Category: Lunch

Baked Potato with Chicken and Bacon Filling

Baked Potato with Chicken and Bacon Filling

Only 10 minutes to make

A hearty classic with a comforting twist. Our fluffy oven-baked potato is loaded with tender pieces of seasoned chicken and crispy smoked bacon, all brought together in a creamy sauce. Finished with a sprinkle of cheese and freshly cracked black pepper, it’s a wholesome dish that’s as satisfying as it is delicious. Perfect for when you want something filling, flavoursome, and straight from the heart of the kitchen.

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Ingredients

2 chicken thighs or 4 chicken drumsticks (deboned)
2 rashers of bacon or smoked bacon, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
6 leaves of basil
3 tbsp of mayonnaise
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cumin

Equipment for Cooking

1 large frying pan

This is perfect as a sandwich filler too!

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Wrap Pizza

Wrap Pizza

Only 17 minutes to make

When you want pizza but can’t be bothered with dough or a pizza base, try a couple of tortilla wraps, crisped in the oven, —thin, quick, and surprisingly satisfying. A spoon of tomato passata, a scattering of cheese, maybe some mushrooms, olives, or the last of the ham.

It cooks in minutes and feels like more effort than it is. Eat it folded or sliced, at the table or in front of the tv or share a couple with different toppings.

A familiar dish with a twist.

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This recipe is for one person and has a preparation time of 10 minutes and a cooking time of 6 to 7 minutes.

Ingredients

2 plain or wholemeal wraps
2 tbsp passata
1 tomato
50g mozzarella cheese
Thereafter whatever is in your fridge – but not pineapple! (e.g., ham, mushroom, spicy sausage, chili flakes, etc.)
Olive oil

For Cooking

1 round bread board (for transfer from counter to oven)
1 hot oven

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Spaghetti Bolognese

Spaghetti Bolognese

Only 1 hour to make

Rich, slow-simmered, and deeply comforting—spaghetti Bolognese is all silky pasta tangled with a hearty, savoury sauce, best eaten steaming hot, with a sprinkle of Parmesan or simply savoured as it is.

In fact this isn’t Bolognaise but would be if the red wine was replaced with white wine, what we have actually made here is a Ragu.

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Serves: 2

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time:

Bolognese – Minimum 1 Hour
Spaghetti – 9–11 Minutes

Ingredients

For the Bolognese:

1 Medium–Large Onion, finely chopped
1 Carrot, finely chopped
1 Stick Celery, finely chopped
2 Mushrooms, roughly chopped
250g Minced Beef or Steak
1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes
300ml Red Wine
1 Tbsp Tomato Purée
1 Beef Stock Cube
3–4 Rashers Streaky Bacon
1 Tbsp Dried Oregano
1 Sprig Fresh Rosemary (or 1 Tsp Dried Rosemary)
1 Red Chilli, chopped
2 Cloves Garlic, chopped
2 Bay Leaves
2 Tsps Olive Oil (or other oil of choice)
6–7 Basil Leaves (chopped) or Flat-Leaf Parsley
Salt and Pepper, to taste
20g Parmesan Cheese, plus an extra 10g for garnish

For the Spaghetti:

150g Spaghetti

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Spicy Sausage Rolls

Spicy Sausage Rolls

Golden, flaky, and still warm from the oven—sausage rolls are a small triumph. Crisp pastry giving way to seasoned and spiced up meat, wrapped by hand.

They’re best warm and fresh, but nice cold too Eat standing up in the kitchen, with a mug of tea and nothing scheduled. Or plate them up and watch them disappear at half time with a beer when watching the football/rugby/hockey/basketball (delete as necessary)

You will be very popular so long as you leave some for them!

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Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

The recipe lists the following ingredients for a batch of sausage rolls:

Puff pastry: 457g ready-rolled
Sausagemeat: 350g
Ground coriander: 1 tsp
Ground cumin: 1/2 tsp
Ground ginger: 1 tsp
Cayenne pepper: 1/2 tsp
Smoked paprika: 1/2 tsp
Flour: 2 tbsp
Egg: 1, for use as an egg wash

The recipe also suggests trying variations with other spices to change the flavor.

Cooking Tools

The necessary tools for this recipe are:

A large mixing bowl
A baking tray and parchment paper

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Thai Fish Cakes

Thai Fish Cakes

Only 30 minutes to make

Some evenings you want fire. Not a roaring blaze — just a flicker. A crackle. Enough heat to wake you up from the quiet.

Thai Fishcakes do the job.

Minced white fish, red curry paste, fish sauce, chilli flakes a squeeze of lime — punched together into rough little patties with one or two other bits thrown in and fried until crisp at the edges. They’re sharp, salty, just the right side of fierce. Served with a hot Thai sauce, sweet chilli dip if you’ve got neither then, a wedge of lemon will do.

This isn’t about authenticity its about thinking of nothing but the sizzle in the pan.

They’re fast. They’re loud. And they’re gone in a flash.

Not comfort food — more like a jolt. Some nights that’s what you need.

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Serves: 1 person. Preparation Time: 20 mins Cooking Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

225 g Cod or haddock or salmon
1 tbsp Fish Sauce
1 tbsp Thai curry paste
1 tbsp Cornflour
1 tsp Chilli flakes
1 Egg
1 Lime for zesting and juicing
1 small bunch Green beans or Spinach (chopped)
1 small bunch Beetroot salad leaves
Seasoning

For Cooking:

1 large mixing bowl
Blender
1 large frying pan

This is a bit fiddly so I recommend doing double the quantity to make it worthwhile and share. Inviting a pal round and having a nice beer with them.

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Carpaccio of Beef with Salad

Carpaccio of Beef Fillet

Only 20 minutes to make

This may look expensive but a single 6oz or perhaps 8oz piece of fillet steak done in this way is a great supper for two, if presented as a sharing plate with some fresh crusty bread and butter and a nice glass of red or a good quality beer to wash it down. It’s a very special experience. You can push the boat out and do more with a bigger sharing platter and perhaps some sautéed new potatoes if you have a (slightly) larger but still special group coming to call.

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Ingredients

6–8oz Fillet Steak
1 Medium Red Onion
2 Medium Fresh Tomatoes
2 Inches Cucumber, sliced
1 Bunch Flat-Leaf Parsley
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar (optional)
Salt and Pepper, to taste
Half a Dozen Shavings of Parmesan

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Cottage Pie

Cottage Pie

Only 1 hour 45 to make

This is in comfort food category. A base of rich, savoury minced beef slow-simmered with onions, carrots, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce — topped with a golden crust of creamy mashed potatoes. Nothing fancy. Just honest, hearty comfort, made with what’s usually knocking about in the fridge.

It’s the kind of meal that fills the house with a quiet warmth while it bakes.

Serve and eat it from the deep sided dish you’ve cooked it in with a side of nothing. Well that’s what I do. It doesn’t need anything else. This is a meal that remembers, reassures, and restores.

For the nights when the world feels a bit sharp around the edges — this this your blunt instrument of comfort.

Great to prepare the day before and leave in the fridge to chill. Bring out an hour ahead of cooking

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Cottage Pie

Person with leftovers.

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cooking Time: 1 ½ hours

Ingredients:

2/3 medium sized potatoes.
250g beef steak mince
½ stick of celery
½ large carrot
1 tbsp of plain flour
½ a large onion (red or white)
2 small sprigs of thyme
1 clove of garlic
1 bay leaf
500 ml of beef or chicken stock
150 ml of red wine (or good quality beer)
1 tbsp of tomato puree
1 tbsp olive oil (or other oil of choice)
1 tbsp Worcester Sauce
Ground nutmeg

For Cooking:

Oven Proof dish
Large sauce pan for potatoes
Large frying pan

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Welsh Rarebit

Welsh Rarebit

Only 17 minutes to make

This is more than just cheese on toast. Welsh Rarebit is a rich, savoury classic using store cupboard ingredients to produce something quick and easy. With its golden, bubbling cheese sauce laced with mustard and a touch of spice (if you want), it’s a dish that is deeply satisfying.

It’s quick to make, hearty without being heavy, and perfect for those days when you want something simple but hot and tasty. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or sharing this is an ideal one to try out variations, including adding ale!

Here at The Widower’s Kitchen, we believe even the simplest dishes can carry comfort and meaning. And this one does both—beautifully.

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Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 7 mins

Ingredients:

2 slices of bread to toast (your choice)
150g strong block cheddar cheese (or other) grated
1 tbsp whole grain or English mustard
1 tbsp cheese sauce (highly recommended)
2 or 3 turns of ground black pepper mill
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Butter for the toast

Notes:

There are lots of variations to this recipe with different cheeses, spices, even beer.
Have fun with it.

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Smoked Mackerel Pâté with Tomatoes and Lettuce

Smoked Mackerel Pâté with Tomatoes and Lettuce

Only 10 minutes to make

Rich, creamy, and packed with flavour, this smoked mackerel pâté is a classic that’s as comforting as it is quick to make. With just a few ingredients and a minute or two with a fork for breaking up and mixing, you’ve got something that feels indulgent—but requires almost no effort.

Perfect for spreading on toast, crackers, or spooning onto a jacket potato. Whether you’re making a solo lunch or prepping a little something for unexpected company, this pâté is genuinely easy.

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Ingredients

2 slices of Sourdough bread for toasting
1 pack (160g) of Sweet-cured smoked mackerel (remove the skin)
2 tbsp Full-fat yoghurt or cream cheese
1 lemon (halved and squeezed)
1 Bunch of Piccobella tomatoes on the vine
2 or 3 Round lettuce leaves (or one if preferred)
Butter for the toast

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Salmon & Asparagus with Parsley Sauce

Salmon & Asparagus with Parsley Sauce

Less than 30 minutes to make

A gentle dish for quiet days, this simple yet elegant plate pairs flaky roast salmon with tender asparagus spears, all brought together by a light, creamy parsley sauce. It’s a meal that asks for little but gives plenty—fresh, clean flavours, and a sense of calm.

Perfect for evenings when you want nourishment without fuss, and a reminder that good things can still be found in simplicity.

Serve with boiled new potatoes, sauteed if you like or warm crusty bread.and butter.

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salmon asparagus

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

If you use boiled new potatoes and pre-made parsley sauce, the cooking time is reduced to 20 minutes or less.

Ingredients

130 g portion of salmon fillet
2 medium-sized potatoes or 1 baking potato, cut into bit-sized pieces
60 g asparagus tips
100 ml parsley sauce

The recipe specifies that the salmon is a portion from a pack of two and the asparagus tips are from a half-pack.

Cooking Equipment

Medium or small saucepan to par-boil the potatoes
Small frying pan to sauté the potatoes
Small frying pan or griddle pan for the asparagus
Small saucepan for the parsley sauce

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