Recipe of the week: Full of Beans Veggie Chilli

Hello food.....

One of the cheapest and tastiest meals around. Jess's Messes does not claim the rights to this recipe, it is entirely from the lovely Ms Sarah Morrison, however I would like to share and spread it around so others can enjoy the beauty of this dish!

What do I need? - 4 portions

• 200g Mixed dried beans (suggest - kidney, butter, cannellini)
• 1 Red onion (diced)
• 1 Garlic clove (crushed)
• 1tbsp Hot chilli powder
• 400g Chopped Tomatoes
• 1tbsp Tomato Puree

What do I do?

1.  Soak the beans overnight in a large bowl of cold water.
2.  Drain and place in saucepan, cover with water and bring to boil - boil quickly for 10 minutes on a high heat.
3.  Reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Drain.
4.  Place beans, onion, garlic, chilli powder, tomatoes and puree in a pan and bring to the boil.
5.  Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 25 minutes.
6.  Serve with tortillas/pitta/rice.
7.  Enjoy!

It might take a while to make, but it's certainly worth it. So so tasty!

Thanks for the recipe Sarah!

Balls!

Hello food.....

Jess's Messes goes molecular gastronomy crazy!

Oooo playing with my new 'Spherification Kit!'

Very amateur day one playing! :)

Recipe of the week: Tasty Tangy Lovely Lasagne

Hello food.....

Another great Jess's Messes recipe for being relatively cheap and very easy to make. This method will make around 6 portions and is made in one large tray, however, if you are wanting to make and freeze for a later date then bake them in foil take-away trays!

 What do I need?

• 1/2 Red onion (diced)
• 1 White onion (diced)
• 2 Cloves garlic (crushed)
• 1tbsp Veg oil
• 250ml Red Wine
• 400g Chopped Tomatoes
• Pinch of Oregano
• Handful of Basil
• 2tbsp Red Pesto
• 400g Minced Beef
• 8 Sheets Lasagne
• 200ml Bechamel Sauce
• 200g Mature Cheddar (grated)
• 200g Buffalo Mozzarella 
• Salt and Pepper

What do I do?

1. Make the tomato sauce - place the onions, garlic and oil in saucepan and fry slowly until softened.
2. Add the red wine and cook on a medium heat until the wine has reduced, almost to a syrup.
3. Add Tomatoes and simmer for 15 minutes, add herbs, pesto, salt and pepper.
4. In a different pan, place the beef and the remaining oil and heat slowly until all meat has browned.
5. Add the tomato sauce and cook for 10 minutes until all flavours are well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning.
6. Build your lasagne: cover the base of the baking dish with some of the mince, place the pasta sheets on top, cover pasta with bechamel sauce.
7. Repeat the above process.
8. Cover the top layer of bechamel sauce with cheddar and torn mozzarella.
9. Bake in the oven at 200degrees C (Gas Mark 6) for 40 minutes.
10. Serve with some lovely dressed leaves and garlic bread.

Lovely tasty yummy food!

Interesting exciting buffet practice

Hello food.....

In July I am creating a Jess's Messes buffet for my mum's 60th birthday party.

So this week I have been practising some of the dishes I am making.

Here's just a few images:

Tomato and Pesto Fritatta

Lemon and Basil Panacotta

With Raspberry Coulis

Spinach and Cheddar Ravioli with Salsa Verde

Musroom Risotto in Parmesan Cone

Mini Cheesecakes

More mini cheesecakes

Mini Meringues

Beautiful Bechamel Sauce

Hello food.....

Maybe beautiful is an odd word to describe this..... it is what it is... there's not much more to say. Very useful for various dishes, but not exciting in itself at all. :)


What do I need?

• 40g Butter
• 20g Plain Flour
• 400ml Milk
• 1/2tsp Nutmeg
• 1 Bay Leaf
• Sprig of Thyme
• Salt and White Pepper

What do I do?

1. Place the butter in a small saucepan and melt slowly, careful to not burn. 
2. Add the flour and stir in.
3. Meanwhile, in a separate pan place the milke, nutmeg, bay leaf and thyme - bring to the boil slowly.
4. Strain the milk into the butter and flour mix and whisk to ensure you have no lumps. 
5. Season to taste.
6. Use where you need it.

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Saving Money on Food

Hello food.....

Day to day Jess's Messes.

There is no doubt that when you want to eat relatively healthily and freshly that it becomes very expensive, so the housemate and I decided to create 5 pretty cheap meals, 1 each day of the week and make 6 portions of each. That way we could eat 2 portions on the day and freeze the 4 remaining ones, covering us for 30 meals!

The meal ideas had to still be tasty, as we want to enjoy food, but we just want to be able to spend a little less on it (and have more to spend on fun!).

Sarah and her amazing Lasanges!

So the meals we made were as follows:

1. Veggie Bean Chilli - Guest Recipe
2. Tasty, Tangy, Lovely Lasagne
3. Terrific Thai Green Curry
4. Chorizo and Roast Pepper Pasta
5. Sausage Casserole

I unfortunately only have the recipe for the curry on here currently, but I will be adding the other recipes from now on, 1 a week! So for money saving, but incredibly tasty recipes - follow this blog! :)

A Romantic Evening

Hello food.....

I went to my lovely friend Hannah's house for tea and was served one of the most romantic of meals of my life! Bread with dips in a wonderful heart shaped ramekin... pure love!

We had a wonderful of selection of  random radio 2 music playing the background, notably 'Hopelessly Devoted to You.'

It was a spectacular evening of wine and tasty good food and I look forward to repeating it in the future.

THANKS HANNNNNNNNNNAAHHHHHH!

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