In a food rut? It happens. You end up making the same three or four dishes in rotation, and the enthusiasm you used to have about dinner has died away into a daily obligation. You go round the supermarket hoping that some inspiration will strike you but you always end up taking the same old stuff. When life becomes hectic it is simple to fall into this trap.
But what would you change it? How about taking an ordinary weeknight dinner or a relaxed Sunday brunch and making it extra without having to spend hours in the kitchen or purchase a bunch of specialized ingredients? The solution is nearer than you imagine. It is about taking a bunch of fresh and plain ingredients and realizing their potential of being turned into something special. It is more about some kind of guidance and a recipe which is strongly proven to work.
Food shopping must begin a creative process and not conclude a creative process. A store such as Morrisons is excellent in this. They do not simply stock shelves, but rather offer the ingredients to countless kitchen adventures. They give you the power to be a more confident and creative home cook by not just selling fresh produces and quality ingredients but also selling the recipes to make them come to life. It is the kind of place where you go in to get milk and come out with a great dinner idea.
That is the true magic. It is the linkage between the unprocessed food in the store and the fantastic dish you can prepare using it. So how do you take the ordinary meal and turn it into an extraordinary one? Let us see.
1. Sweet Potato Rosti Stack with Roasted Tomatoes, Halloumi, Avocado & Sweet Chilli Sauce
Just imagine a meal that is already a visual treat even before you put it in your mouth. That is it. There is a crispy, golden brown sweet potato rosti that makes the best base. You top that with salty, pan-fried halloumi, roasted tomatoes, and avocado slices, which are creamy. One last spoonful of sweet chilli sauce pierces the richness and pulls it all together. A complete flavour and texture monster.
It is not a dinner, it is an experience, which would not be out of place on the brunch menu of a cool cafe. Nevertheless, it is simple to prepare at home. It is also quickly prepared in a jiffy as it only takes around 30 minutes to get it ready, hence is a perfect snack during the breakfast time or a light dinner that is quite satisfying. It is the kind of food of which you could say to people, “I made that.” Total satisfaction.
Features and Tips
-
Get your rosti extra crispy by squeezing all the excess moisture out of the grated sweet potato with a tea towel.
-
Don’t overcrowd the pan. Cook the rostis in batches to ensure they get golden and crisp all over.
-
Give the halloumi slices a pat with a paper towel before frying to help them get a beautiful golden crust.
-
A little squeeze of lemon or lime over the avocado will keep it from browning and add a fresh zing.
-
Feel free to add a poached egg on top for an extra layer of brunch-style luxury.
Ready to build this vibrant stack of deliciousness?
2. Strawberries & Cream Bread & Butter Pudding
How do you use stale bread? You can toast bread. Or you may make it into a dessert that everyone will be asking second helpings. It is not your everyday bread and butter pudding. It is a gorgeous, summer edition, filled with juicy strawberries, and drenched in a luscious, vanilla-infused custard and then baked to perfection. It is comfort food at its best.
The top turns beautifully golden and a little crisp and below, the bread turns to a soft creamy heaven, dotted with pockets of warm sweet strawberries. It is a retro dessert with a new, contemporary edge. It is ideal as a family get together, a sweet conclusion to a Sunday roast or simply because you feel like rewarding yourself. And anyway, who does not deserve such a treat?
Features and Tips
-
Using bread that is slightly stale is actually better, as it will soak up more of the delicious custard without falling apart.
-
For the richest flavour, let the bread soak in the custard mixture for at least 45 minutes before baking.
-
Bake the pudding in a water bath (a larger roasting tin filled with hot water) to ensure it cooks gently and evenly.
-
Don’t have strawberries? This recipe works beautifully with raspberries, blackberries, or even chunks of peach.
-
Serve it warm from the oven with a generous pour of single cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Go on, give this classic dessert a go.
3. BBQ Chicken Gyros with Dill & Cabbage Salad
Desire to take that holiday mood back home? Here is the way to do it. Imagine ridiculously moist, full-of-flavour chicken thighs, marinated in a mixture of yogurt, garlic and spices and grilled until charred. All of that is heapded into warm flatbreads with an incredibly fresh and crispy cabbage and dill salad. It’s messy. It’s fun. And it is simply delicious.
It is the meal to make when you are having a relaxed gathering of friends or a fun weeknight meal when everyone can assemble their own gyro, exactly to their liking. It is primarily chicken, though the salad adds the finishing touch of tangy crunch to the whole thing. To get that nice smoky taste you can barbecue the chicken or you can just use an indoor grill when the weather is being cranky.
Features and Tips
-
For the best flavour, let the chicken marinate for at least two hours, or even overnight in the fridge if you have the time.
-
Warm your pittas or flatbreads for a minute before serving. It makes them softer and even more delicious.
-
The cabbage salad can be made an hour or two in advance. The flavours will have more time to meld together.
-
A dollop of tzatziki is a classic addition that adds another layer of cool, creamy flavour.
-
Don’t be afraid to add some chips into the wrap, just like they do in Greece.
Fire up the grill and get ready for a trip to the Mediterranean.
4. Crab, Avocado & Asparagus Salad with Radish & Baby Potatoes
Something light, elegant and really impressive is what you are looking for? There you are. This salad can be defined as elegant simplicity. It combines tender, sweet crab meat, avocado, crisp asparagus spears and peppery radish with tender baby potatoes, mixed with a zesty crme fraiche dressing. Beautiful dish as it is tasty.
This seems like one of those starters that you would be served in a fancy restaurant, yet it is so simple to make at home. It makes an ideal light lunch on a hot day or an absolute stunner of a starter to a dinner party that will have your guests believing you are a genius in the kitchen. Each individual ingredient stands out making it a plate of fresh and clean flavours. It is healthy food that does not scrimp on flavor.
Features and Tips
-
For the best taste, use good quality fresh crab meat. Morrisons Dressed Cromer Crab is a great choice for this.
-
To keep your asparagus bright green and with a slight crunch, blanch it in boiling water for just a minute or two, then plunge it into ice water.
-
Slice the radishes as thinly as possible for a delicate peppery bite without overwhelming the other ingredients.
-
The dressing, which uses both wholegrain mustard and crème fraîche, is a winner. Make a little extra to use on other salads.
-
Toss the salad with the dressing right before you serve it to keep everything fresh and crisp.
Treat yourself to this plate of springtime elegance.
5. One-Pan Sea Bass with Asparagus & New Potatoes
What’s better than a delicious, healthy meal? A delicious, healthy meal that only uses one pan. Minimal fuss, minimal washing up. A total win. This dish is the answer to your busy weeknight prayers. Tender, flaky sea bass fillets with wonderfully crispy skin sit atop a bed of roasted new potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and asparagus.
It’s a complete meal in one roasting tin. The potatoes get a head start to become tender, then the asparagus joins them, and finally, the tomatoes and fish are added. The tomatoes burst, creating a simple, rustic sauce with the white wine, and the fish steams to perfection. Simple, elegant, and on the table in under an hour. Now that’s smart cooking.
Features and Tips
-
Make sure you pat the skin of the sea bass fillets completely dry with a paper towel. This is the secret to getting it perfectly crispy.
-
Get your roasting tin nice and hot before you add the fish to help prevent it from sticking.
-
Don’t cut the asparagus too small; you want it to retain some bite after being roasted.
-
A handful of fresh basil or parsley scattered over the top right at the end will brighten up all the flavours.
-
Serve with a wedge of lemon to squeeze over the fish. It’s a simple touch that makes all the difference.
Discover the simple joy of a one-pan masterpiece.
Your Partner in the Kitchen
Good food begins with good products, and it is finished with inspiration. That is one thing to sell food, and it is another thing to reveal to people the power hidden in it. This is the difference with Morrisons. They know that a recipe may be a road to a new family favourite or a road-map to experimenting with an ingredient you have never worked with.
With these clear, accessible and exciting recipes they are not only assisting you to plan your dinner. They are positively urging you to discover new tastes, to learn new methods, and to enjoy the kitchen more. It is a community of happy and confident home cooks that it is about creating.
What Will You Create?
And with that, we have covered five incredibly different, yet equally amazing meal ideas. Whether it is a gorgeous vegetarian stack or a easy one-pan fish dinner, the choices are unlimited. All these recipes demonstrate that one does not have to be a trained chef to come up with food that is visually and culinarily stunning. You only require being given a small push towards the right direction.
What will you make first, is the question. To scroll past these ideas is a mistake. Choose one that interests you. You will find all the fresh quality ingredients you will need at Morrisons.
The only thing left to add is your own touch of creativity. So get out there, have some fun, and make something wonderful.