Chilli Bean Wraps (BFF)

It's that time of the week again. It's Boy Food Friday. I cheated a little this week. I made a huge vat pot of 5-bean chilli earlier in the week and gave some to a friend who is having their kitchen done. It means BFF tonight is technically leftovers. Except that I bought tortilla wraps (should have made them, but had a hair appointment very important meeting scheduled) and assembled a few extra bits to jazz it all up.

We also had tortilla crisps, some chopped tomatoes/cucumber, diced cheddar (would you forgive me if I admitted that I couldn't be bothered to grate it?), creme fraiche (sshhhh, healthier than sour cream, I won't tell if you won't) and hot sauce.

I can't take the credit for the hot sauce, although I have tweaked the recipe very slightly. It is a thing of wonder. You simply whizz the following ingredients in a blender:

• a tin of tomatoes
• some lime juice
• some honey
• a good amount of fresh coriander
• as many chillies as you can handle

It tastes even better the next day, if it lasts that long.

I also got my ice-cream maker out of the cupboard. I haven't used it in quite a while which is disappointing when you consider that ice-cream is probably my favourite food. Even more than so chocolate. Or cake. Or even triple chocolate and sour cherry brownies. I made a dark chocolate gelato to use up the egg yolks left over from making a pavlova* for a BBQ tomorrow. I have a feeling the well scraped plates and bowls tell me that the gorgeous husband and the amazing sons are pretty full right now.

*The pavlova has just been consumed by us and some friends, but I managed to snap a photo before it was demolished. I can recommend mixing the whipped cream with low-fat greek yoghurt to make it slightly healthier. Which in my book just means that you can eat more.......

Chorizo, Bean and Lentil Stew

I've just finished work for the week - I know, I know it's only Tuesday I hear you say. I got home pretty late after son 1's trumpet lesson and needed to cook something for dinner.....with very little food in the house! If it wasn't for being rescued by the milkman again this morning (milk, bread and yoghurt - THANK YOU) I think there might have been a mutiny on my hands. We get through a lot of food - I say we, the cat and I tend to graze modestly during the day, the husband has scaled back his portions, so in truth it's the sons who at age 12 and 7 (nearly 8) can pack it away! So dinner tonight was a store cupboard raid, and in truth it was rather good.

1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 onion finely sliced
200g chorizo sliced and then the slices halved
2 tbsp tomato puree
1 litre vegetable stock
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 carton of passata
1 tsp chilli flakes
200g lentils
2 tins cannellini beans
salt and pepper

1. lightly fry the onion in the sunflower oil
2. add the chorizo and cook for a minute or two, then add the tomato puree and cook for a further couple of minutes
3. add the vegetable stock, chopped tomatoes, passata, chilli flakes, lentils and cannellini beans and stir well
4. bring to a simmer and let it gently bubble away until the lentils are cooked - mine took about 30 minutes
5. top up with a little water if the lentils swell too much
6. season to taste
7. serve with couscous or rice, or if you prefer bread (pittta? naan? crusty baguette?)

VERY easy - I like that after a day at work! And there are a couple of portions ready for the freezer which makes me very happy too and an extra one put aside for the lovely friend's lunch tomorrow. I'll definitely be making this one again.