Spicy Roast Chicken & Pumpkin

Based on Karen Martini's Spicy Roast Chicken recipe, "Feasting" p. 151.

Crush coriander seeds and pepper corns in mortar and pestle. Mix in chili flakes, salt and garlic cloves. Smash into a paste.

Take a chicken that has been cut in to 6 pieces (for a size 12) and place in snap-lock bag. Add spice mix and some olive oil, seal bag and massage in. Leave in fridge for several hours.

Chicken is cooked in a pan at 220 degrees fan forced. About 50 minutes.

Large dice the pumpkin, sprinkle on nigella seeds, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, sweet paprika and salt. Add oil and mix around. Place on baking tray, not in the chicken dish. Large pumpkin pieces will take the same time as the chicken if the chicken is small, place on top or bottom shelf as needed.

When chicken is just off done add a big handful of cherry tomatoes to the dish and a little fresh rosemary.

Serve with steamed beans and broccoli.

Result: 6 out of 5. Sensational!

Fish Burgers

Ocean trout fillets (cheap from Preston Market), BBQ - oil on BBQ, salt & pepper on top, skin side down for about 10 minutes. Don't turn.

Flake fish off skin into long roll with tartare sauce (mayo, capers & lemon juice) and shredded lettuce.

Result: 5
Preparation: Non-existent! Fish needs to be bought on the day as it is smelly.

Chicken & Kale soup

Saute chopped onion and carrot and garlic. Add block of chicken stock and hot water. Add 2 whole chicken thighs. Add chopped kale and whole home-grown cherry tomatoes. Cook for about 20 mins. Remove chicken and dice. Cook for about 10 mins more, then add chicken back in, and chopped fresh basil, and tin of cannellini beans. Serve with parmesan cheese.

Result: 4.5. Very healthy too!
Preparation: dead easy, and quick.

Pesto Chicken Pasta

Make pesto: Fresh basil (best from garden), grated parmesan cheese, cashews (pine nuts would be better), garlic, olive oil, blitzed in blender.

Chicken thighs, cut in small pieces and pan-fried. Add pesto, cream and baby spinach. Serve with pasta.

Result: 5. Yummo. Not for everyday eating!!!
Preparation: very quick and easy.

Baked fish with tomato, basil and mozzarella

Piece of fish (e.g. swordfish, or white fish fillet)

Place fish on baking tray on paper. Top with fresh basil, halved cherry tomatoes and sliced bocconcini. Bake at 160 degrees fan bake for 20 mins, then set oven to 'warm' and leave for further 20 mins, or until needed. Serve with green salad.

Result: 5
Preparation: less than 5 mins into the oven, including the salad!

Tomato, Basil and Tuna Quiche

Make quiche (with puff pastry base, uncooked) following Margaret Fulton's Quiche Lorraine recipe, but with tinned tuna, chopped cherry tomatoes and fresh basil instead of onion and bacon.

Result: 5
Preparation: just mix and cook

Quick Lamb and Eggplant Curry

Eggplant, diced, salted, drained and dried.
Onion, roughly chopped.
Garlic, crushed.
Lamb leg, diced.
Tomatoes (only a few), chopped.

Fry onion in ghee and oil. Add eggplant and garlic and fry for a bit. Add diced lamb and spices - Cam's Sri Lankan curry powder, black mustard seeds and turmeric. Fry for a couple of minutes. Add tomatoes and water to cover about half way. Cook for about 20 mins. Serve with rice and yoghurt and/or honeyed sweet potato.

Result: 4.5. Remarkably nice curry for quick-cooked meat.
Preparation: quick and easy.