CUBE KETTLE RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. On a chopping board, peel and finely chop the onions, garlic and carrots, then trim and finely chop the celery.
  2. Pick and finely chop the rosemary leaves, then finely slice the bacon or pancetta.
  3. Put a large saucepan on a medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  4. Add the bacon, rosemary, garlic and veg, then cook with the lid ajar for 10 to 15 minutes, or until softened and just turning golden, stirring occasionally.
  5. Stir in the mince, turn the heat up to high and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until browned all over,stirring and breaking it up with a spoon as you go.
  6. Add the tomatoes, tomato purée, vinegar and bay leaves.
  7. Fill and boil the kettle.
  8. Crumble in the stock cube and pour in 400ml boiling water.
  9. Stir well, turn the heat up to high and bring to the boil.
  10. Season with pepper, reduce to a low heat, then cover and simmer for around 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  11. Remove the lid and continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes, or until thickened and reduced. Meanwhile...
  12. Re-fill and boil the kettle.
  13. Carefully fill a large pot three quarters of the way up with boiling water, add a tiny pinch of salt and bring back to the boil.
  14. Add the spaghetti and cook according to packet instructions – you want to cook your pasta until it is al dente. This translates as ‘to the tooth’ and means that it should be soft enough to eat, but still have a bit of a bite and firmness to it. Use the timings on the packet instructions as a guide, but try some just before the time is up to make sure it’s perfectly cooked.
  15. Using a microplane, finely grate the Parmesan cheese onto a clean chopping board (if using).
  16. Once the spaghetti is done, ladle out and reserve a cup of cooking water and keep it to one side, then drain in a colander over the sink.
  17. Taste the Bolognese sauce and season with a little more pepper or vinegar, if you think it needs it.
  18. Carefully pick out and discard the bay leaves.
  19. Put half the sauce into a container, leave to cool, then freeze for another day.
  20. Stir the spaghetti into the remaining sauce, adding a splash of pasta water to loosen, if needed.
  21. Divide between bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese (if using), then serve.

Steps:

• Ingredients out • Kettle boiled • Griddle pan, high heat • Large lidded pan, high heat • Food processor (coarse grater & bowl blade) START COOKING On a large sheet of greaseproof paper, toss the chicken with sea salt, black pepper and the five-spice. Fold over the paper, then bash and flatten the chicken to 1.5cm thick with a rolling pin. Place on the hot griddle pan, turning after 3 or 4 minutes, until nicely charred and cooked through. Pour about 800ml of boiling water into the large pan and crumble in the stock cube. Trim the stalk off the squash, roughly chop the neck end (don't peel, and keep the seed end for another day), then grate and tip into the boiling stock. Peel the garlic and ginger. Swap to the bowl blade in the processor and add the garlic, ginger, chilli, turmeric, trimmed spring onions, peanut butter, lime leaves, coriander stalks (reserving the leaves), sesame oil, soy and fish sauces. Blitz to a paste, then tip into the stock and add the noodles. Trim the asparagus and cut in half. Add to the pan, pour in the coconut milk, and as soon as it boils, taste, correct the seasoning with soy sauce and lime juice, then turn the heat off. Drizzle the honey over the charred chicken, squeeze over the juice of 1 lime, scatter with the sesame seeds and toss to coat. Serve with the laksa and lime wedges, sprinkling everything with the coriander leaves and slices of fresh chilli.