Rachel Allen's Macaroni Cheese

Often at the weekend, I cook something nice for my family. While I was looking through Rachel Allen's Favourite Food At Home, I came across this recipe. I've always been a fan of Macaroni Cheese and when I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try it. This tastes delicious with salad.

Rachel Allen's Macaroni Cheese
Serves 6-8

Ingredients
75g (3oz) butter
1 onion, peeled and chopped
75g (3oz) plain flour
900ml (1½ pints) boiling milk
1-2 tsp Dijon mustard
225g (8oz) cheddar cheese, grated
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
300g (11oz) macaroni pasta

Method

1. In a saucepan, melt the butter, add the chopped onions and cook gently until soft.
2. Stir in the flour and cook for minute, then add the milk gradually, whisking all the time, and the mustard.
3. Whisk in three-quarters of the cheese and allow to melt into the sauce, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta with a teaspoon of salt, until just soft.
5. Drain the pasta, and then toss into the cheese sauce and transfer into a gratin dish, about 25cm (10in) square.
6. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and pop under a grill for a few minutes to brown the cheese on top, or if you wish, put the aside for later.
7. Put the dish into an oven preheated to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6 to reheat. Leave in for about 25 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.

Pentagon Pizza

Recently, I've been really craving pizza. But one night, we had nothing to make pizzas with so I tried to use a tortilla wrap as a base. Surprisingly, it worked perfectly and it was delicious!

Pentagon Pizza

Ingredients
1 plain tortilla wrap
50ml passata
grated cheese
ham (optional)
onion (optional)
tomato (optional)

Method
1. Pre-heat the oven to fan 180C/200C/gas mark 6
2. Make a circle of passata on the outline of the tortilla wrap.

3. Place some grated cheese on the passata. Place in the microwave for 50 seconds.

4. Fold in the edges with passata and cheese on them.

5. Spread passata on the rest of the tortilla wrap.

6. Cover the passata with the toppings of your choice.

7. Place the pizza in the oven for 7-9 minutes.

Pizza Naan

This is another recipe from Killachonna Cookery School. This recipe is really easy and quick to make. For this recipe, you have to have the cheese, the tomato sauce and the naan bread (or else its not a pizza naan!)

I only use a few toppings (pesto, cheese, ham and chorizo) but you can add as many ingredients as you want.

Pizza Naan


Ingredients
1 naan bread
2 tbsp Real Irish Food Co. Tomato and Basil sauce (or any pasta sauce)
Grated cheese
Slice of ham
Tomato, sliced
Onion, finely chopped
Mushroom, sliced
Chorizo, chopped
A few teaspoons Pesto


Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4.
2. Spread the sauce over one side of the naan.
3. Cover with toppings of your choice.
4. Bake in the oven for 10 mins until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
5. Serve and Enjoy!

Pan-Fried Ham and Cheese Toastie

This recipe is adapted from one of my Mam’s cookery school recipes - Killachonna Cookery School. This makes a perfect supper on a cold winter’s night. It’s as simple as a toasted sandwich but it tastes better! In this recipe you don’t need to put in the ham or chives but you can add extra ingredients (onions, salami etc.). My Mam loves brie (I love it too!!!) and my Mam always puts it in her pan-fried sandwich.

Pan-Fried Ham and Cheese Toastie

Ingredients

25g (2oz) butter

4 slices wholemeal bread

100g (3oz) cheddar cheese, grated

1 teaspoon snipped fresh chives

100g (3oz) ham, chopped

Method

1. Butter the bread and arrange the cheese and ham over half of the slices, buttered side down.

2. Sprinkle over the chives and cover with the remaining slices, buttered side up.

3. Preheat a frying pan and cook the sandwiches for 2 mins on each side, until golden brown and the cheese has melted.

4. Cut into triangles and serve.

Rachel Allen's Baked Eggs with Chorizo and Cheese

Rachel Allen's Baked Eggs with Chorizo and Cheese

This recipe is from Rachel Allen's Food for Living. This is definitely my favourite recipe with eggs.

Ingredients
2 tsp tomato purée,
4 tbsp double cream
freshly ground pepper and sugar
16 thin slices Chorizo
8 eggs
2 tbsp grated Cheese, such as gruyere or cheddar

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 230°C/450°F/gas mark 8. Mix the tomato puree (if using) with the cream and season with pepper and a pinch of sugar.
2. Spoon half of the cream mixture into the base of four ovenproof cups, bowls or ramekins. Add two slices of chorizo to each dish, then crack two eggs into each, season with a little more pepper, and top the cups with the remaining two slices of chorizo.
3. Spoon over the remaining tomato cream, then sprinkle each portion with the grated cheese. Bake for 9-12 minutes, or until the whites are set and the cheese is bubbling. Serve the eggs on their own or with fingers of buttered toast.

Jacket Potatoes

For a lazy evening in front of the telly, jacket potatoes are a great meal. Stuff them with your favourite fillings and eat them piping hot. I found these easy enough to make and they really fill you up.

Jacket Potatoes

Ingredients
4 large potatoes (about 250g each)
55g butter
115g ham
115g cheddar cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200  ̊̊C/400  ̊̊F/gas mark 6. Wash and wipe the potatoes. Prick with a fork and place on a baking tray.
2. Cook the potatoes in the oven for 60-75 minutes until they are soft inside and the skins are crisp. Remove them from the oven.
3. Cut each potato in half and scoop out the soft insides into a mixing bowl. Take care not to damage the skins.
4. Mash the potato well with a fork. Add the butter and the salt and pepper.
5. Place the skins on a baking tray. Chop the ham and put some into each shell. Spoon in the potato.
6. Grate the cheese and sprinkle on potatoes. Put them back in the oven and cook for a further 15 minutes until the tops are golden brown.