CRACKLING COOKIES RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to its highest temperature.
  2. Using a Stanley knife, score the skin down to the meat (try not to cut the meat), making the cuts very close together.
  3. Bash the fennel seeds and a good pinch of sea salt in a pestle and mortar to a powder.
  4. Tip the oil over the top of the scored skin, then sprinkle over the fennel mixture, and rub all over so that everything gets into the scores and down into the meat.
  5. Roughly chop the carrots and celery, then throw these into a roasting tray. Break the garlic bulb up into unpeeled cloves, peel and chop the onions into large wedges, then toss into the tray with the thyme sprigs.
  6. Put the seasoned pork belly on top of the vegetables in the tray, then roast for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the skin starts to bubble and turn golden brown.
  7. Reduce the oven temperature to 170°C/325°F/gas 3, and roast for 1 hour 30 minutes. When the time's up, carefully open the oven door and pour in three-quarters of the wine. Cook for 1 further hour.
  8. Remove the meat carefully from the oven and test to see if it pulls apart easily. If not, cook for a little longer. Allow the meat to rest while you make the gravy.
  9. Put the tray of roasted vegetables directly onto your hob over a medium heat add, add the flour, then stir together until thick. Cook for 1 minute then add in the remaining wine – if you sauce is too thick add a splash more wine or water.
  10. Using a potato masher, mash up the vegetables until you have a delicious thick-looking sauce. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on a low heat, season to taste, then strain through a sieve into a jug.
  11. Remove the crackling from the top of the belly and break up into pieces, pull the pork belly apart, and serve with the jug of gravy on the side, and a selection of seasonal vegetables.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6.
  2. Peel and halve the potatoes, then cook in boiling salted water for 15 minutes, or until tender. Drain, return to the pan and cover.
  3. Meanwhile, trim the strip of skin from each chop in 1 piece and set aside.
  4. Rub the chops with a little oil, then pick and press a couple of sage leaves on to each side, and season well with sea salt and black pepper.
  5. Place a wide ovenproof frying pan over a medium-high heat, add the strips of skin, skin-side down, place a heavy pan on top to keep them flat, then fry for a couple of minutes, or until crisp – just like crackling.
  6. Push the crackling strips to the side of the pan, add the pork chops, and fry for 1 minute on each side. Transfer the pan to the oven (if you don't have an ovenproof pan, transfer the chops to a preheated baking tray instead). Roast for 10 to 15 minutes (depending on the thickness of the chops), or until cooked through.
  7. Meanwhile, chop half the watercress, pick and finely chop the parsley and trim and finely chop the spring onions.
  8. Heat the milk with the bay leaves until almost boiling, then add the parsley, spring onions and the chopped watercress. Switch off the heat and leave the bay leaves to infuse in the milk for a few minutes, then fish out the bay leaves and discard.
  9. Add the warm potatoes to the milk and mash until smooth. Season well with sea salt and black pepper. Cover with a lid and keep warm, until needed.
  10. Put a little butter on top of the champ, and serve with the pork chops, crackling and remaining watercress.