Quick and Simple Dairy Meals

Quick and Simple Dairy Meals

Milk is one of the most complete foods. Dairy products like cheese, butter and yoghurt have been included in recipes for centuries and remain popular in numerous worldwide dishes today. These suggested meals don’t take long to prepare and cook, but have great taste and substance.

Cheese and Asparagus Bake for 4

Preheat oven to 190c.

Ingredients

• 5 slices brown bread, crusts removed and buttered one side
• 290g can asparagus spears
• 175g Cheddar, Cheshire or Red Leicester cheese, grated
• 3 eggs
• 1 pint milk
• Salt and pepper, mustard powder to season

Lay half the bread, buttered side up, in the bottom of a buttered ovenproof dish. Cut the bread to fit if necessary.

Place half the asparagus spears and half the grated cheese on top of the bread, then cover these ingredients with the next layer of buttered bread, this time with the buttered side down.

Beat the eggs, salt and pepper and a pinch of mustard powder together in a bowl. Pour this mixture over the other ingredients in the ovenproof dish. Leave to stand for 10 minutes then bake for about 40 minutes- or until the mixture has set and the top is golden brown. Serve straight away with salad.

Butter Bean and Tuna Crumble for 4

Preheat the oven to 200c.

Ingredients

• 1 can (about 200g) cooked butter beans
• 1 can (198g) tuna, drained
• 400ml milk
• 450g broccoli florets(fresh or frozen)
• 50g grated cheddar
• 40g butter
• 4 tablespoons plain flour
• 1 small onion and 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to season

Put the milk, bay leaf and peeled onion in a pan, bring the contents slowly to the boil then remove from the heat. Leave to stand while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Cook the broccoli until tender. Drain the florets thoroughly then place in the bottom of an ovenproof dish, arranging them around the edges in particular. Mix the drained tuna with the cooked butter beans and season with salt and pepper. Pile this mixture into the centre of the dish, so the broccoli florets can still be seen around the edges.

Melt the butter in a pan over moderate heat then stir in the flour and cook the roux gently, stirring all the time. Gradually add the boiled milk through a strainer and discard the bay leaf and onion. Bring the contents towards boiling point and continue to stir as the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper if necessary.

Pour the sauce over the tuna and bean mixture then sprinkle with the grated cheese and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, by which time the crumble should be bubbling and golden. Serve immediately with crusty bread and a tomato salad.

Nanny Welsh’s Cheese Pudding

Preheat the oven to 180c.

Ingredients

• 2 pints milk
• 8 eggs
• 450g grated cheddar cheese
• 125g breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon mustard-English or French
• Salt and pepper to season

Bring the milk to the boil in a pan then pour it over the breadcrumbs that have been put into a mixing bowl. Add the grated cheese and stir together.

Beat the eggs in a separate bowl along with the mustard. Add this mixture to the milk, breadcrumbs and cheese mixture and stir well. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour the cheese pudding mixture into a buttered ovenproof dish (about 2.8 litre in size.)

Bake the pudding for approximately 45 minutes.

Serve the cheese pudding straight away with a crisp green salad, tomatoes and black olives.

These recipes are not time-consuming or expensive, but make useful meat-free supper dishes for busy families.