Fun Family Dining with OXO Shake & Flavour #OXOMealtimeMagic

If variety is the spice of life - OXO's new Shake & Flavour range is the perfect way to add some spicy mealtime magic to a variety of dishes this summer!

The fine seasoning granules come in a variety of flavours including Rich Beef and Roast Chicken as well as veggie friendly Tikka, Garlic & Herb, Chinese, Italian and Southern Fried.  They come in a handy shaker for ease of use and can be sprinkled on food before or during cooking or added as a finishing touch.

We were sent some to try out, and I adapted a favourite family meal to add some extra flavour the OXO way.  I made a Sweet Potato, Butterbean and Cashew Nut Flan seasoned with OXO Shake & Flavour Italian seasoning and some chunky chips seasoned with Garlic & Herb served with sauteed white cabbage.

It is a lovely summery menu, perfect for family dining inside or outdoors.  The flan is light and packed with healthy sweet potato, pulses, nuts and seeds.  It is lovely served hot or cold with a freshly squeezed juice to drink.

Sweet Potato, Butterbean and Cashew Nut Flan Recipe

Ingredients

400g sweet potato peeled and cut into chunks

1 can butterbeans

1 oz chopped cashew nuts

1 onion chopped

2 gloves of garlic crushed

2oz chestnut mushrooms chopped

OXO Shake & Flavour Italian Seasoning

Ground pepper

Ready rolled puff pasty sheet

Handful of mixed seeds

Method

Cook the sweet potatoes in boiling water until tender.  Drain and mash.

While they are cooking fry the chopped onion, garlic and mushroom.

Mix the butterbeans and onion mixture into the mashed sweet potato and roughly mash together.

Stir through a generous sprinkle of OXO Sprinkle & Flavour Italian seasoning and some ground pepper to taste.

Place the sheet of pastry onto a baking sheet.

Pile the filling onto the pastry leaving an inch around the edge.

Fold in the pastry edges and glaze with milk.

Sprinkle seeds on top and another sprinkle of OXO Shake & Flavour Italian seasoning.

Cook in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

***

We made our homemade chunky chips by tossing cut potatoes in olive oil and OXO Shake & Flavour Garlic and Herb seasoning, and putting into the oven on a baking tray for 30-35 minutes at 200 degrees. 

 The children loved helping out with this, shaking the seasoning granules over the oiled potatoes and giving them a good shake - it certainly added a fun element to the cooking!

We served the flan and chips with sauteed white cabbage.  Once cooked we sprinkled a little of the OXO Italian seasoning and some black pepper on top for extra flavour.

I loved how easy the product was to use, simply sprinkle into or onto whatever you are cooking for an intense flavour shot.  It's a handy kitchen trick to make meals even tastier with very little effort. 

The seasoning definitely added a depth of flavour, which was very tasty.  I loved the Italian seasoning with its hints of tomato, fennel, oregano, basil and garlic. It worked perfectly with the sweetness of the sweet potato pie filling.  The chips were really yummy and the kids all loved the garlicky coating!

The scope for adding mealtime magic to my cooking is an exciting prospect as summer approaches.  For seasoning vegetable and halloumi kebabs on the barbecue, to adding flavour to alfresco dining, I have a selection of OXO Shake & Flavour  granules to hand!  They are so convenient, versatile and easy to use, and give a little culinary inspiration when needed.

This post is part of a BritMums project with OXO Shake & Flavour. Shake & Flavour seasoning granules can be sprinkled into food during cooking or before serving. Find out more about the Shake & Flavour varieties. 

Fresh Gourmet Salad Recipe - Halloumi and Egg Salad

This is my recipe for a delicious summer salad that is high in protein, flavoursome and rich in iron.  It is a modern twist on the boiled egg, grated cheese and lettuce served with Salad Cream that we used to eat when I was a child!  

The salty Halloumi is a perfect accompaniment to the salad, while the juicy, sweetness of the sweetcorn and the crispiness of the onion adds an exciting combination of both taste and texture.

Ingredients

Serves 4

Rocket, baby spinach and chard salad leaves

225g block Halloumi

small tin of salad crisp sweetcorn

4 eggs boiled

Fresh Gourmet Crispy Onions

Olive oil flavoured with herbs

Balsamic vinegar

Ground black pepper

Method

Slice Halloumi and fry in a dry pan until the liquid has evaporated and the cheese is browned.

Cut hard boiled eggs into quarters.

Make dressing by mixing one part oil to one part vinegar.  Season with pepper to taste.

Dress the salad, sprinkle over sweetcorn and arrange the cheese and egg on top.

Sprinkle over the crispy onions.

Fresh Gourmet add some extra bite to salad dishes with their crunchy croutons and toppings.  The American brand has launched in the UK with four delicious varieties that transform meals quickly and easily.  A sprinkling of Fresh Gourmet's robustly flavoured and crunchy toppings adds taste and texture to soups, salads, sandwiches or other meals.

Cheese and Garlic, Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper and Ciabatta Basil pesto Croutons are made with artisan bread and baked, not fried, for a lighter touch.  The Crispy Onions are lightly salted.  

The range is so tasty I've been nibbling them on their own as a quick snack!  They make an excellent addition to so many meals.  You can sprinkle them onto anything you fancy: soup, mash potato, chilli, pasta bakes etc.  They let you get a bit more experimental in the kitchen!

The 80g resealable bags are priced between £1.79 and £1.99 in Tesco stores.

I was sent some to create a salad recipe in the Fresh Gourmet recipe challenge.