• Heat the oil in a heavy based pan, add the cumin seeds and ginger and fry for 30seconds until aromatic.

• Add the onions and pepper and fry for a few minutes until they begin to soften.

• Stir in the turmeric, chilli powder, salt and garam masala.

• Add the panner and tomatoes, give everything a good mix and turn down to a low heat for 10-15mins (I usually used this time to cook the rice).

• Serve with rice or bread of your choice.

Meringues. Not my favourite bake when I have them by themselves as I find them too sweet but mix them with something and you are on to a winner.

• Preheat your oven to 180C (fan)

• Grease and line a 20cm square cake tin

• Melt the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water

• Whisk the eggs and sugar on a high speed until doubled in volume

• Once melted, fold the chocolate and butter into the egg mix and gently fold in the lime zest and flour.

• Bake in the oven for 25mins

• Once the brownie has been baking for around 15 mins you can make a start on the meringue. In a clean bowl whisk the egg whites until stiff.

• Continue to whisk and add the icing sugar a teaspoon at a time

• If you wish you can add a drop of green food colouring.

• Remove the brownie from the oven (it should have a slight wobble) and gently spread the meringue on top.

• Turn the oven down to 150C and bake for a further 20mins.

• Leave to cool in the tin, slice into 12 portions and enjoy!

Another Monday and we are still in January! I know I shouldn't wish my life away but this month is dragging and it's still 12 days til pay day. 6 week months are a killer! Ok, I know a month doesn't have 6 weeks but I got paid the Friday before Christmas so it means it's been 6 weeks between pay days :(

I joined PureGym with Amy from CCC last week and I'm now determined to go 3 days a week - 2 days of classes and 1 day for a gym workout. I drive past it on my way home so I have no excuse not to go. We really tried with running but a bit of bad weather and we wouldn't go out. The gym is warm, clean, has a ladies only area and is only £14.99 a month - bargain!

So anyway - Meal Plan! Now I'm going to the gym 3 meals need to be very quick but healthy.

Monday - spicy pork and rice
Tuesday - cottage pie
Wednesday - seafood stirfry
Thursday - tuna steaks, rice and veg
Friday - burgers and homemade wedges
Saturday - no idea but I am out for afternoon tea with the girls
Sunday - out for an early birthday lunch with Mr T at Blackhouse - can't wait!

As always I'm linking up over at Mrs M's, have a great week! 

Just before Christmas I had a little catchup with 2 of my friends and we decided to go for afternoon tea.

After asking around on Twitter (who needs Google when you have Twitter?), Fodder got in touch and told me about their afternoon tea. Usually it's a package for 2 people but they kindly did one for us for 3 at the bargain price of £14 each!

Now you all know I love Betty's and if I'm honest it is my favourite place to go but I just couldn't justify spending £28 on an afternoon tea. Yes I know it's amazing but I also love to try new places too.

For £14 per person I was seriously impressed with what we got - 2 types of sandwiches, some savoury pastries and a selection of desserts. It was all so yummy apart from the brownie/biscuit. I can't stand nuts and this definitley had something nutty in it. The bread was lovely and fresh, the pastries were so light and the scones were divine. I would have loved a bigger scone but seeing as we couldn't finish the meal I'm just being greedy wishing for one!


We also got plenty of tea and a pot of hot water too to top up the tea pot. It's always a winner for me when you get that pot of hot water, I do like to stretch my tea as far as it can go.

After stuffing our faces (and we still left a bit) and having a good old gossip we allowed the food to settle before wandering round the shop that is attached to Fodder. We didn't buy anthing but I was impressed with the prices and quality of food on offer. Yes, it is more expensive than shopping at the Big 4 but I though the meat and veg were cheaper that what I would pay at Otley Farmer's Market.

Next time you are in Harrogate I would strongly reccomend that you visit Fodder. It's a bit out of the way and you do need a car to get there but it's such great value and the food is really good.

Thanks Fodder for a lovely afternoon, we will be back again.




So it's my birthday at the end of January and I'm on the lookout for somewhere new to try for afternoon tea. Let me know if you have any suggestions...
 

*I was not asked to write this review nor was I paid. These are my own thoughts and opinions.*

A non cake related post for a change!

I adore cookbooks, I have a mild addiction to them but if I'm honest they really don't get used as often as they should. When I sat down to do my first meal plan after Christmas I knew I needed to get the books out and make something different instead of the usual stuff. I am determined to try and make at least one new dish a week instead of sticking with the old favourites.

Also, like the rest of the country I am pretty skint this month. Christmas mixed with changing jobs has meant I have to go 6 weeks til payday!!! It's time to tighten the purse strings while making healthy and nutritious meals at the same time.

After browsing through my book cupboards (yes, I have 2...) I realised I had hardly used my Save With Jamie book even though I've had it a year already. I spotted the fish pie recipe and it looked fairly simple so I decided to give it a go. Some reviews are critical of this book and say the recipes don't work out that cheap but this fish pie was really cheap to make. All the fish and almost all the veg is frozen and after digging in the freezer I realised I already had some of the ingredients in there.

Start to finish I had it ready in just over an hour which I think is pretty quick for a pie and the first time I had made it. Now it's supposed to serve 8 but I under estimated Mr T's love of fish pie. He went back for third helpings (and very large ones at that) so we only got about 5 portions out of it.

I've tweaked the recipe slightly by removing the lemon, halving the amount of peas, boiling them in with the potatoes and removing the cheese but other than that it really is a great wee recipe and something I plan to make a lot more often.

Testing out my new pie dish from Santa

Jamie Oliver Fish Pie

1kg potatoes
40g butter
200g frozen peas
2 carrots
2 onions
500ml milk
300g frozen salmon fillets
200g frozen white fish fillets
65g plain flour
100g frozen spinach
125g frozen prawns
1 tsp mustard

• Preheat the oven to 180C (fan)

• Peel the potatoes and chop into small even chunks. 

• Place in a pan of boiling water and cook over a high heat until soft (about 20-25mins)

• When the potatoes are halfway through cooking add the peas to the same pan.

• Peel and chop the carrots and onions and place in a pan on a medium heat with a good glug of oil until soft making sure to stir occasionally.

• Heat the milk in a deep frying pan over a medium heat, once simmering add the fish fillets and cook for 10 minutes.

• Once cooked remove the fish with a slotted spoon and set aside.

• By now the carrots and onions will have softened. Stir in the flour then gradually stir in the milk until it forms a sauce.

• Stir in the prawns and spinach until the spinach has softened.

• Stir in the mustard and season well.

• By now the potatoes will be soft and ready to mash. Add the butter to the pan, season well and mash the peas and potatoes together until well combined but allowing a few flecks of peas to remain.

• Flake the fish fillets into your pie dish, pour over the sauce and veg and spread over with the mashed potato. I find it easier to use a piping bag and ruffle the mash with a fork.

• Bake in the oven for 25-30mins until the potato is crispy on top.

• Serve with a selection of veg and enjoy!

My Great-Uncle Jackie turned 80 on Boxing Day. As we were both back home between Christmas and New Year I was asked to make a cake to mark the occasion.