Niamh Shields' delicious dinners and treats
Every week, our resident food blogger Niamh Shields shares her secrets in the kitchen with delicious and easy recipes for dinners and treats. Here, we round up the best of the bunch.
Rhubarb and blood orange compote
Curated by our very own Niamh Shields, this recipe for rhubarb and blood orange compote is extremely simple to make and infinitely versatile. Add it to your morning’s porridge for a sweet and delicious kick or serve with natural yoghurt for an easy dessert.
See recipe for Rhubarb and blood orange compote
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My healthier take on Nutella
Nutella is actually a version of the famous Italian chocolate and hazelnut spread gianduja. Gianduja was made and marketed first, and it's a chocolate and hazelnut or almond spread that is usually 50:50 and it was created to spread chocolate a bit further in times of scarcity. I have 25% nuts to 75% chocolate in this recipe which works well for me.
Go to recipe for my healthier take on Nutella
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Golden flapjacks
Flapjacks are the perfect thing, especially when they are homemade as they're even more delicious and usually better for you (unless you are buying proper homemade ones elsewhere). This is a very simple recipe and it takes minutes to prepare. Basically one part brown sugar, butter and golden syrup or honey to two parts oats. You can add dried fruit or similar at this point too.
Go to recipe for Golden flapjacks
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Spiced lamb shanks with rosemary, tomato sauce & cous cous
This is one of those wonderful dishes that cooks itself and is impressive to boot. A perfect dish to serve up to visiting friends on a cool winter's evening.
Go to recipe for Spiced lamb shanks with rosemary, tomato sauce & cous cous
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Parisian tarte tatin
This is really easy to make at home, even if it takes a little time to bake. All you do is caramelise some sugar, then place the apples on top of it, and the pastry on top of that before baking for an hour. And then, topple it out, and serve it with some crème fraiche or vanilla ice cream – ta da!
Go to recipe for Parisian tarte tatin
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Soda bread with cheese & tomato
This is a basic soda bread with a little more going on. This produces a dense, fruity, slightly cheesy bread. I liked it a lot and hope that you do too. It works really well warm or toasted so that the cheese has melted a little.
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Winter bean and broken pasta soup
A bright, cheerful winter soup with beans, veg, guanciale and broken pasta.
Go to recipe for winter bean and broken pasta soup
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Fritoles from Istria, Croatia
This is a perfect little snack, and would be lovely with a mulled wine or spiced cider. Perfect for winter, or to rustle up quickly when people nip by for a visit.
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Spritely Halloween pumpkin soup with lemongrass, chilli & ginger
Pumpkins are not just for Jack O’ Lanterns or pumpkin pie. No sir! Pumpkins are utterly delicious. You may remember my recent pumpkin mash in my blog. This time I have turned the humble – and cheap – pumpkin into an aromatic dish for Halloween.
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A little Indulgence with chorizo, smashed pea, mint & scallops
This dish is a perfect starter or grazing snack if you have friends round. Chorizo is a dream with scallops. It’s bolshy big, strong and is a perfect partner with the more delicate scallop, and in small amounts it doesn’t overwhelm. The sweetness and delicacy of the humble pea – and frozen is fine – pitches in perfectly, and some fresh mint livens it all up. This takes 15 minutes – honestly – and rewards you with flavour in spades. If you want to be a bit more luxurious, add some cream, although it is perfectly nice and fresh without it.
Go to recipe for Chorizo, smashed pea, mint & scallops
See also: Blog: Niamh Shields' quick & delicious dinners & treats
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Healthy harissa & yogurt lamb kebabs with cous cous
These spiced-up harissa and yogurt lamb kebabs are healthy as they are oven baked. Long marinade times lead to super tender meat and the harissa heat is soothed a notch by the creamy yogurt, with the tomato puree adding a little sweetness and fruitiness. I like to use lamb with this marinade although it would work really well with chicken or beef too, so use your personal preference.
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Cauliflower cheese to sooth the nerves and iron out your soul
Cauliflower cheese makes me think of nice warm fires and toasty toes in slippers. Dark nights closing in and mulled wine. Comfort, pure comfort, with a little hint of spice.
For cheese, use your favourite. I like a good stinky cheddar like Keens or Montgomery, I also love making a Cauliflower Blue Cheese with a good pongy Roquefort. Up to you, choose your poison.
Go to recipe for Cauliflower cheese
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Crispy garlic chicken thighs with diced roast potatoes and crispy sage
Everyone loves a surprise, and this chicken dish has one. Tucked under the skin is a hidden secret, some crushed garlic paste, which coats the chicken flesh and flavours it beautifully, underneath a crisp chicken skin.I’ve used chicken thighs here. I find them full of flavour and much better value for money than breasts. They cook better too, and on the bone retain their moisture. Legs would work well too if you prefer them.
Go to recipe for Crispy garlic chicken thighs
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Pumpkin, pecan and spinach mash for inbetween days
This mash is non traditional. It’s crunchy and soft, salty and sweet. For me it was the perfect plate of comfort that I needed to get me through one of the first autumn evenings.Now pumpkins may seem tricky, but I promise that they’re not. For this, buy one small one, cut in half and scoop the seeds and fibres out with a spoon, then drizzle with olive oil and roast for 25–30 minutes at 180 deg C, until just tender. Now they will be very easy to peel and mash, and the flavours will be concentrated. Just delicious.IMAGE CREDITS:- niamh shields
Chocolate and raspberry brownies
Recently I cooked with my tiny just-turned-two year old niece, who is an utter chocolate addict (when she is allowed it as a treat, of course). She also loves berries. I thought it would be fun to cook heart shaped little brownies in a heart shaped muffin tray that I have at home, rich with raspberries as well as gorgeous chocolate.
They worked really well, the raspberries render them gooey, in a foolproof way, and the raspberries and chocolate together make them irresistible.
Go to recipe for Chocolate and raspberry brownies
See also: Niamh Shields' quick & delicious dinners & treats
IMAGE CREDITS:- niamh shields
