Near Instant Lentil and Franks Soup | Book of Elsa

Gateaux Bananes | Book of Elsa

Believe me when I say this is the easiest snack I know. I'm not even sure it can be classified as 'recipe' per se as there are only three ingredients: bananas, flour and salt.

The bananas have to be very very ripe, mashing them with a fork. Add a pinch of salt and enough flour to bind into a something resembling a thick pancake batter. Then fry in batches using teaspoons. Eat whilst still a little warm so not to burn your mouth.

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Spruced-up Couscous | Book of Elsa

I'm not one to impose my will unto others. The way I see it its a live and let live kind of situation. However, I am goint to tell you this: Couscous is not BORING and this recipe is proof. Just season with salt and pepper, add some drained canned chickpeas, dried fruits and nuts of your choice. Pour over some hot vegetable stock and cover with cling for 20 minutes. Fluff it up with a fork and eat alongside whatever protein you have or as a lunch in and of it self.

Steamed Fish, Courgette Salad & Bagna Cauda | Book of Elsa

A simple weeknight supper: go on, you know you want to...

Spread some butter on aluminium foil.

Put fish on top of butter 'base'

Add more butter, salt and pepper on  top of the fish; I'm using basa fillet but obviously you can use any fish you desire. 

Wrap a tightly sealed package, then bake in a very hot oven for 15 minutes.

Courgette salad ingredients: salt, lemon juice and finely sliced courgettes

Bagna Cauda ingredients: anchovies, butter, garlic and rapeseed oil (or you can use olive oil)

Grate the garlic and finely mince the anchovies and put into the cold oil

On medium heat whisk in the butter one cube at a time

serve the sauce with some steamed potatoes, salad and the steamed fish. 

Orange Scented French Toast | Book of Elsa

To anyone familiar with my Instagram these are no surprise: I adore french toast. Most of the time I can only make them on saturdays when I have time to let the custard soak into the bread  and cook in butter low and slow, like. I'm salivating just thinking about it. This orange scented version is extra special and I hope you try it. However, the orange flavoured syrup showed on the picture above is not very good and I would not even think of giving you the recipe until it's perfect so I'd suggest you have greek yoghurt with.

Butternut Squash Soup | Book of Elsa

Soup is one dinner that doesn't require much effort but taste like it should. Maybe that's why some people find it easier to buy the ready made kind in tubs from the chilled section of the supermarket. Make it once though and you will understand why even in the middle of the horrible work week I can come home and make this. 

Cucumber and Yoghurt Salad | Book of Elsa

Technically speaking this is not a salad but more of a dip/side dish. Try it just once with some plain roast chicken and warm pitta. I dare you. The proof of this 'salad' really is in the eating. I suppose it is twist on the tzatziki sauce from Greece if I were to think about it but honestly, I just love the taste of the cool cucumber and yoghurt against the heat of the onion and chilli.

Yoghurt Drop Scone | Book of Elsa

Yoghurt Drop Scone... The title says it all: a quintessential Sunday family breakfast favourite that are easy to knock-up and utterly delicious. This particular recipe is adapted from the cookbook Mamushka from OIia Hercules a review of which is available here 

Tagliatelle alla Carbonara | Book of Elsa

This is a true week day stand by for me. The quantities suggested here offer a load of leftovers but that's a great thing if only stop the "what am I going to eat later" debate. 

XO

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Rice Crispy Treats | Book of Elsa

Aubergine Dip | Book of Elsa

This recipe came my way in the middle of the night courtesy of Nigella Lawson, Feast (2004) I've fiddled with it a little. By which I mean, taken out stuff I didn't like or have in the cupboards at the time of cooking. 

The dip itself is fantastic with bread, carrot sticks and any other crudités you might like. I don't judge. Enjoy 

xo

Chocolate | Book of Elsa

Alright you fantastic people of the internet here is a recipe to change the way you feel about chocolate! Please excuse my enthusiasm for the subject matter but take it from someone who on a regular day doesn't even LIKE chocolate...

This Sauce is to die! I was eating churros with it :-) whilst seriously considering taking a bath of this stuff so here is the recipe such as it is

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Ingredients

50g dark chocolate

50g milk chocolate

100ml double cream

Method

Chop the chocolate and put it in a sauce pan, add the double cream and cook slowly until the chocolate has melted. 

Take off the heat, stir, swoon and eat/drink :-) x 

Prawn Fritters | Book of Elsa

I feel kind of silly typing this up because it's not really a recipe. No really, it isn't. Most of the ingredients you probably have in your kitchen (bar the prawns) plus the whole process from raw to mouth should take twenty minutes max.

However, these are addictive; If you ever make just one of my recipes: This is THE ONE. 

Promise.

Elsa

xo

Let's Talk About Guacamole - Book of Elsa

There's a debate going on in the world about TRUE MEXICAN GUACAMOLE. Tomato or no Tomato?! 

Please pay attention. Very serious stuff going on here.... 

Original recipes contain tomato (mostly); However, I tend to find that it makes the guacamole too liquid-y also I don't like the red interfering with all the other shades of green.

Basically Good BBQ Marinade | Book of Elsa

The mush:

1 Red onion

1White onion

1inch piece of Ginger

4 cloves of garlic (or to taste)

Fish sauce

Olive oil

Rice wine vinegar

Dry Rub:

Jerk Seasoning

Chillie flakes

Ground Cumin

salt and Pepper

What I've Been Up To?! - Book of Elsa

Summer is HERE! - Book of Elsa

For me, Summer hasn't truly begun until A: Roland Garros has started and B: I've made this fruit salad. 

I Hope you love it as much as I do.

Red Prawn & Mango Curry - Book of Elsa

Red Prawn & Mango Curry

As I write, it occurs to me just how simple this recipe is but also how delicious it tastes. This serves 4 depending on appetites and which carbohydrate you are serving it with. I prefer rice but noodles of any kind would work too or even served soupily out of bowls with naan or other types of bread. There are no limits!! Also bear in mind the vegetables I used were ones I had in fridge at the time of cooking so please feel free to add (or leave out) ones you want. 

happy cooking!

Elsa

Rhubarb & Muscat Jelly - Book of Elsa

Rhubarb & Muscat Jelly - Book of Elsa

Apple & Almond Cake - Book of Elsa

Apple & Almond Cake - Book of Elsa

Gluten Free and contains absolutely no FAT - Basically healthy (sugar doesn't count, right?)

Enjoy!

xo