All recipes written by Gordon Ramsay
Saturday mornings wouldn’t be the same without him and, as one of our favourite TV chefs, we couldn’t believe our luck when we were invited to meet James Martin and discuss our his new TV show United Cakes of America and our favourite subject: CAKES! As charming as ever, James couldn’t wait to talk about his favourite meals, baking tips and just what is his food hell…
A roast chicken dinner is so versatile and you can do so much with it. If you take a pair of scissors and cut a piece of chicken along the underside of it, fold it out into a spatchcock and then baste it with maple syrup and grain mustard and stick it in the oven, you don’t have to wait for ages for it to cook – it only takes about 45 mins. You end up with chicken with a maple syrup and mustard glaze, serve it with a wedge of lemon – it’s like your own homemade Nandos!
Waffles! Buy an electric waffle iron and you won’t believe how quick it is to make waffles. You just mix the batter, pour it on a waffle iron and shut the lid – in 6 minutes you’ve got warm waffles, you can make waffles from start to finish in 10 minutes. You can make them savoury as well by putting chopped bacon in the batter and serve it with chicken in a chasseur sauce or you can put bacon and maple syrup on it. Waffles are one of the quickest things to make and they’re delicious when you eat them warm.
Try James Martin’s bacon waffle recipe
I love making red velvet cake which is basically a really light chocolate sponge with tones of red food colouring in but if you make that for the kids they won’t sleep for about 18 weeks! I made a variant of it with a chocolate sponge cake and I put red icing on the outside with red icing paste (which is better for you than using liquid food colouring). I made an American-style Italian meringue buttercream too. For the chocolate sponge I used cola; you take a can of cola, throw it in and the acid in the cola reacts with baking powder and causes it to rise.
There’s so many things that are happening in terms of food – slow cooking is going to be massive. I know there’s an emphasis to go quicker and quicker and quicker, but I get the feeling the next cookbook there’s going to be nothing in it – it’s going to be so quick!
At the end of the day, great food comes from time; time in the oven, like roast shoulder of pork, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Those are the things people want, that’s what people remember and I’ve got the feeling that’s going to be the next big thing. Minimal effort and maximum time in the oven – just put it in the oven and walk away from it!
See James Martin’s slow cooking recipes
My food heaven would be white crab meat or langoustines. I’m obsessed with langoustines! I try and get them on Saturday Kitchen as much as possible but the BBC haven’t got enough budget because they’re 2 quid each! They go a bit nuts ‘You can’t have langoustines again!’ But I love them, I just absolutely love them.
Food hell would have to be horseradish. I hate it. I hate wasabi, I hate horseradish – it’s disgusting! Wasabi makes fish taste disgusting – you’ve got a nice piece of salmon and you ruin it by putting horseradish on it and you do the same thing with a piece of beef. You’ve got a nice piece of beef that you spend ages roasting in the oven and then you wreck it by putting this white stuff all over it – it ruins it! It’s banned from our house! And never ever grow it in your garden because it’s even worse!
You need 8 eggs, 8oz flour and 1 pint of milk. It’s my Granny’s recipe, there is no other way to make Yorkshire puddings in my mind. Make it by hand the day before and leave it in the fridge overnight, gently stir it, then pour the mixture in hot tray with beef dripping in it, cook in the oven for 30 minutes – it’s the best Yorkshire pudding recipe!
I think it would be butterfly buns, they bring back so many memories of me as a kid. That would be the way to my heart – a butterfly bun with lemon curd mixed with cream and then piped in the middle.
(Quick ladies – make some of our lemon butterfly buns now!
James Martin’s United Cakes of America is new and exclusive to Good Food, Sundays – Wednesdays at 8pm from 24th February (Sky / HD 247, Virgin 260)
More James Martin recipes
goodtoknow’s cake hall of fame
Easy slow cooker recipes
We’re rather excited about this month’s food TV. Not only is MasterChef: The Professionals back on our screens, but Heston Blumenthal’s here with a brand spanking new series, Heston’s Fantastical Food, supersizing some of Britain’s favourite childhood meals and treats. There are plenty of foodie delights to keep you entertained this November…
The Great British Food Revival continues this month. From James Martin’s watercress knowledge to Ainsley Harriott’s love of British mustard, we’ve really enjoyed following each well-known chef as they’ve championed a different British ingredient. Still to come this month: John Torode sets out to revive duck, Glynn Purnel stands up for British shrimp, Monica Galetti takes on the asparagus, Tom Kerridge champions cured ham, Angela Harnett looks at ale and Michael Caines celebrates the British carrot.
When’s it on? BBC2, times vary
MasterChef is back and this time it’s professional. Judge Gregg Wallace is joined by two Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux Jr to search for a professional chef with enough talent to become Britain’s next culinary superstar. Joined by the formidable Monica Galetti, ten chefs from restaurants across Britain battle it out in the kitchen. From invention tests to skills tests, these chefs have got their work cut out for them and we just can’t wait to see the drama – and all that lovely food – unfold!
When’s it on? Starts Monday 5th, BBC2, 8.30pm weekdays
Where has Heston been hiding? Back with his brand new series Heston’s Fantastical Food, it looks as though he’s pulling out the big guns and going supersize! This series sees amazing supersized versions of childhood favourites to bring excitement back into food. In the first episode Heston tackles a full English breakfast, including meter long sausages and jumbo baked beans. We’ll definitely be watching.
When’s it on? Starts Tuesday 6th, C4, 9pm weekly
If you love all things spicy, Madhur Jaffrey will take you on a journey of Indian delights. Exploring the curry in modern-day Britain, Madhur shares her Indian food wisdom and delicious curry recipes. We’re looking forward to learning more about all the different blends and spices used in traditional curries.
When’s it on? Starts Sunday 4th, GoodFood, 9pm, times & dates vary
Where to next?
– Top recipes for November
– Keep all your fave recipes in one place with your very own recipes book
– Cheap, quick and easy recipes
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