At Cooker Spare Parts our lives revolve around cookers, which means that naturally we're a big bunch of foodies. We love discovering new recipes and cooking scrummy feasts in our kitchen, but occasionally we don't have the time to create a masterpiece. Through a dash of experimentation, a sprinkling of some of our favourite meal components and a sprinkling of trial and error, we've managed to come up with a delicious recipe which is super quick and easy, yet doesn't compromise on flavour in the slightest. The secret ingredient? Sweet Chilli Philly.

Sweet Chilli Philly Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 x Pack of Meatballs (of your taste - we like the ones with herbs and garlic or a little chilli kick, but any will work)
1 x tub of Philadelphia Light: Sweet Chilli
1 x Red Pepper
1 x Red Onion
1 tspn Mustard 
1 x Stock Cube
1 x Clove of Garlic 
1 x Portion of Pasta (we think Linguine works perfectly with this dish, but the choice is entirely yours!)

Instructions:

1. Fry the meatballs in oil until they are thoroughly cooked through. If you like your dish to be a little spicy then we'd recommend frying in chilli oil - it gives it a delicious kick, but if not then stick to the good old fashioned olive stuff.

2. Begin to cook your pasta - keep an eye on it though, chewy pasta is not cool!

3. Chop the red pepper and red onion into long, thin strips. Once the meatballs are cooked - throw them in the pan too.

4. Finely dice your garlic clove and whack that in. 

5. Stir your stock cube in some boiling water until you get a consistent liquid. 

6. Sprinkle a splash of your stock cube mixture over the meatballs.

7. Add in your Philly. A little to start with, make sure that the meatballs and vegetables are coated. 

8. Add the pasta to the pan and mix.

9. Continue to add the Philly, evenly and regularly until you have a good coating.

10. Gradually add the stock cube mix, a splash at a time to thin the sauce

11. Add the teaspoon of mustard and ensure the mixture is thoroughly stirred.

12. Dish up and enjoy your little splash of heaven!

We love that the philadelphia is a light option so you're enjoying a relatively low-calorie meal. You can substitute the pasta for gluten-free or whole weat, and add as many different veggies as you see fit. The beauty of this dish is the simplicity - it can be dressed up or down as you wish. Ensure it's piping hot before serving and any leftovers the next day will taste just as good. 

At Cooker Spare Parts we spend a lot of time examining, probing, and talking about cookers, so if there’s a chance to create a sublime dish that doesn’t require one, we’re all-ears! Plus, if your cooker is kaput, it’s nice to know there are still some delicious and divine recipes available to you.

Tomato and Basil Bruschetta

There are about a million variations on this Italian classic, but we like authenticity here at Cooker Spare Parts so have kept it simple. Now in the original Bruschetta you would use hot coals or a griddle to lightly char your ciabatta, but as we’re steering clear of the cooker your toaster will do the job just fine!

Cut a ciabatta loaf into manageable slices and toast them so they’re nice and crisp. Then rub an open clove of garlic on the upside of your toasted ciabattas, and glug a generous helping of good olive oil on top. Add some sliced ripe plum or cherry tomatoes to the top, along with a few sprigs of fresh basil, and some salt and pepper – enjoy immediately!

Prawn Cocktail

This 1970s classic is anything but dated, and as long as each individual component is good, you have yourselves a winner! Mix some ready-cooked prawns – you can go shrimp or king for this one – along with a basic Marie-rose sauce: 4 tbsp of mayonnaise, 4 tbsp of crème fraiche, 1½ tbsp tomato ketchup, and a dash of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce. Simply add this mixture to a cocktail glass full of little gem lettuce leaves, and garnish with a wedge of lemon (and be sure to actually use your lemon as it loves this dish).

Antipasti

We’re back to the Mediterranean for this last no cook starter, and if you thought the others were easy, this one is simpler still. Antipasti simply means ‘before the meal’ and is a platter consisting of any number of the following: cured meats, olives, crostinis, olives, artichoke hearts, stuffed peppers, and some Italian cheeses such as pecorino. Everything here is all ready to be eaten, so all you must do is simply arrange it in small bowls or on a platter, and watch just how sumptuous your guests find this simple starter!

They say eating well doesn’t have to be difficult, and it’s so simple you needn’t even wait for your cooker to be fixed! Any one of these no-cook starters will tantalise the taste-buds terrifically – not bad for a 5 minute stroll in the kitchen, huh?