CHEF and blogger Paul James writes for our paper.
Okay, so this is not your normal Christmas type recipes, but, let’s be honest, what is normal in today’s world.
Now everyone who reads my columns, knows of my love for championing businesses around the world, especially those who produce either locally sourced produce or unique and creative products.
Well this lovely business in Bridgend, Wales ticked all of those boxes.
I came across ‘Lilo’s Handmade’ at the BBC Good Food Show, in Birmingham last month and was totally blown away with the products they were selling.
‘Lilo’s Handmade’ makes fresh and dried artisan pasta, every day. Their pasta is made using bronze pasta dyes, which they believe provides the best finish to freshly made pasta.
Their dried pasta is made using premium Italian pasta flour, which is dried slowly at low temperatures to capture as much flavour from their fresh ingredients as possible.
Their packaging is also environmentally friendly too.
‘Lilo’s Handmade’ makes pasta using only water and wheat flour, meaning that their pasta is suitable for both vegetarian and vegans.
They also use superfoods, vegetables and natural ingredients to create all of their different flavours.
I’m pretty sure that you will enjoy both of these recipes over the Christmas holidays but please go online to liloshandmade.com and get yourself stocked up to create some wonderful dishes throughout the year.
This recipe and the next one will totally scramble your minds with taste and vision.
This one looks like a dessert, but it is spicy and savoury, then it tingles your tastebuds with a delicate sweet chocolate taste.
I mean, chilli and chocolate is a match made in heaven, so please give this one a go.
Visit facebook.com/recipesfrommytravels for more on Paul’s blogs and recipes.
Chocolate and orange pasta with spicy lentil bolognese
Ingredients
Chocolate and orange pasta (From Lilo’s handmade pasta)
1 tin of cooked lentils
1tbsp of Olive oil
1tsp of garlic paste
1 large onion finely diced
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
2 chilli’s, deseeded and finely sliced
Fresh parsley finely chopped
fresh basil finely chopped
1/2 tsp of dried oregano
1/2 tsp of smoked paprika
1/2 tsp of chilli powder
White chocolate grated for decoration
Method
1. In a large saucepan, add boiling water (no salt) and cook the chocolate and orange pasta until just al dente.
2. In a large hot frying pan, add the oil, garlic and onions, then gently sauté until translucent.
3. Then add in your dry spices, mix well then stir in the finely sliced red chilli, parsley and basil.
4. Add in the tinned tomatoes and lentils, bring to the boil then simmer for around 20 minutes until the bolognaise starts to thicken.
5. Drain your chocolate and orange pasta and tip into your bolognese sauce.
6. Serve on a warm plate and sprinkle with Sliced Chillies and coriander and a dusting of white chocolate.
