Offal or Awful?!

We had Chicken Livers tonight, simply cooked with shallots, mushrooms, cream and Madeira served with Tagliatelle.

Coincidentally we turned on the TV to the Great British Food Revival programme where Matt Tebutt was singing the praises of Offal - some I've never heard of - and some he struggled to eat!

I can eat Chicken, Calf and Lamb Liver and Foie Gras but struggle with anything else.

Here's Matt's recipe for Lambs liver with Balsamic Sauce

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/lambs_liver_with_60023

Home made cheese - Anyone tried & tested?

In the latest Lakeland brochure, equipment and products for making your own cheese - anyone tried it?

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/16570/Lakeland-Conical-Soft-Cheese-Mould-

Parmesan in soup

I came across this tip in Delicious magazine and used it in a recipe recently too.

Freeze short lengths of Parmesan rind in well sealed bags and next time you make soup pop one in straight from the freezer stirring occasionally so the gooey rind doesn't stick to the base of the pan.

I used it in a Butternut Squash soup which also had additional grated Parmesan in the recipe - really tasty!

Leader Board

Just checking out my blog posts and its looking like Jamie Oliver has the most views followed by Raymond Blanc and then James Martin :-(  I'd rather James Martin was in the lead!!) What do you think?

Barton Grange Farm Shop

So we skived off work early today and paid a visit to Barton Grange before eating at The Cartford!

Didn't buy much, just a couple of French Trimmed Chicken Breasts ready for a James Martin tried and tested recipe, a couple of steaks for tomorrow - RibEye for me & TBone for Dunc and finally some Almond Slices,don't often buy things like this but they reminded me of some I used to buy from a shop in Preston when I was a Saturday girl at Renders fabric shop! The cake shop may still be there, all I can say is like those we've just eaten they are tasty,moist and very almondy!

http://www.bartongrange.co.uk/farm-shop-and-local-produce-lancashire.html

The Cartford Inn

The Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston - highly recommended. Eaten here a number of times. Tonight we shared the calamari with tomato & parmesan dip and Cocktail sausages with mustard mayo. Main course for Dunc Fish & Chips - very chunky chips and amazing tartare sauce, Salmon with white wine and leek sauce & mash for me!

Heston Blumenthal's Chicken Stock

Chicken Stock made from Heston's recipe in the pressure cooker - one for the fridge and one for the freezer!

Just Fish Pie!

 

Homemade fish pie tonight, my own recipe. Just Cod, undyed smoked haddock and a couple of quartered lightly boiled duck eggs topped with a light cheese and mustard sauce and a parsley mash top - served with samphire!

Quay Ingredients

Been to Barton Grange today to stock up on spices, Love Quay Ingredients, good quality and you can get a teaspoon in the jar!

Brie & Watercress Tart

Made this simple tart for lunch today, I made individual ones but didn't get to photograph before they were devoured! I made my own pastry case because I love making pastry but the filling is so delicious I'm sure shop ready made pastry or cases would be fine! Here's the recipe from BBC Good Food:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2174642/watercress-and-brie-tart

Salted Caramel Brownies - renamed!

My Brownies

 

 

 

I'm renaming these Crunchy Marbled Salted Caramel Brownies. Failed miserably with the caramel, burnt the first lot, and the second lot was a bit crunchy so I just stirred it into the Brownie mix! If anyone has tips on making caramel I'd love to hear them!

Jamie's Lamb Shanks in Guiness

Brilliant recipe thanks Jamie! Think I might cook in the oven next time for extra succulence, Love the mint oil and the spring onions are a revelation!!

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/lamb-recipes/guinness-lamb-shank

Sunday Food Shopping

Shopping list done for today's cooking: Salted Caramel Brownies, Lamb Shanks Cooked in Guiness, Jamies Empire Chicken, Brie and Watercress Tarts and Soda Bread!

Thomasina Miers Wahaca

My latest cook book buy!
Some very exciting sounding recipes, looking forward to trying them especially Queso Fundido with Chorizo, a sort of Mexican Cheese Fondue!

Gutted!

My new oven is delayed!

One Pot Spanish Fish Stew

Made this today - easy, tasty, healthy!

Here's the recipe: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9647/onepan-spanish-fish-stew

James Martin's Black Pepper Beef Stir Fry

Back in the kitchen tonight and making a fab quick and easy beef strir fry -one of James Martin's Saturday Kitchen recipes - here's the link!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/blackpepperbeefstirf_92254

Great British Bake Off - The Final!

Excited!

1 week to my new oven!

Must be getting old, used to get excited about Designer handbags and shoes, now very excited about my new oven arriving, it's like the one on Great British Bake Off with the slide away door!

Puy Lentils Tomato & Feta

A tasty lunch recipe from Waitrose foodie magazine.

Puy lentils, oven roastedcherry tomatoes and feta cheese finished with a red wine vinegar and olive oil dressing, green beans and olives.

Delicious' Navarin of Lamb

Made this for the lovely people I work for on Wednesday. They liked it so much they had it for dinner Wednesday & Thursday instead of freezing half of it!

It's a recipe from an old Delicious magazine, Navarin of Lamb with Mint Gremolata - here's the link:
http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/navarin-of-lamb-with-mint-gremolata

Neff Oven - Not yet Tried & Tested!

Not yet tried and tested but looking forward to my new oven being delivered next week!

James Martin, Rick Stein & Watercress!

Caught a bit of the Great British Food Revival tonight which I've not seen before. James Martin was focusing on watercress and how UK sales of watercress have fallen by 50% - not sure in how long but obviously significant. Watercress is actually one of the green things I like, my favourite way inspired by Rick Stein is mixed with crushed new potatoes and olive oil served with roasted Monkfish.

And here's James Martin's Watercress & Pea Soup - looks lovely!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/watercress_and_pea_soup_72980

Nigel Slater's Real Food

Dinner tonight is from this great cook book - Plaice with a Parmesan crust - can't wait!

Morrisons revamped!

So our local Morrisons has had a revamp, I've only flown in and out since it's reopening last Tuesday but just looking at the fruit and veggies it's amazing - I've never seen such a choice of wild mushrooms and chillis! Actually looking forward to a proper shop there!

All work & no cooking!

So busy at work Duncan cooking as much as me! I think he should write his own recipe book, he never follows a recipe but still manages to come up with some interesting food!

Weekend Food!

No cooking this weekend! Visit to family in Yorkshire resulted in a yummy homemade Fish Pie by David on Friday, lovely lunch at Holmfirth Vineyard Saturday lunch and deli food from Blacker Hall Farm Shop Saturday evening. :-)
Just back in Lancashire and had KFC for tea!!! :-(

Delicious November is Out

Bought this at 2.30pm and not even looked at it yet! Looking forward to a glass of wine and a bit of quiet time to peruse!

Butternut Squash & Parmesan Soup

I'm usually a tomato - no bits in my soup kind of girl but today I made Butternut Squash & Parmesan Soup - no bits and really delicious!