What to Cook this Week...
5 recipes to find your cooking mojo!
Hi folks,
We’re enjoying a lovely slow paced long weekend after the past two weeks of colds, functioning flu and lots of sniffles. Soups, stew and plenty of home remedies have been made in an effort to finding the cure but time seems to be best healer.
In the interest of getting back on track, this week we are back to meal plans. I don’t make them every week but when required they are the best way to get life back on track.
I have 5 recipes that might help in finding your kitchen groove this week and a nice little playlist to keep you company!
Happy cooking,
Donal x
Monday: Provencal Sausage Meatball & Lentil Stew
I’ve taken the traditional sausages here and turned them into meatballs. Our boys love anything in meat patty form but you could always stick to good quality sausages for this dish. If you wanted, you could add a splash of white wine to the sweated vegetables before the lentils and a good dollop of creme fraiche to finish it off. Serve the pot to the table with plenty of crusty bread.
Tuesday: Harissa Honey Chicken Bowl
A condiment I use regularly for its instant heat, colour and flavour is harissa paste. A small splodge of this transforms any meat or vegetables it comes in contact with. It’s deep, dark subtle heat pairs well with the honey for the Harissa Honey Chicken Bowl here. Crispy chicken pieces coated with a fairly irresistible harissa sauce alongside fresh cucumber salad, bulgur wheat and green pistachios makes for a pretty beautiful midweek supper. Almost all the elements for this recipe can be made ahead- ideal for meal prepping or office lunchboxes.Â
Wednesday: Pork Sausage & Fennel Burgers
As an alternative to the beef burger, give the pork sausage patties a go! Spiked with fennel and topped with roasted peppers, they are particularly delicious cooked over a hot BBQ. Add a pinch of dried red pepper flakes if you like them spicy but the addition of a slice of scamorza cheese is essential for that stringy melted cheese moment as you take your first bite.
Thursday: Teriyaki Salmon with Rice & Greens
Pop the rice in a rice cooker, set it and forget it, and add whatever cooked vegetables you fancy to bring this quick-prep supper to the table (I often microwave broccoli, sugar snap peas or green beans for 4 minutes with a little water for perfectly steamed quick-fix vegetables). Use shop -bought teriyaki sauce to replace the soy sauce, brown sugar, mirin, garlic and cornflour if you don’t want to make your own.
Friday: Roast Vegetable Fajitas
With Homemade Tortillas, Fiery Salsa & Pickled Cabbage this is an ideal sharing supper for the whole family that’s big on spice and sweetness from caramelised roast vegetables. While the veggies roast in the oven you can easily prepare the other elements of the dish, homemade tortillas, a fresh tomato salsa and quick pickle of winter’s finest cabbage. If you choose to skip the homemade tortillas, at least torch the ones from a plastic pack over a hot flame to make the most of them.