Blogging every day is going to be tough if I have many more days like today which consisted of hours of travelling on rattling tin can trains to get to a...challenging (to be diplomatic) meeting which I could have done without. I have nothing interesting to say and am exhausted and grumpy and fit for nothing but tea slurping. Fortunately, I found this recipe post lurking in my drafts folder. It's been a while since I made the dish but, having now been reminded of it, I'm very keen to get it into the meal plan as soon as possible.
I try and always carry a notebook with me when I'm out and about. Usually, it gets filled up with shopping lists and top 5s, the latter done in the pub when D and I are a couple of pints down so that the handwriting tends towards the illegible. Sometimes, though, I'll make a note of a thoroughly good combination of flavours, nicked from a menu or packet, and years later I'll get round to bringing them together in a dish.
Aside from anything else, making this reminded me of the grooviness that is giant couscous. So much more toothsome and satisfying than the regular stuff.
You could probably do away with the fish here if you wanted a light but flavour packed lunch; as part of a main meal, the sturdy mackerel more than stands up to all the robust flavours.
Ingredients
2 mackerel, filleted
Vegetable oil, for cooking (I favour rapeseed)
2 handfuls of rocket
1/2 red onion thinly sliced
50g golden sultanas
50g capers, lightly chopped
25g pine nuts
100g giant couscous
1L chicken stock
2 red peppers
Olive oil (extra virgin)
Balsamic vinegar
Runny honey
Clove of garlic, crushed
Serves 2
Heat the oven to 180. Quarter and deseed the peppers, season and roast in the oven until the flesh is soft and the skin black (20-30 mins). Transfer to a bowl, cover with cling film and set aside.
Meanwhile, sweat off the onion in a little oil until soft and beginning to colour. Transfer to a bowl and return the pan to the heat; lightly toast the pine nuts in any residual oil until lightly golden. Add to the onion, along with the capers, combine well, and set aside.
When the pepper is cool to the touch, peel off the blackened skin and transfer the flesh to a mini processor along the garlic, a slug of balsamic vinegar and a drizzle of honey. Blitz, and then trickle in olive oil until it forms a smooth dressing.
Bring the chicken stock to the boil in a large saucepan and then tip in the giant couscous and sultanas and boil for around 6 mins until the grains of couscous are tender. Combine with the onion and caper mix then cover to keep warm.
Heat a little oil in a large frying pan. Lay the mackerel fillets in skin size down, season the flesh and cook for 2 mins. Flip the fillets and remove from the heat, the fish will cook in the residual warmth.
Divide the couscous between two plates. Top with the mackerel fillets then a small handful of rocket and drizzle over the red pepper dressing.
Tuesday, 5 September 2017
Monday, 4 September 2017
MPM: 4th September 2017
During my drive to blog every day in September, Mondays should be the easiest because I can just stick in a quick meal planning post and be done. Hurrah.
That being said, the plan for this week is a little bit vague and back-of-a-fag-packety. Partly because it is my first week back at work after a month of post operative rest and recuperation and I am expecting my evening energy levels to be extremely low and up to little more than making tea and toast - hence the midweek freezer dive. I am, hopefully, back to two full fast days this week so that means soup (on Tuesday and Thursday). And we are going out for supper on Friday to, er, celebrate the fact that it is Friday.
Monday: We were originally intending to be out tonight and now we are not. So tea will likely consist of leftovers from yesterday's roast. We have cold roast chicken, we have some carrot and ginger mash, we have four roast potatoes - I am feeling some sort of bubble and squeak-esque patties coming on.
Tuesday: Fast day - soup
Wednesday: Braised beef cheeks from the freezer, jazzed up with some blue cheese that's been lurking round the fridge for a while and needs using up. Possibly mash on the side, possibly some crusty bread.
Thursday: Fast day - soup
Friday: Out
Saturday: We are going Stateside and having Buffalo style chicken wings. I am in charge of the side dish and am currently researching wedge salads - have you heard of these? They sound odd to me but am prepared to try anything once.
Sunday: Nduja lamb with a couscous salad - how this will work exactly remains to be seen.
Happy cooking (and eating) folks and have a wonderful week.
That being said, the plan for this week is a little bit vague and back-of-a-fag-packety. Partly because it is my first week back at work after a month of post operative rest and recuperation and I am expecting my evening energy levels to be extremely low and up to little more than making tea and toast - hence the midweek freezer dive. I am, hopefully, back to two full fast days this week so that means soup (on Tuesday and Thursday). And we are going out for supper on Friday to, er, celebrate the fact that it is Friday.
Monday: We were originally intending to be out tonight and now we are not. So tea will likely consist of leftovers from yesterday's roast. We have cold roast chicken, we have some carrot and ginger mash, we have four roast potatoes - I am feeling some sort of bubble and squeak-esque patties coming on.
Tuesday: Fast day - soup
Wednesday: Braised beef cheeks from the freezer, jazzed up with some blue cheese that's been lurking round the fridge for a while and needs using up. Possibly mash on the side, possibly some crusty bread.
Thursday: Fast day - soup
Friday: Out
Saturday: We are going Stateside and having Buffalo style chicken wings. I am in charge of the side dish and am currently researching wedge salads - have you heard of these? They sound odd to me but am prepared to try anything once.
Sunday: Nduja lamb with a couscous salad - how this will work exactly remains to be seen.
Happy cooking (and eating) folks and have a wonderful week.
Sunday, 3 September 2017
Dan Lepard's sour cream sandwich bread
I'm a bit late to the party on this one, since I believe most tinternetters with an interest in bread baking discovered (and raved about) this recipe ages ago. But I've never been ahead of the zeitgeist; I work on the basis that if I'm slow enough, by the time I discover things they might be just coming back into fashion.
I'm not going to reproduce the recipe here because, y'know, copyright. If you own Mr Lepard's much lauded baking book, "Short and Sweet", it's in there and, luckily enough if you don't, it is also available on The Guardian website: here. It's featured in a list of his top ten bread recipes, all of which I want to make.
It's well worth having a go at this recipe just out of curiosity - I find it fascinating that the technique of very short, sharp kneads can produce such a beautiful texture when it is so different to the traditional method. The result is a loaf with a soft crust, and a light, fluffy crumb.
I decided to opt for mini loaves to make use of the gorgeous little tins that I was gifted earlier this year. Aren't they sweet? A half batch of the mixture made eight perfectly little dinky ones which required just 12-15 minutes baking. Here are six of them, fresh from the oven:
One of their fellows having already been ripped open and slathered with butter. Behold that gorgeous, pillowy interior:
Highly recommended!
I'm not going to reproduce the recipe here because, y'know, copyright. If you own Mr Lepard's much lauded baking book, "Short and Sweet", it's in there and, luckily enough if you don't, it is also available on The Guardian website: here. It's featured in a list of his top ten bread recipes, all of which I want to make.
It's well worth having a go at this recipe just out of curiosity - I find it fascinating that the technique of very short, sharp kneads can produce such a beautiful texture when it is so different to the traditional method. The result is a loaf with a soft crust, and a light, fluffy crumb.
I decided to opt for mini loaves to make use of the gorgeous little tins that I was gifted earlier this year. Aren't they sweet? A half batch of the mixture made eight perfectly little dinky ones which required just 12-15 minutes baking. Here are six of them, fresh from the oven:
One of their fellows having already been ripped open and slathered with butter. Behold that gorgeous, pillowy interior:
Highly recommended!
Saturday, 2 September 2017
Notes on gallbladder surgery
A slight departure from the usual Foodie Fare and probably not of interest to many. But, you are more likely to have a dicky gallbladder if you are overweight, and if you starting reading this blog because it was supposed to be about dieting (hollow laugh) then this is something that may one day apply to you. If not, no sweat, I'll be back with a cute cat picture shortly.
I really wanted to write this because I was so scared before having my gallbladder removed that I can't even begin to tell you. I have issues with anxiety generally, particularly when it comes to matters of health, and the prospect of surgery terrified me. So if this helps anyone else out there who is even half as frightened, then it will have done its job.
I first went to see the doctor in December over persistent, nagging abdominal pain - some generalised but some concentrated in the upper right quadrant. It was never agonising, which is how gallstones can and often do present, but it was annoying. An abdominal CT scan showed some stones and that the organ itself was inflamed. At this point, when surgery was mentioned, I must admit I didn't particularly feel that the severity of the symptoms warranted it; the advice of the experts, though, was that once you start having gallbladder problems they are likely to get worse and can end up very nasty indeed so, really, you're best off getting rid.
The process, in retrospect, all happened very quickly. I saw the consultant within about a month of referral and then another month or so later was given an appointment for a pre-op assessment and then was put on the waiting list. In my area, the average wait time from going on the list to procedure is 20 weeks, but I was given a date after around three months. I should add, though, that I was offered a cancellation spot that I was able to take up which brought the operation forward. It certainly seems to help if you can be flexible in these circumstances.
Unless they have a particular reason not to, gallbladders are removed using keyhole surgery which means that you can be in and out of hospital in a single day. Apparently, the average procedure takes 45 minutes, although they can take anything from 20 minutes to 3 hours. I had four little incisions, one of which was inside my belly button. They inflate your abdomen to make it easier to manoeuvre, which means that you might (I did!) feel a bit bloated and gassy afterwards. However, it is not an invasive procedure - I can't believe how small the marks are.
The thing that scared the bejeesus out of me was the anaesthetic. Up until this point, I had never had a general anaesthetic. I hope that I never have to have another one (the stress!) but it was fine. And if you are reading this and are worried because, like me, you have a too high BMI and know that this makes you higher risk all I can say is I had no problems whatsoever. There were two doctors taking care of the anaesthetic side of things and, I am told, they are present the entire time to make sure that you are OK. If you are slightly overweight, they will raise your head slightly to make it easier for you to breathe. If you are so overweight that it is going to cause a serious problem then you are unlikely to get through the pre-op assessment - i.e. if you're there and they're happy to go ahead then someone more qualified than you has decided it's not too much of a risk.
It sounds a cliche, but one moment I was in the operating theatre feeling a bit tingly, wondering if it was actually going to work, and the next minute I was coming round in the recovery room and the nurses were reading out horoscopes. I expected nausea and disorientation but, for me, it wasn't much worse than waking up from a really heavy sleep. I was slightly woozy and slightly dizzy, but within minutes was able to sit up and sip water and, as soon as they got me to the ward I was ready for a cup of tea.
In terms of general recovery: I was told differing things about the amount of time required off work. At my first appointment, the consultant said 2-3 weeks. The doctor that I spoke to on the morning of the operation said 3, the nurse in the recovery ward said 4. My GP gave me a Fit Note for 4 weeks in the end but, to be honest, I probably could have gone back a bit sooner. I am still ever so slightly sore, but not so much that it distracts from day to day life. Immediately afterwards, other than the slight wind issue, the best way to describe the sensation is that it felt as though all my innards were bruised. I was uncomfortable and a bit battered, but it was nothing that normal, over the counter, painkillers couldn't deal with and certainly nothing to be concerned about. I had very little appetite for the first week or so. I have also noticed that my digestive system seems slightly more...delicate subsequently. I don't know if this is a long-term thing or just a question of things settling down over a period of time. I am trying to listen to what my body is telling me in terms of quantity of food (I generally seem to want less) and not going overboard on anything with a particularly high fat content.
One thing that might well be TMI but no one mentioned to me beforehand. One morning, I woke up to find that the largest incision site, in my belly button, had...well, ejected a rather large amount of blood-tinged, clear fluid. I, of course, panicked, ringing NHS Direct at 5am and turning up at my GP's surgery first thing for an emergency appointment. But apparently it is quite common to get a build up that all comes out at once, and it is nothing to get too concerned about, especially if the wound is not showing any other signs of infection.
The main thing that I have really taken away from this is how wonderful is our poor, beleaguered NHS. I know you hear some horror stories but I can't praise the staff with whom I came into contact highly enough, from my GP right through to the nurse who gave me a hug before I got taken down to the theatre, to the lovely anaesthetist's assistant who chatted to me about his Mum as he was wheeling me in. They do a bloody hard job day in and day out and I am very grateful to all of them. They all said that it is natural and normal to feel nervous. I mean, they probably could have done without me weeping on them at every opportunity but they were very patient and kind.
If anyone is about to go through this and has happened across this blog post and wants to get in touch then please do in the comments or to the blog's email address. As I said above, I am more than happy to answer any questions about my own experience especially if it could help to alleviate someone's fears.
Normal service - i.e. food related witterings - will resume tomorrow.
Edited 25/02/2019 - following this surgery, I ended up with something called Bile Acid Malabsorption which is not uncommon and easily treatable but if you HAVE had your gallbladder removed and you are experiencing persistant stomach issues several weeks or months down the line, then I would strongly urge you get this checked out with a medical professional.
I really wanted to write this because I was so scared before having my gallbladder removed that I can't even begin to tell you. I have issues with anxiety generally, particularly when it comes to matters of health, and the prospect of surgery terrified me. So if this helps anyone else out there who is even half as frightened, then it will have done its job.
I first went to see the doctor in December over persistent, nagging abdominal pain - some generalised but some concentrated in the upper right quadrant. It was never agonising, which is how gallstones can and often do present, but it was annoying. An abdominal CT scan showed some stones and that the organ itself was inflamed. At this point, when surgery was mentioned, I must admit I didn't particularly feel that the severity of the symptoms warranted it; the advice of the experts, though, was that once you start having gallbladder problems they are likely to get worse and can end up very nasty indeed so, really, you're best off getting rid.
The process, in retrospect, all happened very quickly. I saw the consultant within about a month of referral and then another month or so later was given an appointment for a pre-op assessment and then was put on the waiting list. In my area, the average wait time from going on the list to procedure is 20 weeks, but I was given a date after around three months. I should add, though, that I was offered a cancellation spot that I was able to take up which brought the operation forward. It certainly seems to help if you can be flexible in these circumstances.
Unless they have a particular reason not to, gallbladders are removed using keyhole surgery which means that you can be in and out of hospital in a single day. Apparently, the average procedure takes 45 minutes, although they can take anything from 20 minutes to 3 hours. I had four little incisions, one of which was inside my belly button. They inflate your abdomen to make it easier to manoeuvre, which means that you might (I did!) feel a bit bloated and gassy afterwards. However, it is not an invasive procedure - I can't believe how small the marks are.
The thing that scared the bejeesus out of me was the anaesthetic. Up until this point, I had never had a general anaesthetic. I hope that I never have to have another one (the stress!) but it was fine. And if you are reading this and are worried because, like me, you have a too high BMI and know that this makes you higher risk all I can say is I had no problems whatsoever. There were two doctors taking care of the anaesthetic side of things and, I am told, they are present the entire time to make sure that you are OK. If you are slightly overweight, they will raise your head slightly to make it easier for you to breathe. If you are so overweight that it is going to cause a serious problem then you are unlikely to get through the pre-op assessment - i.e. if you're there and they're happy to go ahead then someone more qualified than you has decided it's not too much of a risk.
It sounds a cliche, but one moment I was in the operating theatre feeling a bit tingly, wondering if it was actually going to work, and the next minute I was coming round in the recovery room and the nurses were reading out horoscopes. I expected nausea and disorientation but, for me, it wasn't much worse than waking up from a really heavy sleep. I was slightly woozy and slightly dizzy, but within minutes was able to sit up and sip water and, as soon as they got me to the ward I was ready for a cup of tea.
In terms of general recovery: I was told differing things about the amount of time required off work. At my first appointment, the consultant said 2-3 weeks. The doctor that I spoke to on the morning of the operation said 3, the nurse in the recovery ward said 4. My GP gave me a Fit Note for 4 weeks in the end but, to be honest, I probably could have gone back a bit sooner. I am still ever so slightly sore, but not so much that it distracts from day to day life. Immediately afterwards, other than the slight wind issue, the best way to describe the sensation is that it felt as though all my innards were bruised. I was uncomfortable and a bit battered, but it was nothing that normal, over the counter, painkillers couldn't deal with and certainly nothing to be concerned about. I had very little appetite for the first week or so. I have also noticed that my digestive system seems slightly more...delicate subsequently. I don't know if this is a long-term thing or just a question of things settling down over a period of time. I am trying to listen to what my body is telling me in terms of quantity of food (I generally seem to want less) and not going overboard on anything with a particularly high fat content.
One thing that might well be TMI but no one mentioned to me beforehand. One morning, I woke up to find that the largest incision site, in my belly button, had...well, ejected a rather large amount of blood-tinged, clear fluid. I, of course, panicked, ringing NHS Direct at 5am and turning up at my GP's surgery first thing for an emergency appointment. But apparently it is quite common to get a build up that all comes out at once, and it is nothing to get too concerned about, especially if the wound is not showing any other signs of infection.
The main thing that I have really taken away from this is how wonderful is our poor, beleaguered NHS. I know you hear some horror stories but I can't praise the staff with whom I came into contact highly enough, from my GP right through to the nurse who gave me a hug before I got taken down to the theatre, to the lovely anaesthetist's assistant who chatted to me about his Mum as he was wheeling me in. They do a bloody hard job day in and day out and I am very grateful to all of them. They all said that it is natural and normal to feel nervous. I mean, they probably could have done without me weeping on them at every opportunity but they were very patient and kind.
If anyone is about to go through this and has happened across this blog post and wants to get in touch then please do in the comments or to the blog's email address. As I said above, I am more than happy to answer any questions about my own experience especially if it could help to alleviate someone's fears.
Normal service - i.e. food related witterings - will resume tomorrow.
Edited 25/02/2019 - following this surgery, I ended up with something called Bile Acid Malabsorption which is not uncommon and easily treatable but if you HAVE had your gallbladder removed and you are experiencing persistant stomach issues several weeks or months down the line, then I would strongly urge you get this checked out with a medical professional.
Friday, 1 September 2017
Back to skool
I think that I have said on here before that the beginning of September is almost as exciting a fresh start for me as that of January. The new school year - a time of shiny new pencil cases and virgin exercise books, a time to cast off old habits and commit to a life of scholarly endeavour. Ooooh, it gives me tingles.
So it seems appropriate to come back to blogging on the 1 September, after a good few weeks lounging on my sickbed. Everything seemed to go well and, to be honest, it has not particularly been pain or discomfort which has kept me from blogging but indolence combined with a general lack of interest in food.
However. I am back to work on Monday and keen to make the most of the last third of the year. In this vein, in the vein of new beginnings, D has challenged me to blog every day in September and I have agreed to give it a go, although I can't promise that some of the posts won't end up as Dear Diary...Here Is The Food Wot I Ate type entries. Lucky readers.
He has also challenged me to start the couch to 5k programme AND to be booze free. These are, all three, lofty goals but I am assured that there are presents to be had if I succeed in any or all of them and if there is one thing to which I am susceptible it is bribery. Hopefully, by combining them with continued adherence to 5:2 I will shift a decent chunk of lard - it certainly seemed to work well in January.
So, I hope that all out that in the blogosphere are well and thriving (Peridot - I am SO sorry for not answering the comment that you left on my last post. No excuses other than the aforementioned indolence and struggling to drag myself away from my Kindle some days) and I look forward to sharing my September adventures with you. I'll bet that you can't wait.
So it seems appropriate to come back to blogging on the 1 September, after a good few weeks lounging on my sickbed. Everything seemed to go well and, to be honest, it has not particularly been pain or discomfort which has kept me from blogging but indolence combined with a general lack of interest in food.
However. I am back to work on Monday and keen to make the most of the last third of the year. In this vein, in the vein of new beginnings, D has challenged me to blog every day in September and I have agreed to give it a go, although I can't promise that some of the posts won't end up as Dear Diary...Here Is The Food Wot I Ate type entries. Lucky readers.
He has also challenged me to start the couch to 5k programme AND to be booze free. These are, all three, lofty goals but I am assured that there are presents to be had if I succeed in any or all of them and if there is one thing to which I am susceptible it is bribery. Hopefully, by combining them with continued adherence to 5:2 I will shift a decent chunk of lard - it certainly seemed to work well in January.
So, I hope that all out that in the blogosphere are well and thriving (Peridot - I am SO sorry for not answering the comment that you left on my last post. No excuses other than the aforementioned indolence and struggling to drag myself away from my Kindle some days) and I look forward to sharing my September adventures with you. I'll bet that you can't wait.
Tuesday, 8 August 2017
Convalescing
Apologies in advance if things go slightly quiet for the next week or two. I had my pesky gallbladder removed yesterday and, although all went well and I am already home (it was keyhole surgery which is significantly less invasive than the non-keyhole kind) I am currently sore, grumpy and have absolutely zero appetite. Which means the thought of eating, let alone cooking, does not appeal. Not the best premise for a blog about food. I am currently subsisting on cups of tea, the odd biscuit and plenty of paracetamol. These are not such things as blog posts are made of.
Hopefully I'll be back up and about shortly - there is only so much Netflix a girl can watch!
Hopefully I'll be back up and about shortly - there is only so much Netflix a girl can watch!
Sunday, 6 August 2017
TWTWTW: Lazy, hazy, crazy
Well, we haven't done a that was the week that was post for a while, which means that the blog has been lacking in cute cat pictures, which will never do.
La Minx remains as beautiful and capricious as ever, as is the way with felines. She, at best, tolerates and, at worst, cordially dislikes D despite our ongoing efforts but he forgives her because she is beautiful and has the loudest purr ever to emanate from a little cat.
Now, tell me, where on Earth has the summer gone? I'm sure we had a few nice days back there in what - May? June? But the last few weeks have been terrible! As regular readers will know, I am not a fan of the heat but the lack of blue skies and the constant threat of rain is becoming slightly depressing. I feel like I should be talking about barbecues and summer salads but it's really more weather for stews.
Still, miserable weather notwithstanding, we managed to drag ourselves out this week when we went to a really fun Sipsmith gin event at Shear's Yard this week, which I will write about in more detail in another post; I was shocked to find that it has been two and a half years since we last went to that fine establishment (I wrote about it here). Sadly, both time and money preclude us from visiting such local gems as often as we would both like - and given the continued pressures on independent establishments it's a real shame not to support them more. Leeds recently lost The Black Swan which was an absolutely wonderful gastro-ish pub that is also mentioned in the above post which goes to show that even places that do everything right are at risk.
We had a few nights midweek where we were a bit lax about cooking for various reasons, but things have picked up this weekend, and for brunch this morning I finally got around to making shakshuka (pictured below with toasted, buttered brioche).
It's been on my "dishes I should really try" list for AGES and, guess what? It really is worth trying! I followed Yotam Ottolenghi's recipe, here because I liked the fact that it kept things pretty simple (I mean, in terms of additions to the stewed tomato and pepper mix.) I can see how adding a garnish of feta, or herbed yoghurt or cooking some chorizo or something in with the vegetables would work well, but loved it just as it was. It's great for brunch because you can make the sauce the day before (which probably improves the flavour anyway) and then just cook the eggs in the morning. Although I have to say this: his recipe suggests that you make the sauce then divide it between four pans before cooking with the eggs. This sounds like a lot of washing up to me. I cooked the vegetables in a large, shallow, stove-top casserole dish and just broke the eggs into that. Much simpler.
La Minx remains as beautiful and capricious as ever, as is the way with felines. She, at best, tolerates and, at worst, cordially dislikes D despite our ongoing efforts but he forgives her because she is beautiful and has the loudest purr ever to emanate from a little cat.
Now, tell me, where on Earth has the summer gone? I'm sure we had a few nice days back there in what - May? June? But the last few weeks have been terrible! As regular readers will know, I am not a fan of the heat but the lack of blue skies and the constant threat of rain is becoming slightly depressing. I feel like I should be talking about barbecues and summer salads but it's really more weather for stews.
Still, miserable weather notwithstanding, we managed to drag ourselves out this week when we went to a really fun Sipsmith gin event at Shear's Yard this week, which I will write about in more detail in another post; I was shocked to find that it has been two and a half years since we last went to that fine establishment (I wrote about it here). Sadly, both time and money preclude us from visiting such local gems as often as we would both like - and given the continued pressures on independent establishments it's a real shame not to support them more. Leeds recently lost The Black Swan which was an absolutely wonderful gastro-ish pub that is also mentioned in the above post which goes to show that even places that do everything right are at risk.
We had a few nights midweek where we were a bit lax about cooking for various reasons, but things have picked up this weekend, and for brunch this morning I finally got around to making shakshuka (pictured below with toasted, buttered brioche).
It's been on my "dishes I should really try" list for AGES and, guess what? It really is worth trying! I followed Yotam Ottolenghi's recipe, here because I liked the fact that it kept things pretty simple (I mean, in terms of additions to the stewed tomato and pepper mix.) I can see how adding a garnish of feta, or herbed yoghurt or cooking some chorizo or something in with the vegetables would work well, but loved it just as it was. It's great for brunch because you can make the sauce the day before (which probably improves the flavour anyway) and then just cook the eggs in the morning. Although I have to say this: his recipe suggests that you make the sauce then divide it between four pans before cooking with the eggs. This sounds like a lot of washing up to me. I cooked the vegetables in a large, shallow, stove-top casserole dish and just broke the eggs into that. Much simpler.
Wednesday, 2 August 2017
Recipe corner: Courgette and halloumi cakes
We're trying to get back into the habit of Sunday brunch because it is a very lovely habit to have. The main issue that I have with Sunday brunch is that it usually takes place quite early - certainly early enough that I want to limit the number of processes involved and my exposure to things that are sharp and hot. This one, while not immediately screaming of breakfast foodstuffs, actually fits the bill pretty well because you can get the cakes prepared the night before and, actually, they benefit from a few hours chilling and firming up in the fridge.
The original recipe was a Gordon Ramsay one which I have, as is ever my wont, tweaked a little bit. We topped the little cakes with a poached egg and a drizzle of Sriracha hot sauce to make it brunch appropriate. I reckon they'd be nice as a light, summery main meal with some sort of salad and grain, or even whacked in a bun to make a vegetarian alternative to a burger.
It doesn't really need saying but, just in case someone has stumbled on to this accidentally, excuse the bloody awful food photography. I succeed in making everything look terrible,
Ingredients
Courgette, coarsely grated
Carrot, coarsely grated
120g halloumi, grated
60g (about 1 slice from a standard, thick sliced loaf) bread, reduced to crumbs
15g Parmesan
Zest of 1/4 small lemon
Tsp oregano
Egg
Flour, for dusting
Tbsp vegetable oil
To serve (optional):
2 eggs
Hot sauce
Place a sieve or a colander over the sink and, inside, layer up the courgette and carrot gratings (is this the word?) along with some generous pinches of salt. Set aside for half an hour or so.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, place the grated halloumi.
Blitz your bread into crumbs using a small processor. Add the roughly chopped Parmesan along with seasoning and the oregano and blitz again to form fine, cheesy crumbs. Tip this into the bowl alongside the halloumi and grate in the lemon zest.
When the vegetables have had sufficient time to give up some of their water content, give them a quick rinse and a thorough wring-out. Pat them dry on a bit of kitchen paper and then whack into the bowl, along with one egg. Mix thoroughly to form a sort of loose, colourful dough.
Lightly dust a large plate with flour and then dampen your hands, which will make it easier to form the cakes without the mixture sticking everywhere. I got six little patties out of this amount, but makes as many as you wish depending on how you intend to serve them. When the patties are formed, put on the floured plate and turn over a couple of times to lightly coat.
Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for at least an hour. If you're cooking them for breakfast then overnight is perfect.
When the time comes to serve, heat the oil up in a good, non-stick frying pan (alternatively, we have taken to lining the base of our pans with non-stick baking paper. If you do this, you can dispense with the oil altogether, or you can brush it lightly over the surface prior to cooking). Fry the patties for around 5 minutes on the first side then gently turn over and cook for a further 3-4, until a decent crust has formed and they are warmed through.
If you are serving these with a poached egg then be sure to have the pan of water ready boiling when the cakes go in to fry and just drop the eggs in for the last couple of minutes of cooking.
Serve according to taste.
The original recipe was a Gordon Ramsay one which I have, as is ever my wont, tweaked a little bit. We topped the little cakes with a poached egg and a drizzle of Sriracha hot sauce to make it brunch appropriate. I reckon they'd be nice as a light, summery main meal with some sort of salad and grain, or even whacked in a bun to make a vegetarian alternative to a burger.
It doesn't really need saying but, just in case someone has stumbled on to this accidentally, excuse the bloody awful food photography. I succeed in making everything look terrible,
Ingredients
Courgette, coarsely grated
Carrot, coarsely grated
120g halloumi, grated
60g (about 1 slice from a standard, thick sliced loaf) bread, reduced to crumbs
15g Parmesan
Zest of 1/4 small lemon
Tsp oregano
Egg
Flour, for dusting
Tbsp vegetable oil
To serve (optional):
2 eggs
Hot sauce
Place a sieve or a colander over the sink and, inside, layer up the courgette and carrot gratings (is this the word?) along with some generous pinches of salt. Set aside for half an hour or so.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, place the grated halloumi.
Blitz your bread into crumbs using a small processor. Add the roughly chopped Parmesan along with seasoning and the oregano and blitz again to form fine, cheesy crumbs. Tip this into the bowl alongside the halloumi and grate in the lemon zest.
When the vegetables have had sufficient time to give up some of their water content, give them a quick rinse and a thorough wring-out. Pat them dry on a bit of kitchen paper and then whack into the bowl, along with one egg. Mix thoroughly to form a sort of loose, colourful dough.
Lightly dust a large plate with flour and then dampen your hands, which will make it easier to form the cakes without the mixture sticking everywhere. I got six little patties out of this amount, but makes as many as you wish depending on how you intend to serve them. When the patties are formed, put on the floured plate and turn over a couple of times to lightly coat.
Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for at least an hour. If you're cooking them for breakfast then overnight is perfect.
When the time comes to serve, heat the oil up in a good, non-stick frying pan (alternatively, we have taken to lining the base of our pans with non-stick baking paper. If you do this, you can dispense with the oil altogether, or you can brush it lightly over the surface prior to cooking). Fry the patties for around 5 minutes on the first side then gently turn over and cook for a further 3-4, until a decent crust has formed and they are warmed through.
If you are serving these with a poached egg then be sure to have the pan of water ready boiling when the cakes go in to fry and just drop the eggs in for the last couple of minutes of cooking.
Serve according to taste.
Monday, 31 July 2017
MPM: 31st July 2017
Pay day! Hurrah! The meal plan last week was abandoned to a certain extent when we realised that we had more food in the fridge / freezer than we had money in the bank (an exaggeration, but you get my drift). Hence it may seem slightly repetitious this week since dishes got bumped into that glorious hinterland where wallets are full again. Not that our wallets are ever that full seeing as how we are civil servants and the Government hates us and wants us and our children and pets to suffer. Again, I exaggerate and again, I digress.
It's hard to believe, especially given the appalling weather that we have had recently, that we are now entering into the last gasps of Summer. Here's hoping that August decides to be kind to us and brings some sunshine.
We're fasting on Monday and Thursday this week, so that will be soup, as per. On Wednesday, we are going to Shears Yard for a five course tasting menu paired with Sipsmith gin cocktails. The menu looks fantastic - check it out here; the only concern being that I hate being out on a school night. To atone, the weekend will be a model of restraint and decorum and will probably involve quite a lot of doing stuff in the garden if the weather would be so kind as to stay dry. Elsewhere:
Tuesday: Crab tart with a side dish of spiced courgette couscous. Leftovers of both will do us for lunch on Wednesday and Friday.
Friday: Chicken Caesar burgers. However, we're taking the original recipe and, er, messing with it a bit to make it more exciting.
Saturday: Pepper and lime crusted tuna with mustard cucumber "spaghetti". I think that I've blogged this one before...yes, here it is. Gorgeous.
Sunday: We're trialling a couple of dishes for a forthcoming dinner party with my parents so I don't want to go into any detail in case they're awful and we have to rethink the menu, but courgettes and lamb will be involved in some shape or form.
Have a lovely week folks!
It's hard to believe, especially given the appalling weather that we have had recently, that we are now entering into the last gasps of Summer. Here's hoping that August decides to be kind to us and brings some sunshine.
We're fasting on Monday and Thursday this week, so that will be soup, as per. On Wednesday, we are going to Shears Yard for a five course tasting menu paired with Sipsmith gin cocktails. The menu looks fantastic - check it out here; the only concern being that I hate being out on a school night. To atone, the weekend will be a model of restraint and decorum and will probably involve quite a lot of doing stuff in the garden if the weather would be so kind as to stay dry. Elsewhere:
Tuesday: Crab tart with a side dish of spiced courgette couscous. Leftovers of both will do us for lunch on Wednesday and Friday.
Friday: Chicken Caesar burgers. However, we're taking the original recipe and, er, messing with it a bit to make it more exciting.
Saturday: Pepper and lime crusted tuna with mustard cucumber "spaghetti". I think that I've blogged this one before...yes, here it is. Gorgeous.
Sunday: We're trialling a couple of dishes for a forthcoming dinner party with my parents so I don't want to go into any detail in case they're awful and we have to rethink the menu, but courgettes and lamb will be involved in some shape or form.
Have a lovely week folks!
Wednesday, 26 July 2017
Eat North
Street food is definitely one modern trend that I can get on board with. I'm an old fashioned girl in many ways - I don't have any tattoos and like my music to have an ACTUAL TUNE but yep, love the love for street food. Of course, I don't actually like eating on the street. We were always taught at school that it is common to eat while you're walking along, and that is one lesson that stuck fast so much so that I am almost physically incapable of eating and walking at the same time. However, as long as there is a handy bench or, preferably, a table somewhere in the vicinity of the street food van then I am there.
There are already many reasons to love Leeds's North Bar, but this summer they've given us another, extra specially big one by running, in conjunction with Leeds Indie Food, weekly events at their tap room like mini festivals - of food! We've been meaning to go for a while and finally got around to it last weekend.
Different vendors attend every time - we happened to be presented by a choice of Indian food courtesy of Manjit's Kitchen, giant arancini by the girls of Golden Balls (like your style, ladies), and kebabs from The Middle Feast. Both of us opted for kebabs - which seemed to be the most popular choice at 2pm on Saturday - D's with chicken, mine, blackened aubergine and halloumi. Very tasty stuff and an absolute world away from the kind of kebabs that always seem like a good idea in the early hours of the morning after one two many cocktails.
We also decided that it would be rude not to take a couple of the Porterhouse Cake Company's wares home to try. I am pleased to be able to confirm that tahini does work extremely well swirled through a brownie. Who knew?
It was a really fun event and they've obviously been going down well with the good people of Leeds since a further six have just been announced. I certainly hope to get to another one before the summer is out. Further details can be found at the website here or the Leeds Indie Food twitter feed.
And no, this is not a sponsored post, although if North Bar would like to send me a T-shirt and a box of brownies they would be gratefully accepted. I'm not proud.
There are already many reasons to love Leeds's North Bar, but this summer they've given us another, extra specially big one by running, in conjunction with Leeds Indie Food, weekly events at their tap room like mini festivals - of food! We've been meaning to go for a while and finally got around to it last weekend.
Different vendors attend every time - we happened to be presented by a choice of Indian food courtesy of Manjit's Kitchen, giant arancini by the girls of Golden Balls (like your style, ladies), and kebabs from The Middle Feast. Both of us opted for kebabs - which seemed to be the most popular choice at 2pm on Saturday - D's with chicken, mine, blackened aubergine and halloumi. Very tasty stuff and an absolute world away from the kind of kebabs that always seem like a good idea in the early hours of the morning after one two many cocktails.
We also decided that it would be rude not to take a couple of the Porterhouse Cake Company's wares home to try. I am pleased to be able to confirm that tahini does work extremely well swirled through a brownie. Who knew?
It was a really fun event and they've obviously been going down well with the good people of Leeds since a further six have just been announced. I certainly hope to get to another one before the summer is out. Further details can be found at the website here or the Leeds Indie Food twitter feed.
And no, this is not a sponsored post, although if North Bar would like to send me a T-shirt and a box of brownies they would be gratefully accepted. I'm not proud.
Tuesday, 25 July 2017
Baby steps
There are few things more annoying than tracking a good weight loss all week (between 2 and 2.8lbs) only for the scales to bounce back up on Official Weigh Day.
I mean, the point about weighing yourself daily is to get a sense of the overall trend, the general movement and not to get too het up about the number on any given day. But everyone knows that the results on Official Weigh Day mean the most. And everyone knows that Official Weigh Day is really Monday, no matter how often you try and convince your psyche that Friday is better.
So, anyway. My Official Weigh Day result was a 1.2lb loss. Which isn't bad by any means, but given that this was the highest number to flash up since last Monday it is supremely irritating.
Still, I take it and I keep going. The alternatives that I mentioned are weighing almost as heavy as, well, me.
I mean, the point about weighing yourself daily is to get a sense of the overall trend, the general movement and not to get too het up about the number on any given day. But everyone knows that the results on Official Weigh Day mean the most. And everyone knows that Official Weigh Day is really Monday, no matter how often you try and convince your psyche that Friday is better.
So, anyway. My Official Weigh Day result was a 1.2lb loss. Which isn't bad by any means, but given that this was the highest number to flash up since last Monday it is supremely irritating.
Still, I take it and I keep going. The alternatives that I mentioned are weighing almost as heavy as, well, me.
Monday, 24 July 2017
MPM: 24th July 2017
I am writing this on Sunday afternoon, so I haven't yet had my Official Weigh In and don't yet know whether my renewed commitment to the 5:2 plan has paid dividends on the scales. Daily scale hops have seen a definite downwards movement, which is tentatively pleasing.
The fast days themselves, as expected, were not that pleasant. Thursday, in particular, I was extremely grumpy in the evening and took myself off to bed to sulk behind a book at around eight o clock. Hopefully, this week will be a bit better. However, I've stuck to keeping my food diary, and observed the rule about no cheeky glasses of wine on school nights, so that's progress. We also adhered to the meal plan and ate well all week - although both agreed that veggie haggis isn't a patch on actual, y'know, haggis.
Next weekend will be a busy one for us - we're off to the Roosters brewery open day on the Saturday with my parents and then on Sunday we have tickets for a local restaurant's take on Scandi food. So, no meal planning required at the weekend. Monday and Thursday will be fast days - that just leaves us with...
Tuesday: Caesar salad burgers from this month's Good Food magazine
Wednesday: Crab tart
Friday: Homemade fish fingers - D has yet to decide whether he's going spicy or classic
All good, summery fare - which is not quite in keeping with the greyness and rain that I see before me through the study window but you never know - perhaps our diet can tempt the sunshine back out. Have a great week all!
The fast days themselves, as expected, were not that pleasant. Thursday, in particular, I was extremely grumpy in the evening and took myself off to bed to sulk behind a book at around eight o clock. Hopefully, this week will be a bit better. However, I've stuck to keeping my food diary, and observed the rule about no cheeky glasses of wine on school nights, so that's progress. We also adhered to the meal plan and ate well all week - although both agreed that veggie haggis isn't a patch on actual, y'know, haggis.
Next weekend will be a busy one for us - we're off to the Roosters brewery open day on the Saturday with my parents and then on Sunday we have tickets for a local restaurant's take on Scandi food. So, no meal planning required at the weekend. Monday and Thursday will be fast days - that just leaves us with...
Tuesday: Caesar salad burgers from this month's Good Food magazine
Wednesday: Crab tart
Friday: Homemade fish fingers - D has yet to decide whether he's going spicy or classic
All good, summery fare - which is not quite in keeping with the greyness and rain that I see before me through the study window but you never know - perhaps our diet can tempt the sunshine back out. Have a great week all!
Friday, 21 July 2017
Recipe corner: easiest ever chocolate pots
Although life may be tough at times, there is always, always chocolate.
When I was a child, my love of the good stuff was well known throughout the family. You could guarantee that if we went out for a meal and there was a chocolate based dessert on the menu that my little piggy eye would immediately alight upon it; the creamier, the sicklier the better for my young taste buds. My mother claims to still remember the expression on my face the first time that she gave me a chocolate button - the utter wondering delight that such a thing existed.
As I have got older my sweet tooth has receded to the extent that if you really, really pushed me, I'd probably opt for a starter over a pudding (always assuming that both wasn't an option). But my predilection for cocoa based confections remains in tact such that if D sees chocolate mentioned on a dessert menu, he pretty much knows that all bets are off.
While I never met a chocolate pudding that I didn't like, I do think that a classic chocolate pot is possibly the ultimate. It's unapologetic in its rich intensity, a true celebration of the cocoa bean. And when I saw this recipe online, I thought that it must be too good to be true - as simple a thing as you ever did see. Reader, it is not. The only, only thing to watch out for is to make sure you add the water gradually - apply the merest modicum of patience, and chocolate pudding heaven is yours.
You could use flavoured chocolate. You could add other flavourings yourself. Or, you could sit back and let the star of the show shine through. My most recent version made excellent use of the remains of a Prestat Easter Egg. It turns out that the only thing that can make a Prestat Easter Egg better is the ability to eat it with a spoon.
Ingredients - per person
30g chocolate - I advocate going as dark as you dare
1 tbsp (which is 15g) boiling water
1.5 tbsp double cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
Boil the kettle.
Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a microwave proof bowl. Stick it in said microwave and, er, turn it on. Every ten to fifteen seconds or so, remove the bowl, swirl it around and see where you are. The chocolate will continue melting in the residual heat once you have removed it from the microwave and you don't want to overdo it. Once you've mastered it, I promise you, this is by far the easiest way to melt chocolate.
When the chocolate is melted, first, stir through the vanilla.
Now, you are going to add the water. I would recommend weighing it out direct from the kettle. Start with just a small amount, and stir briskly. Initially, it will look as if the chocolate is going to seize into a great big mess. Keep going. When the water is incorporated, add another splash and repeat until all the water is incorporated. Remember to stir it until glossy between each addition.
Finish by stirring through the cream. You should have a mixture which is roughly the consistency of a thin creme custard.
Pour into little espresso cups and chill in the fridge for at least an hour to allow the mix to set.
Enjoy, preferably on your own in a darkened room. Maybe light a candle, play some soft jazz. Have some quality time with it. Remember, whatever life throws at you, there will always be chocolate.
When I was a child, my love of the good stuff was well known throughout the family. You could guarantee that if we went out for a meal and there was a chocolate based dessert on the menu that my little piggy eye would immediately alight upon it; the creamier, the sicklier the better for my young taste buds. My mother claims to still remember the expression on my face the first time that she gave me a chocolate button - the utter wondering delight that such a thing existed.
As I have got older my sweet tooth has receded to the extent that if you really, really pushed me, I'd probably opt for a starter over a pudding (always assuming that both wasn't an option). But my predilection for cocoa based confections remains in tact such that if D sees chocolate mentioned on a dessert menu, he pretty much knows that all bets are off.
While I never met a chocolate pudding that I didn't like, I do think that a classic chocolate pot is possibly the ultimate. It's unapologetic in its rich intensity, a true celebration of the cocoa bean. And when I saw this recipe online, I thought that it must be too good to be true - as simple a thing as you ever did see. Reader, it is not. The only, only thing to watch out for is to make sure you add the water gradually - apply the merest modicum of patience, and chocolate pudding heaven is yours.
You could use flavoured chocolate. You could add other flavourings yourself. Or, you could sit back and let the star of the show shine through. My most recent version made excellent use of the remains of a Prestat Easter Egg. It turns out that the only thing that can make a Prestat Easter Egg better is the ability to eat it with a spoon.
Ingredients - per person
30g chocolate - I advocate going as dark as you dare
1 tbsp (which is 15g) boiling water
1.5 tbsp double cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
Boil the kettle.
Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a microwave proof bowl. Stick it in said microwave and, er, turn it on. Every ten to fifteen seconds or so, remove the bowl, swirl it around and see where you are. The chocolate will continue melting in the residual heat once you have removed it from the microwave and you don't want to overdo it. Once you've mastered it, I promise you, this is by far the easiest way to melt chocolate.
When the chocolate is melted, first, stir through the vanilla.
Now, you are going to add the water. I would recommend weighing it out direct from the kettle. Start with just a small amount, and stir briskly. Initially, it will look as if the chocolate is going to seize into a great big mess. Keep going. When the water is incorporated, add another splash and repeat until all the water is incorporated. Remember to stir it until glossy between each addition.
Finish by stirring through the cream. You should have a mixture which is roughly the consistency of a thin creme custard.
Pour into little espresso cups and chill in the fridge for at least an hour to allow the mix to set.
Enjoy, preferably on your own in a darkened room. Maybe light a candle, play some soft jazz. Have some quality time with it. Remember, whatever life throws at you, there will always be chocolate.
Thursday, 20 July 2017
Recipe corner: a couple of broad bean ideas
A friend of mine at work has an allotment. Lucky chap. I love the idea of an allotment, although suspect that the reality would be altogether dirtier and more tiresome. Anyway, recently he brought in a load of broad beans that he had grown and now needed to use, all of which were gratefully received by his colleagues.
But the truth is, I was unsure as to what to do with them. I have cooked broad beans before but wouldn't call myself a fan particularly. However, it turns out that I love broad beans when they're shmushed up with other stuff. Who knew?
First a word on cooking and preparing. The first job is to remove them from the pods - this was D's responsibility and was easy enough to do in front of the TV. Once the beans have been podded, you need to bring a pan of water to the boil, pop them in and simmer for two minutes, then drain and run them under the cold tap until they are cool to the touch. Now they need to be squeezed out of their little grey jackets. This, again, is an easy enough job to do albeit slightly tedious - again, I would recommend accompanying with a podcast or an episode of "Gilmore Girls" (current Netflix obsession). We stored the beans submerged in cold water in the fridge until the time came to use them - I'm not sure whether this is necessary or not. It did not do them any harm.
Broad bean dip
This recipe is loosely based on the ingredients list for Waitrose's pecorino and basil dip which is a household favourite. I was really pleased with the balance of flavours that I got here - the broad beans were enhanced but not overwhelmed. This was an utterly delicious taste of summer. Although we just had it on tortilla chips, I would also eat it as an accompaniment to a main course - I can imagine it being delicious with a nice piece of trout.
Ingredients
70g broad beans, weighed after shelling
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tbsp mayonnaise
20g Parmesan, finely grated
8-10 mint leaves
Tsp chopped dill
Squeeze of lemon juice
Half a clove of garlic fine grated
Bring a pan of water to the boil, add the beans and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until nice and soft. Remove from the heat and drain.
Meanwhile, put all the other ingredients into a mini blitzer (I swear by my Kenwood one. We use it all the time and the day it breaks we will be straight out to replace it). Whizz them together so that they are all well blended. Season lightly.
Add the broad beans and whizz again until smooth. Check the seasoning and adjust to taste - perhaps add a touch more lemon juice which should really help the flavours to sing.
Serve as a dip or a sauce or just eat with a spoon. It really is that good.
Broad bean and pea crostini
A Jamie Oliver recipe, very slightly tweaked, this makes a perfect summery snack or starter. Quantities are rather vague - this is easily adapted depending on the amount of people you have to feed.
So preheat your oven to around 180. Slice a baguette, brush slices with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake until crisp - probably 10-15 minutes depending on how much of a beast your oven is. Set aside to cool.
Bring a pan of lightly salted water to the boil and then add a decent size handful of podded, shelled broad beans and another of peas and simmer for around 5 minutes until nice and soft. Drain and return to the pan.
Using a masher, lightly crush together the vegetables: you want them to retain some texture. Then, throw in a good splash of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and a flurry of grated Parmesan. Stir through and check the seasoning. I personally enjoy a good hit of black pepper here.
Spread the cooled crostini with cream cheese and then top with the broad bean and pea mix. For us, this made six very generously topped crostini but I reckon it would have gone further were we not such greedy minxes.
But the truth is, I was unsure as to what to do with them. I have cooked broad beans before but wouldn't call myself a fan particularly. However, it turns out that I love broad beans when they're shmushed up with other stuff. Who knew?
First a word on cooking and preparing. The first job is to remove them from the pods - this was D's responsibility and was easy enough to do in front of the TV. Once the beans have been podded, you need to bring a pan of water to the boil, pop them in and simmer for two minutes, then drain and run them under the cold tap until they are cool to the touch. Now they need to be squeezed out of their little grey jackets. This, again, is an easy enough job to do albeit slightly tedious - again, I would recommend accompanying with a podcast or an episode of "Gilmore Girls" (current Netflix obsession). We stored the beans submerged in cold water in the fridge until the time came to use them - I'm not sure whether this is necessary or not. It did not do them any harm.
Broad bean dip
This recipe is loosely based on the ingredients list for Waitrose's pecorino and basil dip which is a household favourite. I was really pleased with the balance of flavours that I got here - the broad beans were enhanced but not overwhelmed. This was an utterly delicious taste of summer. Although we just had it on tortilla chips, I would also eat it as an accompaniment to a main course - I can imagine it being delicious with a nice piece of trout.
Ingredients
70g broad beans, weighed after shelling
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tbsp mayonnaise
20g Parmesan, finely grated
8-10 mint leaves
Tsp chopped dill
Squeeze of lemon juice
Half a clove of garlic fine grated
Bring a pan of water to the boil, add the beans and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until nice and soft. Remove from the heat and drain.
Meanwhile, put all the other ingredients into a mini blitzer (I swear by my Kenwood one. We use it all the time and the day it breaks we will be straight out to replace it). Whizz them together so that they are all well blended. Season lightly.
Add the broad beans and whizz again until smooth. Check the seasoning and adjust to taste - perhaps add a touch more lemon juice which should really help the flavours to sing.
Serve as a dip or a sauce or just eat with a spoon. It really is that good.
Broad bean and pea crostini
A Jamie Oliver recipe, very slightly tweaked, this makes a perfect summery snack or starter. Quantities are rather vague - this is easily adapted depending on the amount of people you have to feed.
So preheat your oven to around 180. Slice a baguette, brush slices with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake until crisp - probably 10-15 minutes depending on how much of a beast your oven is. Set aside to cool.
Bring a pan of lightly salted water to the boil and then add a decent size handful of podded, shelled broad beans and another of peas and simmer for around 5 minutes until nice and soft. Drain and return to the pan.
Using a masher, lightly crush together the vegetables: you want them to retain some texture. Then, throw in a good splash of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and a flurry of grated Parmesan. Stir through and check the seasoning. I personally enjoy a good hit of black pepper here.
Spread the cooled crostini with cream cheese and then top with the broad bean and pea mix. For us, this made six very generously topped crostini but I reckon it would have gone further were we not such greedy minxes.
Monday, 17 July 2017
MPM: 17th July 2017
Not a particularly seasonal menu plan this week - you'll notice haggis popping up a couple of times which is something that I always associate with winter. However, we have had a veggie haggis lurking in the freezer for ages (don't ask) that needs utilising. And, let's face it, when has British summertime ever been actually summery?
We're fasting Monday and Thursday - so that will be soup (I've knocked up a batch of this old favourite). Elsewhere:
Tuesday: veggie haggis and clapshot, caramelised onion gravy and some sort of green - I'm thinking maybe a creamed spinach?
Wednesday: giant couscous tossed in 'nduja, roasted vegetables and a crumble of feta cheese
Friday: veggie haggis toasties. Don't knock until you've tried them.
Saturday: I'm cooking up a veggie Indian feast, featuring two of my favourite curries - saag paneer and chana masala (aka cheesy spinach and spiced chickpeas). To be served with rice and flatbreads and maybe a couple of cheeky chutneys. YUM!
Sunday: fish of some description - but we'll decide what we're doing when we pick up the fish on Saturday. We have an absolutely wonderful local fishmongers so we're going to choose something that looks yummy and then base what we cook around that. If it's sunny, perhaps I might even persuade young D to fire up the barbecue?
Have a wonderful week, mes amies!
We're fasting Monday and Thursday - so that will be soup (I've knocked up a batch of this old favourite). Elsewhere:
Tuesday: veggie haggis and clapshot, caramelised onion gravy and some sort of green - I'm thinking maybe a creamed spinach?
Wednesday: giant couscous tossed in 'nduja, roasted vegetables and a crumble of feta cheese
Friday: veggie haggis toasties. Don't knock until you've tried them.
Saturday: I'm cooking up a veggie Indian feast, featuring two of my favourite curries - saag paneer and chana masala (aka cheesy spinach and spiced chickpeas). To be served with rice and flatbreads and maybe a couple of cheeky chutneys. YUM!
Sunday: fish of some description - but we'll decide what we're doing when we pick up the fish on Saturday. We have an absolutely wonderful local fishmongers so we're going to choose something that looks yummy and then base what we cook around that. If it's sunny, perhaps I might even persuade young D to fire up the barbecue?
Have a wonderful week, mes amies!
Sunday, 16 July 2017
In which I re-commit to 5:2
I've been thinking about what I did at the start of the year that worked so successfully. And what I can add to those techniques in order to be even more successful. Here's my list so far...
1) A food diary. Practically every day in January, I carefully recorded what I had eaten. It might sound a little obsessive but it never took long, and I kind of enjoyed it. It focuses you; even though no one else was reading it, I wanted the food that I recorded to look good...let's be honest, who wants to actually have to write that they've scoffed half a pack of Hobnobs?
2) Alcohol. I've mentioned this before, I'm sure. I love a drink. But my weight loss noticeably speeds up when I cut it out. I'm not going to promise to cut if out altogether, but for "5:2 2.0" there will be absolutely none on school nights (unless for a very particular reason) and I will limit consumption at the weekends by focusing on higher quality, low volume.
3) Meal planning. Whatever diet you're doing, meal planning is pretty key. I also need to make sure that I'm planning lunches and breakfasts as well - I'd like to limit snacks and treats and a surefire way to do that is to make sure that I'm eating properly at meal times.
4) Ah, yes, snacks and treats. The odd biscuit or packet or crisps or piece of chocolate is absolutely fine, but I need to keep an eye on consumption levels. I'd like to limit myself to one "treat" a day, maybe relaxing slightly at the weekends. So that could be a biscuit with an afternoon cup or tea OR a packet of cheeky cheese and onion when I get home OR a few Maltesers after dinner. Not all three.
5) Exercise. Yes, this again. Lesley has nagged me about it before and with good reason - I need to make time for this and commit to a proper programme of activity. There's a hotel across the road from my office with a proper pool - I'd love to treat myself to monthly membership so that I could fit in some swimming. I'd also quite like to try some yoga classes, as I think this would help with my anxiety issues as well as being good, gentle exercise, but I'm not going to shell out a penny until I've proved to myself that I can make exercise part of my schedule. We have a treadmill in the garage, I have the couch to 5k app on my phone - it's free, it's easy, it's effective there is NO EXCUSE.
1) A food diary. Practically every day in January, I carefully recorded what I had eaten. It might sound a little obsessive but it never took long, and I kind of enjoyed it. It focuses you; even though no one else was reading it, I wanted the food that I recorded to look good...let's be honest, who wants to actually have to write that they've scoffed half a pack of Hobnobs?
2) Alcohol. I've mentioned this before, I'm sure. I love a drink. But my weight loss noticeably speeds up when I cut it out. I'm not going to promise to cut if out altogether, but for "5:2 2.0" there will be absolutely none on school nights (unless for a very particular reason) and I will limit consumption at the weekends by focusing on higher quality, low volume.
3) Meal planning. Whatever diet you're doing, meal planning is pretty key. I also need to make sure that I'm planning lunches and breakfasts as well - I'd like to limit snacks and treats and a surefire way to do that is to make sure that I'm eating properly at meal times.
4) Ah, yes, snacks and treats. The odd biscuit or packet or crisps or piece of chocolate is absolutely fine, but I need to keep an eye on consumption levels. I'd like to limit myself to one "treat" a day, maybe relaxing slightly at the weekends. So that could be a biscuit with an afternoon cup or tea OR a packet of cheeky cheese and onion when I get home OR a few Maltesers after dinner. Not all three.
5) Exercise. Yes, this again. Lesley has nagged me about it before and with good reason - I need to make time for this and commit to a proper programme of activity. There's a hotel across the road from my office with a proper pool - I'd love to treat myself to monthly membership so that I could fit in some swimming. I'd also quite like to try some yoga classes, as I think this would help with my anxiety issues as well as being good, gentle exercise, but I'm not going to shell out a penny until I've proved to myself that I can make exercise part of my schedule. We have a treadmill in the garage, I have the couch to 5k app on my phone - it's free, it's easy, it's effective there is NO EXCUSE.
I reckon if I can stick to all these edicts, as well as two fast days a week, I can get things moving again in six weeks. Game face on!
Saturday, 15 July 2017
Excuses, excuses
So, I promised a bit of a retrospective post to talk about 5:2 and how the year was going.
I have talked on here on a couple of occasions about how 5:2 is hard but not that hard. Fast days are rubbish but they are doable if you are organised and if you just get past the fact that being a bit hungry is not going to kill you. I'm therefore a bit disappointed that our fast days have got a lot more sporadic in recent weeks.
There is a bit of a reason - or is it an excuse? I always strive to be honest on this blog, albeit optimistically honest (is that a thing?) so I might as well say that, particularly since the break in, my anxiety levels have been high and I've not always been feeling 100%. I've been on anti anxiety medication in the past but I don't like that as a solution so I'm trying to deal with it myself. And I've noticed that low blood sugar can exacerbate physical symptoms of anxiety so I've been a bit wary of fasting. Ha, written down that looks exactly like an excuse!
My weight has remained pretty stable throughout - I'm currently a couple of pounds shy of a two stone loss for the year. That's amazing BUT the majority of that loss came in the first couple of months. That is not amazing.
I've made peace with the fact that I am never going to be a skinny girl again, but I would like to lose enough that I am an unremarkable size and, more importantly, enough that I am not endangering my future health. I really want 5:2 to work for that because I am shit scared of the alternative. The alternative is going back to a more regimented plan - a Weight Watchers or a Slimming World. And that makes me want to cry; I love being liberated from counting, from obsessively measuring out every teaspoon of oil or knob of butter. I actually enjoy going to the fridge an being able to sling something together from bits and pieces of leftovers and not having to worry as I go along that it will involve more points than I have left for the day. I cook and eat well and have found my own natural balance (as evidenced by the fact that, even without fasting, I have maintained my weight).
But, if 5:2 isn't going to get me to where I need to be then I have no choice.
So, here's the deal. I am re-committing to 5:2 wholeheartedly for the next 6 or so weeks, which takes us to the end of August. It would be nice to knock off half a stone or so in that time, although any downwards movement would be good. If I haven't made any more progress then I'm going to have to start on an alternative route come September.
It's blogged and therefore I have to stick to it, right?
I have talked on here on a couple of occasions about how 5:2 is hard but not that hard. Fast days are rubbish but they are doable if you are organised and if you just get past the fact that being a bit hungry is not going to kill you. I'm therefore a bit disappointed that our fast days have got a lot more sporadic in recent weeks.
There is a bit of a reason - or is it an excuse? I always strive to be honest on this blog, albeit optimistically honest (is that a thing?) so I might as well say that, particularly since the break in, my anxiety levels have been high and I've not always been feeling 100%. I've been on anti anxiety medication in the past but I don't like that as a solution so I'm trying to deal with it myself. And I've noticed that low blood sugar can exacerbate physical symptoms of anxiety so I've been a bit wary of fasting. Ha, written down that looks exactly like an excuse!
My weight has remained pretty stable throughout - I'm currently a couple of pounds shy of a two stone loss for the year. That's amazing BUT the majority of that loss came in the first couple of months. That is not amazing.
I've made peace with the fact that I am never going to be a skinny girl again, but I would like to lose enough that I am an unremarkable size and, more importantly, enough that I am not endangering my future health. I really want 5:2 to work for that because I am shit scared of the alternative. The alternative is going back to a more regimented plan - a Weight Watchers or a Slimming World. And that makes me want to cry; I love being liberated from counting, from obsessively measuring out every teaspoon of oil or knob of butter. I actually enjoy going to the fridge an being able to sling something together from bits and pieces of leftovers and not having to worry as I go along that it will involve more points than I have left for the day. I cook and eat well and have found my own natural balance (as evidenced by the fact that, even without fasting, I have maintained my weight).
But, if 5:2 isn't going to get me to where I need to be then I have no choice.
So, here's the deal. I am re-committing to 5:2 wholeheartedly for the next 6 or so weeks, which takes us to the end of August. It would be nice to knock off half a stone or so in that time, although any downwards movement would be good. If I haven't made any more progress then I'm going to have to start on an alternative route come September.
It's blogged and therefore I have to stick to it, right?
Thursday, 13 July 2017
Polpetto, London
We're just back from a few days spent down South which was very nice indeed. We got to spend time with friends and family and, of course, we made sure that we got to eat. Although London has a distressing habit of encompassing far more nice restaurants than two people can possibly cover in a limited amount of time. Sigh.
We decided to go to Polpetto and, in doing so, have now officially managed to have a meal at each of Russell Norman's London outlets. I've been irritatingly enthusiastic about him before on numerous occasions - see here or here or even here. Finishing the set has long been a cherished goal of my husband, who believes in completism (and, as such, is doing his best to visit every single Brewdog bar. The fact that they've opened one in Brazil is a constant source of annoyance to him).
Anyway, Polpetto. I'm not sure that I've much to add other than what I have said about Norman's restaurants before. They're not high end dining, the decor tends towards slightly shabby whimsy, the staff towards the achingly cool. The food is, in my experience, always delicious.
Whoever was cooking on Monday night was skilled in the art of perfect protein. Grilled octopus skewers were the absolute highlight of the evening, the meat all at once dense and tender. Ribbons of flank steak, tangled with aubergine and lamb's lettuce, melted on contact with the tongue. Squid, thinly robed in batter and fried, had just the right amount of silky bounce.
Elsewhere there was a pizzete, the base bubbled and blistered, the top, liberally cheesed which is always a good thing. And an orange semifreddo, liberally scattered with great, golden chunks of honeycomb which reminded me of the sophisticated lovechild of a Chocolate Orange and a Crunchie, There may have been plate licking.
Sure, it's not setting the world on fire and since Polpo et al opened, the "small plate" dining experience has become somewhat ubiquitous. I mean, we're even doing it in Yorkshire now. But it's all good stuff and I, for one, am very happy to hear that Polpo might be looking for a permanent home in Leeds. It's the type of food that I will never tire of eating - honest, robust and tasty.
Polpetto
11 Berwick Street
London
W1F 0PL
020 7439 8627
We decided to go to Polpetto and, in doing so, have now officially managed to have a meal at each of Russell Norman's London outlets. I've been irritatingly enthusiastic about him before on numerous occasions - see here or here or even here. Finishing the set has long been a cherished goal of my husband, who believes in completism (and, as such, is doing his best to visit every single Brewdog bar. The fact that they've opened one in Brazil is a constant source of annoyance to him).
Anyway, Polpetto. I'm not sure that I've much to add other than what I have said about Norman's restaurants before. They're not high end dining, the decor tends towards slightly shabby whimsy, the staff towards the achingly cool. The food is, in my experience, always delicious.
Whoever was cooking on Monday night was skilled in the art of perfect protein. Grilled octopus skewers were the absolute highlight of the evening, the meat all at once dense and tender. Ribbons of flank steak, tangled with aubergine and lamb's lettuce, melted on contact with the tongue. Squid, thinly robed in batter and fried, had just the right amount of silky bounce.
 |
| Octopus! |
 |
| Semifreddo |
Polpetto
11 Berwick Street
London
W1F 0PL
020 7439 8627
Friday, 30 June 2017
A breakfast for on the go, and a TV dinner
I can't believe that we're coming up to the halfway point of 2017 already. That can't possibly be right.
Lesley (hello, Lesley!) has recently started 5:2ing and asked me how it was going - so now, six months in, seems like a good point to assess progress so far and make some general comments on the diet (which will probably be exactly the same comments that I make every time that I do a progress report but they are good comments and bear repeating). I will post that shortly.
Also, I have a couple of fantastic little things-to-do-with-broad-beans that I must share with you. If you have an allotment (or, indeed, a garden) you may well be overrun with them at the moment and searching for new ideas. Another, somewhat annoying, watch this space.
In the meantime, I just wanted to bookmark a couple of recipes for posterity and commend them to your attention.
These breakfast bars, a Nigella recipe via a lovely blog, are a cinch to make and a fantastic way of using up all those odd bags of dried fruit and nuts and seeds of which I seem to have a cupboard full. They're healthy-ish: lots of good stuff in there but certainly not a low calorie or sugar option. They last exceptionally well (over a week in an airtight container and still fine) and are perfect for breakfast on the go. Which, in our house means breakfast at your desk when you've reluctantly hauled yourself out of bed in time to get to the office for seven.
And this garlic butter prawn linguine dish, we made on a Saturday night after a bottle of wine and an emotional rollercoaster of a Dr Who episode. It is extraordinarily simple and low effort but delivers on indulgence and flavour. Just the kind of thing that you want to cook and eat on a Saturday night after a bottle of wine and an emotional rollercoaster of a Dr Who episode. One that I will be retaining up my sleeve for future use.
Back soon!
Lesley (hello, Lesley!) has recently started 5:2ing and asked me how it was going - so now, six months in, seems like a good point to assess progress so far and make some general comments on the diet (which will probably be exactly the same comments that I make every time that I do a progress report but they are good comments and bear repeating). I will post that shortly.
Also, I have a couple of fantastic little things-to-do-with-broad-beans that I must share with you. If you have an allotment (or, indeed, a garden) you may well be overrun with them at the moment and searching for new ideas. Another, somewhat annoying, watch this space.
In the meantime, I just wanted to bookmark a couple of recipes for posterity and commend them to your attention.
These breakfast bars, a Nigella recipe via a lovely blog, are a cinch to make and a fantastic way of using up all those odd bags of dried fruit and nuts and seeds of which I seem to have a cupboard full. They're healthy-ish: lots of good stuff in there but certainly not a low calorie or sugar option. They last exceptionally well (over a week in an airtight container and still fine) and are perfect for breakfast on the go. Which, in our house means breakfast at your desk when you've reluctantly hauled yourself out of bed in time to get to the office for seven.
And this garlic butter prawn linguine dish, we made on a Saturday night after a bottle of wine and an emotional rollercoaster of a Dr Who episode. It is extraordinarily simple and low effort but delivers on indulgence and flavour. Just the kind of thing that you want to cook and eat on a Saturday night after a bottle of wine and an emotional rollercoaster of a Dr Who episode. One that I will be retaining up my sleeve for future use.
Back soon!
Monday, 19 June 2017
MPM: 19th June 2017
So it got hot. I, in common with much of the rest of the UK, have spent the last few days of the heatwave complaining about it bitterly. When the rain returns halfway through the week, we shall complain bitterly about that too. Such is the British way.
I really like the meal plan this week and am looking forward to all the dishes on rotation - with the possible exception of the inevitable Fast Day soup on Tuesday and Thursday. If it cools down enough to restore my appetite, I shall look forward to them even more.
Monday: roast sea bream with fennel, potatoes, olives and capers. A lovely sounding one pot dish that won't require too much effort and has an appropriately Mediterranean feel.
Wednesday: pasta in a sweet tomato sauce with roasted red peppers and sausage
Friday: a friend of ours brought us back some black pudding from a recent holiday and D suggested using it as part of a proper fry up. A weekend fry up supper was a real treat when I was a child so this should be great. Bacon, eggs, mushrooms and toast will all be in attendance.
Saturday: garlic prawn linguine. The original recipe looks pretty simple - just prawns, garlic, butter, lemon and parsley. I'm wondering about adding some spiralised courgettes and roasted cherry tomatoes for a bit of additional interest (and nutritional value!)
Sunday: Parmesan roasted chicken thighs with cauliflower and thyme - aka variations on a theme of Sunday roast.
Have a good week all!
I really like the meal plan this week and am looking forward to all the dishes on rotation - with the possible exception of the inevitable Fast Day soup on Tuesday and Thursday. If it cools down enough to restore my appetite, I shall look forward to them even more.
Monday: roast sea bream with fennel, potatoes, olives and capers. A lovely sounding one pot dish that won't require too much effort and has an appropriately Mediterranean feel.
Wednesday: pasta in a sweet tomato sauce with roasted red peppers and sausage
Friday: a friend of ours brought us back some black pudding from a recent holiday and D suggested using it as part of a proper fry up. A weekend fry up supper was a real treat when I was a child so this should be great. Bacon, eggs, mushrooms and toast will all be in attendance.
Saturday: garlic prawn linguine. The original recipe looks pretty simple - just prawns, garlic, butter, lemon and parsley. I'm wondering about adding some spiralised courgettes and roasted cherry tomatoes for a bit of additional interest (and nutritional value!)
Sunday: Parmesan roasted chicken thighs with cauliflower and thyme - aka variations on a theme of Sunday roast.
Have a good week all!
Tuesday, 13 June 2017
Recipe corner: Gochujang onion jam
I was going to open this post by talking about the aftermath
of last week’s incident but self-pity is very dull indeed, especially when it
is your own. So, instead, let’s talk condiments. I have already given you a creamy, herby salad dressing / dip to last the summer, now here is a relish guaranteed to
improve any barbecue.
It is spicy and smoky and sweet and sour all at the same
time. We have had it with both mackerel
and burgers to triumphant effect; at the
weekend, D added pineapple chunks and juice and cooked it down even further to
make a fruity caramel to serve with pork.
This is seriously versatile stuff.
The star ingredient here is the gochujang, which is a Korean
chilli paste. It is slightly fermented
which gives it a very distinct, albeit hard to describe, flavour profile and is
utterly addictive. Korean food is
supposed to be on trend at the moment, so you will probably find that gochujang
is readily available in larger supermarkets.
I couldn’t honestly suggest a substitute.
This recipe makes a large ramekin full of onion jam which
is, I recognise, not a particularly useful measurement but the best that I can
offer. I have no doubt that it would
keep well, in a jar, in the fridge, but we’ve been ploughing through it within
a matter of days so have yet to test its powers of longevity.
Ingredients
3 red onions, thinly sliced
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp sugar
Tsp salt
30g sultanas
3 tbsp gochujang
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
Take a large saucepan and set it over a low heat to warm up
while you slice the onions and transfer them to a bowl. Toss the onions in the oil, sugar and salt
and then place in the saucepan, turn the heat down as low as it will go, and
cover.
Meanwhile, place the sultanas in a bowl (you could use the
onion one to save on washing up) and cover with water to plump them up.
Cook the onions until soft and golden, stirring
occasionally. I gave mine a good hour
and they probably could have gone for a bit longer but I was bored!
Stir through the sultanas, the gochujang and the
vinegar. Turn the heat up slightly and
cook for a further 10 minutes or so until the jam is slightly sticky and just
beginning to catch on the bottom of the saucepan. Remove from the heat and allow to cool before
serving.
Wednesday, 7 June 2017
And breathe...
I couldn't bear to have that last post up at the top of the feed anymore, so, here. We haven't had an obligatory cute cat picture in a while.
As guard cats go, she's not the greatest. But did you ever see a more beautiful feline?*
* I may be biased.
As guard cats go, she's not the greatest. But did you ever see a more beautiful feline?*
* I may be biased.
Monday, 5 June 2017
A bad start to the week
Picture the scene. Six thirty in the morning, I was lying in bed pretending to be asleep when D comes in and says, in a voice teetering somewhere between incredulity and panic, "Where's the car? The car's gone."
A little further investigation revealed my purse lying in the middle of the drive and the back door lock hanging off the screws. Somebody or bodies had got into our house in the night, removed the car keys from D's jacket pocket, rifled through my handbag and made off with our car.
Now, there's an awful lot of shit going on in the world at the moment, as recent events in London and Manchester prove. And this incident, is, in the scheme of everything that is happening, tiny and incidental and means nothing to anyone except me and my husband and, possibly, our elderly neighbours. But it just serves as further proof to me that there are some complete and utter wankbadgers out there. People who actually think it is ok to break into someone's house while they are sleeping and just help themselves to a car and then, as if that is not cockwomblish enough, leave the back door open through which our cat could have escaped if she had any sort of nous.
I am trying quite hard to be angry because the alternative is to be frightened. I bet arsewipes like those who paid us a midnight visit, I bet that they get off on making people afraid. They probably find it amusing. Well, screw them and screw all the people like them that shake our faith in the basic goodness and decency of humanity. They are not worth our fear.
Anyway, I apologise for the rant and the fact that the only meal planning I will do today is working out which bits of these spineless lowlifes I would like to chop off and bake in a pie (with apologies to George R. R. Martin). Normal service to be resumed shortly.
A little further investigation revealed my purse lying in the middle of the drive and the back door lock hanging off the screws. Somebody or bodies had got into our house in the night, removed the car keys from D's jacket pocket, rifled through my handbag and made off with our car.
Now, there's an awful lot of shit going on in the world at the moment, as recent events in London and Manchester prove. And this incident, is, in the scheme of everything that is happening, tiny and incidental and means nothing to anyone except me and my husband and, possibly, our elderly neighbours. But it just serves as further proof to me that there are some complete and utter wankbadgers out there. People who actually think it is ok to break into someone's house while they are sleeping and just help themselves to a car and then, as if that is not cockwomblish enough, leave the back door open through which our cat could have escaped if she had any sort of nous.
I am trying quite hard to be angry because the alternative is to be frightened. I bet arsewipes like those who paid us a midnight visit, I bet that they get off on making people afraid. They probably find it amusing. Well, screw them and screw all the people like them that shake our faith in the basic goodness and decency of humanity. They are not worth our fear.
Anyway, I apologise for the rant and the fact that the only meal planning I will do today is working out which bits of these spineless lowlifes I would like to chop off and bake in a pie (with apologies to George R. R. Martin). Normal service to be resumed shortly.
Friday, 2 June 2017
Norse, revisited
It was my Mum’s birthday last weekend so we popped across to
Harrogate to go out for dinner. Now, I’ve
written about Norse not once but twice before, and there are only so many ways
that you can say somewhere is super delicious and lovely and that everyone
should go. But this visit was worthy of
a slight further note because it was our first since the Norse team moved into
their new location. Where previously
they were situated in Balthezen’s café, only emerging at night after the last
coffee and cinnamon bun had been served, now they are down in the Montpelier quarter
and you can visit for lunch! Hurrah!
The new restaurant is in a cellar underneath a hotel but
still manages to be a bright, airy space, in perfect keeping with the light,
Scandi influenced food. It seemed a lot
bigger than before (I’m not sure how the number of covers compares) and yet was
still packed out on Saturday night, with people several deep at the bar. In fact, if there was one small criticism to
level it is that they could have done with another staff member out front – the
ones on hand were rushed off their feet and, occasionally, plates took slightly
longer to clear than they should have done.
(NB: We fed this back to them and they have been in touch to thank us
and to say that they are looking into it.)
The food, though, was fabulous. They no longer do a set tasting menu but
offer a list of thirteen savoury plates of various sizes, recommending three
apiece. We ordered the entire menu
between four, with a view to sharing everything. Thirteen plates plus two snacks and three
desserts and yet, such was the lightness of touch and balanced parade of ingredients that none of us
left feeling over-full.
General consensus round the table that the top dishes were,
surprisingly, two vegetarian ones. The
Hasselback potatoes with cheddar and pickled leeks were always going to appeal
to a family of cheese monsters.
The grilled hen of the woods were a revelation though – who
on Earth knew that mushrooms could taste so luscious and smoky and meaty?
I must also give a special mention to the hake, beautifully
cooked and bathed in a fabulous, run-your-finger-round-the-bowl shellfish
sauce. The only problem with sharing was
that I only got a bite or two – this was one that I was tempted to hide under
the table and keep to myself.
Puddings: marginally less successful, as it turns out that D
fundamentally objects to Jerusalem artichoke ice cream (I didn’t really mind it
myself). I do think that the elderflower
parfait was terribly, terribly pretty though.
It goes without saying that, if you’re in the Harrogate
area, this is a top destination. And it
was gratifying to see the place doing so well.
Long may it stay so bustling and busy, even if it does mean that dirty
plates linger a little longer than they should do – fabulous local places like
this are to be treasured.
Thursday, 1 June 2017
Recipe corner: Tomato and ricotta "baked ziti"
I adore pasta bake in all its forms. It’s not pretty food and it certainly doesn’t tend to be sophisticated but, oh! A big pile of gooey, cheesy pasta will always make my greedy little heart beat slightly faster. As a child, admittedly before my taste buds developed a modicum of sophistication, tuna pasta bake would often be my choice for a birthday supper. Yes, it sits leaden in the stomach. Yes, the majority of Italians would turn their noses up. Yes, by the time that you’ve strewn enough cheese it becomes ridiculously high in calories and saturated fat (add a side salad if it makes you feel better). I don’t care.
The dish that I cooked last night, a layered tomato and ricotta pasta bake, was a vague attempt to re-create a baked ziti that I used to eat at the restaurant chain Sbarro. Sadly, it no longer has a UK presence so I cannot go back to check how close I got – however, it chimed pretty closely with the memory and I adored it. D felt it lacked a little oomph – perhaps some chorizo or bacon or chilli in the tomato sauce would remedy this – to me, was perfect as it was, and incredible comfort food.
In terms of technique, I aped pretty closely the Pioneer Woman’s baked ziti, figuring that an American dish required an American home cook’s wisdom. Her recipe is here – as you see, she favours a meat sauce, but mine is strictly vegetarian. That is not to say that it is particularly healthy; yes, there is a lot of cheese in there. Comfort yourself that the tomato sauce will pack in a couple of your five a day and contains relatively little fat.
Cooks’s notes: I didn’t have a stick of celery so substituted it for a second grated carrot, but you’re ideally aiming for a classic soffrito here. I keep a stash of Parmesan rinds in my freezer to whack into soups and sauces and they do add tremendous flavour but, if you’re not weird like me, just make sure you add stock rather than water to the tomato sauce. For the mozzarella, go for the slightly firmer kind that comes in a square block rather than a ball – it’s better for cooking.
Ingredients
Tomato sauce:
Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 stick of celery, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
Generous sprig of oregano (or a heaped tsp of the dried variety)
50ml red wine
200g tin of chopped tomatoes
Tbsp tomato puree
Tsp sugar
Parmesan rind
Cheese sauce:
200g ricotta cheese
50g Parmesan cheese, finely grated
75g mozzarella cheese, grated
Egg
Scant pinch of ground nutmeg
Tbsp lemon juice
180g dried penne pasta
100g mozzarella cheese
Serves 2 – 4 depending on the depths of your hunger / greed
Make the tomato sauce. Heat the olive oil and sweat off the onion and the celery with a decent pinch of salt. When beginning to soften, add the carrot, garlic and oregano and sweat a bit longer until you have a colourful mulch of vegetables.
Tip in the red wine and allow it to bubble down to almost nothing. Then add the tomatoes, the puree and the sugar and stir well. Fill the tomato tin with water and add that too, along with the Parmesan rind. Season, bring to a vigorous boil, then turn down to a gentle simmer and reduce by about a third. When it is done, allow to cool slightly before blitzing to a rough puree in the food processor.
Combine all the ingredients for the cheese sauce in a nice, large bowl and season well. Plenty of black pepper is called for here.
Cook the pasta for a couple of minutes less than it suggests on the packet – you want it to be a little too al dente so that it retains texture on baking. Once cooked, stir into the cheese sauce, along with a generous spoonful of the tomato sauce. You should have a nice, loose texture but, if not, a little splash of the pasta water will help it along.
Layer up the bake – half the pasta, half the remaining tomato sauce, half of the mozzarella cheese then repeat. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 40 minutes, removing the foil for the last 15 to get some colour on the top.
The dish that I cooked last night, a layered tomato and ricotta pasta bake, was a vague attempt to re-create a baked ziti that I used to eat at the restaurant chain Sbarro. Sadly, it no longer has a UK presence so I cannot go back to check how close I got – however, it chimed pretty closely with the memory and I adored it. D felt it lacked a little oomph – perhaps some chorizo or bacon or chilli in the tomato sauce would remedy this – to me, was perfect as it was, and incredible comfort food.
In terms of technique, I aped pretty closely the Pioneer Woman’s baked ziti, figuring that an American dish required an American home cook’s wisdom. Her recipe is here – as you see, she favours a meat sauce, but mine is strictly vegetarian. That is not to say that it is particularly healthy; yes, there is a lot of cheese in there. Comfort yourself that the tomato sauce will pack in a couple of your five a day and contains relatively little fat.
Cooks’s notes: I didn’t have a stick of celery so substituted it for a second grated carrot, but you’re ideally aiming for a classic soffrito here. I keep a stash of Parmesan rinds in my freezer to whack into soups and sauces and they do add tremendous flavour but, if you’re not weird like me, just make sure you add stock rather than water to the tomato sauce. For the mozzarella, go for the slightly firmer kind that comes in a square block rather than a ball – it’s better for cooking.
Ingredients
Tomato sauce:
Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 stick of celery, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
Generous sprig of oregano (or a heaped tsp of the dried variety)
50ml red wine
200g tin of chopped tomatoes
Tbsp tomato puree
Tsp sugar
Parmesan rind
Cheese sauce:
200g ricotta cheese
50g Parmesan cheese, finely grated
75g mozzarella cheese, grated
Egg
Scant pinch of ground nutmeg
Tbsp lemon juice
180g dried penne pasta
100g mozzarella cheese
Serves 2 – 4 depending on the depths of your hunger / greed
Make the tomato sauce. Heat the olive oil and sweat off the onion and the celery with a decent pinch of salt. When beginning to soften, add the carrot, garlic and oregano and sweat a bit longer until you have a colourful mulch of vegetables.
Tip in the red wine and allow it to bubble down to almost nothing. Then add the tomatoes, the puree and the sugar and stir well. Fill the tomato tin with water and add that too, along with the Parmesan rind. Season, bring to a vigorous boil, then turn down to a gentle simmer and reduce by about a third. When it is done, allow to cool slightly before blitzing to a rough puree in the food processor.
Combine all the ingredients for the cheese sauce in a nice, large bowl and season well. Plenty of black pepper is called for here.
Cook the pasta for a couple of minutes less than it suggests on the packet – you want it to be a little too al dente so that it retains texture on baking. Once cooked, stir into the cheese sauce, along with a generous spoonful of the tomato sauce. You should have a nice, loose texture but, if not, a little splash of the pasta water will help it along.
Layer up the bake – half the pasta, half the remaining tomato sauce, half of the mozzarella cheese then repeat. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 40 minutes, removing the foil for the last 15 to get some colour on the top.
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