Leek and Mushroom Pasta Bake

Neapolitan deli http://www.flickr.com/photos/phlegrean

This is another one from the ‘cheats’ range but it’s what I cook when there’s not much time and I want something tasty and wholesome. I add Quorn to my pasta bake, but you can add another vegetable instead – broccoli works well. Make use of leftover bread by turning it into breadcrumbs and putting it in a re-sealable bag in the freezer to use on top of this dish.

Cauldron Vegetable Roast

Having been a tad on the busy side lately I have grabbed the opportunity to check out the latest in ready-made veggie meals, so I thought I would share my findings with you.

First up are Cauldron Foods who make my favourite veggie sausages (and Saturday mornings would not be the same without hot sausage sarnies in thickly-sliced, fresh crusty white bread with mustard and tomato sauce…) Ok, ok, moving on

Sweet and sour red cabbage casserole

flickr.com/photos/geishaboy500

I love the mix of sweet and savoury and the vinegar in this recipe gives it a slightly sweet and sour tang.

About half a red cabbage will be plenty for two people if it is the only vegetable or will serve several for a bit of a party.

Pancakes!

Pancakes

It will soon be Shrove Tuesday, the day we all call “Pancake Tuesday”, some cultures refer to it as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday but where did this ritual come from and why pancakes?

Did you know that…

High 5 for Winter Puds

We all fancy something sweet from time to time as a treat. Winter puds don’t necessarily have to be stodgy and full of calories. They can be bursting with nutrients and even add to your 5 a Day.  This is a golden opportunity to experiment with different fruits and toppings.   Apples, Pears and Berries and other fruity delights. Why are they so good for you?

Vegetarian Sunday Roast

So many pubs don’t serve a veggie roast, leaving us lusting after the roast potatoes on the plates of meat eaters, whilst we slog our way through yet another bowl of pasta or mushroom risotto .

Spinach with toasted pine nuts

Spinach is great addition to a meal, especially a veggie roast and an excellent source of Vitamin K – needed for blood clotting.  It reduces by about a quarter when cooked, so buy large quantities if using fresh.  You can now get frozen spinach separated into handy little blocks – perfect for when you need to

Balsamic roasted vegetables

If you’re cooking for friends or family and want to make your veggies a little bit special, this dish is deceptively simple and it looks amazing on the table. Great for Sunday dinners and celebrations. The trick is to choose vegetables in lots of different  colours, cut them into different shapes

Garlic and rosemary roast potatoes

 

Roast potatoes are an essential part of a roast dinner.  They should be crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and look so tempting to eat that you risk burning your tongue.  Adding rosemary, garlic and onion will fill the kitchen with

Nut Roast

This dish is great with chips or salad the next day and it freezes well although last time I made it, all the meat eaters had some and there was none left for the freezer!

You can use any nuts, cashews tend to give a creamier flavour, and chestnuts are quite soft, whilst using large pieces of Brazil, walnuts and hazelnuts creates a crunchy nut roast. It needs