Fantasy Veggie Dinner Guest - RICHARD BECKINSALE

Today's meal is for Richard Beckinsale, best known for being in two of the most iconic of British TV sitcoms back in the 1970s. 

He played the amiable, out of place Lennie Godber in Porridge and naive medical student Alan Moore in Rising Damp. He died suddenly at only 31 in 1979. 

Beckinsale was born in 1947 in Nottinghamshire. It seems right, therefore, for Zelda to make him something using Stilton cheese which can only made in this county (and - yes, OK - Leicestershire and Derbyshire, too). 

LEEK AND STILTON PASTRY SLICES

Serves 3

1 sheet ready made puff pastry
1 leek, washed and chopped
1 medium potato, peeled and chopped into small chunks

25g butter
1 egg, beaten
50g stilton
salt and black pepper

Place potato in a small pan of boiling water and cook until almost soft.

Meanwhile, heat butter in a separate pan and fry the leeks until translucent.

Place both in a bowl. Crumble in most of the cheese. Mix and season well.

Cut pastry into thirds lengthways. Mark the half-way point of each piece.

Place the leek mixture on one half, leaving a border all around. Top with the extra cheese.

Brush border with some of the egg.
Fold the other half over the top and crimp the edges to seal. Place on a baking tray. Gently slash the top.

Brush all over with the rest of the egg.
Cook at Gas 7/ 220˚C 425˚F for about 20 minutes.

SAUSAGE AND LEEK HASH

A great way to use up leftover veg – mix and match as required

Serves 2

3 vegetarian sausages, defrosted if frozen and sliced on the diagonal
2 leeks, washed and chopped
3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped into chunks (or leftover roast potatoes)
5-6 broccoli florets
25g butter
1tbsp olive oil
2 free range eggs
1tsp chilli flakes
1tbsp mango chutney (I use this in preference to horseradish sauce)

If not using leftover roast potatoes, put potato chunks in a pan of hot water, bring to the boil and simmer.

After about 5 minutes, add the broccoli.

Cook for a further 5 minutes until both are almost soft. Then drain.
Heat butter and oil in a large pan.
Add leeks, sausages, potatoes and broccoli.

Keep stirring so that the leeks soften and the other items become slightly crisp and brown.
Make two holes and crack an egg into each one.

Sprinkle the chilli flakes over the top.
Cook until the whites are cooked and the yolks are still fairly soft.

Serve with a blob of ketchup.