Tomato soup
Ingredients
* 2 onions, peeled and chopped * 1 carrot, peeled and diced finely * 1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed * 1 stick celery, finely chopped * 2 tbsp olive oil * 450g/1lb fresh ripe tomatoes, halved * 1 litre/1¾ pints vegetable stock * 1 tsp sugar * salt and freshly ground black pepper * handful fresh basil, shredded (optional)
Preparation method 1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onions, carrot and celery and garlic. Cover and cook gently for 10 minutes until soft. 2. Add the sugar, salt, pepper and tomatoes. Stir and cook for another 5 minutes. 3. Add the stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Liquidise until smooth. If using the basil, stir in at the end.
Lamb curry
Ingredients
* 1.5kg/3lb 5oz lamb shoulder, boned weight, cut into cubes * 4 tbsp medium Indian curry paste * 2 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil * generous knob of butter * 2 onions, halved then thinly sliced * 1 cinnamon stick * 6 cardamom pods * 400g/14oz can chopped plum tomatoes * 1 tbsp tomato purée * 300ml/½ pint hot chicken or lamb stock * 400g/14oz can chickpeas, drained * 125g/4½oz baby leaf spinach, well washed
Preparation method 1. Place the diced lamb shoulder into a bowl or food bag. Mix in three tablespoons of curry paste and leave to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature, or up to 24 hours in the fridge. 2. Heat the oil and butter in a large heavy based pan, then add the onions, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and the remaining tablespoon of curry paste. Fry over a medium heat for 10 minutes, until the onions are softened and starting to turn golden-brown. 3. Add the marinated lamb, and fry for a couple of minutes until the meat has changed colour - it doesn’t have to be browned. 4. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato purée and enough stock to cover most of the lamb, with the top pieces just poking clear of the liquid. 5. Add the chickpeas and bring the mixture up to the boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer, and cook gently for 1 – 1½ hours, until the lamb is very tender and the sauce is rich and thick. 6. Spoon away the excess fat that will have gathered on the top of the curry, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. 7. Add the spinach, stirring the spinach leaves into the curry until they wilt. 8. Serve the curry with your favourite rice, breads and chutneys.
Apple crumble
Ingredients
For the crumble * 300g/10½oz plain flour, sieved pinch of salt