DINING WITH EMMA - Sauces for all occasions

Emma Sharp, Contributor

The Christmas holidays are over, everyone is back to the grindstone, and a busy life continues. We have children to take care of, and work to do. We want to keep our homes in order, perhaps take an hour out of the day to get fit, and, if we're lucky, pursue a hobby. Each of us has at least one of these things on a list, and most of us have them all. To boot, we must eat!

The problem is finding the time to prepare said meal. We cannot be expected to dine out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Needless to say, it would get a bit pricey, but also, home-cooked food is so much nicer. Then, there is the issue of what to make. Screeching out of the house in the morning, having barely sipped your coffee and done everything one must do to get the children ready for school, there is clearly not a minute to spare on culinary tasks, aside from breakfast for the family. Even then, it's probably a fairly simple cereal, boiled egg and toast. Whatever you do, eat something. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Unless you are super organised, lunch will be a takeout of some description. So that leaves dinner as the main home-made repast. After a day at the office, who feels like cooking? I do. Not because I am a trained chef, but because I have come up with several simple sauces that go with everything!

Emma's Sauces

All these sauces may be made in advance and stored in the fridge or freezer.

Sun-dried Tomato and Fresh Herb Pesto Sauce

¹/² cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced, with

2 tbsps of the oil

2-3 garlic cloves

¹/² cup freshly chopped herbs (basil, chives, parsley)

¹/⁴ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Black pepper

2-3tbsps olive oil

1 cup heavy cream

Method

1. Whizz all the ingredients, apart from the cream, in a food processor until a smooth pesto is formed. Add more olive oil for a runnier consistency. Store until ready to use.

2. Heat the cream in a saucepan, until it starts bubbling, then stir in the pesto. Serve with any kind of pasta, grilled chicken breasts, rack of lamb, or pork chops.

Black Bean Sauce

1 tin of black beans, drained & rinsed

2tbsps olive oil

8 scallions, finely sliced

3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped

1¹/² inch ginger, peeled and finely chopped

6tbsp Kikkoman or Tamari soy sauce

6tbsp sherry

1tbsp sugar

1 pint water (more if needed)

Method

1. Heat the oil in a pan, add the scallion, garlic and ginger and fry for a couple minutes.

2. Add the soy sauce, sherry, beans, sugar and water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes. When thick, leave to cool and store until ready to use.

3. Reheat and serve with stir-fry vegetables, beef, or chicken, and rice or any kind of noodles (soba, udon, rice).

Maple syrup, Mustard and Passion Fruit Sauce

Pulp from six passion fruits

¹/² cup maple syrup (you may use honey)

2-3tbsp mustard

¹/² scotch bonnet pepper, finely chopped (more if you like)

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

6 scallions, finely sliced

Method

1. Place all the ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer for five minutes. Cool and store until ready to use.

2. Serve with any grilled fish, duck, chicken, pork, or beef. It is also delicious with roast lamb. Serve these with baked or mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice.

Tomato Vodka Sauce

2tbsp olive oil

2 onions, finely chopped

6 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Handful of fresh basil, oregano or rosemary

2 x 14oz tins of tomatoes (plain)

8fl oz vodka

4-6fl oz heavy cream

Salt and black pepper

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan, and cook the onions until soft.

2. Add the garlic and herbs and cook for a few minutes more before adding the tomatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes, until the sauce is thick. Add water if it starts to dry out before the end of cooking time.

3. When thick and tasty, turn up the heat and add the vodka. Cook for at least 5 minutes to reduce.

4. Stir in the cream, and season with salt and pepper. Store until ready to use.

5. Serve with pasta, grilled fish or chicken, or baked potatoes and steamed vegetables.