Special Occasion Recipe Ideas

Maybe you have a wedding anniversary coming up, or a birthday, or an engagement party, a dinner date or some other special occasion day that is approaching. I thought I'd share with you some special occasion recipe ideas for your special day. To learn more about the recipe idea click on the picture below.

Ingredients

• 3 bulbs of fennel

• 40 g butter

• olive oil

• 2 whole seabass , gutted and scaled

• 1 clove of garlic

• 1 fresh red chilli

• 1 lemon

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 1 pound large shrimp

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 8 cups chicken broth

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1 small white onion, diced

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 cups arborio rice

• 1/2 cup white wine

• 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 cup finely chopped Italian parsley, divided

Ingredients

• 1 clove of garlic

• 200 g cherry tomatoes

• 30 g black olives

• 30 g green olives

• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds

• sea salt

• 30 g Parmesan cheese

• a small bunch of fresh basil

• olive oil

• 1 lemon

• 2 x 120 g tuna steaks (roughly 1.5cm thick)

• freshly ground black pepper

• 150 g dried spaghetti

• extra virgin olive oil

• ½ fresh red chilli

• 35 g rocket

Ingredients

For the lamb:

• 1 Tbs. sweet paprika

• 1 tsp. ground ginger

• 1 tsp. turmeric

• 1 tsp. cayenne

• 1 tsp. dried mint

• 1/2 tsp. ground coriander

• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 4 meaty lamb shanks, trimmed (about 1 lb. each)

For the braising liquid:

• 3 cups chopped yellow onion

• 1 cup chopped canned tomatoes

• 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro stems (save leaves for garnish)

• 2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice; more to taste

• 1 Tbs. chopped garlic

• Kosher salt

• 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch lengths, thicker pieces split lengthwise

• 2 medium purple turnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

• 2 cups chickpeas (freshly cooked or canned)

• Freshly ground black pepper

For the glaze:

• 1/4 cup honey

• 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

• 1 tsp. dried mint

• 1 tsp. harissa (optional)

For serving:

• 1 cup couscous, cooked

• Reserved cilantro leaves

• Harissa (optional)

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh thin asparagus

• 4 to 6 oz. thick pancetta slices, diced

• 1 (9-oz.) package refrigerated fettuccine

• 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1/2 cup freshly shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

• Toppings: shaved Parmesan cheese, freshly ground pepper

Ingredients

• 1 can (28 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes with their juices

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/2 small onion, finely chopped

• Pinch of red-pepper flakes

• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

• 1 cup spelt

• 1 pound collard greens

• 1 1/2 cups cooked white beans, or 1 can (15 ounces) low-sodium white beans, drained and rinsed

• 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves

Ingredients

• 1 heaped tablespoon dark soft brown sugar

• 25ml vodka

• sea salt

• ½ an orange , zest from

• 2 lemons

• a bunch of fresh dill

• 2 x 150 g salmon fillets , pinboned, skin on

• 4 tablespoons soured cream

• 1½ teaspoons jarred grated horseradish

• extra virgin olive oil

• 1 x 250 g vacuum pack of beetroots

• balsamic vinegar

• TO SERVE:

• 1 punnet of cress

• 1 loaf of rye bread