until beginning to set, then flip over with a fish slice and fry for a further 1–2 minutes. If you prefer your egg sunny side up, then fry gently for 4–5 minutes until the yolk has filmed over. Remove from the pan and serve immediately with the other cooked ingredients.
6 For scrambled egg, follow the method for Basic Scrambled Eggs on page 28. Serve at once with the other cooked ingredients.
7 While the egg is cooking, put the slices of bread in a toaster or under a preheated grill and toast for a few minutes (and on both sides, if using the grill) until golden. Butter the toast and cut the slices in half.
8 To serve, arrange everything on a warm serving plate, with the hot buttered toast on the side and with some tomato ketchup (see page 329) or relish.
Variation
Fried bananas: We sometimes like to add a fried banana to a full breakfast. It goes particularly well with bacon. Allowing 1 small banana per person, peel and cut in half across and then halve lengthways to give four pieces. Melt a knob of butter in a small frying pan on a medium heat and fry the banana pieces for 2–3 minutes on each side until softened and turning golden.
Pan–fried kippers with dill butter
SERVES 2
Some people love them, others hate them, but kippers are a favourite of mine because of their smoky saltiness, which I really enjoy first thing in the morning. I particularly like them with dill butter because the herb complements fish perfectly.
4 kipper fillets
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp sunflower oil
Dill butter (see page 327), to serve
½ lemon, to serve
1 Prepare the kippers by removing the head and any fins and wiping the fish clean with kitchen paper. Season with a little pepper. Add the sunflower oil to a large frying pan on a medium—high heat and fry the kippers, flesh side down first, for 2–3 minutes, then turn the fish over and fry for a further 2–3 minutes. The skin should be crispy and the flesh hot and cooked through.
2 Place the kippers on plates, flesh side up, with a spoonful of dill butter on top, and serve with lemon and some thin slices of brown bread.
Rachel’s tip
These can easily be grilled rather than fried, if you prefer. Preheat the grill to medium—high, rub the sunflower oil over the kippers and grill for 2–3 minutes, flesh side up, then turn the fish over and grill for a further 2–3 minutes.
Smoothies and juices
EACH SMOOTHIE RECIPE SERVES 2 EACH JUICE MAKES ABOUT 250ML (9FL OZ) · VEGETARIAN
Smoothies and juices are quick and easy to make. They are so nutritious and often the easiest way of getting the family to eat lots of fruit. Make up your own variations using whatever fruit you have to hand. The juices can be stored in the fridge for a day but are at their best (both taste-wise and nutritionally) if drunk immediately. If you don’t have a juicing machine, then blitz the fruit in a blender and push it through a sieve to get rid of any seeds or stringy or rough pieces.Pear, apple and ginger smoothie
Pear, apple and ginger smoothie
Place 2 peeled, cored and roughly chopped pears and ½ teaspoon of finely grated root ginger in a blender, pour in 200ml (7fl oz) apple juice and 50ml (2fl oz) natural yoghurt and blitz until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
Strawberry, banana and yoghurt smoothie
Place 225g (8oz) hulled strawberries and 2 peeled chopped bananas in a blender, pour in 100ml (3½fl oz) freshly squeezed orange juice and 150ml (5fl oz) natural yoghurt, add 1 tablespoon of honey (optional) and whiz until completely smooth. Pour into glasses to serve, and drink immediately.
Mixed berry smoothie
Place 225g (8oz) fresh or frozen (and defrosted) mixed berries and 1 peeled and chopped banana in a blender, pour in 300ml (½ pint) cranberry juice and add 1–2 tablespoons of honey (optional), then whiz until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
Pineapple, coconut and lime smooothie
Place 4 rings (about 500g/1lb 2oz) of fresh, peeled and cored pineapple and 2 peeled and chopped bananas in a blender. Pour in 100ml (3½fl oz) orange juice, 200ml (7fl oz) coconut milk and the juice of 1 lime and blitz until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
Raspberry nectar
Put 175g (6oz) fresh or frozen (and defrosted) raspberries, 1 large peeled and segmented orange, and 1 halved and stoned nectarine through a juicer, or whiz in a blender and then push through a sieve.
Four fruits juice
Put 125g (4½oz) (about a 2 cm/¾ in slice) of peeled pineapple through a juicer, followed by 1 small peeled and segmented orange, 75g (3oz) hulled strawberries and 50g (2oz) seedless red or green grapes, or blitz all the fruit in a blender and push through a sieve.
Blueberry blush
Pass 125g (4½oz) blueberries and 75g (3oz) stoned cherries through a juicer, followed by 2 quartered (peeled and cored if using a blender) eating apples, or whiz in a blender and push through a sieve.
Peach and pear juice
Pass 2 halved and stoned peaches and 1 large quartered (peeled and cored if using a blender) pear through a juicer, or blitz in a blender and push through a sieve.
Kiwi fruit and apple juice
Put 2 quartered (peeled and cored if using a blender) eating apples through a juicer, followed by 3 halved (peeled if using a blender) kiwi fruit, or whiz both fruit in a blender and push through a sieve.
Poached dried fruits
SERVES 8 · VEGETARIAN
These poached fruits are great on their own or served with yoghurt, or in porridge (see pages 10 and 11). They can be made in advance and they keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
200g (7oz) pitted prunes
175g (6oz) dried apricots
25g (1oz) raisins
