BRAISED RED CABBAGE WITH APPLES

The cold weather has now arrived and braised red cabbage is a wonderful dish for both colour and flavour – to serve with poultry, pork and sausages. This recipe freezes beautifully and can be reheated in the microwave oven.

DELIA SMITH’S COMPLETE COOKERY COURSE – A NEW EDITION FOR THE 1990’s.

ISBN 780563214540 – PAGE 213

Serves: 4 people


Skill Level: Easy

Taste Test: An excellent sweet and sour red cabbage recipe by Delia Smith.

I have made Braised Red Cabbage with Apples many times and my preference is to leave the garlic out. A good quality red wine vinegar works well, otherwise the red cabbage will taste too acidic. I always place a sheet of greaseproof paper over the casserole dish before putting the lid on as this prevents the cabbage from drying out during the long slow cooking. Make sure you have a go at cooking this for Christmas Day.

Kitchen Equipment Used: A large Meyer stainless steel casserole dish.

The Great Christmas Pud' Hunt

Thinking about all things Christmas, I remembered this week where the small Christmas puddings are that I made this time last year… They’re only sitting in a biscuit tin on top of the cupboard in the kitchen. I bet that you have last years pud hidden away somewhere too!

PORK STROGANOFF WITH THREE MUSTARDS

This takes less than half an hour to make and is a light Stroganoff sauce, but nevertheless extremely tasty.

DELIA SMITH’S WINTER COLLECTION

ISBN 0563364777 – PAGE 131.

Serves: 2 people.

Skill Level: Easy

Taste Test: Pork Stroganoff with three Mustards is wonderful and even though it uses three different types of mustard they are not overwhelming. Using crème fraiche meant that the sauce wasn’t too rich.

TIP 1: Use good quality mustards – they make all the difference.

TIP 2: Scatter a little freshly chopped parsley over the plain boiled rice to give the dish some colour, if you decide not to serve the green salad.

Kitchen Equipment Used: Tefal non-stick frying pan.

Yummy Christmas Cake

The Christmas cake has been made this week. Fruit soaked in brandy and the tin lined the night before. This year the stress of not being sure whether the cake is really cooked was taken away by using a cake tester bought from Lakeland Limited – try one – they are a baking must have. No more uncooked/overcooked Christmas cakes for me!!

BASIC PANCAKES

I made these Delia pancakes because – well, for no specific reason other than I like making pancakes..


DELIA SMITH’S COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED COOKERY COURSE – A NEW EDITION FOR THE 1990s.

ISBN 780563214540 – PAGE 296

Makes: 12-14 pancakes.

Skill Level: Easy

Taste Test – Excellent – this really is the very best recipe for Basic Pancakes you will come across because using melted butter and also using some water instead of all milk makes a much lighter pancake.

TIP 1: Make sure your pan is really hot before adding the batter.

TIP 2: Try using freshly squeezed orange instead of lemon – you will be glad you did!

Kitchen Equipment Used: A Bamix Hand Blender.