celeriac

The other day, my friend Kaydence asked how old I was. I’m not quite sure how we got onto this topic, but I genuinely couldn’t remember.
“So, you were born in 1984 in June, yeah? So that would make you…” Kay started counting on her fingers. “Thirty four,” she said triumphantly, as she swigged her giant gin and tonic – when did gin glasses get so big?
“Really? I’m pretty sure I’m thirty five.” I replied, texting my mother.
“How do you not know how old you are?” Kaydence asked, baffled and slurring slightly.
“Well, I guess because no one really asks me how old I am these days – must have just forgot,” I laughed, as a wall of ice hits my teeth. “Hey. where did all the gin go?”
My phone flashes and I see a blurry text message from my mum.
“Hi, Corricles,” I read aloud – Kay sniggers. “You were born in 1984, so you are thirty four. I’M THIRTY FOUR! BRILLIANT!” I slam my fist on the table a little too hard, causing a bit of unwanted attention from the locals – oops. “It’s like I’ve gained a year,” I say, in a slightly more hushed tone. Kaydence raises her glass and toasts to my newly discovered youth, before slumping her head on the table.
The next day I woke feeling dehydrated and tired – but thirty four. Huzzah! So, I decided to treat myself to a loaf of walnut bread in Tesco to go with this gorgeous celeriac and goats cheese soup. Just what I fancy on a freakishly warm February day – I know, we’re all doomed.

Celeriac & goats cheese soup
Serves 4 / Hands on time 20 / Total time 40 mins / V Gf* ❄
You’ll need: Hand blender or food processor
30g unsalted butter
1 onion, peeled and chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
½ tsp salt flakes
1 medium celeriac (400g), peeled and chopped
1 litre vegetable stock, I use 1 Knorr gluten free stock pot
125g vegetarian soft goats cheese + extra to garnish
Black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil to serve

Method
1. Over a medium heat in a large pot, sweat the chopped onion and garlic down in the butter along with ½ tsp of salt flakes. Put the lid on and soften for 10 mins, stirring frequently.
2. Meanwhile, peel and chop the celeriac. Add to the softened onions along with the vegetable stock and a pinch of black pepper. Up the heat and bring to the boil, before reducing and simmering for 20 minutes with the lid on. Once the celeriac is soft, take the pot off the heat and blend well with a hand blender or food processor until smooth.
3. Add the soft goats cheese and blend again until your soup is silky smooth. Ladle into bowls, top with any spare goats cheese, extra virgin olive oil and a good crack of black pepper.

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V– Vegetarian Gf*– Knorr stock pots are gluten free but some stock cubes may not be. Always check the label.
❄ Suitable for home freezing once cooled. Consume within 3 months.

Celariac baked rice with goats cheese — Celeriac baked rice with goats cheese

They say don’t judge a book by its cover, although it’s hard not to when you’re staring down at the misshapen, ugly face of a celeriac. Its knobbly, gnarly and often hairy skin looks like something out of a science fiction film.
Like a lot of people, I am guilty of overlooking this vegetable, but I felt sorry for it sitting on the shelf next to the prettier and cutely named munchkin pumpkin – the celeriac never have a chance. So I took his ugly mug home and lovingly peeled, chopped and roasted him in this delicious rice dish. It’s what he would have wanted.

Celeriac baked rice with goats cheese
Serves 4 / Hands on time 30 mins / Total time 1 hr 20 mins / V Gf
You’ll need: A deep oven-proof casserole dish
2 tsp rapeseed oil
1 white onion, finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
1 medium sized celeriac (roughly 650g), peeled and cut into chunks
½ tsp garlic granules
½ tsp sea salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch chilli flakes
500ml vegetable stock, I use 1 Knorr stock pot
150g brown basmati rice
4 rosemary sprigs
200g vegetarian goats cheese (including rind)
100g black olives, drained and halved
Handful of parsley, chopped to serve

TIP: If making for two, half the recipe and use a smaller baking dish.

Method
1. Preheat an oven to 220°C/200°C fan/428°F/gas mark 7. Add the chopped onion and the garlic to a deep casserole dish along with the rapeseed oil, garlic granules, sea salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and a pinch of chilli flakes. Give it all a good stir.
2. Peel and cut the celeriac into large chunks and add to the dish and mix well. Add the rice and pour over the vegetable stock and stir carefully. Make sure the rice is fully immersed under the stock before adding the rosemary springs. Cover the dish in a layer of tin foil and bake in the oven for 45 mins.
3. Meanwhile, roughly chop the goats cheese, black olives and parsley.
4. Once cooked, remove from the oven and put the foil to one side. Taste the rice to check if it’s cooked – if the rice is still a little tough, cover in foil and return to the oven and cook for a further 5-10 mins. If cooked, sprinkle over the cheese and the black olives and return to the oven, covered in foil for a further 10 mins or until the cheese is melted.
5. Finish sprinkled with fresh parsley and serve with a simple green salad.

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V– Vegetarian. Gf– Gluten free