Emma’s Kitchen

A glorious salad for a glorious evening! This was a nicoise of sorts but I had no anchovies so purists will tut! Still, vibrant textures and flavours, with a zesty dressing of good olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sea salt and pepper… banging!😎🥗🥚🧅🥔🥬🫒

A beautiful fresh and zingy Greek salad… I was about to put some chips in but saw these fabulously ripe tomatoes in the dish and I was inspired!! Hot flat bread to go with, a healthy and tasty dinner that took less than 5 minutes to make!! 🍅🧅🫒🧀

A very big cheat today.. a bag of stir fry veg, a bag of cooked egg noodles and some pork. The sauce was very uninspiring and is a reminder that some things are just better made from scratch. That said, supermarkets do help with inspiration for a well-priced and quick dinner! There’s no need to get precious about pre/packaged food if it serves a purpose and so many of us are pressed for time… maybe I’ll make up for it and slow-cook something wonderful this weekend! 🥦🥬🌶️🍜

This was banging!! It could have been neater but didn’t last long on the plate. Beef stroganoff courtesy of … creamy and rich but high in fibre and protein, low in fat and carbs. Lean steak, chestnut mushrooms, onion, parsley, stock, yoghurt and mustard… easy and just very good! Served with brown basmati 👌🏻🍚🤗

Wow what a weekend!! Having a great time cooking and baking family favourites; jerk chicken, Jamaican patties, banana and walnut tea loaf and a luscious, velvety cheese sauce for a veggie bake to accompany tomorrow’s roast… this is what I can teach you, simple but amazing recipes for everyone you love to cook for!!

Spaghetti vongole… this was the most amazing dish; if you want an authentic Italian pasta dish this is it!! I put parsley stalks, wine, a lot of chopped garlic and good olive oil in a heavy based dish… threw in the clams and some quartered cherry tomatoes and cooked them. I finished off with chopped parsley and dried chilli flakes… this seriously was wonderful!! If you’d like some help with getting cooking off the ground then please get in touch!! 🌶️🧄🍅

Lunch of champions!💪🏻a bacon sandwich and a glass ( or several) of champagne… wishing you all a wonderful 2023 and remember to get in touch for your personalised cooking experience!🥳🥂

Wow 🤩.. so this looks untidy but what an amazing combination! I used some frozen smoked haddock (cheaper than fresh), some finely sliced leeks, spinach, a little fresh thyme and potatoes that were well past their best!! I cooked the spuds and mashed them, slowly cooked the leeks ( a good tip is when you wash them leave some water sticking as this will help them steam as you don’t want a crispy finish) and added the poached, flaked fish. I formed a messy cake but if I do these for family I make little cakes which I coat in breadcrumbs. You could do this without the haddock, or substitute the fish, you could top with a poached egg for elegance or you could serve with roasted cherry tomatoes for a delicious breakfast! It’s cheap, uses up bits, is packed with protein and so good for you! Show me your take! 🥔🍳🐟

Leeks! I bought a high protein pasta so that I could have veggie delights sometimes. I love leeks and recently discovered they are incredibly good for you! So, leeks softly sweat down, cream and chillies… just divine!!🧅🧄🌶️

There’s a steak sandwich, and then there’s an Emma’s Kitchen steak sandwich!😁 Toasted grainy bread, quick sauce of shallots, horseradish, Dijon and mayo, crispy spinach, juicy tomato and a rib-eye, my favourite cut for flavour! Cooked medium-rare… big noms!! 🥩🍅🥬🍞🍽️

Lyonnaise potatoes! I needed the beauty of a proper meal so par boiled some Maris pipers, sliced them, added a sliced white onion and it’s now coming together with some seasoning and olive oil… onions and potatoes are my desert island ingredients… what are yours??🏝

Breakfast of champions!! Or at least knackered people who are doing shift work!!😴 I’m trying to shed some timber so instead of trying to find the next best diet regime I’m listening to and calorie counting. This sandwich came in at 550 calories and will last me for a long while; plenty of goodness and the ubiquitous spinach which I eat every day cos I love it! I’m too busy for faddy food, I want to eat well and enjoy flavour and texture… so plenty of veg, lots of fibre and, of course, a little bacon! 🥑🥓🥬

Another pork dish. Many don’t eat pork but in Spain I’ve had proper Iberico pork… the sort that roams wild and eats acorns and that will be celebrated by an entire village. Today’s was served with a peppercorn sauce and amazing homemade chips, cooked in olive oil 🫒🥔… the simple cooking in Andalusia reflects the freshness of the vegetables and the quality of the meat… jamon anyone?

Gecko!😍

Staying with relatives in Spain 🇪🇸… lunch today was pork with wine, garlic, chickpeas and onion, with added artichoke hearts and chanterelle mushrooms 🍄… I will shortly be having a siesta!

The utter glory of a fish finger wrap…

Trying to up my protein without eating so much meat ( which I love)… so I ordered some yellow pea pasta from and made a simple sauce to go with the macaroni. Beautiful pasta! Loved it so will be posting some more recipe ideas very soon! Please get in touch for help with your culinary desires and disasters!! 😊

Lasagne! I couldn’t cope with a roast today so threw this little beauty together. I cheated too… it’s easy to make a cheese sauce ( when you know how) but even easier to buy a jar of white sauce! There’s nothing wrong with a cheat sometimes… but in my lessons I’ll teach you how to knock up the perfect roux in no time, for when you have the luxury of pottering in the kitchen style! It must be said that many dishes are better when left a day, and this would have too, but it was still a passable mixture of steak mince, tomatoes in many forms, oregano, bay and some soft red wine 🍅🧄🍷🧅🥩

Avocado on toast day! I love this combination of silky avo, sharp and fresh lemon juice, sea salt and chilli flakes… I find it feels good to eat😋🌶🥑🍋

In need of a Spain-fix… vino and tapas, a fish called rosado which is, I think, a member of the hake family, and strong Spanish brandy… chilled times in an amazing place 🇪🇸

Pastaaaa!! What’s not to love about a pasta meal? This was a search in the fridge recipe with lardons, chestnut mushrooms, spinach, garlic and lots of chopped parsley… I bought this together with the smallest amount of cream and some pasta water ( brings an amazing silkiness to your dish). The final flourish was crushed chillies and Parmesan…. This is the kind of cooking I like, so simple yet so good!! 😋🌶🧄🧀

Feeling a bit of a flavour-fest today… so gonna search this mess of a drawer for some inspiration 🧐🌶. I need something warming so will head to the spice section; maybe some turmeric and sweet smoked paprika to liven up a chorizo based paella, or some cumin and cayenne to start off a steaming bowl of chilli con carne ( or, according to carne con chilli) ! 🧄🍅🧅🫘

Cooking up a sumptuous coq au vin … I’ve not jointed a chicken but have stuck with the sweet juiciness of thighs. I’ve also kept the skin on for added flavour. I plan to serve this with parmentier potatoes and simply cooked broccoli…. Nom 😋🥦🧄🧅🍗

Hello! Emma’s Kitchen is now open for business! For all of your cooking skills support, menu planning, recipe tips and fun cooking evenings👩🏻‍🍳… I can’t wait to hear from you and help you on your cooking journey for family, friends, health and happiness! 🙌🏻🥒🍳🥗🧄🧅🌶 # Kent