Folded Pizza Stuffed with Fish & Salad

This brainwave involved a boring old cheese & tomato pizza, with the addition of (umm) scampi, salmon, rocket, tomato, cucumber, red onion and a bit of mayo.

Fishcakes with Pea Soup

Is this a bit weird? Oh well sod it, it was lovely.

The soup was made by softening onion and garlic in a little olive oil, then adding quite a big bag of frozen peas. In went boiling water from the kettle, and some vegetable stock powder (the kind in the green tubs). I blitzed it with a stick blender and stirred in a noggin of cream cheese. Finally, just after plonking the fishcakes in, it was drizzled with drops of oil from a jar of pesto sauce.

Fish, Banana & Coconut Curry

From a recipe I found in a magazine in a waiting area. I scribbled down the ingredients quick, and tried to remember the rest. This is how it goes:

Fry a sliced onion and a pepper in a little oil, until soft. Add a teaspoon (I suggest more) of curry paste, and stir in. Add a tablespoon of flour and mix in. Gradually add, a splash at a time, a tin of coconut milk. Stir well to prevent lumps forming and the sauce should thicken nicely. Add your fish, cover and cook gently until the fish is cooked. A few minutes before the end, add a sliced banana. The bananas are so gorgeous in it, I'd maybe add more next time.

You could add fresh coriander, lemongrass, or perhaps some chopped red chilli. As it is, this is a lovely, simple and gentle curry. Deffo be making this one again.

Pie & Soup Part 2: Steak & Kidney + Tomato Soup

Compiled and consumed by Freddie. Thanks again Linda!!!!!!!

Chocolate Mug Cake

Made from a recipe someone was sending round at work - and easy to find on the net. Quick, hot fresh choccy cake. I present the recipe here but would only suggest you reduce the cooking time. It says 3 minutes, but I'd start with half that and pop it back in if its needed. I would prefer mine a bit squidgy. May I also suggest, buttering or greasing the inside of the mug first, to aid easy exit. As you can see, I had mine with ice cream. There are obvious possibilities here for making sponge with jam / syrup / banoffee / coffee .... etc etc etc oh wow!

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

Linda's Cornish Pasty with Soup Poured Over It

This was a giant (and cheap) pasty, cut in half. Linda has hers with oxtail soup but I prefer tomato.

This was definitely one of those occasions where, a dish becomes, more than the sum of its parts ...... cookery alchemy!!

Hot Veggie Sausage, Pesto, Mozzarella Cheese, Caramelized Onion & Sundried Tomato Baguette

Prepare ingredients: slice the cheese, snip up the tomatoes, cook the onions slowly for a long time, fry the sausage, etc.
Stuff the baguette and carefully squeeze it closed. Wrap tightly in foil, and bake in a hot oven for about 20 minutes.
Unwrap and EAT!