Tina's chestnut stuffing and other secret and not so secret recipes

[Namechabged]

Mine is equal measures of buttermilk and mayo, and then double of Greek yogurt, half the juice of one lemon, two tbsp of dried Parmesan, a teaspoon of dill, garlic granules, Maldon seat salt, onion powder, and cracked black pepper.

Makes that amazing ranch dressing you get on the side of fried shit in America and is great for pizza crusts but you can also make kids eat ANYTHING dipped in it.

I’ve watched my kids enthusiastically eat celery, radishes and green peppers which aren’t normally things they will eat raw.

Shamelessly following for all these fab recipes!!

Christmas pudding ice cream
500g tub chilled ready made custard - (get good quality custard like Waitrose or M&S. Not bright yellow instant stuff!)
Same size tub double cream, whipped
125g ( or more) leftover Christmas pudding, crumbled ( or buy a couple of individual ones)
Liquor such as brandy, rum, whisky or Baileys (optional) (I think Cointreau is best!!)
Zest of orange.
Mix together the custard and whipped cream then stir in the crumbled Christmas pudding and orange zest. Freeze in a large Tupperware, no need to stir during freezing.
Looks great frozen in a lined bowl and serving it turned out like a traditional Chrismas pudding.
Flambe-ing with brandy not recommended...

Chocolate torte, except it's not my favourite recipe but a very old Jamie Oliver one.

Sounds yummy

My mashed potato. Not a healthy option.
Mashed potatoes, creme fraiche, roast garlic, boursin cream cheese, butter, salt and pepper, chives if the fancy takes you.

My beef stew.

Cook onions with butter and salt v slowly. Then add tomato paste and 1 cup flour for a minute. Add 3 cups beef stock, Rosemary and a mini bottle red wine.
Put in casserole dish, beef on top (no searing) and no lid. Cook on 160 for 1 hour. Lardons (do not skip), carrots, pots and anything else in, beef on top poking out of liquid so it will brown. Back in oven for 1.5 hour, turn beef every now and again for even brown.

It is AMAZING.

This is a fabulous thread.
My rocky road recipe is often requested:
NOTE: THIS IS NOT A HEALTH FOOD!

700g milk chocolate
200g golden syrup
325g butter
Box of malteasers
Bag of white chocolate chips
1 packet digestives
Bag mini marshmallows

Melt butter and golden syrup over a very low heat.

Crush digestive and malteasers and mix together with marshmallows.

When butter and syrup completely melted, remove from heat and stir in chocolate until completely melted.

Add chocolate mixture to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Pour onto lined baking tray and spread evenly over tray.

Sprinkle white chocolate chips over the top

Refrigerate until firm.

** if you really want to change things up, use bag of toffees instead of malteasers - freeze toffees, then smash with a rolling pin.

My family love my American Mac n Cheese
Cook some pasta - preferably Macaroni
Put evaporated milk into a pan
Add as much cheese as you like to the pan! Melt the cheese and add the cooked pasta!!!!
Voila!

I now have many new recipes, thanks everyone!

My yorkshire pudding - add an extra egg white to the batter, really gives them a lift!

Omg I love this thread!

Mine has been mentioned - dark chocolate into chilli.
Also, a small handful of currants into slow cooker bolognaise type mince for a change up.

Any homemade soup either in a pan or soup maker is vastly improved with 2 table spoons of full fat Philadelphia cheese blended in, makes it creamy and slightly tangy.

Placemarking
Amazing thread

@abstractzebra

I always heat an onion, a carrot and a stick of celery in the milk before I make a cheese or mushroom sauce and it makes it lovely and tasty.

Great tip! Thanks

How lovely of you to share this amazing recipe. I will do this at Christmas and your DM’s recipe will live on!

@BlueFringe

Ok this is a bit weird but I have this recipe that currently only I have. It was passed down from my uncle to my DM who died recently. We have barely any family left so I’ll only be able to pass it on to DD, but it’s so good that I think it needs to be out there in the world. I’ve only ever given it to people one to one before... but here goes.... in honour of my wonderful DM who’s no longer here to make it with me...

It has no exact measurements (the ‘packs’ are just as bought in Asda lol) and contains about every food group in it. It’s a meal in itself. But also amazing on a Christmas dinner:

TINA'S CHESTNUT STUFFING

Chestnuts x 2 pack roughly chopped

Chopped Bacon x 2 packs

Peppers x 3 chopped

Onions x 1 bag pre chopped

Egg x 1 or 2 (to bind)

Breadcrumbs x 2 tubs

Sausage meat x 2 packs

Chorizo x 1 sausage chopped

Garlic x 3 cloves chopped

1. Pan fry chopped bacon & chopped chorizo. Set aside to cool

1. Pan fry chopped onion & chopped peppers. Set aside to cool

1. In a bowl mix sausage meat, chopped garlic, breadcrumbs and egg.

1. Add sprinkle of salt and pepper

1. Add bacon, chorizo, onion, peppers and chestnuts to the bowl. Mix in with hands until all blended.

1. Put in oven tin. Greaseproof paper lining helps. Press with fork and score the top.

1. Bake at 180/200 until top is dark brown and crispy.

1. Allow to cool then slice. It cuts easier when cold but delicious hot or cold.

Merry Christmas DM

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful recipe. I’m going to make this for my family at Christmas. Your DM’s recipe will definitely live on 😊

My burger sauce recipe: equal parts mayo and siracha sauce.

Everyone loves it and no one can work out what the taste is.

@BlueFringe thank you so much for such an amazing recipe. Will definitely give it a try as it sounds delicious!

For your mum, Tina and her great recipe

It was just basmati rice from Pakistan in a 5 kg bag ... stupidly I threw the old bag away, so now I don't know the brand

Might it have been Falak? Our local Pakistani supermarket told me it was the best and they weren't kidding. I buy the extra long type in the gold packet, and while it's the most expensive it's still much cheaper than standard store rubbish in 1kg bags

I have one!

For a quick and fairly posh beef gravy, simmer 1 or 2 cans of Baxter's beef consomme with a bit of flour mixed with water. For Swedish meatball sauce, mix it with double cream and Dijon mustard.

The Jamaican ginger cake stuffing is a Nigella recipe. Not that it diminishes it in any way.

Following for ideas.

One pot cooking is fab now its getting colder.
Chicken and Chorizo (2 recipes in one)
2 courgettes sliced (medium thickness)
Red pepper sliced
Yellow pepper sliced
2 Garlic cloves chopped or minced
2 Onions roughly chopped
Spicy chorizo ring chopped up
Pack of chicken breasts (kept full)
Tin of chopped tomatoes
3 tbsp Tomato puree
2 tsp Pimento Paprika
Season well with Salt and Pepper

All added to your slow cooker.

Stir around so it is well mixed
Top up with red wine or chicken stock so it covers it all.
Slow cook for 6-8hrs

Once cooked serve with crusty buttered bread. Delish!

Thennnn......with the leftovers.
Shred the chicken, add all to a blender. Blitz it up. Add 2 tbsp of granulated sugar, 1 tub of single cream. Heat on the stove and you have a glorious chicken and chorizo homemade soup! Again serve with crusty bread.

@AnneLovesGilbert my veg chilli recipe (vegan and fab on a cold day) we are a family of 6 and this lasts us 2 days
Veg chilli

• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 6 medium red onion- chopped longways
• 1 pack mixed peppers chopped
• 6 medium carrots food processed with 1 pack celery processed
• 2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder/granules 1.5 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
• 2 tin plum tomatoes
• 2 tins kidney beans
• 2 tins mixed beans
• 2 cups veg oxo cubes
• 3/4 bay leaves
• 1 bunch coriander chopped
• Garnishes: chopped cilantro, sliced avocado, tortilla chips, sour cream or crème fraîche, grated cheddar cheese, etc.

1. In a large pot , add oil, Add the chopped onion cook for 10 mins add peppers ground carrot and celery and 2 teaspoon of the salt. Stir to combine and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the onions are golden/light brown 10-15 mins
2. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 8 minute.
3. Add the tinned tomatoes , the drained kidney beans and mixed beans cook for 8-10 mins. Add 2 veg oxo cubes and bayleaves . Stir to combine and let the mixture come to a simmer. On a low heat continue cooking, stirring occasionally and reducing heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer, for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the chili from the heat and discard the bay leaf.
5. Add the chopped coriander, stir to combine.
6. Divide the mixture into individual bowls and serve with garnishes of your choice. This chili will keep well in the refrigerator for about 4 days or you can freeze it for longer-term storage.

FelcisNox I add a teaspoon of vinegar from a jar of the kind to my burger sauce. It adds an amazing depth of flavour.