Apricot, Mint and Lamb Meatballs

I fancied doing something a little different for dinner and found this recipe which I adapted. It's nice and straight forward and tastes good too! It's also great because it's freezable, so after it's cooked and cooled down you can freeze it or if you make too many, there's another meal.

Ingredients:
Minced Lamb (500g) serves 4
Apricots (approx 8 chopped)
Fresh Mint - leaves chopped
Coriander leaves (1-2 teaspoons)
Cumin (2 teaspoons)
Red Onion - x1 chopped
Bread Crumbs (3oz)
A tin of chopped tomatoes
Optional fresh basil

Pre-heat oven to 200C/Gas Mark 5
Mix ingredients in a large bowl, adding the lamb last. The breadcrumbs can be made by weighing the bread and using a blender for just a few minutes - you can increase/decrease the amount of breadcrumbs you want to use.
Use your hands to break up the lamb and mix fully with the other ingredients.

Roll the mixture into balls and place into an oven proof dish (a foil tin if you want to freeze.)

Pour oven the chopped tomatoes and garnish with fresh basil, or additional mint.

Cook in the oven for approx 30 mins- please note dependant on the quantity and size of meatballs you will need to check them and may need to allow up to 45 mins, so check part way through cooking.


Finished:

You can serve the meatballs with pasta, spaghetti, salad, in a wrap, chips or with potato wedges.

Enjoy!

Jubilee Preparations

It's almost here and whilst I haven't gone all out for the Jubilee, I have suddenly decided I want to do something to mark the day.

First thought is decorations...I'm making some bits and I'll post photos of various items this week, but a big focus is food!!!

Now I'm sure there is a picnic in the park or some event near to me and I might pop along for a bit, but I also want to do something at home and either way food is required. I have seen some lovely reciepes in magazines and I may attempt some, but I also remembered from my time in America a 4th July cake/pudding someone made with strawberries, blueberries and cream in the sahpe of the US flag, so I thought I might try something similar, but whether I make it into a trifle or cakey thing I haven't yet decided. I did however manage to trawl through my American photos and find one of the pudding to work from and I then found this which is quite similar:

I'll attempt something similiar I think...my mouth is watering already!

I'm also thinking of cakes and various dessert items, perhaps a main meal of roast chicken and these bits for afternoon tea!!! Unless we go for the picnic in the park, oh it's all last minute but whatever I do hope it's memorable, and yours too!

Simple and Tasty Snacks

I do love cooking- when i get time! I enjoy making cakes and snack items, as well as meals, so I thought I'd give you a simple receipe for some flapjacks. These are great for lunches, in the biscuit jar or as a craft snack- goes great with a nice cup of tea!

Ingredients:

• 175g / 6oz demerara sugar (sometimes I use soft brown sugar)
• 175g / 6oz butter
• 225g / 8oz rolled oats (porridge oats are fine)
• Optional Extras for flavour: dried fruits / berries (blueberries taste great) / chocolate chips

Method: Preheat oven to 180 degrees C / 350 degrees F / Gas mark 4

Melt the sugar and butter together in a pan, mix in oats. Ensure the oats are covered by the mixture.
Add your chosen fillings, I like using dried fruit such as apple and pineapple, the apple goes really well with fresh buleberries, but you can pretty much add any filling you like!

Pour the mixture into a greased and lined baking tin, ideally 8 x 12" (20 x 30cm), I often just use whatever tin I have lying around and make either chunky or thin flapjacks. Ensure you press the mixture in firmly.

Bake in the oven for approx 30mins (depending how crunchy you like them.) Cut into fingers and leave to cool, once cooled move to a wire rack or straight into an air tight container.

This receipe makes around 16 flapjacks, just double the mixture to make more.

Quick, easy and tasty treat!