Cinnamon Danish Popcorn

Is it just me, or does watching telly at this time of year make everyone feel ravenously hungry? The TV breaks are just packed with delicious-looking food thanks to the M&S and Waitrose adverts, amongst many others!

So I thought I’d be safe watching the Junior Apprentice last night on BBC1: no adverts, no delicious canapés and sumptuous puddings being paraded in front of me..? But no, their challenge this week was to come up with new and exciting flavours of popcorn, so I sat there for about half an hour feeling hungry before I had to go and make some myself!

I loved the idea of taking traditional American flavours and turning them into popcorn – they came up with BBQ chicken flavour and pancakes and maple syrup flavour. I found myself lusting after peanut butter and jelly flavour popcorn – but haven’t worked out how to turn that flavour into something you can sprinkle on popcorn…? Any ideas anyone?

Anyhow, I settled for my own invention: cinnamon danish popcorn.

Pop some corn and while it’s still hot sprinkle a tablespoon on caster sugar in the pan and sprinkle with cinnamon. Toss around well while the sugar caramelisesnin the heat of the pan and scoff. Delicious (and a lot healthier than a real cinnamon danish!)

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Bright & Beautiful Couscous

My 5 year old had his Christmas concert this evening (he’s a very proud shepherd number 1), so I took the chance to have an adult tea tonight, that just means something with identifiable vegetables!  Hence bright and beautiful couscous. Couscous has a tendency to be bland, but the mix of garlic, fresh herbs and lemon really give it bundles of taste.

This recipe feeds about 6. (Even though there’s only 2 of us I tend to make this much and then we’ve got it for lunch tomorrow too.)

You will need:

• 500g couscous
• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 apple, roughly chopped
• 1 handful sultanas
• 2 stock cubes (I use OXO chicken)
• 1/4 cucumber
• 1 stick celery
• 4 spring onions
• handful of flatleaf parsley or fresh coriander leaves
• 1 clove garlic, chopped

Add a splash of olive oil to a large saucepan and gently fry the garlic for a few minutes – don’t let it brown as this changes the tasete. Add the couscous and stir around in the garlicy oil then add the sultanas and 800ml boiling water, stir well and put a lid on. Remove from the heat and leave to stand for 10-15 minutes.

La La Lasagna!

There’s something about a good lasagna that makes me want to sing: delicious, comforting and you can eat it curled up on the sofa with a fork – it’s the perfect comfort food!

I’ve tried lots of different lasagna recipes and, as often happens, the best recipe  actually came from a friend rather than a cookbook. I’ve fiddled and adapted it until I’m completely happy and this is my basic recipe:

You will need:

For the Bolognese sauce:

• 500g minced beef
• 1 onion chopped
• A small punnet of mushrooms
• 4 rashers of bacon
• 1 garlic clove (or a splash of garlic oil)
• 1 pack of passata (approx 500g)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 stock cube (I use beef OXO but any will do)
• 1 tsp mixed herbs
• A splash of Worcestershire sauce or red wine (optional)

Christmas Cranberry Chutney

Can we put the Christmas tree up today? Can we put the Christmas tree up today? Can we put the Christmas tree up today? Can we put the Christmas tree up today? Can we put the Christmas tree up today?

…was how I was woken up this morning. Oh to be 5 again! So, even though it’s still only November I’ve given in and have started embracing Christmas!

This chutney fills the house with a beautiful spiced festive smell, and is delicious with cheese and biscuits or as an accompaniment to chicken, turkey or pork. It’s also simple and quick to make.

You will need:

5 Minute Superfood Flapjack

Now, when I say 5 minutes, I’m not including time in the oven, just time it takes you away from doing other things. Also, don’t be put off by the word flapjack – I know it’s enough to make some people shudder (all that butter…) – but this uses condensed milk instead and is really more of a breakfast bar.

We get through about three trays of these a week on a good week, so I vary the fruit, nuts and seeds according to what I find in the cupboard. Below are the ingredients for our weekday basic version and the deluxe treaty version.

You will need:

• 1 can condensed milk 397g
• 250g rolled oats (that’s the superfood bit)
• 75g desiccated coconut

and either (for the weekday version)

• 100g raisins
• 100g pumpkin seeds

A Happy Ending for Sad Cereal

Whenever I buy one of those selection packs of cereal, I’m inevitably left with a few sad packets of unwanted cereal left at the back of the cupboard. Since my 5 year old never fails to be excited by selection packs, I’ve had to devise a way of giving those sad cereals a happy home.

It’s simple, and gluttonous, and they only take 5 minutes to make.