Fantasy Veggie Dinner Guest – BOBBY FARRELL

Roberto Alphonse Farrell was born in Aruba in 1949. He later moved to Germany and was chosen to be part of Boney M (although, it now transpires, he sang on few of the studio tracks).

However, Farrell, came into his own in live (or mimed) performances.

Boney M had a string of ‘cheesy’ hits in the 1970s, perhaps the best known of which is Rasputin, a very groovy if factually incorrect retelling of the life of the Russian monk.

Rasputin died on 30^th January, 1916 in St. Petersburg. In 2010, Farrell died in the same city, also on January 30^th. Spooky?

Let’s just look at the Top of the Pops performance of Rasputin…

So, let Zelda turn the clock back and have Bobby for a cheesy 70’s dinner.

70’s STYLE CRISPY PANCAKES

Serves 4

(This makes the standard 'cheesy filling'. You can add other fillings if required.)

For the batter:

125g plain flour

1 egg

Pinch of salt
250ml milk
For the filling:

200g soft cheese
4tbsp milk

150g cheddar cheese, grated
salt and pepper
(+ other items if required)
For assembly and cooking:
4tbsp oil
2 eggs
100g fine golden breadcrumbs (shop-bought work best)

Begin by making the batter

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl.

Make a well and crack in one of the eggs. Then add the milk, whisking to incorporate a bit at a time. Allow the batter to sit for 30 minutes if possible.

Make the pancakes

Heat a little of the oil in a small pan.

Pour in ¼ of the mixture (about a ladleful).

Cook until golden, flipping when ready to cook the other side.

Transfer to a plate.

Repeat until all cooked.

Then make the filling:

Place the cream cheese in a small pan and heat slowly.

Add the cheese and black pepper and stir until you have a thick sauce.

(At this point you can mix in any other cooked ingredients you require, e.g. spring onions or vegetarian bacon pieces.)

Assemble the pancakes:

Take a pancake and lay it flat. Spoon ¼ of the cheese mixture into the centre.

Fold in half and press the edges to seal. (If it does not seal easily, use a little of the remaining egg.)

Repeat with the rest of the pancakes and mixture.

Place the breadcrumbs on a plate and whisk the remaining 2 eggs in a shallow bowl.

Coat each pancake in the beaten egg and then in the breadcrumbs. Repeat if necessary.

Heat the rest of the oil in a pan and fry each filled pancake for 2-3 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden.

Then place on a baking tray covered with greaseproof paper

Cook in oven for about 10 minutes at Gas 6/ 200°C/ 400°F. 
Then turn each one over and cook for a further 10 minutes.

You should now have lovely crispy pancakes which remind you of the packaged convenience food of the 1970s, but will be much better for you! 

Bobby and I will eat ours with some sweetcorn and spring onions.