Lentils

I often mention using lentils in casseroles with meat, on there own or with other pulses. I was vegetarian once for about 9 years so I did a lot of research on how to keep healthy and eat plenty of protein.

Learn more about LENTILS

This link gives you all the nutritional content of RED LENTILS

They are a great price as well in this time when we are all feeling the pinch of the economic down turn. Use lentils and cover your daily nutritional requirements.

In the media I keep hearing how expensive food is. I disagree. I use lots of pulses, lentils and beans which are cheap. I keep away from any ready meals . All my recipes freeze so I make my own ready meals .

Try this link for my Spicy Lentil Soup Recipe LENTIL SOUP

Hope this has passed on some foodie ideas that help with economic meal planning, weight loss diets and general healthy eating.

Thanks for reading

Crazycupcakes

Pork, Chickpea ,Vegetable and Lentil Casserole

These are the ingredients that go with the pork.

The casserole ready to go into the oven for about 2 hours at gas 4.

I made this Pork, Chickpea ,Vegetable and Lentil Casserole last weekend. I got the pork as it is a good price at the moment . I like to use lentils and chickpeas and lots of vegetables to make a colourful spicy dish that is economical, full of fibre and protein and most of all really tasty.
This is the recipe for the Pork, Chickpea ,Vegetable and Lentil Casserole
Ingredients

olive oil for frying

4 cups of lean pork chopped into bite size chunks

2 onions peeled and diced

4 cloves of garlic diced

2 carrots peeled ,diced and chopped into chunks

4 to 6 sticks of celery trimmed , chopped

2 apples peeled , cored and chopped

2 teaspoons of ground coriander

2 teaspoons of ground cumin

1 can of chickpeas or equivalent in frozen(cooked)

1/2 cup of red lentils

4 tablespoons of tomato puree

salt and pepper

chopped fresh herbs to serve

2 peppers sliced

chicken or vegetable stock--Swiss bouillon about 1 pint.

Method

1. Heat the oil in a frying pan to a medium heat

2. Add the pork chunks and fry, add in small quantities, too many in the pan and they will boil so do in small batches. The meat needs to seal and be brown. Place into a casserole dish.

3. Add some more oil and add the garlic, onions,apple, carrots, celery and peppers cook for 3 to 5 minutes and add to the casserole dish.

4. Add the coriander, cumin, chickpeas, lentils, tomato puree, salt and pepper to the casserole and mix.

5. Add enough stock to just cover the casserole

6. Cover with foil and put the lid on

7. Cook at Gas 4, 180C or 350F for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the centre to top of the oven

8. I would check after 1 hour to see how much the red lentils have soaked up. Add more stock if necessary.

9. Serve with fresh herbs and oven roasted new potatoes with wild mushrooms

This freezes well.

Vegans and vegetarians can make this but omit the pork and use more chickpeas and red lentils for a Chickpea ,Vegetable and Lentil Casserole.

Add a chopped chili for a hot version

Add some paprika for a different flavour and deeper colour.

Add cherry tomatoes to make it sweeter

Thanks for reading and let me know how these recipes work out

Crazycupcakes

Oyster Mushrooms Roast

This is a dish to put in the oven with a casserole to serve with it. I served them with a pork ,lentil and vegetable casserole recipe last weekend .
These are Oyster mushrooms with new potatoes. You could use other types of mushrooms
Method
Line a dish with foil.
Add some olive oil.
Add small chunks of new potatoes.
Add salt , pepper, some chopped garlic and some dried herbs.
Put in the oven with a casserole about 1 hour before the end of casserole cooking.
I usually put this dish at the top of the oven above the casserole.
Add the mushrooms about 5 minutes before the end of cooking, make sure they have some olive oil on them and seasoning.
Serve with a casserole

The Halloween season is here
Check out this link to my soup
blog for PUMPKIN SOUP RECIPE AT SOUP RECIPE

Thanks for reading
Crazycupcakes

Casserole recipes

If you do not find what you are looking for on this page check out the ARCHIVES on the RIGHT they have all these recipes in them.

Beef Bourguignon Casserole
Morocan style lamb Casserole
Pork and Olive Casserole
Roast Lamb Casserole
Pineapple chicken Casserole
Chicken Casserole
Pork and Pepper Casserole
Beef and Olive Casserole
Corned beef Hash Hot Pot Lancashire Style
Beef and Vegetable Casserole
Beef Chilli
Chicken and Apple Casserole
Beef Casserole
Chicken and Mushroom Casserole
Lancashire Hot Pot
Scouse Beef and Vegetable
Beef Onion and Mushroom Casserole
Venison and Peach Casserole
Venison and Plum Casserole
Venison and ApricotCasserole
Venison and Date Casserole
Venisonwith Leeks and GingerCasserole

Thanks for coming ,let me know how your casseroles work out
Crazycupcakes

Beef and Orange Chilli

This is a Beef and orange Chilli recipe which is a variation on chilli. It is enhanced with orange to give it a fresh fruity flavour.
Ingredients
2 lbs of beef cut into bite sized chunks about 3 /4 cups
2tablespoons of olive oil for frying
2 tablespoons of tomato puree
2 tablespoons of flour
4 onions diced
1 red pepper and 1 yellow pepper chopped and seeds removed
1 oz /1 inch of fresh ginger peeled and grated
1 can of red kidney beans or cooked frozen
1 orange with the zest grated off and the fruit cut into chunks
1 orange peeled and the fruit cut into chunks
4 garlic cloves chopped
1 chilli sliced fine(less chilli if you do not like it hot)
2 tablespoons of ground coriander
salt and pepper
1 can of cider(beer, brown stout,red or white wine or stock(beef or vegetable) can also be used it is a matter of taste.
Method
Toss the cubed beef in the flour in a plastic bag
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan
Fry the onion, garlic, chilli, ginger and put into the casserole dish
Fry the beef in about 5 batches.
Put the browned beef into the casserole
Add the sliced peppers, red kidney beans, orange zest, orange chunks, tomato puree, ground coriander,cider,salt and pepper to the casserole and mix everything together well.
Cook for 2 hours at gas 5 or 180C in the oven.
This can be cooked on the hob in a thick based pan until tender.
Serve with a garnish of fresh parsley or fresh green coriander.
A swirl of natural yogurt or sour cream could go well.
Make a fresh green salad to go with the casserole.
Serve with baked potatoes (cook these in the oven with the casserole ,prick,sprinkle with salt and a dash of oil, cover each one with foil and bake in the oven for about 1 hour with the casserole)
Variation
Make with soy chunks if you are vegetarian or vegan,
Make with extra red kidney beans and leave out the beef for vegan or vegetarian recipe.

Thanks for coming by
Crazycupcakes