Easy Pea-sy!

I've been away a bit this week. Horrid hotels and train food have left me wanting quick, comforting home-cooked food. I appreciate for many people this is code for 'take-away' but I have an aversion to take-aways and find cooking a relaxing exercise in itself, so this was not the solution I was looking for.....

Time to investigate the freezer! I always have petit pois in the freezer. They are great standby for lots of dishes:

• pureed to serve with scallops
• mixed with nuts, oil and cheese to make pesto
• mashed with garlic and oil to make a bruschetta topping
• combined with lemon and pecorino to make a silky, fresh tasting risotto

So frozen peas, a need for comfort and the contents of my cupboards resulted in this concoction....Pea Soup served with Pea & Pancetta Muffins.

All of this is very easy, from cupboard to table in 30 minutes! It's also comfort food without lots of calories (pancetta and a small amount of Cheddar are the 'naughtiest' ingredients).

Pea & Pancetta Muffins
Makes 8

225g Plain Flour
1tbsp Baking Powder
Pinch Salt
80g Pancetta with Herbs (I used Salisbury's cubed pancetta)
225ml milk
60g cheese (I use a mature Cheddar for best flavour)
100g petit pois (frozen)

• Preheat oven to 180c/GM4
• Line a muffin tin with 8 squares of greaseproof paper (optional - you could just oil the tin)
• Pan fry pancetta on a medium heat until cooked
• Mix together flour, baking powder, salt and cheese
• Whisk eggs and milk and add to flour
• Add frozen petit pois and pancetta
• Stir gently to combine
• Divide into 8 in a muffin tray and bake for 20-25 minutes

Pea Soup
Serves 4

1 onion
400g petit pois
1 clove of garlic (crushed)
500ml vegetable stock
2tsp olive oil
Cream to serve (optional)

• Finely chop onion and gently sweat with garlic and oil for 5 minutes until softened
• Add petit pois and stock
• Simmer for 15 minutes
• Blend with a stick blender/liquidiser
• Serve (with cream if you wish....!)

...and there you have it! I now feel full and relaxed...though there is an empty bottle of wine in the kitchen, which may have contributed!

General food chit-chat

Really excited about the next post at the weekend 'Marshmallow Mayhem' - how to make homemade marshmallows!!!

Interview for Britain's Best Dish is on Saturday at 9a.m. Fingers crossed that feedahappylife food will be on a TV near you soon!

As ever, anything suggestions as to what you want to see here, let me know at helen@feedahappylife.co.uk

Much love,
Helen