The Cullinans Courgette Tian

We were first given this for lunch at the Cullinans, and it has now become a staple, particularly given the courgette glut of summer 2014.

1kg courgettes, coarsely grated
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped (I leave this out)
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
225g spinach
3 eggs
1 tbs chopped parsley
50g cheese (I usually use cheddar and/or parmesan)
50g rice, cooked
1 tbs breadcrumbs (I leave these out)

Sprinkle the courgettes with salt and leave for 30 mins, then squeeze out all the moisture using a tea towel.  Heat some oil in a pan and cook the onion and garlic until soft, then add the courgettes and spinach and cook for about 5 minutes.  Leave to cool a little.

Put the eggs in a large bowl and season, then add the rice, half the cheese and the parsley.  Stir well, then add the vegetables.  Put the mixture into an ovenproof dish, then sprinkle over the remaining cheese and the breadcrumbs if using.  Bake at 190C for about 40 mins.

Charlie's Lovely Dinner (easy)

Charlie's Lovely Dinner (easy)

Found in my notebook

Pack o sausages (cut smallish)
2 long thin peppers (ditto)
1 Scotch bonnet chilli, deseeded
3 small onions, rough chop
2 large potatoes
plenty oil, olive and rapeseed
garam masala
thyme and oregano

Glaze:
2 tsp dijon mustard
2 tblsp cider vinegar
thyme and seasoning
oregano
1 tsp honey/jam/sugar

Par boil taters for about 12 mins. Shake in sieve to soften edges, and season with salt. While they boil, layer veg and sausages in a baking tray with the thyme. Douse tray in oil, and sprinkle garam and seasoning, including oregano. Marry potatoes in tray, mix and, when still, add the glaze over as evenly as poss. Put tray in oven for 45 mins at 180,  stirring after 15/20 mins. Season with thyme and serve with a spoon for the sauce, and a green veg.

Rock buns

It wasn't very kind of Grandpa to eat a rock bun while Facetiming with Felix last night, but they are soooo delicious....

This is from the New World Cookery Book; my edition was given to me by my mother-in-law the first Christmas we were married (1975).  My mother had a copy too. So the measurements are in imperial: you can work it out.

8 oz plain flour

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 oz butter

2 oz lard

4 oz demerera sugar

4 oz mixed fruit (including peel)

Grated nutmeg

1 egg beaten with a little milk

Measure out the flour etc and rub in the fats – I do that in a machine.  Add the rest of the dry ingredients, then the egg mixture and draw together until it just clumps (add a little more milk if necessary, but don’t get it too wet).  Arrange in 12 rough clumps on a baking sheet, and bake for about 20 minutes (160 degrees in the fan oven).