Thank you for reading and/or trying out my recipes this year – much appreciated! Have a great festive season and a peaceful, healthy 2025. A x

Prawn Linguine with Crispy Bacon – serves 4

We have this one on a regular basis as it’s quite quick and easy, and very forgiving. Substitute the prawns with any seafood or fish of your choice.

• 150g smoked streaky bacon
• 400g cooked king prawns (or other seafood/fish)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 shallots or 1 medium onion, finely chopped;
• 2 -3 cloves of garlic, crushed
• ½ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes
• 500ml fish stock from cubes (veg or chicken will do)
• 2 teaspoons fish sauce (if using veg or chicken stock)
• 12 cherry tomatoes, quartered
• juice of half a lemon
• Small bunch flat leaf parsley, leaves only, chopped
• 1-2 teaspoons sugar
• Black pepper to season
• 1 packet linguine or pasta of your choice.

Method:

In a deep frying pan, heat the oil. Fry the bacon until crisp. Remove and set aside.
Pour the fat into a small bowl and clean out the pan with some kitchen paper. Add a tablespoon or two of the oil & bacon fat to the pan and add the onion, gently fry until softened but not browned (around 15 minutes).
Add the garlic and chilli flakes and fry for another couple of minutes.
Pour in the stock and fish sauce, if using. Bring to a lively simmer and allow to reduce for around 10 minutes. Then add half the chopped parsley and the tomatoes and simmer gently.
Put the pasta on to cook. 5 minutes before the pasta is ready, add the prawns/other seafood to the sauce to warm through.
Season with sugar and black pepper to taste (you shouldn’t need any additional salt). Drain the pasta when cooked, reserving a little cooking water.
Stir the pasta through the sauce and add a little of the pasta water if needed.
Sprinkle with the remaining parsley and serve.

Mince Pie Strudels – makes 12

These make a lighter change from the usual shortcrust pastry version. They work well as a dessert, served warm with ice cream, cream or custard. Leave out the mandarins if you prefer. Best eaten on the same day.

• 6 sheets filo pastry
• three-quarters jar mincemeat
• 1 can mandarin oranges (drain off the liquid and place the segments on kitchen paper to dry out a little)
• finely grated zest of 2 large oranges
• 120g butter, melted
• icing sugar for dusting (optional)
• You will also need 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

Preheat oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5.
Divide the mandarin segments into 3 equal piles (one pile per four strudels).
Place one sheet of filo on your work surface, brush with melted butter and spread a third of the orange zest over it as evenly as possible.
Cover with a second sheet of pastry. Using a sharp knife, cut the pastry into four rectangles.
Take one square, long side nearest you, and brush with more butter. Place a line of the mincemeat mixture, around 1cm from the bottom edge, leaving room at each end for folding.
Top with some of the mandarins from one of the piles. Roll up into a long parcel (cigar-shaped), tucking in the ends, ensuring that the mincemeat is completely enclosed.
Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat the process until you have 12 little strudel rolls, evenly spaced on the tray(s).
Brush them all with melted butter and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden and crisp.
Allow to cool sufficiently (you don’t want any trips to A&E this time of year!) and dust with icing sugar.

With thanks & festive greetings to Ann Shaw 🙂

Bon Appetit!

Ann’s previous recipes:

• Nov ’24 – Bonfire Pizza Beans / Rocky Road
  
• Oct ’24: – Tarragon Chicken / Pear and Ginger Upside Down Cake 
  
• Sept ’24 – Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa / Guacomole
• Aug ’24 – Davesburgers / Summer Fruits Cake
  
• July ’24 – Salad Days – (a trio of salads, ideal for barbecues)
• June ’24 – Roasted Vegetable Ratatouille / Jean’s Tea Loaf
• May ’24 – Garlic Prawns (Gambas al Ajillo) / Tortilla española
  
• April ’24 – Slow cooked Chinese Beef with Ginger / Saucy St. Clements Pudding
• Mar ’24 – Macaroni Cheese with Leeks and Mushrooms / Welsh Cakes
• Feb ’24 – Quick Fish Chowder / Raspberry Cheesecake Hearts
  
• Jan ’24 – Scouse (or Lobscouse) / Ginger Cake
  
• Dec ’23 – Salmon in Filo /  Easy Chocolate Mousse
• Nov ’23 – Squash & Sausage Pasta / Pear & Apple Sponge

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