The Kitchen Guru

  Gefilte Fish. Surprisingly didn’t start out as a Jewish food. The first mention of gefuelten hechden (stuffed pike) was in a German cookbook. By the Middle Ages, the  German  dish had migrated into the Jewish kitchen under the name gefilte (stuffed) fish. It was from the off considered fish to be the perfect food to kick off a Sabbath or holiday meal. Despite all rammers, Gefilte Fish, do not swim in the sea with a carrot on its head, but are created by the recipes below. Nothing is better than homemade Gefilta fish and like all traditional recipes it is not complex!     The basic fish mixture makes approximately 40 patties, or 3 logs. (I always make the fish balls and logs in bulk as they freeze well. Freeze before cooking and can be cooked from frozen)   1 kilo white fish (cod, haddock,) filleted & skinned but ask the fish monger for the fish bones, skin and head ½ kilo oily fish traditionally carp, but I use fresh mackerel, as above filleted and s...

  Chocolate Swiss Roll- a tribute a special friend Back in the 1950’s at the age of six after a dance class, my friend Annette and I were presented with a glass of homemade lemonade & a freshly baked Swiss Roll, in her grandmothers kitchen, her grandmother, picked up a knife and kept suggesting serving size, when the knife reached dead center, we both squealed with delight, and proceeded to eat half the Swiss roll each. From then on, every playdate, (and there were many of them over the years) was punctuated with a Swiss roll. Every time I saw, ate, or made a Swiss roll over the years I would remember my childhood, my friend, and our shared childhood Swiss roll greed! In January I asked Annette what she wanted for her birthday, A Swiss roll was her reply, so I made her a chocolate Swiss roll, because it wasn’t gluten free, I didn’t taste it but it looked the part! She told me I had done good. (Although I am not sure if it was her grandmother’s standard !!) This is my recipe it ...

    Honey Cake with love  It’s that time of the year again when I bring out My Grandmothers Honey cake Recipe “Bubba Silvers Honey Cake Gluten free version)” No mixer needed make by hand like my Grandma! (a variation of my grandmothers traditional recipe) when I was a child my grandmother would make honey cake for all family Simcha's , I adapted her recipe to make it healthier, The smell when it is baking takes me back to those special days when she was alive smiling spreading unconditional love to her grand & great grandchildren, the true undisputed matriarch of our family. You need 3 Eggs 1 1/3 cups organic honey 1 1/2 cups organic brown sugar 1 cup boiling water cooled 2 tsps. Baking powder 1 ¼ cup good quality organic sunflower oil. 1 tsp. Baking soda 4 cups gluten free plain flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon all spice ½ teaspoon dry ginger Flaked almonds (optional) ( For my cousin Gabbi ) A large helping of family pride and love (essential!) How to make it!. P...

  Butternut and Sweet Potato Soup. As we move into September, it becomes soup season, I love soups, there are so many varieties, they can be a whole meal, a starter, you can stick it in a flask and take to work, or on a day out. Whenever I make this soup, for family or friends they always come back for more. It is in fact my go to soup for autumn Friday nights! (But please don’t tell the chicken!) I love the soup not only because it’s quick, easy, it doesn’t need pre frying or any oil keeping it low fat and healthy, but also   because the colour reminds me of harvest time in Kansas where my son lives, where the shops and farmers markets are filled with pumpkins, carrots, sweet potatoes. A bowl (or cup) of this soup brings a feeling instant inner warmth comfort and wellbeing, the ginger and chili aids digestion without being overpowering, and the vanilla brings out the flavour of the vegetables: One spoon of this soup and I feel all is alright with the world! When I return...

  Super Salmon.   Salmon is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and potassium. The omega-3 and -6 fatty acids combined with potassium greatly contribute to heart health, as they reduce artery inflammation, lower cholesterol levels, and maintain blood pressure levels.   Is flexible, easy to cook and delicious. We are lucky in the UK that Salmon is reasonably priced compared to other fresh fish, excellent quality and readably available. It can be baked, grilled, poached, stir fried, air fried pan fried, and cooked in the microwave. Just be careful not to over cook salmon, because then it dries out, remember when you remove fish from the heat it continues cooking. So under cooking is Ok. When you serve it the salmon will be perfect. When cooking salmon   if you see white bits when  cooked that is the protein  coming out and it is over cooked ad will dry out   It can be served hot or cold, served for one or for guests ...