
Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Combine the lard and milk in a saucepan, and heat until the milk is hot. Pour the hot milk into the flour mixture, and stir until a dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic. Cover, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Roll the dough out on a floured surface 1/4-inch thick. Cut into 4-inch rounds. Brush the outer edges of each circle with beaten egg, and fill with a small mound of cheese. Fold each circle in half to form a half-moon; press the edges with your fingers or a fork to seal. Place the empanadas onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with remaining egg. Bake in preheated oven until golden-brown, about 20 minutes. Alternatively, the empanadas may be deep fried in 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oil. If deep frying, do not brush the outsides of the empanadas with egg. Drain on paper towels.

Cut the peppers lengthwise and remove the seeds. In a bowl combine 3.5 oz (100 grams) Feta cheese, 7 oz (200 grams) cottage cheese, 1 tbsp chopped chives (optional), 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional), 1/4 tsp salt (more or less to taste) and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Fill the peppers with the mixture. Top with chopped chives and parsley. Serve.

Heat up a pan over medium high heat, add olive oil and let it get hot. Add onions, peppers, cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper, cook for 3 to 5 min until onion is translucent. Mix in the beans, stir and reduce heat to medium, add the Lizano sauce, stir and cook for 5 more minutes. Add the rice, stir and cooked for a few more minutes, to incorporate all the flavors in the rice. The time to cook it I will depend of how you like your gallo pinto, some people like it a little wet and some other like it a little toasted or dry. I prefer it not too dry, so I cook it for about 5 to 7 min.

Peel the potatoes and cut them into chunks, put them in a medium pot and cover with water and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and cook until fork tender about 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and mash with a fork or masher and set aside. Filling: In a large sauce pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat and add the onion, tomato, scallions, garlic, cumin, azafran, pepper and salt. Cook for 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent, add the beef and cook stirring occasionally about 10 – 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. To make the batter: In a medium bowl place all the batter ingredients and whisk until smooth and set aside. To Form the Stuffed Potatoes Divide the potato mash into 10 equal sized portions, about ⅓ cup each, and form each portion into a ball by rolling between the palms of your hands. Flatten into patties and place 1 ½ tablespoons of the filling in the center of each one. Shape the potato mixture with the filling into balls to enclose the filling completely. Fill a large heavy pot with vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat to 360° F. Dip the stuffed potato into the batter and carefully place them in the hot oil and fry for about 4 minutes or until golden, turning over halfway through. Remove the potatoes from the oil using a slotted spoon and drain in a plate with paper towels. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with Ají. Notes For a vegetarian version:Use the same ingredients in the meat filling except the beef and add 1 cup frozen carrots and peas

Combine vegetables in a bowl and sprinkle salt on top. Let it stand for 5 minutes. Add the oil. Top with feta and parsley. Serve.

Cook beans until tender, add rice, coconut milk, onion, black pepper and salt, and add enough water to just cover the ingredients. Place Scotch Bonnet peppers on top, careful not to burst them. Simmer until rice is tender. Remove pepper before serving.

Place beans in a large pot and cover with cold water. Soak for at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse, before you use in the soup. Chop one of the onions and leave the other one whole. Chop carrots. Heat oil on a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots. Cook for 2 minutes. Add beans, water, peppers, head of onion, salt, pepper, summer savory, mint, thyme, Vegeta and tomato puree. Stir, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 2 hours, or until the beans are tender. Remove the peppers and whole onion. Mash the onion. Peel peppers and chop. Return to the pot. Add more salt and pepper, if needed. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve.

step 1 Mix together the hearts of palm, tomatoes and spring onions. Whisk together the sherry vinegar and olive oil. Drizzle over the salad. Sprinkle with the parsley, toss everything together and serve.

Clean mushrooms – I usually wash them under cold water, dry them and remove the stems. Cut mushrooms into thin strips. Melt butter in a small pot. Add the mushrooms and cook for 10 minutes, until the mushrooms release liquid. Combine the flour and water, whisk to remove any lumps and add to the pot. Add the salt and milk. Cook for 10 more minutes. In a small bowl or jar combine the garlic and vinegar. Serve the soup with 1-2 tablespoons (or more) of the garlic and vinegar mixture and hot red pepper.

Scrub the potatoes well but don't peel them. Cut them into bite-size pieces. Add them to a large pan water and a pinch of salt. Bring it to a good boil. Cook the potatoes until tender and then remove them using a slotted spoon. Keep the potatoes at room temperature. Trim and clean the green beans. Add them to the pan of hot water you boiled the potatoes in. Cook the green beans until nearly tender (keep them crunchy). Strain and refresh them immediately under cold running tap water to stop the cooking process. Add the bacon to a large non-stick pan and place it over medium heat. Cook the bacon for a couple of minutes until cooked through. Then take the pan off the heat and let the bacon cool down a little. Combine the olive oil, vinegar and mustard. Transfer the cooked potatoes, green beans, bacon, chopped onion, parsley and vinaigrette. Season with pepper and salt. Stir well. Check the seasoning and add extra vinegar, pepper or salt to taste. Transfer the salad to a large serving bowl or 2 deep plates and garnish with the boiled eggs. Serve lukewarm.

step 1 Put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix into a sauce. Add seasoning, then pour into a serving bowl.

1 Preparation In a mixing bowl mix together the summer squash, sugar, eggs and baking soda. Add the flour and continue to mix, you are looking for a thick sticky mixture. Add a bit more flour if the mixture is still thin and slightly runny. 2 In a large round baking tray (about 2 inches deep) rub some olive oil over the base and edges. 3 Scoop the mixture onto the tray and spread out evenly, then pour a small amount of olive oil onto you hand and rub it in circles gently over the top of the mixture. This should flatten it and leave it with a slightly shiny glossing. 4 Cooking Bake in the oven for 40 minutes on 180 degrees – the top should be a golden brown once cooked. 5 Serving Leave to cool before slicing into squares and serving.

Toast the bread slices -- either in a toaster, or by baking them in the oven at 400°F -- until crispy and golden. (Toasting/baking time will totally depend on the type and thickness of your bread.) Take a clove of garlic and rub it cut-side-down all over the top of a slice of bread. Take a tomato half and rub it cut-side-down all over the top of the bread. Drizzle the bread evenly with a hint of olive oil. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Repeat with the remaining slices of bread. Then serve immediately while they're nice and warm!

1 In a large heavy saucepan, combine the peanuts, sugar and water. Bring to a boil; cook until syrup has evaporated, about 10 minutes. 2 Spread peanuts in a single layer in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan; sprinkle with salt. 3 Bake at 300° for 30-35 minutes or until dry and lightly browned. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

1. To prepare the dough, sift the flour with 1tsp of salt into a mixing bowl. Slowly mix in as much of the water is required, until a stiff dough is formed. Knead on a clean work surface for 5-10 minutes, until the dough is elastic and shiny. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside for about an hour. 2. Put the chopped lamb, onions, chilli, 1 tsp salt, ground pepper and spices in a bowl and mix thoroughly. 3. Divide the dough into 4 small balls, and roll out to a thickness of 1.5mm, cutting into 10cm squares. Into each square, place 1 heaped teaspoon of the lamb mixture. 4. Take two opposite corners and bring them to join in the centre by nipping together firmly between your fingers, and then bring together to other two corners in the same manner. Note that the mantu should not be entirely closed, as the steam has to be penetrate and cook the filling! 5. Using fat to grease the shelves of the steamer, place your mantu so that there is a small space between each one. Steam for 30-45 minutes over a medium heat. 6. Meanwhile, make the tomato sauce. Heat the oil in a pan, add tomato puree, and bring to the boil. Stir and simmer on a low heat until the mantu are ready. 7. Remove the mantu carefully from the steamer and place on a large, warm dish. Spoon the tomato sauce over the top, followed by the strained yoghurt, and sprinkle with chopped coriander to garnish.

Bring water with salt to a boil then add grits; reduce heat and cover. occasionally stirring. Cook approximately 15 minutes or until grits have desired consistency. Cool then serve

Peel and chop eggplant and pumpkin into medium-sized pieces. Heat butter and add onions and garlic in a medium sized pot set to medium to high heat. Sauté for 2 minutes until softened but not browned. Add pumpkin and eggplant. Sauté for an additional two to three minutes. Add water just to cover the vegetables. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the vegetables are soft. Add the chopped spinach, stir and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Pour the vegetable mixture into a colander and let drain. After vegetable mixture has been drained return it to the pot and mash vigorously with a potato masher or a thick whisk. Add salt and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Step 1 Mix the cubed white bread with the milk, season with salt, and let the mixture rest for a while. Step 2 Now add the shredded potatoes, the grated cheese, eggs, and parsley. Step 3 Melt the butter and fry the cubed onions until golden brown in colour and put into the mixture. Step 4 Add the flour and gently knead the dough. Shape it into round dumplings, gently press them flat and fry them on both sides in butter until golden brown. Step 5 Serve in clear broth.

Peel the squash and cut it into pieces 1cm wide. Deep fry it in oil until golden and set aside. Using the same pan and oil, deep fry the onions until golden. Remove the onions and grind with the garlic (if using garlic paste, mix it into the onions once ground). Add a small amount of oil to a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add the turmeric. Mix the salt into one cup of water and add it to the turmeric. Add a layer of squash, then a layer of onion and garlic. Repeat this step until the squash, onion and garlic have been used up. Add the sugar and one cup of water. Turn the heat down and cook until the water has reduced. Add 1-2 tablespoons of melted curd to a plate, add the squash on top with another layer of melted curd. At last, add some green chilli and serve!

Finely grate the zest of 1 medium orange (about 2 teaspoons) and 1 medium lemon (about 1 teaspoon) into a medium saucepan. Add 1 quart whole milk, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat and add 1/3 cup dry sherry. Let sit until cool enough to handle. Meanwhile, cut 1 (12-ounce) day-old baguette crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices (about 16). Arrange in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour the milk mixture over the bread and let it soak for 5 minutes. Flip each slice of bread. Let the bread sit until it absorbs most of the liquid but isn't falling apart, about 5 minutes more. Heat 1 cup olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Meanwhile, whisk 4 eggs together in a medium bowl. Working with 1 slice at a time, dip the bread in the egg mixture to coat. Let the excess drip off, then add to the pan. Repeat with as many slices as needed until the pan is filled with a single layer. Fry until golden-brown on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Flip the slices and fry until the second side until golden-brown, 3 to 4 minutes more. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate or baking sheet. Repeat dipping and frying the remaining bread. Drizzle with honey to serve.

1 Prepare the Flour Batter Mix together the flour, water and salt ensuring all the lumps are dissolved. The mixture should be thick but still of a pouring consistency, add a little extra water if required. Put to one side. 2 Prepare the Batter Filling Mix together the butter, oil and chosen yogurt / cream ensuring all the lumps are dissolved. The mixture should be runny, leave to rest for 10 minutes before given it another good mix. The consistency should be similar to custard. Put to one side. 3 Baking Preheat the gill to a medium setting (I use mark 4 of 6). Take a large deep baking tray or pie pan and rub some olive oil over the base. Make the first layer of flour batter using a squirty bottle or laydel, don't try to pour the batter as it will be too thick in the pan. You need to make a star effect by leaving triangles between each line of batter layers. Place under the grill until golden brown. This will take between 3 - 5 minutes. 4 Remove from under the grill and using a brush or the back of spoon rub over the whole pan (both battered and un-battered areas) a layer of the batter filling. Then, add a layer of the flour filling, use the same star effect this time placing the lines of batter through the gaps left from the previous layering. Also, leaving the same triangle shapes between each line. Place under the grill until golden brown. This will take between 3 - 5 minutes. 5 Repeat step 4 until all the mixture has been used and ensuring each triangle gap is filled with flour batter on each layer - this will take around 2 hours. After every couple of layers, use one layer just to fill up any spaces (large gaps between the batter stars) that may have started to show. 6 Serving Once the Flija is ready serve straight away with honey or yogurt.

Heat the 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the shredded kale to the onions and mix well. Turn the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove the lid, add salt to taste, and stir in the cream. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally. The cream will thicken slightly, making for a deliciously rich creamed kale and onions. Yumm! Serve it up with your favorite Kenyan stew, and a side of ugali!

Soak the dried mushrooms in 350ml boiling water and set aside until needed. Blitz ¾ of the chestnuts with 150ml water until creamy. Roughly chop the remaining chestnuts. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Fry the shallots with a pinch of salt until softened, then add the garlic, chopped chestnuts and rosemary, and fry for 2 mins more. Add the wild mushrooms, 2 tbsp oil and some seasoning. Cook for 3 mins until they begin to soften. Drain and roughly chop the dried mushrooms (reserve the soaking liquid), then add those too, along with the soy sauce, and fry for 2 mins more. Whisk the wine, reserved mushroom liquid and chestnut cream together to create a sauce. Season, then add half to the mushroom mixture in the pan and cook for 1 min until the sauce becomes glossy. Remove and discard the rosemary sprigs, then set the mixture aside. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and get a large bowl of ice water ready. Drop the lasagne sheets into the boiling water for 2 mins or until pliable and a little cooked, then immediately plunge them into the cold water. Using your fingers, carefully separate the sheets and transfer to a clean tea towel. Spread a good spoonful of the sauce on the bottom two thirds of each sheet, then, rolling away from yourself, roll up the shorter ends. Cut each roll in half, then position the rolls of pasta cut-side up in a pie dish that you are happy to serve from at the table. If you have any mushroom sauce remaining after you’ve rolled up all the sheets, simply push it into some of the exposed rolls of pasta. Pour the rest of the sauce over the top of the pasta, then bake for 10 mins or until the pasta no longer has any resistance when tested with a skewer. Meanwhile, put the breadcrumbs, the last 2 tbsp olive oil, sage leaves and some seasoning in a bowl, and toss everything together. Scatter the rotolo with the crumbs and sage, then bake for another 10 mins, until the top is gol

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Place falafel on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, 8 to 10 minutes. While falafel bake, whisk tahini, water, lemon juice, garlic, and paprika together in a bowl. Cut about 1 inch from the top of each pita to form a pocket. Add 2 falafel to each pita with equal amounts lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickle, and red onion. Drizzle each with about 1 tablespoon tahini sauce and some harissa.