Latest news with #Worcestershire
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Sarah Butler: How to make loaded nachos or cod goujons for a casual family dinner
If you're after tasty, reliable, family-friendly meals that everyone will love, these two recipes are a brilliant place to start. Striking the perfect balance between comfort and convenience, they're ideal for busy evenings or weekend treats. The cod goujons are a homemade take on the classic fish finger, crisp on the outside and flaky in the centre. Using just a few simple ingredients and either baking or frying, you'll have golden, delicious goujons ready in no time. And paired with a zesty lemon mayo dip, they're perfect with chips or mash and some peas on the side. It's a meal that feels both nostalgic and fresh — something even picky eaters will enjoy. Meanwhile, the loaded nachos bring a fun, casual vibe to the table. Layered with spicy minced beef, cheddar, and jalapeños, then topped with a creamy, tangy sauce, this dish is full of bold, satisfying flavours. Whether served in a big bowl for sharing or plated up for individual portions, it's a winner for parties or simply a Friday night in. Both recipes are easy to make and incredibly versatile — mix up the toppings, swap ingredients, or scale for a crowd. With minimal fuss and maximum flavour, they're sure to become firm family favourites. Loaded nachos Bring the fun and flavour of your favorite Mexican-inspired feast to your table with these fully-loaded nachos. Perfect for sharing (or not!), this crowd-pleasing dish layers crispy tortilla chips with a rich, savoury mince mixture spiced with chili, oregano, and garlic, before being topped with melted red cheddar and a kick of jalapeños. Whether you're hosting a game night, looking for a casual family dinner, or just craving some comfort food, these nachos deliver big on taste and texture. The homemade sauce — creamy, tangy, and just a little bit sharp — elevates every bite and can be served drizzled over the top or on the side for dipping. Quick to prep and easy to customise, this recipe turns simple ingredients into something seriously satisfying. Serve hot from the grill and watch them disappear — just make sure you get in there before they're all gone. Loaded nachos recipe by:Sarah Butler Quick to prep and easy to customise, this recipe turns simple ingredients into something seriously satisfying. Servings 4 Preparation Time 15 mins Cooking Time 20 mins Total Time 35 mins Course Main Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 25g butter 450g fresh mince 1 Oxo cube 1 small onion, diced 1 green pepper, diced 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tbsp dried oregano 1 tbsp tomato purée 300ml water Salt and freshly-ground pepper 500g tortilla chips 100g red cheddar, grated Handful of sliced jalapeño peppers For the sauce 10 tbsp mayonnaise 1 tbsp fresh cream 2 tbsp tomato ketchup 1 tsp mustard 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce Method Place the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium to high heat. Add the mince and cook until browned. Crush in the Oxo cube and mix thoroughly with the mince, then set aside. To the same frying pan on a medium heat, add the butter and saute the onion and pepper until tender for 3-4 minutes. Return the mince to the frying pan. Add the garlic, chilli powder, dried oregano, and tomato puree and cook for one minute. Then add the water, season with salt and pepper, and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Place the tortilla chips on a baking tray in a single layer with no overlapping. Toast them under a hot grill for one minute on each side until lightly browned and crisp. Remove from the grill and sprinkle the fried mince mixture over the toasted tortilla chips. Top with the cheese and scatter evenly with the sliced jalapeños. Place back under the grill for another minute until the cheese is completely melted. Mix the sauce ingredients and either drizzle over the nachos or serve as a side dip. Sarah's secret Great for gatherings, make these in a large serving bowl and let everyone help themselves. You'll find sliced jalapeño peppers in jars in supermarkets, usually in the pickled veg aisle but sometimes in the ethnic food section. Cod goujons with lemon mayo dip Crispy, golden, and packed with flavour, these homemade cod goujons with a zesty lemon mayo dip are a delicious twist on a family favourite. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend treat, this recipe is simple to prepare and sure to please kids and adults alike. Using just a few pantry staples—flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs—you can transform fresh cod into crunchy goujons that are tender on the inside and satisfyingly crisp on the outside. You can choose to bake them for a lighter option or shallow fry for that classic crunch. Paired with a creamy lemon mayo dip, these goujons make for a perfectly balanced bite. Serve alongside mashed potatoes or crispy chips and a portion of peas for a comforting, wholesome meal. Whether you're feeding a crowd or just craving homemade fish fingers, this recipe hits the spot every time. Cod goujons with lemon mayo dip recipe by:Sarah Butler Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend treat, this recipe is simple to prepare and sure to please kids and adults alike. Servings 4 Preparation Time 15 mins Cooking Time 15 mins Total Time 30 mins Course Main Ingredients 600g cod fillets 100g plain or self-raising flour 2 eggs, beaten 150g breadcrumbs If shallow frying, 200ml sunflower oil If oven baking, cooking oil spray For the lemon dip Juice of ½ lemon 2 tbsp milk 200g mayonnaise Freshly chopped parsley Method Using a sharp knife, slice the cod into fingers, carefully feeling for and removing any bones. Place the flour, seasoned with a little salt and pepper, into one bowl. Place the beaten eggs into another bowl. Place the breadcrumbs into a third bowl. Dip each fish piece first into the flour, coating all over, and then dip into the egg wash, coating well. Finally coat with breadcrumbs. Repeat with all fish pieces. To oven bake: Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Spray the fish pieces with a little cooking oil spray. Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden all over. To ensure the fish is fully cooked, break open a fish finger. The fish meat will be soft and flake away easily when fully cooked. To shallow fry: A less healthy option, but these are really delicious as a treat once every so often! To shallow fry the goujons, place the oil in a deep frying pan over a medium to high heat. To test if the oil is ready, drop a breadcrumb in and when it sizzles and rises to the top, the heat is perfect. Using tongs, carefully lower the breaded fish pieces in to the hot oil. Allow to golden in colour before turning to brown all over. Keep a close eye, as they can burn quickly! It should only take four to five minutes to brown all over. To ensure the fish is fully cooked, break open a fish finger. The fish meat will be soft and flake away easily when fully cooked. Move to a raised wire rack once cooked. For the dip, simply combine all the ingredients. Serve with mash or chips and peas and the lemon dip. Sarah's secret For an elevated flavour, try adding finely grated Parmesan cheese to the breadcrumbs. You'll end up with a delicious golden cheesy crust.
Sky News
8 hours ago
- General
- Sky News
Prison officer stabbed at high-security HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire
A prison officer has been airlifted to hospital after being stabbed at a high-security men's prison. West Mercia Police said officers were called to HMP Long Lartin in South Littleton, Worcestershire, shortly after 10am on Friday morning. The 25-year-old "sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to hospital," the force added. They are still in hospital, but in a stable condition. A 22-year-old suspect is being held in custody within the prison, and a weapon has been recovered, the force said. In a follow-up statement, the police said audio footage circulating online, and claiming to be from the aftermath, is not connected to the incident. 1:50 Assistant Chief Constable Grant Wills said: "Whilst our investigation is in its early stages, we would like to clarify that this incident is not being treated as terrorism. "Our initial enquiries suggest there was a disagreement between an inmate and prison officer that escalated and is an isolated matter within the prison." HMP Long Lartin is category A and category B prison with space for over 600 inmates.
Times
9 hours ago
- General
- Times
Prison guard stabbed with knife that was ‘flown in by a drone'
A prison guard has been stabbed by an inmate with a knife believed to have been flown into the jail by a drone. Police are investigating after the prison officer was attacked at Long Lartin, a category A prison in Evesham, Worcestershire, which houses some of the most dangerous criminals in the country. These include Thomas Cashman, who murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool in 2022, and Vincent Tabak, who killed Joanna Yeates in Bristol in 2010. The officer was airlifted to hospital after the attack, which happened on Friday morning. The guard has undergone emergency surgery, according to the BBC. On Friday night a Prison Service spokesman said that the officer is still in hospital receiving treatment but in a stable condition. A source with knowledge of the prison told MailOnline that the attacker used a flick-knife that was flown into the jail by a drone. The Prison Service was unable to confirm how the knife got into the prison but said that this was a line of inquiry in the police investigation. The attack has renewed calls for the government to allow prison officers to wear stab-proof vests. A 'rapid review' ordered by Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, is ongoing but is expected to be given the go-ahead next week. Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, warned in January that drones were smuggling drugs and weapons into Long Lartin so frequently that it was posing a threat to national security. He accused the police and Prison Service of ceding control of the airspace above the prison. The watchdog said the jail had a 'thriving' drugs market and CCTV had been allowed to fall into disrepair. It is the latest attack to unfold inside Britain's highest security jails within the last two months and has prompted concern over growing levels of violence. Last month the Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi attacked three prison officers with boiling cooking oil and makeshift knives from within a terrorist separation centre in Frankland prison in Co Durham. A day later a prisoner killed a convicted murderer at Whitemoor prison in Cambridgeshire. Earlier this week two prison officers at the same jail were taken to hospital after two separate attacks. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said the attack at Long Lartin exposed the urgent need to give prison officers stab proof vests. He said: 'Our brave prison officers are lions led by donkeys. The government's shameful refusal to equip them immediately with stab vests is risking lives. It's a disgrace. They must have the protection and powers they need to crack down on these vile offenders. 'How many more officers need to be stabbed before the Ministry of Justice finally gives them stab vests and crackdowns on drones delivering weapons?' A Prison Service spokesman said: 'Police are investigating an attack on a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin. We will not tolerate assaults on hard-working staff and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators.'
Telegraph
13 hours ago
- General
- Telegraph
Prison guard stabbed at high-security jail
A prison officer has been stabbed and seriously injured in an unprovoked attack by a prisoner at a high-security jail. The prison officer was airlifted to hospital on Friday morning after being stabbed by an inmate in HMP Long Lartin, a category A prison near Evesham, Worcestershire. He was said to be in a 'stable' condition after emergency surgery. There were unconfirmed reports that the knife used in the attack may have been delivered into the jail by a drone. Prison Service sources said this was based on the theory that it was a real knife rather than a makeshift one constructed from materials within the jail. The attack will raise further concerns over the scale of violence in jails after a series of assaults over the past two months, including a knife attack by Hashem Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, on three officers at the high-security HMP Frankland jail in County Durham. On Thursday, The Telegraph revealed that two prison officers at the high-security HMP Whitemoor jail in Cambridgeshire were taken to hospital after two separate attacks. It followed the killing of a convicted murderer by another inmate at the same prison last month. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, has ordered reviews into whether front-line prison officers should be equipped with stab vests to protect against knife attacks and tougher powers to segregate the most violent offenders in 'supermax-style' units. She has also ordered a trial of Tasers. 'Lucky to have survived' According to The Sun, the prison officer at Long Lartin was stabbed in his body, with a blade from a flick-knife nicking his liver. A source told the paper: 'The attack came out of the blue and was early in the morning after the prisoners were unlocked. The member of staff is lucky to have survived, particularly given where the blade struck him. 'It nicked his liver, so it could easily have been a lot worse. His colleagues raced to his aid, and luckily, police and ambulance crews got to the prison pretty quickly. 'Other members of staff are furious. They do not feel they are getting the protection they deserve, and they have been warning about drones for ages. It is a daily occurrence that they are dropping stuff off there, and it is extremely worrying that a flick-knife was delivered. If that can be dropped off, anything can. 'It is ridiculous, especially at what is meant to be a highly secure jail. Prisons are out of control – something needs to be done, and fast.' 'We will not tolerate assaults' In a statement, West Mercia Police said officers had been called to HMP Long Lartin over an assault. 'One man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after sustaining a stab wound. The inmate remains within the prison and the investigation is ongoing,' the statement said. A Prison Service spokesman said: 'We will not tolerate assaults on hard-working staff and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators.' Category A Long Lartin prison houses 900 highly dangerous inmates, including killers and terrorists. Inmates there include Suffolk strangler Steve Wright; Jordan McSweeney, who murdered Zara Aleena in 2022, and Vincent Tabak, Joanna Yeates's killer. It is understood the latest attack was not by a high-profile prisoner. The latest assault comes just weeks after Abedi, who is serving life over the murder of 22 people in the Manchester Arena bomb, attacked three officers in a separation unit at HMP Frankland by throwing hot cooking oil over them and stabbing them with two makeshift knives fashioned from baking trays in the kitchen. The Prison Officers' Association has called for all terrorists and violent prisoners who assault officers to be held in US-style 'supermax' units or separate jails where they are only allowed out of their cells one hour a day, handcuffed and supervised by three officers.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Officer stabbed in inmate attack at HMP Long Lartin
A prison officer has been airlifted to hospital after a stabbing at a high security teams were called to HMP Long Lartin in South Littleton, near Evesham, Worcestershire, on Friday just before 08:40 BST.A member of staff was hurt in the attack and taken to hospital where they were in a stable condition, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson Mercia Police said they were investigating the stabbing by an inmate, who remained in the jail. "Crews found a man who they treated for serious injuries before he was airlifted to hospital for further treatment," a spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service officer taken to hospital suffered a stab wound in the attack, the police force's spokesperson added."The inmate remains within the prison and the investigation is ongoing," they high security men's prison houses more than 600 prisoners.A Prison Service spokesperson added: "We will not tolerate assaults on hardworking staff and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
