weekend cooking projects

Battenberg cake is a true classic for afternoon tea. The Hairy Bikers' recipe makes it foolproof.  

Battenberg cake

175 grams/6 ounces softened butter, plus extra for greasing

golden caster sugar

free-range eggs

flour

vanilla extract

red food colouring paste

apricot jam

500 grams/1lb 2 ounces ready-made marzipan

2–3 tbsp icing sugar, for rolling.

This classic recipe is a great introduction to making your own pasta.

Equipment: for this recipe you will need a pasta machine.

Spinach and ricotta ravioli with sage butter

360 grams/12½oz 00 flour,

spinach,

ricotta

grams/1½oz Parmesan (or

lemon, grated zest only

sage

garlic clove, crushed

unsalted butter

sea salt and black pepper

You can't beat a classic cake - and Mary's crowd pleasing chocolate gâteau makes a wonderful make-ahead dessert for special occasions.

Mary's Black Forest gâteau

eggs

150 grams/5½oz caster sugar

grams/3½oz self-raising flour, sifted

grams/1¾oz cocoa powder, sifted

750 milliliters/1⅓ pint double cream, whipped

150 grams/5½oz white chocolate

250 grams/9 ounces plain chocolate (about 46% cocoa solids)

cherries

You can use shop-bought filo for this spanakopita recipe, the classic Greek spinach and feta pie. You wouldn't expect Paul Hollywood to, though, would you?

Equipment and preparation: You will need a pasta machine for this recipe.


Spanakopita

white flour

100-120 milliliters/3½-4fl oz warm water

olive oil

salt

cornflour,

70 grams/2½oz butter, melted

egg yolk, for glaze

spinach

salt and pepper

nutmeg,

lemon, zest only

free-range egg, beaten

feta

sesame seeds

tbsp crushed sea salt

Natural yoghurt gives this sourdough starter recipe a helping hand by introducing a little friendly bacteria.

To learn how to use this starter see our <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/how_to_make_sourdough_08213">
easy recipe for sourdough bread</a>. 

Sourdough starter

175 milliliters/6fl oz skimmed milk

milliliters/5 tbsp fresh, live, full-fat, plain yoghurt

100 milliliters/3½fl oz water

milliliters/3 tbsp milk

150 grams/5½oz strong white flour

150 milliliters/5½fl oz water

This classic steak pie uses stout to make a rich gravy and ready-rolled pastry for ease. For the ultimate pie, the recipe suggests using shortcrust for the base and puff for the lid, but obviously you can just use the puff pastry lid if you prefer.

You will need a 28x23cm/11x9in pie dish that is 4.5cm/1¾in deep.


Steak and stout pie

350 grams/12 ounces ready-rolled shortcrust pastry,

350 grams/12 ounces ready-rolled puff pastry,

flour,

free-range egg, beaten, to glaze

3–4 tbsp vegetable oil, plus more for drizzling if needed

900 grams/2lb rump steak, cut into bite-sized chunks

brown onions, finely chopped

celery sticks, finely chopped

garlic cloves, finely chopped

tbsp plain flour

thyme

bay leaves

300 milliliters/10fl oz chicken stock

500 milliliters/18fl oz Irish stout (such as Guinness)

150 grams/5½oz button mushrooms, kept

carrots,

salt and black pepper

This cheesy, garlicky tear-and-share bread is great for picnics and other get-togethers. Top with dried oregano, poppy seeds or sesame seeds, depending on your preference.

Cheese and roast garlic tear-and-share bread

garlic

tbsp olive oil,

150 grams/5½oz plain flour

dried fast-action yeast

250 milliliters/9fl oz full-fat milk, plus extra for glazing

tbsp malt extract

unsalted butter,

150 grams/5½oz cheddar, grated

tsp dried oregano, poppy seeds or sesame seeds

butter

tbsp finely chopped fresh flatleaf parsley

These delicious little savoury parcels are so dainty but so moreish – try them once and you’ll be hooked. Choose from two delicious options: go meaty with pork mince or try a crab and prawn version.

Gyoza (Japanese dumplings)

300 grams/10½oz strong white flour, plus extra for rolling

water

tbsp vegetable oil,

tbsp sesame oil

pork

choi,

fresh root ginger, peeled, grated

garlic cloves, grated

tsp black pepper

tbsp chopped spring onion (green part only)

½ tsp ground chilli flakes

tsp sesame oil

oyster sauce

sugar

dressed crab (dark and white meat)

200 grams/7 ounces cooked, peeled North Atlantic prawns, chopped

½ lemon, zest only, finely grated

soy sauce

lime juice

splash chilli oil

These delicious little savoury parcels are so dainty but so moreish – try them once and you’ll be hooked.

Unleash this crowning glory upon your guests – a delicious chicken and ham pie, bubbling with homemade goodness.
<br></br>
Equipment and preparation: You’ll need a 23cm/9in round pie dish.
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Each serving provides 1353 kcal, 57g protein, 84g carbohydrates (of which 6g sugars), 86g fat (of which 52g saturates), 7g fibre and 2.8g salt.

Hairy Bikers' creamy chicken, ham and leek pie

450 milliliters/16fl oz chicken stock

chicken

grams/2¾oz butter

leeks,

garlic cloves, crushed

200 milliliters/7fl oz milk

2–3 tbsp white wine (optional)

150 milliliters/5fl oz double cream

sea salt flakes and black pepper

350 grams/12 ounces plain flour,

free-range egg,

This delicious lamb moussaka recipe from the Hairy Bikers provides a wonderful meal for a family occasion. Completely comforting. 

Each serving provides 678 kcal, 34g protein, 34g carbohydrates (of which 10g sugars), 41g fat (of which 16.5g saturates), 6g fibre and 1.2g salt.

The Hairy Bikers' moussaka

750 grams/1lb 10 ounces lamb mince

onion, finely chopped

oregano

mint

bay leaf

cinnamon

plain flour

200 milliliters/7fl oz red wine

tin chopped tomatoes

tomato purée

aubergines,

tbsp fine sea salt

100 milliliters/3½fl oz olive oil

Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

400 milliliters/14fl oz milk

grams/1 ounces Parmesan, finely grated

tsp finely grated nutmeg

egg,

Homemade lemon curd is quick and easy and so much more mouthwatering than the shop-bought variety.

Lemon curd

unwaxed lemons, zest and juice

unrefined caster sugar

grams/3½oz unsalted butter,

free-range eggs, plus 1 free-range egg yolk

Ras malai cake is a simple sponge soaked in a fragrant, nutty milk mixture, flavoured with cardamom, saffron, pistachios and almonds. Leave overnight for the best results. 

Top 12 weekend cooking projects recipes from across the web

The most viewed weekend cooking projects recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Battenberg cake

Spinach and ricotta ravioli with sa...

Mary's Black Forest gâteau

Spanakopita

Sourdough starter

Steak and stout pie

Cheese and roast garlic tear-and-sh...

Gyoza (Japanese dumplings)

Hairy Bikers' creamy chicken, ham a...

The Hairy Bikers' moussaka

Lemon curd

Ras malai cake

Top 12 weekend cooking projects recipes from across the web

The most viewed weekend cooking projects recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Battenberg cake

Spinach and ricotta ravioli with sa...

Mary's Black Forest gâteau

Spanakopita

Sourdough starter

Steak and stout pie

Cheese and roast garlic tear-and-sh...

Gyoza (Japanese dumplings)

Hairy Bikers' creamy chicken, ham a...

The Hairy Bikers' moussaka

Lemon curd

Ras malai cake

The most viewed weekend cooking projects recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine