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DAY 1 – LOCKDOWN RECIPE INSPIRATION
It’s time to share! It’s time to give…I stood in my kitchen this morning, my happy space, and thought about this and realised that even though I don’t have the knowledge to build a life-saving ventilator (unless celotape and a toilet roll tube are possible elements) I began to imagine that with everyone home there were many people wondering what to cook…and this is something some of us can do better than others.
The Walters family loves good food and this is where we can give. So I’m going to share with you some of our Walters family recipes (simple ingredients and most can be swapped for something else if you don’t have it). Even your kids can make these fabulous dishes. We are calling out for all those famous family recipes. Especially the ones that have been a secret for generations. If there was ever a time to share…. it’s now!
My husband and I have four kids (I know….!!) and four dogs (even crazier) and a tiny kitchen (who cares) …so this is one of our favourites. It is so simple and sooooo delicious that your only problem (if you are in lockdown with others) is that you’ll be the designated chef from now on, so……
To prove how easy these recipes are we are going to make two soups and Speedy (13 years old and full name Speedy Henry Monkey Pig), is cooking today. Speedy is famous for his weird and wonderful sauces (toothpaste has been known to be used) so I’ll try to keep him on the straight and narrow! But I’ve put alternative ingredients in brackets below for those of you who also like to wander onto the path less travelled!
Infamous Smoked Paprika, Bacon and Bean Soup
You’ll Need:
Oil – I use olive oil but anything will do
Onion (optional) chopped and browned in a bit of oil in a large pan on a medium heat.
Bacon (optional) – Chopped and browned with the onion
5 x Cloves of chopped garlic. We didn’t use this today (or for the next 21 days1) because…we didn’t have any and well we are in close proximity here. But it definitely adds a great zing if you can.
Chopped tomatoes (1 can /or half a bottle of Passata/ or a bag of fresh chopped and skinned*) – throw over the cooked bacon and bring to a simmer (so it cooks at a slow plop, plop, plop)
Cans of two or all of the following:
Chickpeas, Butter beans, Cannolini Beans, Lentils Drain and add to the soup.
Juice of 1 Lemon (preferably lemon juice but orange would also do or 1 cap-full of vinegar¬
5 x Teaspoons of Smoked Paprika (this is the mild one, not the Spanish hotter one, but if you only have Spanish then go easy on it! 2tsp to start and see) This gives this soup a lovely smokey taste but plain paprika will also work.
Rosemary or Coriander (fresh if possible) one stem or small handful if fresh, or 1 Tablespoon of dried.
6 Bay Leaves
2 x Teaspoons of Sugar (you should have some sugar lying around)
3 x Tablespoons Mrs Balls Original Chutney Such a great staple but if you don’t have it just use a different chutney or alternatively use an additional teaspoon of sugar and a tablespoon of vinegar.
Chicken Stock 500ml or Ina Paarman Chicken Stock with a 250ml water
Optional:
A handful of raisins or cranberries
A sprinkle of Cayenne Pepper
Stir occasionally on a very low heat for 30 mins.
Speedy and I served this with bread, olives and napkins for our messy eaters!
If your only problem today is working out what to do with those bags of red lentils, split green peas and beans that you never buy, but like me decided I probably needed them because everyone else had some in their shopping trolley! Here’s what to make:
Gilly’s Wonderful Stoup (a cross between a stew and a soup)
Leave the dried beans….they need 18 hours to soak and who can remember to do that!! We’ll find something else for them in the days to come.
So this recipe is so easy it doesn’t need an ingredients list! Cook an onion in some oil and pour in a litre of water or pre-made chicken stock (Ina Paarman stock powder or equivalent will also do). Add two handfuls of dried lentils (or one drained can) and two handfuls of split green peas. Cut up two sweet potatoes into small cubes and throw in. Add 2 teaspoons of curry powder (I use mild Cape Malay), some bay leaves, 2 tablespoons of chutney and ta da! That’s it. Cook for 2 hours (those little peas take a long time to soften) and serve with bread.
Sit in your favourite chair, with family or without, with your lockdown buddy or just a good book. Thank you for joining the Walters Family. And enjoy every mouthful!
Love
Speedy (Henry Monkey Pig) and Zoe x
Archive
September 2020
April 2020 -
- - Walters Chocolate and Cranberry Florentines
- - Gilly’s Famous Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
- - Gilly’s Moist Choc-A-Block Cake