In terms of a first course I rarely make prawn cocktail at home. That’s because I’m very greedy and would rather have a whole plateful of what I think is one of the most delicious dishes ever invented. Having said that, there’s nothing quite like tucking into a really luxurious prawn cocktail at a restaurant,…
Author: cheapfreshandeasy
Scallops with beetroot and parsnip puree garnished with crispy cavolo nero
The older I get, the less I want to go out in the evenings, especially in the colder months. Eating out these days is also increasingly expensive so I am more than happy to stay put and splurge on indulgent ingredients. I absolutely love scallops and they always seem a bit luxurious – perfect for…
Smoked haddock and butter bean gratin
I am always looking for new ways to cook smoked haddock, other than kedgeree (which I tend to have at least once a fortnight). This is also a good way to use beans instead of potatoes as the main carb. You can be flexible with ingredients depending on what you have in stock, substituting courgettes…
Simple spaghetti with sun-dried tomatoes and almonds (vegan)
I’m having a phase of eating plant based meals. Tonight I cooked a simple pasta dinner using a handful of ingredients I happened to have in stock. These included sun dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers (both from jars and neither ultra processed). I also used courgettes, onions, cherry tomatoes, almonds (good protein) and spaghetti….
Chicken with sun dried tomatoes
I rustled up this dinner just before going on holiday as I had chicken thighs which needed using up. It’s a bit like Tuscan chicken which I make a lot but the sun dried tomatoes are really convenient because you can use the oil from the jar to fry the ingredients and it already includes…
Mini frittatas
I made these fritattas to take on a beach picnic yesterday with my daughter. She recently moved to Worthing, on the south coast, and there are several beaches within easy driving distance of her flat. The sun was very warm and the sea was a gorgeous shade of blue but it was a bit windy….
Slow cooker butternut squash and bean chilli
Do people still use slow cookers now that air fryers are taking over the world? I don’t have an air fryer but I love my slow cooker. It can come in very handy, especially at this time of year when you’re rushing around getting ready for the festivities. With most slow cooker recipes I usually…
No knead bread
I’ve got out of the habit of making my sourdough bread but I’ve recently discovered a really easy bread recipe that doesn’t require any kneading. This is a simpler version of a Nancy Birtwhistle recipe from her book ‘Green living made easy.’ I’ve had mixed success with home made bread in the past – so…
Creamy chicken with vegetables, pasta and parmesan
I can’t seem to get enough of chicken at the moment. I usually make a version of this recipe as a tray bake – cooking chicken in the oven with masses of cherry tomatoes and adding creme fraiche for the last five minutes or so. But for this recipe I’ve pan fried the chicken (coated…
Asian inspired chicken broth
This recipe was supposed to be chicken noodle soup but in the end I completely forgot to add the noodles. It reminded me of an occasion when I was cooking with my niece when she was young. We were making tuna pasta bake for a family dinner and just as we were dishing up we…
Wholemeal flatbreads
The starting point for making these flatbreads is that I have so much self-raising wholemeal flour in stock. Also I was craving some bread to have with my shakshuka brunch this morning and as I rarely buy supermarket bread as it is ultra processed (and I’m out of the habit of making my own sourdough…
Huevos rancheros
This is an improvised (and lighter) version of the famous Mexican breakfast which is pretty much my staple brunch at least twice a week these days. I use it with whatever ingredients I have in stock – if I don’t have black beans I’ll use kidney or cannellini beans. I don’t always have tortillas or…
Cheap, fresh and easy 