Shepherd’s Pie – with a twist

Shepherd’s Pie – with a twist

gluten-free, dairy-free

A slight twist on the original classic Shepherd’s Pie, this dish packs more plant-based protein and immune-boosting beta carotene.

Make extra if you can, and freeze the leftovers for nourishing homemade ready-meals on wet and wintry evenings.

Ingredients

1 onion, chopped

1 celery stick, chopped,

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

2 large carrots, finely chopped

250g minced lamb

400g tinned brown lentils OR dried brown lentils (you may need slightly less in weight of the dried as they plump up when cooked)

150ml beef or vegetable stock

1 tablespoon flour – this can be plain flour or a gluten-free flour

1 tablespoon tomato puree

1tablespoon gluten-free Worcester sauce

1 sprig of fresh rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon of dried

1 large sweet potato

2 large regular potatoes (or equivalent in smaller sized potatoes)

2 teaspoons coconut oil

How to make Shepherd’s Pie with a twist

Peel and chop the regular potatoes and sweet potatoes.  Put in a large pan with boiling water and cook until soft.  In another pan gently heat the coconut oil and cook the onion, celery and garlic until soft.  Add the mince and fry until browned.  Add the flour; stir until combined then add the remaining vegetables and lentils and cook for 3-4 mins.  Add the stock, Worcester sauce, rosemary and tomato puree and cook until thickened.  If using dry lentils, you may need to add more stock, just keep checking as it cooks.  Once the mixture has cooked (about 30 mins) spoon into a shallow ovenproof dish.  Drain and mash the potatoes adding butter or soya spread and seasoning as desired.  Spoon the mash over the meat mixture and bake in the oven at 180* / Gas 4 for 30-40 mins until the potatoes are lightly browned.  Serve with steamed broccoli or peas.

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Green Bean soup

Green Bean soup

Zingy lemon complements green beans and garlic in this delicious soup.

gluten-free option, dairy-free option, vegan option, yeast-free option

A fantastic flavourful soup packed with fibre, plant-based protein, magnesium, and zinc.  It’s the ideal soup for using up homegrown green beans in summer, or you can use frozen ones in wintertime.

Be sure to use organic lemon wherever possible as regular lemon rind holds pesticide residues. Give your lemon a good scrub before grating if organic ones are unavailable.

Ingredients

60g organic butter OR 1 dessertspoon of coconut oil

2 onions, chopped

30g plain flour OR gluten-free equivalent (buckwheat, potato, or gram)

1l vegetable stock

2 cloves of crushed garlic

400g fresh green beans; topped, tailed and chopped.  If fresh beans are unavailable, use frozen.

2 teaspoons grated organic lemon rind

Juice of 1 lemon

Pumpkin seeds and pine nuts (toasted, if you prefer) to sprinkle on top

How to make green bean soup

Melt the fat in a large pan. 

Add the onions and garlic and cook gently for 2-3mins. 

Add the flour, stir well to combine, then gradually add the stock while continuing to stir. 

Once the liquid has thickened slightly add the rest of the ingredients and simmer until the beans are cooked. 

Blend until smooth. Serve topped with pumpkin seeds and pine nuts, alongside a couple of slices of Flaxseed Flatbread.

Store leftover soup in glass jars in your freezer. I like to use old mayonnaise or peanut butter jars for this. Make sure to leave at least 1″ of space between the soup and the top of the jar so the jar doesn’t crack.

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Flaxseed Flatbread

Flaxseed Flatbread

It’s a tasty, gluten-free alternative to your regular loaf

gluten-free, vegan option, dairy-free option

Ground flaxseeds are a wonder-food for perimenopause and menopause. Packed with fibre, phytoestrogens, protein, and healthy fats, they’re an essential food for hormone balancing.

Try this flatbread as an alternative to regular bread to accompany soup, salads, or a platter of dips.

Ingredients

2 cups ground flax seeds

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1-2 tablespoons Agave syrup (or Xylitol sugar alternative)

5 beaten eggs (or Egg Replacer or 50ml soya milk if avoiding eggs)

½ cup water

1/3 cup olive oil

How to make flaxseed flatbread

Preheat oven to 200*C, and prepare a 10” X 15” baking pan with oiled greaseproof paper.

Mix the dry ingredients together well. 

Add wet ingredients and mix thoroughly. 

Let it set for 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly then pour into the pan.  The bread will rise slightly in the centre so spread out more towards the sides to allow for this. 

Bake for 20 minutes until it springs back when you touch the top and/or is visibly browning. 

Allow to cool then cut into slices.

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Gina’s Houmous

The perfect homemade houmous to share with friends

gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, nut-free

This houmous recipe is from my good friend Gina; an all-round lovely person, artist, gardener, and excellent vegetarian cook.

It makes a generous amount of houmous so it’s ideal for a hungry family or sharing with friends.

Ingredients

400g tin chickpeas – drain and save the liquid

2 tablespoons lemon juice

crushed garlic (as much or as little as you like, depending on how garlicky you want to be)

2 tablespoons light tahini

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

salt & pepper to taste

Liquidize the chickpeas with 4 tablespoons of liquid from the tin.

Add remaining ingredients and liquidize until smooth, adding more water if necessary.

The houmous will keep for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.  Enjoy with oatcakes, crispbreads, celery and carrot sticks, or smashed avocado.

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Millet salad

Millet salad

 gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, nut-free

Millet Salad

Not just for budgies, millet is tasty and nutritious for humans too. It’s a good source of fibre, magnesium, and B-vitamins, and is completely gluten-free.

If you’re stuck in a pasta rut try this colourful millet salad instead. And make a big batch so you’ve got plenty for leftovers the next day.

Ingredients

1 cup millet, rinsed & drained

½ a butternut squash, diced

1 handful of Swiss chard or kale

1 cup green beans, chopped

1tspn minced garlic

1  dessertspoon coconut oil

1 tablespoon of good-quality virgin olive oil or avocado oil

1 handful chopped tomatoes

1 handful chopped parsley

Coat the diced butternut squash in melted coconut oil and roast in a 180* oven.

Bring 1.5 cups water to the boil then simmer the millet till all the water is absorbed.

Gently heat the olive or avocado oil in a shallow frying pan, then add the garlic, chard, and green beans, and lightly sauté until soft.

Toss all the ingredients in a large bowl, and garnish with parsley and tomatoes.  Enjoy!

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