We are lucky enough to have a great butcher, T and R Skinner, who also acts as a sort of babysitting service for the arrival of our veg box from the wonderful people at the Bellfield Organic Nursery. They have had a pretty bad time lately with vandals and being affected by the rising costs of fuel but they still manage to deliver the best veg each week. This week in the veggie box we have courgettes, celery, tomatoes, kale, potatoes, carrots and broad beans – yum. It’s lovely to have salad type vegetables when the weather is warming up.
On saturday i was intent on making some rolls for lunch. I’d heard of courgettes being used in baking but never tried it so decided this was the day. However, we went out in the afternoon and didn’t get to sample them until sunday night but it was worth the wait.
Herby Seeded Courgette Rolls
250g strong granary flour
1 courgette, grated
6g sachet fast action yeast
3 tbsp rice bran oil (still forgot to buy olive!)
50ml water
handful of herb seed mix (i used food doctor)
1 tsp salt
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt and yeast. Add the oil and water and mix well.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth then place in a lightly oiled bowl. Leave to rise for 1 hour
- Preheat the oven to 180 C.
- Bake for 25-30 mins and allow to cool on a wire rack
We picked up some wonderful Banana and Madras sausages from the butcher and me being me i couldn’t just leave them alone. I took the meat out of the skins, formed into patties, inserted a bit of cheese in the middle and wrapped the whole thing in little pancetta parcels. They turned out really well and for once the cheese didn’t ooze everywhere.
Banana and Madras Sausage Patties (makes 4)
4 Banana and Madras Sausages (or any you can get your hands on)
8 strips of pancetta
4 cubes of cheddar cheese
- Preheat the grill to a medium heat
- Remove the sausagemeat from their skins
- Form into four patties
- Make a hole in each and insert a cube of cheese. Cover over so that the cheese cannot escape
- Take one piece of pancetta and wrap around the patty then take the second piece around the other way to for a cross. Repeat.
- Heat under the grill for 8- 10 mins each side
Broadbean Salad
6 Broadbean pods, beans removed
3 carrots, grated
1/2 courgette, grated
5 strips of pancetta
glug of balsamic vinegar
juice of half a lemon
- Cut the pancetta into little bits
- Fry gently until crispy
- Add the carrot, courgette and broad beans
- Add a good glug of balsamic vinegar and the lemon juice.
- Stir and serve
