Leek, potato & cheddar pie

February 10, 2021February 11, 2021 ~ Corrie ~ 4 Comments

If there was ever a time to bake a pie…

Leek, potato and cheddar pie
Serves 4-8 / Hands on time 1 hr 45 mins / Total time 2 hrs 15 mins + resting / V
You’ll need: 25cm flan tin (preferable with a removable bottom) / baking paper / rolling pin /
For the rough-puff pastry:
250g strong white bread flour
250g cold unsalted butter
1tsp sea salt flakes
100 ml cold water
For the filling:
150ml tap water
½ vegetable stock pot or cube
250g potatoes, cubed
250g leeks, trimmed and roughly chopped
½ white onion, peeled and chopped
100g mature vegetarian cheddar
1 egg, beaten

TIP: This recipe is split into 3 parts to give you the option of making the pie in stages – making a pie all in one day can be exhausting. I usually make the pastry the day before filling the pie and then refrigerate the pie over night before baking.

TIP: Alternatively, you can always use shop bought puff pastry.

PART 1:
Make the rough-puff pastry (Hands on time 45 mins + 30 mins resting)
1. Mix the salt and the flour together in a large bowl before grating in a third of the cold butter. Using your hands, coat the butter in the flour before grating in another third of the butter and repeat with the last third. Adding the butter in batches makes it easier to incorporate.
2. Using your fingers, rub the butter loosely until it resembles breadcrumbs. This should take 10 to 15 mins so pop the radio on.
3. Make a well in the bowl and add 100 ml of cold water. Mix with a butter knife before using your hands to bring the crumbly dough together – being careful not to over work the dough.
4. Turn out onto a large piece of cling film and gather up the corners until you have a firm ball of pastry. Refrigerate for at least 30 mins. If making the filling the same day, use the next 30 mins to jump to PART 2.

5. Once the pastry has rested, remove from the fridge and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Using your hands, mould the crumbly pastry into a rough rectangle (the pastry will be very crumbly but don’t let that scare you, it will start to come together at you roll it out). Flour your rolling pin and roll the pastry away from you in one direction only, until roughly three times the original length, flouring the surface as you go if needed.
6. Fold the top third of the pastry down to the centre, then the bottom third up and over that. Give the dough a quarter turn to the left or right, flour the surface and your rolling pin if needed and roll out again to three times the length in one direction.
7. Fold as before, before wrapping well in cling film and refrigerating again for at least 20 mins. The pastry can be kept refrigerated for up to 1 month or freeze for up to 6 months.

PART 2:
Make the filling (Hands on time 25 mins + cooling)
1. Chop 250g potatoes into cubes (I leave the skins on, but you can peel them if you prefer) and add them to a medium sized saucepan along with 150ml of tap water and half a stock cube or stock pot. Bring to the boil and cook over a high heat for 5 mins.
2. Add 250g of chopped leeks and half a chopped onion to the pan and simmer with the lid on for 8 mins or until the vegetables are tender and all the liquid has evaporated, stirring regularly.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool fully. The filling can be refrigerated for up to 5 days if you’re planning on assembling your pie another day.

PART 3:
Assemble the pie (Hands on time 30-35 mins + 30 mins baking time)
1. Grease the tin well and dust with flour before lining the base with baking paper. Put to one side.
2. Remove the chilled pastry from the fridge and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut a third of the pastry off and put to one side (this will be your pastry top). Roll out the pastry until it’s a few millimetres thick and big enough to comfortably line the tin, flouring the surface and the rolling pin as you go.
3. Drape the pastry over the tin and carefully push the pastry into the edges and up the sides using your fingertips. You will need the overhanging pastry but trim off any excessively long pieces and put to one side (these will be used to decorate your pie later). Prick the bottom of the pastry with a fork and turn your attention back to the filling.
4. Grate the cheddar and incorporate into the cooled leek mixture. Season well with salt and black pepper before spooning into the tin. Spread the filling out evenly and put the pie to one side. Before you preheat your oven, line the bottom of the oven with foil to catch any melted butter. Preheat your oven to 220°C/200°C fan/425°F/gas mark 7.
5. Mould the third of the pastry you saved for the top into a ball and roll out on a floured surface. Using a sharp knife, cut out a circle, big enough to fit snugly over the exposed filling (this doesn’t need to be too perfect, if the pastry is slightly too big to sit comfortably in the tin simply trim more off).
6. Fold the excess pastry back in on top of the pie lid and crimp around the edges to give a decorative crust – again, this doesn’t have to be perfect.
7. Use any excess pastry you removed earlier to decorate the pie. I cut out leaf shapes but you can decorate your pie however you like. If you are planning on baking the pie another day, now is a good time to wrap it in clingfilm and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before baking.
8. Egg wash the pie all over before making 2 small incisions in the centre to allow steam escape. Bake on the middle shelf for 30-35 mins or until the pastry is golden.
9. Allow the pie to cool for 10-15 mins before removing carefully from the tin and discarding the baking paper. I do this by placing a lightweight chopping board or plate over the top of the pie and flipping it on its head. This allows you to lift off the tin (do not do this when the pie is still hot as it may not hold its structure). Repeat the same trick with a cooling rack to get the pie right side up.
10. Serve warm or cold with a simple green salad.
The pie will last for up to 4 days wrapped up in the fridge.

Want more? Take your pie making skills to the next level by enrolling on the ultimate pie making course with River Cottage chef Tom Morrell. He will teach you all the skills necessary to make a variety of savoury pastry recipes – including shortcrust, rough puff, hot water crust and suet.

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

Leek & cheddar loaf

February 3, 2020March 24, 2020 ~ Corrie ~ 2 Comments

Currently unemployed/freelance, I seem to spend most of my days, actively avoiding doing any form of work. Whether it be cleaning, job hunting or working on my ‘brilliant’ life changing new business ideas, I just seem to find myself watching episode after episode of Judge Rinder and eating slice after slice of this delicious leek and cheese loaf. Well a girl has got to eat and Judge Rinder is very wise… I can change my life tomorrow.

This loaf goes great with hearty soups and can also be enjoyed as a breakfast on the go or simply toasted spread with butter. So get your loaf on and become a lazy bum like me #lifegoals.

Leek and cheddar loaf
Makes 1 loaf / Hands on time 20 mins / Total time 1hr 20 mins + cooling / V ❄
You’ll need: 2lb/900g loaf tin, baking paper
Rapeseed oil or butter for greasing
150g leek (1 medium leek) finely chopped
75g strong mature vegetarian cheddar, grated
250g self-raising flour
50g wholemeal flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp sea salt flakes
250ml semi-skimmed milk
2 eggs
Few springs of thyme, leaves picked
Black pepper
40g vegetarian Italian hard cheese or Parmesan*, grated
Small handful pumpkin seeds

TIP: If you have any extra root vegetables to use up, replace the leeks with whatever you have to hand. Grate hard vegetables such as carrots and butternut squash and finely chop fibrous greens. You can also replace the cheddar with a cheese of your choice.

Method
1. Preheat an oven to 180°C/160°C fan/ 350°F/gas mark 4. Grease a loaf tin with oil or butter and line the bottom with baking paper. Put to one side.
2. Finely chop the leek and grate the cheddar. Mix together in a medium sized bowl and add the Italian hard cheese, keeping a handful a side for later.
3. In a larger mixing bowl, measure out the flours, baking powder, salt and mix until combined. Add the leek and cheese mixture, thyme leaves and a good crack of black pepper and mix well until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
4. In a mixing jug, measure out 250ml of semi-skimmed milk and crack in 2 eggs. Beat with a fork until fully incorporated. Pour straight into the dry mixture and mix quickly until combined – adding the wet ingredients to the dry activated the baking powder so the sooner you can get it in the oven the better.
5. Pour into a loaf tin and top with the remaining cheese and a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds. Bake in the oven for 1 hr.
6. Remove and cool in the tin for 10 mins before turning out and cooling fully on a rack. However, if you’re desperate to eat it warm feel free, just bear in mind the loaf will be a little soft so slice carefully. Serve on its own or spread with butter. Wrap in foil and keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.

V – Vegetarian
❄ – Once cooled, slice and wrap well in cling film or foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost fully in the fridge before consuming.
*Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiani) is always made using animal rennet, therefore it is not vegetarian. Substitute for Italian hard cheese if applicable.

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.

Cheese and Marmite scones

January 28, 2019January 21, 2020 ~ Corrie ~ 4 Comments

Are you skint, even though you’ve literally just been paid? Welcome to my life. As quickly as my pay cheque came – ‘pay cheque’ what am I, American? Anyway, no sooner had I been paid then the money swiftly vanished out of my account, leaving me with, well, not with nothing, but not with very much at all. It’s like I get robbed every month – stupid London.

Anyhoo, in light off my continuing impoverishment (perhaps I shouldn’t have spent so much money on Tina Turner The Musical tickets) I had to ditch the recipe I was going to make and swap it for something I could cobble together with ingredients I already had. Cheese and Marmite scone anyone?

Cheese and Marmite scones
Makes 10 / Hands on time 30 mins / Total time 40 mins / V ❄
You’ll need: 5cm cookie cutter
1 ½ tbs Marmite
1 tbs boiling water
350g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
80g cold unsalted butter, cubed
80g vegetarian mature cheddar, grated
175ml semi-skimmed milk
1 egg
15g grated vegetarian Italian hard cheese or Parmesan*

Method
1. Preheat an oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400F/gas mark 6 and line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Put to one side.
2. In a small bowl add 1 ½ tbs of Marmite and cover in 1 tbs of boiling water. Using a teaspoon, mix well until the Marmite has dissolved into a more workable liquid. Put to one side.
3. Combine the flour and the baking powder together in a large bowl and mix well before adding the cold cubed butter. Using your hands, work the butter into the flour with your fingers until you have fine breadcrumbs. Add the grated cheddar and mix well with a cutlery knife .
4. Warm the milk slightly in a pan (it’s important that you don’t over heat the milk, it should be lukewarm). Take off the heat and mix the Marmite liquid into the milk (leaving a little of the Marmite liquid behind for the topping later). Place the baking trays in the oven to warm up.
5. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in the Marmite milk. Using a cutlery knife, mix quickly until combined (you need to work quickly as the warm milk with activate the raising agents in the flour).
6. Flour a clean work surface and tip the dough out onto it. Using your hands (and being carful not work the dough too much) pat the dough into a kind of giant burger shape roughly an inch thick. Flour the cutter before plunging into the dough, twist and pull out creating your scone. Continue until you can’t make anymore, before gathering up any excess dough and reshaping to produce more scones. Carefully remove the baking trays from the oven. Place the scones evenly on the trays (making sure you have enough space between each scone for them to rise).
7. Crack the egg into the bowl containing the remaining Marmite water and beat well with a fork. Brush the top of each scone with the egg and top with a small sprinkling of Italian hard cheese. Bake in the oven for 10-13 minutes or until they’re a lovely golden brown. Leave to cool for 5 minutes before serving warm with butter and an extra spread of Marmite for those who really love it.

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
❄ To freeze, cool fully before wrapping individually in a few layers of clingfilm and freeze for up to 3 months.
*Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiani) is always made using animal rennet, therefore it is not vegetarian. Substitute for Italian hard cheese if applicable.

Cheesy baked beans

November 5, 2018October 31, 2019 ~ Corrie ~ Leave a comment

I’ve spent months waiting impatiently for the conditions to be just right, biding my time and anticipating the day – this day – because today is the day I’ve been waiting for. It’s time for me to buy a jacket potato with beans and cheese from the jacket potato man.

I mean, sure, he’s been there all summer – I even walked past his stall several times, my head hanging low in an attempt to hide my identity, but he sees me, another traitorous customer walking straight past his van on their way to Pret. Well, I’m sorry Mr Potato Man, but who wants to eat hot potatoes in stifling heat?

But now that the nights are drawing in and the cold wind is smacking me in the face, I think yes, yes I will treat myself to a jacket potato the size of my head today – the irony being that they’re not even all that nice. Jacket Potato Man starts by ladling copious amounts of beans over a jacket spread with marge (he says it’s butter, but I know it’s marge). He then tops it with grated cheese that starts to sweat rather than melt because the jacket and the beans aren’t quite hot enough to melt the cheese. Back at my desk, though, I’m too hungry to care, so dive right in and instantly burn my mouth and oesophagus with molten hot potato because, for some reason, the middle of the jacket is the only part that’s actually hot – a bit like the centre of the earth. But despite all of this, I hoover it up and instantly fall into a deliciously warm carb coma and am useless at my job for the rest of the day.

So what is it about beans and cheese that’s so great? For me, it’s the nostalgia. After one bite I’m transported back to my sofa in Luton. Off sick from school I was allowed to eat my cheesy beans on toast on my lap in front of Supermarket Sweep. Such a simple memory, but one that invokes strong feelings of comfort, love and a longing for Dale Winton. So this is my tribute and homage to cheesy beans, baked in the oven and covered in melted cheese – a breakfast fit for an ‘90s TV show host. RIP Dale Winton.

Cheesy baked beans
Serves 4 / Hands on time 15 mins / Total time 45 mins / V
1 tsp rapeseed oil
1 small red onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
½ tsp smoked paprika
1 can borlotti beans, rinsed and drained
1 tbs tomato purée
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 tbs red wine vinegar
1 tsp brown sugar
100g vegetarian medium cheddar, grated
Handful fresh parsley, chopped
Bread to serve

Method
1. Preheat an oven to 180°C/160°C fan/ 350°F/gas mark 4. In a large oven-proof casserole dish, sweat the onions and garlic in a tsp of rapeseed oil on a medium to hight heat with the lid on for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and add ½ a tsp of smoked paprika, a good pinch of salt and a dash of water. Stir and cook for a further 2 minutes uncovered.
2. Add the tomato purée and stir in the chopped tomatoes, beans and red wine vinegar. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with a tsp of brown sugar and stir.
3. Place the lid on ajar and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Meanwhile grate the cheese and chop the parsley.
4. Remove the beans from the oven and sprinkle evenly with the grated cheese. Pop the lid back on ajar and bake in the oven for a further 5 minutes. Once melted, removed from the oven, sprinkle with chopped parsley and spoon out onto hot buttered toast.

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 ❄– Suitable for home freezing once cooled. Consume within 3 months.

Cheese and onion puff pasties

October 9, 2018January 21, 2020 ~ Corrie ~ Leave a comment

I was shopping in my beloved Sainsbury’s today and got talking to an elderly man in the queue. His trolley was full of cakes, various pastries, walnut whips and a large pack of adult nappies – way more interesting than my own basket. He was quick to explain that the adult nappies were for his 80-year- old boyfriend, but unfortunately one pack only lasts him three days – TMI. When I suggested he go and get another pack, he explained he couldn’t carry the chocolate, cakes and the two packs of nappies on the bus, so I offered to give him and his nappies a lift.
In the car, I learned that not only was this eccentric old man a delight to talk to, but his name was Peter and he used to be a producer at the BBC. He spent the journey recounting all his worldly adventures, dropping casually into conversation that his tutor was none other than David Attenborough.
Sadly, when I pulled up outside his house, I had to say my goodbyes – he had afternoon tea to prepare – so I helped him with his bags and shook his lovely warm hand, only for him to present me with a box of walnut whips that I will treasure forever.

Oh, and so when I got home, I made cheese and onion puff pasties, but they were a total disaster, so I decided to sack off making another batch and retreat to my sofa to eat marmalade on toast for the rest of the afternoon. So, these are my second attempt and the reason you didn’t receive a blog yesterday, apologies.

Cheese and onion puff pasties
Makes 4-5 pasties / Hands on time 45 mins / Total time 1 hr 10 mins / V ❄
You’ll need: A rolling pin and a tea cup saucer (roughly 14 cm)
1 medium large baking potato (250g), skin on and chopped into cubes
250ml cold water
½ vegetable stock pot or cube, I use Knorr
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
150g mature vegetarian cheddar, grated
375g chilled ready rolled puff pastry
1 egg, beaten
1 tbs flour for dusting

Method
1. Preheat an oven to 220°C/200°C fan/ 428°F/gas mark 7. In a casserole pot or large saucepan, add the chopped potatoes, stock pot and 250ml of cold water. Put on a high heat and bring to the boil. Continue to boil for 5 minutes.
2. Add the chopped onions and give it a good stir. Turn the heat down slightly and continue to cook for a further 8 minutes, stirring frequently (now is a good time to grate the cheese). Take off the heat, season well with salt and pepper and put the filling to one side to cool.
3. Roll out the ready rolled puff pastry and using a tea cup saucer as a stencil, cut out as many circles as you can before gathering up the trimmings and re-rolling to make more. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper and dust with a little flour. Place the pastry circles on them and using the back of a fork make little imprints along the edges of each circle.
4. Stir the grated cheese into the cooled potato and onion mixture and add another crack of black pepper to taste. Place a heaped tablespoon of mixture down the middle of each circle of pastry. Brush the imprinted edge with a little beaten egg, before folding over to create a half moon pillow. Seal by applying downward pressure with your finger tips and imprinting with the back of a fork. Cut 3 small slits in the top of each pasty with a sharp knife to allow the hot air to escape while baking.
5. Once all your pasties are filled, brush them with beaten egg, space out evenly on the baking trays and bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Leave to cool on the baking trays for 5 minutes before carefully transferring to a cooling rack. Serve warm or cool completely and enjoy cold as a snack. The pasties will last up to 3 days refrigerated in an air tight container.

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 ❄ Suitable for home freezing once cooled. Consume within 3 months.

Leek & cheese muffins

July 16, 2018January 21, 2020 ~ Corrie ~ 1 Comment

Muffins seemed like a good idea until I realised I’d have to turn the oven on in my already stiflingly-hot flat. What the hell was I thinking? It’s 30°c in London today, I should be lying under a tree somewhere, sucking on a Calippo and reading a sonnet. But no, instead, I’m angrily chopping leeks and grating cheese in a bid to jazz up my breakfasts. Was it worth it? Well, it was for Jamie. I’d only eaten one before he got to them – they never had a chance.

Leek & cheese muffins
Makes 6 large or 12 regular muffins / Hands on time 20 mins / Total time 45 mins + cooling / V ❄
Dry
2 leeks (150g) finely diced
100g vegetarian Italian hard cheese or *Parmesan, grated
Few sprigs of Thyme, leaves picked
¼ tsp Nutmeg
½ tsp dried parsley
½ tsp herbs de Provence
1 tbs pumpkin seeds (extra for sprinkling)
200g spelt or wholemeal flour
50g oats
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
Wet
2 large eggs
250g semi-skimmed milk
4 tbs rapeseed oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard

Method
1. Preheat an oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/gas mark 6. Line a tin with muffin cases and finely dice your leeks – put both to one side. Combine the dry ingredients together (excluding the leeks and a small handful of grated Italian hard cheese) in a large bowl and give it a good mix.
2. In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until fully incorporated.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir with a wooden spoon until roughly combined, being careful not to over-mix. Add the diced leeks and stir until evenly distributed.
4. Evenly spoon into the muffins cases and top with a sprinkling pumpkin seeds and a little parmesan. Bake in the oven for 20 mins for 12 muffins or 25-30 mins for 6 large muffins. The muffins are cooked when a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean. Leave to rest in the tin for 5 minuets before turning out onto a cooling rack. Serve warm with butter or leave to cool completely and enjoy on the go.
STORE: Either in an airtight container and gobble up within a couple of days or freeze and defrost on demand (that’s what I do).

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 – Vegetarain
❄ To freeze, cool fully before wrapping individually in a few layers of clingfilm and freeze for up to 3 months.
*Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiani) is always made using animal rennet, therefore it is not vegetarian. Substitute for Italian hard cheese if applicable.

Mushroom stuffed butternut squash

October 30, 2017October 31, 2019 ~ Corrie ~ 3 Comments

I know it’s Halloween tomorrow, but I just couldn’t face wrestling with a pumpkin last night – sometimes life’s too short. I also loathe Halloween. I hate stupid fake spider webs, food that looks like eyeballs or severed fingers and the colour orange, aka, the most unattractive colour in the whole colour spectrum. So, feeling rebellious, I walked straight past all the pumpkins and other Halloween tat in Waitrose, and made a beeline for the butternut squash. Stuffed with garlicky mushrooms and topped with melted cheese and toasted hazelnuts, this makes for the perfect Halloween feast, whether you’re dressed up as Pennywise or not.

Mushroom stuffed butternut squash with toasted hazelnuts
Serves 4 / Hands on time 20 mins / Total time 1 hr 35 mins / Gf
1 large butternut squash, de-seeded and halved
3 large garlic cloves, crushed
4 tsp Pomora extra virgin olive oil
2 sprigs of rosemary
120g vegetarian Emmental or Raclette*
6 small portobello or large chestnut mushrooms
Handful of hazelnuts
Rapeseed oil spray
Watercress to serve (optional)

Method
1. Preheat an oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/gas mark 6. Give the outside of your squash a quick wash and pat dry. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice your butternut squash in half lengthways (I find it easier to do this in stages. I stand the squash upright and slice downwards to about a quarter, I then turn it upside down and to this again. I keep repeating these steps until I meet in the middle).
2. Scrape out the seeds and discard. Crush one of the garlic cloves and split between the two halves. Add a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil to each half and combine with the crushed garlic. Brush the garlic and the oil over the squash flesh evenly. Curl up a sprig of rosemary into each butternut squash hollow and season well with salt and pepper. Pop on a baking tray and bake in the oven until the flesh has softened, between 45mins and 1 hour (depending on how big your squash is).
3. Carefully remove your squash from the oven and discard the rosemary sprigs (keep the oven on). Making sure you leave a 1cm thick layer of flesh still attached to the skin, so the squash holds its shape, use a spoon and a fork to rough up and scoop out the flesh. Distribute the roughed up flesh evenly across the whole squash and spread out that lovely rosemary flavour.
4. Immerse 3 appropriately sized mushrooms into the soft flesh of each squash half. If it all feels a bit full, remove some of the flesh (I ate a couple of spoonfuls of mine). Crush the other two garlic cloves and distribute evenly across all 6 mushrooms. Spread the garlic over each mushrooms, season well with salt and pepper and drizzle a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil across each squash. Top each squash with three slices of cheese before baking in the oven for a further 15 minutes.
5. Meanwhile crush a handful of hazelnuts in a bag using a rolling pin on a hard surface. In a small saucepan on a medium to high heat, add a few sprays of oil and toast the hazelnuts until light brown and aromatic.
6. Finally, remove your squash from the oven, carefully cut in half and serve topped with toasted hazelnuts and a good handful of watercress.

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.

Gf –Gluten free
*Raclette to my knowledge is not a vegetarian cheese.

Marmite grilled cheese

June 25, 2017June 30, 2020 ~ Corrie ~ 6 Comments

Let me make something clear. A grilled cheese is not the same as a cheese toastie. For thirty-three years I thought they were the same thing, until my boyfriend Jamie made me one on my birthday last week for breakfast (I know, he’s the best).
So the main difference is that the grilled cheese is essentially the bigger, fatter, American cousin of our more humble cheese toastie. Traditionally it’s made with shitty white bread but as I can’t bring myself to buy that (mainly because I love shitty white bread and would end up eating the whole loaf) I’m sticking to the less traditional, more rustic wholemeal loaf. Not only is it the healthier choice but it’s all I have in the house and can’t be bothered to go to shops. I think if I had planned this better, I would have chosen sourdough but my wholemeal loaf is just as robust and will give a good textural contrast with the oozy cheese.
The other main difference between the two, is that you butter the outside of the bread and fry it in a frying pan, no grilling involved – not sure why it’s called a grilled cheese but there you go. Buttering the outside of the bread gives the grilled cheese a deliciously crisp, golden coating unlike it’s dryer cousin. I do love a cheese toastie though and regularly make one after a drunk night out. Although I nearly always opt for a cheese and Branston pickle filling like my mama used to make. Good old Branston.
Anyway, unlike the traditional grilled cheese, I’m filling mine with cheese and Marmite but if you’re not a Marmite fan, then simply leave it out, I won’t be offended.

Marmite grilled cheese
Serves 1 / Hands on time 15 mins / Total time 15 mins / V
You’ll need… A non stick frying pan – preferably with a lid
2 pieces of bread (white is the traditional choice, although I prefer brown)
60g medium vegetarian cheddar, finely grated
1 tsp Marmite
2 tsp boiling water
Spreadable unsalted butter

TIP: You don’t just have to stick to cheddar, feel free to mix it up and add up to 3 melty cheeses of your choice. Personally I think a mixture of red Leicester and Emmental would be momentous.

Method
1. In a small bowl, add 1 tsp of Marmite and 2 teaspoons of boiling water. Mix together to loosen the Marmite until you have a brown watery liquid. Finely grate the cheese (finely grating helps the cheese melt faster) and pop in a bowl. Pour the Marmite liquid over the cheese and stir well. Put to one side.
2. Butter each slice of your chosen bread (you can use any bread you like really, just make sure it’s not too thick or your cheese will struggle to melt). Heat a medium sized saucepan on a medium to high heat for a couple of minutes until hot and add a knob of butter. Once the butter has melted and is sizzling, place both slices of bread carefully in the pan butter side down and spoon the cheesy Marmite mixture evenly onto both slices. Top the frying pan with a lid (if you have one) or place a large heatproof bowl over the top of the slices – this helps the cheese to melt.
3. Once the cheese has melted, remove the lid and sandwich the slices together. Press the sandwich down with a spatular and turn the heat down to medium. Keep the sandwich moving in the pan and continue to press down on it for a couple more minutes before flipping over. Once the crust is nice and golden and the cheese is suitably oozy, remove from the pan and enjoy immediately.

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

Kale & cheese omelette

March 20, 2017October 31, 2019 ~ Corrie ~ Leave a comment

I’m currently sitting in my pjs watching Homes Under The Hammer and eating Omelette’s #livingthedream and yes, you heard, that was omelette’s plural. I made such a good omelette this morning, that I decided to make another one. What? It’s my week off before I start my new and exciting life over at Sainsbury’s Magazine so I thought, yeah, if I want two omelettes, I should have two omelettes… Feel a bit sick now though but that’s due to the packet of Veggie Percy Pigs I ate for dessert.
Jamie usually makes the omelette’s in our house, but as he’s at work (selfish) I had to make my own omelette which was very daunting. I’m not good at making omelette’s, they usually turn into burnt scrambled eggs. But I’ve been observing Jamie over the past year and have discovered his secret. Instead of incorporating the cheese into the egg mixture, he sprinkles it on top of the omelette like a pizza. Then he folds it carefully over once and continues to cook it until the cheese melts in the centre (drool). Don’t think I’ve said the word omelette enough in this post, omelette, omelette, omelette…….. OMELETTE!

Kale & cheese omelette
Serves 1 / Hands on time 10 mins / Total time 10 mins / V Gf
1 tsp of olive oil
2 eggs
1 garlic clove, crushed
Small handful of kale
Sprinkling of finely sliced red onion
¼ deseeded red chilli, finely chopped
30g vegetarian cheddar cheese, grated

Method
1. Crack two eggs into a jug and give them a quick beat with a fork. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chopped onion, chilli, garlic and kale and give it another quick beat to combine. Grate the cheese and put to one side.
2. Drizzle the oil in a non-stick frying pan and put on a medium to high heat. Once hot, pour your omelette mix into the middle of the pan and spread out evenly with a spatular. Top with a layer of grated cheese and wait a couple of minutes for the omelette to set. Once set, it should start to come away from the edges of the pan.
3. Using a spatular, carefully fold the omelette in half and continue to cook until the cheese has melted in the middle. After a minute, flip the omelette over and cook for another minute on the other side. Once you can see the cheese has melted in the middle, serve immediately.

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

Savoury bread & butter pudding

November 7, 2016May 10, 2020 ~ Corrie ~ 3 Comments

`’Oh and I think your blog is soooo great, all your food looks soooo delicious and you’re just soooo funny…”
Oh stop it I blush. I’m really not that funny. I smile goofily at my computer screen and wave my hand at it as if to say, ‘get outta here’.
I read on…
‘The majority of people food blogging aren’t very interesting, so it’s nice to stumble across someone who doesn’t make me skip straight to the recipe. I especially like the blogs you do with your son…”
What did she say? Son? What son?… I haven’t got a son! The only person that features on my blog other than me is… NOOOOOOO!
SHE THINKS MY BOYFRIEND JAMIE IS MY SON?!
Am I that old and shrivelled that she’s mistaken me for my boyfriend’s mother? Well this is a new low. Perhaps I should sit down? NO! That’s what old people do. Maybe he just looks freakishly young? I’m only 32 for god sake! Perhaps I should ask for a giant vat of ‘Olay Regenerist’ for Christmas, just in case. I wonder if it’s still made with babies umbilical cords or was just a 90’s rumour? Not sure I fancy putting umbilical cord cream on my face but as I’m ageing at an alarming rate, needs must. Oh well, at least she thought I was funny.

Anyway, speaking of mum’s, this recipe is inspired by a dish my very own mother, Lizzie, used to make. Her recipe is long lost of course – she manages to lose all of her beloved recipes, so had a go at making it from memory. It’s essentially made up of my two favourite things in life, bread and cheese. So go grab your big pants, it’s time to get your carb on.

Savoury bread & butter pudding
Serves 4-6 / Hands on time 20 mins / Total time 50 mins / V
2 red onions, roughly sliced
1 garlic clove, peeled and roughly sliced
400g white sourdough loaf (or any bread you happen to have. I like sourdough as it’s a little more robust and tends to keep its form).
75g medium vegetarian cheddar cheese, grated
75g cheese of your choice grated or crumbled (I used a combination of Emmental and cheddar but you can use any cheese you like)
Handful fresh thyme sprigs
5 eggs
500ml semi-skimmed milk

TIP: I often half the recipe and make a smaller version for 2 in a smaller dish. It’s a great way of using up any unwanted slices of stale bread you have lying around. Also, you don’t have to use sourdough, regular sliced bread works too – although bear in mind you may need more of it. If halving the recipe, use 3 eggs.

Method
1. Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/gas mark 6.
2. Butter a 2 litre oven dish and begin slicing the bread. Once sliced, pick up the slices as a loaf and put straight into the oven dish. Pull the slices apart to fill the dish creating a zig zag effect (see image below). If you’re using odd bits of bread, just arrange them as best as you can – doesn’t have to be perfect. Roughly slice the onions and the garlic clove.
3. Grate or crumbled all the cheeses, saving a handful of hard cheese for the topping (a hard grated cheese is better for sprinkling). Put to one side.
4. Evenly distribute the sliced onions and garlic through the layers of bread before packing with the cheeses. Insert a few thyme sprigs throughout and put to one side.
5. In a separate bowl or jug, whisk the eggs and milk together until combined before pouring slowly over the pudding, making sure you manage to soak all the bread. Season well with salt and pepper before topping with the remaining handful of grated cheese. Bake in the oven on the middle shelf, for 25-30 mins.
6. Remove from the oven, discard the charred thyme sprigs 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