Hairy Bikers Beef Olives

Some beaten out steaks, stuffed. From the Hairy Bikers Food Tour of Britain. Yum.

Note the Curly Kale for extra iron.

Another from the series of Recipe Fridays.

The Infamous Spinach Smoothie.

Sounds like a bad idea? I haven't managed to convince everyone (anyone...), but I for one am sold on this.

There is a new arrival expected in the Hungry House; a Hungry Boy. Very exciting, but boy am I looking forward to eating brie again. (And smoked salmon, and rare steak, and soft eggs... the list goes on.)

Under instruction from my midwife I'm pushing my iron intake. And so the Spinach Smoothie was born.

Blended fresh spinach, some kind of fruit, some kind of juice.

Any fruit will do, but after many different combinations I've found something very sweet works best. Like Mango. Or peaches tinned in grape juice.
If the combination is not sweet enough it is somehow very confusing for the taste buds.

And the Vit C in the orange juice and fruits helps to absorb the iron. Winner.

Easter Eggs!

Just thought I'd share the results of the annual pantomime of me trying to make eggs for loved ones. Filled with Mini Eggs- just like the good old days.

Good for a giggle and keeps me out of mischief.

Beef Bourginon and Spuds en Pappillotte

Continuing our Recipe Friday Series I thought I'd have a bash at a classic- Beef Bourginon. Amazingly there were three whole red onions in the pot but by the time it was cooked they had completely disintegrated into the rich, glossy, sauce (a whole bottle of wine went into that yummers sauce).

I roasted some new potatoes wrapped in baking paper, with plenty of butter, a sprig of thyme, a bruised garlic clove and some lemon zest. They went in the oven along side the casserole at about Gas 4 for one and a half hours. A kind of braising in butter method of cooking! No low calorie options in the Hungry House.

Recipe Friday

Mr Hungry and I started cooking a new recipe on each Friday but having fallen out of the habit we are making a big effort to start again.

We started last friday with A Chickpea And Carrot burger, flavoured with sesame, tahini and cumin- yummers. Served elegantly by Mr Hungry on toasted wholemeal toast with a dollop of natural yoghurt.

Tonight Mr Hungry made Chicken Cacciatore from the GoodFoodWebsite. It was yummers. Served with crushed new potatoes. Fab. Think this will become a firm favourite. Thanks Mr Hungry. XXx

(Waking up the next morning to no bread and very little butter I had the left over Mascarpone spread on toasted malt loaf.... decadent eh?)

Tapas Tapas

Well, to celebrate my Ma in law's birthday, we're cooking dinner here before a surprise theatre trip.
I have information that the said Ma in Law isn't a huge fan of meat and enjoys picking through different dishes of vegetables and a small amount of meat. So a tapas style meal is in hand.

I wanted to share with you some of my favourite dishes I make on these occasions.

A New Potato Salad with Grilled Halloumi (pictured without Potatoes, I pop them in warm just before serving). This also includes lemon juice and zest, shredded mint leaves, black pepper and olive oil... I just love any excuse to eat grilled halloumi- who thought that a foodstuff somewhere between caramel and cheese could be so perfect?

Another salad of Roast Squash with Cashew and Sesame. The squash has been roasted with wholegrain mustard and honey, the cashews and sesame seeds both have been toasted. I will add to this either couscous or some of my new favourite thing- Merchant Gormet's ready to eat mixed grains- vacuum packed Quinoa, Wheat, Soya Flakes and Lentils, all cooked and ready to go.... yummers!! Perfect for lunch box salads.

Mr Hungry says I get a bit 'brand loyal' and I love Merchant Gormet stuff... but I really think they make some good food.

Also on the menu tonight, a Chorizo and Mozzarella Tart, Olives, Hummus, Pitta, Cured Meats, Mixed Roast Veg, Pork Meatballs with Spicy Tomato Sauce. Followed by icecream at the theatre!

The Handmade Bakery

Wow, what a day.....

Yesterday I took part in the Handmade Bakery's Baking at Home course and it was Brilliant.

Dan and Matt led most of the course, and we all learned so much from their experience and knowledge. I came home with an enormous amount of bread, inspiration, excitement and a new apron (Bonus!).

We started the day with bread and butter and discussion about different techniques of bread making and introductions by the class. The class were very enthusiastic to learn to bake better, healthier bread and this enthusiasm only developed during the day as we made a white dough and granary dough by the sponge and dough method, a fruited and spiced dough and came home heavily laden with a baguette, a rosemary fougasse, white seeded rolls, granary rolls, a granary baton and two fruited loaves.

Am on a campaign to get Mr Hungry to let me book onto the next course in June......

Watch this space.

Springtime Ahoy!

As the snow has finally melted away thoughts turn to the hope of Spring and planning out the best use for the humble estate at the Hungry House (by humble I mean miniature). Have ordered seeds and will soon be making paper pots with my Paperpotter (a brilliant wee gadget which helps to make seedling pots out of strips of old newspaper- genius. Take a look at http://www.thegardenersshop.co.uk/paper-potter---seed-pot-maker-75-p.asp).

So I'm waiting on a big parcel from Thompson and Morgan of Broad Beans, Peas, Mangetouts, Nasturtium (first time I've grown these as a salad crop), Courgettes, Chard, Rocket, Shallots, Radish (also my first time*), Garlic and many many more.

Exciting. Now I've just got to wait for Spring to happen (and as today has been one of those days where the sun seemingly comes up but it never gets light- I may be waiting some time).

*My sister one year accidentally managed to grow 17lb of radish.... being an imaginative individual she soon brought round radish wine..... in a big demi john.... 8 pints of it. Peppery. Odd.

Bread Bread Bread!

Am so excited, am going on a bread course at the Handmade Bakery this weekend.... Can't Wait!! Watch this space for photos of my creations!
Check out their website via the link on the right hand side of this page. They make such amazing bread, can't wait to pick up some tips.

Granola

Thinking of toasted oats today so decided to make Granola, seems fitting to the hibernation mode I find myself in.

In a big bowl mix together 12oz Rolled Oats, 5oz Wheat Bran, 5oz Seed Mix (Pumpkin, Sesame, Sunflower, Linseed), 5oz Pecans and 1 oz Brown Sugar.

Then combine in 6 floz Maple Syrup and 4 floz Olive Oil in a jug and pour onto the dry ingredients.

Mix thoroughly and toast under the grill in batches.

Very moreish, great for nibbling as well as having on yoghurt with fruit for breakfast.