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The Month Ahead
Hurray! Sun at last and time to make the most of what bit of summer we are likely to get! Uncover the sun loungers and garden tables and chairs, light up the BBQ and enjoy some wonderfully tasty food al fresco.
A Recipe for Success
Cajun Chicken Pieces
This very tasty way of serving chicken can be cooked on a BBQ using a griddle pan in the same way as if you were cooking in your kitchen
Griddled Honey & Orange Chicken with Vegetables
This is a great recipe if you are on a diet as all the food is griddled. The honey is the only sweetness apart from the oranges and in my book, its a natural sweetener so can't be too bad for you - Mother Nature says so!
Ricotta and Sun Dried Tomatoes Stuffed Chicken Breasts
A delicious and easy to prepare meal for family or friends and easily cooked on the BBQ
Eton Mess
Eton Mess is a quintessentially English dessert, and is traditionally served at Eton College's annual cricket game against the students of Winchester College. The dish has been known by this name since the 19th century so you are eating a little bit of history here!
Cheeseburger Toastie
A favourite BBQ, supper or tea time dish for the kids but if you want to make it an "adult" supper, just add a few more exotic ingredients, such as hot chilli sauce, endive salad, gherkins etc - you know - all the stuff that kids turn their noses up at!
Lamb & Mint Burger
A twist on the traditional beef burger and a pleasant change from the normal beefy fare!
A KITCHEN EQUIPPED - THE Guide to your Kitchen Essentials
If you have friends and family setting up home for the first time, whether they are to be newly-weds or perhaps your children are flying the nest to move into their own place, my first book, A Kitchen Equipped is all they will need to guide them through the maze of kitchenware goods available and offers simple, honest advice as to what really is essential and what really isn't! From the best potato peeler to the most efficient cookware, this full colour book houses nuggets of information over 10 chapters, all based on the hundreds of questions I have been asked over the many years I have been a kitchenware demonstrator.
And even if you are even thinking about buying new stuff for your current kitchen, you will find it invaluable - don't leave home without reading it first!
Quick!!! Barbeques at the ready!
We have had a glimmer of sun and how long it will last is anyone's guess but there is nothing finer than sitting down in the comfort of your own garden with the smell of the BBQ sizzling away!
Why not have a go at making your own burgers, in a variety of beef and lamb, far better than the shop bought versions. My Lamb and Mint Burger is absolutely delicious and cooked to medium, it just melts in the mouth. Or try a pile of tasty Cajun Chicken Pieces, sticky on the outside but with some bite! Serve with a crispy green salad, some Roasted Veg (wrap in a loose sealed foil parcel with a little olive oil and seasoning and cook on the BBQ for 20 minutes).
Don't forget the sweet tooths amongst you! What is more summery than that oh so English dessert, Eton Mess. Sticky homemade meringues with strawberries and thick cream. Is your mouth watering?!
There are plenty of recipes to go at, so take a look at the Outdoor Eating section for more ideas.
Let's Talk About...............
Welcome to my Let's Talk About section - the bit you will want to follow!
Each month I will give you my expert advice as to how to choose, buy and use all manner of kitchen equipment so that you only have stuff in your cupboards that you actually USE day in, day out.
This month - STARTING FROM SCRATCH - WHAT ITEMS OF COOKWARE DO I NEED?
It's the question I am constantly asked and I always say the same thing " go for the basics to get you started:
* One of each of the standard sizes of saucepans - 16, 18, 20cm with lids are great for everything, from warming your baked beans to cooking a large pan of potatoes for the family. Just as a note, if you struggle with lifting heavy weighs, for example a pan full of potatoes, then it might be worth buying the largest pan with a helper handle, an extra lifting handle on the opposite side to the long handle, to help even out the weights. You can use both hands, then when removing the pan from the heat.
* A good non-stick frying pan, 30cm, perfect when cooking your Sunday morning fry up and for everyday use otherwise.
* A large sauté pan with lids, preferably non-stick, around 28-30cm, invaluable when you need a little more depth to the pan, for example when you are making a Bolognese or curry (and if you buy the same size as the frying pan, you can use the one lid on both pieces).
* A non-stick omelette pan is a must: around 20cm - great for cooking a decent sized omelette or when you are cooking smaller quantities of food, such as fried eggs and bacon.
* A graduated multi-steamer with the base staged to fit the larger of your saucepans. Just pop it on top of the pan, use the lid from the saucepan for the top of the steamer section and hey presto! This means you can cook two things on only one ring - space saving and energy efficient.
Of course, you can always add more to your collection as time goes on, but this is a good start, and you will cover the basics with these items. My recommendation would always be to visit a good kitchenware department or cook shop and actually pick up the pans, feel the weight, and check out the handles and knobs etc, for yourself.
By all means shop around for the best offers, it would be foolish not to as it is a very competitive market, but go armed with the facts and in the knowledge that, when you do part with your hard-earned cash, it will buy you a set of cookware that you really, really want. If you avoid a cheap economy set, they should last a good many years. The adage "......you get what you pay for" is true. Buy the best pans that you can afford - or buy one good quality pan to begin with, and add another to your collection when your pocket will allow.
For more information regarding the ins and outs of cookware, see chapter 3 of my book.
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