American Style Beef Chilli

This is a rich Winter warmer, based on a Jamie Oliver Navajo inspired recipe. It's a one pot dish that will wow any guests at a dinner party or family get-together. To make this beef chilli you will need the following ingredients:
Note: This recipes serves 4-6 people

• One red onion 
• One large green pepper finely chopped 
• Two cloves fresh garlic finely chopped 
• Handful cherry tomatoes cut in half 
• 500g lean beef mince 
• Glug of olive oil 
• Tin chopped tomato with chilli 
• Tin red kidney beans drained 
• Half cup of filter coffee(you will put the dried chilli flakes into this coffee) 
• 4 tbs tomato sauce 
• 2 tsp origanum 
•  1 tsp dried chilli flakes 
• 2 tbs paprika 
• 1 tsp cumin 
• 2 tsp cinnamon 
• 1 cup beef stock 
• 2tbs molasses 
• Secret ingredient was the 6 tbs chipotle sauce (available at Spar) 

Start by frying all the spices and herbs with the olive oil, garlic and onion. While the onions fry for 5 min, make the half a cup of filter coffee and add 1 tsp of dried chilli flakes to rehydrated and release their flavor. Add the coffee to the onions and simmer for 5 min. 

Dried chilli flakes in filter coffee

Stir in the mince as you break apart with a fork. Now for all the wet ingredients: the molasses,tin of tomatoes,stock, chipotle and tomato sauce. Simmer on low heat for 30 min. Stir and add the chopped green pepper, cherry tomatoes and tin of kidney beans and continue to simmer on a low heat for another 30 min. Serve with crusty bread to soak up all the goodness.

Easy Pancake Recipe

Easiest pancake recipe:

• 2 cups self raising flour
• 2 cups milk 
• 2 eggs 
• 2 tbs oil or melted butter 
• Pinch of salt 

Measure the flour and make a well in the middle, add the eggs, milk then oil and gently whisk till all ingredients mixed together to form a smooth batter. If possible leave batter for a half an hour, stir through and start making pancakes. The great thing about this simple recipe is you can add your own personal touch by adding chocolate chips,cinnamon or even bright sprikles for colour. You could also serve pancakes with a savory filling like mince, chicken, stir fry or grilled veg for an easy delicious dinner.

Parma Ham and Spinach Lasagne

Spinach and Parma Pasta

Start by preheating oven to 180 degrees.

You will need:

2 cloves garlic finely chopped

2 green chilies (chop one finely for sauce and can keep the other for garnish)   

Glug of olive oil

2 tins of chopped tomatoes (I like tin that has garlic or herbs added to it)

5 slices Parma Ham

Worth getting a good quality Parma Ham as this adds amazing flavor to the dish.

2 tsp dried Italian herbs

1 chopped red onion

1 large packet of chopped spinach

Half a cup water

3 tbs tomato sauce (All Gold) to add a little sweetness to the sauce

Lasagne sheet 250g 

I prefer pre-cooked as it takes less time 

1.Start by frying onion, chili and the garlic in a little oil. Add spinach and the ham. It might look like far too much spinach but remember this will cook down and wilt to about half the size.

2. Add the tinned tomatoes and cook for a further 5 min before adding the tomato sauce.

3.Add a half a cup water to mixture and let it simmer while you start on the cheese sauce (it might seem very watery but the lasagne sheets will need this excess liquid to cook). Now for the Cheese sauce...

To make cheese sauce you will need to top the lasagne:

2 heaped tbs butter or margarine 

3 heaped tbs flour

2 and a half cups milk

1 cup grated cheese (strong matured cheddar ideal)

nutmeg to sprinkle over sauce (grating your own fresh nutmeg worth the effort)

4. To make cheese sauce start by melting the butter, then adding the flour to form a flour paste. The trick with cheese sauce is not to leave it as it will become lumpy ans you will need to stir it continuously until it thickens. I also prefer stirring with a whisk. 

5. Start layering the pasta sheets and spinach.

6. Top with the cheese sauce and a little Nutmeg. 

7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 35 min, test if pasta cooked through with knife before removing from oven.

8. When the pasta is soft and cooked through remove from the oven and serve. Add a crack of fresh black pepper and chili to finish. Best served with a glass of red vino.