Roast duck breast with berry sauce and braised cabbage

Mmmmm, roast duck breast with crispy skin.

The berry sauce has the right balance of sweet and savoury and the dish is finished off nicely with braised red cabbage and sliced potatoes.

Ingredients (serves 2):

2 duck breasts

2 medium potatoes, cut into thick slices

olive oil

salt and pepper

Berry sauce:

a handful of mixed berries

1/2 glass of red wine

a good splash of creme de cassis

100ml beef or chicken stock

leaves off a sprig of thyme

a bay leaf

salt and pepper

Braised cabbage:

red cabbage

red onion, diced

1 clove of garlic, crushed

1/2 glass red wine

2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon of apple sauce

1 tea spoon of sugar

knob of butter

salt and pepper

• Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees. Lay the potato slices on a lightly oiled baking tray and season. Place in the oven for 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes turn the potato slices over. If you have a wire rack that fits the baking tray, place it on top of the potatoes and place the duck breasts on top of the wire rack. If not place the duck breasts skin side up directly on top of the potatoes. Season the skin and place in the oven for 20 minutes.
• Check the duck breasts after 15 minutes as you don't want to overcook them.
• To make the sauce add all of the ingredients to a saucepan over a low heat and leave to simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Check the seasoning before serving.
• To make the braised cabbage; remove the outer leaves from the cabbage, cut the cabbage in half and then finely dice. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the cabbage, red onion and garlic. Cook for at least 10 minutes until the onion has softened. Then add the red wine, red wine vinegar, sugar and apple sauce. Season and leave to simmer for at least 45 minutes. Stir often and add a splash of hot water towards the end if it starts to look too dry. (This recipe makes far too much cabbage for 2 people which is good because I like it on roast pork sandwiches the next day).

Hangover breakfast

Quite disgusting to look at but a perfect all in one breakfast if you're feling a little delicate.

Ingredients (serves 2):

3 eggs

1 small white onion, sliced

1 medium sized cooked potato, cut into slices (prick it with a fork and blast in the microwave for 5 minutes or so first if you don't have any cooked potato leftovers)

4 rashers of streaky bacon

a handful of grated cheddar (or sliced if you can't be bothered to grate)

black pepper

butter or olive oil

tomato ketchup (optional)

pot of tea (necessary)

• Butter or oil a non stick pan before placing it on the heat. Once hot, place the onion and potato slices in one layer to cover the bottom of the pan. Cook for approximately 3 minutes and then turn over for another 3 minutes
• Meanwhile, beat the eggs and season with black pepper
• Pour the eggs on top of the potato and onion mixture and swirl the pan slightly to ensure the egg mixture covers the bottom of the pan
• Pre heat the grill to a medium heat
• After a couple of minutes sprinkle the grated cheese on top and then place the bacon rashers on top of the cheese (you can pre grill the bacon rashers for a couple of minutes first if you like them crispy)
• Place the pan under the grill until the bacon is cooked and the egg mixture is set
• Slide it on to a plate and add a good dollop of ketchup on the side

In our house a pot of tea would be necessary to gulp alongside it.