Cashew nut loaf, potato croquettes, halloumi and orange salad and a mincepie star.

Many years ago, my friend Pat gave me this Cashew nut loaf recipe as my first ever vegetarian Christmas meal. We all liked it, veggies and meat eater alike, so thought to share it with you too. I have included it into my 4th from Spade to Plate book, that is getting well on the way.

Ingredients

1 chopped onion

Oil from the sun dried tomatoes

200g ground cashew nuts

12 finely cut sun dried tomatoes

1 can of chopped peeled tomatoes

Rind of lemon

1 spoon of fresh basil

1 egg

Salt and pepper

1 packet of puff pastry

Method

1. Fry the onion in the sun-dried tomato oil
2. Add the can of chopped and peeled tomatoes and leave until the juices have evaporated, then remove from heat
3. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, lemon, nuts, basil, salt and pepper and most of the egg (keep some behind to put over the puff pastry)
4. Mix together thoroughly and put in a loaf tin
5. Bake in over at 180ºC for 45 mins
6. Let it cool down completely.
7. Roll out the puff pastry large enough to wrap around the loaf.  
8. Then if you feel in the mood to do some fancy decorative skill, do that now. Haha Glaze the pastry with the left over egg.
9. Put back in the oven until the puff pastry is golden brown and puffed up. (about 20 minutes)

Pear Shaped Potato croquettes

Although they are easy to make they take more than one and a half hour for chilling so something to be aware off. We won't be able to do the whole recipe in our 40 minutes Zoom session

Ingredients

600 g floury potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 egg

1 egg yolk

60g parmesan grated

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

plain flour for coating

1 egg lightly beaten (extra)

1 cup dry breadcrumbs

2-3 strands raw spaghetti

Method

1. Boil the potatoes and turn into mash potatoes, include the eggs, egg yolks, parmesan, parsley until soft, while the potatoes are still hot.
2. Divide into 12 portions, put on a tray, cover and put in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
3. Shape the potato portions into small pear shapes and coat each in the flour, egg and then the breadcrumbs
4. Break the spaghetti into small lengths and insert one piece into the top of each pear shape to represent a stalk
5. Put back into the fridge to firm up.
6. Then put in the oven until golden brown around 20 minutes.
7. Serve hot or warm

We also made the Halloumi, carrot and orange salad. A fresh and tasty salad that went well with the Nutloaf and potato croquettes.

For dessert we made a mincep ie star which we had with a lovely cup of Chai.

Merry Christmas to you all.