New eBook Release – A Savoury Time by Chef Jimmy Boswell 

New Years Release special NZ$ 5 (US$ 4)

http://www.jimmyboswell.com/Savoury_Time_eBook.html 

Over 110 pages, 60 savoury recipes including starters, sides, brunch, mains, bbq, vegetables as well as a wine pairing section.

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Method 

In a pot, heat the extra-virgin olive oil and butter. Throw in a sprig of mint or oregano. Add the fresh porcini to the pot and let them cook for a minute so that the mushrooms absorb all the flavors. 

Add a ladle of vegetable stock (broth) and allow the porcini to cook for another minute, or until the broth has been absorbed. Season with salt and black pepper, and pour in the remaining broth. Bring the soup to a boil, and then lower the heat. Let the soup simmer for 30 minutes. 

Before plating, add the Parmigiano cheese and 2 eggs. Stir very well for a minute and serve hot.

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For me this dish would have to be one of my all time favourites. I love the taste of the egg yokes as they are cut and cover the asparagus. I sometimes serve this with avocado cut into small cubes.

Serves 4

Ingredients

400g (1lb) asparagus, woody ends snapped off or trimmed
4 large eggs
6 tbsp grass fed butter
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
salt & cracked black pepper

Method

Place the asparagus in gently boiling water and cook to al dente, firm to the bite. This should take about 4 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus.

Now divide the asparagus onto four warmed plates.

Melt 2 tablespoons of the grass fed butter in a frying pan over a medium heat and fry the eggs until the whites are set but the yolks remain soft. Place one egg on top of each bunch of asparagus.

Melt the remaining butter in a small pan and then drizzle it over the asparagus. Sprinkle with a little salt, and some coarsely ground black pepper.

Next sprinkle the fresh parmesan cheese equally over each plate.

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Farsumagru is steak stuffed with meats, cheeses, eggs and vegetables and then rolled to look like a roast and is a very traditional dish from Sicily. While it looks simple once its sliced it reveals a myriad of ingredients and taste. 

It can be served at room temperature, but it’s terrific hot out of the roasting pan, the delicious meat juices drizzled over the slices. Have your butcher butterfly the steak you buy to facilitate pounding.

Ingredients 

1 bunch spinach or Swiss chard
7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive or coconut oil
1 small onion, finely diced
1kg (2.2 pounds) rump (round) steak, or similar cut of beef, cut into single slice not more than 12mm (1/2-inch) thick and butterflied
1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese
1/4 dry rough ground shiitake mushrooms (you will have to grind them)
100g (1/4 pound) mince (ground) veal, lamb, beef or pork
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
Salt and fresh ground black pepper

2 large eggs
3 hard boiled eggs
400g (1 pound) equal amounts various cold cuts and cheeses. This should include salami, prosciutto, provolone or caciocavallo cheeses, cut in medium dice or julienne strips
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
1 cup dry red wine
1 cup veal, beef or chicken stock (broth), homemade preferred
2 tablespoons tomato paste

Method

Remove hard stems from spinach, wash well and drain. Place spinach, with only wash water clinging to leaves, in medium saucepan. Gently cook over medium heat about 10 minutes, or until tender. Remove pan from heat and let spinach cool. Drain and squeeze to remove as much water as possible, then set aside.

Heat 3 tablespoons olive or coconut oil in sauté pan. Add onion and sauté until just golden then remove from heat. Place in large bowl big enough to hold all the fillings later on.

Pound out steak slice to 4-5mm (1/4-inch) thickness with mallet or flat side of heavy cleaver. Do not tear meat.

Mix pecorino cheese, mince and parsley in bowl with sautéed onion. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Add raw eggs and mix again, combine well. Spread mixture evenly on pounded meat. Place hard-cooked eggs lengthwise, in row, on meat mixture. Scatter cold cuts and cheeses, peas and spinach evenly on top of ground-meat mixture and hard-cooked eggs. Roll meat tightly over stuffing into shape of log and tie with string in several places to secure during cooking.

Brown meat roll in large skillet in remaining 4 tablespoons oil, turning often. When meat is browned, place in heat-proof casserole dish. Pour in wine and stock (broth). Add tomato paste and stir liquids well to disperse paste then bring liquid to boil, then immediately reduce to simmer. Finish cooking meat on top of stove on simmer, or in 165C (330F) oven, 1 1/2 to 2 hours, turning meat often to baste with liquid. There should be about 1 cup liquid to use as sauce in dish, left in pan when meat is done.

Remove meat from casserole, let stand in warm place about 10 minutes, then remove string. Cut into 5mm (1/4-inch) slices and serve on heated plates with sweet potato mash or salad or seasonal vegetables. Spoon on remaining pan juices.

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Serves 2 

2 ripe avocados, halved

½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved

¼ cup celery, diced fine

½ medium red onion, diced fine

2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley

1 tbsp fresh thyme (I use lemon thyme)

2 rashers chemical free streaky bacon

Coconut or olive oil for frying

salt and pepper to taste

4 mediun sized eggs poached

½ lime or lemon

¼ cup grated provolone cheese (you can use mozzarella if you like) 

Add 2 tbsp oil to a sauté pan or skillet over a medium heat then add the diced onion and celery. Sauté for about 4-5 minutes till the onion and celery have softened. 

Once it has softened add the tomatoes and sauté just until the tomatoes start to soften and give off a little of their juices and then season with salt and pepper. 

Remove from pan into a bowl and then add the bacon to the pan and cook till done.

Remove and rest on a paper towel to soak up some of the oils. Once cool crumble the bacon and add to the bowl, add parsley and thyme, lightly season with a little salt and pepper and mix to combine. 

Turn oven to grill (broil) and place the rack in the middle of the oven. 

Put a pot of salted water on the stove and when warm add 4 eggs and poach. 

While the eggs are poaching line a baking tray with foil. Cut your avocado in half, remove the pip and squeeze some lime on both halves, lightly season with a little salt. Remove the flesh, dice and mix into the vegetables in the bowl. 

Fill the cavity with the mix from the bowl, top with the cheese and place in oven for approximately one minute just so it’s warmed and the cheese has melted and started to bubble. 

Top with poached egg, season with salt and pepper if desired and serve.

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I make these when I have leftover chicken roast from the day before. This is an easy breakfast or brunch.

2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken

310g (12 oz)can corn kernels, drained

1 small red capsicum, finely diced

1/2 bunch spinach, leaves shredded

2 tablespoons coconut or plain Gluten free flour, sifted

6 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup olive oil 

Salad 

80g (3 oz) mixed salad leaves

1 Lebanese cucumber, halved lengthways, deseeded, cut into matchsticks

2 carrots, peeled, cut into matchsticks

250g (10 oz) cherry tomatoes, halved

1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

pinch white sugar

1 teaspoon Gluten free dijon mustard 

Preheat oven to 160°C. Place chicken, corn, capsicum and spinach in a large bowl. Stir in flour and eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well. 

Heat half the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Using 1/4 cup of mixture per fritter, spoon mixture, 3 fritters at a time, into hot oil. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes each side or until golden and firm to touch in the centre, adding remaining oil as required. Transfer to a wire rack over a baking tray lined with paper towel, to drain. Keep warm in oven while cooking remaining fritters. 

Meanwhile, combine salad leaves, cucumber, carrots and tomatoes in a large bowl. Whisk vinegar, oil, sugar, mustard and salt and pepper in a jug. Pour over salad and toss to combine. 

Divide salad among plates. Top with fritters and serve.

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Growing and drying your own herbs guarantees that the herbs you use are always pungent and flavourful  Try a few of the combinations I’ve listed below, and I’m sure you’ll agree. And throw out all those old bottles in the spice cabinet soon! 

Italian Seasoning 

Use this blend to impart an Italian flavour to tomato meat sauces or with vegetables like eggplant.

2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried sage 

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container.

Bouquet Garni

The idea behind the bouquet garni is to add flavor without little flecks of herbs in the dish. Usually, these are dried herbs or a combination of dried and fresh. They are made into little bundles tied with a string long enough to be tied to the handle of the pot for easy removal. You can use cheesecloth, muslin, or even a tea ball to hold the herbs.

For a muslin bag, cut a 100mm x 100mm (4″x 4″) piece. Place the herbs in the middle and tie up the corners. You can also tucked herbs between two pieces of celery stalk, tied them together, and dropped them into the soup or stew. It is nice to have these bundles all made up and stored in an air-tight jar, or to mix a favorite blend and bundle it when needed. The traditional herbs used in a bouquet garni are a tablespoon each of parsley and thyme and one crumbled bay leaf. I always try to use fresh Italian parsley because I find the dried has little flavor. Here are some other combinations that I like to have on hand:

Stew Bouquet Garni
for stews, soups, meats, and other robust dishes.

1 part rosemary 
1 part thyme 
1 part sage 
1 bay leaf, crumbled 
10 peppercorns

Savory Bouquet Garni

for light soups, stews, stocks, and vegetable dishes.

2 parts marjoram 
1 part savory 
1 part thyme 
1 bay leaf, crumbled 
a few peppercorns

Herb Shaker Blend

This combo can be ground fine and used in a salt shaker. It’s good rubbed on roasts and in hearty stews. Forget the salt.

2 parts rosemary 
2 parts summer savory 
1 part thyme 
1 part marjoram

Curry powder 

Curry leaves are leaves of the kari plant, used to flavour southern Indian cooking. You can find fresh leaves in an Indian speciality food store. Toast in a heated skillet over medium heat until a shade darker and fragrant, about 4 minutes:

6 tbsp whole coriander seeds 
4 tbsp whole cumin seeds 
3 tbsp chana dal or yellow split peas 
1 tbsp black peppercorns 
1 tbsp black mustard seeds 
5 dried red chili peppers 
10 fresh or dried curry leaves (optional)

Combine the toasted spices with 2 tbsp fenugreek seeds. Grind the mixture to a powder in batches in a spice mill or electric coffee grinder. Mix well with 3 tbsp turmeric. 

Herbes de Provence 

2 Tablespoons dried basil

1 Tablespoon dried marjoram

½ Tablespoon dried rosemary

1 Tablespoon dried summer savory

2 Tablespoon dried thyme

2 teaspoon lavender flowers

1 bay leaf 

Country Blend
Perfect for salads, soups, on steamed vegetables, and blended into butter for bread and biscuits. 

This blend makes a terrific substitute for table salt. Spoon onto hot baked potatoes (forget the butter and salt). 

5 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 5 teaspoons dried

4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 4 teaspoons dried

4 tablespoons chopped fresh chervil or 4 teaspoons dried

4 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon or 4 teaspoons dried 

Combine the herbs and store in an airtight container at room temperature. 

Fish and Seafood Herbs

Sprinkle onto fish or seafood before baking or grilling.

Add the blend to fish soup and sauce; use for making fish stock for poaching fish and shellfish. 

5 teaspoons dried basil

5 teaspoons crushed fennel seed

4 teaspoons dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried lemon peel 

Combine all herbs and store in a tightly closed glass jar at room temperature. 

Cajun Blend

Excellent with fish or poultry. Sprinkle it into a baked sweet potato or over steamed vegetables. 

2 tablespoons paprika

1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

1/2 tablespoon black pepper

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons dried thyme 

Combine the herbs and spices. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. 

Fines Herbs

Season fish or poultry before cooking. Use in omelets and scrambled eggs.

Sprinkle over hot vegetables. 

3 tablespoons dried parsley

2 teaspoons dried chervil

2 teaspoons dried chives

1 1/2 teaspoons dried tarragon 

Combine the herbs. Store in a tightly covered jar at room temperature. 

Barbecue Blend

Excellent for beef, lamb, or pork. 

Sprinkle over eggplant or zucchini before grilling. 

3 tablespoons dried basil

3 tablespoons dried oregano

2 bay leaves, finely crumbled

2 tablespoons dried rosemary

1 tablespoon dried savory 

Combine the herbs. Stir in a tightly covered container at room temperature.

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Fresh is best and this dish is a great fresh Sunday brunch. 

2 100 g (4 oz) organic grass fed rump steaks per serve (or steak of your choice)

Ghee or coconut oil for frying

Salt and fresh ground pepper to season 

Salad 

1 hard boiled egg per serve (shelled and cut into quarters)

1 cup each diced cucumber, grape tomatoes, radishes, celery

½ cup each of spring onion and shredded carrot

Balsamic vinegar to drizzle over salad (optional)

Method 

On a tray season the steaks with salt and pepper, cover and rest 15 min. 

In a bowl combine (toss) the salad ingredients so they are well mixes. 

In a large heavy based skillet add ghee or coconut oil and heat over a medium high setting. 

Add the steak pieces and cook about 3-4 minutes each side or to your desired level of cooking and place on a warm plate to rest for 3-4 minutes before serving. 

Plate 2 steak pieces per serve and add salad. Drizzle a little, about ½ to 1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar over the salad if desired. 

Arrange 4 egg slices on each plate and serve.

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This recipe makes a great layered cake for a kid’s party. You can also use sponge to make Tiramisu or a yummy trifle for a festive occasion. 

Makes 2 by 20-cm (8 inch) cakes 

3 egg whites

3 egg yolks

½ cup sugar

¾ cup cornflour (For those in the US make sure its non GMO corn starch)

1 tsp gluten-free baking powder

pinch of salt 

Preheat oven to 180 °C. (390 F) 

In a large bowl, beat egg whites until stiff using an electric beater. Beat in egg yolks. Add sugar gradually and beat in a figure 8 motion until the mixture forms stiff peaks (the mixture should hold a figure 8). 

Sift together cornflour, baking powder and salt and fold into the wet mixture. Mix until well blended. 

Grease two 20-cm (8 inch) sandwich pans and line with baking paper. Pour the batter evenly into the two pans and bake for about 20 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on a wire rack.

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Bursting with flavours and sure to satisfy any appetite. Serve this with pride – your guests will love it.

Serves 4

1 tbsp organic grass fed butter

3 tbsp olive oil

225 g (8 oz) fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2.5-cm (1 inch) pieces

225 g (8 oz) fresh mushrooms, sliced

6 organic free range eggs

1 tbsp water

1 tsp chopped fresh thyme

3 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Preheat oven to 165 °C (360 °F).

Melt butter in an ovenproof frying pan over medium heat. Stir in olive oil and asparagus. Cook until the asparagus is tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms and continue cooking for about 5 minutes.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, water and thyme. Pour into the frying pan and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Transfer the frying pan to the preheated oven. Bake for 10–15 minutes, until eggs are no longer runny. Top with Parmesan and mozzarella. Turn on the oven grill and grill until cheeses are melted and lightly browned.

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