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Roasted Butternut Squash and Honey Dip

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The great thing about Butternut Squash is that it’s so sweet, people often forget it’s a healthy vegetable. When it’s made into a dip like this, it’s brilliant to serve with raw Vegetables (slices of Pepper, Cucumber, Celery etc.), or even served warm with a Dinner.

Roasted Butternut Squash

To Serve 4
1 Large Butternut Squash, peeled
2 Sprigs Thyme
Pinch Maldon Sea Salt
Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1.2tsp Ground Cumin
3tbsp Honey
3tbsp Olive Oil

1. Heat an Oven to 180C.
2. Remove the peel from the Squash using a speed peeler – much easier and simpler than using a knife. Cut in half, then scoop out the seeds in the middle with a spoon. Cut into chunks about an inch across, and place on a baking tray.
3. Strip the Thyme Leaves from the stalk, then sprinkle over the Squash, along with the Black Pepper, Sea Salt and Cumin. Drizzle the Honey over the top, then the Olive Oil. Mix well.
4. Roast in the Oven for twenty to thirty minutes, , checking frequently to make sure the Honey doesn’t caramelise – if you see it changing, lower the heat slightly.
5. To check it’s ready, try to insert a knife into one of the pieces. If it goes through easily, it’s ready. Remove from the oven, and process in small amounts, before mixing together. If it’s too thick for your tastes, add a small amount of Olive Oil.

Serve fresh from the Processor, or leave to cool and serve as a dip.

Photo Courtesy of: Martin Cathrae

Grilled Chicken Salad

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Fresh, full of flavour and colour, and very tasty, this dish should appeal to all tastes! It’s very easy to make, but still provides very impressive results.

Grilled Chicken Breast

When making the dressing, try to prepare it as close to preparation as possible, in order to have the freshest flavours.

To serve 4
175g Tomatoes, halved
2tbsp Black Olive Paste
Olive Oil
4 Skinless Chicken Fillets
1 Shallot, peeled and finely chopped
3tbsp Olive Oil
1tbsp Walnut Oil
4tsp White Wine Vinegar
2tbsp Single Cream
1tbsp Fresh Basil, chopped
Salt and Pepper
Mixed Salad to serve – Leaves, Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, Onions, Cucumber, Artichoke Hearts etc.

1. Grill the Halved Tomatoes skin-side up, until black and charred. Puree in a food processor, along with a little Olive Paste and the Olive Oil if required, in order to make a thinnesh Paste.
2. Place the Chicken on a foil lined tray, brush lightly with some Olive Oil, and grill for seven to eight minutes, and turn over, covering with the Tomato Paste. Cook for a further five minutes, or until cooked through, and the outside is browned. Cool, cover, and place in a fridge for at least an hour to allow the Chicken time to firm up.
3. Make the dressing – Mix the three tablespoons of Olive Oil with the Walnut Oil, Vinegar, Cream, Basil in a large bottle, and shake well. Season with Salt and Pepper to taste, and then set aside.
4. Toss the Mixed Salad in a large bowl with the Dressing, and then add the Chicken – sliced into centimetre thick strips, and serve fresh.

Photo Courtesy of: CandyTX

Grilled Sardines in Tomato Sauce

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A true classic Italian dish. These Sardines can be either grilled or barbecued, and personally I say that there’s nothing quite like freshly barbecued Sardines in this dish, especially when combined with the rich Tomato Sauce
Barbecued Sardines
To serve, you can present it in a number of ways – myself, I’d say having it in small chunks, served mixed into a bed of fresh cooked Spaghetti, garnished with some freshly chopped Parsley.

To serve 4
16 Small or 8 Large Sardines, cleaned and rinsed
3tbsp Olive Oil
Sprigs of Thyme
Salt and Pepper
Juice of ½ Lemon
1 Small Onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 Garlic Clove, peeled and finely chopped
450g Ripe Tomatoes, finely chopped
1tbsp Parsley, freshly chopped

1. Heat a tablespoon of the Olive Oil in a medium sized frying pan, and add the Onion and Garlic, frying gently until softened. Add the Chopped Tomatoes and Parsley, before seasoning to taste with Salt and Pepper. Cook without a lid on over a medium heat for ten to fifteen minutes, until the Tomato chunks are tender but not falling apart, and the Sauce is slightly reduced.
2. Whilst the Sauce is reducing, score the underside of the Sardines with a few diagonal cuts on each side. Brush with Oil, before pushing some sprigs of Thyme into each hole.
3. Sprinkle the Fish with Pepper and Lemon Juice, before arranging on a Grill Rack.
4. Cook for three to four minutes on each side, until cooked through, brushing with the Juices and leftover Oil.
5. Arrange on a plate, and serve with the sauce served over the top. Garnish with some Lemon Rind.

Photo Courtesy of: avlxyz

Figs and Olives Tapenade

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Tapenade is famous in France. It is often spread on bread or crackers and eaten as an appetizer or a snack. You can have it plain in simple – with bread or compliment it with cream cheese. I personally like it with pita bread and grizzled with yogurt sauce.

Traditional tapenade is made of olives, capers, anchovies and olive oil. This recipe can be considered a makeover for this dish. The sweetness of the figs contrasts with the saltiness of the olives, while the herbs make it more interesting for the taste buds. I can surely say that it is an interesting spread.

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped dried figs

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon paprika

2/3 cup chopped olives

2 cloves garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste

1/3 cup chopped toasted walnuts

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

Crackers or French bread

Place a saucepan over medium heat. Pour water and add figs. Cook until they are tender. Make sure that the liquid is reduced.

Remove from heat and combine the figs with the rest of the ingredients: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, thyme and paprika. Mix in the garlic and olives. Season mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Let the tapenade cool and then transfer it to a jar or container. Make sure it is covered. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to let the flavors blend together.

Spread the cheese on crackers or French bread. Top it with tapenade and sprinkle with walnuts. Serve cold.

Photo Courtesy Of: cursedthing