Slurptastic noodle doodles.
A few years ago I worked in Leeds, and in moving into my Yorkshire home-from-home I was delighted to discover that Amie (the Cornish girl I was sharing with) was as hooked on noodles and oriental food as I am.
Read moreQuiche Lorraine from Hôtel Les Rochers
I couldn’t come back from Les Rochers without blogging a dish that I love to eat when there.
There are many delicious things served in the restaurant (I’ll be posting an entry about this weekends noshing adventures in the Pyrénées this week) but my favourite of my dads dishes are the plump and aromatic moules marinière, the generously portioned, vanilla specked, thick and smooth crème brûlée, the robust and comforting Poulet Basque which I blogged recently, and last but not least this lovely quiche Lorriane.
One pot Cajun prawns and rice
Packing flavour into one pot.
I’m lucky enough to have been on Tastespotting and Foodgawker a bit recently, they’re food blog aggregator sites and aside from the glow I get when a post is accepted, they regularly serve as inspiration for photography, styling and recipes.
Read moreCourgette and ricotta griddle cakes with homemade tzatziki
Money and its management has never been my strong point.
But this last few months I’ve been much more strict with my spending, especially when it comes to food (as you might imagine I’ve the propensity to go a little overboard).
Chilled somen noodle salad with ginger and miso BBQ chicken
God bless Weber. Our summer may seem short lived and sporadic but this piece of kit really makes the most of it.
We got ours on recommendation from our good friends Jon and Eva, Jon’s a BBQ aficionado and if Weber’s his choice then it’s good enough for me.
Read moreCrab and mint stuffed black pepper ravioli in lemon butter
I’ve been on a bit of a ravioli making mission recently.
I’ve always loved the little parcels of delight but as I often find shop the bought versions disappointing I tend to prefer making my own.
BBQ concertina squid with lemon and garlic dressing
Without wishing to make too much of a big claim, BBQ squid is magical.
I love squid in many guises. Deep-fried in a crispy coating, stuffed and gently poached or quickly pan fried, but something happens when the marble-like white flesh hits the coals that’s untouchable by any of these other cooking methods.
Super simple Thai style turkey burgers
Poor old Turkey Lurkey. Only eaten at Christmas and forgotten throughout the rest of the year.
But as a lean and economical meat I’m keen to get more of it into our eatings.
Tarka dhal with crispy ginger
I think dhal is my favourite Indian dish.
I know the dhal family are classed as accompaniments and curry evangelists might think me a bit of a pansy for saying that, but I just can’t help it.
Serrano ham, gorgonzola and fig tart
A tasty little tart that’s as impressive as it is simple.
I’ve served this as a starter when friends are over for dinner, had it as a weekend lunch with a chilled glass of the pink stuff, and rustled it up after work for a mid week supper.
Homemade baked beans spiked with Kraken rum
Beans on toast, one of life’s simple food pleasures. And as much as I’m not averse to opening a tin from time to time, it doesn’t really satisfy my need to create.
Moroccan chicken pastilla parcels with cinnamon sugar and harissa yogurt dip
Snack sized moorishness.
A little while ago I posted a recipe for a pigeon and chicken pastilla, made in the traditional way as a single large pastry creation where layers of filo or feuille de brick are interspersed with spiced meat, cinnamon sugar and almond slivers.
Read moreChicken, pecorino and sesame nuggets with Bloody Mary dip
Sexed-up chicken nuggets had been whirring around in my head for a while.
And on browsing Tastespotting I came across just the jolt of inspiration I needed, a cracking recipe and great photo from Sabrina at Inside The Bag.
Homemade pesto and eating ideas
Sunshine in a pot that’s good for more than just partnering pasta.
Dollop it onto crostinis topped with roasted vegetables, spoon it over chicken mayonnaise on toasted onion bagels, run it through cold cooked rice studded with black olives, sweetcorn and prawns, or use it in place of ketchup on BBQ charred lamb burgers.
Ham hock and minted broad bean crostini with wholegrain mustard dressing
If you follow me on Twitter you’ll probably know that I recently moved house.
I didn’t get very far (just five minutes down the road from the last place) but with this new location comes a totally new high street to explore, that of West Didsbury.
Cajun spiced rosé veal fajitas with salsa and avocado sauce
A break with tradition.
Veal fillets may spring to mind the Austrian classic, wiener schnitzel, but tonight they got the Cajun treatment. Not only does the meat lend itself perfectly to the crispy spiced panko breadcrumbs, the zingy salsa and the creamy avocado and coriander sauce, flattening out the plump little breasts with a rolling pin is a great way to relieve any frustrations you may have.
Read moreRosé veal osso buco with Milanese risotto and gremolata
A big dish for a big weekend.
Moving house is a royal ball ache, and to reward the scraped arms and legs, rough hands, fatigue, splinters (and to mark our arrival at our new abode) I wanted to cook something special. Well, that and we no longer have a freezer and I simply couldn’t let the cross cut veal shanks go to waste.
Ramen with oriental style seared pork fillet
Being a purist is a bit overrated. I really can’t help myself when it comes to mixing up Oriental flavours, they just go so darn well together.
In this brothy noodly concoction you’ll find ginger, sake, lemongrass, soy, miso and star anise, ingredients found in dishes all over the far east - they come together in this one aromatically and harmoniously, in fact, the flavours here are so delicious you’d think they were made for each other. Slurp.
Globe courgettes stuffed with giant cous cous, feta and sun-dried tomatoes
A simple and rustic dish, good as a side or lunchtime main.
The last time I posted a recipe using the spherical courgette they weren’t readily available (I snuck mine in from France) but this time I acquired them far more easily, at good old Sainsburys.
Japanese buckwheat soba noodle salad with ginger miso poached chicken
I love noodles. And I need very little in the way of an excuse to whip up a dish using them.
So when the carrot of disco-by-post was dropped in front of me by Wrighty in exchange for a summery Japanese dish, I had no choice but to deliver.