This recipe for Bangers & Cheesy Mash from our Simply Better brand ambassador @nevenmaguire is the perfect comfort food. Find the full recipe below:
Bangers & Cheesy Mash with Caramelised Red Onion Gravy Ingredients (Serves 4) 2 Packs Simply Better Irish Pork Spring Onion & Black Pepper Sausages 2 Tubs Simply Better Irish Made Beef Gravy 3 Tbsp. Simply Better Handmade Caramelised Red Onion Relish 1 Tbsp. Simply Better Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 Tbsp. Simply Better Italian Balsamic Vinegar Steamed Greens, to serve Cheesy Mash 100g Simply Better West Cork Co-Op Extra Mature Drinagh Cheddar, grated 750g Rooster Potatoes, cut into chunks 75g Butter Method 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/Gas Mark 6). Place the sausages on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, drizzle with the olive oil and cook in the oven for 25 minutes, turning halfway through cooking to ensure they are golden brown on all sides. 2. To make the mash, put the potatoes in a pot of cold salted water. Cover and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until tender. Drain the potatoes and return to the pot over a low heat for 1-2 minutes to remove as much moisture as possible. Remove the pot from the heat, then mash with a potato masher or pass through a potato ricer until smooth. Beat in the cheese and butter and season to taste. 3. To make the gravy, heat the gravy in a saucepan over a medium heat, whisk in the caramelised red onion relish and balsamic vinegar and simmer for 2-3 minutes. 4. To serve, place a large spoonful of mash in the centre of a plate or serving bowl. Top with 3 of the roasted sausages and pour over the onion gravy. Serve with some of the steamed greens.
Nothing beats the flavour of homemade Christmas pudding, but it’s important to get good-quality fruit and it’s best made at least 1 month in advance.
I love plum pudding, hot or cold, with lashings of cream, but the spiked almond custard is even more special. I always look forward to it. A big thank you to Auntie Maureen for this recipe.
Ingredients
50g (2oz) plain flour
1/2 tsp ground mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
225g (8oz) sultanas
175g (6oz) butter, melted, plus extra for greasing
175g (6oz) fresh white breadcrumbs
175g (6oz) light brown sugar
175g (6oz) raisins
50g (2oz) currants
50g (2oz) candied mixed peel
50g (2oz) blanched almonds, hopped
1/2 eating apple, peeled, cored and diced
1/2 small carrot, grated finely grated rind and juice of
1 lemon
2 eggs, lightly beaten
300ml (1/2 pint) stout
fresh redcurrant sprigs, to decorate (optional)
icing sugar, to decorate (optional)
spiked almond custard, to serve
Method
Sift together the flour, mixed spice, cloves and nutmeg. Add the sultanas, melted butter, breadcrumbs, sugar, raisins, currants, mixed peel, almonds, apple, carrot and the lemon rind and juice and mix until well combined. Gradually add the beaten eggs, stirring constantly, followed by the stout. Mix everything together thoroughly and cover with a clean tea towel, then leave in a cool place overnight.
Use the fruit mixture to fill 2 x 1.2 litre (2 pint) greased pudding bowls. Cover with a double thickness of greaseproof paper and tin foil, then tie tightly under the rim with string. Store in a cool, dry place overnight.
To cook, preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F/gas mark 2).
Stand each pudding basin in a large cake tin three-quarters full of boiling water, then cook in the oven for 6–8 hours (or you can steam them for 6 hours in the usual way). Cool and re-cover with clean greaseproof paper. Again, store in a cool, dry place.
On Christmas Day, re-cover with greaseproof paper and foil. Steam for 2–3 hours, until completely cooked through and tender. Decorate with the redcurrant sprigs and a light dusting of icing sugar, if liked.
To serve, cut the plum pudding into slices and arrange on serving plates. Have a separate jug of the spiked almond custard so that everyone can help themselves.
This is a perfect tea for lots of hungry children, but it would also be a good weekend late breakfast, depending on your mood. It’s the classic way that many crêpe stallholders cook crêpes to order late at night around the major tourist attractions in Paris. They are always very popular, often with long queues, and once you’ve tasted them it’s easy to understand why.
Ingredients
24 asparagus spears
8 eggs
450 g swiss cheese, such as gruyère or emmental (thinly sliced)
8 slices of cooked ham
1 tblsp olive oil
Crêpes:
100 g plain flour
1 egg
300 ml milk
sunflower oil (for frying)
sea salt
black pepper (freshly ground)
Method
Sift the flour and a pinch of salt into a bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the egg and whisk well with a balloon whisk.
Gradually beat in the milk, drawing in the flour from the sides to make a smooth batter. Leave to rest for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, trim the asparagus spears and blanch in a pan of boiling water for 1–2 minutes, until almost tender but still with a slight bite.
Drain and refresh under cold running water to prevent them from cooking any further and set aside until needed.
Heat a little oil in an 18cm (7in) heavy-based pancake or frying pan. Pour in just enough batter to thinly coat the base of the pan.
Cook over a moderately high heat for about 1 minute, until golden brown. Turn or toss the crêpe and break in an egg, then gently whisk to spread it evenly all over the crêpe.
janice.gilligan1I’ve a beef casserole in my slow cooker and I’ll be enjoying it later when we are home from the parades. Perfect for the day that’s in it! ❤️