Middle Eastern Spicy Chickpea Salad

 

Today we had lunch with some friends so I made this delicious salad.

I always use organic dried chick peas, soak them overnight, drain them and then simmer them in fresh water until tender then drain them.

When cooked I sprinkle the chickpeas with salt, cracked black pepper and a little paprika and olive oil.

For this recipe I heated a couple of Tablespoons of Middle Eastern spice mix in a little oil to infuse the flavours.

I added this to the chick peas with some finely sliced red onions, the juice of 2 lemons, some chopped tomatoes, chopped cucumber, a dollop of tahini, a handful each of chopped mint and parsley, more black pepper, paprika and crushed garlic.

I served it on a bed of wild rocket.

It is great to have all these lovely herbs in the garden to flavour your food.

Most folks brought summer produce from their gardens including eggplant dip, zucchini fritters, tomato and basil salad and cold rolls filled with home grown veggies and herbs.

All these dishes make delicious, healthy, summer salads or vegetarian mains.

I was going to say I love summer garden produce, but then I love winter produce just as much. Whatever season it is there is always something to make flavourful meals with when you grow lots of vegetables & herbs in your garden.

Easy Christmas Pudding

I have made this easy Christmas pudding recipe for years ever since my Auntie Win gave it to me.
So it is really called Auntie Win’s Overnight Christmas Pudding. It is a light flavourful pudding and is great eaten cold the next day.

Ingredients
1  375 gram pkt of Mixed Dried Fruit
1 cup of water
1/4 cup of sherry or rum or brandy
Mix the above ingredients together and stand all day.
Then add
1 cup of freshly made breadcrumbs
1 cup of Self Raising Flour
1 teaspoon of mixed spice
2 tablespoons of melted butter
1 small teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
1 tablespoon of honey or golden syrup
1 or 2 beaten eggs
Mix well .
Spoon into a greased pudding basin.
Cover with buttered greaseproof paper.
Cover with aluminium foil.
Tie these around the lip of the bowl with cotton string.
Leave to stand overnight.
Next day boil the pudding for 3 hours in a pan with boiling water and a lid.
Remove from the pan, allow to stand for 15 minutes, turn pudding onto a plate and serve with custard, cream and seasonal berries.
This pudding keeps for months in the refrigerator or it can be frozen.
The original recipe had 1 cup of sugar which I leave out. Dried fruit, honey and sherry add ample sugar. I usually multiply the recipe by 4 to make 4 puddings and I substitute 1 375 gram pkt currants for the mixed fruit. Dried black currants add a wonderful flavour and richness.

Spinach and Fetta Stuffed Mushrooms

12 large flat mushrooms

500 grams of spinach, blanched, drained and chopped
1 egg
1 cup of breadcrumbs or rice crumbs
chopped oregano, thyme or marjoram
1 cup of crumbled fetta cheese
salt and black pepper

Mix filling ingredients.
Pile on to mushrooms
Bake about 10 minutes until cooked.

Mushroom Pate

I chopped onion
3 Tablespoons olive oil
500 grams mushrooms
1 large chopped tomato
3 cloves garlic
salt and black pepper
1 1/2 Tablespoons tomato paste
2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
2 Tablespoons chopped chives
slices of mushrooms or olives to garnish

Cook onion gently in oil until soft
Add mushrooms over a high heat until they have wilted.
Add tomatoes and cook until soft and the liquid has evaporated.
Process to a thick paste, season well.
Stir in parsley and chives.
Add more olive oil to moisten if necessary.
Store covered in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Cover with melted butter if desired.

MUSHROOM FRIED RICE

Fry some onion or spring onion and garlic in a little sesame oil.
Stir in some sliced celery, chili, and sliced mushrooms.
When starting to soften stir in some finely sliced cabbage or Asian greens and a splash of soy or tamari sauce.
Stir in some cooked brown rice some chopped walnuts or pecan nuts and some chopped coriander.

Mushroom Stroganoff.

Fry some onion and garlic till soft.
Add sliced mushrooms and black pepper.
Cook over a high heat until mushrooms start to soften.
Stir in some paprika, a little chilli, a dollop of tomato paste and some thin cream.
Reheat gently add a handful of chopped parsley.
Serve with rice or noodles.