Hello all! After my last food post was so popular, I have decided to do another one and that is what I bring you today! This time we have four dinner options and one pudding, as again I haven't really branched out in baking any new or spectacular desserts, like I do my dinners. Will I ever? lol
We also were a bit cheeky and ordered a delivery of some Triple Chocolate Brownies from @browniestomydoor on Instagram. They were very nice and I would recommend!
Rosemary Potatoes (mixed with veg)
This are a new find of mine and let me tell you they are delicious. My parents brought me a specific cookbook that is catered towards those with kidney disease, which I have, called Truly Tasty and this recipe is from there. I have only briefly looked through it and this was one of the first ones I stumbled across. Just a note to say I do not really look closely at the requirements the book provides because I know as long as I don't consume too much salt I am good. The recipes sure are healthy and they do include ways to have different intakes of the food categories so if that is something that takes your interest, it would be a suitable book for you.
The dish just adds a little something to what would normally be simply potatoes, it mixes things up and just provides some different flavours with the meal. I would find that I would only have it with something on the plain side as the flavours are quite overpowering if you were to choose to have it with something that also had a strong flavour- just a tip! I had it with a fishcake and found it was the perfect combo!
I would also say to make sure you spread them out in the dish and occasionally take them out the oven and give them a little mix to coat them, this way the flavours will soak in well. Unfortunately, I cannot find the recipe to link so therefore I will include the recipe at the end for those of you who want to give it a go! The potatoes are incorporated in with a roast so if you just give the whole recipe a skim, the instructions for them will be there.
Feta and Basil Pasta
Of course I had to include the latest food craze that I saw on TikTok, and if you haven't seen that then let this be your sign to make it! It is so quick and easy and from the picture it does not look like much, but trust me you are missing out if you do not give it a go.
The good thing about it is that you can add your own spin on it and include anything that you feel goes with pasta, it is fairly flexible when it comes to mixing in other ingredients. I do like a lot of herbs so we added a fair few and you just have to be careful not to add too much.
A few tips from me! It would be to warn you not to go too overboard with the basil as it can be quite strong and take over from the other flavours in the dish. A squeeze of lemon juice can also give it a nice zing, balancing out the rich flavour from the feta cheese. It can easily become hard and chewy if you overcook it so be careful to not let it cook over the 30 minute mark. Obviously it will depend on if you change out any ingredients but for me that was the perfect time. The recipe: Feta Basil Pasta.
Zhoug
This is one of mine and my families firm favourites and it has a flavour that I have never really had before. At first glance it looks like pesto but its actually a totally different flavour.
It is another basic recipe and it is one we opt for a lot if we are stuck on what to have to eat. You could again substitute the pasta for another pasta if you wish, but we feel tagliatelle goes best. As well as the pasta, the meat could also be changed if you wanted something specific or just another type of flavour within the Zhoug. The recipe: Zhoug. I just love the combination of all the textures and it really makes for an amazing dinner. It could also be made a vegetarian meal and would still be a lovely dish.
A few small tips would be to make sure you do not rub your eyes after you have done the chillies, as my mum unfortunately manages to forget that part and her eyes were sore! When you mix the ingredients together in the blender, ensure to add enough oil for it to become a runny enough consistency. I know it provides a measurement, but for this dish we find more is better in making the sauce taste the best.
Turkey Burgers
These are a good substitute for beef burgers and I feel are good to have occasionally for a healthier alternative. We made these from turkey mince from scratch which provides me with more reassurance, as I know what is in the burgers compared to if you were just to buy them straight from the supermarket.
I just found the recipe online and when I was doing my research I came across a lot of different varieties, all roughly the same but with different spices. If you do not like the look of the one I recommend, you are sure to find another online. The recipe: Turkey Burgers.
A tip for the burgers that we have only recently done is to purchase a burger presser which allows you to shape them properly and it also stops them from falling apart in the pan.
Truffles
Finally, the well awaited dessert. Again by the picture it does not look very special but I can assure you they are the perfect sweet treat. I am certainty not one to make complex desserts, I do and will continue too stick to basic baking. For me they are literally the perfect thing to make as they are so simple yet gooey and rich.
The only downside is that you have to leave them in the fridge for a while so if you are planning to have them after a meal time, I would recommend making them in advance. No one likes to wait around for their pudding! The recipe: Truffles.
A couple of tips for this. I have now resorted to using Instagram reels as my dessert inspiration, you get a lot of people showing their masterpieces and because I am not a baking expert, it is the most practical place to source recipes. If you are like me though, it does take a while to find more simple recipes as a lot of people choose to showcase bigger and bolder desserts, so just make sure you keep scrolling and you will come across something!
The second one being when you make the truffles to be careful to fold them together the right way, as we discovered with our first one that when the cocoa powder was on the inside, it didn't stick; folding the powder on the outside is the correct way. They are also very messy so be prepared.
I just love food and over lockdown, I have really developed a passion for it! I will for sure do another post in the future. Another place I have been sharing some recipes, including another dessert ( I know amazing ), is Instagram. I have done a couple of reels and hope to do more, so check it out if that is something you would be interested in. It is in a video format as well so if that is something you prefer compared to a big old ramble, check it out and give it a follow: My Instagram; I just have to make sure I do not run out of ideas.
As always I hope you all enjoyed! Stay safe. Lucy xoxoxo
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