Mushroom Rice

A risotto it isn't, but a decent enough taste for the save on effort and fuss.

This goes nicely with chicken (and devilled sauce), ribs, curries, spicy chicken, marinaded chicken (stir in the excess marinade and juices from cooking), smoked haddock, on its own (maybe with some cheese grated over)...

Mushroom Rice

Put a small amount of oil or butter/spread in a pan and soften one or two chopped onions. Add 4-8ozs of chopped mushrooms and let them start to soften for a couple of minutes.

Add 8oz of rice (I usually use basmati, but whatever you have is fine) and stir for a minute, then add 3/4 of a pint of boiling water, half to one vegetable or chicken stock cubes, some black pepper and some parsley (if you are using fresh, add later, about half way through cooking the rice). Bring back to the boil, and then simmer gently on a low heat for 10-15 minutes (stir at least once half way through). If it is a bit soggy, leave the lid off for the last few minutes. (If you are using 'easy cook' rice it'll probably take a few minutes longer to cook)


For more ideas, follow me on twitter @Tyne_Teas

Please visit my Intro post for more about my blog and me - I hope you enjoy my recipes : )

Devilled Sauce

This is great with roast chicken legs and potato wedges or rice. Or cook some chicken pieces and have it as a sauce in a baked potato

Devilled Sauce

Start heating a tin of tomatoes. (If they aren't chopped tomatoes, bash them up in the pan.) Add a chopped onion and couple of cloves of crushed garlic. Stir in two tablespoons of vinegar, a tablespoon of worcestershire sauce, one or two teaspoons of crunchy mustard, about a teaspoon of brown sugar and some black pepper to taste.

Bring to the boil then leave to simmer for at least ten minutes (onions should be soft) and check seasoning


For more ideas, follow me on twitter @Tyne_Teas

Please visit my Intro post for more about my blog and me - I hope you enjoy my recipes : )

Potato Wedges

Cut the potatoes (I usually use Maris Pipers, one or two per person, depending on size) into wedges (I cut each into eight: cut longways in half, then half and half again. Or maybe six if smaller, half then into three). Put in an oven tin, drizzle over a couple of teaspoons of oil then rub all the potato slices together to coat. Spread them in one layer and put them in the oven (about 200c/GM6) for about 45 mins. (If they overlap you will need to add about ten minutes, and give them a shuggle half way through)

I usually leave them for about half an hour, then check them. If they aren't yet cooked through (stab a thick one to make sure it's soft) and starting to go a bit crispy yet (depends on how thick the slices are and how packed the tin is), you might need to leave them in a bit longer, or turn the oven up a bit.


Use potato wedges with spicy chicken, in loaded skins or try with devilled sauce or barbecue ribs


For more ideas, follow me on twitter @Tyne_Teas

Please visit my Intro post for more about my blog and me - I hope you enjoy my recipes : )

Spicy prawn salad

This will do about 300-400g of prawns (so just scale up or down as required).

Serve with garlic bread (focaccia is good) or your choice of bread (and chopped cucumber, tomatoes, peppers...)

Mix one and a half to two teaspoons of brown sugar, three heaped teaspoons of ground coriander, about half to one teaspoon of paprika or cayenne pepper (according to taste, but even one teaspoon of cayenne is quite medium) with about three tablespoons of lemon juice. Add some chopped spring onions (to taste, at least three or four, or just stick the bunch in) and a big handful of chopped fresh coriander. (If you are not using garlic bread, maybe add in a couple of cloves of crushed garlic. If you like a thicker dressing, add a couple of teaspoons of vegetable oil in too. It is still tasty if you don't have any fresh coriander.))

Leave the dressing to stand if you have time to let the flavours develop. Taste it and adjust lemon juice/sugar etc if necessary.

Stir in the prawns about five to ten minutes before you serve.


(This quantity is generally enough for the amount of prawns, but bear in mind if you are using tiddly ones it will not go as far, or if you like to soak up the tasty dressing you might want to make more)

(I made this as a starter for the first meal I prepared for the now Mr TT. It's still a favourite)


A teaspoon = 5 ml

A tablespoon = 15ml

300-400g = 3/4 to a pound (ish...)

You might also like:

Chilli Prawn Curry

Salsa Salad

Ribbon Salad


For more ideas, follow me on twitter @Tyne_Teas

Please visit my Intro post for more about my blog and me - I hope you enjoy my recipes : )

Chicken and Bacon Casserole

This is a really simple to prepare dish that tastes like you have worked hard in the kitchen all day


Chicken and Bacon Casserole

Serves four

Gently soften two chopped onions, one or two chopped green peppers and three or four cloves of crushed garlic in a teaspoon of olive oil for a few minutes, then take out of the pan.

Add another teaspoon of olive oil, then lightly fry about a pound of chicken (breast or thigh) chopped into pieces and about six slices of chopped up bacon (I prefer smoked) for a few minutes.

Sprinkle on about an ounce of flour (a big heaped spoon) and one or two teaspoons of paprika, and stir for a couple of minutes.

Then stir in (starting slowly) about a pint of liquid (at least half white wine, the rest water) and put the onions, pepper and garlic back in, with some black pepper. (You can add in a half a chicken stock cube if you like, but the bacon is already quite salty.)

You can either simmer this gently for about three-quarters of an hour, or put it in the oven (200c/GM6) for about the same length of time.

If you are feeling indulgent and have some, you can stir in a splosh of cream before serving, but it still tastes great without.

Serve it with rice, baked potatoes or crusty bread.

Other recipes you might like

Beef in Beer

Chicken Kebabs

Potato and Bacon Soup

Chicken, chorizo and prawn rice

Chilli Beef Stew

Stuffed Peppers

1 ounce is about 25g

a pint is about 450mls

1 teaspoon is about 5mls




For more ideas, follow me on twitter @Tyne_Teas

Please visit my Intro post for more about my blog and me - I hope you enjoy my recipes : )

Christmas Song Quiz (pt 2)

Guess the Christmas Carol or song from the initials of its title, first or key line. Eg JBJBJATW would be Jingle Bells…

(Pt 1 is here)

IWICBCED

OCAYF

AIAM

IDOAWC

LDLDOTDR

WWYAMC

GKWLO

WTKOOA

RTRNR

DTHWBOH

TFNTADS

GRYMGLNYD

Good Luck!

Here are some seasonal things for kids


Please feel free to browse my blog for recipe ideas : )



For more ideas, follow me on twitter @Tyne_Teas

Please visit my Intro post for more about my blog and me - I hope you enjoy my recipes : )

Christmas Song Quiz (pt 1)

Guess the Christmas Carol or song from the initials of its title, first or key line. Eg JBJBJATW would be Jingle Bells…

WIAWW

WSGSUTC

WSWTFBN

SNHN

LCIGYMH

FTWLTKIC

YBWOYBNC

THATI

RATCT

OLTOB

CTMAW

OIRDC

Good luck! - Here is part two : )

Here are some seasonal things for kids



For more ideas, follow me on twitter @Tyne_Teas

Please visit my Intro post for more about my blog and me - I hope you enjoy my recipes : )