Recent content by lesley

Makes 2 baskets Prep Time 10 mins Cooking Time 15 mins Ingredients 2 Filo pastry sheets, cut in half 1 Small red onion, finely chopped 12 Button mushrooms 12 Asparagus spears, cut into three sections Sprinkling of Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil 2 Tsp Low fat butter spread...

Serves 6 Prep Time 10 mins Cooking Time 30 mins Ingredients 1 kg Pears in natural juice 125g Plain (all purpose) flour 125g Caster (superfine) sugar 25g Cocoa powder 150g Butter, softened or low fat spread 1 Tsp Baking powder 2 Tsp Vanilla extract 1/4 Tsp Bicarbonate of soda 2 Large free...

I made this because we'd eaten it in Florence & loved it. It's really a simple peasant dish from Tuscany but so healthy & as we are digging our way out of the snow this week I decided to do a batch & freeze it...although I could have just stuck it outside the back door!! It's nice with crusty...

Happy New Year everyone! It's been a busy time for us over the last month, not just cooking, but looking after the elderly. This is one of the soups we serve up in December & January. Although it's really a summer soup, tomatoes are always available in the supermarkets. It's cheap & easy to...

This is a really easy-to-make chutney. I usually make these for Christmas presents as it only takes 4 weeks to mature. Makes 8 Assorted Jars Prep Time 30 mins Cooking Time 30 mins Ingredients * 2730g Bramley apples * 1357g Conference pears * 3 Large onions, finely chopped * 2...

One of the most tastiest soups I like is Carabaccia, it's a wonderfully thick, onion rich, but slightly sweet soup from Florence. Serves 4 Prep Time 20 mins Cooking Time 1 hour Ingredients * 1kg Red onions, peeled and finely chopped * 2 Large carrots, washed and finely chopped *...

I made this at the weekend to go with cold roast chicken It tasted gorgeous, you could have it as a starter or as a buffet dish & it can be made a couple of days ahead. Serves 6-8 Appetizer/Side Prep Time 25 mins Ingredients * 3 Large bell peppers, red, orange and yellow, deseeded...

Chubby, this is the dish we made for friends at the weekend, I was a bit hesitant on the rabbit, but it was awesome! Serves 4 Prep Time 20 mins Cooking Time 1 hr 40mins to 2hr 10 mins Ingredients 2 Rabbits, skinned and gutted 2 Large leeks, washed and roughly chopped 225g/8oz...

This is ideal for a quick, tasty mid-week meal, you don't have to add the tomatoes & onions, I just wanted to use them up. You can use whatever left over meat you have as well. Serves 4 Prep Time 10 mins Cooking Time 30 mins Ingredients 3 Large free range eggs Semi skimmed/half fat milk...

When we visit Italy, this is one of the tastiest meals I've eaten. Usually served up in a small Trattoria, rather than the more expensive Ristorante. I make it with fresh pasta as the Italians do, but with a low fat sauce, it still turns out extremely yummy! You can either eat hot out the oven...

I made this for my friends barbeque at the weekend, she doesn't like Blue cheese, but she really loved it, & saved some for the next day!! Serves 6-8 Prep Time 5 mins, plus 1 hour to chill in fridge Ingredients * 500ml Low fat crème fraiche * 120ml Semi skimmed milk * 110g...

I'd heard about cooking a joint of ham in Coca Cola years ago, but never got round to doing it...until my son came over & insisted I give it a go..Ok I gave him the benefit of the doubt. It turned out tasting of BBQ, with a sticky sweet glaze...Fantastic! I wouldn't cook it any other way...

Hello everyone...just joined today, hope to share some great ideas with you all :)