Creating the Perfect Burger

Meat To make perfect burgers your meat has to be right. It needs about 30% fat. If you are cooking sous vide as described below, you could get away with 20% because of the reduced cooking temperature. Therein lies the problem though, any beef mince you buy in a supermarket is going to have a maximum of 10% fat, sometimes 5%, and may be labelled ‘Lean Mince’. This will work fine in a Bolognese sauce or chilli, but it won’t work for burgers. [Read More]

Dried Fruit Energy Balls

These energy balls are delicious. The fig and date base is best made in a clean meat mincer for the right texture, and the cocoa liquor buttons (Or cacao nibs) and hazelnut butter round out the flavour perfectly. They are rather sweet and carb-heavy, but sooo good. 150 g oat flour (Or oats ground to flour in food processor) 250 g dates 250 g figs 150 g ground almonds 250 g smooth hazelnut butter or almond or other smooth nut butter (About 4 tablespoons) 100 g organic cocoa liquor buttons or nibs chopped to chips (Or substitute cocoa powder) 60 g desiccated coconut (About 4 tablespoons) 100 g maple syrup (About 4 tablespoons) 100 ml ristretto (Espresso made very strong) 100 ml dark rum Pinch of sea salt Some chopped almonds to coat the finished balls. [Read More]
snacks 

Olive Soap

This soap is made with 52% Virgin Olive Oil, but cannot truly be called a Castile as it also contains Coconut Oil which is a staple of soapmaking. Coconut Oil makes a soap that is hard, cleansing and bubbly whereas the generous measure of Olive Oil lends the necessary creamy and conditioning properties that, in balance, produce a cleansing soap that is mild on the skin. A light fragrance of Sweet Orange and Sandalwood completes the recipe. [Read More]
olive 

Classic Sweet and Sour Sauce

This wonderfully piquant sauce is a healthy version of the classic Chinese staple sweet and sour sauce. It is delicious with crispy baked chicken strips, rice and noodles. Alternatively chill and serve as a dipping sauce. 500/600 g tin of pineapple chunks or rings 400 ml vegetable stock 400 ml white wine vinegar 300 ml orange juice 100 ml soy sauce 200 g tomato purée 2 red or yellow peppers 1 tablespoon yeast extract (Optional source of glutamate) Half teaspoon five spice powder 3 tablespoons cornflour [Read More]

Home Carbonation Rig

Carbonation in beverages happens by two major means. Champagne, Cava and other beverages using the name Champagne, such as Soviet Champagne and California Champagne undergo two fermentations. In the first fermentation in a vat the yeast present in the grape juice creates alcohol but the resulting CO2 byproduct is allowed to disperse into the air. Then the beverage is bottled and tightly corked and a second fermentation (Bottle fermentation) creates more CO2 that is now trapped in the bottle. [Read More]

Rum Lime Cocktail

A delicious rum cocktail with ginger and lime for those colder months.

50 ml Black Rum 25 ml Contreau 3 splashes orange bitters 3 splashes Angostura bitters 1 tablespoon of ginger juice 1 tablespoon of lime juice Ice Sparkling water or Ginger Beer at preference to fill glass Sprig of mint.

Make the ginger and lime juice by passing them through a masticating juicer then mix all ingredients.

Oat and Peanut Cookies

These are delicious, can be made gluten free, and are a good option for low-junk and restricted carb diets. 100 g Oat Flour 1 tbsp Oats 1 tbsp Oat Bran 150 g Ground Almonds 1 tsp Cinnamon 1 tsp Nutmeg 100 g Butter 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter 2 eggs 2-4 tbsp Sucralose 5 g Baking Powder (A little under 1 tsp) Variations: Add Raisins or 70 g Chocolate Protein Powder or 50 g Cocoa or Natural Vanilla Essence [Read More]
snack 

Ketchup Picante

This delicious, healthy homemade ketchup has a spicy kick of jalapeños. 400 g tinned chopped tomatos 200 g tube tomato purée 50 g raisins 1 teaspoon sea salt 100 g Apple Cider Vinegar 2 cloves garlic 1 teaspoon English Mustard 1 tablespoon of brown sugar 2 teaspoon medium curry powder 1 teaspoon cloves 1 teaspoon Chilli Flakes 50 g jalapeños This is a variation on Ketchup that has a pleasant piquance. [Read More]
sauce 

Jalapeño Relish

This spicy relish has a real kick of jalapeños, and you can adjust the quantity to your taste. It’s perfect for burgers where the robust flavour of beef balances the heat of the relish, or for those who like spicy food, serve with breakfast, hash browns, fingers of fried bread, or strong cheese. This recipe makes about 800 grammes of relish. 1 kg ripe tomatoes 1 large onions (330 g) 1 large sweet pepper (130g) 0. [Read More]
sauce 

Ginger and Lemon Tea

This ginger tea is a delicious and healthy cleansing drink that doesn’t taste healthy. You can make it directly in a flask as long as it has a strainer for later. Equipment 750 ml Thermos flask Strainer Weighing scales Ingredients 30 g ginger 40 g maple syrup 30 g lemon slices (About 3 or 4 round slices) 600 ml water off the boil 100 ml red rum, dark rum or brandy (Optional) [Read More]