Tagliatelli Mushrooms and Asparagus with Garlic Breads

Ingredients for the recipe:

• 300grs tagliatelli egg pasta
• 250mls fresh cream
• 1 egg yolk
  
• 2-3 tablespoons of grated cheddar cheese
  
• 2 garlic cloves
• 8 mushrooms
• 10 asparagus
  
• 1 cup self raising flour
  
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• salt and pepper and a little olive oil

In a small saucepan boil the asparagus for about 10-15 minutes, when cooked remove them from the water and throw them in a (hot) wok pan with the mushrooms cut in halves with the chopped garlic plus a little butter and olive oil , season them with a little salt and pepper.

Cook them for aprox 3-5 minutes stirring occasionally, then add the cream, continue until the cream comes to a boil, then next add the egg yolk diluted in about three tablespoons of milk and add the cheese also, continue stirring it until the sauce thickens (about 2-3 minutes). After which you just serve.

While making the sauce, boil the tagliatelli in some water for about 12 minutes, then drain it and drizzle a little olive oil so that the pasta doesn't stick together, finally serve it with the previously made sauce on top.

The breads I made as follows. In a bowl, mix the flour with a pinch of salt and a little Luke warm water, until it was mixing it until it forms a ball, after which you kneed it and stretch it for about 10 minutes, then make small balls and put them on a floured tray and covered these with a cloth for 20 minutes, on the side in a little bowl crush a garlic with a little oil, which you then brush over the balls before placing them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes until golden brown, then serve them with the tagliatelle. 

Real good food like this has to be made and eaten, especially as is a quick homemade delicious dish.

Beetroot Linguine with Courgette and Mushrooms

Recipe Ingredients: (enough for 4)

• 400grs linguine pasta
  
• 3 small cooked beetroot (finely chopped)
• 1 courgette (finely chopped)
• 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
• 1 onion (finely chopped)
• 12 mushrooms (cut in halves)
• 2 soup spoons of fresh cream
  
• 1 glass of semi skinned milk
  
• 1 teaspoon of corn starch diluted in a little water
  
• 2 soup spoons of grated cheddar cheese
  
• some, salt black pepper and olive oil.
  

Place some water in a pan with a little salt and a drizzle of olive oil, once boiling insert the linguine there, letting this one cook for 12-14 minutes, once done (should be al dente), drain it and while draining pass through it some more fresh boiling water, to remove excess starch. Continue to drain it.

Meanwhile put a little olive olive oil in a wok (about 3 soup spoons full). once hot add the onion and garlic, once these start going blond, add the remaining vegetables (the beetroot, courgette, and mushrooms) let these cook well for around 7-10 minutes, adding a little water every time it feels a little dry and stirring occasionally.

After they are cooked, add the fresh cream at this stage and the milk, bring it to the boil, and as soon as it starts to boil add the corn starch diluted in the water, the cheese, and stir regularly allowing it to thicken, once thickened place the linguine inside and stir come more as to mix well the sauce with the pasta, serve it now while very hot, it is delicious.

The beetroot is lovely in this dish as it does not just add colour it adds flavour and texture, and creates a varied different levels of textures and flavours, the beetroot should remain slightly crunchy the mushrooms meaty and juicy and the courgettes soft and creamy. Also bothe the beetroot and the mushrooms give this dish an excellent earthy flavour which is mellowe by the silky cream of the fresh cream, milk and cheese. Bon Apetit!!

** this is a valentines day inspired dish, for the colours and textures within**

Angel Hair Pasta with Salmon and Hake Soup

Recipe Ingredients: (eneugh for 4 people)

• 4-5 "balls" of Angel Hair Pasta (about 200grs)
• 150grs hake+ 150grs salmon (other fish can be chosen and use even more varieties) (cut the fish in small cubes)
  
• 1 onion (finely chopped)
• 1 carrot (finely chopped)
• 1 garlic clove (finely chopped)
• 1 piece of ginger (finely chopped)
• 1 bunch of parsley "or coriander" (finely chopped)
• 1/2 tomato pulp "passata"
• 1 cube of chicken or fish stock (fish stock is better)
  
• Salt, Black Pepper, paprika, chilli powder (a pinch of each)
• Olive oil and water (sufficient)

I made the sauce in the Wok, putting there a little olive oil, that once it reached hot temp, I added the onion, carrot, garlic & ginger, letting these cook until golden (stirring occasionally), once they reached that stage I added the fish and stir it occasionally only by tossing avoiding using wooden spoon, continued tossing occasionally but letting the fish to cook for around 2-3 minutes, as the fish cooks quickly.

At this point I've added the a pinch of each condiment, salt, b. Pepper, paprika chilli powder as well as the tomato pulp plus 2 glasses of water and the Angel hair pasta which I crushed with my hands to become just small bits of pasta I also added the stock cube. Then I let this cook for around 5-7 minutes, finally I turned the heat off and added the chopped herb (parsley or coriander) also added a few mint leaves that not only improve the visual they improve flavour and help digestion, I also toasted a few bits of bread and made some croutons, for a lovely soup meal. Enjoy!!

Tagliatelli a la Rico

Recipe Ingredients: (enough for 4 or 3 very hungry ones)

• 400grs mixed tagliatelle egg and spinach
  
• 1/2 can of black olives (cut in halves) roughly 120gr +or-
• 12 cherry tomatoes (cut in halves) with skin
  
• 1 courgette (cut in small cubes)
• 4 spring onions (cut in slices)
• 1 garlic clove minced
  
• 1 lid of nice balsamic vinegar
  
• 1/4 fresh cream
  
• 2 soup spoons of grated cheddar cheese
• 1 coriander bunch (finely chopped)
• sufficient, salt, black pepper and olive oil
  

From beginning to end it only took me 15 minutes to complete this meal. Put a pan with boiling water on the stove + a little salt and oil (tip, the oil prevents water from foaming up as well as it keeps pasta separated after cooked, rather than clumping up, I learnt this from the age of 9) in there put the pasta cooking.

Wile the pasta is cooking put a Wok on the stove, and in it add a little olive oil enough to cover the bottom, heat it up and as soon as fumes start coming out of it, add in there the following vegetables, courgette, spring onion and garlic + seasoning (salt and B pepper). Let these ones cook for around 3 minutes, stirring regularly, then add the tomatoes and onion + a the balsamic vinegar, and continue to stir for a further 3 minutes.

To that now you add the fresh cream and the cheese, and stir for a further 2 minutes, add to it now the drained tagliatelli, give it a few more turns, than switch the fire of on the stove and throw in the coriander, giving it a few more turns to mix it in well, then serve and (optional) you can add extra B pepper and or Grated dried parmesan cheese...And have a nice quick healthy cheap meal.

Spaghetti Bolognese with Pancetta and Chorizo

Recipe Ingredients: (enough for 4)

• 500grs minced meat (beef)
  
• 400grs spaghetti
• 40grs Pancetta (or smoked bacon)
• 20grs chorizo (diced)
• 1 onion (finely diced)
• 3 garlic cloves (finely diced)
  
• 1 plum tomato tin (finely diced) best if "Italian"
  
• 1 soup spoon of tomato concentrate (diluted in 1/2 glass of water)
• 1 chicken stock cube
  
• enough olive oil
  
• bunch of coriander
  
• enough salt and black pepper

Put on the stove a frying pan with a little olive oil, once well hot add the onion, the garlic and cook these well until golden, and at this stage add the pancetta and chorizo fry them for a further 3 minutes stirring always, follow it them with the addition of the minced beef, and still stirring it this time occasionally cook until all of the beef is browned, at which stage you now add the tomatoes both plum and concentrate, once it gets to boiling point reduce the flame to minimum and let it cook for about 20-30 minutes.

Eleven minutes before the sauce is ready, place a pan of boiling water with little salt and vegetable oil (like 2 soup spoons), stick the spaghetti inside and this will be ready in 11 minutes should still be a little "al Dente" as it should, as is delicious if it offers a little resistance when you bite it, drain it in a colander pouring boiling water over it to remove the starch still draining it. Serve and eat is delicious, and very simple.

Nut Free Salad Pesto Pasta with a Pan Fried Cod Loin

Easiest and fairly healthy meal. Recipe Ingredients:

• 400grs fresh pasta (I used spirals)
• 250grs packet of three leaves salad (mine was, spinach, rocket and water cress)
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 1/2 red chilli
• some olive oil
• 1 juice of whole lemon
• 4 fresh cod loins
• salt and pepper to taste

In a frying pan put a little olive oil and two of the minced garlic cook for 1 minute add the salad, and toss it quickly when it goes limp and darker in colour pour it all into a jug and add 3 glugs of olive oil, the lemon juice the bell pepper and chilli, blitz it all with the blender. Meanwhile cook the pasta in boiling water with a little salt and a little vegetable oil, it takes around 15 minutes to cook once cooked add the pesto, you made. Also on the pan you sautéed the salad add a little more olive oil the remaining garlic a little salt and pepper, and the cod loins you can squeeze a little lemon juice over them if you want it will take around three minutes on each side to cook completely depending on thickness, and is all done ...check the times and plan how and when to cook things so that all finishes at the same time, this is a lovely light and fast meal yet very filling and colourful. cheers!!

Spring Onion and Parsley Macaroni Cheese

Receita em Português AQUI

Recipe Ingredients: (enough for 4 people)

• 400grs Macaroni pasta
• 3 spring onions (chopped fine slices)
• 3 garlic cloves (2 minced, 1 crushed)
  
• 1 glass of milk
• 50grs butter
• 50grs cheddar cheese (grated)
• 1 bunch parsley (chopped coarsely)
  
• salt and black pepper (to taste)
• 1/3 spoon of nutmeg (powder, or grate it yourself)
• 1/3 of a glass with water and a heaped tea spoon of plain flour diluted in it
• 1 glug of vegetable oil
  

This is an easy and delicious winter recipe, that I make all the time when I haven't got much time. not very healthy but is comforting and is definitely a filler.

Put a pan with some boiling water a glug of oil, 1 crushed garlic and a little salt, put the macaroni inside let it boil for 7-10 minutes, once cooked drain and pass through it some boiling water, and drain it again and put it in the sauce.

The sauce is made as follows, put the milk butter a little salt and pepper and the nutmeg in a little saucepan, take to the stove on a medium heat once it starts boiling add the spring onions, and the flour diluted in water, stir it and let it thicken, once it reaches that stage which will take around 2 minutes add the grated cheese and the parley, stir it again for another 1 minute, that will thicken some more. Now place the sauce in the large empty pan where you previously boiled the pasta, add the drained pasta to it, put a little on and let it rest about 2 minutes and serve. If you like a better effect and some crispiness, you may put it in a little pirex tray add a little grated cheese on top and dust also some oregano and goes in the oven 200c for around 10 minutes or under the grill till golden brown on top around 3-5 minutes, you decide...I couldn't wait so I ate it like that.

Smoked Fish and Prawns in a Pasta and Cream Grattin

Recipe Ingredients:

• 1 large courgette cut in half and then in stripes.
  
• 6 carrots with skin (well washed, thinly sliced)
  
• 1 large onion (finely chopped)
  
• 3 garlic cloves (two minced, one crushed)
  
• 300mls double fresh cream
  
• 150grs grated cheddar
  
• 800grs pasta (use a mixture of two nice ones, different types)
  
• 400grs smoked filet's like haddock or another smoked fish( skinless and boneless cut into little cubes)
  
• 250grs fresh uncooked king prawns skinless (cut in half's)
  
• 2 soup spoons of butter
• salt and pepper to taste
• a little olive oil
  

Easy recipe to make. Place a large frying pan on the stove and a deep pan with water salt and the crushed garlic to cook the pasta, once the water is boiling add the pasta, leave it cooking for 10 minutes, while on the frying pan ad a glug of olive oil, and once hot add the two minced garlic, onion, courgettes, carrots and seasoning (salt and pepper to taste), stir these frequently until the onion and carrot are half cooked, at this stage add, the butter and then once melted the fresh cream, wait now until the cream starts to bubble, and at this stage add the cut smoked fish, reduce the fire to medium and let it simmer for 3 minutes, lastly add the prawns and let it simmer a further 3 minutes.

Get a couple of large Pyrex, cover the bottom with some of the boiled pasta (half) dividing equally between the both. After that split the sauce into two parts reserving a little liquid with veg bits, put each of those two parts over the bed of pasta, and then cover the sauce with another layer of pasta on each dish until all the pasta has gone, now pour half of the reserved liquid evenly over the pasta of both dishes and over that the grated cheese over the two trays (for more cheese flavour you may add some grated Parmesan "optional") season a little salt and pepper and goes in the oven at 200c for about 15 minutes, well ...until golden brown on top to your liking, this serves 10 people easy. At least that is how many ate this at my house, and to be honest they all loved this dish, so hope yours like it too, if your people eat a lot make this dish for 8. Luv ya ...and thanks for visiting my blog and taking the time to comment.

Chilli con Quorn over Pasta Shells (vagetarian)

Receita em Português AQUI

Very easy recipe that I do repeat several times during the month, as my wife is a vegetarian, and this turns out very similar to the meat one (my opinion) I also enjoy it too. The kids are not so keen, don't take me wrong they still like it but called it fake meat and say would prefer with real meat.

• 2 red chillies (finely sliced) medium hot
  
• 1/2 red pepper and 1/2 green pepper (diced)
• 1 onion diced
  
• 1 large carrot (thinly sliced)
  
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
  
• 1 soup spoon tomato concentrate
  
• 1 tin of tomatoes (diced) can also use fresh ones but de-seed them and remove the skin first about 3 large will do (diced)
  
• 1 tin mixed beans (or just kidney beans will do)
  
• salt and pepper to taste
  
• 1 tea spoon full of cumin powder
  
• 300grs of Quorn (or alternatively soya mince)
  
• 400grs of pasta shells (cooked in water with two crushed garlic cloves)
  
• 1/2 glass of white wine
  
• 4 soup spoons of olive oil
  

Well this recipe is very simple, place the oil in pan and once very hot add the following: Onion, Garlic, chilly, peppers, carrots, cumin powder, salt and black pepper (to taste), let it all cook stirring occasionally until the onion is semi transparent, at this stage add the tomato, the tomato concentrate and the wine, reduce to medium heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes.

Now add the Quorn or Soya and let it continue to simmer stirring occasionally for a further 5 minutes, at the of which you add the beans and let it continue to simmer for a further 3-5 minutes more and the sauce is ready. So remember to put the pasta on cooking around the time you added the Quorn to the sauce.

Once all is ready place the pasta on the plate (you can also do this with rice or Bulgar or even cus cus) and pour a good couple of serving spoons over the pasta, (optionally) you can add some grated cheddar and a little Parmesan on top. makes it just delicious, of course is also good without it. For a meat one just replace the Quorn with beef or pork or lamb mince.

Tip: for fairly hot use the whole chillies sliced, if less heat is required just cat the chillies in half and remove the seeds and the white veins, before cooking them.

Pan Fried Chicken Fillets w/ Butter Sauce and Spring Onions

Recipe Ingredients:

• 400grs chicken boneless and skinless mini fillets
• the juice of 1/2 lemon
  
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/3 glass white wine
• 400grs spaghetti (100% durum wheat)
• 3 spring onions sliced
• 1/3 glass milk
• 2 soup spoons of butter
• salt and black pepper to taste
• a little olive oil
• 1 heaped tea spoon of plain flour dissolve in water
  

Way easy and quick, and very...very cheap. Boil the spaghetti as normal it will take about 12 minutes to be cooked.

While that is doing, put a large frying pan on the stove on high temp, add a couple of glugs of oil, and once hot add the chicken fillets (previously seasoned with garlic, the lemon juice, salt and pepper and left to marinade for 1/2 hour).

They'll immediately start to sizzle, and therefore require turning around fairly quickly to seal the meat (the reason why is important to seal is that the meat becomes this way more juicy and moist as if the outside is sealed the moisture and juices inside will escape at a much slower pace), once sealed cook well on both sides until it goes a golden colour (see photo) once that happens on both sides it is done remove them and let them rest only time enough to make the sauce.

For which you deglaze the pan, which means you pull out the stuck to the pan chicken stock by pouring the wine in and rubbing it around with a wooden spoon, which will make the wine go a brownish colour, at this stage add the butter and as soon as it all melts add the milk and the dissolved flour, this will thicken the butter cream, ready to pour over the edges of the pasta and chicken (see photo) finally you put the sliced spring onions over the edges of the pasta and chicken, this is not only a good garnish it also provides an excellent flavour and texture once mixed in with the sauce, pasta and meat while eating. bon apetit...

Spicy Meat Balls with a Smooth Chilli and Tomato Sauce

Receita em Portugues AQUI

The meat balls are back, after a request I received for spicy ones.

Recipe Ingredients:

• 400grs minced Beef
• 1 hand full of bread crumbs
• 1 egg (whole)
• 1 full onion finely chopped
  
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 coriander bunch (finely chopped)
• 300grs of fresh fettuccine
  
• 1 tin of tomatoes
• 1/3 of a glass fresh cream
  
• 2 level two chillies (finely chopped with the seeds, for less hot remove seeds and white veins inside the chillies)
  
• a pinch of chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• some olive oil
• 1 chicken stock cube
• a tea spoon of flour diluted in a little water (to thicken sauce)
  

On a deep pan put some water and salt and a drizzle of oil and boiled the pasta it takes only about 5 minutes to do as is fresh pasta (fettuccine), bearing in mind the sauce may take a little longer to make, make sure only to make the paste 5 minutes before the sauce is ready, so all comes out at the same time.

To make the meat balls, put the minced meat in a bowl, and put there also the parsley finely chopped, 1 garlic clove minced, a pinch of black pepper a pinch of salt and a pinch of chilli powder, the bread crumbs and the egg. With your hands mix it all very well and shape pieces of the meat into balls, and set these aside.

For the sauce on a frying pan or wok put in a glug of olive oil, once very hot add the onion, the garlic, the chilli and season it (salt and pepper to taste), cook these for about 5 minutes then add the meat balls, and turn them around to seal them, once fully sealed (brown all around) ad the tomato and chicken stock cube, let them cook for another 7 minutes, and now add the cream and the water with flour, and that will make just a nice sauce, let it cook a further 3 minutes (or more) as if you want the sauce tastier and thicker you can let it simmer for longer.

This one was really delicious, and fiery hot...most of the heat is felt around the lips as is fresh chillies. And you must admit the dish is very colourful and fiery too. You can see the steam coming of it yum yum!!

Spaghetti Carbonara

Receita em Portugues clique AQUI

Another pasta dish as promised, this time a classic, cheap and easy to do, OK is not the most healthy but certainly makes up for taste.

Recipe Ingredients:

• 200grs mushrooms (sliced)
• 150grs smoked bacon (strips sliced)
• 1 garlic clove (minced)
• 1 onion (very...very finely chopped)
• 2 egg yolks
  
• 200mls fresh single cream
• 50grs Cheddar cheese (grated)
• 2 soup spoons of parmesano cheese (grated)
• 4soup spoons of olive oil
  
• one measure of fire-water or vodka
• 400-500grs spaghetti (or fettuccine or even linguine)
• salt and pepper
• (optional) decoration a bit of parsley
  

This is a very easy and simple recipe to make, so if you in a hurry this is what you do:
Put a skillet frying pan on the fire and a deep pan with water for the spaghetti, on the spaghetti pan add a little salt and a little vegetable oil (about one spoon full, this does two things: stops the water from foaming to much and helps the pasta not stick too much), once this reaches a boil add the spaghetti in (or the pasta of your preference).

In the skillet, place the olive oil until hot, then in goes the garlic, bacon and the onions, let them cook stirring occasionally until the start to caramelized, once this stage is reached add the mushrooms + a pinch of salt and pepper, once the mushrooms are virtually cooked throw in the fire-water (or vodka) lean the pan forward so that it catches the flame as soon as it does straighten it and shake it, the flame will burn all the alcohol in the booze and will flavour the contents, don't worry it will only burn for a few seconds.

At this stage add the fresh cream leave about 2 spoons of that fresh cream in a glass and mix with it the 2 egg yolks once the fresh cream on the pan starts to bubble add the egg yolks and the cheeses (both of them) the cream should thicken up to a nice consistency, turn the fire down and let it simmer for a little while about 2-3 minutes, the whole process will probably take 10-12 minutes in which the spaghetti is also cooked. So drain the spaghetti passing boiling water through once well drained dish it and serve some sauce over it, and if you want add a little chopped parsley on top and you're done ...all in all will take you about 15-20 minutes to prepare this meal and even less to eat it :)

Thanks for coming to my blog...and if you like it please follow it, button is at top left hand corner...cheers!!!

Salmon Fetuccini (with an extra)

My apologies for the wait to everyone especially to Chef E.

This is what you all have been waiting for, I need to warn you this is a very seriously delicious meal, and I beg you to make it for you and your family you will not be disappointed.

Actually being winter I am going to be doing a few pasta dishes to delight you all over the coming days!!!

Recipe Ingredients:

• 1 & 1/2 glass of milk.
• 100mls double cream.
• 2 soup spoons butter.
• 1/3 freshly ground nutmeg (if already in powder one third of a tea spoon).
• 1/3 tea spoon of freshly ground black pepper.
• 1 tea spoon of sea salt.
  
• 1 measure of white port wine (red will do, or you can use half a glass of white wine).
• 2 heaped soup spoons of plain flour dissolved in a glass of water.
• 4 skinless and boneless wild salmon portions (frozen is best, but you can use fresh)
• a bunch of parsley (finely chopped, equivalent to about 2 soup spoons full)
• 400grs of egg fettuccine (to be cooked "al dente")
• 200grs king prawns (other will do. I used frozen)
• olive oil (see how much is enough)

This was so darn easy, I got inspired by a couple of photos at my local supermarket.
In a large pan put the salt, the milk, the butter, the black pepper and nutmeg, let this come to a boil, turn the fire down to a simmering and add the frozen salmon, make sure milk is boiling gently and after about 3 minutes turn the salmon around, and after another 3 again and again, this until the fish is completely cooked (poached, poaching from frozen I found to produce better fish flakes) once fish cooked take it out onto a plate. Now add the double cream to the milk and the port let it again come to the boil and slow it to simmering and add the prawns, if they already cooked just enough time to make sure they are heated through, if they from raw (which their colour is gray, wait till they turn bright orange and then about 2-3 more minutes.

While that is happening flake the salmon in the plate (make sure the pasta is cooking during this time as it will take about 12 minutes to be "al Dente"). Once the prawns are done raise the temperature and add the flaked fish in and pour half of the glass of water with flour in, always stirring, it will start very quickly start to get thicker, well you want the consistency of bechamel or thick gravy, if to liquid add a little more until it does, if too thick (which I will not believe will be, add a little more milk) once the right thickness add the parsley and turn the fire off, now drain the cooked fettuccine passing it through boiling water and add it to the sauce, mix it well and then dish it, I then dressed it with a little pure virgin olive oil, you can do the same is delicious if you get a very good olive oil, or you can sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top or even crumb some Gorgonzola on the top of it ...it is really up to you...but this was the best meal I ever made...apart from the gigantic enchiladas I made some time ago on this blog. YUM YUM!!! please try it.

Charlotte Pomodoro Spaguetti + Garlic Granary Bread

This is a very simple recipe that I've made just after Xmas, as my birthday is the day after and I could not be bothered to do anything more complex.

It is a Charlotte Spaghetti Pomodoro with granary white Garlic Bread, simple yet delicious recipe.

Recipe Ingredients:

• 8 Charlotte onions (finely diced)
  
• 4 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 glugs of olive oil
• 4 soup spoons of butter
• 1 tea spoon of dried oregano
• 1 can of rich plum tomatoes (chopped)
• 1 full soup spoon of tomato paste
• 2 white baguette with granary (other baguette will do, sliced diagonally)
• 400grs pasta 100% durum wheat

Put some water boiling with some salt and a little veg oil (veg oil is used so that when you cooking pasta the water doesn't foam up), stick the 400grs of spaghetti in the water and cook for about 10-15 minutes, you want the pasta cooked "al dente" which means cooked but still fairly firm.

While this is doing put a wok or frying pan on the stove pour the oil inside and once very hot add the chopped Charlottes + half of the garlic. Let this cook stirring occasionally until very golden brown, at that stage add the tomato (both the can and the paste) + half of the oregano and one spoon of butter, this should now cook for approx 10 minutes.

While that is doing in a ramikin mix the remaining butter + garlic and oregano, mix this until an omogeneous paste is achieved butter the sliced baguette on both sides and put this in a preheated to 200c oven cook for about 5-7 minutes.

then is just a matter of assembling it all in the plate, see picture...I also added some parmesano greated cheese on top.

Fettuccine al Fungi - spinach and egg fettuccine with mushrooms and cream

Receita em PORTUGUES Clique AQUI

Please check this out a simple fantastic spinach and egg fettuccine al fungi.

Recipe Ingredients (feeds 4) :

• 400grs fettuccine "verdi & Uovo" mix green and egg
• 250grs mushrooms (I prefer brown organic, sliced)
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 soup spoons of brandy
  
• a soup spoon full of parmisiano (parmesan) cheese (or similar)
• 2 heaped soup spoons of grated cheddar cheese.
• 1 soup spoon of chopped parsley
• 1 half onion (chopped finely)
• 1 garlic clove (minced)
• 1 tea spoon sweet paprika
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 3 soup spoons of olive oil
• 1 garlic clove (crunched)
• 250mls fresh cream
  

Very simply put some water boiling and ad one glug of normal oil to the water + some salt and the crushed garlic clove, add then the fettuccine, and cook it for 7-10 minutes you want it "al dente" I mean cooked but still semi hard the pasta.

While that is doing, on a wok or large frying pan put in the olive oil, the garlic and the onion, cook these until very golden. Now add the paprika and cook for one minute more, then add the sliced mushrooms, once they are cooked which will take approx 3-4 minute add the brandy and leaning the pan at a 30-45 degree angle ignite the brandy (flanbéing it), this will give it a smoky flavour and also brandy although will contain no alcohol as it has been consumed by the flames, so is a safe food for kids too.

After that add the cream and let this heat up again until nearly boiling, dissolve the egg yolks with a little milk about 3-4 soup spoons full in a glass, pour this mixture into the cream always stirring this will start to thicken up the sauce then add the parmesan and the cheddar which will thicken up even more, both the sauce and the pasta will be done roughly at the same time.

So drain the pasta drizzle a little olive oil over it and toss it then serve (preheat the plates if need be if you ant it to stay hotter) and pour over the pasta a couple of servings spoons. To decorate it you can do either of these three: sprinkle some sweet paprika on top of the sauce or sprinkle a little chopped parsley on top and drizle in a circle a little extra virgin olive oil around the parsley but still on the sauce or sprinkle a little more parmesan cheese and freshly grind some black pepper over it too... they will all look quite impressive and add to the taste too.

Charlotte and Mushroom Penne Pasta Gratin

Receita em PORTUGUES clique AQUI

This was a quick and easy recipe I made to make use of some Charlotte onions that I had in a bag and needed to use before getting spoiled.... ***WARNING**** Very easy and cheap to make.

Recipe Ingredients:

• 20 Charlotte onions (remember these are small onions, pealed and cut in halves)
• 10 medium mushrooms (halved and sliced)
  
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 piece of fresh ginger minced (the size of two garlic cloves)
  
• 2 large carrots (half and sliced very very thinly)
  
• 1 plum tomato tin (chopped)
  
• 2 soup spoons of tomato paste (in a little water)
• 2 cups of milk
• 1 soup spoon of butter
• a pinch of nutmeg
• a pinch of salt and black pepper
• 2 soup spoons of plain flour dissolved in water
• 4 soups spoons of grated cheese + 3 soup spoons of grated cheese (any mature cheddar will do)
• a soup spoon of oregano
• 400grs of penne pasta (other durum wheat pasta will do)
• 5 soup spoons of olive oil
  

It looks like quite a lot of ingredients but really isn't and is really easy and cheap winter food.
Put a pan of water with a little salt and a soup spoon of oil on the stove till is boiling, them put the pasta in and boil until cooked "al dente" which should be around 10 to 12 minutes, once done let in drain in a colander.

Now you need to make two sauces, a bechamel and a tomato one. Start by the tomato one as takes longer. So in a pan on the heat pour the 5 spoons of olive oil the pinch of salt and black pepper plus the minced garlic and ginger, let these cook until golden, as soon as that happens add the onions and the carrots, continue cooking stirring occasionally until the onions are semi transparent, at this stage add the mushroom the tomato tin the tomato paste in a little water, and let this all cook for about 15-20 minutes.

Five minutes before the tomato sauce is done start doing the bechamel and start preheating the oven to 200c. To make the bechamel sauce put on another pan the milk the butter a pinch of salt and black pepper plus the pinch of nutmeg, wait until very hot by this time the butter has melted, add in one go the flour that you previously fully dissolved in some water, always stirring so that it doesn't get lumps, once it thickens add the 3 soup spoons of grated cheese, this will thicken the sauce even more.

Now compose the dish by pouring the pasta into the tomato sauce , mix well, then pour this into a large Pyrex tray, smooth it down with the back of a serving spoon, then evenly pour the bechamel sauce over the tomato and pasta, so that it evenly covers the whole of the pasta, over this with your hand sprinkle the remaining grated cheese, and finally on top sprinkle the oregano and grind some black pepper. Stick this in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until golden brown on top and serve.

this is a lovely vegetarian dish I invented years ago but is always popular in my house, for meat eaters just add a side of plain grilled chicken breast with some melted butter, lemon juice, garlic and parsley poured over the chicken. (or fish well whatever you want :) )

Mama que "Rico" Penne Pasta and Olives

A really easy and economical recipe for every pasta lover out there, this is something I do make a lot of time in my house. And my kids always love it, so does the wife as this is vegetarian.

Recipe Ingredients:

• 4 Spring Onions thinly sliced
• 1 large onion chopped
• 1 small pepper (red if possible) chopped
• 1 large handful of black olives pitted cut in half
• 1 large bunch of parsley finely chopped
• 1 can of pomodoro tomatoes chopped
• 200grs pomodorino (fresh tomatoes, baby pomodoro, any sweet baby tomatoes will do) cut in halves
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• enough olive oil
• 2 soup spoons of tomato paste (concentrate)
• 400grs penne pasta (or any other durum wheat pasta you like)
• 200grs grated cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 large carrot (very thinly sliced)
• 200grs green round beens roughly chopped

Just cook the pasta until it is "aldente" which means virtually cooked but still quite firm (little trick pasta tends to foam when cooking if you add a little oil to the water it virtually eliminates the froth, this applies to any pasta including spaghetti).

On a separate pan put some olive oil, them put in both onions chopped9the spring and the normal one) also add the chopped red pepper, as well as the minced garlic add also some salt and pepper and let this cook until the onion is semitransparent (about 10 minutes) then add the olives, carrot, green beans, chopped tomato, the pomodorino tomatoes and the tomato paste with a glass and 1/2 of water, taste and add more salt if needed.

Cook for another 15 minutes, however after the fist 10 minutes add the cooked pasta so that it gains the flavours, thus the reason to be aldente, if the sauce gets too dry you can add more water or if you prefer a couple of glugs of red wine, maybe some you forgot to drink.

Lastly add the chopped parsley stirring it in well, plate it and garnish it with the grated cheese on top, mature cheddar will suffice or if you really posh add some real parmesano cheese, and a little more black pepper freshly milled.

Multicolore Salmon Pasta

If you look above it already looks delicious, but you can give it a touch of luxury with very little money. I dedicate this dish to my niece Siobhan, she loves pasta dishes.


Recipe Ingredients:

• 1 large onion (minced)
  
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 250mls of single cream
• 2 egg yolks
• 10 large mushrooms (chopped roughly)
  
• 1 bunch of parsley
• 3 large pieces of salmon (cut into small cubes)
  
• salt and pepper to taste
• pinch of paprika (smoky sweet)
  
• a shot of port

I done this in a wok (as better heat distribution), place a couple of olive oil spoons into the wok, let it get very hot (it starts smoking a bit) throw in the onion and the garlic, cook until translucent then throw in the salmon and the mushrooms, cook for about 3 minutes. Then add the port shot and the paprika pinch cook for a minute then add the cream saving a little in a glass to this you add two egg yolks and mix well than mix this in with the mains sauces to thicken it once velvety thick add the parsley finely chopped and serve it over your pasta, add one final parsley leaf on top for decorating and you done...very easy and quick.
For the pasta you choose the one you like best like fettuccine or tortellini whatever, just egg pasta or just spinach or even mixed like I chose, mine were egg, spinach and tomato pasta. Not only gives a lot of colour you get multilevelled tasting pasta. See finished dish bellow.