Credit Crunch

For around a year on BBC Stoke, Marilyn helped listeners with domestic problems and cooking tips (all free of charge) as the 'special guest' on Den's Early Breakfast Show. That was before semi retirement took over in 2006 - in other words, she got married.

Marilyn (on her day off!)

But, now re-invigorated and ready to help Staffordshire & Cheshire again during their time of need, Marilyn returns - to offer simple recipes that can be cooked quickly with minimum cost.
Try this one...

Spicy Lamb

Serves 4

700g / 1lb.9oz diced lamb

400g tin of whole or chopped tomatoes

2 – 3 tsp harissa paste (hot sauce/paste found in most supermarkets)

410g can of chickpeas, drained

Handful of coriander

Salt and black pepper

Put the lamb into a large pan and add the tin of tomatoes.  Half fill the can with water and add that to the pan with the harissa paste and season. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 1 - 1¼ hrs, or until the lamb is tender.

Rinse the chickpeas and add to the pan and simmer for another 5 mins. Taste and season some more if needed. Just before serving sprinkle over the coriander

Serve with couscous or rice

Coconut and Butternut Squash Curry

Serves 2   

2 tbsp Madras curry paste

1 large butternut squash, peeled and chopped into medium sized chunks

1 red pepper, deseeded and chunky chopped

400g can of coconut milk

200ml / 7 fl oz water

Small bunch of coriander, roughly chopped. Heat a large non-stick pan or wok dry put in the curry paste and fry for 1 min, then add the squash and red pepper and stir well into the paste

Pour in the coconut milk and the water and bring to a simmer, cook for 15 – 20 mins or until the squash is very tender and the sauce has thickened.

Season and sprinkle over the coriander. Serve with rice and/ or nan bread

Sunny Top Piggy Pie

Serves 4

500g / 1.5lb minced pork

800g / 1lb 12oz sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 large onion finely chopped

2 tomatoes skinned and chopped

1 sweetheart cabbage, shredded

150g / 5oz frozen peas

Couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce

300ml / ½ pt hot chicken stock

Bunch of parsley, finely chopped

1 tsp of sunflower oil

Salt and Black pepper

Preheat oven to 220C / gas 7

Lightly fry the onion in a large pan for about 5 mins until softened. Add the minced pork and tomatoes and cook for another 5 mins until the meat starts to brown. Now add the cabbage, stock sauce and salt and pepper.  Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.  Cook until the pork and cabbage are tender and the mixture moist but not sloppy wet.

Meanwhile cook the sweet potatoes in slightly salted boiling water for about 15 mins until tender, drain well and then mash stirring in the chopped parsley. Go back to the pan containing the mince mixture and stir in the frozen peas

Transfer the pork mixture into a pre heated ovenproof dish, then spoon evenly over the sweet potato mash and bake for about 20 mins, until it starts to bubble at the edges. Serve hot    (it’s also nice with some grated cheese sprinkled over the mash before going into the oven or after and browned under the grill)

Sticky Sausage

Serves 4

8 Sausages

1 tbsp clear honey

1tbsp sweet chilli sauce

1 crushed garlic clove (optional)

Preheat the oven 200C / gas 6. Mix the honey and chilli (garlic if used) in a bowl. Add the sausages and coat them in the sticky mixture. Place them into a roasting tin and cook for 20 – 30 mins until thoroughly cooked.  Serve with potatoes, new, jacket or mashed and vegetables.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Serves 4

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

8 rashers of streaky bacon (smoked if you have it)

125g / 4½ oz ball of mozzarella broken into small pieces

50g / 2oz grated strong cheddar

1 tbsp wholegrain mustard

Vegetable oil to grease

Preheat the oven 200C / gas 6

Mix the cheeses and mustard.Make an incision into the side of each chicken breast and stuff with the mixture. Wrap each of the breasts with 2 rashers of bacon – to hold the chicken together

Season and place on a greased ovenproof dish or baking tray and roast for 20 – 25 mins.Serve with new potatoes and vegetables

Chicken and Cheese Pie

Serves 4

450gms / 1lb diced cooked chicken

25g / 1oz flour

25g / 1oz butter

300ml / ½ pt milk

150ml / ¼ pt dry cider

1 small onion finely diced

110g / 4oz grated Cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper

225g / 8oz shortcrust pastry (either homemade or ready made)

Preheat oven to 200C / gas 6

Melt butter in a large frying pan and slowly add the flour, stirring all the time for about 2/3 minutes. Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the milk and cider. Return to the heat and stir until sauce thickens. Add the onion and cook for 5 mins. Then add the cheese and then the chicken and salt and pepper.Transfer the mixture into a pie dish and cover with the rolled out pastry. Trim and crimp the edges. Cook for about 30 mins, the pastry should be golden in colour

Lemon & Parsley Pork Steaks

Serves 4    each serving 89 cals 3.3g fat

4 x 115g / 4oz thin pork steaks 

40g / 2oz fresh breadcrumbs

3 small pieces of lemon peel

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Salt and ground black pepper

Low calorie oil spray. Parsley springs to garnish

Put the bread, lemon and parsley in a blender and reduce to a fine crumb and put onto a plate. Season the pork steaks with the salt and pepper then press the steaks into the breadcrumbs and coat on both sides

Preheat a non stick pan and spray lightly with the oil spray, pop in the steaks and cook for 10 mins on each side using a gentle heat

Serve with vegetables or salad, boiled new potatoes or chips. 

Spicy Chicken with Vegetable Rice

Serves 4

4 chicken portions

1 400g can chopped tomatoes

½ deseeded and chopped red pepper (optional)

1tbsp fresh chopped coriander

1 425g can chilli beans (or kidney beans and chilli powder to taste)

½ medium onion finely diced

½ diced courgette

250g / 9oz long grain rice

1 tbsp vegetable oil

550ml / 19fl oz water

Pour a little of the oil into a large (lidded) sauce/frying pan and lightly brown the chicken portions on both sides. Drain any excess fat and pour in the tomatoes, beans, red pepper and coriander. Stir, cover and cook for 25 mins until the chicken is thoroughly cooked

Meanwhile heat the remaining oil in a saucepan and add the onion and courgette and cook until softened.  Add the rice and cook for just a minute. Pour in the water, stir and cook over a gentle heat for 15 – 20 min until the rice is cooked and fluffy

Serve the rice with the chicken and sauce

Tuna & Sweetcorn Burgers

Serves 4   500g / 1lb 2oz potatoes, peeled and quartered

326g can of sweetcorn drained

200g can tuna chunks, drained

1 bunch of spring onions, trimmed and chopped

Plain flour for dusting

Salt and black pepper to taste

1tbsp vegetable oil

Put the potatoes in a pan a lightly salted water and boil for 20 min until tender.  Drain the potatoes and return to the pan and add salt and pepper, mash until smooth and leave to cool slightly then add the onions, tuna and sweetcorn and mix well

Lightly flour the work surface and shape the mixture into 8 burger shapes.  You can do this by using lightly floured hands or a 7.5cm (3in) plain cutter. Place on a greased baking sheet and chill for 20 mins

While the burgers are chilling preheat the oven 200ºC / gas 7

When chilled drizzle the oil over the burgers and bake for 15 – 20 mins until crisp and golden brown

Can be served with peas and chopped tomatoes.

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**
Domestic Goddess

Marilyn is best known to Radio Stoke listeners as someone who is never thrown by a question about anything to do around the house.

But recently she has got even busier. She has just become a (step) grandmother, to baby Kyla.
She is also married to Mike, husband of 2 years; and her father in law Bill, just turned 89, also resides with them (also known as the Pesky Pensioner who is busy re-living his 20s!)

Always on the go

When she's not hoovering, dusting, washing and cooking Marilyn has a full diary. Keep fit Monday mornings, line-dancing Wednesday afternoons, Yoga Thursday mornings, and keep fit in the evening.

Marilyn writes: "However, I would like someone to come in and do the cleaning - I do find that quite a chore. (More chance of plaiting fog !) ... Don't mind washing (washing machine), and ironing is not too bad if watching a video or listening to Radio Stoke."

Ode to Marilyn

John Waiterhays (the Potternese poet) is so taken by Marilyn's domesticity he has composed a poem (in potternese) for the domestic goddess....

Each and every Friday morn                Ye need to get ye pen
Someweer rinde abite 6.45                   She's towking to our Den

She's one of us a lovely wench             Though might sound a little posh
She tells us how the snappins made     And not spend too much dosh

Its not just thrown together though        Its godd stuff and well made
And dunner take long to prepare           Puts Fast Food in the shade

Keep em coming Marilyn                    Thayt dooin one fine job
Your Recipes on a Budget duck          For only a couple of bob

• Hear Marilyn live on Den's Early Breakfast Show (94.6FM) on Fridays around 6.45 am

For more recipes (and there are DOZENS!), click on NEXT..

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