LAMB FOR EASTER

 

Lamb Recipes for Easter 

English spring Lamb is traditionally served at Easter and good lamb remains in the shops for weeks afterwards. These recipes are family favourites; they're easy to prepare and fat levels are much lower than usual.  

 Roast Lamb for Small Households

Lamb Mongolian Style: gutsy crispy lamb but lower fat; pancakes at the ready: exotic and fun

Italian-Style Lamb Shoulder with tomatoes: low-fat one-pot wonder; wallet-friendly

Lamb and Red Wine Stew: sublime casserole will impress guests

FABULOUS MOSTLY MAKE-AHEAD PICNIC FOOD

 Fabulous Picnic Food - mostly make-ahead 

The first stage of Freedom from Lockdown has coincided with terrific weather; make the most of it!

Beef Koftas with Tahini Dip & Crudites

Mini Spiced Beef Koftas: spicy, herby, meaty, low-fat/carb/preservative

Healthy Spanokopita (Vegetarian spinach & Cheese Pie): fabulously crispy but without butter; and salty levels have been cut back 

Avocado & Ham Devilled Eggs, Vegetarian opt: quirkily yummy with delicate heat and a sublime 'Wow!' salty sweetness.

No-bake lower-fat Lime Cream Pie: chocolate crust; option for no-alcohol

LOW-CARB SMOKED MACKEREL FISHCAKES: low carb, easy, make-ahead

Have a look at Welcome to the Blog

 (on the Nav Bar above) with advice, info & photos

Tasty not-tuna fishcakes for the carb-phobic replace 'taters with celeriac...

Tasty chunky smoked mackerel fishcakes

These very nice fishcakes are a twist on the usual; instead of mild-flavoured tuna, salmon or cod, strongly flavoured mackerel is the name the game (or the fishcake).  

The mackerel is bound with celeriac, not potatoes, and the fishcakes are deliberately chunky.

They're healthy. Celeriac mash is at the low end of the carb scale and though it's texture is similar to potatoes, has fewer calories.   

Smoked mackerel - one of the blog's favourite fishes - is high in essential fatty acids and easier to keep and store than fresh mackerel.  Its  smoky flavour and meaty flakes are a perfect counterpoint to potatoes or rice.  

Serve with a lemon vinaigrette and salad.

Cost: £4.00

Feeds: 6-8

Ingreds

250g peeled celeriac in 1 cm cubes

300 gm smoked mackerel, skinned, bones removed, in large flakes

6 spring onions

zest and juice of 1 lemon

          1 tsp sumac (opt)

salt & pepper

2 med eggs, beaten 

Optional: flour, breadcrumbs, egg or milk

 Method:

PARMESAN COURGETTES, an easy indulgence (opt for low-carb)

Richly rewarding indulgent courgettes... 

Parmesan Courgettes...a wonderful treat

This is one of the Blogger's favourite courgette dishes* which - for obvious reasons - does not appear on the menu very often.

The courgette slices are coated in flour and parmesan but overall, the coating is light and the carb count is not horrendous. There's no other way of cooking these beauties except by frying them (oven-baking doesn't work though there is a grilling option in Tips) but as long as you're using a good vegetable oil (pref olive) and don't go overboard, you'll be all right.  

It's a good idea to check the pan and oil are at the right temperature.  Don't leave them unattended; they will burn quickly.

Cost: £2'ish

Feeds: 3-4

Ingreds:

4-6 medium courgettes 

3 tablespoons flour

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoon butter (opt) or replace with olive oil

Method: