New hobby

Ok it's not really an excuse for not blogging but I have been learning a new hobby the past couple of months - knitting! I've never been particularly crafty but I've been inspired by my creative friends to give it a go. We formed a " knit and natter" group so the chance to get together for an evening of chatting and drinking wine was another attraction! Anyway, after 3 months I've completed my first project - see picture below - it's a hat by the way!

Ok, back to food in the next post.

Blogging from iPhone

Just downloaded blogging app - maybe this will mean more blog posts!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pancake Day!

Ok, I think I've eaten too many pancakes! With cheese, with nutella and with good old lemon and sugar - yum! Oh well, it's traditional and it's only once a year. Now do I have the will power to give up anything for Lent?!?

Fun and food at the seaside

We just had a great long weekend in Cornwall. Went to the Fifteen Cornwall restaurant for their tasting menu which was fantastic. There was a veggie option for each course - two options for the starter and pasta course, more to choose from for the main and dessert. I'm torn for a favourite between the mozzarella salad that featured blood orange instead of tomato, or the gorgeous squash risotto with sage leaves. The photo I've chosen those is the "amuse-bouche"! Two little spoonfuls per person with a special veggie version for me. Great start to a really good meal.

The only complaint would be that the main course was a bit too large - I would expect something smaller from a "tasting" menu - but with seven courses over three hours it's not surprising we were feeling full! Altogether a very satisfying evening and a great location too.

Cake-tastic!

I tried out my new mixer at the weekend and produced a successful Victoria sponge. Managed to remember to take a photo of the last slice! Successful first outing of the new gadget!

Christmas cooking

Happy New Year! I haven't blogged since November but did loads of cooking in December. Really pleased that I tried a few new recipes around Christmas. Loved watching Jamie Oliver's Christmas show and tried out some of his party food combos: figs with mozzarella and parma ham, and salmon wrapped round beetroot with horseradish. Both went down really well. Also did Hugh F-W's spicy nuts. We had a bit of a Jamie-fest watching the old series of Jamie at Home too and I did a variation on his warm roast carrot salad which was also pretty good.
Best Christmas present was a posh Kitchen Aid mixer! So I'm going to try out some cake recipes very soon!

Beetroot brownies and veggy Christmas casserole

I spent quite a bit of time cooking this weekend: used up my veggy box beetroots with chocolate and beetroot brownies a la Hugh F-W (see recipe in the Guardian here); and made my usual veggy option for Christmas dinner to freeze ready to take along on the day. I've been making the same recipe for a few years now: mushroom and chestnut bourguignon from Rachel Demuth's Green Seasons cookbook. I like this because it's rich and hearty and the chestnuts add a bit of Christmassy flavour. And you can make a big batch to test it out, then freeze a bit for Christmas day. As it has it's own gravy it means you can join in with all of the usual trimmings - roast parsnips, potatoes, sprouts - and it goes well with mash too! Much more satisfying than a nut roast! The recipe isn't available online but essentially you roast shallots, garlic and peppers, then put in casserole or pot with the mushrooms, cooked chestnuts, herbs, red wine, stock etc. and then just simmer away until done. Lovely!

Soup and celebrities!

Since my last post I've discovered a new soup success - leek and chickpea from Jamie Oliver's first book. And I spent a day at the Masterchef Live (aka Good Food Show) in London. Tasted lots of cheese, chilli sauces and wine; ate some signature dishes from the Boxwood cafe and Urban Caprice; picked up lots of free magazines and recipes to try; and watched a cook off hosted by Greg and John! A great day out. Now need to try some of the recipes from the programme and magazines.

Pepper soup and lemon posset

Success! Two new recipes today, and both worked! First up red pepper and sweetcorn soup. Had a surplus of veggie box peppers so tried out this soup. Lovely!

Also, I had been meaning to try for months a Hugh F-W recipe from the Guardian for lemon posset, mainly because he claimed it was so easy. It was remarkable simple - just cream, sugar and lemon juice, a bit of heating and whisking, then a few hours in the fridge. See the recipe on the Guardian website. It was a hit! Not sure if we'll get through the whole batch this week though! But they look pretty, so one to remember for a dinner party.

Parsnips and pears!

First parsnips of the season in the veggie box this week! I love parsnips. A definite sign winter is coming though.

I've not done so well on the blog posts but have been trying some new recipes. Last week I was inspired by watching Masterchef: the Professionals to try and create something with a few more interesting flavours. I had a recipe I'd cut out of the paper last year for a warm salad of beetroots roasted with olive oil, garlic and rosemary (thyme too but didn't have any), served with pear and blue cheese, drizzled with honey. That was gorgeous. My favourite salad ingredients right now are pears - salad leaves, pears, walnuts and blue cheese is a quick and easy one. And it goes well with a dressing made of wholegrain mustard, olive oil and cider vinegar.

But tonight it's got to be roast parsnips!