MiNa's Thursday Lunch: Pot Pies & Pudding

Lentil (centre) and chicken (top right) pot pie with sweet potato mash and peas.

Every Thursday at our workplace, we have what's called "Thursday lunch" where we take turns cooking lunch for all our work buddies. It's been a long standing tradition and is a great way to bring everyone together. Soon it was our turn and for weeks leading up to the day we dreamt up all these fabulous dishes that we would make...then we stopped and realised that we had to make it for 30 odd people and suddenly we decided to re-think the plans and make something that is easy to upscale yet still delicious. This is when Jamie Oliver came to the rescue! We are both big fans of his cookbook Jamie's 30-Minute Meals, so turned to this for inspiration. What would people want to eat on a cold winter's day? Steaming hot pot pies with a side of mash and peas topped off with soft-centred chocolate puddings, raspberry coulis and double cream! Perhaps this was also inspired by our recent trip to the Pie Tin.

Lentil and chicken pot pie with sweet potato mash and peas.

We used recipes from the following sources: Sophie Dahl's Lentil Shepherd's Pie (we used puff pastry instead of potatoes), Jamie's 30 Minute Meals (chicken pie) and Bill's Open Kitchen (chocolate pudding). I absolutely love the chocolate pudding recipe, it's so easy to make and really delicious! Lunch was a huge success and enjoyed by all. Love MiNa xo

Bill Granger's Soft-Centred Chocolate Puddings

• 200 g good quality dark chocolate
• 100 g unsalted butter, chopped
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 2 tablespoons plain flour

1. Preheat a fan forced oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
2. Place chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water and stir until just melted.
3. Place the eggs, sugar and flour in a bowl and mix until just combined.
4. Gradually whisk in the chocolate and butter mixture.
5. Pour the mixture into four 250 ml ovenproof ramekins and place on a baking tray (we used 12 hole muffin tins instead).
6. Bake until the edges are set, about 15 - 20 minutes.
7. Serve with double cream and raspberries.

Soft-centred chocolate puddings with raspberry coulis and double cream.