How to Make Festive Savoury Nut Roast Balls with Cranberry Sauce-Vegan friendly use non-dairy butter

I had never made a nut roast before so thought I should and would try it. All the basic recipes I saw had brown rice or egg or cheese and soy sauce, breadcrumbs etc but I wanted to keep it simple and for vegans too so I just threw some things together and this was the result. I always make a small portion first and then if it's good make a bigger one. They are so good and the cranberry sauce just makes them - I didn't want them served with gravy as it takes away the taste. When you try the mixture in the pan you will see why we ate a lot of it before it went in the oven! The chestnut mushrooms worked beautifully and for not much ingredients these should be street food at Christmas! The cranberry sauce was only 55p from Asda as we had to nip out and find some mid-cook but that was good too. You can use this recipe as a starter or with a main meal, it's up to you.

A viewer asked could she do this in a bun tin to make a large one to slice? My reply was : "Not sure, as with the balls they were crispy slightly all round which is what I was after. With the balls guests can take as many as they want ( (and we didn't have a loaf tin ha). You could try it as all the ingredients are pretty much cooked anyway but once you have done the balls you won't look back they are so easy". If any of you guys do make a loaf of it do let me know how it goes!! Nuts also contain vitamin E which is a great anti-oxidant, and also a preservative - so if you want to preserve those youthful good looks, it won't do any harm adding a few nuts to your diet weekly!!

Here is the Recipe

Quick tea - Hot Dogs with fried onions, mustard and relish.

 You can't beat a hot dog, especially as a bonfire party snack or even a quick tea.  We found the Tivall brand to be delicious, and the Fry's brand to be an ok one. If we find anymore contenders we will let you know. You have to gently fry your onions in butter here, and you have to add mustard and burger relish. Also do butter your hot dog rolls before adding the onions etc for the best taste! My daughter loves them as do we. 

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How to make Rhubarb Crumble

 Rhubarb - this is another vegetable/fruit that you can buy a small shoot of in a pound store, plant it out in the back garden and off it goes.  Rhubarb has also been  used as a natural dye! We always make this crumble when our rhubarb is ready to pick. By adding the sugar bit by bit you can achieve just the right amount of sweetness, because rhubarb on it's own is very tart . Easy recipe this - just rhubarb, butter, plain flour and Demerara sugar, but it tastes divine. Rhubarb was first cultivated in the far east more than 2000 years ago. It was initially grown for medical purposes. Check out the amount of natural vitamins, minerals and anti- oxidants in it you can see why. If you have never had rhubarb this way you need to try it. Then just slap on some custard for a sweet treat! 

Here is the Recipe 

How to make Omelette with Cheese and Mushroom Filling

 An omelette is a simple affair, just whip up your eggs, add a little ground black pepper, bit of oil to the pan and off you go. On their own though they don't really have much taste, but you can fill them, or chop up finely a little mushrooms etc and add them to the egg mix before you cook it. They are always good with cheese and beans and make for a simple meal by adding some chips too! They are also good fried in a little olive oil which makes them light and fluffy. 

Here is the recipe

How to make Butternut Squash Soup (Vegan friendly)

 Butternut squash on it's own doesn't have much taste, so pairing it with the carrot and celery and stock brought out its flavour. Nutritionally Butternut squash is a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. The orange colour, beta carotene/ Vitamin A is good for eyesight. It's also classed as a superfood. This is also a tough vegetable to peel - so I use a potato peeler and then take out the seeds and inners. It is heavier than it looks too. Made like this gives it a rich, creamy taste. Any vegetable that is rigid like this is full of Potassium too so it's good for the heart! 

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How to make a Quick Spinach, Cherry Tomato and Mozzarella Salad - just drizzle on the olive oil!

 This is a really quick plate summer salad with just three ingredients - Spinach, cherry tomatoes and Mozzarella cheese.  Always use the freshest Spinach for added crunchiness. You can use baby plum tomatoes here, and you could add a few pitted olives - but don't overdo it, keep it simple. Always serve this with a slice of wholemeal bread. Spinach is from the beetroot family so it is full of nitrates for healthy blood flow. It was also Popeye's favourite food!

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How to make Red Lentil and Carrot Soup (Vegan friendly)

 Everybody needs a good thick Winter style soup and what better than this red lentil and carrot one. Surprisingly this is at the moment my most viewed soup! Made with just carrots, red lentils, oxo vegetable stock cubes, garlic, onion and sunflower oil, it is so easy to make too. It is a good soup to serve in a cup to warm your hands in winter as well. Just dip in the crusty rolls and off you go!  Carrots are full of vitamin A for your eyes, and lentils are a good iron source for the blood. So a good health tonic too. 

One of our viewers commented "just made half quantity because i live alone. i used red onion and it was just gorgeous :)" Thanks for that, so there is an idea too....

Here is the recipe