Someone very dear to me told me this was the best onion ring recipe…ever. As usual there was a slight doubt in my mind as this person is well known for let’s say ‘exaggerating the truth’. For example, the revolving BT tower in London – she went here for dinner one night, got a little…
Month: May 2014
Spiced Cauliflower Torchietti with Chilli, Tomato and Bacon
Mark Twain described the cauliflower as ‘cabbage with a college education’. Now I am starting to educate myself about this mysterious white vegetable. I started to sauté cauliflower about a year ago, which went down very well with my partner who normally detests the stuff. I llike to fry the florets in a little oil…
Markets
As I’m a nosey parker who likes to know what other people eat and everyone loves to know about a good market – I thought I’d combine the two. Here’s some photos documenting what we buy from our local market in Richmond, as well as some suggestions as to where we have been and enjoyed…
Avocado on Toast – with Friends…
This post is really just to inspire ideas as we don’t want anyone’s breakfast getting mundane. I’m sure those of us that like avocado have had it on toast before, it’s a breakfast/lunch that I find myself snapping up again and again so it’s constantly evolving. Just simple additions can make it so much more…
Zucchini Flowers with Peas, Tomato, Basil and Saffron Parpadelle
A Ridiculously simple pasta dish, celebrating the zucchini flowers with the invigorating sharpness of saffron, the sweet tomato flesh and earthy fresh peas…. I found the flowers at my local market and was inspired by the enthusiasm of the stall holder, whose love for his produce shone clear through his recipe concoctions. I have stuffed…
Dips – Humous and Baba ghanoush
I love both these Middle Eastern and Arabic dips which are beautiful as starters or as part of a main meal. They have saved me from supermarket excursions, served as a starter many times for friends/family, satisfied as a late night snack and always feel special even though they are so simple to make. Both…
Easy No Knead Flatbreads
When I say these are easy, quick and delicious I am telling no lie. You literally add the ingredients together, divide the dough into 12 pieces, roll out each piece to a bread the size of a side plate and griddle. Perfect for dinner party/BBQ or just to rustle up as a snack for yourself….
War of the Fish Pies
Where to start with this one….everyone seems to have their own way of making this dish and people are very precise about the particular way they like theirs to be. I am no master of the fish pie by any means but I did research into the best looking concoctions and have even divulged my…
Sage Butter Spaetzle, Burnt Tomato Bake and Fennel Salad
A type of German egg noodle, literally translated to ‘little sparrow’ as the odd shapes were thought to resemble these little birds. I like this interpretation, imaginative – more alluring than ‘little sperm’ which I have also heard along the way. First time I tried this was in a little wooden restaurant in Dorset with…
Fig and Honey Lamb Shanks with Jewelled Rice and Cucumber Salad
I cut this recipe out of a magazine months ago and was excited to finally give it a whirl. I liked the fact they were ‘overnight’ and looked so sticky and plush in the photo, I imagined the sweet, rich, warming flavour with a soft, aromatic rice and zingy, fresh salad. The recipe belongs to…
English Breakfast Muffins
English because they are savoury muffins, rather than the sweet American variety. Well worth the little effort taken to rise 2 hours before you plan to eat – here’s how it could go for you….. 7am – Up to make the simple batter (15-20 minutes, including kneading) then back to bed for 1 hour whilst…
Creamy Bacon, Boursin and Courgette Pasta – My best kept secret
I know we’ve all added various cream cheeses to pastas before but this particular combination is something that pains me slightly to divulge as it has been a personal love affair since my mum first made this for us. A dish that pleases all, and can be made vegetarian easily with the exclusion of bacon….
Quick Poached Chicken Salad with Basil Mayonnaise
This is another quick recipe, perfect for week nights. I don’t know why but if you’re scared of making mayonnaise….don’t be – as for some reason I’ve always had success with this recipe which doesn’t happen that often. The mayonnaise and shredded chicken also works well as a tasty filling for a nice crusty baguette…
Crab, mint and lemon spelt pasta
Joker/Comedian – ‘What did the crab pull at the disco?’ Receiver – ‘I don’t know’ (yawn) Joker/Comedian – ‘A mussel/muscle’…. This is the only joke I have remembered since being about 5 years old. I don’t think I even got it at first but for some reason, it has stayed with me. It’s not exactly…
Easy and Crispy Fried Gnocchi with Sundried Tomatoes, Olives, Mozzarella and Basil
Seriously, one of my favourite dishes, little effort required – maximum delight gained. To make this extra quick, use good quality shop bought gnocchi (but you will get a far better result making your own). When my mum came to stay recently I made a list of places to go and recipes I wanted to…
Supreme Butter Chicken with Herby Flatbreads
This recipe was inspired by good friends and their delectable (can’t help feeling like Hannibal when I say that word) curry we enjoyed over the weekend. I had never heard of adding saffron milk to rice and wanted to try this out for myself…I also came across the blog by Mimi, (below) and her butter…
The Travelling Pantry 