Bits and bobs

Been away for a while.  As I have pretty much done a vegetable box for a year, I’ve lost the enthusiasm for recording the actual contents, so as this is my Blog, I’m stopping that.

We’ve had some really good food recently.  I made some parmesan polenta.  Still needs some work and that will be really nice.  We had some courgette pasta (spaghetti, courgette, garlic, cream, parmesan, pesto) and more roast tomato pasta.

We’ve made some more mashed beans, and chickpeas, with garlic, lemon, and tahini.

The potatoes seem really good at the moment.

And the allotment of starting to come together, planting out starts in a few weeks.

Lentil stew

N made a really nice lentil stew (I think: onion, butternut squash, lentils, carrots, spices). We had with ciabatta and B ate two bowls, five slices of bread, 2 puddings, 1 yoghurt!

Sunday lunch

Made a brilliant past dish. Roast tomatoes for ages with butter and oil, add garlic and rosemary, add monkfish tails and cod, chopeed into chunks, and mix with spaghetti and pesto. Served it with seasoned cabbage (lemon and oil) and ricotta fritters. N made two really nice puddings: tiramisu with orange and a polenta apple cake.

Cheap eats

Well - I did the ricotta fritters with cottage cheese (cottage cheese, bit of flour, parmesan, egg- fried in oil) with sliced fried tatty, mashed cannelini bean and sage, and tomato and chilli salad. 'twas fabulous.

Ricotta fritters

We went for dinner to Jeremy and Claire's house. They (well Jeremy really) made faulous Jamie Oliver ricotta fritters. Served with a tomato salad. They were really nice. Then homemade spaghetti with monkfish tails and roasted tomatoes. It really was a meal to die for.

Since then, we have had two dhal concoctions (aubergine, onion, garlic, vinegar, tomato, lentils, some spices) that have gone down well and a veg stew with jacket potatoes. I'm making the fritters tonight for tea for N and me.

Box and things

Last week's box, which has taken me nearly a week to record was

• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Onions
• Half a butternut squash
• Big swede
• Bag of sprouts
• White cabbage

I guess you'll have noticed, dear reader, that we always get potatoes, onions and carrots. Every week, without fail. We can get through the carrots and potatoes, but often get left with some onions. I need some good onion recipes. I've tried soup in the past and should try it again.

vinegar

Jamie uses lots of it, S likes it on her chips, and I have taken to using loads of it. In-Laws bought me a set with some red wine vinegar. It didn't last long! Then I bought some cider vinegar. And using that at a frightening speed. Best with tomotos and aubegine dishes.

another successful lentil thingey

Fried aubergine, onions, garlic, celery, add tomatoes, lots of vinegar, tin of split green peas (lentile). Served with plain cous cous. All eaten, all enjoyed.

rubbish rubbish rubbish

McDonalds, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut;
Repeat ad nauseum...

Italian teas

We had Liz and Jim over for tea.  I made an antipasti for starter, which ended p being the best part of the meal.  I made Oliver’s caponato (aubergines fried, onion, garlic, tomato, vinegar, butter), mozzarella, ciabatta, seasoned greens (spring cabbage and courgette).  Then a white risotto with cauliflower for main (again another Jamie).

Dhal fit for a king

We’ve had a couple of Lal Quila curries.  Along with that and a brilliant Observer Food Monthly, I was inspired to make a dhal.  Slater gave a yellow split pea dhal, and I used red lentils and green split peas, with chilli, some spices (seeds, cumin, coriander), vinegar, onions, garlic and celery.  We had it over jacket potatoes: grand.

Winter grub

We’ve had B ill at home this week.  We had the beetroot served with a fine white risotto (celery, onion, rice, small amount of stock, butter, parmesan, cottage cheese).  We’ve also had a curry, and greens with pasta.  Box arrived:

• Potatoes


• Carrots


• 2 butternut squash


• 3 big mushrooms


• Green cabbage


• Broccoli


• Onions