To add that extra dimension to your menu why not try these slightly different ingredients.


Fortyfold

Not just a spud

Fortyfold is the oldest culinary British variety of potato still available.It dates from around 1800 and was described as an "old type" in Victorian literature. It is thought to have come from the north west of England and had some publicity as being the original potato used in Lancashire hotpot and Lobscouse, the Liverpool equivalent. 
They have a high protein valuer with an interesting nutty flavour unlike most modern varieties.
Good for Roasting / baking



Carotino

Healthier Cooking Oil with red palm fruit

Rich in natural antioxidant alpha and beta carotene's, essential for maintaining good health and a strong immune system.
Also contains vitamin E and omega 3 & 6.

And NO Cholesterol

Is said to be a healthier cooking oil than even olive oil.

Good for frying,roasting,baking,sauces & salad dressings.

I have found this oil to be a delight to use and has a great taste and thanks to the red palm gives an interesting red tinge to anything cooked in it. Great when making a vegetable chilli or just to make your dish a little more colourful.

for more information take a look at www.carotino.co.uk

Vegetable hot pot

This tasty economical dish takes very little effort to prepare, even in large quantities. It makes a filling and nutritious meal, ideal for a large hungry family or when you have a lot of guests. 
Hotpot lends itself particularly well to slow cooking. If you can spare the time, you can improve it by turning down the oven and cooking for longer than the one hour suggested here. It won't overcook or dry out, provided you keep the pot covered.
The qua

ntities given here will make a main course dish for four. But please don't follow the recipe too slavishly. In particular, feel free to vary the vegetables according to what you have available and what's in season , root vegetables always form a great base which you can add to.

Ingredients

• 5 large potatoes
• 1kg of your choice of mixed vegetables, such as carrots, celery, leeks, mushrooms, parsnips, swede, turnips, onions or anything else you like, in any combination
• One 400 g can of beans (cannellini, haricot or butter beans)
• 2 tsp. yeast extract (Marmite, Vegemite, or similar) 
• 1 tsp. mixed dried herbs
• 8 fl oz, 240 ml  hot Vegetable stock ( water + vegetable stock cube or similar)
• Salt and pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 320F (160C)

Peel or clean the vegetables as appropriate, cut them into 2 cm chunks,  drain and rinse the beans, and mix with the vegetables being sure the beans and vegetables are well mixed and place them in a large oven dish.

Fully dissolve the yeast extract in the vegetable stock, add the dried herbs & Pour the mixture over the vegetables.

Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1 cm slices.

Arrange the potato slices over the top of the vegetables so that they cover the entire surface. 

Sprinkle a little salt and ground black pepper over the potatoes.

Cover the pot. Cook it in the oven for an hour, or until the potatoes are completely soft. Optionally remove the cover for the last ten minutes so that the potatoes are browned.

If you like a little extra heat in your food try adding a little paprika, chilli or even curry powder but not so much as to spoil the sweetness of the vegetables.

For more texture 2 or 3 table spoons of red lentils can make a nice addition.

If you have the time gently sauteing the vegetables in extra virgin olive oil for a few mins before adding the beans can also add extra flavour and the oil is a nice addition to the dish as a whole.

If you choose to try out this dish why not post a comment ?

Watching Master Chef Professional can become a little inspiring and to prove it
here is my modest attempt at the production of Biscuits arlette  as shown on
master chef professional series 5 episode 11.

Vegetarian so long as you accept honey.

Should find out shortly if they taste ok !!

Well they look the same to me.

Vegi food by a canivor: Quick Alternative to Fried Bread

Vegi food by a canivor: Quick Alternative to Fried Bread: How about a quick simple alternative to Fried Bread for breaky Run out of bread at that critical moment, Breakfast ! Here is a quick & si...

Quick Alternative to Fried Bread

How about a quick simple alternative to Fried Bread for breaky

Run out of bread at that critical moment, Breakfast !
Here is a quick & simple solution which can also be a good accompaniment to many other dishes.

It almost seems to simple to write up but here goes.

Ingredients:

Self raising flour
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Water

Method to make one portion:

Take 3 heaped dessert spoons of flour 
stir in 1.5 dessert spoons of olive oil
Mix with a fork until the mixture resembles bread crumbs
Add a small amount of water & mix to form a sticky mass


Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan 

Place the mixture in the frying pan & spread to form a 1 cm thick pat.

Cook the pat, turning several times  until it has risen  and is golden brown on both sides.
This should only take 3 or 4 minutes

Finished. 
You should now have an attractive soft & tasty bread alternative

Extras: 

To make this base more interesting, Herbs, seasoning, curry powder, cheese, grilled mushrooms or peppers are just a few of the things you could add at the mixing stage before adding the water.

Try this & let me know how it works for you. What will your special extra ingredient be?

Current menu from a Vegetarian Restaurant

Now this is the type of food  I would like to see more Restaurants offering  A long way from vegi burger and pasta

Starters

V, WF, O	Chickpea & Okra Soup
V, WF	Cream of Broccoli Soup
V, WF	Cream of Sweet Potato Soup
V	Gazpacho Soup (cold soup)
V, WF	Vegetable Fritters with Mango Chutney
V, WF	Aubergine Dip with crudités
V, WF	Cauliflower & Almond Soup
V, WF	Gram Dal Vadai with Coconut Sambal

Mains

V, WF, O	Moroccan Style Leeks with Rice & Salad
V, WF, O	Green Lentil Vegetable Curry with Rice & Salad
V, WF, O	Mexican Bean Casserole with Rice & Salad
V, WF	Savoury Pancake filled with Four Beans & Potato served with Chilli Sauce & Salad
WF, O	Butter Beans Roast with Mushroom Sauce OR Spicy Tomato and Orange Sauce, served with sautéed Vegetables
V, WF	String Hopper Briyani mixed with stir fried vegetables served with Salad, mild/hot
WF, O	Vegetables Risotto with Salad (vegan or non vegan)
V, WF, O	Tofu & Vegetables in Coconut Sauce with Rice & Salad
	House Salad with Cottage Cheese, Fruits & Nuts
V, WF, O	Stuffed Aubergine (Courgette, Pine Nuts, Tomato) with Rice
V, WF, O	Sweet Potato and Parsnip Hot Pot with Rice & Salad
V, WF, O	Sweet Potato and Aubergine African cooked in Peanut Sauce with Rice & Salad
V, WF, O	Squash, Chickpea & Potato Curry with Rice & Salad
	Spinach and Chickpea Florentine with Salad
V, WF	Aubergine in Peanut Sauce with Rice & Salad
V, WF, O	Mungdal and Potato Curry with Rice & Salad

Old Cheese Pudding Recipe

Ingredients:
2 oz Breadcrumbs
1.5 oz grated cheese
1 oz Butter
0.5 pint of milk
1 egg
Seasoning to taste


Method:

Heat the milk and add the butter, breadcrumbs & seasoning.
Soak for half an hour until thick.
Add the yolk of the egg & cheese & mix.
Whisk the egg white until stiff then fold into the mixture.
Pour into a buttered pie dish and bake for half an hour in a moderate oven.

This basic dish could be customised by the addition of herbs and vegetables.

From the Metro recipe book (South  Metropolitan Gas Company) 1920/30s

Is it so difficult ?

Why is it that when a pub offers a minimum of vegetarian food
they fail to manage a simple thing like serve 100% of the advertised option.
I mention this as a vegetable chilli with nachos, rice and sour cream
was supplied minus the sour cream. Might not seem a big issue but it was 25% of the
dish advertised. After calling this to the attention of the bar staff the sour cream
was supplied but  no apology for the mistake. How difficult is it to do the job correctly.
Oh and why chilli for Sunday well because the nut roast was not available (they forgot to order any according to the bar staff).
Never mind the Sunday roast beef dish was dreadful anyway ( over cooked and long standing veg,deep fried roast spuds instant mash and beef of indeterminate heritage). I should know better by now.
Another chain pub off my visiting list!

Lentil Souffle

This is a dish your gran or great gran may have made

Ingredients

1 gill (0.5 cup) red  lentils
0.5 gill (2 fluid oz) Cream
0.5 oz nut butter
yolks of 2 eggs
whites of 3 eggs
Paprika
seasoning

Method:
Soak lentils & stew with a small qty of water until a thick puree is formed the run them through
a sieve.
Add the butter, seasoning,yolks & cream, fold in the stiffly whipped egg whites.
Put into a greased souffle dish and bake in a moderate oven till well risen and set. (about 20mins)
Sprinkle with paprika .

This recipe from The Metro Recipe book supplied by the South Metropolitan Gas Company
1930s

An interesting base that cries out for a little customisation.
Please let us know if you try this out

I am not adverse to the occasional meat dish as long as the animals from which the meat is derived have been reared in an ethical and caring manner, but mostly I eat vegetarian dishes which I  really enjoy and I feel very fit and healthy from this. Humans do not need to eat  animal products to survive & our farming land would be far better employed for alternative food production . I find that one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding vegetarian food is  that they try to make it emulate meat  ,Why ?. There are an endless range of great vegetarian dishes that stand on there own merit and this is without the addition of soya or quorn. So a largely vegetarian culture could lead to greater productivity from much of our farm land, a healthy and more cost effective diet for our selves, a more agreeable existence for remaining livestock and less live stock farming could lead to an improved environment.
So where's the problem, eat a little good quality meat if you wish, be adventurous with vegetarian options and enjoy a great healthy life. Oh and Pubs, think beyond the token vegi option covered in cheese and give us some real alternatives.