Food and drink

Quick and Easy Recipes

Easy Pizza

Recipe courtesy of www.bbcgoodfood.com

If you’re avoiding going out too much or shielding, you can still have delicious pizza without the need for a pizza counter! This is a quick and easy one ideal to make with the kids too. Add your favourite toppings.

IngREDIEnTs

For the base: 300g strong bread flour 1 tsp instant yeast (from a sachet or a tub) 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling For the tomato sauce: 100ml passata handful fresh basil or 1 tsp dried 1 garlic clove, crushed For the topping: 125g ball mozzarella, sliced handful grated or shaved parmesan (or vegetarian alternative) handful of cherry tomatoes, halved

METHOD

Make the base: Put the flour into a large bowl, then stir in the yeast and salt. Make a well, pour in 200ml warm water and the olive oil and bring together with a wooden spoon until you have a soft, fairly wet dough. turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 mins until smooth. Cover with a tea towel and set aside. You can leave the dough to rise if you like, but it’s not essential for a thin crust.

Make the sauce: Mix the passata, basil and crushed garlic together, then season to taste. Leave to stand at room temperature while you get on with shaping the base.

Roll out the dough: if you’ve let the dough rise, give it a quick knead, then split into two balls. On a floured surface, roll out the dough into large rounds, about 25cm across. the dough needs to be very thin as it will rise in the oven. Lift the rounds onto two floured baking sheets.

Heat the oven to 240C/220C fan/gas 8. Put another baking sheet or an upturned baking tray in the oven on the top shelf. smooth sauce over bases with the back of a spoon. scatter with cheese and tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and season. Put one pizza, still on its baking sheet, on top of the preheated sheet or tray. Bake for 8-10 mins until crisp. Serve with a little more olive oil, and basil leaves if using. repeat step for remaining pizza.

Herb and garlic Baked Chicken

Recipe courtesy of www.heartuk.org.uk

This nutritious meal is great if you’re looking for a light meal that is both healthy and enticing. It’s simple but gives you a colourful plate. serves 4. IngREDIEnTs

4 skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of all fat

A handful of chopped herbs such as tarragon, sage, parsley 3 garlic cloves crushed

Oil and water spray 600-650g stir fried vegetables (choose from onions, peppers, mushrooms, shredded cabbage, lightly boiled vegetable batons, canned kidney beans)

METHOD

Combine the garlic and herbs together. Make 3-4 shallow cuts in the chicken breasts and stuff with the garlic and herb mixture. spray a baking tray with the oil and water. Add the chicken and spray again. Lightly cover with foil to stop it burning or drying out in the oven. Cook for 30 minutes at 200C/400f/Gas 6 or until the juices run clear when a skewer is poked into the chicken.

Lightly coat a frying pan with oil and water spray. Heat the pan, add the vegetables and cook for a few minutes until tender. serve with the chicken.

Berry Iced Yogurt

Recipe courtesy of www.womanandhome.com

Dairy free, gluten free and low sugar. This serves 8 and is much lighter than ice cream. Just freeze overnight and you can surprise the family! IngREDIEnTs

160g can coconut cream 375ml (13fl oz) coconut milk yogurt 3tbsp icing sugar 300g (10oz) mixed frozen berries

METHOD

Whisk the coconut cream, yogurt and icing sugar together until smooth. stir in the berries and crush them slightly. turn into a container and freeze until firm, preferably overnight. Allow to soften at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse

A lovely dessert for a Valentines evening meal and one that everyone will love at any other time! Serves six people and takes a total of 15 minutes from start to finish. Replace cream with low-fat crème fraiche or fromage frais for a reduced fat version!

Recipe courtesy of www.tesco.com

IngREDIEnTs

40g butter 150g plain dark chocolate 150g marshmallows 1 orange 2 tbsp boiled water 150ml double cream, softly whipped 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

METHOD

Put the butter, chocolate and marshmallows in a heatproof bowl, set over a pan of simmering water (but the bottom of the bowl not touching the water). Heat for 5 mins to soften.

Meanwhile, cut 6 tiny wedges from the orange, then finely grate the zest from the remaining orange. Add the boiled water and grated orange zest to the chocolate mixture; heat and stir together for about 5 mins until everything is properly melted (the marshmallows tend to take longer than the chocolate). remove the bowl from the heat and let cool for a few minutes.

Fold the cream and vanilla, if using, into the chocolate mixture and stir until the mixture is well combined. Pour and spoon into 6 glasses or cups and allow to cool completely. Decorate with the orange wedges to serve.

sUPERFOOD BUDDHA BOWL

Recipe Courtesy of Cath Mills, The 1:1 Diet

serves: 2 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Calories: 200kcals steps: 2

IngREDIEnTs

200g canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained spray oil

A pinch of chilli powder or smoked paprika 100g courgette 1 small red pepper, deseeded and cut into strips 20g sun-blush tomatoes, cut into thin strips

A handful of baby spinach leaves 25g sprouting seeds, e.g. alfalfa, mung beans 60g fat-free cottage cheese sea salt and freshly ground black pepper seedy lemon dressing: 2 tbsp fat-free vinaigrette dressing

Grated zest and juice of ½ lemon 1 tsp poppy seeds

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6.

Put the chickpeas in a bowl and spray lightly with oil. toss with the chilli or smoked paprika and some sea salt. spread them out on a baking tray and roast in the oven for 20–25 minutes, turning once or twice, until crisp and golden brown. cut the courgette into long thin strips with a potato peeler. Lightly spray a ridged griddle pan with oil and cook the courgette and red pepper over a medium to high heat for 3–4 minutes, turning once or twice, until just tender and nicely striped.

Make the dressing: whisk all the ingredients together until blended. take 2 serving bowls and arrange the rainbow of roasted chickpeas, griddled vegetables, sun-blush tomatoes, spinach, sprouted seeds and cottage cheese in attractive piles in each of the bowls. Grind some black pepper over the top and drizzle with the dressing. serve immediately.

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day became a romantic holiday in the eighteenth century, where couples were encouraged to express their love for each other by exchanging fl owers, confectionary and greeting cards. It is thought that Valentine’s Day occurs on February 14th each year to align with the “Lovebirds” of early springtime.

Valentine’s Day 2021 is set to be very different to all the others with the UK’s lockdown measures. Luckily, Edinburgh Gin have their limited edition Valentine’s gin to make being stuck inside on the most romantic day of the year slightly more bearable. the gin has a slightly citrus fl avour, with lemon balm, lemongrass and chamomile making up some of the components. Delicate rose and hibiscus fl ower notes also fl ow through this gin, making it incredibly moreish and the perfect base for a special Valentine’s cocktail.

“the First Kiss” is a cocktail recommended by Edinburgh Gin distillery, and for ease we have detailed the recipe below. We are sure that your Valentine will be completely love struck if you present them with this velvety tipple!

The First Kiss

Ingredients

35ml Valentine’s Edinburgh Gin 15ml Edinburgh Gin’s Raspberry Liqueur 60ml pineapple juice

Method

1. Add the gin, liqueur and pineapple juice to a shaker with ice. 2. Shake, then double-strain into a coupe glass. 3. Garnish with a fresh raspberry.

The Oak Inn, Oswestry tel 01691 659 254

MEET

Taco Cartel

Lowell Lloyd and Tom Wilson founded Taco Cartel during the second lockdown of the pandemic. It was an idea that had been gestating for a while and they finally decided to take the plunge and get it off the ground – very lucky for us! Having both worked in restaurants in the past and keen cooks, they wanted to create a business that centred around Mexican street food and that uses the best ingredients from local suppliers.

the name is a cheeky take on street food carts and of course the cartels of Mexico, although they’re a thoroughly law-abiding cartel! they are currently based at brooks on the corner in church street, Oswestry and operate on Friday and saturday nights. they will be looking to expand their range soon but, in the meantime, they have a big focus on reducing their waste as close to zero as they can through using all leftovers ingredients.

Lowell said, “The food we make reflects our love of Mexican cuisine and our desire to use the best and most sustainable ingredients. Our meat for instance is free range and comes from Treflach farm, which practices sustainable agriculture.

“The food is a fusion of Mexican and the best of british. so, we have true classics like fish tacos and chilli bowls, as well as much more local and seasonally informed dishes that mix Mexican flavours with British produce. Try our pan-roasted pheasant taco served with mole (a rich fruit and nut-based sauce) and tortilla bread sauce.” this all sounds delicious, so here are some of Lowell and Tom’s favourites from the menu to try if you fancy a Friday or saturday night treat this weekend.

Taco of the Week: Chilli Bowl Side (Vegan option available) Or Chilli Loaded fries Recommended: for an evening meal either a taco or burrito with a side (or two, depending on appetite) should suffice. To try a variety of offerings: Taco platter (four mini tacos of your choosing), Triple-Cooked fries, Corn Elote

Taco Cartel use four different varieties of Mexican chillies in the sauce to give it an incredible depth of flavour! So, it would be silly not to give it a go. They also have vegan cheese on offer.

Customers can find a link to the ordering system via the website www.tacocartel.uk or facebook page @tacocartel follow on Instagram @tacocartel

Treats for my sweet!

During lockdown, we’ve noticed that doughnuts Kinderella – White chocolate icing, white and have become a delicious treat available for milk chocolate shavings, Kinderella hazelnut delivery to your door! But these aren’t just any sauce middle, Kinder Hippo or bar. *Kinder doughnuts, these are Planet Doughnuts. Chocolate Lovers*

Available for delivery through some regional count wiscoff - White chocolate icing, Biscoff takeaway food apps, Planet Doughnut has been crumb, caramel cream middle, biscoff biscuit, able to offer doorstep deliveries in towns where a white chocolate drizzle. *Biscoff Lovers* shop is nearby. shrewsbury, Oswestry and telford are currently serviced by the apps but to be sure, January Vegan Box check the website. jammie Dodger, chocolate brownie, count

Visiting the Facebook page, there are now Wiscoff, cookies n cream, chocolate Orange, stockists of the doughnuts so if you’re local to Lemon filled. those shops, you’re in for a treat. there are now stockists in Market Drayton, Ludlow, Mold, nr Oswestry, Lymm to name a few. Our favourites so far – Which one are you? Pudding Favourite: sticky Toffee Pudding they are now also offering deliveries of the – caramel icing, toffee sponge cake crumb,

‘Planet D six Pack’ to other areas in the North West caramel sauce middle, toffee drizzle. and West Midlands on specific days of the week. Mint Obsessed: The Minty One – Mint icing, Aero so, if you have family members who are in need of crumb, Aero bubbles, chocolate cream middle. cheering up, this may very well do the trick. be sure so Jammy: Jam Filled – strawberry icing, icing to check the website for the areas and delivery sugar, fruit jam middle. days. golden Oldie (who remembers?): gold Bar –so, that sorts out the deliveries, but what Vanilla icing, crushed Gold Bar, toffee sauce about the menu! Let’s take a look at what’s middle, Gold Bar. included in the delivery boxes and what our Decorate Your Own – Classic or Veganpersonal favourites are. This one is definitely a full-on family experience

The Planet D six Pack Box and the kids will love it. You’ll receive six fresh

Jammie D – strawberry icing, biscuit crumb, fruit doughnuts, icings and a selection of toppings to jam middle, jammy Dodger biscuit. make your own bespoke doughnut. straight to *Biscuit Lovers* your door, this has great appeal. Lots of colour

Malteaser crunchie Mashup – Malteaser/ and sweeties and chocolate and caramel for us honeycomb bits, milk chocolate. *chocolate bar please! What do you think?

Lovers* Keep up to date with the latest doughnuts,

Lemon cheesecake – cream cheese, lemon stockists and delivery options by visiting their cream, biscuit crumb, sicilian lemon icing. Facebook page Planet Doughnut or website *Cheesecake Lovers* www.planet-doughnut.co.uk

Salted caramel Galaxy – salted caramel icing, contact where allergies apply. toffee filling, sprinkles, galaxy bar. *Caramel Planet Doughnut, 24 Claremont Hill,

Lovers* shrewsbury