A momentous thing happened today: D bought his first ever umbrella. Up until this point, he has claimed to be agin them. Unless they are made by Aquascutum and cost several hundred pounds and, short of a lottery win or an elderly, hitherto unknown eccentric millionaire relative leaving me their fortune, I am NEVER going to think that is a good idea.
Anyway, he now has an umbrella which is useful, as it looks as if Easter weekend was a temporary aberration and we are back to the chill, damp days of the English spring. And to celebrate, last night we ate a meal that was extremely springlike, a celebration of all of the wonderful produce around at this time of year. If you have a jar of Hollandaise lurking in the back of your fridge (as we did for some reason) this is the work of minutes. You could make your own if you like. Or you could sub in a nice, rich mayonnaise or creme fraiche or even plain yoghurt.
This is seriously easy, low effort (difficult sauces aside) and a delicious Friday night fish supper.
Ingredients
2 x trout fillets
Heaped tsp of Dijon mustard
250g new potatoes
Pack of asparagus, woody ends snapped off
Tbsp vegetable oil
Tsp dill
2 heaped tbsp Hollandaise sauce
Small handful of mint leaves, finely chopped
Squeeze of lemon juice
Serves 2
Preheat the oven to 180.
Cut the potatoes in half and place in a pan of cold, salted water. Bring to the boil and simmer for five minutes, before removing with a slotted spoon into a large bowl. Bring the water back up to the boil and then throw in the asparagus spears and simmer for one minute. Then drain and run cold water over the spears until they have cooled down.
Toss the potatoes in the oil, dill and season well. Transfer to a large ovenproof tray (I used my flat Le Creuset casserole but a baking tray would do as well). Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, pat the asparagus dry and put it in the potato bowl. Swish it around so it gets coated in any remaining oil. You might need to add a drop or so more at this point. Season the asparagus.
Brush the underside of the trout with the mustard. Season the skin well.
After 15 mins, remove the tray from the oven. Push the potatoes to the edges and then bung in the asparagus and lay the trout fillets, skin side up, on top. Return to the oven for another 12 minutes. While this is cooking, stir the chopped mint and lemon juice through the Hollandaise.
After 12 mins, the trout should be cooked through, and the asparagus tender. Serve, with dollops of minted Hollandaise sauce on the side.
Saturday, 27 April 2019
Tuesday, 23 April 2019
Easter Sunday lunch - 2019
For the second year in a row, D and I decided to push the boat out a bit for Easter Sunday lunch. Although we did not eat it at lunchtime. And we are neither of us practicing Christians (although I still maintain that my Catholicism is lapsed rather than totally extinct.)
Last year, we had duck. This year, we again blew raspberries in the face of tradition (which demands that one serves lamb on Easter Sunday) and had pork. Roast belly pork. Twice cooked.
But first, not so much as a starter as an amuse. An idea that we blatantlynicked borrowed from the specials board of The Reliance last week. Little Jersey Royals, parboiled and then tossed in oil and roasted, split and topped with sour cream and caviar (not the real stuff, I hasten to add). Reader, this is such a simple idea but it is SO effective and would make a marvellous canape, especially during Jersey Royal season.
Onto the pork, and my husband takes roasting belly pork very seriously. This behemoth of a joint was slow cooked, pressed and then finished under the grill per the method that I've described here.
I, meanwhile, was in charge of side dishes, and I made lightly pickled rhubarb and stem ginger - not quite a chutney - based on Diana Henry's recipe here. It was absolutely delicious with the rich meat. She served it with a pork loin that was flavoured with caraway and juniper - I knew that wouldn't fly with the Pig Master, so decided to introduce caraway, at least, into the meal by sauteeing little cubes of potato with caraway seeds until crispy and golden. Finally, we needed something green and so I made a delicious tangle of kale, blanched and then cooked together with onion, bacon and cream and flavoured with bags of black pepper and nutmeg. To bring everything together, the splendid pork gravy. And yes, we did serve the gravy in a miniature gravy boat. The first rule of Masterchef Presenation is that the sauce should always be on the side.
Having devoured that, we were quite pleased that we had kept the starter light because still to come was dessert and this was another very rich dish, for all that I kept the portion sizes small. Chocolate ganache, salted caramel sauce and candied salted peanuts. I already had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do but used this recipe as a rough guideline. It tasted like a very posh Snickers which is a Good Thing.
It wasn't till after we had finished that we realised that not only had the starter been ablatant rip off tribute to The Reliance, but the other two dishes were also based on things that we have eaten there in the recent past. Which tells you that a) we love The Reliance and if you are ever in Leeds, you should go and b) eating out is an important source of culinary inspiration and therefore is entirely justified in all circumstances.
Happy Easter one and all!
Last year, we had duck. This year, we again blew raspberries in the face of tradition (which demands that one serves lamb on Easter Sunday) and had pork. Roast belly pork. Twice cooked.
But first, not so much as a starter as an amuse. An idea that we blatantly
Onto the pork, and my husband takes roasting belly pork very seriously. This behemoth of a joint was slow cooked, pressed and then finished under the grill per the method that I've described here.
I, meanwhile, was in charge of side dishes, and I made lightly pickled rhubarb and stem ginger - not quite a chutney - based on Diana Henry's recipe here. It was absolutely delicious with the rich meat. She served it with a pork loin that was flavoured with caraway and juniper - I knew that wouldn't fly with the Pig Master, so decided to introduce caraway, at least, into the meal by sauteeing little cubes of potato with caraway seeds until crispy and golden. Finally, we needed something green and so I made a delicious tangle of kale, blanched and then cooked together with onion, bacon and cream and flavoured with bags of black pepper and nutmeg. To bring everything together, the splendid pork gravy. And yes, we did serve the gravy in a miniature gravy boat. The first rule of Masterchef Presenation is that the sauce should always be on the side.
Having devoured that, we were quite pleased that we had kept the starter light because still to come was dessert and this was another very rich dish, for all that I kept the portion sizes small. Chocolate ganache, salted caramel sauce and candied salted peanuts. I already had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do but used this recipe as a rough guideline. It tasted like a very posh Snickers which is a Good Thing.
It wasn't till after we had finished that we realised that not only had the starter been a
Happy Easter one and all!
Monday, 22 April 2019
Meal planning (Bank Holiday) Monday
I don’t really know how to cope with a sunny Bank Holiday weekend. It seems so non British somehow. I managed to burn my left arm on Saturday while at the first Eat North of the year and have retreated indoors subsequently. The sun and I are not the best of friends and I will never, never understand the appeal of just lying around stewing in one’s own sweat.
Anyway, we are due storms this week so hurrah. Although, come to think of it, I don’t much like rain either.
Meal planning. Tonight, I’ve thrown together a supper to use up some odds and sods in the fridge. Potato and watercress frittata. A slaw flavoured with the remains of a basil and mint pesto. Fresh baked bread. Tomorrow, I’m out. Wednesday, D is out. And on Thursday we are going to see The Avengers straight from work. I’m not usually bothered about seeing films the second they come out but we decided that it would be practically impossible to avoid spoilers unless we completely eschewed the Internet.
Next weekend, the plan is:
Friday: trout fillets with Jersey Royals, asparagus and minted hollandaise
Saturday: homemade pizza (this got bumped last week)
Sunday: sticky pork belly with noodles. Although I’m wondering about doing the pork stir fry per the recipe and serving it with rice instead. I’ll see how I feel at the time.
Whatever the weather decides to do this week, have a good one my lovelies.
Anyway, we are due storms this week so hurrah. Although, come to think of it, I don’t much like rain either.
Meal planning. Tonight, I’ve thrown together a supper to use up some odds and sods in the fridge. Potato and watercress frittata. A slaw flavoured with the remains of a basil and mint pesto. Fresh baked bread. Tomorrow, I’m out. Wednesday, D is out. And on Thursday we are going to see The Avengers straight from work. I’m not usually bothered about seeing films the second they come out but we decided that it would be practically impossible to avoid spoilers unless we completely eschewed the Internet.
Next weekend, the plan is:
Friday: trout fillets with Jersey Royals, asparagus and minted hollandaise
Saturday: homemade pizza (this got bumped last week)
Sunday: sticky pork belly with noodles. Although I’m wondering about doing the pork stir fry per the recipe and serving it with rice instead. I’ll see how I feel at the time.
Whatever the weather decides to do this week, have a good one my lovelies.
Tuesday, 16 April 2019
Meal planning Monday (sort of): 15th April 2019
Meant to post this yesterday and, er, failed. But we carry on regardless! It's just a shame that meal planning Tuesday doesn't have such a pleasingly alliterative quality.
Anyhoo, how are you dearest reader? I hope this finds you well. We had a bit of drama at the weekend when the cat decided to either have a midlife crisis or start her bid for the Best Actress statuette at next year's Oscars. It culminated in her being frogmarched to the vet who announced that she has slightly dodgy kneecaps. As my mother said, one never thinks about cats having knees. She now appears thoroughly pissed off with both us and life in general.
Of couse, she can express such emotions by leaving us little turd shaped indications of her displeasure in the hall. The rest of us have to keep soldiering on despite the fact that a) Brexit, or the lack thereof, is a constant source of stress (modern day politics is NOT good for those of us with higher than normal anxiety levels), b) work is unrelenting and c) no lottery win has yet been forthcoming. I mean, I'd take the millionaire's raffle, I really would. I doubt that I could quit work for a million pounds but I could definitely buy a nice handbag and, as we all know, a nice handbag always helps.
In the midst of all this, of course, there are people going through real crises. Peridot, if you happen to read this - still thinking of you and sending much love to you both through the blogosphere.
So to meal planning! It was actually our anniversary on Sunday - not our wedding anniversary but 15 years to the day since we first met. Our first date was in a not-particularly-great pub in York. This year, we celebrated with steak which has become our go-to treat meal ever since we discovered reverse searing. About halfway through said steak, we realised that one would comfortably have done both of us. And so, last night, the rest of it was thinly sliced and served in a sandwich with caramelised onion mayonaise, mustard, and lightly dressed leaves. Elsewhere this week...
Tuesday: split pea and ham soup
Wednesday: pan roasted chicken breast with sweetcorn puree and a potato and chorizo gratin
Thursday: D (rather than Charles) is in charge and he is undertaking to produce a spring veg risotto
Friday: creamy salmon pasta (opting for fish like the good lapsed Catholics that we are)
Saturday: homemade pizza. Not sure what form this will take as of yet.
Sunday: a special Easter meal of roasted belly pork, lightly pickled rhubarb, kale with cream and bacon and caraway roasted potatoes. There may well be pudding. And even a starter. And I shall spend the entire day in clean pyjamas. Hurrah!
Anyhoo, how are you dearest reader? I hope this finds you well. We had a bit of drama at the weekend when the cat decided to either have a midlife crisis or start her bid for the Best Actress statuette at next year's Oscars. It culminated in her being frogmarched to the vet who announced that she has slightly dodgy kneecaps. As my mother said, one never thinks about cats having knees. She now appears thoroughly pissed off with both us and life in general.
Of couse, she can express such emotions by leaving us little turd shaped indications of her displeasure in the hall. The rest of us have to keep soldiering on despite the fact that a) Brexit, or the lack thereof, is a constant source of stress (modern day politics is NOT good for those of us with higher than normal anxiety levels), b) work is unrelenting and c) no lottery win has yet been forthcoming. I mean, I'd take the millionaire's raffle, I really would. I doubt that I could quit work for a million pounds but I could definitely buy a nice handbag and, as we all know, a nice handbag always helps.
In the midst of all this, of course, there are people going through real crises. Peridot, if you happen to read this - still thinking of you and sending much love to you both through the blogosphere.
So to meal planning! It was actually our anniversary on Sunday - not our wedding anniversary but 15 years to the day since we first met. Our first date was in a not-particularly-great pub in York. This year, we celebrated with steak which has become our go-to treat meal ever since we discovered reverse searing. About halfway through said steak, we realised that one would comfortably have done both of us. And so, last night, the rest of it was thinly sliced and served in a sandwich with caramelised onion mayonaise, mustard, and lightly dressed leaves. Elsewhere this week...
Tuesday: split pea and ham soup
Wednesday: pan roasted chicken breast with sweetcorn puree and a potato and chorizo gratin
Thursday: D (rather than Charles) is in charge and he is undertaking to produce a spring veg risotto
Friday: creamy salmon pasta (opting for fish like the good lapsed Catholics that we are)
Saturday: homemade pizza. Not sure what form this will take as of yet.
Sunday: a special Easter meal of roasted belly pork, lightly pickled rhubarb, kale with cream and bacon and caraway roasted potatoes. There may well be pudding. And even a starter. And I shall spend the entire day in clean pyjamas. Hurrah!
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