Cod dinner

So the cod fillets were on sale and very fresh they looked to! So I baked the fillets in foil tents with plenty of sliced garlic, parsley and a nob of butter. Served on a bed of couscous with a sauce made from cherry tomatoes and zucchini. Tastes better than it looks! Try to imagine on plain white china plates instead of my cheap Bhs which I am still using from my student days. Contributions to my fine bone china Wedgewood fund are welcome!

A simple summer meal

I came up with this simple recipe to use my fresh basil. Kind of reminds me of that old student standby - pasta with tomato sauce. Throw in a few mushrooms for nutrition etc. This is the grown up version!

Serves 2

As much garlic as you like (at least 2 cloves; I use 5) - smashed and chopped

Half a finely chopped onion

2 large flavorful juicy tomatoes (I like to use vine-ripened) - chopped

Pasta shapes of your choice ( I used mini penne)

6 fresh basil leaves, chopped

fresh parmesan or grand padano cheese, shredded

*Optional - I threw in some raw peeled prawns to smarten the dish up. You can throw in other stuff like some sliced mushrooms!*

1. Cook your pasta with a little olive oil and salt in the water.

2. In another pan, saute the garlic and onions for 2 minutes. Then, add the chopped fresh tomatoes and simmer for about 5 minutes. Season with a little salt and pepper. Turn off the heat and stir in the fresh basil before serving.

3. Mix the sauce with your pasta. Top with parmesan or grand padano cheese.

*Interesting taste variation - add in a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar for more acidity*

Recipes using basil

So a couple of months ago, I bought some small kitchen herb plants - oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley and basil. I'm the first to admit I don't have green fingers so I was real pleased when I was able to re-pot my plants and when they started to grow to some very healthy heights. I guess when it comes to growing plants for food, I take more care! Now, there is an abundance of basil leaves from my four basil plants (see pic) - so I've had to come up with some recipes!

Thai fish cakes recipe

4 firm white fish fillets (I used flounder)

2 tablespoons cornflour

1 tablespoon fish sauce

3 teaspoons red curry paste (buy ready-made from supermarket)

1 beaten egg

some fresh coriander leaves (or you can add 2-3 chopped spring onions)

some chopped garlic chives (or you can use chopped green beans)

1. Squeeze excess water from the fish fillets. Process fish in food processor for 20 seconds.

2. Add cornflour, egg, red curry paste and process for another 15 seconds.

3. Transfer mixture into large bowl. Add chopped spring onions/garlic chives or chopped green beans and mix well. Using wet hands, form 2 tablespoons of mixture into flat patties.

4. Fry in a little oil - cook 4-5 patties at one time until dark golden brown on both sides. Place on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

5. I like to dip these in some store-bought thai sweet chilli sauce!!

Home-made Thai Feast

Had friends round so prepared this lovely thai feast! Two dishes of pad thai (one with egg, one without), chilli cucumber and peanut salad, thai fish cakes and rice paper rolls! You have to get yourself to an asian supermarket and stock up on some ingredients to make this work. Here are the recipes:

Pad Thai

Dry pad thai noodles (soak in boiling hot water for 8 mins and then drain)

Raw prawns (peeled and deveined)

Beanspouts

Garlic chives

Egg (cook as omelette first and then cut into strips)

Fish sauce

Limes

Unsalted roasted peanuts (smashed)

Coriander or thai basil

Brown sugar

Crisp fried onion and garlic (look for ready-made in asian supermarket)

1 teaspoon chopped red chilli (optional)

1. Use biggest wok you have and heat up oil. Add garlic and chilli. If you want to have some pork in the pad thai, throw in now. Add the prawns, the garlic chives.

2. Once you throw in the noodles, you have to cook quickly. Add 1-2 tablespoons of fish sauce, squeeze 2 lime quarters of juice, add 2 teaspoons of brown sugar and work in. I also add a little soy sauce to impart more flavour.

3. Add the beanspouts and egg

4. Once on plate, sprinkle raw coriander and peanuts on top. Serve with crisp fried onion and garlic and some additional lime quarters.

Prawn rice paper rolls

Packet of rice paper wrappers

Very fine rice vermicelli (cook in boiling hot water, run in cold water and drain)

fresh thai basil leaves

fresh coriander leaves

cooked prawns (peeled, deveined and sliced in half length-ways)

romaine lettuce leaves

*Dipping sauce*

80ml of cold water

1 teaspoon white sugar

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 small red chilli chopped (optional)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander

1. Dip a rice paper wrapper into lukewarm water for 10 seconds. When soft, place on board/plate.

2. Place some lettuce, followed by 2/3 prawns. Add a small amount of cooked but cool vermicelli. Top with basil and coriander leaves. Roll up as you would a spring roll.

*Rice paper wrappers have to be kept moist otherwise they become brittle. Sprinkle with a little cold water if needed*

Cucumber salad with peanuts and chilli

1 cucumber

3 tablespoons white vinegar

2 teaspoons white sugar

1 tablespoon chilli sauce

half a red onion or some shallots

fresh coriander leaves

unsalted roasted peanuts (smashed)

2 tablespoons crisp fried garlic (can get ready-made in asian supermarket)

half teaspoon red chilli chopped (optional)

1-2 tablespoons fish sauce

1. Slice cucumber in half lengthways and then slice thinly. Combine vinegar and sugar in bowl and stir until sugar dissolves. Toss with cucumber, chilli sauce, onion and coriander in large bowl. Leave to marinate for 45 mins. Just before serving, add peanuts, garlic, chilli and fish sauce. Toss.