Week 4

Some more snaps of this week's food.

 Didn't begin too well with a bit of a treat from Cherry Box Pizza - they don't skimp on the toppings and their thin and crispy base makes them so much nicer (and healthier) than Dominoes!

 Next was pan-fried salmon (marinaded in herbs and lemon) ...

 ... with a chunky tomato and roasted hazelnut salsa...

 .... and crispy, fluffy roast potatoes....

 ....on a bed of spinach...

 Next up, home-made chilli beef burgers

 With spicy wedges (getting predictable!)

 Easy mid-week meal.

 And more potatoes in the oven! Rosemary potato cubes.

  Tandoori Chicken and roasted veg pittas.

We should (buy Fairtrade) Cocoa

So this is my first ever entry to We should Cocoa run by Chocolate Log Blog and Chocolate Teapot and hosted this month by Laura of How to cook good food.

It's exam term here and everyone is very involved in their own worlds. Study plans, revision breaks and odd working hours mean that I've not really had chance to see all my girl mates, and Cake Fridays have been put on hold. However, today has been a bit murky and I couldn't concentrate so I thought it was time to warm up the oven.

So after inviting the girls to a 4 o'clock tea break I decided cookies would be the perfect - warm and comforting, but quick enough to munch with a mug of tea before heading back to the library. I was thinking a bit about how at the moment we are all so focused on the end game and can't wait to relax in about 3 week's time that not only do we forget to give time to the things that make us happy but we forget that there are so many other people in the world having an unimaginably harder time than we are.

This recipe then is inspired by a want to do something (even something really tiny) that may benefit someone else (so as well as cookies for my hard-working library buddies) I decided to go Fairtrade. I thought it was fitting to go with the We should Cocoa challenge, and I remembered to add this month's key ingredient of almonds.

I really liked the combination of both white and brown sugar as well as white and milk chocolate in these cookies, for the color contrast and in my spirit of embracing the world. 

Standard sugar, butter and eggs mix, with a tsp of Orange Extract

Flour, cocoa powder, bicarb, baking powder and of course, ground almonds. 

 All blended together to create a sticky but fluffy mix

I used a family recipe for my cookies but went off piste a little- adding crystallized mango 

and orange extract for a bit of a summery hit.

  And both white chocolate and milk chocolate buttons

 A lovely contrasting mix

 10 minutes in the oven, and they were ready to be eaten- warm and gooey, fruity and nutty but still with a rich chocolatey taste! I would have taken a picture with more, but as soon as the next batch came out of the oven they were gone!

I feel so much better, now back to the library....

 Recipe
Flour mix:
300g Plain Flour
200g SR Flour
 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarb
30g Cocoa Powder
20g Ground Almonds

150g butter
150 g sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp orange extract

Chopped mango
White chocolate buttons
Milk chocolate buttons

Ottolenghi Sessions

After a decidedly awful supervision, with my supervisor actually crying with laughter at my attempt to translate Tibullus, and loosing 12-3 at Football to some 'delightful' French men it was some fizzy and Ottolenghi to the rescue.

Another recipe from Plenty - Aubergine & Saffron Yoghurt Salad with Pomegranate.  This is literally gorgeous, and really healthy! It's meant to be sprinkled with pine nuts and basil leaves too, but Co-Op weren't living up to their name.

 I love Pomegranate seeds - they went in the fizzy too. There's a classical myth that Persephone, trapped in the underworld by Hades (won't go into detail why) ate 4 pomegranate seeds. Now anyone who eats in the underworld must remain there, but Persephone was a lucky girl and rescued by Hermes, and only had to spend 4 months of every year there to atone for the 4 seeds she has eaten. 4 months in hell? Sounds like Cambridge exam term, so even if we are in Hades, for March - June, I'm gonna eat as many pomegranates as I can!

 Addition of my favorite fritters- Ham, Haloumi and Mint, and some chicken thighs, marinated in an Indian spice rub and grilled.

And some fresh, gooey mango to finish.

And then off to see Laurie Lewis and the Fat Cats at Fitz Sessions with all the lovely Fitzbillies. Wonderful. 

And something restorative for the day after being hungover day...

Topped up on potassium, sleep and fluids, after the Day of Hangover (DOH) -when fried goods and cake is on the cards- something a with a few more minerals is required.

This sticky rice dish is full of fresh flavours, the sweetness of the peppers, the kick of the chorizo, and the meatiness of the prawns. 


Again, it's a no effort, throw it all in approach, all in onepot. Lots of vegetables:
- Tomatoes: A couple of extras thrown in with the required tin (with lovely Vitamin C, Vit A and antioxidants)
- Courgettes: not on the recipe, but an added bonus! (Potassium, Vit A, Manganese )
- Peppers: I used 3 red ones (9 x  more Carotine don't ya know! and 3 x the Vit C of your average orange) 
- and I threw in a load of red chilli (All the good'uns: Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Vit A, B & C) and a good dose of humble garlic (lowers cholesterol, keeps colds away and is an aphrodisiac!)

Fry them off, chuck in the water, rice and the tinned tomatoes 

(Also added tarragon and a good lot of Paprika) Cover and leave.

Literally just chill out for 12-15mins. Chuck in the prawns. Give it a stir. 

Tear up some herbs and chuck them in.

All the lovely liquid cooks into the rice, and what you end up with is a sticky risotto-like mix. Wonderful.

I had it with some naan bread, but it doesn't really need it. In fact it doesn't really need the prawns- you could get rid of them and the chorizo and just use aubergine. Or just double the chorizo. I'd defiantly add the extra chilli/ paprika though.

Hangover: Cured. (And there's some left over for lunch)

Caesarian Monday

Sunday was fun.

 Some would say too much fun. Monday wasn't. What's a girl to do when lying in bed makes you seasick? Apparently hangovers require potassium, so after popping a few paracetamol and gulping down some more water a banana seemed like a good option. Apparently not, mine were over ripe. Not good.

But when life gives you over-ripe bananas (and you've run out of butter), make  Chocolate Banana Muffins. I love Nigella.

It's so easy when hungover. Everything in a bowl and zazz.

 Who cares about sifting flour when there's lumpy bananas in there too. Added some ground almonds and a bit of milk too. 

Bang them in the oven for 15mins, have a shower and sort your life out. Eat them hot. 

This literally made my day. I'm not gonna say its better than a fry up for a hangover. It just isn't. But when it hits 4pm, you're on a sugar low and you need something quick, and appetizing, these muffins are your fellas. Oh yeah, and the potassium. 

Ottolenghi's Noodles

A summery noodle salad to be eaten hot or cold- it's chilli heat, tangy lime and mango-y goodness in a bowl! Not bad for you either...


 It's really easy- just a bit of prep then throw it all together!

The recipe is from Ottolenghi's Plenty
and available online.

1. Dissolve sugar & salt in white wine vinegar over gentle heat (I used soy sauce first time and that was also lovely!) then chuck in chopped garlic, sesame oil and chilli, then when it's cooled add lime juice & zest. Dressing done.

  2. Dice aubergines and dry fry (or with a little spray oil) until golden and put in mixing bowl and salt. Add diced mango, sliced red onion,basil & coriander. Chuck in the cooled dressing.

3. Chuck the noodles in a wok.  

4. Chuck in a bowl, give it a stir and serve sprinkled with remaining herby-bits.
Enjoy with a glass of white. Did consider putting king prawns in but the aubergine is so meaty it really doesn't need this. Also perfect cold for a veggie lunch!

Week 2

Not much this week!

Prawn and Beef Thai Curry with green chilli, new potatoes and crunchy sugar snap peas

 Anna's Birthday Cake. Made in just under an hour! Out of cocoa so used hot chocolate powder and the frosting was leftover Easter eggs & melted creme egg. Happy Birthday Anna!

 Parmesan and Pancetta risotto with red onion and tomatoes in the making. I just love basil at the moment!

 One of the many cocktails of this week from the Las Iguanas in Cambridge 2 for 1 all day Sunday to Wednesday and in 'happy hours' 12:30-7:30. Absolutely delightful exam term savior!

 The ultimate summer cold savior. Lots of chilli. Lots of tomatoes. In a steaming bowl of pasta.

Now have a new phone so hopefully more photos next week!!