Potsticker & Vegetable Soup

 

This cozy savoury potsticker soup is super easy to make and is ready in about 30 minutes. It's a fantastic weekday meal when you're pressed for time, although I enjoy making and eating this soup regardless of how much time I do or don't have. Using store bought potstickers and broth along with fresh herbs and vegetables elevates this flavourful recipe making it perfect for a cold winter day. 

     

Potsticker & Vegetable Soup

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1 bunch of green onions (scallions), trimmed

1 bunch fresh cilantro 

3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil, divided

4 cloves garlic, smashed

1 (2 inch) piece fresh ginger, sliced

1 (2 inch) piece lemongrass, bruised

1 whole dried chile

1/4 cup dry sherry or rice wine

8 cups (2 x 946ml cartons) low sodium chicken or vegetable broth

1 package (454 grams/20 pcs.) frozen chicken potstickers

1 x 5 ounce package (142 grams) baby spinach

1 cup frozen shelled edamame 

2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

1 red chile, sliced

Cut the green onion whites into 2 - inch pieces and thinly slice the greens. 

Separate cilantro stems and leaves. Measure about a 1/4 cup of the stems and coarsely chop 1/4 cup of the leaves. Set aside. 

Heat 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil in a large stock pot over high heat. Add the green onion whites, cilantro stems, garlic, ginger, lemon grass and dried chile. Cook, stirring occasionally, until charred in spots, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the dry sherry or rice wine, if using, and cook, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon, until mostly evaporated, about 1 minute. Add broth, cover and cook for 10 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the solids from the broth and discard. Add the potstickers to the broth, cover and return to simmer. Cook for 4 minutes. Stir in spinach and edamame; remove from heat and let stand, covered for about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce. Serve topped with the green onion greens, cilantro leaves, 2 tablespoons sesame oil and red chile slices.  

Notes: Dumplings may used instead of potstickers. You may also try adding slices of carrots and cabbage when adding the potstickers to the broth. Water chestnuts make a great addition too. Also substituting Bok Choy or kale for the spinach. 

Mr. Kipling

 

Obviously our household knows I was seeking out Mr.Kipling's Cherry Almond Bakewell tarts and during the Christmas holidays look what was given to me. When I saw them I had a laugh and so did my son. It was a surprise considering my husband and I looked high and low for them when in London. I will absolutely enjoy and share these sweet treats.

Moroccan Chicken Stew

The blend of flavourful seasonings adds much warmth to this stew while the cherry tomatoes and golden raisins give it a touch of bright sweetness. The chickpeas and chicken absorb most of these flavours making this such a pleasant well rounded meal bursting with spicy sweetness. 

Moroccan Chicken Stew

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Serves 6

3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs

2 teaspoon salt 

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 small yellow onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 can (156 ml) tomato paste

1 medium zucchini, sliced

2 carrots, chopped

2 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric

4 teaspoons Moroccan Spice Blend

1 pint (551 ml) pint cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup golden raisins

1 cup low sodium chicken broth

1 can (398ml/15oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced

Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Season the chicken thighs with 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken and sear on both sides for 2 to 3 minutes, until just brown. Transfer the chicken to a plate, then set aside.

Add the onion and garlic to the same pot and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Next, add the tomato paste and cook it for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Next, add the zucchini and carrots and cook together for 10 minutes. Season the vegetables with turmeric, Moroccan spice blend, and the remaining salt and black pepper, then toss in the cherry tomatoes and golden raisins.

Add the chicken broth and chickpeas to the pot, then bring the stew to a boil. Next, add the chicken thighs in the stew, then cover with Dutch oven and place it in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the stew from the oven and dress it with the parsley before serving. 

Notes: if you can not find Moroccan Spice Blend then mix together the following spices to create your own: 

2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

 

New Year's Eve 2024 & New Year's Day 2025

 

New Year's Eve: It was a quiet one and that is just how we like it. The temperatures were cold however we still managed to go for a walk and take in the fresh air. Later on I made a chicken potsticker soup with spinach and edamame and paired with festive nibbles saw us through to ring in the new year. We watched movies, chatted, laughed with much merriment and relaxation as we sipped champagne. The perfect way to say goodbye to 2024.  

New Year's Day: Quiet and reserved with a bit of bite to the chilly temperatures outside. I made French toast for brunch using cranberry walnut bread to start us off and keep us going until dinner time. A lovely long walk to get the body moving and to refresh and clear the soul. Dinner was roasted ham, cabbage rolls, green beans with pickles and dill cheese and all washed down with a glass of crisp white wine to toast the new day and year. 

Christmas 2024

 

Christmas Eve: All was merry and bright as we started with Wonton and Hot Sour soup and then joyously tucked into a scrumptious set meal from our favourite Chinese restaurant. Conversation ebbed and flowed as we munched dinner. 

Christmas Day: It was a mix of no fuss and carefree leisure to the start the day. Bakery cinnamon buns, yoghurt and mandarin oranges were breakfast. Buck Fizz and Christmas chocolates followed as we waited for guests to arrive.

Christmas dinner was traditional festive fare with a few added vegetables. It was a full house and full plates of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, lightly glazed carrots, steamed Brussels sprouts and steamed green beans. All nestled with gravy, cranberry sauce, I added some after I took this photo, and dashes of pepper. A selection of wine was poured to toast festive cheer. For dessert Stollen and my baking, which each guest left with a bundle of both.

Boxing Day: Relaxed, restful and quiet. It was a lovely day to be out and about and share nibbles later on. I made a tasty Chicken Moroccan Stew, which I will post about later, for us to warm up to which brought much comfort as we settled in for the evening. 

And of course our annual Fortnum's order arrived. Such a lovely selection of biscuits, teas, crackers, jams, honeys, pudding, sparkling tea and pickled olives. Christmas and the year ahead would not be complete without it!   

Cinder Toffee

 

Another no-bake holiday treat that is legendary with slight variations not only with ingredients but in name as well. Whether you call this Sponge Toffee, Sea Foam Candy, Puff Candy (Scotland), Honeycomb, Honeycomb Toffee or Hokey-Pokey the texture is airy, rigid and sponge-like. A simple recipe that is quick to prepare and a pleasure to munch and crunch.  

Cinder Toffee

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1 cup (200 grams) white sugar

5 tablespoons golden syrup

1 tablespoon baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)

Generously grease a 8 inch x 8inch (20cm x 20cm) square foil tin pan with butter. Place a couple of sheets of aluminium foil on a clean flat surface and place the prepared tin on top. This will catch any cinder toffee trying to escaping the tin. 

In a large heavy bottom saucepan add the sugar and golden syrup and mix together until you have clumps of golden sugar. Turn the stove burner on medium heat and place the saucepan over it. Heat and simmer, allowing the mixture to bubble for about 3 minutes... possibly 4 minutes. The colour should be golden amber and no darker. 

Take off the heat and quickly whisk in the baking soda. The mixture will froth and foam and double up into an opaque pale golden mass. Quickly pour into the prepare buttered tin pan and leave to set for 2 hours. 

Once set, you can use a knife and to cut pieces, the best you can, however I find it best to turn the pan upside down onto the aluminium foil that is set underneath and bash the bottom of the tin with your hand and listen to the crunch and crackle of the falling shards of cinder toffee pieces. Lift the tin and behold a heap of splintered golden cinder toffee. 

Notes: pieces can be dipped into melt chocolate and allowed to set on parchment paper for a homemade take on a Crunchy or Violet Crumble bar. 

    

Yule ~ Christmas ~ Winter Solstice and Chocolate Orange Marble Cake

 

Yule - Christmas - Winter Solstice, typically falls between December 21st and December 22nd, in the Northern Hemisphere and occurs in the Southern Hemisphere between June 21st - 22nd and the Celtic celebrations may vary from year to year depending on when the Sun reaches the southern most point in its yearly cycle. Yule celebrations are believed to be connected to the original celebrations of Yule with the Wild Hunt (the Norse god, Odin) and the pagan Anglo-Saxon Modraniht/Modranicht (Mother's Night) and the Roman celebration of Saturnalia. Yule also marks the longest night of the year.

Winter Solstice is a time for gathering in darkness and honouring and celebrating the return of light and the rebirth of the Sun. It also marks the beginning of Winter with the shortest day and the longest night of the year and because of that the days grow longer. Darkness begins to diminish as the returning light brings hope and promise. As the days become longer think perseverance, transformation and renewal as the increase of daylight will lift your spirit with hope of what lies ahead, Spring.   

Christmas, December 25th to December 27th, is linked with Winter Solstice and most customs, lore, symbols and rituals are similar. 

Other festivals or celebrations that occur in and around this time include: Yuletide (Various/Germanic/Northern European, Dec 21st-Jan 1st), Wren Day/Wren's Day (Irish), Alban Arthan (Celtic/Druidic), Finn's Day, Festival of Sol, Great Day of Cauldron, Festival of Growth, Wassailing, Mari Lwyd (Welsh), Koliada/Koleda (Slavic), Lohri (Punjabi), Julebord or Julebukking (Scandinavian), Yalda Night/Chelle Night (Iranian), Hanukkah (Jewish, Dec 10th -18th), Kwanzaa (African-American Dec 26th-Jan 1st), Las Pasadas (Spanish, Dec 16-24), Soyal (Zuni and Hopi, Dec 20-22) and Saturnalia (Ancient Roman, Dec 17-23). Other traditions or customs such as Krampus, Mummer's play, First-foot, Wishing Tree, Yule Goat, Polaznik, and Jaslickari are also observed and connected to Yule, Winter Solstice, Christmas and or New Years. 

With it's distinct orange chocolate flavour, this Chocolate Orange Marble Cake honours Yule, Christmas and Winter Solstice celebrations perfectly, with the marble effect representing both the dark and light half of the year and the coming together of the return to light. 

Happy Christmas and Holidays, Merry Yule, Yule tidings and Winter Solstice to all!

Chocolate Orange Marble Cake

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1 cup (225 grams) soft unsalted butter

1 cup (225 grams) white sugar

4 large eggs

1 and 2/3 cups (225 grams) self raising flour

3 tablespoons milk

zest and juice of 1 large orange

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

FOR DECORATING: 

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

diced candied orange peel

Grease and lightly flour a 2 lb loaf tin and line the bottom with baking parchment. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC/160ºfan/Gas Mark 4).

In a large bowl beat together the butter, sugar and eggs with an electric hand held mixer until pale and fluffy. Add the flour, orange zest and milk and mix until combined and lump free, then add the juice from the orange and blend together.   

Place half the batter into another bowl, add the cocoa powder to it and stir until blended together. 

Spoon alternating dollops of the batters into the prepared cake tin, then use a knife or a skewer to swirl through the batter to create a marble pattern. Do not overmix or the marble pattern may not be as noticeable when baked. Smooth the top.

Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the tin on a wire rack. Once cool, carefully remove cake from tin and place on a plate that's been dusted with icing sugar. Using a microwave safe bowl, slowly melt the chocolate chips in the microwave or in a heat proof bowl over lowly simmering water until smooth. Spread over the top of the cake and sprinkle with the candied orange peel. Allow the chocolate to set before slicing.