NEIL'S RECIPES: ECCLEFECHAN TART

"Simple to make and utterly heavenly to eat. Have a go and try it with different flavours of creams like orange mascarpone, warm custard or a simple vanilla ice cream."

Sweet pastry tart case:

INGREDIENTS

200g plain flour

60g icing sugar

70g unsalted butter

1 egg

METHOD

Sift the icing sugar into a bowl and add the butter. Beat until light and fluffy, then add the egg and combine. Sift in the flour and gently bring together into a ball.

Then press the dough into a round, flat shape and wrap in cling film. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.

Remove the pastry from the fridge and roll it out using a good amount of flour on top of some on cling film. That makes it easier to lift and lay the pastry into the tart case.

Butter a 10" loose-based round tart tin and dust with flour to make it non-stick. Then line with the rolled sweet pastry followed by 3 sheets of cling film. Allow it to rest for 30 minutes, then add baking beans and bake at 180°C for 30 to 40 minutes until golden. Remove the baking beans, brush with an egg wash and the tart shell is ready for your filling.

Ecclefechan tart mix:

INGREDIENTS

120g melted butter

120g soft dark brown sugar

2 eggs

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon cinnamon

470g Californian raisins

120g broken walnuts

Icing sugar to dredge

METHOD

Whip the melted butter and soft dark brown sugar together. Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl and add slowly to the butter and sugar. Mix in the raisins and walnuts, then add the lemon juice, zest and cinnamon and give another good mix.

Add the mix to the tart shell whilst it’s still warm, and smooth over using a wet palette knife. Bake in a moderate oven (around145-165°C) for 30 to 45 minutes until golden and firm to the touch. Be careful of burning the raisins in the oven. Placing another tray on the shelf above the tart will help to stop the harsh heat burning them.

Remove from oven and leave to stand for half an hour. Then remove from the tin, dredge with icing sugar and serve.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL IN 5 EASY STEPS

Get in the mood for Christmas with this simple, seasonal cocktail. Fresh and elegant, it's a perfect way to toast the festive season.

STEP ONE

PREPARE THE GARNISH

STEP TWO

SHAKE THE SLOE SYRUP AND GIN OVER ICE IN A COCKTAIL SHAKER

STEP THREE

SINGLE STRAIN INTO A CHILLED CHAMPAGNE FLUTE

STEP FOUR

TOP WITH CHAMPAGNE

STEP FIVE

TOP GLASS WITH GARNISH AND ENJOY!

For the Sloe Syrup:

500g sloe berries, 250g sugar, 250ml water

Bring to the boil together in a pan and simmer until glossy and reduce by a third. Cool. Strain the contents through a sieve.

For the Cocktail:

20ml sloe syrup, 20ml gin, champagne to top up, orange peel to garnish

NEIL'S RECIPES: OYSTERS WITH WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE AND TABASCO

“This takes me back to working in Australia many years ago—it really works and is utterly delicious. That said, nothing beats a glass of champagne and freshly-shucked oysters au naturel.”

Serves 4
Prep time 20 minutes, cooking time 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS

Allow 3 to 6 oysters per person as a starter, 12 for a main course
150g piece of good air-dried bacon, cut into very small lardons
2 tablespoons of cold-pressed rapeseed oil
3 to 4 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
2 to 3 teaspoons of Tabasco sauce
A twist of pepper
Course salt to rest the shells on

METHOD

Have a go at shucking the oysters yourself. Go online and watch a tutorial, or ask your fishmonger to do it for you. Retain each oyster in half the shell.

Next, add the oil to a solid frying pan and bring to a moderate heat. Add the bacon and fry until just starting to crisp up, keeping it moving all the time. It’ll take 5 minutes or so.

Whilst the bacon cooks, turn the grill on full heat. Top each oyster with bacon and place in an oven-proof dish. To make the sauce, combine the Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco and drizzle over each oyster and place under the hot grill for 3 to 5 minutes until the bacon is crisp and the oysters are just cooked.

Serve at once on plates of course salt alongside a big salad and bread.

NEIL'S RECIPES: CHOCOLATE TART

“Lovers of rich chocolate will adore this, although I can only manage a small slice. Of course, it all depends on the ingredients you use. I’m using Montezuma’s organic dark chocolate just now, and adore it. The trick to this dish is to trust your oven and serve the tart on the day you make it. It’s just not the same the day after!”

Makes on 9-inch tart – but small, individual tarts work very well too

INGREDIENTS

9-inch pastry case, lined

275ml double cream

200ml whole milk

400g dark chocolate, I use Montezuma’s

3 whole eggs

Cocoa powder for dredging (optional)

For the pastry (this will give you some for your freezer for next time):

600g plain flour, sifted

185g icing sugar, sifted

215g unsalted butter, diced

3 eggs, cracked and gently whisked

METHOD

Cream the icing sugar and butter together for a few minutes until light in colour. Add the flour and scrape down the sides of the bowl before adding the eggs - a little at a time - to make a soft, wet paste. Chill for 20 minutes then roll out and line your pastry case and allow it to rest for a further 20 minutes in the fridge.

Remove from the fridge and cover the pastry with greaseproof paper or a triple-layer of cling film, add baking beans and bake at 180°C for 35 to 40 minutes, until just golden and crisp. Remove the baking beans and greaseproof paper.

Meanwhile, warm the cream and the milk together in a pan until it nearly comes to a boil. Then remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Mix well with a whisk, and then allow it to cool gently for 5 minutes or so.

Add the eggs to this mixture one at a time, stirring gently as you do. Then pour this mixture into the blind-baked tart shell and bake for 20 to 30 minutes until there is no wobble when you gently shake the tray.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before removing carefully from the tin. Dust with cocoa powder (optional). Cut into slices and serve with crème fraîche.

A top tip is to use a sharp, hot, wet knife to cut the tart into perfect slices.

NEIL'S RECIPES: VENISON STEW AND DUMPLINGS

“This is a regular dish at home, and those dumplings are just exquisite. You can substitute beef if you prefer, but it’s the kick of cinnamon that lifts the stew and gives it a festive touch.”

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

500g diced shoulder of venison, beef or lamb would be as good

2 local carrots, washed, peeled and diced

2 medium-sized onions, peeled and roughly chopped

1 wedge of turnip, peeled and diced

500ml really well reduced. good beef stock

200ml leftover gravy or sauce

½ a cinnamon stick, optional but a hint of spice in winter adds something special

1 glass of red wine

1 sprig of thyme

1 bay leaf

Good salt and pepper

100g self-raising flour

50g proper beef suet, minced, packet suet would do

Herbs e.g. chives; horseradish, mustard, optional flavourings for the dough balls

Extra flour for dusting

1 tablespoon cold-pressed rapeseed oil for frying

METHOD

Add the oil to a hot casserole dish and fry the diced venison until golden brown. It will take a few minutes on high heat. Season with salt and pepper and add the diced carrot, turnip, onions and the cinnamon if you’re using some and fry for a further 5 minutes until you achieve a good colour.

Still on a high heat, add the wine and reduce slightly. Then add the thyme, bay leaf, gravy and stock. Season again and bring to a simmer.

Place in a hot oven (180°C) without a lid for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Then turn down the heat to 150°C and cook for a further 2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes or so to ensure the stew doesn't dry out.

Meanwhile, make the dumplings by adding the flour to a bowl and stirring in the minced suet and salt, then combining with cold water until you have a rough dough. Don't overwork the dough. You can add any flavourings you like such as chopped chives, horseradish or mustard.

Divide the dough into 4 balls - you may need extra flour for rolling as it can get quite sticky - and plop them into the stew pot after the first 3 hours is up and place the lid on. Turn the heat up to 180°C again and cook for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and serve at the table in the dish it’s cooked in.

NEILS RECIPES: CARAMEL TART WITH CRÉME FRAÎCHE

“This tart looks very simple, but it’s a little bit tricky to make. I’m using blind-baked sweet pastry with whisky, rum or madeira added to the caramel. Gentle cooking is required, not too hot an oven, and remember to let it cool before cutting. Lovely with that kick of salt through the mix.”

Serves 10

INGREDIENTS

1 pre-cooked blind-baked 12-inch pastry shell

280g caster sugar

50ml Madeira, or whatever alcohol you prefer

1 litre double cream

Pinch of good sea salt, optional

70g light brown sugar

9 egg yolks

A few dollops of good crème fraîche

METHOD

Heat oven to 145°C.

In a good pot on a medium heat on the stove, heat the caster sugar to a golden-brown caramel. Do not leave it.

Carefully add the alcohol, then the cream. It will look a bit strange but bring it back to a temperature that will melt the caramelised sugar. Allow to cool slightly.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the light brown sugar and egg yolks. Add the slightly cooled cream and caramel mix, whisking immediately. Add the salt, stir, sieve into a clean pot or jug, then pour into the tart case.

Bake for 35 to 55 minutes, checking all the time. When there is a nice wobble on the tart, it’s ready. Remove from oven, chill and serve with a dollop of good crème fraîche.

NEIL'S RECIPES: CULLEN SKINK WITH CHEDDAR TOPPING

“This dish goes back generations. I have cooked it for 30 years and I only hope I do it justice. Some chefs have taken this humble bowl of smoked fish, potato and leeks and deconstructed it to make it into a distant cousin of the actual dish, which incidentally has nothing wrong with it so there’s no need for any form of deconstruction! Anyway, enjoy it with this cheese and herb crumb as a main course on a blustery north-east Scotland sort-of-day.”

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

550g smoked haddock pieces

2 large potatoes, peeled and diced

1 large onion, peeled and diced

1 large leek, washed, sliced and chopped

500ml double cream

Knob of butter

2 handfuls of fresh breadcrumbs, don’t be tempted to use shop-bought breadcrumbs for this, it’s not the same

2 tablespoons curly parsley, chopped

Zest of half a lemon

1 handful grated cheddar, I love Keens just now

Good salt and pepper

Extra parsley for garnish

METHOD

Sweat the onions in the butter in a thick-bottomed pan until translucent. Then add the potatoes and cream. Cook until the potatoes are just soft, then add the leek and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce the heat and add the smoked haddock. Stir gently until the fish is cooked, and spoon into bowls.

Make the topping by mixing the breadcrumbs, cheese and parsley. Add to each bowl and place under the grill until bubbling and golden. Serve with a sprinkling of parsley.

NEIL'S RECIPES: BACON

If you've ever thought about making your own bacon but thought it would be too complicated. Think again.

“There’s nothing quite like opening your fridge door on a Sunday morning and seeing your own bacon sitting there ready for breakfast. It's the most satisfying feeling to see and hear your own bacon sizzling away in the pan whilst you inhale those wonderful bacon-y aromas as you anticipate the best breakfast of the week!”

Neil's recipe below is just a starting point. It's rewarding to try different flavour combinations every time you make it. Trust us, once you have tried this, you will never go back!

INGREDIENTS

1kg of pork belly – ideally skin and bone on – if you can’t get bone, just reduce the salting time by 2 or 3 days

500g of coarse sea-salt

250g of unrefined, soft, dark sugar

Optional: handful of fennel seeds – coriander and star anise also work well – experiment with flavours

200-300ml alcohol - sherry, Madeira or an oak-aged beer are good options

Ground white pepper or paprika

METHOD

Mix the salt, sugar and fennel seeds well. Cover the bottom of a deep plastic tray and place the pork on top. Work the mix over the entire surface area of the pork. Place the tray in the fridge or somewhere cold. Massage the salt and sugar mix into the meat and turn it in the tray every day for 5 days. As time goes by you will notice moisture draining from the meat.  This is fine – don’t drain it off! On day 6, remove the meat from the tray and give it a good rinse under a cold tap.  Dry it off with a clean tea-towel. In a clean tray, douse the meat in the alcohol of your choice. Add a dusting of ground white peppercorns or paprika.

At this stage it’s best if some air can circulate around the meat – but it’s not essential. If there’s somewhere cool you can hang it, like a cellar, larder or garage – great. But if not, just on a plate or a tray in the fridge is fine. After 2 or 3 days, your bacon will be ready. Enjoy!

NEIL'S RECIPES: ARBROATH SMOKIE AND TOASTED OAT SALAD

“Arbroath smokies can be a bit tricky to find, but good fishmongers usually stock them, and you might spot them at markets or even online. I’ve even seen them for sale in Harrods. They’re fantastic flaked into soups and risotto, kedgeree, or Cullen skink.”

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

2 Arbroath smokies

4 dollops of crème fraîche

2 tablespoons pinhead oats, lightly toasted

4 small handfuls of washed salad leaves, I like a good mix from Phantassie Organic, but rocket is just as good

A squeeze of half a lemon

Good salt and pepper

2 radishes, very thinly sliced

A wee trickle of cold-pressed rapeseed oil

METHOD

Heat the oven to 150°C. Place the smokies on an ovenproof tray and warm them for around 15 to 20 minutes. Then allow them to cool slightly before peeling the skin off and removing the bones. Keep to one side.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the salad leaves, oats (save a few for a garnish) and crème fraîche. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice before adding the flaked smokies to the bowl.

Give it a good mix and add a drizzle of cold-pressed rapeseed oil. Have a taste, it may need some more seasoning.

To plate up, distribute the salad between 4 plates and scatter the radishes on top. Then add a few more toasted oats. Delicious.

NEIL'S RECIPES: CÔTE DE BOEUF WITH TWICE-FRIED CHIPS, ROASTED GARLIC, MUSHROOMS AND WATERCRESS

“Big, meaty, and perfect for sharing—côte de boeuf can be a bit tricky to cook, with methods varying. I prefer to pan-fry it and then roast, and occasionally cook it over wood at the back door to add more flavour. A real treat, especially when served with something classic like béarnaise or roast bone marrow for extra beefy goodness.”

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS 

500g côte de boeuf

1 tablespoon cold-pressed rapeseed oil

2 bulbs garlic, peeled

1 bulb garlic, top 2cm removed

2 sprigs of thyme

A few flat mushrooms, whole

3 large potatoes, peeled

Oil for frying the chips

A big bunch of watercress

Good salt and pepper

A small knob of butter

METHOD

Heat oven to 190°C / 375°F

Marinate the beef in the cold-pressed rapeseed oil, peeled garlic bulbs and a sprig of thyme for at least one hour.

Place the garlic bulb in a sheet of tin foil with some salt and a knob of butter. Scrunch up and roast for 45 minutes in the oven.

Cut the potatoes into chip shapes and fry at 130°C in a fryer for 7 to 10 minutes - until just cooked. Remove the chips and turn the fryer off.

Place a griddle pan on the hob and cook the mushrooms for about 6 minutes on one side, then turn them over to cook through. Keep warm.

Sear the marinated beef on an oven-proof griddle to create a criss-cross pattern. Then season and place the griddle in the oven with the thyme and butter for 7 to 10 minutes for medium rare, or longer if you like it more well-cooked. The longer the cooking and grilling the more well done it will be.

Allow the meat to rest on a clean plate in a warm place so it becomes more tender and easier to carve. Any resting or cooking juices can be simply drizzled over the steak as you serve.

Turn the fryer up to 190°C and submerge the chips in the hot oil and cook until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.

I like to serve this dish on one large wooden board with a few slices carved into the beef and all the other components scattered around. I suggest squeezing the roasted garlic over the beef and the mushrooms before you tuck in, it’s delicious!