Beef and Brocoli by Jamie Oliver

• 200g purple sprouting broccoli
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 x 300g good-quality sirloin steaks
• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
• olive oil
• 1 red onion, peeled and finely sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely sliced
• a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
egg noodles, to serve
finely sliced red chilli, to serve

Place the broccoli spears into a heatproof bowl and cover them with boiling water. Add a good pinch of salt and leave for 10 minutes. Drain and put to one side.

Slice the steaks into finger-sized strips and season with salt and pepper. Pound the coriander seeds in a pestle and mortar, then sprinkle over the meat so they stick to it and give it a lovely, fragrant flavour.

Heat a wok or large frying pan until very hot. Pour in a splash of olive oil and add the onions, garlic and ginger. Fry for a couple of minutes until the onions have softened a little. Drop in the seasoned pieces of beef and stir-fry for a couple of minutes. Add the broccoli spears and fry for a further 2 minutes, stirring all the time.

Pour in the soy sauce and sesame oil. Toss in the pan until everything is well coated. Serve with egg noodles or steamed rice, with some sliced red chilli sprinkled over the top.

Chilli Con Carne

2 medium onions
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 sticks of celery
• 2 red peppers
• olive oil
• 1 heaped teaspoon chilli powder
• 1 heaped teaspoon
• ground cumin
• 1 heaped teaspoon ground cinnamon
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 x 400g tin of chickpeas
• 1 x 400g tin of red kidney beans
• 2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
• 500g good-quality minced beef
• 1 small bunch of fresh coriander
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Peel and finely chop the onions, garlic, carrots and celery – don’t worry about the technique, just chop away until fine
• Halve the red peppers, remove the stalks and seeds and roughly chop
• Place your largest casserole-type pan on a medium high heat
• Add 2 lugs of olive oil and all your chopped vegetables
• Add the chilli powder, cumin and cinnamon with a good pinch of salt and pepper
• Stir every 30 seconds for around 7 minutes until softened and lightly coloured
• Add the drained chickpeas, drained kidney beans and the tinned tomatoes
• Add the minced beef, breaking any larger chunks up with a wooden spoon
• Fill one of the empty tomato tins with water and pour this into the pan
• Pick the coriander leaves and place them in the fridge
• Finely chop the washed stalks and stir in
• Add the balsamic vinegar and season with a good pinch of salt and pepper
• Bring to the boil and turn the heat down to a simmer with a lid slightly askew for about an hour, stirring every now and again to stop it catching

Garlic and Chilli Beef

Ingredients

• 200g beef fillet, sliced into even-sized thin strips
• Few pinches Chinese five-spice
• Light soy sauce, to season
• 1 tbsp groundnut oil
• 4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 150g ong choi, washed, leaves and stems cut across the stem in equal 10cm lengths (or use spinach or watercress)
• 1 medium red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
• Toasted sesame oil, to season

1. Season the beef with the Chinese five-spice and a few dashes of soy sauce, toss together and set aside.

3. To serve, season to taste with light soy sauce, salt and a few dashes of sesame oil. Serve immediately.2. Heat a wok over a high heat. When hot, add the groundnut oil and garlic and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the beef and stir-fry for a few minutes, until browned. Add the ong choi and chilli and stir-fry until the leaves have wilted slightly. Remove from the heat.

Apple and Raspberry Muffins

• 2 cups plain flour
• 2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1/2 cup soft light brown sugar
• 1 large or 2 small eating apples, peeled, cored and chopped or grated
• 1 cup fresh raspberries or other soft fruit
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 50g unsalted butter (melted)

Preheat the oven to 200C°. Line a muffin tin with paper muffin cases.

In a large bowl mix all the dry ingredients together.
Beat the milk and egg together lightly, add the melted butter and then add the apples and raspberries.
Mix gently into the dried ingredients until just combined (the mixture will look lumpy, but that's OK!)

Spoon the mixture into the cake cases
Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden, well risen and firm to touch. Remove from the oven and cool in the tray for 5 minutes then remove from the tray and leave to thoroughly cool on a wire rack.

Chicken Jambalya

• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 900g/2lb chicken, chopped into small chunks
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 2 red or green peppers, seeded and chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely
• 275g/10 oz long grain rice
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 1tsp dried thyme
• 1tsp dried oregano
• ¼ tsp dried chilli flakes or chilli sauce (optional)
• 225g/8oz chorizo sausage cut into chunks
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• 570ml/1 pint chicken stock
• 3 spring onions chopped finely

Heat the oil in a large pot over a medium-high heat. Cook the chicken until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Remove with a perforated spoon and transfer to a plate.

Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and peppers. Cook for 5 mins or until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 min. Add the rice and cook for 5 mins stirring constantly.

Add the tomato puree, thyme, oregano, chilli, chorizo, and tomatoes. Season with black pepper. Cook for 2-3 mins.

Return the chicken and any juices to the pot. Stir in the hot stock. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 25 mins over a low heat, or until the rice is tender. or cook altogether in a slow cooker.

Remove from the heat. Sprinkle with spring onions and leave to stand for 10 mins before serving.