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By Little Mummy, October 10, 2008 4:52 am

1. Melt in the Middle Chocolate Pudding with Chantilly Cream and Malibu Syrup

This is served at the restaurant I work in. It is the ultimate desert and if there’s any going spare I’m first in the fist fight to grab it. It’s a possibility for desert at this year’s Christmas dinner (what? nobody else planning christmas dinner yet?)

2. Frangelico

Another gem unearthed at work. I love tia maria and Franchellico kind of reminds me of it, its a liquer made from hazelnuts, quite strong but the perfect accompaniment to the chocoate pud. Yum.

3. Parmesan Chicken

So simple. Pan fry some skin on chicken breasts, make sure to give a good colour to the skin. Cook in the oven for around twenty minutes. Sprinkle some parmesan over the skin, be generous, then grill until golden. Serve with a green salad and a lemon wedge.

4. Lemon & Rosemary Baked Chicken

Take some skin on chicken and arrange in a dish with potatoes, pour over a good glug of olive oil, and a glass of white wine (I prefer a sweeter wine, it helps counter balance the sharpness of the lemon). Cut a lemon into segments and arrange between the chicken breasts. Add some fresh rosemary and season well. Place in the oven for around 40 minutes (check the chicken breasts are golden and cooked through). Serve.

This is a tasty one dish dinner that takes barely five minutes to prepare. Some nice crusty bread for the juices and you’re in heaven.

5. Quesadillas

An american favourite that we only discovered recently. Looking forward to trying out different combos – any suggestions?

6. Gu Chocolate Souffle and Mackays Ice Cream

Ready made Gu puddings are the ultimate in luxury deserts. For a special occasion (and we have been having a lot of ’special occasions’ recently!!) this is a real treat.

7. Vanilla Creme Round

I order my shopping online and when it’s delivered I treat myself to one of these or a slice of walnut bread. Makes the unpacking go quicker….

8. Flake Ice Cream

Flake + ice cream = yum

Flake Ice Cream = Double Yum

What more can I say?

Quesadilla photo by flickr user Rooey202

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By Little Mummy, July 11, 2008 11:23 am

The growing season began in March, I was so keen I started in February, deciding initially to start with a few pots (next year I hope to progress to raised beds and then a small greenhouse).  So far we’ve harvested (with mixed success) lettuce, chives, parsley, strawberries, rosemary and basil.

Lettuce

I used wooden trough and sowed a ‘mixed bowl’ variety.  I’ve managed about three salads but think I’ll hold off growing again until I get a greenhouse as I found the leaves easily drown especially during a downpour – and this is scotland after all.

Chives

This has grown well on a window sill and I have used in salads and in dips.

Parsley

I started this indoors and then moved outside, it grows like crazy but not when potted with basil – no love there…  I have used this in various recipes and for garnish.

Stawberries

We are currently growing these in a large terracotta pot but next year I plan to try and start from seed and move into hanging baskets.

Rosemary

I cheated and bought an established plant but I plan on planting more along with thyme directly into the garden.

Basil

This has been the most successful, it thrives indoors and I’ve managed to pick enough leaves to make two batches of pesto (I’ve included the recipe below).

Pesto Recipe

I’m not sure how pesto is ’supposed’ to be made but this makes a fresh and lemony pesto that’s nice with pasta, chicken, mozzarella or focaccia.

Ingredients;

Basil (two handfuls)

Garlic infused olive oil (one slug)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (two slugs)

Parmesan (small handful)

Toasted Pine Nuts (small handfull)

Juice of half a lemon

Freshly ground salt and pepper to taste (needs a generous amount)

Simply whiz up the ingredients in a food processor and serve

Comments (5)

By Little Mummy, May 13, 2008 9:01 am

I love walnut bread, but at £1.19 for a small loaf it’s pretty expensive and I therefore have to ensure that when I do splurge I use every morsel….and because it’s yummy and I can’t bear to leave a crumb!

1. Simply sliced and eaten with quality butter, I like Lurpack.

2. Toasted with a little quality cheese.

3. Blended and used as breadcrumbs to top pies/pasta bakes.

4. Chopped chunky and dipped in olive oil and balsamic (I like raspberry vinegar too.)

5. Sliced and used for an open sandwhich.

6. Cubed, doused in olive oil and baked. Use these croutons in a nice salad, I like chicken and bacon salad or a simple green salad with parmesan and pine nuts.

7. Cubed and doused in olive oil with a slug of balsamic, bake, then plop into a nice bowl of tomato soup.

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By Little Mummy, April 20, 2007 1:05 pm

In a recent post I suggested that the popular entrepreneurial venture of a lemonade stand was a good activity that was free, yes, I know the lemons and sugar will cost but you will make that back when you sell the lemonade!

Here’s a recipe I found (Juliet Moxley book again!), I haven’t tried this recipe so don’t blame me if it’s foul and you don’t make any money – only kidding, how foul can it be, it’s just lemonade!

Lemonade

You need;

4 Lemons
4 tbsp castor sugar
Water

A Pint Jug

1. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice with a lemon squeezer (I don’t have a lemon squeezer so I would use a fork).

2. Pour the juice into the pint jug, add the sugar and enough boiling water to dissolve it, stir well.

3. Fill the jug with cold water and refrigerate. Serve with ice*.

*Tip Charge a premium for your lemonade by making lemon ‘n’ lime ice cubes. Cut thin slices of lemon & lime, cut into triangles and put one of each into an ice cube tray, top with water and freeze.