Gumbo

1 onion
Garlic and ginger
4 sticks celery
1 leek
1 red capsicum
1 can tomatoes
1 can whole corn kernels
1 cup chicken stock
2 cups cooked rice
2 cups cooked shrimps
150g ham
200g chorizo (about 4)
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper

Dice all vegetables.
Brown the onion, garlic and ginger.
Add the paprika and cayenne pepper and fry for 1 minute.
Add the ham and chorizo and fry for 3 minutes.
Add the celery, capsicum and leek and fry for 4 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, corn and stock and bring to boil.
Add the rice.
Simmer until vegetables are cooked, add the shrimps ans warm through.

Chocolate ramekins

4 eggs at room temperature
100g 70% cocoa solids chocolate
100g sugar
75g butter
50g standard flour

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
Cream together eggs and sugar.
Melt butter and chocolate in a bowl set over hot water.
Leave to cool for 4 minutes and then stir in the eggs.
Fold in the flour.
Spoon the mixture into the ramekins (makes around 8).
Bake for around 15-20 minutes.
Serve with cream or ice cream.

Chicken korma

1 onion
Garlic and ginger
500g chicken breast
1 tsp cardamom
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garam masala
1 cup plain yoghurt
3/4 cup cream

Fry onion, garlic and ginger until browned.
Add chicken and brown.
Add spices and stir for 2 minutes.
Add yoghurt, bring to boil and simmer for around 10 minutes.
Add cream and warm through.
Serve with couscous or basmati rice.

Upside-down pineapple cake

300g self-raising flour
5 tbsp warm golden syrup
450g canned pineapple rings
200g butter
Pottle plain yoghurt
300g sugar
5 eggs

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
Line the bottom of a baking dish with baking paper and cover with the syrup.
Arrange the pineapple rings on top.
Cream butter and sugar together.
Stir in the yoghurt.
Mix in the eggs.
Fold in the flour.
Pour the mixture over the pineapple rings.
Bake for around 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
Rest for 6 minutes and then slowly run a knife around the edges to release.
Turn out cake and slowly remove the baking paper.
Serve with cream or ice cream.

Pork pie

Sheet flaky pastry
1 onion
Garlic and ginger
750g minced pork
1 large apple, grated
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsps sweet chili sauce
1 tsp sesame oil

Preheat oven to 200 degrees C.
Mix together the onion, garlic, ginger, pork, apple, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce and sesame oil.
Spoon into oven dish and cover with the pastry (Be sure to poke some holes in the pastry so steam can escape).
Bake for 20 minutes then reduce heat to 180 degrees and bake for another 20 minutes.

Syrup sponge

200g golden syrup
100g butter
Pottle plain yoghurt
150g sugar
3 eggs
175g self-raising flour

Pour the golden syrup into the bottom of a pudding bowl.
Beat butter and sugar together until light.
Stir in yoghurt.
Beat in the eggs.
Fold in the flour.
Spoon the mixture into the bowl.
Cover the top with foil and secure.
Place in a deep pan half-filled with boiling water.
Steam for 2 hours checking the water level every now and then.
Tip the pudding onto a plate and pour warmed golden syrup over the top.

"No butter" butter chicken

1 onion
Garlic and ginger
2 tsps curry powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
500g chicken breast
Can tomatoes
1 tsp garam marsala
1 cup plain yoghurt
1/2 cup cream

Fry onion, garlic and ginger until browned.
Add curry, cumin and coriander and stir for about 2 minutes.
Add chicken and brown and then add can tomatoes.
Bring to boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Stir in garam marsala, yoghurt and cream and warm through.
Serve over couscous or basmati rice.

Custard tart

Sheet sweet shortcrust pastry
6 eggs
Pottle plain yoghurt
80g sugar
500 ml cream

Heat oven to 170 degrees C.
Roll out the pastry and cover the bottom and sides of a pie dish.
Bake blind for 10 minutes.
Remove paper and bake for another 5 minutes.
Whisk eggs and sugar together.
Stir in cream.
Warm over low heat until hot but not boiling.
Pour filling into pie dish and bake for around 45 - 50 minutes.
The filling should be set but not firm.
Leave to cool.