Add the olives and chilli flakes. Drain the pasta and add to the sauce pan. Coat well, mixing in the basil leaves. Serve, scoff, smile :)

Pea and Saffron Risotto

This is unctuous, creamy, naughty risotto goodness at its best. Eat in small quantities and make the full recipe to enjoy risotto cakes the next day :)

For 2 portions of risotto plus about 6 risotto cakes you need:
400g risotto rice
300ml white wine
1 litre hot veggie stock
80g parmesan
50g butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup peas
salt and pepper
pinch saffron strands

Begin by sauteeing the onion and garlic in a tsp of the butter and a little oil for about 10 mins till lightly golden. Add the rice and toast for 2-3 mins. Add the wine and let it boil furiously and reduce. Place the saffron in the hot stock and add the stock once the wine has reduced (I am lazy and do it all in one go...) and reduce the heat. Cook for about 10-15 mins till the rice is al dente. Season and stir through the remaining butter and 90% of the cheese. Cover with a lid and allow to rest for 2 mins. Serve sprinkled with the extra cheese. Belissimo :)

Roasted Vegetable Pasta (v)

OK so this is virtually the same as the courgette pasta but it's worthy of its own entry...

For 2 people you need:
2 courgettes, diced
1 red onion, diced
1 pepper, diced
handful cherry tomatoes
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tin cherry tomatoes
handful olives, sliced
pinch sugar
salt and pepper
vegetable stock
dash red wine
175g pasta

Toss the veggies in olive oil and then roast them for about 20 mins. Meanwhile place the garlic, seasonings and tomatoes in a pan and bring to the boil. Simmer. Cook the pasta, drain. Add the veggies to the sauce and toss in the pasta. Scoff.

Courgette Pasta (v)

A simple and quick dinner to make, and one which uses any glut of homegrown courgettes you might have.

For 4 portions you need:
2 courgettes, diced
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tin chopped tomatoes with olives
1/3 cup water
1 tsp stock
salt and pepper
pinch sugar
400g pasta

Begin by sauteeing the onion and garlic in a little olive oil for a few mins. Add the courgette and cook out for 5-10 mins. Add the tomatoes, seasoning, sugar, water and stock. Bring to the boil and then simmer for about 10-15 mins. Meanwhile cook the pasta. Drain and mix with the sauce. This is also nice the next day cold for lunch as a salad.

Leek and Roquefort Pizza Bread

I am not sure I want to eat this any time soon as I overdosed on cheese, especially Roquefort, in France. But it looks like a lovely recipe. And my cheese ban will soon be over as I can’t resist the soft, salty, creaminess of Roquefort for long! This is another @riverfordveg recipe.

Dough:
300g bread flour
7g sachet yeast
1 tsp salt
180ml warm water
1.5 tbsp olive oil

Topping:
3-4 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove
1 green chilli, halved
25g butter
2 small leeks, sliced
30g parmesan
100g grated mozzarella
2 tbsp each of finely chopped parsley and oregano
60g Roquefort or other blue cheese, crumbled

Begin by infusing the oil with the chilli and garlic. Then make the dough. Add the yeast and salt to the flour and then add the oil. Add enough warm water to make a soft dough and knead lightly for 10 mins or so. Leave to prove for about an hour then knock back and divide in to four.

Meanwhile cook the leeks in the butter for about 10 mins. Pre-heat the oven and stretch the dough out on to two baking sheets/pizza stones. Brush with the infused oil and scatter the herbs over the surface. Add the leeks and then finish with the cheeses. Bake for 12-14 mins till golden and then scoff.

Mediterranean Gnocchi Bake

Another @deliciousmag August edition recipe…

For 2 people you need:
400g mixed veg e.g. peppers, courgettes, onions, tomatoes
350g pack fresh gnocchi
1 tub four cheese sauce
small bunch fresh oregano, leaves picked
8 sunblush tomatoes

Roast the veggies in some olive oil with half the oregano. Cook the gnocchi and drain. Mix them together with the cheese sauce. Scatter over the sunblush tomatoes and the remaining oregano and bake in the oven for 20 mins till bubbling.

Risotto Cakes with Goat's Cheese

I had some left over risotto from Friday night and have been meaning to try and make some risotto cakes for ages. They worked pretty well :)

For about 6-8 cakes you need
leftover risotto (I used a butternut squash one)
Goat's cheese - I used about 1/4 of a log

Place the risotto into a bowl and mix to break it up (assuming it's cold and has been in the fridge). Pick up a dollop, about the size of a golf ball, and squidge it in your hand. Push some goat's cheese in to the centre and close the risotto around the cheese. Shape into a ball. This is easier than it sounds. Repeat till all the risotto and cheese has been used up. Place on a baking sheet and bake in a hot oven for about 20-30 mins til crispy on the outside and piping hot. Serve with a green salad and maybe a tomato sauce if you like.

Pasta with Creamy Tomatoes and Spinach

This is an @bbcgoodfood recipe where I have switched the suggested gnocchi for pasta. It'd be good with ramps or wild garlic too instead of the spinach.

For 4 portions you need:
1 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 can chopped toms (it's very nice with a can of cherry toms)
400g pasta
1/2 tub mascapone
handful basil leaves
200g pack baby spinach
Parmesan shavings to serve

Begin by cooking the pasta. Meanwhile saute the garlic in the oil for a few mins and then add the toms. Add the mascapone and heat through. Add some seasoning, including sugar, to taste and then wilt in the spinach. Drain the pasta and mix with the sauce. Serve topped with basil and cheese. Yummy.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto

I love this risotto, it's one of my favourite ones. Yes it's a bit of a faff to make and it's not the sort of thing you can throw together on a busy week night, but it's perfect for a relaxed saturday evening dinner.

I always start risotto this way, and then add different things to it depending on what I fancy.

For 4 generous portions you need:
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
50g butter
2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for the squash
250g risotto rice
1 litre veggie stock
125ml white wine
1 large butternut squash, peeled and deseeded and cut into 1cm dice
4 sprigs sage
salt and pepper
100g Parmesan, grated

Place the diced squash in a bowl, season and toss in some olive oil. Add 2 sprigs finely chopped sage and tip on to a baking sheet. Roast at 180 degrees for about 45 mins till tender and lightly caramelized.

Meanwhile melt the butter in a pan with the olive oil. Add the onion and cook slowly until golden. Add the garlic and cook for a further 5 mins or so. Add the rice and allow to get really hot. Add the wine and let it bubble off the residue on the pan and soak into the wine. Let it evaporate completely before adding the stock. Add the stock a ladel at a time, stirring well until it's all absorbed. About 5 mins before the rice is done, add the cooked squash and heat through. Add half the parmesan and mix. Season to taste.

Fry the remaining sage leaves (careful it will SPIT!!!) till crispy. Serve the risotto in bowls, sprinkled with some remaining cheese and topped with a couple of sage leaves.

Sit back and feel like the proverbial Italian mother.

Pizza Express-esque Bruschetta

I am addicted to this. Every time I go to Pizza Express I order it. I worry it will get boring, or taste different but every time it hits the spot... This version is not the same. I swear they must add crack or heroin to their pesto, but it's a good substitute all the same.

For 2 greedy portions you need:
1 garlic flat bread (either one each or 1 large one to cut in half)
1/2 tub good quality fresh pesto either home made or premium brand
2 ripe tomatoes
1 small red onion
pine kernels

Heat the garlic bread. Meanwhile chop the tomato and onion. Place in a mixing bowl and add the 1/2 of the pesto. Mix gently. When the garlic bread is done, place on a plate and top with the tomato/onion/pesto mixture, dropping teaspoons of the extra pesto on to the bread. Scatter over some pine kernels and scoff.

Pasta with Pesto, Mushrooms, Peas and Broccoli

A friend made something like this for me last week and it was delicious. I hardly ever use pesto as a pasta sauce, wrongly thinking it's not something I like. But I really did like this! The original version used filled tortellini, baby corn and mange tout. But the version below was just as good.

For 2-3 portions you need:
200g pasta (I used spirlli)
1 tub pesto (I used fresh as I think it tastes nicer than a jar)
4-5 mushrooms, stalks chopped in to 2 and the cups cut into 4-6 pieces depending on how big they are
small head broccili, cut into small florets
1 cup frozen peas
3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
watercress salad to serve.

Begin by cooking the pasta. Meanwhile sautee the mushrooms in a lidded pan with the oil for about 5 mins. Then add the broccoli and continue to cook over a fairly high heat, using the lid to retain the steam. Add a little water if you need to create more steam and cook the broccoli. Then add the frozen peas and pesto. Check the pasta is cooked and drain when done. Check the vegetables and pesto for seasoning and then combine the pasta with the sauce. Serve with salad. Yummy. The leftovers are nice cold for a salad lunch the next day.