Category: Cooking

I like a bit of meat occasionally, but am increasingly having veggie ones.

Lentil green salad. Cook green lentils until malleable, not mushy. Add lemon juice, chopped red onion, olive oil, watercress, basaltic vinegar and some chopped little tomatoes.

Gougeres. and cheese straws

Lemon bars are the first for today.

Then I am not sure what – inspiration will come to me.

Latest one was nice!

60g each papaya, mango and date (all chopped), 1 lemon juice, 130g brown sugar, 200g each plain flour, oats and butter. 20 mins at 180C. Sorted.

Next up today or tomorrow is a nut loaf – tomorrow probably as I need to consider options. Bread crumbs obviously, onion – cut into strips and caramelised; handful of sage and maybe parsley; garlic crushed; szechen pepper; an egg; 6 small tomatoes; mushrooms; marmite so only a touch of salt; nuts and seeds – not sure what nuts I have. And grated cheese on top?

Then Lemon Bars – argh I have lost the recipe – so I will make up something to use the lemons for – maybe just put lemon icing on cookies above! Maybe a pineapple something?

Spaghetti lemon homemade spaghetti and home grown lemons I hope! One for the future.

New pizza stone to try out. Having read Felicity Cloakes ‘Completely Perfect’ I am happy with what I do. OO, water, yeast and salt with a dash of olive oil and some thyme.

Topping – something different – a rage bought sauce for a change with cheeses, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes and possibly roasted peppers and some garlic then sprinkled with parsley, greek basil and ground pepper, olives. I know that is probably too much taste, but why not. It was ok, but I think I will cook the baser a couple of minutes before adding the top (as my tops are always tomato heavy.

OKit is cold outside and we might even get snow on Monday – although I doubt it. But I am making some spicy chick peas – no recipe followed as such, although I looked at lots.

Sort of followed the recipe – 150 g smoked salmon, 200g cream cheese, tbsp creme fresh, 1/2 lemon, pepper. I added an avocado, and smoked paprika and a little mustard and some parsley. Nice.

I almost followed the recipe, and was accused of having bought the tart by Aaron – praise in deed.

OK so my latest culinary experiment was mixed. Fruit tart. Tasted great. Appearance 5/10, but a soggy bottom. I just got careless (again), I did not prick the pastry before blind baking, and then did not remove the beans and return for another 5 minutes. But filling of some apples and pears and plums which had been stewed with a stick of cinnamon, and a squeeze of lemon was nice. Topping was oats, whizzed, plus plain flour, knob of butter and some caster sugar, oh and some whizzed mixed nuts. No amounts as I did not measure anything!

Pesto and lemon drizzle cake both passed the taste test. Cake especially. Pesto is different but I was requested to make a jar. I think fresh parmesan and less of it next time – it can be added later if required.

I have decided I don’t actually like the garlic pesto! I will try adding some tomatoes but will not make more. The garlic might be good on the garden to deter the slugs?