Monday 18 August 2014

Cauliflower Cheese

It's my birthday next month, and last week Mr Kiss bought me an early birthday present -
a Combi Microwave !
Don't laugh.
He says not to even mention the steam iron that I got for our Anniversary!!  Ha ha!
No, seriously - the microwave was exactly what I wanted.
My last one sounded like a tumble dryer with a penny stuck in it - and took about 10 minutes to heat a bowl of baked beans.

So, I am on the lookout for comi/microwave recipes - know any?

My first success has been cauliflower cheese.
Now, it says this serves 4, but we polished it off between the 2 of us!!


1 cauliflower, trimmed
6tbsp water
25g butter
25g flour
1/2 tsp french mustard
300ml milk
75g grated red cheese

1. Place cauliflower upside down in a bowl. Add water. Cover and cook on Medium for 10 mins. Drain.
2. Melt butter on High for 15-30 secs. Stir in flour and mustard. Cook for 20 seconds. Add milk gradually. Stir well and season. Cook on High for 2 - 3 minutes, or until thick and bubbling. Stir once halfway during cooking.
3. Stir in 60g grated cheese. Put the cauliflower into a shallow microwave dish and pour the sauce over. Top with the remaining cheese.
Cook on Combination (using metal tray accessory) Convection 220C + Warm for 15 - 17 minutes, until golden brown.

If you don't have a combi microwave, you can always use your oven for the last part of cooking.

Monday 11 August 2014

Smoked Fish Rarebit

I don't mind long and complicated recipes when I'm in the mood to cook,
but for a mid-week supper, I want something that I can put together quickly and,
 if it all goes in one dish, that's even better.

Here's my version of  Smoked Fish & Cherry Tomato Rarebit  
Basically the same, but where they make the rarebit sauce from scratch, I used a packet of cheese sauce!!



Serves 2         Heat oven to 190C / 170C Fan


Garlic Butter.
225g cherry tomatoes, halved
350g spinach, washed
Smoked Haddock for 2 people. Approx 300g - Skinned.
50g Grated Parmesan (you probably won't use the whole packet - unless you really like cheese! )
1 tbsp wholegrain mustard

Melt a small knob of garlic butter in a large frying pan. Add the tomatoes and heat through.
Tip them into 2 shallow baking dishes, and spread into an even layer.
Melt another small knob of garlic butter in the frying pan and cook the spinach over a high heat, until wilted.
Tip the spinach into a colander and  press, to drain off any excess liquid. Season with salt and pepper
and arrange over the tomatoes.
Cover with the fish fillets.
Make up the cheese sauce as per the packet instructions. Stir in the tbsp of wholegrain mustard.
(Don't make the cheese sauce too thick, or you won't have enough to cover the fish)
Spread the sauce over the fish, completely.
Sprinkle over the parmesan cheese.
Bake fo 25 - 30 mins, until browned and bubbling and the fish is cooked through.