flahavans No excuses… healthy and delicious porridge is the perfect way to start these cold Monday mornings! Warm and comforting, this quick and easy recipe takes just minutes to prepare, so whether you have breakfast at home or deskside, make sure it’s as tasty as it is pretty! Add some grated apple, pecan nuts, cinnamon and maple syrup to your morning porridge pot and take a minute to savour just how good it tastes! #BreakfastInspo#FlahavansOats
Serves 1|Takes 5 minutes
Ingredients
1 x Flahavan’s Quick Oats Pot Whole Milk (as per instructions on pack) 1 Large Red Apple Cinnamon Powder Maple Syrup 5-10g Pecan Nuts
Method:
Prepare the porridge as per the instructions on the Flahavan’s Quick Oats pot
Topping: Cut the apple into thin slices and then into matchsticks. Prepare your porridge, and add the apple as topping long with a sprinkling of cinnamon and a drizzle of maple syrup. Chop pecan nuts into thin pieces and sprinkle on top. 21h
Sift the flour into a bowl with the baking powder. Add the sugar and the oat bran and mix. Toss the cranberries into the icing sugar. Add to the bowl with orange zest and stir to mix.
Place the egg, milk and melted butter or sunflower oil into another bowl and beat lightly. Stir into the dry ingredients. Just do this casually – there is no need to over mix.
Line a muffin tin with baking cases. Spoon the mixture into the lined muffin tin.
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C /400°F / Gas Mark 6 for around 15 minutes – or until risen and golden.
Serve warm or cold. Quick Tip Oat Bran is also great as a coating for fish before frying.
The easiest way to cut the red cabbage and onions is on a Japanese mandoline but of course you can do it with a sharp knife if you don’t have one or a food processor works well too. This would be delicious as a side order or serve with baked jacket potatoes with a dollop of soured cream and chives for a light supper.
1 small head red cabbage, finely shredded (core discarded)
2 red onions, thinly sliced
2 cooking apples, peeled, cored and grated
2 cups (18fl oz) pomegranate or cranberry juice
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
4 tbsp light brown sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp mixed spice
good pinch of ground cloves
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Heat a very large heavy-based pan. Add the butter and once it has melted, tip in the red cabbage and onions. Sauté over a medium to high heat for about 10 minutes until just beginning to soften.
Stir the apple into the cabbage mixture and then add the pomegranate or cranberry juice, balsamic vinegar, sugar and spices. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 1 hour over a low heat, stirring every 20 minutes until the cabbage is meltingly tender. Transfer to a warmed dish and serve at once.
Neven Maguire’s mushroom & leek strudel with madeira wine sauce
Ingredients
Serves 4-6
For the strudel
2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for oiling
1 small onion, peeled and finely diced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
225g mixed wild mushrooms roughly chopped
1 small leek, washed and finely sliced
2 tbsp double cream
2 tbsp Madeira Wine
2 tbsp chopped parsley
4-5 sheets filo pastry, thawed if frozen (about 100g/4oz in total)
1 egg, beaten
salt and freshly ground black pepper
mixed salad leaves, to serve
For the madeira wine sauce
700ml beef stock
1 tbsp tomato purée
3 tbsp Madeira Wine
3 tbsp cream
Method
For the strudel
Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/ gas mark 5.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan.
Add the onion, garlic and mushrooms and cook over a medium to high heat for 2-3 minutes until almost tender.
Reduce the heat, add the cream and Madeira to the pan and cook for another minute.
Add herbs and salt and pepper to taste.
Sauté for another minute until the spring onions are just tender and the liquid has almost completely reduced.
Allow to cool completely.
Unroll the sheets of filo pastry and place them all, one on top of the other, on a work surface.
Brush the top sheet of pastry with beaten egg and then spread over the mushroom mixture to within 4cm (1½in) of the edges.
Fold the short ends inwards a little to meet the mushroom mixture and then, starting with a long edge, roll up the pastry fairly tightly like you would a Swiss roll, keeping the mushrooms in place as you roll.
Place the strudel seam-side down on the parchment paper and brush it all over with the remaining beaten egg.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until crisp and golden brown.
Allow to cool for a few minutes before carefully placing on a chopping board.
Cut the strudel into thick slices and arrange on warmed plates. Drizzle some sauce beside it and serve with some mixed salad leaves.
For the madeira wine sauce
Heat a heavy based saucepan, add the Madeira Wine and reduce by half.
Gradually whisk in the beef stock until smooth, followed by the tomato purée.
Simmer for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened.
Whisk in the cream, bring to the boil, season to taste and thicken with some diluted cornflower.
Neven explores County Durham and Durham City, discovering stunning landscapes, rich history and incredible local food. From walking in Blanchland and the North Pennines to visiting Knitsley Farm Shop, where handmade pies are crafted by a sixth-generation farming family.
In Durham City, @nevenmaguire samples elegant desserts at the Cellar Door Restaurant and dives into the fascinating history of Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, learning about medieval pilgrimages and what monks once ate.
Vicky DeRosa 
