Chilli and Pepper Beef เนื้อผัดพริก.

Chilli and Pepper Beef.

Serves 2.

Delicious and healthy dinner in a hurry. Don't be put off by the amount of chillies used. The only heat comes from the fresh red chillies, the dry chillies stay whole and not spicy unless eaten. The dry chillies give colour and a slight smoky flavour to the dish but without the heat.

Wok to stomach in 15 minutes.

In a large wok, on high heat, fry

-1 sliced onion, with

-1 clove chopped garlic, add

-200g sliced asparagus,

-3 red chillies (adjust according to your taste),

-3 dry chillies,

Stir fry until the asparagus is almost cooked through, add

-250g sliced beef (rum steak),

-1tsp black pepper,

-1tbsp soy sauce,

-1tbsp oyster sauce,

-2 sliced spring onion.

Stir fry until the beef is cooked to your liking.

Taste and adjust the seasoning.

The cooking process should only take 4-5 minutes.

Serve with Jasmine Thai rice.

Chocolate Cream Roulade.

Chocolate Cream Roulade.

Quick, delicious and surprisingly easy. Even if a few cracks appear, it doesn't matter (so I keep telling myself).

Equipment:

23x33cm Swiss roll tin lined with baking paper.

Melt 100g dark chocolate. Leave aside.

Oven 190c fan forced.

Use an electric mixer, beat

-120g self raising flour,

-1tsp baking powder,

-120g caster sugar,

-120g butter, at room temperature,

-4 eggs,

-pinch of salt.

Beat to combine the ingredients.

Stir through melted chocolate. 

Spoon into the prepared tin.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until just firm to the touch.

Invert onto a fresh piece of baking paper.

Leave to cool completely.

      Cream filling.

Use an electric mixer, beat

-300ml double cream, with

-2tbsp icing sugar,

-1tsp vanilla bean paste.

Beat until the cream just holds its shape.

Refrigerate until needed.

        To assemble.

Spread the cream evenly, leaving 2cm gap.

With the short end facing you.

Roll to encase the cream mixture.

Sprinkle over icing sugar.

Cider Roasted Pork.

Cider Roasted Pork.

Serves 6.

Another quick and easy recipe. It's delicious, juicy, fuss free and hardly any washing up to do.

Oven 220c fan forced.

In a large roasting tin, put in

-1kg baby potatoes,

-3 carrots, cut into chunks,

-2 onions, quartered,

-3 cloves garlic,

-4 bay leaves,

-salt/pepper,

-500ml cider,

-1.2 kg pork leg, seasoned with salt/pepper.

Roast for 1 hour.

Turn the oven down to 180c.

Roast for another 40-45 minutes.

Serve.

Black Pepper Stir Fried Monkfish ปลาผัดพริกไทยดำ.

Black Pepper Stir Fried Monkfish ปลาผัดพริกไทยดำ.

This is simply delicious. I made this dish, along with a few other dishes, for a dinner party and this was the favourite. The monkfish is firm fleshed and copes well with strong flavours.

This is my first time cooking monkfish, can't wait to cook with it again.

In a large wok, on high heat, add

-1 onion, cut into large chunks,

-1 clove, chopped garlic,

-1/2 pepper, cut into chunk,

Stir fry until the vegetables have softened, add

-500g thickly sliced monkfish,

-1tbsp light soy sauce,

-1tbsp oyster sauce,

-1 1/2 tsp black pepper.

Stir fry until the fish is almost cooked through, add

-2 sliced spring onion,

-1/2 chilli, sliced (adjust according to your taste. I love chillies but when cooking for a crowd l tend to keep it quite mild).

Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Waterfall Beef นำ้ตกเนื้อ.

Waterfall Beef นำ้ตกเนื้อ.

Serves 2-3.

I don't think Thai people can agree on why the dish is so named. I will give you 2 versions.

1. The dish is incredibly spicy that it'll make your eyes water, hence waterfall.

2. Traditionally the meat would be grilled over charcoal and it was the fat dripping from the meat, which had given this salad its name.

In a bowl, put in

-450g sirloin steaks, with

-salt/pepper,

-2tsp fish sauce,

-2tsp soy sauce.

Mix well. Leave to marinade until needed, 20 minutes or so.

      For the salad.

In a frying pan, dry roast

-2tbsp of rice until golden brown. Finely grind using a pestle and mortar. Leave aside.

In a large bowl, put in,

-2 spring onions, finely sliced,

-3 chillies, finely sliced,

-2 shallots, finely sliced,

-1tbsp chopped mint,

-2tbsp chopped coriander,

-2tsp dried chilli flakes.

Leave aside.

Cook the steaks to your liking (traditionally medium rare).

Leave to rest for 10 minutes before slicing into 1/2cm in thickness.

       To assemble.

Add the beef to the salad bowl.

Add the toasted rice.

Add juice of 1/2 a lime.

Add 1tbsp fish sauce.

Mix well to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.

You would probably need more fish sauce and lime juice.

Serve with rice and fresh vegetables.

Victoria Sponge Cupcakes.

Victoria Sponge Cupcakes.

Makes 12.

Equipment:

12 hole cupcake tin lined with cupcake cases.

Another fun, quick and delicious recipe to make with children.

     For the cakes.

Use an electric mixer, beat

-220g butter, at room temperature, 

-220g caster sugar,

-220g self raising flour,

-1tsp baking powder,

-3 eggs,

-1tsp vanilla bean paste,

-pinch of salt.

Beat well to combine.

Oven 180c fan forced.

Spoon into the prepared cases.

Bake 15-18 minutes.

Skewer should come out clean.

Cool completely on rack.

      Cream filling.

Use a balloon whisk to whisk,

-150ml double cream, with

-1tbsp icing sugar,

-1/2tsp vanilla bean paste.

Whisk until the cream just holds its shape.

       To assemble.

Cut the cupcakes in half.

Spoon a tablespoon of whipped cream on the base.

Top with 1/2tsp raspberry jam.

So moist and delicious.

Cheese and Vegetable Puffs.

Cheese and Vegetable Puffs.

Makes 8.

Equipment:

2 large oven trays lined with baking paper.

Here's my weekly vegetarian recipe. These puffs are yummy, quick and nutritious. They would go well with a large bowl of salad or homemade baked beans ( baked beans recipe hidden somewhere on Calories Can't Count).

          Filling.

Grate,

-150g onions,

-250g courgettes,

-200g carrots.

Squeeze out excess liquid otherwise the pastry will be soggy.

Put the vegetable into a large bowl, along with

-200g grated cheese,

-2tbsp chopped parsley,

-paprika,

-salt/pepper.

Mix well to combine and divide into 8 equal portions.

Oven 200c fan forced.

          Pastry.

I used shop bought pastry (2x250g puff pastry but there is a recipe for puff pastry hidden somewhere here too).

Cut 4 rectangles from each sheet.

Spoon on the filling.

Brush the edges with a beaten egg.

Fold over to seal in the filling.

Crimp the edges with a folk.

Brush the top of the pie with the beaten egg.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool on rack.