Meal 110 - December 21st - Camembert Parcels, Autumn Salad and Cranberry Dip
I'm beginning to get into the Christmas spirit - the tree is up, the shopping is done (just hoping Amazon and co don't let me down with their delivery times), family sleeping arrangements have been decided for next week, we're even going to see It's a Wonderful Life at the cinema tomorrow. A crucial part of Christmas for me though is eating humungous amounts of food, and with that in mind we set off for Sainsbury's (Waitrose was not big enough for today's task) to do the shopping. Half an hour or so later, we'd spent £150 (300 nectar points for me - kerching!) and bought the ingredients for 5 (five) fifteen minute meals. It's going to be a busy weekend...
Showing posts with label 6/10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 6/10. Show all posts
15 Dec 2013
Fruit 'N' Nut Combos, Sweetened Cottage Cheese
Meal 108 - December 15th - Fruit 'N' Nut Combos, Sweetened Cottage Cheese
Sunday morning - a good time to squeeze in a cheeky 15 minute breakfast and strike another one of my list. I actually made this a couple of weeks ago but Lolz was unable to eat it due to her first bout of illness so I thought I'd do it again - an unwritten rule of my challenge is that I have to cook it (well, in this case not really "cook" it exactly) for at least one other person to be able to cross it off!
Sunday morning - a good time to squeeze in a cheeky 15 minute breakfast and strike another one of my list. I actually made this a couple of weeks ago but Lolz was unable to eat it due to her first bout of illness so I thought I'd do it again - an unwritten rule of my challenge is that I have to cook it (well, in this case not really "cook" it exactly) for at least one other person to be able to cross it off!
3 Dec 2013
Modern Greek Salad, Spinach, Chickpea and Feta Parcels
Meal 104 - December 3rd - Modern Greek Salad, Spinach, Chickpea and Feta Parcels
So as a result of Lolz's mussel induced bout of sickness what was supposed to be a weekend of three 15 minute meals turned into a weekend with just one 15 minute meal. Unfortunately, one of the two cancelled meals (for which I had already bought ingredients) was the Moroccan mussels which unsurprisingly Lolz wasn't too keen on. So I set about finding another meal in the book for which the ingredients were similar, which is quite a challenge when you only have 16 left to do.
So as a result of Lolz's mussel induced bout of sickness what was supposed to be a weekend of three 15 minute meals turned into a weekend with just one 15 minute meal. Unfortunately, one of the two cancelled meals (for which I had already bought ingredients) was the Moroccan mussels which unsurprisingly Lolz wasn't too keen on. So I set about finding another meal in the book for which the ingredients were similar, which is quite a challenge when you only have 16 left to do.
27 Nov 2013
Mexican Chicken, Wicked Mole Sauce, Rice and Veg
Meal 102 - November 27th - Mexican Chicken, Wicked Mole Sauce, Rice and Veg
There's an episode of Friends where Rachel attempts to make a trifle. Unfortunately, in the recipe book she is working from, two pages have got stuck together and so her trifle ends up being half shepherds pie, with alternating layers of beef, peas and gravy and custard and jam. Hilarity obviously ensues. Today I found myself in Waitrose buying ingredients which included cumin, spring onion, peanut butter, garlic, chocolate, banana, lemon and cocoa powder. I thought nothing of it, assuming they would not all be for the same recipe.
There's an episode of Friends where Rachel attempts to make a trifle. Unfortunately, in the recipe book she is working from, two pages have got stuck together and so her trifle ends up being half shepherds pie, with alternating layers of beef, peas and gravy and custard and jam. Hilarity obviously ensues. Today I found myself in Waitrose buying ingredients which included cumin, spring onion, peanut butter, garlic, chocolate, banana, lemon and cocoa powder. I thought nothing of it, assuming they would not all be for the same recipe.
13 Oct 2013
Squash Soup, Sagey Chestnut Dumplings
Meal 85 - October 13th - Squash Soup, Sagey Chestnut Dumplings
It's been a while since I last did a soup/ sarnie 15 minute meal, and, lo and behold, my spreadsheet told me it was time to rectify that particular problem. It turns out I've done all the sandwiches, so, with the weather conveniently cold, grey and miserable I turned to the soups. We got some squash in our veg box, so decided to have a go at this one.
It's been a while since I last did a soup/ sarnie 15 minute meal, and, lo and behold, my spreadsheet told me it was time to rectify that particular problem. It turns out I've done all the sandwiches, so, with the weather conveniently cold, grey and miserable I turned to the soups. We got some squash in our veg box, so decided to have a go at this one.
3 Oct 2013
Mushroom Farfalle, Blue Cheese, Hazelnut & Apple Salad
Meal 82 - October 3rd - Mushroom Farfalle, Blue Cheese, Hazelnut & Apple Salad
My last meal was a success not just because it was surprisingly tasty, but because it was really quick and easy - the end result didn't match the work that went into it. The same can often be said of the pasta dishes, although in a very different way - the end result has often been disappointing compared to the amount of effort involved. And so it was with some despair that I looked my spreadsheet and was told that I should be cooking a pasta dish today. In the end I decided to grab the bull by the horns and use it as an opportunity to strike off my list the one 15 minute meal I've really been dreading cooking - the mushroom farfalle.
My last meal was a success not just because it was surprisingly tasty, but because it was really quick and easy - the end result didn't match the work that went into it. The same can often be said of the pasta dishes, although in a very different way - the end result has often been disappointing compared to the amount of effort involved. And so it was with some despair that I looked my spreadsheet and was told that I should be cooking a pasta dish today. In the end I decided to grab the bull by the horns and use it as an opportunity to strike off my list the one 15 minute meal I've really been dreading cooking - the mushroom farfalle.
2 Sept 2013
Simple Spaghetti, Tomato, Basil and Creamy Curd Salad
Meal 74 - September 2nd - Simple Spaghetti, Tomato, Basil and Creamy Curd Salad
I'm a big fan of simplicity, in both a culinary sense and as a life choice. Unfortunately though, as a result of technicalities such as having to earn a living, pay taxes, plan for the future etc etc the latter is rarely possible. In the kitchen though, it's a different matter - anyone, regardless of emotional, mental or psychological clutter, can achieve culinary simplicity by using good quality, fresh ingredients and cooking them in the least complex way possible. This seemed to be the thinking behind this latest pasta meal I would be cooking.
I'm a big fan of simplicity, in both a culinary sense and as a life choice. Unfortunately though, as a result of technicalities such as having to earn a living, pay taxes, plan for the future etc etc the latter is rarely possible. In the kitchen though, it's a different matter - anyone, regardless of emotional, mental or psychological clutter, can achieve culinary simplicity by using good quality, fresh ingredients and cooking them in the least complex way possible. This seemed to be the thinking behind this latest pasta meal I would be cooking.
14 Aug 2013
Happy Cow Burgers, Old-School Coleslaw and Corn on the Cob
Meal 67 - August 14th - Happy Cow Burgers, Old-School Coleslaw and Corn on the Cob
I have no problem with vegetarians or vegetarianism (what with our weekly veg box I have actually come to embrace it this year) but have never really felt any desire to become a full-time veggie. This is partly due to a lack of imagination. I would probably eat a lot of lettuce, beans on toast and Linda McCartney sausages. Perhaps an omelette if I was feeling adventurous. I'd probably miss out on a plethora of crucial vitamins and minerals. Secondly, I have always been mildly disturbed by the way that some food manufacturers make vegetarian foods look like their meat based equivalent. I've been to Thai buffet restaurants that make tofu look like bits of chicken in a stir fry. They even pump it with some dodgy vegetarian flavourings to make it taste like the real thing.
I have no problem with vegetarians or vegetarianism (what with our weekly veg box I have actually come to embrace it this year) but have never really felt any desire to become a full-time veggie. This is partly due to a lack of imagination. I would probably eat a lot of lettuce, beans on toast and Linda McCartney sausages. Perhaps an omelette if I was feeling adventurous. I'd probably miss out on a plethora of crucial vitamins and minerals. Secondly, I have always been mildly disturbed by the way that some food manufacturers make vegetarian foods look like their meat based equivalent. I've been to Thai buffet restaurants that make tofu look like bits of chicken in a stir fry. They even pump it with some dodgy vegetarian flavourings to make it taste like the real thing.
7 Aug 2013
Ricotta Fritters, Tomato Sauce and Courgette Salad
Meal 64 - August 7th - Ricotta Fritters, Tomato Sauce and Courgette Salad
Weekday evening time has been at a premium lately and this lack of midweek 15 minute meals is putting my challenge in serious peril. Today I had to get up at 5:30 for an early start at work so wasn't exactly feeling top of my game. So surely I'd choose a meal which was a guaranteed winner right? Err, no - I handed meal choice responsibilities to Lolz who chose a mushroom heavy veggie number which looked like it could easily go wrong.
Weekday evening time has been at a premium lately and this lack of midweek 15 minute meals is putting my challenge in serious peril. Today I had to get up at 5:30 for an early start at work so wasn't exactly feeling top of my game. So surely I'd choose a meal which was a guaranteed winner right? Err, no - I handed meal choice responsibilities to Lolz who chose a mushroom heavy veggie number which looked like it could easily go wrong.
10 Jan 2013
Crispy Parma Pork, Minted Courgettes and Brown Rice
Meal 2 - Jan 9th - Crispy Parma Pork, Minted Courgettes and Brown Rice
Ooh brown rice healthy. After making a "safe" chicken dish first time round, I decided to venture into slightly less well known territory for meal 2: pork fillet. It's a cut of meat that to me always looks a little scary in the butchers. My first difficulty was sourcing different coloured courgettes. I knew yellow ones did exist but could not find anywhere that stocked them. Waitrose do a variety of round/baby courgettes in addition to the more traditional variety but none that are not green. I decided to go half and half with aubergine (that's egg plant for all my American fans out there).
In another minor diversion from the book, I used standard brown rice as opposed to the pre cooked option (with brown rice taking some 25 mins to cook this does admittedly defeat the 15 minute object of the recipe). Lolz was out running (seriously!) so I cooked the rice in advance and left it to cool. When Lolz returned from her run I began the recipe proper. The pork got prepped, veg sliced. You need a very big pan for all that veg! It all went rather smoothly. Warming the rice through in the pork pan with a bit of lemon juice and sundried tomato paste was a fantastic touch.
Once on the plate Lolz was immediately requesting extra yoghurt (Jamie seems to have adopted natural yoghurt as his condiment-du-jour) saying the dish was a little dry (although she was at pains to point out that this was not due to my cooking skills/ interpretation of the recipe, but down to the lack of any kind of sauce item in the recipe). She also thought that the chilli/ garlicky-ness of the courgettes overpowered the flavour of the meat, and on this point I would have to agree.
Lolz gave it 6/10. Difficulty factor 4/10. Leftover courgette and rice warmed through made a good next day lunch (although come to think of it I should probably not be reheating the rice so many times...)
Liquid Refreshment: I accompanied this meal with a bottle of St Peters Golden Ale. I can't really claim to be any kind of ale connoisseur but I did like the shape of the bottle and it was on offer in Waitrose.
Ooh brown rice healthy. After making a "safe" chicken dish first time round, I decided to venture into slightly less well known territory for meal 2: pork fillet. It's a cut of meat that to me always looks a little scary in the butchers. My first difficulty was sourcing different coloured courgettes. I knew yellow ones did exist but could not find anywhere that stocked them. Waitrose do a variety of round/baby courgettes in addition to the more traditional variety but none that are not green. I decided to go half and half with aubergine (that's egg plant for all my American fans out there).
In another minor diversion from the book, I used standard brown rice as opposed to the pre cooked option (with brown rice taking some 25 mins to cook this does admittedly defeat the 15 minute object of the recipe). Lolz was out running (seriously!) so I cooked the rice in advance and left it to cool. When Lolz returned from her run I began the recipe proper. The pork got prepped, veg sliced. You need a very big pan for all that veg! It all went rather smoothly. Warming the rice through in the pork pan with a bit of lemon juice and sundried tomato paste was a fantastic touch.
Once on the plate Lolz was immediately requesting extra yoghurt (Jamie seems to have adopted natural yoghurt as his condiment-du-jour) saying the dish was a little dry (although she was at pains to point out that this was not due to my cooking skills/ interpretation of the recipe, but down to the lack of any kind of sauce item in the recipe). She also thought that the chilli/ garlicky-ness of the courgettes overpowered the flavour of the meat, and on this point I would have to agree.
Lolz gave it 6/10. Difficulty factor 4/10. Leftover courgette and rice warmed through made a good next day lunch (although come to think of it I should probably not be reheating the rice so many times...)
Liquid Refreshment: I accompanied this meal with a bottle of St Peters Golden Ale. I can't really claim to be any kind of ale connoisseur but I did like the shape of the bottle and it was on offer in Waitrose.
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