Sunday, 6 January 2019

Food guilt is a terrible thing …


it's too late for recriminations - “Why did I eat my way through that giant box of chocolates … I don't even like chocolate!” I'll bet you have a pixie on your shoulder whispering in your ear “you don't want healthy, balanced food you want junk – in whatever form - sugar, salt or both!” The final straw is that your favourite jeans are, shall we say, a little snug?

I'm not a lover of resolutions, they are destined to be broken and done by the middle of January. What I do love is being organised and in a routine where food and meals are concerned. Life is so much easier when you have a plan.

If you must make a resolution to change the way you eat, can I make a suggestion – keep it to yourself – should you “fall off the wagon” for a day, just get back on, there'll be no-one – pixie or work colleague (who is watching you like a hawk, willing you to fail) any the wiser – no pressure.

What makes matters worse at this time of year is the weather – usually wet, cold and miserable - that makes us want to “stoke our boilers” and comfort eat. You can comfort eat, just with the right stuff.

The trick here is to make it easy on yourself and plan.

That's exactly what we're going to do – plan a weeks worth of suppers, with may be the odd lunch thrown in. We'll be doing as much work and prep when we're already in the kitchen, cooking for example a Sunday lunch – you're in there anyway so why not make the most of your time.

You'll be glad you did …



Using up the Camembert - photo guide


There's nothing like dunking fresh bread into warm cheese :



We have chopped pistachios, honey roasted cashews, sweet chilli sauce, chopped cranberries and redcurrant jelly. It's difficult to know where to begin!



I fancied beer bread for a change.

If you'd like to treat yourself buy a ceramic Camembert Baker suitable to fit the 250g cheese or a larger “dip baker” version, here they are :





A baked Camembert is not just for the holidays!

And finally, using up the bits and bats


I think most of us finish up with an excess of cheese after the holidays – here's what I did with the Camembert I didn't get around to using with my cheese board.

I suppose you have to be a lover of cheese for this dish. An ideal partner for either the soda or beer bread and a great idea for a sharing appetiser – getting messy is part of the fun. Before we begin a note – make sure the box is stapled – not glued!

Baked Camembert

250g Camembert
1 clove garlic or garlic paste
olive oil

Bread of your choice

Pinch of sea salt
Handful 25g of chopped dried cranberries
Handful 25g of chopped mixed nuts

A bowl of sweet chilli sauce - 75g

A bowl of redcurrant jelly or cranberry sauce - 75g


Preheat your oven 160fan/180c/Gas 4. Leaving the Camembert in the box, score around the top about half cm in and cut off the top layer of skin. Slice the garlic clove and poke into the top of the cheese. Drizzle with a little olive oil then bake in the oven for 15 minutes – or until gorgeous and oozy in the middle.

I served the Camembert with warmed fresh beer bread.

Option 1 – dunk the bread into the cheese and then into the cranberries and nuts – repeat!

Option 2 – pour sweet chill sauce or a spoonful or two of either redcurrant jelly or cranberry sauce into the centre of the baked cheese and dunk.
Retro stuff at its absolute best.

What's not to love – hmm, may be bake two cheeses – it's difficult not to keep dipping.

Yum!

Photos next.

Just before we leave the holidays behind for another year …


a bit of fun.

The stocking filler and the Rocky Road fest!

Each year when we travel to visit the family we take an extra – a stocking filler if you will. Over the years it has been a luxury panettone, amaretti biscuits or posh crackers for Christmas Day.

My idea for this year began when a friend of mine was waxing lyrical about the Middle Eastern version of Rocky Road and so I decided I'd make her some as a Christmas gift. That gave me the idea for the family “extra” - Rocky Road - me and my big ideas.

I made the Middle Eastern version batch first since I had to deliver to my friend before we left for the holidays and I decided my hairdresser might like it too - I froze the rest.

I should have realised that it was a tall order – leaving aside the Middle Eastern version I made two more batches of original Rocky Road and divided it into eight containers, bagging the remainder to transport, the thought then occurred – will it all fit into the car with all the stuff we have to take … blind panic!

Here's what my kitchen looked like :



First family visit was to Daughter in Law (Dil for short, it's much easier and so much more affectionate!) - Granddaughter, Partner and Great Granddaughter call in – that's four containers delivered. We left another two containers for Son and Dil to be passed on on Boxing Day. The final two containers delivered other Son and Dil – a great sense of achievement I can tell you.

Fast forward to later in the day …

and an extract from a text received from our Granddaughter :

the Rocky Road is the nicest thing Lee has ever
eaten in his life!

I think that definitely guarantees a repeat order!

Sunday, 30 December 2018

Stuffing or a nut roast … the photos


Before and after ...










Spread mayo on one slice of bread and
redcurrant jelly on another, add slices of mature
cheddar cheese then crown with the stuffing – yum!

I used Merchant Gourmet Whole Chestnuts 180g and ready to use.


Slice the remaining 100g of chestnuts, add diced smoked bacon or chorizo and finely sliced raw sprouts, season with salt and black pepper – stir fry the lot in a drop of rapeseed oil and a knob of unsalted butter – delicious!



New Year bits and bats – my choices …


a stuffing or a nut roast!

Long before I realised I didn't like meat the one meal I always looked forward to was a Sunday roast – strange I know. I loved Yorkshire Puddings but my absolute favourite was stuffing. Over the years I've developed my own which can be a straight forward stuffing, a nut roast or – my personal favourite - the ultimate sandwich filling.

A stuffing or a nut roast

170g/6oz breadcrumbs
Generous sprinkle of dried sage
80g/3oz chopped chestnuts
40g/1½oz unsalted butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
200ml/7 fl oz boiling water
200g/7oz puréed apples

You can make stuffing balls or bake it in a loaf tin using a cake liner. It's entirely a matter of choice – I prefer the loaf tin/liner method and then slicing. The loaf tin measures 25x14x6.5cms, that's 10x5½x2½”.

Pre-heat oven 200fan/220c/Gas 7.

Bake for 25/30 minutes.

It freezes well too!

Photos up next.



New Year bits and bats - Root Veggie Pie …


method and photo guide.

Using a large mixing bowl fold together the roasted root veggies and the potato. Add 2-3 tablespoons of the cheese sauce and fold through, gently. Your filling should be stiff. You'll find that you have cheese sauce left over – you're meant to. Box and fridge it - warm it through to drizzle over your pie when serving.



Glistening and gorgeous



Add to your “really useful” stash in your
store cupboard



They measure 12x8x4.5cms/4¾x3x1¾”



Use a pie dish upside down and press into the pastry sheet



Looking good



Looking even better!

Each of the elements for this dish can be made ahead, when it's convenient for you. My pies are in the freezer ready when I am.

Wishing you a very Happy and Healthy New Year!