Hats off to Julie Powell...

...for she is a better woman than I! How she managed to cook her way through Julia's book I don't know!

So anyway guys I have some news...while I have been cooking from the book, including mac & cheese, sausages & mash with onion, red wine & cumin gravy and chocolate cake I've become bored and stressed already.

It's time to admit the truth...I can't carry on cooking from the book! Sorry dedicated fans!...But then for those that have been reading this blog you will know that I have rarely stuck to any plan that I have made thus far!

It's too much and too time consuming for my life, I had high hopes when I started but have fallen flat on my face! The upshot of starting this blog though was the fact it has cemented my want to write my own cook book so instead of cooking someone else's recipes I'm going to cook my own and blog about that!

I'm going to compile my recipes, cook them, make sure they work and get friends to test them. There are several things I want my book to be but the most important thing is realistic and that it is something people will genuine want to read and use.

If you have any suggestions on what you would want from your ideal cook book please let me know.

Thanks for reading, hopefully you'll stay tuned and pick up some hints, tips and recipes along the way.


Keeley xxx

Cooking for company

Tirzah making the Guacamole

This Sat I had my friends Tirzah and Fletch over for dinner, so I took the chance to cook a full 3 course dinner. On the menu:
Guacamole with Paprika-Toasted Potato Skins
Marinated Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Garlic Potatoes & Watercress & Raw Mushroom Salad
Pavlova

When cooking for guests I really like to do as much as I can in advance ro do something easy. So Sat morning I had cooked the meringue base for the pav, prepped all of the potatoes, butterflied and started marinating the lamb. Nigella suggests getting your butcher to butterfly the Lamb but I don't have this luxury on a busy Sat so I gave it a bash myself! I didn't have the correct knife but I knew the basics and did my best. Don't get me worng it probably wasn't the prettiest but hardly any meat was wasted and when cooking at home I say it's better to taste good than look good.

Guacamole with Paprika-Toasted Potato Skins

Jacket pots were in the oven by the time they got here were and almost done by the time they got here, dinner only took and hour to cook and the pav would take 5 mins to whip up. So...as they say 'many hands make light worl' so I got Tirzah to make the guacamole (see T in pic). This a recipe I have tried before as is how my Mum always makes it (from How to Eat) so I'm used to it but T said she usually puts garlic in hers (no garlic here) and that it was a little too limey. On a plus note Fletch hadn't tried it before but tried it on Sat and said it was 'alright' which coming from a bloke I think is a compliment!

Lamb with Garlic Pots & Watercress & Mushroom Salad

The main was lovely, overcooked the lamb a little more than I like but this was to please guests and the husband...would deffinately cook it this was again (butterflied) as cooked really quickly. Thought this would be a good way to do a quick roast as the garlic pots were cubed to a 1cm dice (roughly of course) so they cooked qickly too...Could have easily knocked up some veg, yorkies and gravy!

Now dessert was Pavola...Meringue is one of my favourite things to eat on the planet so I'm quite fussy as to how I like it! Normally I don't add anything to my egg white sugar mix but this recipe called for white wine vinegar (I used red as thats all I but presume it didn't make a difference, if it did I couldn't tell), corn flour  and vanilla extract. The result cruncy on the outside soft on the inside. I normally ike meringue to have a chewy middle, the kind of chewy that sticks to your teeth. This was more marshmellowy (like marshmallow fluff) and it was GOOD! Was meant to be topped with passionfruit but there wasn't any at the supermarket so went with the good classic topping - strawberries and raspberries. We all had two slices so that speaks for itself!

Strawberry & Raspberry Pavlova

So thats a few more recipes ticked off my list! Just need to decide what to do next. Dad is also coming over in a couple of weeks for a take away so I may knock up a dessert...but you know me, how often have I stuck to the plan I've made!

Night All




Keeley xxx

Thanks Zach...

...I say tonight was a joint effort but really I cheated! Zach cooked the majority! We made Nigella's Yorkshire Pudding recipe but converted this to Toad in the Hole by adding some cooked sausages to the batter.

In my defense I wasn't allowed to help! Toad in the Hole is one of the few dishes my Husband can cook well and usually (to give me a night off) if Toad in the Hole is on the menu he takes control...with his rare opportunity of kitchen control though comes a price...I'm not allowed an input and despite being the cook in the house suddenly (according to him) I don't have a clue and he knows best.

I was however, allowed to cook the frozen petit pois! We all know how difficult that can be! I cooked these in one of the ways Nigella recommends too, its so simple a little sugar and salt and basil in the water and hey presto. I have never added sugar to peas before as I think they are sweet veg anyway and I'm not 100% sure it made a difference. Saying that though she only said to use a little bit (no specific quantities given) so I guessed. Next time I'll cook without and see if I notice the change.

Worked a bit on my cook book today. It's something I'm definitely going to do so have been working on recipes, chapters and the narrative. Also, I've been asking friends and family on what they would want their ultimate cook book to include and any fav recipes they would want to see in it...can't beat a bit of free, honest market research! If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them so please comment.

The final results tasted better than it looked (no offensive Zach)...It puffed up but not as much as usual but I think this is because he made the same amount of batter as normal but cooked it in a bigger tray.

Having my friends Tirzah and Fletch over for dinner on Sat so will be cooking up a storm. All recipes from the book and I'm even making two desserts! Hope they enjoy it :o)

Will be back Sunday to let you know how it all went.

Thanks for reading

Love Keeley

My first let down...

...Tonight I managed to strike 3 recipes off my list! I cooked what Nigella calls 'Tagliatelle with Chicken from the Venetian Ghetto'. This recipe sounded lovely...roast chicken, a rosemary, pine nut and sultana sauce all mixed with tagliatelle pasta. I started by cooking 'Basic Roast Chicken' as per the book which was great...crispy skin, juicy flesh just as a roast chicken should be. I then converted this to the pasta dish...I didn't like it! It had all the components I would love in a dish and all the flavours I love individually but all together there was no Umami in my mouth!

I'm one of the first to praise Nigella but this just didn't work for me and Zach wasn't too keen either. I was so disappointed as on paper this sounded like it was going to be so good...I suppose you can't please everyone all of the time and I'm sure that I may not like other recipes in the book but this left me feeling disheartened at such early stages and still hungry!

But as someone who never likes to be down for long I thought "Hey, lets end tonight on a high" so I cooked up the Victoria Sponge from the book too! This looks good and filled the house with that lovely vanillary, cakey smell! I'll be taking it to work tomorrow so I hope my colleagues appreciate it and that it tastes good...Can't wait to have a slice and cuppa for elevenses.


Night, night

Keeley x

Steak Au Poivre

Yesterday was a long day and all I had to eat all day was a rice crispy square and a bag of wotsits! Not bad for a self proclaimed foodie!

So by the time I got home I was starving and wanted a quick tea so I decided to make two things from 'How to Eat'. Luckily Zach was off work so I called him and sent him up the shop to get what I needed to make Steak Au Poivre.

This recipe was so simple I was surprised and I even got to get my flambe on! Steak Au Poivre is basically steak coated in crushed peppercorns and cooked in butter and oil and then once the steak is done and out the pan you pop in a bit of brandy to make a sauce...yum! I served this with a green salad and also made basic french dressing to go with....When ever I make a dressing (Nigella suggests this too) I put all the ingredients in jar (small jam size will do) and then shake it all up, then its already in a container to store too! I also had a crusty roll to mop up all the juices ;o)

Due to lack of sustenance during the day I munched this as soon as I served it and forgot to take a pic, sorry guys! I'm sure I will make this again though as it was simple and tasty (two good recipe components). Only changes I would make would be a few less peppercorns, I would also make double the sauce as I like lots of sauce. Now Nigella says you can also add cream to the sauce and I would totally do this but maybe as a winter version of the dish! Summer version = no cream in sauce and served with a salad. Winter version = cream in sauce and served with fluffy mash potato.

Have my knitting to finish today and I'll be making cupcakes later (not from How to Eat so won't count in the count down) so will let you know how I get on.

Off to have some black pudding and poached eggs for breakfast! Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Keeley x

Update:31/10/11 - Made it again...heres the pic this time!

Night off already...

No cooking tonight I'm afraid. Had a netball match tonight (only our 2nd full game ever) lost by 7 goals which was awesome considering last time we played them, which was only a couple of weeks ago they thrashed us by 30+ goals...GO THUNDERCATS!!!

Anyway...got home and Zach made me poached eggs on toast! I'm the cook in the house but the man can cook eggs (and a decent fry up and a toad in the hole believe it or not).

Finally decided on a starting point to tackle the book from too...as I'm currently a member of Fat Fighters (well Slimming World as it's officially known) and only have 5lbs left to loose, I've decided to start with the 'Low Fat' section in the book. Hopefully, it won't damage the weight loss to much but because I can never be 100% good each week I might have to cook up some treats too....Victoria Sponge has caught my eye so watch this space!

Remember any comments (good or bad) are welcomed :o)

Thanks for reading

Keeley x

First recipe...

...So sleeping on it didn't help at all and I'm none the wiser on how to attack this! Also, feeling a little nervous about writing a blog that is all the things I would want a blog to be: Funny, informative and interesting!

One thing I have decided is my deadline (oh no). While I'm no Julie Powell and would never attempt to cook 500+ recipes in 365 days I am going to use the same time frame. 298+ recipes in 365 days. I've been playing around with my blog design today and somehow managed to add a countdown (go me!).

On to the main event..cooking from 'How to Eat'. Today I decided just to pick something and have it for dinner and then it will give me a little longer to suss out some sort of methodical way to do this. I therefore, gave my husband Zach free rein to choose what he wanted to eat...he chose 'Meatballs in Tomato Sauce'. I was pleased as it was something I was familiar with to get started. I did have to laugh though when I realised that the first recipe he chooses is from the 'Feeding babies and small children' section! Very telling!

I'm not usually one to follow a cook book...I seem to have a lot of them but I think its because I actually like to read them like I would a novel. Rarely do I cook from them unless I want to bake a cake or maybe entertain and do something different. Most of the time I just do my own thing so this was going to be a new experience.

Despite having only myself and my husband to feed I followed the quantities..now I have about a weeks supply of meatballs in my fridge. At least I know what I'll be taking to work tomorrow for lunch!

Nigella's meatball recipe is similar to how I would have done it myself the main differences being her recipe calls for the chopped onion to be cooked prior to adding (I usually leave raw) and for the addition of some semi stale bread that had been soaked in some milk and then squished.

The sauce also started as I start most of my sauce bases with soffritto (chopped onion, carrot an celery). Now, because I am a true believer in making my life easier in the kitchen how ever I can, I actually keep soffritto mix in the freezer ready! In my weekly shop I buy a bag of carrots and a bunch of celery and the finely dice and pop in the freezer and keep till needed. I buy frozen chopped onions too. This tends to produce a little extra liquid but as it's mostly used as a sauce base you can simmer the sauce till its the consistency you desire.

Anyway...I followed the recipe and while Nigella eats hers with rice I chose Spaghetti. Can't knock spaghetti and meatballs (think lady and the tramp). Result = it was good, I'd definitely make the meatballs again but the sauce lacked something. I think it was Marmite! I always put about a teaspoon of Marmite in my tomato sauce (like bolognese and in things like shepherds pie) and I missed the kind of beefiness and depth that it gives a sauce. If I make it again then the Marmites going in!

Recipe number 2 tonight was 'Roast Sugar-Sprinkle Peaches'. Now Nigella says herself that this can 'scarcley' be called a recipe but it is...it's just a very simple one and therefore, perfect for my first night. It was peaches halved, sprinkled with butter and sugar and roasted in the oven for 20mins. I served with ice cream and it was lush. There is something about eating hot and cold together that works wonderfully and the sauce that was left in my bowl at the end...well, I could have stuck in it a glass and drunk with a straw! It was yummy...I will certainly be making these again.

Any questions and comments are all welcome. Hope you enjoy the read.

Night Night

Keeley x

Phase one...

Wow! Turns out I may have bitten off more than I can chew and its only day 2! I've roughly counted the recipes in 'How to Eat' and I counted 298.

I say 'roughly' as some recipes have different variations i.e. Bechamel sauce = cheese sauce, parsley sauce an so on. Therefore I have only counted the recipes with titles and some of the subtitled recipes...

So, 298 is my goal (but will prob count more along the way) I'll post the final amount of recipes when I'm done but for now its 298! The next question is how long shall I give myself to complete the book? This question I'll address tomorrow as was eating dinner with the Fab Five (my friends Aimee, Lisa, Anna & VJ) and left my blog stuff too late and now its sleepy time.

Night for now...hopefully sleeping on it will help me come up with some sort of POA!

Sweet dreams

Keeley

It starts...

Hello All...well hello to those who are reading this in such early days!

My name is Keeley and in a moment of extreme boredom I had a moment of divine inspiration...to write a blog!

Now, I have never written a blog before and I don' t proclaim to be a writer of any sorts so please forgive bad grammar, mistakes in punctuation and general muck ups. I do however, proclaim to have a few passions in life...one of these said passions is food!

I know to state food as a passion is quite a broad statement but my passion lies in the alchemy of bringing ingredients together to create something that ignites the senses and most of all gives pleasure...like most people I love to eat! That doesn't mean I think doner meat is a delicacy (although once a blue moon only a kebab will suffice) but I do enjoy good food. Nor does this mean I only eat in Michelin Star restaurants or that I'm some sort of food snob, I'm just trying to state that I'm an ordinary woman who enjoys good grub...

Hand in hand therefore, with my love to eat comes my love to cook, I'm no chef but I've been know to cook up a good meal (even if I do say so myself) but most of all I enjoy it...so with this in mind what better to write about then food and cooking.

So in my mentioned moment of inspiration I thought I would do a blog, think Julie and Julia but a UK version...so who better to be my Julia than Nigella Lawson!

My plan is to cook my way through her book 'How to Eat' and to share my trials and tribulations with you all and hopefully have some fun along the way.

This is my first post so any comments will be greatly received...

...Tomorrows task: Count the recipes in 'How to Eat' and give myself a time frame to complete! Wish me luck!

Good night for now.

Keeley x