Solyanka. Soup.

There are three basic types of solyanka:
- with the main ingredient being either meat,
- fish,
- or mushrooms.
All of them contain pickled cucumbers with brine, and often cabbage, salted mushrooms, smetana (sour cream), and dill.
The soup is prepared by cooking the cucumbers with brine before adding the other ingredients to the broth.
For meat solyanka, ingredients like beef, ham, sausages, chicken breast together with cucumber pickles, tomatoes, onions, olives, capers, allspice, parsley, and dill are all cut fine and mixed in a pot.
The broth is added, and heated for a short time on the stove, without boiling.
Fish solyanka is prepared similarly, but soup vegetables are cooked in the broth.
The meat is replaced with fish such as sturgeon, salmon, and freshwater crayfish.
Finally, some lemon juice is added to the soup.
For mushroom solyanka, cut cabbage is heated in butter together with vinegar, tomatoes, cucumber pickles, and a little brine.
Separately, mushrooms and onions are heated, and grated lemon zest is added.
Cabbage and mushrooms are added in layers, breadcrumbs and butter are added, and the soup is briefly baked.

Ingredients:
500 g. bones
200 g. meat
100 g. cooked ham (or veal with skin)
70 g. sausage
120 g. cooked kidney
70 g. chicken

200 g. onions
100 g. pickles
180 g. capers
80 g. olives
80 g. tomato paste
50 g. butter
Black pepper kernels
Bay leaf
100 g. sour cream
Parsley and dill

Preparation:
Make broth by boiling the meat and bones.
Remove the meat and bones and place to one side.
String-cut the onions and fry them in butter (without letting them brown).
Add them to the broth along with the tomato paste.
Remove the skin from the pickles, slice into cubes, and add to the broth. Cook 4-5 minutes.
Add the pepper kernels and bay leaf.
Next, add all the various boiled meats, finely sliced into pieces about 2-3 mm thick and 2-2.5 cm long, along with the capers, and a few pitted olives.
When serving, add olives, sour cream, and a slice of peeled lemon.
You may also cook solyanka with chicken broth and smoked meats instead.
But remember: the greater the variety of meat, the tastier your solyanka will be!

Lamb lagoto by Jamie Oliver.

Lamb lagoto | Jamie Oliver:
This traditional Greek recipe always amazes people with its simple but bold Mediterranean flavours.
Ingredients
1 head garlic , unpeeled
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 kg boned leg of lamb , trimmed and cut into 5cm pieces
6 plum tomatoes , peeled and roughly chopped
1 400g tin chopped tomatoes , or
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried mint
1 1/2 lemons , Juice of

Method
Place the whole garlic head in a saucepan of boiling water.
Simmer for 15–20 minutes or until softened.
Remove, drain on paper towel and allow to cool slightly.
Squeeze each clove of garlic into a mortar and pound to a rough paste with a pestle.
Heat the oil over medium heat in a large saucepan and sauté the lamb for 5–7 minutes or until browned on all sides.
Stir in the tomatoes, tomato purée, oregano, mint and garlic.
Season generously with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Add enough water to just cover the stew and simmer for 1½–2 hours or until the lamb is tender and sauce has thickened.
During the last 15 minutes of cooking, stir in the lemon juice. Serve with chips.
'via Blog this'

Foolproof Classic Pancakes Crepes.

This recipe makes about 10 pancakes, and the recipe is easily doubled.

Put 110g plain flour in a blender or food processor.
Best to sift it to avoid lumpy pancakes but I rarely bother.

Crack in two eggs, and whizz, whilst pouring in through the top 200ml of whole milk (the fat won’t kill you) plus 75ml water.
You can use all milk, but I find this makes for a slightly too thick batter.
Then add a good pinch of salt (even if you are eating them sweet), and 1 tbsp of a flavourless vegetable oil like sunflower.
Scrape down the sides; give it a final whizz, and decant into a bowl that you can safely ladle from.

Put on a small-medium frying pan on with a scant teaspoon of oil.
I find it easier to have a little jug filled with oil next to me so I don’t pour in too much each time, and to minimise the risk of melting the plastic oil bottle when I inevitably put it down on a hot plate.
When the bottom looks set, slide a palette knife under, flip and cook the other side till golden, before sliding onto a plate.
Warning: the first pancake is always terrible (this is the law),and I reckon it took me at least 3 attempts to get my pancake mojo on.
So don’t be discouraged.
By the final one you’ll be flipping it 2 feet in the air like me.

From Liberty London Girl.

Roasted Kalettes Sprouts.

Move over kale - we're all eating 'kalettes' now!
Kalettes are a brand-new vegetable.
A British-bred cross between Brussels sprouts and kale with the best flavors of kale and brussels sprouts.
Kalettes, like other cruciferous vegetables, are rich sources of nutrients, particularly Vitamin K, C, folate, fibre and carotenoids.
These vegetables also contain chemicals which when broken down during cooking and digestion have been linked to anti-cancer properties in animal studies, although we are still not clear about this effect in humans.

They're best cooked until the outsides are crisp, but tender inside.
- blanching kalettes for four minutes in boiling water before draining well and frying.
- they work well with olive oil in pasta dishes.

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, plus more to toss
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
couple of cloves of finely chopped garlic - optional
red pepper flakes - optional

Preheat oven to 200C/400F.
Combine Kalettes, oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl or plastic bag.
Spread in an even layer on a large, rimmed baking sheet.
And roast, stirring once or twice, until deep golden brown, crisp outside and tender inside.
- 10 to 15 minutes.
The leaves that are loose will be especially brown and crispy.
Transfer to a bowl and serve.
Verdict: delicious!

Venison Sausages Braised in Red Wine.

Venison Sausages Braised in Red Wine | Recipes | Delia Online:
450 g venison sausages
175 g medium-sized, open-cap mushrooms
1 heaped teaspoon plain flour
1 rounded teaspoon mustard powder
25 g butter, softened
1 rounded tablespoon redcurrant jelly
salt and freshly milled black pepper
275 ml red wine
1 dessertspoon olive oil
225 g diced bacon or pancetta
1 large clove garlic, peeled
225g shallots, peeled
1 level dessertspoon juniper berries
1 level teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
2 bay leaves

Heat the oil in the casserole then, with the heat at medium, brown the sausages evenly all over, taking care not to split the skins by turning them over too soon.

Next, using a slotted spoon, transfer them to a plate while you brown the diced bacon along with the garlic and shallots.
Now crush the juniper berries very slightly without breaking them – just enough to release their flavour.

Return the sausages to the casserole, pour in the wine and add the berries, then thyme and bay leaves.
Now season lightly, bring it all up to a gentle simmer, put a lid on the casserole, turn the heat as low as possible and let it all simmer gently for 30 minutes.

After that, add the mushrooms, stirring them in well, then leave everything to cook gently for a further 20 minutes – this time without the lid so the liquid reduces slightly.

To finish off, remove the sausages and vegetables to a warm serving dish, mix the flour and the mustard powder with the softened butter until you have a smooth paste and whisk this, a little at a time, into the casserole.
Let everything bubble for a few more minutes, then take the casserole off the heat, return the sausages to the casserole, whisk in the redcurrant jelly – and it's ready to serve.
'via Blog this'

Crisp bacon rosti with fried eggs.

Rösti or röschti is a Swiss dish consisting mainly of potatoes, in the style of a fritter.
It was originally a breakfast dish, commonly eaten by farmers in the canton of Bern, but is now eaten all over Switzerland and around the world.
Ingredients:
sunflower oil, for frying
2 rashers smoked back bacon, cut into small pieces
1 small onion, thinly sliced
500g/1lb 2oz floury potatoes, coarsely grated
2 free-range eggs
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 20cm/8in lidded frying pan, add the bacon and fry over a high heat until crisp.
Remove the bacon and set aside.
Add the onion to the pan and fry for 1 minute.
Cover, lower the heat and cook for 15 minutes, until soft and tender.
Put the potatoes inside a clean tea towel and wring out as much water as possible by squeezing the towel – this prevents the rosti from being soggy.
Put the potato in a bowl, add the onion and bacon.
Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
Return the pan to the heat and add 1 tablespoon oil.
When the oil is hot add the potato mixture.
Using the back of a spoon press the mixture into the pan so there is an even layer covering the whole pan.
Cook over a low heat for 5–10 minutes, then carefully turn over.
The easiest way is to turn it upside down onto a plate and then slide it back into the pan (you may need to add a little more oil into the pan first).
Cook the other side for 5–10 minutes, until golden and crisp.
Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the eggs until cooked to your liking.
Cut the rosti into wedges and divide between plates, top with the eggs and serve.

Bean and Beet Soup with Farro.

Farro e fagioli (with beets).

Makes 2 to 3 servings
1 cup dried white beans (such as Cannellini)
1 cup dried chickpeas
2 T olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
1/4 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 leek, diced
1 beet, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
4 cups vegetable stock, warmed
2 sprigs rosemary
1 sprig thyme
1 stem Italian parsley
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
5 or 6 kale leaves, stems removed and coarsely chopped

1/2 cup dried farro
1 sprig sage
1 T olive oil
3 canned plum tomatoes, chopped
1 cup vegetable stock
salt and pepper to taste
Creme fraiche to garnish

Place the dried beans in a bowl and cover with water.
Cover and let soak 1 to 2 days, and then drain.

On the day you are making the soup, place the farro in a bowl and cover with boiling water.
Let sit until needed, at least 3 hours, and then drain just before using.

Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat, and add the onion and celery and cook for about 2 minutes until soft.
Add the garlic, leek, beet, carrot and garlic.
Cook for 2 minutes.
Add the red pepper flakes and beans, then pour in the stock.
Add the herbs (tie them with butcher twine to make them easier to remove later).
Bring to a simmer, and cook until the beans are very soft, between 1 and 2 hours.

When the beans just start to soften, place the farro, sage, olive oil and tomatoes in another pot over medium heat, and cover with the vegetable stock.
Bring to a low boil, and then simmer for about 20 minutes until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the farro is soft.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Once the beans are very tender, season to taste.
If you want a bit of a thicker broth, spoon out about 3/4 cup of the vegetables with some broth, puree it, and then add it back to the soup pot.
Add the kale and cook for just a minute or two until it brightens.

To serve, ladle the soup into each bowl, add a heaping spoon of farro, and add a dollop of creme fraiche.

Egg White Cake.

- Egg White Cake - great ways to use up leftover egg whites!

6 large egg whites
250 g caster sugar
160 g plain/all-purpose flour
1 heaped Tbsp potato starch or cornflour
1 tsp baking powder
100 g melted butter (just under a stick), slightly cooled

Whisk the egg whites with 2 Tbsp of sugar until thick and pale and very foamy.
Mix the rest of the sugar with flour, potato starch and baking powder, then sift into the egg mixture and fold in gently.
Finally fold in cool melted butter.
Pour the batter into a buttered bundt-form and bake in a pre-heated 180C oven for 30-40 minutes.
Test for doneness with a wooden toothpick.
Cool slightly before turning out of the cake tin.

The lovely taste!

Celeriac soup.

Celeriac soup | River Cottage:
The lovely taste!

Ingredients
50g Butter
1 Celeriac, peeled and cubed
1 Potato, peeled and cubed
1 Leek, trimmed, washed and roughly sliced
1 Onion, peeled and roughly chopped
1 Garlic clove, sliced
1 litre Stock, chicken, vegetable
Parsley & walnut pesto to serve

Melt the butter in a large, heavy-based pot over a medium-low heat.
Add the celeriac, leek, potato, garlic and onion, season generously, and gently sweat the vegetables until they're all starting to soften (this will take about 10 minutes).
Add the stock, bring the soup up to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the celeriac is completely tender.
Liquidise until smooth, return to the pan and reheat over a medium flame.
Just before serving, check the soup for seasoning and serve with a drizzle of pesto.
'via Blog this'

My Orange Marmalade.

How to make perfect orange marmalade | Life and style | The Guardian:
Makes: 5 jars (370g each) + 6 jars (200g each) from 1kg Blood Orange Oranges.

1kg Seville oranges
2 lemon
1kg light muscovado sugar
1kg golden granulated sugar
1 piece of muslin

1. Squeeze the juice from the oranges, reserving the pips.
An electric citrus squeezer makes light work of this!
Cut the oranges and lemon in half and squeeze the juice, using an electric citrus squeezer.
Put the juice into a preserving pan or large saucepan.
I have 600ml of juice from 1 kg of Oranges.
It’s a good idea to add the juice of lemon - lemon is naturally very high in pectin - 1 lemon to each 500g/1lb 2oz of fruit if making marmalade.

2. Put your piece of muslin into a bowl and spoon the pips and pith into it (the pith contains a lot of pectin).
Shred the peel of the oranges in a food processor.
Put the shredded peel into the pan.
Pour over 2.0L of water.
Leave to soak overnight.
This helps to extract the maximum amount of pectin from the fruit pulp, which will give a better set.
It also helps to soften the peel, which will reduce the amount of cooking needed.

So, in one large bowl You have:
peel (shreded in a food processor)
juice 600ml - (using an electric citrus squeezer)
pulp
pips
2.0 water
This is a rolling boil, when the timing to a set starts! Anything less is a simmer.
3. The next day:
Bring to the boil over a low heat, before simmering for two hours or until the peel is soft and the mixture has reduced by half.
Remove the muslin bag and allow to cool in a bowl.
It needs to be cold enough to squeeze.

Wash your jars in warm soapy water and allow to dry in a 100C oven.

4. Squeeze the muslin bag hard into it – a good quantity of gloopy juice should come out.
Stir this in and then add the sugars and stir well until dissolved.
Warm gently so that the sugar dissolves completely, stirring occasionally.
Do not boil, before the sugar is dissolved.
Bring the marmalade back to a simmer.
Put a few saucers into the freezer.

5. Turn the heat up and boil rapidly until the marmalade reaches setting point which should take 15 to 20 minutes – a sugar thermometer will be helpful here (start checking when it reaches 104C) but to confirm this, put a teaspoonful of the marmalade on to a cold saucer and put in the fridge for a minute or so.
If it crinkles when you run a finger through it, and your finger leaves a clear line in the preserve, it's ready.
If not, check it every five minutes or so.

6. Allow to sit for 15 minutes then spoon into clean jars and seal immediately.
The marmalade should keep for up to a year.

Related recipe:
There are lots of different schools of thought as to how to do this, Nigel suggests scoring with a small knife into quarters then peeling.
Others halve the oranges, squeeze out the juice and then hollow them out before cutting each half into larger chunks.
Your call.
- Marmalades Archives - Vivien Lloyd:

- How to make perfect orange marmalade | Life and style | The Guardian:

- Easy Seville Orange Marmalade recipe | The Cottage Smallholder:

- A bittersweet blob of Seville | The Independent:

- Seville orange marmalade | BBC Good Food:

Breakfast buns. Cranberry-orange.

cranberry-orange breakfast buns – smitten kitchen:


Dough:
4 large egg yolks
1 large whole egg
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
6 tablespoons (85 grams) butter, melted, plus additional to grease pan
3/4 cup (175 ml) buttermilk
Zest of 1 orange, finely grated (to be used in dough and filling, below)
3 3/4 cups (470 grams) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting counter
1 packet (7 grams or 2 1/4 teaspoons) instant dry yeast
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse or kosher salt, or more to taste
1 teaspoon oil for bowl

Make the dough:
In the bottom of the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the yolks, whole egg, sugar, butter, buttermilk and 3/4 of the orange zest together (saving the rest for the filling).
Add 2 cups of the flour along with the yeast and salt; stir until evenly moistened.
Switch to the dough hook and add the remaining 1 3/4 cups flour and let the dough hook knead the mixture on low speed for 5 to 7 minutes.
The dough should be soft and moist, but not overly sticky.
Scrape the dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl (I usually scrape my dough briefly onto the counter, oil the mixing bowl, and scrape the dough back into it) and cover it with plastic wrap.
Let dough rise at room temperature until doubled, which will take between 2 and 2 1/2 hours.

Prepare the filling:
Filling:
1 1/2 tablespoons (20 grams) butter
1 cup (190 grams) packed light brown sugar
1 cup (115 grams) fresh cranberries
Orange zest leftover from above
Melt the butter and set it aside.
In a food processor, pulse the whole cranberries until they’re ground to a coarse rubble, but not fully pureed.
You’ll need to scrape the machine down once or twice. Set them aside.

Assemble the buns: Butter a 23x33cm/9×13-inch baking dish, a heavier ceramic or glass dish is ideal here.
Turn the risen dough out onto a floured work surface and roll it into a rectangle that is 45cm/18 inches wide (the side nearest to you) and 30cm/12 inches long. (It’s okay if it goes longer/thinner.)
Brush the dough with the melted butter.
Sprinkle it with the brown sugar.
Scatter the ground cranberries over it, then the remaining orange zest.

Roll the dough into a tight, 45cm/18-inch long spiral.
Using a sharp serrated knife, very, very gently saw the log into 4cm/1 1/2-inch sections; you should get 12.
Arrange the buns evenly spread out in your baking dish.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or up to 16 hours.


The next morning, bake the buns: Take your buns out of the fridge 30 minutes before you’d like to bake them, to allow them to warm up slightly.
Heat your oven to 176-180C/350F.
Bake your buns until they’re puffed and golden (the internal temperature should read 87-90C/190F), approximately 30 minutes.

Icing:
3 1/2 tablespoons (55 ml) orange juice
2 cups (240 grams) powdered sugar

Transfer pan to a cooling rack and let cool slightly.
Make the icing by whisking the orange juice and powdered sugar together.
Spread a little on each bun, or drizzle it over the whole pan.
Serve immediately.

Related Recipes and Links:

- Make your own buttermilk – smitten kitchen.

- Too many egg whites? – smitten kitchen.
- Egg White Cake - great ways to use up leftover egg whites!

Breakfast Buns.

Char Siu Pull-apart Pineapple Bun.
Dough:
2 cups (242 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (60 grams) white rice flour
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup (120 grams) whole milk
1/3 cup (100 grams) sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup (60 grams) water
2 1/2 tbsp (37 grams) unsalted butter, softened

“Pineapple” crust:
4 1/2 tbsp (60 grams) unsalted butter, soften
1 large egg yolk (reserve the white for egg wash)
1 tbsp coconut cream
1/2/ cup + 2 tbsp (90 grams) powdered sugar
3/4 cup (93 grams) all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda

Make the buns:
In a stand-mixer with hook-attachment, combine all-purpose flour, white rice flour, yeast, salt, whole milk, sweetened condensed milk and water.
Knead on medium speed until a soft dough as formed.
Add the unsalted butter, 1 tbsp at a time, and knead until fully incorporated.
Turn to high speed and knead for another 5 min until the dough is very elastic and smooth.
The dough should be sticky but pulls away cleanly from the bowl when the machine is running.
If the dough is not sticky at all, add 2 tsp more water, or if too wet, add a bit more flour.
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until fully doubled, approx 2~4 hours depending.
Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and divide into 12 equal portions.
Shape each into small balls, then stuff each ball with about 1 heaping tbsp of filling and pinch to close.
Repeat with the rest, then arrange them inside a 8 x 11 inch retangle pan (or 9" square pan, or any other container you'd like to serve them in), then cover tightly with plastic wrap.
You can now freeze them until needed (you can do this a few days ahead).
A Few hours before baking (at least 4 hours to be safe), leave the pan in a warm place and let thaw and proof until fully doubled again.

Meanwhile, make the crust.
In a stand-mixer or food-processor, cream unsalted butter and yolk together until creamy and pale.
Add coconut cream and powdered sugar, and cream again until fluffy, approx 5 min.
Add flour, salt, baking powder and soda, and mix until just combined. Transfer in between 2 pieces of parchment, then shape into a square.
Refrigerate until cold, then roll them out into a sheet slightly larger than your pan.
Brush the proofed buns with egg white, then drape the crust over the top (don't worry about tearing).
Trim off any excess on the edges, then brush the crust with egg white.

Bake in a preheated oven at 400F/200C for 18~20 min, until the crust is golden browned.
Serve immediately.

Related recipe:
cranberry-orange breakfast buns – smitten kitchen:

Comfort food.

Meatballs with Fermented Cabbage and Fried Potatoes.

- Pan-fried potatoes topped with onion and carrot. Recipe!
- Homemade Sauerkraut. Recipe!
- Meatballs in tomato sauce. Recipe!

Blood Orange Marmalade with Beaujolais - red wine.

- Blood Orange Beaujolais Marmalade | Serious Eats
Blood Orange Beaujolais Marmalade.
As I researched recipes for blood orange marmalade, I came across one in Better Homes & Gardens that incorporated a cup of Beaujolais, a light-bodied, high acid French red wine made from the Gamay grape.
Intrigued by how the wine might enhance the flavor and color of my marmalade, I borrowed the idea.
The flavor is a bit sweeter than traditional marmalade, with notes of raspberry and wine.
It would be absolutely delicious sandwiched between layers of almond or polenta cake, or try it with cornmeal biscuits.

5 cups sugar
6 small to medium blood oranges
1 cup Beaujolais or other light-bodied red wine - Pinot noir.
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons regular powdered fruit pectin
1/4 teaspoon unsalted butter

This recipe makes six half-pint/284 millilitres jars.

1.Measure the sugar into a large bowl and set aside.
2.Wash the blood oranges and remove the rind in quarters.
Thinly slice the rind lengthwise, then roughly chop them crosswise into smaller pieces.
Transfer the rind to a large pot and add the wine, baking soda, and 1 1/4 cups of water.
Bring to a boil over medium heat, cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until the rinds have softened, 15 minutes.
3.Meanwhile, coarsely chop the oranges and remove any seeds.
Transfer the oranges to a food processor and pulse until the orange pieces are broken up but still chunky, about 8 pulses.
Add the oranges to the pot with the rind and bring to a simmer.
Simmer, covered, 15 minutes.
4.Measure the mixture.
You should have about 5 cups. (If you have less, add a bit more wine. If you have more, discard the extra.)
Stir in the pectin and butter and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly.
Add the sugar all at once and return the mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.
Boil hard for 1 minute.
5.Remove the pot from the heat and skim any foam from the surface of the marmalade with a cold metal spoon.
Ladle the marmalade into hot sterilized jars and process them in a hot water bath for 10 minutes.

Beaujolais Pronunciation: bow-zhuh-LAY
Notes: This is a region in Eastern France that produces light, fruity, fresh-tasting red wines that are relatively low in alcohol.
Beaujolais wines should be drunk while young.
Substitutes: Gamay OR Pinot Noir OR Burgundy OR Chianti OR Barbera.

How to cook rice.

Millions of cooks are endangering their health by cooking their rice incorrectly, scientists believe.
Putting more water in the pan or even steeping it overnight is the best way to flush out traces of the poison arsenic, they found.
The chemical contaminates rice as a result of industrial toxins and pesticides which can remain in the soil for decades.
Experts have long debated what level of arsenic is safe, with new limits set by the EU in 2016.
Chronic exposure to the toxin has been linked to a range of health problems including developmental problems, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
But experiments suggest that the way rice is cooked is key to reducing exposure to the toxic but naturally occurring chemical.
Prof Andy Meharg, from Queens University Belfast, tested three ways of cooking rice for the BBC programme Trust Me, I’m a Doctor.
In the first, he used a ratio of two parts water to one part rice, where the water is “steamed out” during cooking.
In the second, with five parts water to one part rice, with the excess water washed off, levels of arsenic were almost halved.
And in the third method, where the rice was soaked overnight, levels of the toxin were reduced by 80 per cent.

How to cook rice.
Measure the dry rice in a jug.
Soak rice overnight
Wash then rinse the rice really well, until the water is clear.
Drain really well.
Place rice in a saucepan with five parts water to one part rice (plus a little salt) and stir once.
Bring to the boil, then turn the heat all the way down and cover the pan tightly with a lid.
Cook on the lowest heat possible for 10-15 mins without uncovering the pan.
Use a fork to fluff up the cooked rice.

Basmati rice contains lower levels than other rice
Brown rice usually contains more arsenic than white rice (because of the husk)
Growing rice organically doesn’t make a difference to levels
Rice cakes and crackers can contain levels higher than in cooked rice.
The levels of arsenic found in rice milk far exceed the amounts that would be allowed in drinking water.


If you want fluffy rice that will stay separate even after cooking, go for a long grain – either white or brown.
If you need your rice to be cooked in a hurry but still retain its flavour, choose basmati.
For sweet and sticky rice, opt for a glutinous grain.
Unless you're making a risotto, take care to rinse your rice thoroughly before you cook it.
Wait until the water begins to run clear, showing it is free of starch.

Risotto is a tricky dish to get right and the secret lies not only in the method, but in the type of rice you choose.
Diana Henry recommends going for the 'carnaroli' type: "Carnaroli has a great flavour and produces a very creamy risotto.
Vialone nano has smaller, less starchy grains, so the finished risotto seems lighter.
Arborio is the most basic and widely available but overcooks easily.
I always go for carnaroli or vialone nano."

Blood orange, rhubarb and cardamon marmalade.

Makes approx 1.3kg (3lbs)

0.4Kg (1lb) rhubarb
1kg (2.2lbs) sugar
juice of 1 lemon
seeds from 14 cardamom pods, crushed
800g (1.75 lb ) blood oranges

Rinse the rhubarb stems and chop into 1cm (1/2 in) evenly sized pieces, slicing thicker stems lengthwise to make the pieces uniform.
Place them in a bowl with the sugar and lemon juice.
Tie the crushed cardamom seeds, pods and all, in a piece of muslin and push them inbetween the rhubarb, then cover with baking paper or clingfilm and leave overnight or for up to 24 hours, so the juices ooze out of the rhubarb and turn the sugar to syrup.
Wash the blood oranges and remove the peel with a sharp knife or potato peeler, leaving as much of the pith on the fruit as possible.
Finely cut the peel into shreds.
Squeeze the fruits, collecting the juice and tie the remaining pulp, pith and pips together in a muslin bundle.
Place the shreds, juice and bundle in a pan, add 1.4ltr (2 1/2pt) water and simmer for 2 – 2 1/2 hours until the peel is cooked through and tender.
Remove the muslin bundle and, when cool enough to handle, squeeze the juice from it back into the pan, then discard.
Pour the peel through a sieve and collect and measure the liquid, adding more water if necessary to make it up to 1ltr (1 3/4 pts).
Prepare the jars and canner if you plan to hot water process the marmalade, otherwise, make sure your jars and lids are clean and place them in a warm oven to heat and sterilise.
Place the cooked shreds, cooking liquid and the contents of the rhubarb bowl in a preserving pan and bring slowly to the boil, stirring to make sure all the sugar is dissolved.
Bring to a rolling boil and cook on a high heat until setting point is reached, that is when a small blob of the syrup on a cold plate quickly forms a skin when you run your finger across the surface.
It took me 20-25 minutes for the marmalade to reach setting point at a fast rolling boil, showing 104C (220F) on a thermometer.
Remove the cardamom bundle.
Fill the jars, leaving the appropriate amount of headroom for canning, and seal.
Hot water process for 10 minutes, then remove from the canner, leave till cold and test that the lids are sealed.
Label and store.
Alternatively, without canning, top jars with sterilised lids or use traditional wax paper circles and cellophane with elastic bands to seal.
This marmalade should store safely without canning, but hot water processing will make doubly sure that your jam will keep and store without a hitch.

From - http://www.laundryetc.co.uk/2014/02/02/blood-orange-and-pink-rhubarb/

Crêpes with orange butter sauce.

By Michel Roux.
Ingredients
For the crêpes
125g plain flour
15g caster sugar
pinch salt
2 medium free-range eggs
325ml milk
50ml double cream
few drops orange flower water
20g clarified butter
For the orange butter sauce
10 oranges, 6 juiced, 4 segmented
100g icing sugar
125g butter, diced, softened
4 sprigs fresh mint
Method
For the crêpes, whisk the flour, sugar, salt, eggs and a third of the milk in a bowl to a smooth batter.
Gradually stir in the rest of the the milk and all of the cream.
Leave the batter to rest in a warm place for about an hour.
Just before cooking, stir in the orange flower water.
Brush a small 18cm-20cm/7in-8in frying pan with a little of the clarified butter and place over a medium heat.
Add a ladleful of the batter and tilt the pan to cover the base thinly; cook the crêpe for a minute each side.
Transfer the crêpe to a plate and repeat, stacking the crêpes between sheets of greaseproof paper, until all of the batter has been used up.
For the orange butter sauce, strain the orange juice through a sieve into a saucepan and add the icing sugar.
Gradually bring the mixture to the boil and cook until the volume of liquid has reduced by half.
Turn off the heat and whisk in the butter, a little at a time.
To serve, scatter the orange segments over each crêpe and roll up.
Spoon over the orange sauce and garnish with a sprig of mint.

OR:
- Crepes with blood orange sauce | Ichigo Shortcake:
To make the blood orange sauce
- 1/4 cup (55g) caster (superfine) sugar
- 1 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp orange flavoured liqueur (I used Cointreau)
- 1/2 cup (125ml) blood orange juice, or 2 medium blood oranges
- 1/2 blood orange, sliced to roughly little more than half cm thick
- 30g butter
- 2 tbsp extra orange flavoured liqueur
1. Place sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until just combined and sugar is melted.
2. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil, without stirring, for roughly 4-5 minutes or until light golden. Swirling the mixture when the edges are caramelised. (You’re essentially making caramel here).
3. Add in 2 tsp orange liqueur, mix and cook for further 30 seconds.
4. Add blood orange juice, stir through and bring to the boil.
5. Add in blood orange slices and cook for 6-8 minutes or until the rind is translucent.
6. Add the butter and extra liqueur to the mixture and stir through until the mixture is thickened and glossy.
7. Serve crepes hot with the blood orange sauce and top with candied blood orange slices.
8. Dust with icing sugar (optional – although I actually forgot to do this in the end)

Crêpes suzette.

BY James Martin.
Ingredients
For the crêpes
250g plain flour
2 eggs
2 teaspoons melted butter, plus extra for cooking
600ml milk
For the sauce
50g butter
3 oranges, 1 zested and all juiced
1 lemon, zested and juiced
3 tablespoons caster sugar
2 tablespoons grand marnier
2 tablespoons cognac

To make the crêpes, whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl to form a smooth batter.
Set aside for at least an hour in a cool place.
Place a small frying pan over medium heat and add a little butter, then a ladleful of batter and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan.
Cook for 1–2 minutes until just set, then flip and cook for a further minute until the underneath is lightly browned.
Remove the cooked crêpe from the pan and repeat until all of the batter is used – you should end up with four crêpes.
Place layers of baking parchment between the cooked crêpes to stop them sticking together.
For the sauce, place all the ingredients in a large frying pan and bring to the boil, gently shaking the pan to ignite the alcohol.
When the flame dies down, fold the crêpes into quarters and nestle them into the pan of sauce. Let them warm through for a few minutes, then dish out.

Minestrone.

Adapted from recipe by Elizabeth David published in the Guardian.
Serves 6-8

50g of dried Aduki beans,
1 carrots,
1 small potatoes,
1/2 small turnip,
1 onions,
a piece of celery,
2 tomatoes or concentrated tomato purée,
1/4 a small cabbage,
2 rashers of bacon,
garlic,
herbs and seasoning,
olive oil,
1/2 a small glassful of red wine,
25g of any of the pasta made in small shapes

Put the Aduki beans to soak overnight.
Next day prepare all the vegetables, and melt the sliced onions in the oil,
adding 2 cloves of garlic,
the bacon cut into pieces,
and plenty of herbs: marjoram, thyme, basil, or whatever may be available;
add the chopped tomatoes, or a tablespoonful of concentrated tomato purée;
pour in the red wine,
let it bubble a minute or two, then add the drained Aduki beans;
cover them with 1L of hot water and let them boil steadily for two hours.
Now put in the carrots and about 15 minutes later the turnip and potatoes.
Ten minutes before serving, add the celery, the cabbage cut into strips, and the pasta.
See that the soup is properly seasoned, stir in 2 tablespoonfuls of grated parmesan, and serve more parmesan separately.

According to the season almost any vegetable can be added to a minestrone: peas, beans, spinach, leeks, small marrows; rice can be substituted for the pasta.

Marmalade panettone pudding.

Recipe by Nigel Slater published in the Guardian.
Panettone makes a fine bread and butter pudding.
Adding dollops of home made marmalade to this comforting pudding has made it even more interesting and satisfying to eat.
You could use half cream and half milk here, but the panettone adds a richness that I would argue makes such an addition unnecessary.
And a drizzle of cold double cream as you eat is excellent.
Serves 6.

Ingredients
325g panettone
5 heaped tbsp marmalade
4 large eggs
500ml creamy milk

Method
Set the oven at 180C/gas mark 5.
You will also need a deep ovenproof dish measuring roughly 30x26cm, very lightly buttered.
Slice the panettone thinly, it really doesn’t matter if it crumbles.
If it is a good panettone then I think it should anyway.
Melt the marmalade in a small saucepan.
Put half of the panettone slices in a dish.
Spoon over half of the marmalade.
Break the eggs into a bowl and beat them lightly, then beat in the milk.
Pour half of the egg custard mixture over the panettone.
Add the remaining slices, the rest of the marmalade and then the custard.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until it is puffed and golden.
Shake it gently.
It should wobble, but show no sign of uncooked custard.
Serve warm, and if you wish, with a drizzle of cream.