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

Weekend musing

Great weekend - really relaxing. We had some good food, roast dinner on Sunday with carrota and of course, swede chips. I had another idea for a publishable diary idea. When speaking with a friend he mentioned that there is something very emotionally nourishing (no pun intended) about feeding children that eat well. As I watched my parents, N and the kids tucking in to the dinner on Sunday, I realised he was absolutely right. In fact, it is extremely satisfying for me to feed all members of my family. That is something that is lacking from various strategies for encouragin chidlren and adults to cook for themselves. I think it would make a great topic for discussion.

Allotment was great again. Went up on Saturday, showed Mum and Dad, and then dug another bed over. We have 17 (!!!) beds to use, and we have dug over 12 now.

A leftover jacket

A left-over jacket – in the fridge, sliced, fried in butter with a fried egg, brown sauce on two slices of white bread.  An unbeatable lardy breakfast.

Box

Box

• A green pepper!


• Carrots


• Potatoes


• Onion


• Beetroot


• Swede


• Celery


• Some sort of chard

JPs

Fabulous jacket potatoes with butter, and a vegetable stew that N made.  Gorgeous – and always a winner with B and S.

Greens and swede

We had seasoned greens (a winter green and the lettuce) (ala Oliver), with mozzarella, smoked salmon and swede chips.  We have had the swede cut into chips and roasted in butter a few times, and the whole family really like them.  Sunday dinner was mashed potato, sausages, chip swede, carrots, and beetroot.  The beetroot was from last week.

Box

The box contained

• Parsnip


• Potato


• Carrot


• Onion


• Tomato


• Swede


• Savoy cabbage


• Lettuce

Baked butternut squash

N made baked butternut squash, lovelysoft and sweet flesh, topped with cottage cheese, Really nice.

Fried spaghetti

Jamie suggested a fast-food equivalent from Italy. Cook spaghetti, rinse in cold water, mix with eggs, garlic (had none- used ginger instead), chilli, some Parmasan and shallow fry. It was not bad at all - although needs more flavour - which was my fault. Had a good lunch with the Kale again – B loves it and so does N. The Observer said that Kale had the highest nutrients per calorie of any food – and to be honest, that’s how it tastes to me.

Kale success

We had the curly Kale problem again.  It was seriously tough last time, and river café (I think) said that it would never soften.  We made a tomato sauce for pasta and then separately served boiled Kale with a dash of cream, crumbled Stilton, and a splash of Soya sauce.  It was really tasty, and we ate loads.  I think you expect the Kale to reduce in volume when cooked, like spinach, but I think if anything it gets bigger.  Even B liked it.

Lazy new year

Potatoes with cheese and onion and baked (Wed) then a Lal Quila curry (Thurs). Oh well, back to vegetable box:

• Kale


• Two butternut squash


• Potatoes


• Carrots


• Onions


• Tomatoes


• Parsnips

Allotment dreams

The idea of an allotment is really taking hold of me. N and I had a chat about the things we might want to grow. These were

1. Tomatoes
2. Broad beans
3. Asparagus
4. Potatoes
5. Sprouts
6. Savoy cabbage
7. Garlic
8. Courgettes

And there were some more but I can't remember what they were.

Dressed greens

Jamie dedicates two pages to greens.  Any sort, cabbage, broccoli, courgettes, spring greens, as long as they are actually green.  He suggests dressing with oil and lemon juice.  To be honest the kids tried them, but found the lemon excessive.  I have used a dash of cream in the past and I think I will go back to that next time.

No Box!

Then, after the dissapointment of the lack of Red Cabbage, we didn't even get a veg box between Xmas and New Year. What a pain! I don't remember them even telling us! We have now totally cleared all of vestiges of the boxes. I've had to buy some vegetables from a shop!

Long-time no blog

Dear readers. Apologies. I have been extra busy with work, family, golf, Christmas, eating and allotments. A great deal has happened, where should I start? First, the veg boxes. On
8th, 15th and 22nd. We got Potatoes, Carrots, Onions, Leeks, Butternut Squash, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Parsnips and of course sprouts. Unfrotunately, we were sent a letter detailing the Christmas box, but we did not get the red cabbage as promoised.

At Christmas I got the Jamie Oliver Italian book and Nigel Slater's "Thjis week..." book (Kitchen Diaries). They are both excellent. I have made three things from Jamie's book already (Tomato and Pasta bake, Aubergine and Onion thingey, Cauliflower risotto).

Christmas dinner I made:
1. Scallops with orange and Cognac (fried sliced scaollops with cream, Cognac, orange juice, and grilled tinned tangerines with pepper) - 'twas excellent.
2. Roast tatties with Rosemary, Roast parsnips and carrots, sprouts with onion, lime and ginger, a red wine gravy. N and I had layers of mushrooms (fried in butter) tomatoes, and Roquefort cheese). Siomple and excellent.
3. N made a Baileys' cheesecake with cream.

Then we had a Christmas pudding and cheese (Un-pasturised Brie, creamy Lancashire, Wensleydale, Stilton and Stincking Bishop). The SB was very smelly and very nice, from the Good Food Shop.