Fill a saucepan with water, add a pinch of salt and bring to a gentle simmer. Crack the eggs one by one into a small cup and slide it into the water. The water should not boil, but remain bubbling gently. Cook the eggs for 2–3 minutes or until the whites are set and the yolks still runny. Lift out carefully with a slotted spoon and drain well on kitchen paper.
2 Meanwhile, lightly toast the muffins in a toaster or under a preheated grill and butter the cut side. Put the muffin halves on plates and arrange a folded ham slice or grilled bacon rasher on top of each. Place a poached egg on top and spoon over the hollandaise sauce. Scatter with the chopped chives, grind some black pepper over the top and serve immediately.
Variation
Vegetarian eggs Benedict: Try this take on eggs Florentine (eggs served with spinach) by melting 25g (1oz) butter in a frying pan and sautéing 200g (7oz) spinach leaves, seasoned with salt and pepper, for 2–3 minutes or until wilted. Drain on kitchen paper and arrange on the muffin halves in place of the ham. Top with the poached egg, hollandaise sauce and chives, to serve.
Spotted dog
MAKES 1 LOAF · VEGETARIAN
This is a rich white soda bread with dried fruit added to make it ‘spotted'. It is also called ‘railway cake’ in some parts of Ireland, dating from the time when people took the train everywhere, with a currant for each station. A real family favourite of ours, it’s divine served straight from the oven, cut into slices and smothered in butter and jam or toasted and topped with cheese.
450g (1lb) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
1 level tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp caster sugar
110g (4oz) sultanas, raisins or currants (or a mixture)
1 egg
400ml (14fl oz) buttermilk or soured milk (see tip on page 24)
1 Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F), Gas mark 7.
2 Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large bowl, stir in the sugar and dried fruit and make a well in the centre. Beat the egg and buttermilk or soured milk together and pour most of it in (leaving about 50ml/2fl oz in the measuring jug).
3 Using one hand with your fingers outstretched like a claw, bring the flour and liquid together moving your hand in circles around the bowl, adding a little more buttermilk if necessary. Don’t knead the mixture or it will become too heavy. The dough should be softish but not too wet and sticky.
4 Once it comes together, turn onto a floured work surface and bring together a little more. Pat the dough into a round, about 6cm (2½in) in height, and cut a deep cross in it, from one side of the loaf to the other. Place on a baking tray lightly dusted with flour.
5 Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 200°C (400°F), Gas mark 6 and bake for a further 30–35 minutes. I often turn the loaf upside down for the last 5 minutes of cooking to help crisp the bottom. When cooked the bread will be golden and sound hollow when tapped on the base. Allow to cool on a wire rack before cutting into thick slices to serve.
Variation
Spotted dog scones: Make the spotted dog dough as above but flatten into a round about 2.5cm (lin) deep. Cut into scones using a cookie cutter or knife and bake for 15–20 minutes at 230°C (450°F), Gas mark 8.
Potato and onion frittata with grujire and thyme
SERVES 6 – 8 · VEGETARIAN
Frittata is a thick Italian omelette that can be made with a variety of different cheeses, vegetables and herbs. It’s a great way of using up leftover cooked potatoes, and is equally delicious served hot straight from the pan for breakfast or at room temperature for a picnic.
300g (11oz) (about 1 large or 2 small) waxy potatoes, peeled (and halved if large)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, peeled and sliced
8 eggs
50g (2oz) Gruyère cheese, finely grated
110ml (4fl oz) single or regular cream
1 tbsp thyme leaves
Bunch of spring onions, sliced
25cm (10in) diameter ovenproof frying pan with a lid
1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), Gas mark 4.
2 Place the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with water and add 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring to the boil and cook for 20–25 minutes or until tender. Drain the potatoes well and return to the pan on a very low heat to dry out for a minute or so. Remove from the heat, tip out onto a plate to cool a little and roughly dice.
3 Meanwhile, pour half the olive oil into the ovenproof frying pan on a gentle heat. Add the onion, cover with a lid and cook gently for 6–8 minutes, stirring regularly, until soft and slightly golden. Remove from the pan, spread out on a large plate and set aside to cool a little.
4 Next, whisk the eggs in a large bowl, then add the remaining ingredients and the cooked onions and potatoes, season with salt and pepper and gently stir together.
5 Place the remaining olive oil in the ovenproof pan and pour in the egg mixture, stirring briefly to distribute the ingredients evenly. Cook on a gentle heat for a few minutes until the mixture begins to set on the bottom, then bake in the oven for 15–20 minutes or until the mixture is set in the centre.
6 Remove the pan from the oven and allow the frittata to cool for a couple of minutes before sliding it onto a large serving plate. Cut into wedges to serve.
Kedgeree
SERVES 6 – 8
This classic dish is perfect for entertaining, whether for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. It’s so easy to increase the quantities to feed lots of people. I love the addition of wild rice in this recipe, but it’s fine to use just basmati rice (white or brown) if you prefer. There are quite a few different elements to cook in this recipe, but then it’s just a matter of assembling all the individual ingredients. Serve this simply on its own, or with some mango chutney and a green salad.
150g
