Sunday, May 10, 2009

Cajun Pork with Pineapple Salsa

Ingredients
1x227g Can Pineapple Slices (drained)
1 Lime (juiced)
4x200g Pork Loin Steaks
1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun Spice Mix
1/2 Red pepper (de seeded and diced)
2 Spring Onions (chopped)
1 Green Chilli (de seeded and sliced)
Sunflower Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Griddle Pan
1 Pastry Brush

The Good Bit
  1. Dry the pineapple on kitchen towel and brush with sunflower oil, griddle for 2 minutes on each side and set aside.
  2. Drizzle half the lime juice onto the pork and rub in the cajun spice mix, griddle on both sides for 7 minutes.
  3. Chop the pineapple and place in a mixing bowl along with the pepper, onion, chilli and the rest of the lime juice. Serve the pork with a dollop of the salsa on top and with rice.
Serves 4

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Steaks en Crout

Ingredients
4 Fillet Steaks (trim the fat off)
2 Small Onions (finely chopped)
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
125g Mushrooms (finely chopped)
250g Ready Rolled Frozen Puff Pastry (defrosted obviously)
1 Egg (beaten)
4 Slices Ham
40g Butter
Oil
Pinch of Ground Nutmeg

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Garlic Press
1 Frying Pan
1 Bowl
1 Pastry Cutter
1 Pastry Brush

The Good Bit
  1. Pre heat your oven too 220c 425f gas 7. Heat 2/3rds of the butter in the frying pan along with a splash of oil, then cook the onion and garlic for a couple of minutes until soft, add in the mushrooms and the nutmeg and season with salt and pepper, cook over a nice gentle heat until the mushrooms are cooked and there is no more liquid left in your pan, remove from the pan and place in a bowl.
  2. Heat the last of the butter in the frying pan then quickly sear the steaks on both sides and then remove them from the heat too.
  3. Flour your work surface lightly then spread out the puff pastry, cut out 8 rounds that are slightly larger than the steaks, now go round the outside inch of the rounds with the pastry brush well dipped in the beaten egg.
  4. Cut the ham into 8 rounds about the same size as the steaks. Place 4 ham rounds onto 4 pastry rounds then use half the mushroom mixture to cover these four servings, now top with a steak each, then divide the last of the mushroom mixture onto the top of that, finally add the remaining 4 ham rounds and then the four pastry rounds. Press the edges of the pastry together to make nice neat parcels and stick a fork in top to air to escape, using some more of the beaten egg, brush the tops of each a little then stick them in the oven for 20 minutes or until they are golden brown.
Serves 4

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Mushrooms in Red Wine

Ingredients
1 Onion (thinly chopped)
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
375g Button Mushrooms (cleaned and bottom of stalks cut off)
125g Smoked Ham (cooked, cut into strips)
1 Teaspoon Dried Mixed Herbs
150ml Red Wine
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
1 Baguette to Serve

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Garlic Press
4 Ramekin Dishes
1 Sauce Pan

The Good Bit
  1. Heat a splash of oil in the sauce pan and cook the garlic and onion until it goes soft but don't colour it, about 3 minutes, add in the herbs, ham, mushrooms and red wine, season to taste the bring to the boil then turn off the heat and leave for 30 minutes.
  2. With about 10 minutes to go, pre heat your oven to 220c 425f gas 7, Divide the mixture between the four ramekin dishes and place in the oven for 15 minutes, serve with the French bread.
Serves 4