Dinner

  • Grandma’s homemade stuffing

    We all have these recipes don’t we? Family legends, handed down through the generations that just make everyone feel warm and cosy, even when you only talk about them. In my family, it is Grandma’s stuffing.

    My grandma died when I was just four years old, and I love to think how much it might blow her mind that here I am, 33 years later about to put her wonderful recipe online. It’s also something I would say I am a little apprehensive about – this family heirloom to some extent, put out there into the world. I keep coming back to the idea of is this even mine to share? It’s so funny because no-one has the ownership of a recipe and who better to share a recipe created by my grandma (and potentially her mum or mother in law before her) than her granddaughter.

    It’s funny how protective we can feel over these things isn’t it?

    In our family, and extended family, Grandma’s stuffing (it’s official name by the way) is legendary. Not only is it amazing but it works as the perfect accompaniment to Christmas dinner, and really any poultry based roast dinner. It is the perfect mix of fresh onions, herbs (I’ve listed dried herbs but you can, of course, use fresh herbs if you have access to them) and fresh breadcrumbs. You can use any type of bread crumbs too, whatever works best for you. I’ve never tried this with anything other than the original ingredients as my Grandma made it – but if you make it vegan, or gluten free, I would love to hear how you get on.

    It’s so funny, because my dad gave me this recipe a long time ago and as I make it I have to figure out exactly what the measurements are, as some of it was just my grandma eye balling it, with some measurements. But as with all recipes it is always a work in progress.

    The recipe

    Grandma's Sage & Onion Stuffing

    Grandma's Sage & Onion Stuffing

    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs Onions
    • 16 oz Water
    • 3 tbsp Dried Sage
    • 1 tbsp Mixed herbs
    • 2 oz Dripping/Lard
    • 1 loaf bread, into breadcrumbs

    Instructions

    1. Peel and chop onions
    2. Add to saucepan and add water and herbs
    3. Cook on hob until all water has evapourated
    4. Remove mixture from the hob and melt in the dripping/lard/butter
    5. Next, blend the bread in a blender to make fine breadcrumbs
    6. Add the breadcrumbs in slowly, mixing as you go, until mixture feels stiffer but still moist
    7. Transfer into a greased dish and cook in the oven for 15 minutes

    This is a recipe that is so precious to me and my family, and I hope you love it as much as me and my family do too. I would love to hear if you try this recipe so be sure to follow me over on Instagram, where you can also find the video on how to make it too. Be sure to check out all my favourite recipes right here on the blog too.

  • Quick Non-Cook Mexican Beans

    Quick non-cook Mexican beans

    In our house we love Mexican night, we always have done long before we started following any particular nutritional paths and as our thoughts and tastes change I have developed some amazing new recipes, one of which I want to bring to you today!

     

    Healthy?

    Black beans are packed with nutrients such as fibre, potassium, Folate and Vitamin B6. Black beans are full of photo-nutrients (meaning they are plant based) and help to support heart health, lowering cholesterol and decreasing the risk of heart disease. The green lentils are a brilliant source of folate, as well as being a good source of fibre, copper, phosphorus and manganese. Also, if that wasnโ€™t enough they have a load of vitamins and minerals packed into them, such as iron, protein, Vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, zinc and potassium. WOW!

     

    We also know that tomatoes are great too, helping us with vitamin A, C and K, as well as vitamin B6 and folate. They are recorded as helping issues such as diabetes, lowering cholesterol and reducing blood pressure. Plus, this recipe included Jalapeno peppers, which have been mentioned in terms of reducing high blood pressure, helping arthritis, headaches and weight loss, along with many other illnesses and ailments. This recipe is a complete gamechanger for your health!

     

     

    Quick Non Cook Mexican Beans

    Ingredients

    • Black beans (230g)
    • Green lentils (230g)
    • Tomatoes chopped (I use little plum tomatoes and I quarter them)
    • Jalapeno peppers
    • 2 teaspoons Garlic powder
    • 2 teaspoons Paprika
    • 2 teaspoons Cumin

     

    Method

    • Drain the beans and lentils and add to a large bowl.
    • Chop tomatoes and add to bowl
    • Chop the Jalapeรฑos and add them to the bowl
    • Mix the spices together, add to the bowl and mix all.
    • It is now ready to serve. You could have it in tacos, wraps or eat it as it is!

     

    I use the organic black beans and green lentils from Sainsbury’s and they just require draining before use.

    beans