Thursday 19 May 2016

Five on Friday - Baking

Over the past couple of weeks I have been busy in the kitchen preparing food for visitors, a party and for the freezer.  Whilst I use a recipe for something new I am a little slap dash and stick to the familiar and trusted recipes that I know by heart.  However, I have been asked to relay some of my recipes so I will try my best.  Consequently my Five on Friday for this week will be five recipes.  I am of course joining Amy over at love made my home for the weekly get together,  hope you will pop over and join in the fun.

One

Honey and Mustard Glazed Gammon

I cook my gammon joint in a large saucepan covered in water for a couple of hours along with
2 onions
2 carrots
2 celery sticks
4 bay leaves

The fluid then makes a wonderful stock for the basis of a soup.




The rind of the gammon is then cut off leaving some fat which is then scored.  I rub 4 tbsp. honey mixed with 4tbsp English Mustard to form a glaze and pop it into the oven for about 20 mins or until the glaze browns.

I am not pedantic about the temperature just popping it in with whatever else is in there but generally 200C/400F/Gas 6.

 
Two
 
Chicken Ham and Leek Pie
 
for the filling
 
2 leeks trimmed and chopped
chicken
ham/gammon
sea salt flakes
black pepper
a knob of butter
cream
 
I don't tend to weigh out the meat elements just using whatever I have available of leftover meat which is already cooked.  Gently fry the leeks in butter until softened and add to meat, seasoning to taste.  Add cream, I usually use a small carton of single cream and mix thoroughly.
 
 
 
I generally top with a shortcrust pastry but again this is individual choice, a puff pastry could be used or a layer of mashed potato.  Each to their own.
 
 
Any trimmings I use to make a little embellishment in the centre of the pie.  Don't forget to make some air vents with a sharp knife.
 
Three
 
Cheese and Onion Quiche
 
Line a quiche tin with shortcrust pastry and cook blind for 15 mins on 200C/400F/Gas 6.  I generally use parchment paper and my ceramic baking beans which help to prevent blistering and shrinkage during baking.
 
For the filling
 
onions
4 eggs
cream or milk
150g mature cheddar cheese
 
Slice onions and place on the pastry.  Beat the eggs and cream/milk together.  Grate the cheese and place on top of the onions, pour the liquid over and place in the oven for 20-25 mins until set and golden.
 
 
Four
 
Rocky Road
 
These can be made into bars by using a tray and leaving to set or individually in tiny petit four cases, which is my preference.  They look quite elegant this way and are a beautiful as well as tasty addition to an afternoon tea.
 
Chocolate is the main ingredient, this can be as decedent or as cheap as you like, depending on the occasion.
 
 
 
I use the microwave to melt the chocolate and then add mini marshmallows, dried fruit such as cranberries or sultanas, digestive biscuits.  But  a wide range of ingredients could be used such as granola, desiccated coconut, cherries and nuts.  Once the chocolate is melted ensure all the dry ingredients are covered with chocolate and spoon into cases.  Finish with a sprinkling of coco powder, grated chocolate or a dusting of icing sugar. 
 
 
Five
 
Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup
 
3 sweet potatoes
3 carrots
1 celery stick
1 onion
small yellow pepper
vegetable oil
500ml veg stock
 
Peel and chop all vegetables.  Saute onion for 5 mins in vegetable oil and then add all remaining vegetables and saute for a further 3 mins turnings all the time so they do not brown.  Add stock and simmer for about 30 mins.  Using a hand blender blend until smooth. 
 
 
 
Serve with a handful of pomegranate seeds they look wonderful for a Autumn or Christmas treat, grated cheese or a spoonful of fromage frais.  It is tasty on its own too with some home made crusty bread.
 
 
This will make enough for 6 bowls so when I make it there is always enough left for the freezer.
 
 
I tend to batch cook/bake so that nothing is wasted.  The stock from the gammon formed the basis of the soup.  The leftover meat was used in a pie.  Pastry is made in large batches and used to make fruit pies and tarts.  Hope this is of some use for those of you who were kind enough to ask.
 
See you soon.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


47 comments:

  1. Oh no! All your cookings and bakeries look so delicious! Cooking is not my thing - but I do enjoy good food... Happy weekend!

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  2. They all look so yummy. I am going to try your sweet potato and carrot soup tomorrow. Suppose to be cool for the next few days.

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  3. Oh my. This is a great post. Love to get and try new recipes. I shall be giving some of these a go s d will report back. Thank you so much for the share x

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  4. Some wonderful recipes, especially the soup - we are heading into winter here.

    Diana

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  5. I'm sure your family and friends appreciate your cooking. Everything looks delicious. These dishes would be a treat for me as they're not ones I cook too often except the soups. Thank you for sharing.

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  6. Great post, I normally use squash with sweet potato but will try this later with carrots. It has turned cool here so soup is a good option for dinner. I will serve it the Welsh way with a small block of cheese and some crusty bread.

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  7. You make cooking all these recipes sounded so easy but I know I will be taking a long time just to cook 1 recipe. The pictures of the food make me very hungry.

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  8. I wish I had waiting with reading this post until closer to lunch time.... I am so hungry after seeing your delicious food, I might have to open up my lunch box (it is not yet 9 am). The quiche looks particularly yummy! Have a lovely weekend. x

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  9. Thanks for sharing these wonderful recipes, always good to try something new. I will try the soup, as its getting cooler here as we head into winter. Although saying that, it was 28 degrees today!

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  10. What a wonderful selection of recipes..I feel so hungry. Chicken and leek pie is one of my favourites. I was just doing my weekly shop list and I might have to add ingredients for that to my list! Have a lovely weekend. B x

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  11. When can I come over for dinner? It all looks positively scrumptious.

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  12. Oh no I am starving now, it all looks so good. I love Quiche and the soup sounds delish, I think I will give it ago. Have a lovely weekend xx

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  13. They all look yummy but especially the chicken, ham and leek pie. I've never thought of making rocky road in individual cases, I shall definitely do that next time.

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  14. They all look delicious and I cannot wait for lunch now after looking at your lovely photos! Honey glazed gammon always reminds me of Christmas.

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  15. I really love the way you cook without measuring. I do the same even when baking. You know when it feels, looks or tastes right after you've been cooking a while. The gammon caught my attention most as we've ordered our pig for the year to be delivered in the fall. I cure our bacon and sausages and maybe I'll give gammon a try. I haven't cured a cut that large but there's always a first. So glad you shared that with us.

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  16. Still sitting here in Texas USA and wondering what a knob of butter is! But, I've pinned all those recipes to my board Gotta Eat and can't wait to try them. Love the way you cook.

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  17. Obviously I'm drawn to anything with chocolate in it, but the soup and the quiche look delicious too. I'll have to pass on the other two, as I'm vegetarian. Enjoy your weekend.

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  18. set the table I'm coming over....

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  19. Thank you for the leek and chicken recipe. When it cools down here again I will try it.

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  20. I'm laughing at Rivercrest Cottage comment wondering what a knob of butter is :) we English and our saying eh!

    Wonderful recipes and the quiche looks so delicious. Like you I prefer a shortcrust pastry top on a pie.

    Have a lovely weekend.
    Angela Garden Tea Cakes and Me

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  21. Oh my, everything looks and sounds amazing, my friend! Now my mouth is watering :)

    Have a beautiful weekend. Hugs!

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  22. Ok so I've just eaten but you know what I'm hungry again now!

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  23. That is the best five on Friday I have seen.. smile.. I would like to come to your house to eat.. Have a great weekend.. xo

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  24. What a wonderful batch of recipes. I think your house must smell very good with all of this cooking going on. :-). Thank you for taking the time to share them with us all.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  25. More delicious baking!! It is a good job that I am having dinner soon otherwise you would make me very hungry with this post. The soup sounds delicious as does the rocky road. A ham is always a great idea for a group of people isn't it. Thank you for taking part in Five On Friday, I hope you have a good weekend!

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  26. Your dishes and recipes look delicious especially the chocolate there towards the end, especially since I can't resist anything chocolate. Hope you're having a nice weekend.

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  27. They all look delicious but I like the look of the soup and the cheese and onion quiche. It looks as if the ricky road is fairly easy to make too:)

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  28. This is a scrumptious selection of Recipes! We love rocky road bars & I must try your chicken & ham pie!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  29. I love that you have shared food for 5 on Friday, I must do that some day especially as I have a food blog. I love quiche and yours shouts out comfort food to me.

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  30. Oh my goodness, I'm off to the kitchen now to see if I've got enough ingredients for at least one of your recipes. So hungry right now!! Have a wonderful weekend xx

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  31. Now the soup I can do (since I don't eat meat or dairy :) I tend to stick with tried and true, but really want to start testing new recipes every week.

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  32. Wow I wish that chicken ham and leek pie could be here for supper tonight! It looks delicious. And the quiche does too. Why am I afraid to make a quiche? I've cooked and baked for years. Maybe it's that I want to make sure the egg is completely baked and it might be difficult to determine its doneness? Actually, I could probably be happy with just the shortcrust. :-)

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  33. YO have been very busy, everything looks delicious.
    Meredith

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  34. Yum! Thanks for all your delicious recipes x

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  35. Quiche to that beautifully colored soup and Rocky Road tossed in for good measure. Yes, I see some meals to try.

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  36. Amazing productivity and results! That chicken, leek and ham pie is calling my name. Lovely top. I'm thinking I'd really enjoy the cheese and onion quiche, too!

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  37. Lots of yummy food! I love cheese and onion quiche. I love trying new recipes. I've been going to allrecipes.com as they are tried and true recipes that you can then tweak how you like them. I read that they were going to get rid of some recipes on the BBC site. I use that all the time and have got some great recipes from the site.

    Have a great week

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  38. You're an amazing cook.. thanks for sharing your ideas and recipes. I wish I was your next door neighbor! LOL!
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  39. I am a slap dash cook too, I prefer baking to cooking and I have decided that I'm going to make the evening meals ample enough for 2 days saving myself a lot of bother. Most things rewarm just fine in the microwave.

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  40. All the dishes looks so yum! Thanks for sharing the recipe:)

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  41. I love a bit of batch cooking - so good for the soul. Jo x

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  42. Yummiest! My mouth is watering!

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  43. Looks, and I bet tasted amazing x

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  44. Oh my goodness, your post has made me feel so hungry. That gammon looks so delicious I could eat it right now and it is only 7.30 am! xx

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  45. Ooh delicious, each and every dish! Hams are great for large numbers of guest, aren't they? Wishing your husband a very happy belated birthday Xx

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  46. Yummy looking recipes, especially the carrot/sweet potato soup and the savory pie.

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  47. What a lovely list of recipes. I'm wondering how I get adopted into your house?

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