Christmas Goodies and Merriment

Christmas Goodies

This Saturday was our third annual girlie Christmas 'do'. An affair that usually involves food, cocktails, bubbles, a wee gift exchange, and bucket loads of inappropriate jokes and laughs.

We headed to Hoi Polloi in Shoreditch.  A pretty fantastic place actually, exceeding expectations. Design is psuedo Scandi hunting lodge with a dash of East London hipster.  Now, sometimes these new up and comers are all hype and no substance, but Hoi Polloi have a winning formula.  Well at least for us that evening it was two big 'ol thumbs up. 

Once we all arrived, 3 of 4 of us being late (I was second!) and our cocktails were in hand we tackled the newspaper like menu and started with chickpea fritters and tarragon yogurt. With 6 "fritters" (looking oddly like mozzarella cheese sticks but thankfully tasting a whole lot better) for £3 it was good value. 

Also on sharing order were cauliflower cheese (with Stilton and almonds - delicious) and the veggie version of "dripping chips".  NOTE: Must return for the dripping variety.

There were also main courses and deserts.  And a bottle of Prosecco.  Oh, and one complimentary double chocolate cookie brought to GT by an admiring waiter.  She shared with the rest of us. The cookie, not the waiter.

For our little gift exchange I thought I'd bake up an assortment of goodies and package them up nicely for the girls.  There's something I really love about home-made gifts around the holidays.  I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but making things for others gives me the warm fuzzies.  Plus, due to slight limitations on the size of the bags I'd purchased to give the cookies in - I had a few leftovers that needed gobbling.  I was happy to help.

So what were in the treat bags?

Lemon butter cookies with white chocolate and edible sparkles
- You'll see the linked recipe tops the cookies with a lemon icing, I used melted white chocolate thinned out a teensy bit with lemon juice.

Peanut butter cookies with mini peanut butter cups
- I replaced the Hershey's chocolate kiss with mini peanut butter cups from Trader Joes, "smuggled" back from the US into the UK.

Toffee squares - written about previously in this blog.

So far JF and GT have reported back that their favourites are the peanut butter and lemon ones respectively.  I don't like to pick favourites so instead find when it's time to eat one I just eat one of EACH.  Three in a go. On repeat until they run out.

Thanksgivukkah in London

Makeshift Thanksgivvukah Meal

It's bound to be a good night when your guests are assigned pre-arrival homework, no?

For the past seven years I have been in the UK for Thanksgiving.  I've spent some travelling, most at work, I've even occasionally chosen to celebrate the Saturday following when I had time to cook. But never ever have I had anyone round on the actual day.  This year however was an exception because it was the first in about...well a lot...of years that Thanksgiving and Hanukkah overlapped.

Such excitement! Such food possibilities! Such amazing plays on words! (Someone really needs to add Menurkey into the Merriam-Webster Dictionary).  So when it came time to decide what to do, I figured I'd invite just a few of my favourites around for an informal Thansgivukkah celebration.

I had four people joining me that night.  None are American.  Two are Jewish but well, of the less religious variety like me.  I figured I'd need to prep them somewhat for what was in store.  Hence the homework which consisted of a very scholarly article on the two holidays.  And a high-brow video of Hanukkah, the festival of lights.

Now considering I was working that day to bring home the proverbial bacon, I'd positioned it with my friends as an informal snackaroo fest as I'd not have time to get down and dirty sticking my hands into the nether regions of a turkey and making a proper full-on dinner.

So what could I do that screamed Thanksgiving? Hanukkah? Thanksgivukkah!? Well, on hand were two types of home made potato latkes, regular potato and a sweet potato variety. Thanksgiving represented herself in the magnificent form of a spiced chocolate pecan pie with cream cheese crust I'd made at 5 am that morning.  Add to the mix bucket loads of red wine and snacks galore, friends did not go home hungry.  In fact, the only things they left with were full bellies and doggy bags of leftovers.  Which is, in fact - quite like the real holidays anyway.

Pumpkin and Apple Sausage Lasagne / Lasagna

Bits of pumpkin. Bits of cheese. Bits of sage.

Prepping for late evenings at work.

Let me start by saying I never really understood what the difference was between lasagnE and lasagnA.  Depending on the recipe and who you ask you get one or the other.  While most recipes I've seen online have the 'A' at the end, my little laptop's spellchecker is much happier with the 'E' ending, giving me a scribbly red line under "lasagnA". Anyway, we all know the internet knows everything; e.g. Where do flies go at night? (under leaves and branches, on twigs and tree trunks, and on the stems of grass and other plants).  Is periwinkle purple or blue? (more blue I'd say, but the experts can't agree on this one).

So naturally I looked up the difference between lasagnE and lasagnA.  I know, dear readers, you are on the edge of your seats.

So without further ago, I shall explain courtesy of grammarist.

Technically in Italian the E ending is the plural and the A ending the singular. The reality is that in English they aren't used that way - and are interchangeable. North American English speakers use lasagnA.  English speakers from outside North America usually use lasagnE. And there you have it.  Exciting right? Now on to the good stuff...

The past few weeks I'd been hankering for that awesome fall flavour combo of pumpkin, sage, and ricotta.  Typically bundled up in little pillows of deliciousness (known as ravioli) I didn't quite fancy the faff of making homemade pasta.  Nor did I want to buy some of the ready made variety (as deluxe and artisanal as some of them may be).

So I put my wee thinking cap on and decided on a lasagne version.  What could be so difficult?  Well, when you know the flavour combination you want to work with, the answer is - not much!

I decided on three main layers in addition to the pasta, a cheesy one, a meaty one and a pumpkiny sauce one.

For the meaty layer, I went with apple pork sausage.  I'd been keen to pick something similar of the chicken sausage variety but London struggles to get chicken sausage into it's everyday grocery stores.  I'm not sure why.  But that and shredded carrots. Hard to find either of these two products.  Ultimately I know where to suss them out but it's a schlep.  Bizarre I think.  But there you have it.

Anyway, I digress.  For the sausage, I sauteed a whole onion in a bit of olive oil until translucent.  I then added 6 the sausages, with casings removed, breaking them up as they cooked.  Once cooked through I set aside.

The cheese layer was also a super easy one.  I mixed 1 large container ricotta, 1.5 cups mozzarella and .5 cup parmesan cheese, along with 1 egg and salt and pepper.  Set aside for assembly.

The pumpkin "sauce" was also quite simple but having not made it before there was a bit trial and error.

In olive oil I sautéed a bunch of diced garlic and about 1/3 cup finely diced sage until soft and fragrant.  I added white wine and stock, about 2/3 cup each until it reduced by about half.  Next I added one can pure pumpkin to the pan and stirred until well combined, adding salt and pepper to taste.  I also added nutmeg and 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt.  The latter ingredient because it was just sat in my fridge and I didn't want it to go to waste as I wasn't sure I'd eat it any other time.

Once I got the flavours nicely balanced I had my lasagne sauce.  It was fantastic and everything I'd hoped for, but as I put the lasagne together (start with the sauce and end with noodles covered in more cheese) I realised, next time - I'd use 2 cups pumpkin and maybe increase the stock to just over 1 cup.

But I now have lots of mini lasagne pieces wrapped up in the freezer for late nights at work or lazy Sunday evenings.  Plenty to get me through until Christmakuahwanzah season.

My First Birthday...

...(as a British Citizen)

A couple weeks back I had a few friends around for a jolly good time in order to celebrate my birthday.  Using my recent British citizenship as an overarching theme I planned for a small intimate 'do' - one that could showcase one of the things I love best about England, it's quintessential quirkiness.

There was a significant amount of research, lists, excel spreadsheets (NERD), cooking, baking and cleaning involved in the preparation. And even if I never completely relaxed during the evening (need to make sure people's champagne glasses are never more than half empty, dah-ling) and spent three hours cleaning up the next day, I'd do it all over again.  Only this time ensure Jeeves was available to do the butlering.  I really should not have given all of my staff the evening off.

Chortle.

Even Liz sent her fondest welcome.

As I've mentioned before, one of my fail-proof ways of getting a party off right is greeting my guests at the door with a welcome beverage.  Considering the theme of the evening, I'd purchased some mismatched antique teacups off of ebay and decided on two signature cocktails.  The Royal-Tea and Spiced Pimm's. Recipes to follow.

But of course every good cocktail needs a substantial nibble to support it.  And trying (for the most part) to again stick with the theme I came up with:

• Cheese from Neal's Yard Dairy (likely the main reason I went way over my party budget)
• Dates stuffed with pistachios and wrapped in bacon (my take on Devils on Horseback)
• Shepherd's Pie Croquettes
• Hot artichoke, emmenthal and cheddar dip
• Assorted dips served in home-made bread baskets

Channeling my inner Martha Stewart, hand made Union Jack toothpicks and cheese labels

Moustache sticks - serving up dates and pistachios wrapped in bacon

Shepherd's Pie Croquettes

All playing along nicely together 

But let's remember, what's the key ingredient to a first birthday party? TREATS! Making enough to potentially double my invite list, I was eating cake for a whole week after and that was even after unloading most of it on M and my colleagues.

Coming out of my oven?

• Banoffee cupcakes
• Sticky toffee shortbread
• Chocolate speckle birthday cake
• "Ironic moustache" sugar cookies as wee take away pressies for my friends

Banoffee cupcakes - banana cake, toffee piped inside, cream on top = HEALTHY!

Chocolate speckle birthday cake. I had trouble keeping Buddy at a distance.

The making of the "ginger" moustache.  Edible sparkle powder is my friend.

The Earl.  The Major General.  The Duchess (sad facial hair for a woman, but hey-ho it happens).

Care packages for guest's departure (snack for the tube / taxi ride home) - in the making.
Each labeled with their own special "character".

1 of 2 care packages brought to the office.  And weirdly - the only shot of the sticky toffee shortbread.

RECIPES

Royal-Tea
1 part English gin
2 parts brewed and cooled Earl Grey tea
Lots of lemon juice

Serve over ice.  Or in my case get it nice and chilled but serve without ice in proper tea cups. Confuse friends as to why you are offering them tea when greeted at the door at 8:30 pm on a Saturday night.

Spiced Pimm's Cocktail
On the stovetop heat 3 cups water 3 English breakfast tea bags, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2-3 cloves, 1 broken cinnamon stick, orange zest.  Let seep and then remove teabags and bits of peel, cloves, stick etc.  Let cool and then add 1 cup Pimm's. Serve over ice.

Bacon-wrapped dates

Shepherd's pie croquettes

Hot artichoke dip (I swapped in different cheeses - but what's brilliant about this recipe is that it's not only easy and delicious but you can make and freeze it for up to a month in advance)

Bannoffee cupcakes

Sticky toffee shortbread

Chocolate speckle cake (I made up my own frosting and didn't use the one recommended here.  Also, the recipe calls for smaller pans than I used which resulted in less height on my cake)

End of Summer Lovin'

So you don't think I've gone and "expired" I thought it was worthwhile giving a small update on my comings and goings since mid-August.  Buckle your seat belt.

The last week of August started with a wedding in Copenhagen complete with herring smorgasbord (still one of the most horrible food items out there no matter how many which ways I try it) and a visit to Boston and NH to see SU-C and Mama, complete with 3 doses lobster and daily doubles of Dunkin' Donuts coconut ice coffee.  After a brief swaparoo of my luggage I had 4 days back in London before heading off to Tanzania for work.  My most delicious meal during this trip was at Adis in Dar, an Ethiopian restaurant popular with expats.  Unfortunately 8 of the 12 of us ended up with the gift that keeps on giving...and very upset tummies the next day.  Nothing says "I love my co-workers" more than sharing a box of Imodium.

Right, moving right along - from Tanzania back to London (sans luggage, d@mn you Kenyan Airways!) and then onwards to France. Here I spent a week with stinky cheese, sausisson, waffles from Meert and drank wine for breakfast.  Occasionally I felt guilty and ate a lettuce leaf.  Back to London for a few days and then I closed out a head spinning world tour with a long weekend in Mykonos.  Heading out with Flamingo we had four days of laughs, perfectly sunny skies, 80 degrees, sunset cocktails, ice cream, perhaps a small jewel and fried cheese.  Lots and lots of fried cheese. With honey. In pastry. Feta and haloumi and "local soft cheese".  Complimented by the double dose of tzatziki we ate every day as well. Note: Since I started this trek back in Copenhagen I've managed a good 6 extra pounds in my mid-section.  Pretty impressive eating don't you think?

Needless to say I am very much looking forward to some cooler weather that warants a wardrobe that allows for big baggy jumpers, tights with built in spanx, and an extra large sized onsie.

A few photo highlights:

Horrible Herring (sounds like an evil superhero)

New vintage Champagne glasses and the pretty packaging of the Meert waffle

Sunset bellini ala Mykonos

Sunset moe-ji-toes 

Fresh fruit daiquiris. Fresh fruit = health

It's HOT. It's ICECREAM!

Summer Soiree

Last weekend saw me hosting my first dinner party in quite a while, a summer soiree if you will.  I do love a good dinner party and I think about having them much more frequently than I do.  Sometimes I blame it on the cost (no scrimping on quality when entertaining of course) or the potential work involved (Thursday and Friday evenings and all day Saturday this time around) but the main reason?  Well, quite simply it's down to the constant state of my flat - and what appears to be endless piles of clutter heaped about in various corners.

But wanting to dust off my apron and do some entertaining, I pulled my socks up and did what any sensible girl might do; I just chucked the whole lot behind my couch and under my bed.

And I wonder why I can never find anything?

With only 4 chairs I kept it small and intimate (plans are in the works for a more extensive party that will involve sofas and floor sitting) but for this I wanted to make it a bit special.  A bit more glitz and glamour.

Menus and place cards. And even though it may look it, NOT made by a 12 year old.

So what was on le menu? Well with one veggie, one pescatarian, and one "I eat anything but clods of meat" attending I decided on a full-vegetarian menu, complete with oodles of cream and cheese.

We started with spiced almonds (roasted with garlic, salt, cayenne pepper and cumin) and summer berry cocktails (pureed raspberries, simple syrup, lemongrass and melon vodka, and prosecco), the latter which were hand delivered to guests when greeted at the door. My experience here being that getting your guests drinking something nice and tasty as quickly as possible makes for much more interesting conversations at an earlier point in the evening!

Summer berry cocktails (prosecco, lemongrass and melon vodka, raspberries)

We made our way through 2 cocktails each complete with juicy banter before heading to the table for our starter; courgette and coriander fritters with garlic yogurt.

I have made these little guys a number of times before (usually as a side dish) and are a family favourite originated by mama.  Similar to my post in 2007 the main difference in this batch is replacing the flour with panko crumbs, skipping the mint and spring onions, and replacing the feta with shaved parmesan reggiano.

Moving on to the main event, I made a new favourite addition to my summer repertoire, grilled peach and goats cheese salad. Inspired by my trip to Georgia (US) back in May, I brushed fresh peach halves with olive oil and balsamic, and put them under the grill to soften and cook.  Once cool I diced them into large pieces and tossed them with baby spinach, chopped mint and basil, goats cheese, and the juice of 1 lime.  In my original (non veggie) version I also add some crisped prosciutto.

Cauliflower, spinach and pea macaroni cheese with grilled peach and goats cheese salad

My hardest decision was picking out a vegetarian main course. I wanted to be able to make it the day before, ensure it went with other dishes, and was both simple but an interesting combination of flavours. After way more research than I care to admit (think hours) I landed on this cauliflower, spinach and pea macaroni cheese.  Using a Heston Blumenthal at Home recipe for initial inspiration I found myself straying somewhat from what was preached. I didn't faff about with the sodium citrate (oh-so-heston!) and made my own cheese combination going heavier on the gruyere and slightly less on the parm. I also used a bit more cauliflower than he recommends and would even do more so next time around.  Also, because I like a little colour and thought I'd add a little bit of nutrition to the carb-dairy overload that I was creating, I added in frozen spinach (defrosted and excess water removed) and fresh baby peas.

After a small hiatus and a fair share of bubbles it was time for dessert.  This is what I was looking forward to most - a strawberry and pistachio semifreddo (this time recipe followed to the T), adorned with blackberries hand picked from JF's garden.

Strawberry and pistachio semifreddo

I'd never made semifreddo before so there were no promises on taste and had prepped the guests for disaster ahead of time.  But ooohlala! Not only was it pretty-in-pink but there was a philosophical debate on the pistachio versus strawberry side.  Which as better? And well - with the voting split equally down the middle at 2-2 I'd say that the best version was when both were eaten together.

Never one to send friends home hungry, I managed one more round before my guests rolled themselves into their transport of choice (train, tube, taxi respectively).  4 fresh mint teas served with some lime, cornmeal and apricot biscuits baked up earlier that day in a "just in case they are still hungry after 45 tons of cheese" panic.  Overkill? Possibly. But then again, there's always room for just one biscuit.

Woman VERSUS Fruit

It's been two months.  TWO MONTHS.  Shocking really.  The longest span of blog vacation in my 6 years of writing. No excuses.  To be honest I've just been a bit lame, choosing other activities (summer lurgy, glastonbury festival, tanzania, US roadtrip, applying for British citizenship) over spending time with you my sweet blog.  For this I am sorry. But enough of this dilly-dallying, let's get on with the show.

Right, so what's been happening? Well, the big news (if you haven't already noticed) is that it's July and for those of you in London... after 6 years of waiting, summer has finally arrived! Now, after moaning about the lack of summer for donkeys years, I feel it's wrong to complain about the heat....so I won't. But what I WILL mention is that just like being unable to manage 2 inches of snow in winter, London simply can't handle anything over 80 F either. I have facts and figures to support this but if you doubt I just suggest taking public transport. It's appalling. The only saving grace are local authorities having managed to increase the number of ice cream displays around most shops. Hurrah!

So what's been taking up my time of late in the kitchen? Well, more fruit than you can shake a stick at. Easily a month's supply if not more. How did I come across so much of it you ask? Well, at a work raffle (naturally).

One of the perks of working where I do is we have an in-house canteen with complimentary lunch. Sometimes the chefs have their providers set up little tables where we can sample new breads, olives, cheeses, etc. One day, the week before last, there was one set up with fresh fruit smoothies and "local" British strawberries.  Propped up on the side of the display was a massive fruit basket (apparently retailing for £70).  Next to it was a little clipboard with the question "how far away were these local strawberries grown?"

Now I could have hemmed and hawed and analysed and deduced but in the end I went with a number that had just been given to me along with some bad news.  My mind was distracted and swimming around in it, so without thinking I just wrote that specific number down.  Low and behold a few hours later I received an email telling me I'd won! I'd like to think that was the Universe's little way of trying to cheer me up. Her cuddle came in the form of a fruit basket.

Photo not to scale.
See 4 bananas? There are 8.
See the top of a pineapple? Yep, there's a whole massive layer under there.

Someone likes a sense of order with her fruit. OCD much?

So what to do? Naturally all my co-workers offered to take some.  But we all know I'm a greedy little girl.  I love fruit. And a challenge. Could I possibly consume all of it? What would it mean to go from  "five a day" to "thirty-five a day"? Don't worry, there haven't been any "unfortunate" side affects.

So how did I make best use out of everything? Well to start I dusted off the never used blender attachment that came with my food processor purchased 6+ years ago and got smoothie making.  Here are a few of my favourites:

Banana, cinnamon, non-fat vanilla yogurt and better'n peanut butter smoothie

Banana, kiwi and blueberry smoothie

Pineapple, kiwi, blueberry and ginger smoothie

So with smoothies under my belt I felt like I'd made a dent in things, but still, I had about 75% of the fruit to work through, so what was next?

Well hidden below all of the beautiful tropical fruit (things like dragonfruit, mangosteen, mango, starfuit, papayas etc. which I ate unadulterated on their own) were about 14 apples, some oranges and some miscellaneous stone fruit.  I must have managed to eat about 4-5 apples throughout the week but the rest made their way into a big pot with some OJ and cinnamon and turned into some chunky apple sauce which I've been eating all week long and in fact just polished off the last of this morning.  There is something really satisfying and old school about apple sauce.  Never something I think of making, it reminds me of elementary school and my grandma all at the same time.

I am a messy applesauce maker. Note: I am a messy EVERYTHING maker

Shall I continue? Well, yes - seeing as you can't really say no anyway. :-)

So, as I mentioned it's been a balmy week and a half and I've been loving the weather in London.  And what time is it when London and summer finally meet? Well, Pimms o'clock of course!

I've managed two good goes with my Pimms and Lemonade so far.  The first was in the early days of my fruit basket when there were still strawberries and oranges and those "typical" Pimm's accoutrements.  A week on and with GT and SA popping by for a cheeky one on Monday night after work I had to get creative.  This time it was Pimms with red currents, kumquats and blueberries! Oh yes, and a Prosecco topper since the girls brought a bottle over and we know it's rude not to dip into the bubbles when they are already chilled.

Cheers!

Right, moving right along.  Not to fret, my tale is shortly coming to an end.   I still had a whole tupperware full of stone fruit such as apricots, plums, peaches and nectarines.  Oh yes, and two little pears that didn't ever really have a home but were kindly taken in by the Stone family.  With these I managed a rustic stone fruit and pear tart.  The pastry is made with flour and cornmeal and has a great texture to perfectly hold the juice of the fruit.  I gave half the tart away to RL but managed to eat the entire other half in 48 hours. Nice right?

Rustic fruit tart complete with peaches, apricots, plums, nectarines and a partridge in a pear tree. Ok, no partridge.

So now that I'm a week and a half in, what's left? Well not much I must admit. I've 2 passionfruits and a massive pomegranate that I've been saving and will be eaten tonight for dessert.

The only other thing left to conquer? 4 overripe bananas that need to be either used or binned. Naturally there is only one option here and I've decided to close out my Woman VERSUS Fruit challenge with a real doozy. One that's going to get people into two very distinct love it or (more likely) hate it camps.

Ready for it?

Peanut butter and banana bacon bread. Oooh lala.  I shall bake and report back.  In the meantime, if it wasn't already obvious...drum roll please...

Dana: 1
Fruitbasket: 0

(virtual fist pumping)

Hurrah!!

Third Bakeroo

chocolate kranz cake, pre-wrapping

nooks and crannies

I am currently sat at home with some freshly brewed Dunkin Donuts in hand. It's the Sunday of a long Bank holiday weekend and it's meant to be summertime weather today (in London that means a whopping 65 degrees - although this doesn't preclude the locals from whipping on their teeny and tiniest finest).  

But for me it means - capris! And possibly flip flops!! Oooh I know, such a risk taker aren't I?

But before my exposed tootsies go galavanting across East London for a lovely long walk and pub lunch I thought I'd quickly update you on last weekend's third bake I mentioned.

By now it's obvious to those who know me well that I will forever have an unrequited love affair with all things Yottam Ottolenghi.  Needing to be baked over two days I took on the challenge of his chocolate kranz cake, adapted from Jerusalem: A Cookbook by Yottam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi.  I omitted the lemon, added cinnamon to the chocolate, and to one of the cakes added plump dried sour cherries.  I also found the baking time quite temperamental.  The first cake baked at the recommended time of 30 minutes was arguably overdone a bit.  Second one in the oven was reduced to 20 minutes and was baked through perfectly.  

Also, I'd just like to say that the recipe required (as you would expect) a standing mixture with dough hook attachment.  Cognisant that I've needed to buy one for years but can't seem to find the countertop space, I kneaded the dough by hand.  I felt my throbbing shoulder and back muscles for about 2 days after.  I kid knot. (HA)! Bad joke of the day - check!

I also used the leftover scraps of dough to mock up a few small chocolate kranz "buns" (waste not want not people) and put the dough into small silicone muffin tins to rise and bake.   A perfect little mini-snack if you don't fancy breaking into the beautiful loaf.

Basically a chocolate babka, I'd liken the chocolate kranz cake more to a chocolate bread than cake, but still quite lovely with tea or coffee.

How Dana got her bake back

The first quarter of 2013 wasn't - let's say - the highlight of the past few years.  Challenging for many reasons, it's meant in part that consciously or not I've not been baking like I used to.  With the start of April and the beginning of spring I am pushing myself out from the cold winter blues and trying to just get on with some good stuff.

Last weekend was a cathartic start and realisation of this.  While limiting my typical over-planning (I only had 3 sets of plans as opposed to blocking out most of my days and evenings as per normal) I had the most productive weekend I've had in a while.  It's amazing - getting ones hands on some nice (dough) balls can make you feel like you've conquered the world.

RUDE. I know where your filthy mind just went.

So while I tidied away all of my bank statements / work / stock / insurance papers and started my spring clean* I also managed to bake 2 of the 3 items on my baking to-do list.  The only reason I didn't make the 3rd? Well, something for you to look forward to next week when I write it up.  Also, the recipe says it takes about 24 hours from start to finish - I'm about halfway through and shall report back in due course. Not a low maintenence one, this third bakeroo.

So what did I crank out? One savoury and one sweet.  My favourite? And the winner if I need to pick - the savoury.  But I'll leave it to you to decide.  Truth be told I ate them both all weekend long.  Only managed to scrape together a few leftover crumbs for my co-workers on Monday.

So yes, I was a glutton, a piggie, cochon. Oinker if you will.  Baking 2 different treats and scarfing most down all on my own.  To that I have 3 replies:

1.  I packaged up some of the baked goods to give away to the friends I saw last weekend. Ok, I forgot them on my counter and didn't realise until I saw them upon returning home, but I still get credit don't I??

Fine, be like that.

2. And well, I did also manage to toss together a "mango slaw" which was a healthy combination of mango, cabbage, carrots, beets, cilantro, mint and vinaigrette - so that neutralises the butter + sugar + bacon + caramel + chocolate + blue cheese right?

3. Ok, for real.  I DID manage 2 runs and a third cardio workout, each with an additional 15 minutes of weight bearing exercise.

Righty-o now on to the good stuffaroo - what did I bake?

First out of the oven was a bacon, blue cheese, garlic, ranch "pull-apart" bread.

Inspired by a recipe I saw online I quickly kneaded up some pizza-dough. Once proofed and ready to go I rolled it out in a long rectangle, like so:

The foodie equivalent of rolling out the red carpet

Onto the dough I slathered ranch dressing, blue cheese, crispy bacon, chopped scallions and ridiculous amounts of blanched garlic.  Once laid out, I cut out little squares from the rectangle and stacked them right on top of each other, before flipping it on it's side and putting it in a loaf pan to bake. Voila:

The result? An insanely addictive savoury bread stuffed to the gills with lots of delicious naughtiness and par-fay for sharing as you just pull it apart piece by piece.

Please note I did very little sharing.

The best crispy outer bits

Right, well liking to balance things out fairly, I knew my savoury bread fancied a pas de deux with a sweet partner in crime. I pulled up one of my favourite food blogs, David Lebovitz, and found his recipe for peanut butter and salted peanut caramel cookies.  Well HELLO SAILOR was my reaction when I saw them.

Not completely done, somehow there's already one missing.  Can't imagine how that happened.

Basically a straight up peanut butter cookie, you make caramel sauce and then stir in salted chopped peanuts.  Once the cookies are baked and cooled you spoon the caramel into your "thumb print" hole in the middle of the cookie.

The chocolate on top is meant to be "optional" but it's like saying you want the burger without fries or the Herve Leger dress without the 30% discount.  Some "options" aren't really options at all.

I am officially branding myself the Jackson Pollock of cookie making. Spread the word.

* My spring clean usually starts late winter and finishes by mid-summer.  It's a rather thorough and laborious exercise of going through all of my crap and making piles and more piles and then because I don't have enough, more piles.  My current piles include:

1. Winter clothes to be dry cleaned
2. Charity shop shmatas (broken down into clothing type - so about 5 different piles here)
3. Sell on ebay / at Bang Bang stuff (same sub-piles as the shmatas)
4. Winter clothes I'm keeping (same sub-piles - you get the picture here)
5. STUFF that I don't wear or want but has nostalgic value and want to keep (HOARDER)

East-Over

The recent influx of biting winds and snow ridden days seem to be nearly gone for good.  Rightly so considering it's mid-April and the last time I saw the sun was back in 2012 when I picked up a drawing made by my friend's 3 year old. Remember that big yellow crayola circle with the lines coming out of it? Yeah, that's what I remember of the sun too.

But with the turning of the seasons we always get those springy-est of holidays, Passover and Easter.  Complete with lots of greenery, fresh foods, and of course massive amounts of chocolate eggs. I believe the egg bit technically doesn't sit with either of the holidays but somehow has ended up as Easter's raison d'etre (well at least for those non-practicing Christian and Jews I know). As far as my extensive research goes there appear to be no citations of the Easter bunny or little marshmallow chicks peeping around during Jesus's time. I do wish someone could prove me wrong here.

During the East-Over break I had the added pleasure of a last-minute visit from Mama Cupcakes. Needless to say our daily schedule revolved around where our next meal might be coming from and debating the best places to get cake in London.  This alternated with visits to Paul Young's Chocolate shop in Soho where we visited almost daily.  Delicious, the choccies in this shop are made of fun and unusual flavours.  Marmite or PB&J anyone?  He also sells a chocolate brownie with caramelised pecans that even Mama swooned over, even if it WAS a "store bought one"which is not something we typically go for. For those of you thinking you might go pick one up, be warned that at only 3 x 3 inches it's nearly £5, but it's also pretty amazeballs.

We certainly didn't stick to the Passover menu of no leavened products (our week included lunch at the Ivy for our favourite salmon fish cakes and complimentary bread basket). We also made an impromptu 48 hour trip to Venice where we scarfed down spaghetti with clams, Prosecco, gelato and an assortment of chicheti. All whilst fighting a constant internal battle, "must not buy the gorgeous _____" (frock, jacket, necklace, bag).  You can imagine how this turned out. Let's just say I need to work on my willpower.

All of that aside, the night Mama arrived I thought I'd try for a little Passover "tradition" and after whipping up some haroset I also managed a spinach and feta matzo pie.  It was a surprise but it was quite tasteriffic and (shock!) possibly a Passover recipe I could arguably make year round.

The recipe served 8 and with Mama and I eating it for two nights, I decided to freeze the second half.  Of course I was a little concerned. I mean really, has anyone frozen matzo before? Probably - but it just sounds wrong.

Anyway, low and behold I've been enjoying it defrosted from frozen even MORE than I did when it was fresh from the oven.  Who knew matzo could be such a dark horse?

Adapted from http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spinach-and-Matzoh-Pie-242019
I substituted skim milk for the whole milk and added a fair bit of garlic.

Happy to report that we also stuck to some secular Easter traditions.  Mama made her way to Leonidas Chocolates after Easter Sunday in order to buy two large chocolate stuffed Easter eggs.  50% off naturally.

Whiskey Mama

The Nickname.  A source of tears, laughs, endearment and love, depending on the age, context and delivery.  I've certainly had my fair share of good and bad.  Some of best (and least) favourites?

• Spaz - as a small child by ever adoring (not) older siblings
• TTD (Too Tall Dana) - being 5'7'' when you're 11 and being your full height of 5'9'' by age 13 doesn't help
• Bunny Rabbit - Mom's term of endearment. She still uses it (which I love)
• Dane (no, there was no GREAT before it) / Daners - What all of my closest friends from Rochester / Accenture call me
• Candi / Cupcakes / Candi Cupcakes - My moniker since starting with the Discob*tches back in 2009.  I'm pretty sure some of these friends don't actually know my real first name
• Princess - I've not yet decided if this is a term of endearment or a reflection on my affection for sparkly things.  Either way, it works

There are many more of course.  The traumatic bullying one from 6th grade (that's not getting posted here) and many more loving ones that shall remain tucked away in that special place that makes me smile.

But let's get to the point here shall we?  

There was one that while short lived, is one of my all-time favourites. A combination of "bad ass" and silly. 

I'd like to introduce you to..."WHISKEY MAMA"

Picture it, 1995-1996, I'm a wee innocent one attending her freshman year at the University of Rochester.  Not having drunk in high-school, I jumped into the pastime with wanton abandon (note, I still made Dean's List both semesters...being a multitasking pro and all).

My vague recollections of the nickname revolve around a group of us girls hanging out in Goldfinger's dorm room and sitting in a circle taking shots of whiskey (listening to Dave Matthews, naturally). I have no recollection of what kind of whiskey it was, only that it was in a supersized plastic bottle and probably purchased at the likes of COSTCO with someone's fake ID (classy, right)?

Somehow in that instant, on that night, I was the ultimate (bad) whiskey drinker.  While the rest of the group started mixing it with coke and/or making horrible "this shit is going to make me totally sick" comments, I kept going...shot after shot...and apparently proclaimed that I loved it.  For whatever reason, that night, Whiskey Mama was born.

I started out this tale with the fact that the nickname was short lived because well - I'm pretty sure I didn't drink whiskey again for the rest of my time at Rochester (yes, the hangover was that bad).  Thing is, even as a "proper grown up" I've never really liked it - even the fancy shmancy ones and/or whiskey cocktails never had much appeal.  I mean, really - when I've attempted these in the past 10 years more or less I always thought I was drinking medicine and burning myself from the inside out.  

No thank you very much, thank you no. 

So it was with a bit of trepidation that I went to a 90 minute whiskey tasting class this week.  I'm always a big fan of "events" for presents, so it wasn't too difficult when thinking of Christmas presents for M.  He likes whiskey, I'd like to LIKE whiskey so why not?  Off I booked two spots to a tasting event put on by Dramatic Whiskey.  They do events all over the country but I booked us into one at the Liberty Lounge in the East End.

The original meaning of "on the rocks"

So how was it? Informative? Somewhat.  Fun? Most definitely.  All in all we tasted 6 different whiskeys, single and double malt, with peat (tasted like smoke and bandaids) and without (still burned but much more enjoyable).

At the beginning of the night I gave M the task of "remembering everything I actually like because I'm never going to remember."  We haven't powwowed and discussed since then so I can't report back which I liked, but I can say that there were at least two that were quite tasty (even if they also burned going down - but sort of in a "being warmed by the fire cozykins" sort of way).  

Do I think I'll be reviving the Whiskey Mama name anytime soon?  Probably not.  However, with a bit more practice at the whiskey drinking perhaps I could work towards "Whiskey Princess?"  

I think it has a nice little ring to it, don't you?

In memory

Sorry for the delay folks.

January 2013 was the first month since starting my blog back in 2007 where I didn't have any entries.  (Ahem, of course you noticed).

I get so much joy from eating, cooking, reading about food - and clearly writing about it too.  The reality is that even if I only have on average 1-2 entries per month, there's always a backlog of little snippets, stories and recipes that I think of sharing but never find time to.  I know, I know - more is usually better right?  Well certainly when it involves spilling 2/3 a bottle of maple syrup on my Egyptian cotton sheets (not an inappropriate X-rated story, more one of me being greedy in bed with pancakes thank you very much) or perhaps more recipes from my recent adventures in the kitchen (crispy chilli asian inspired pork belly or pastry cream filled donuts anyone)?

The reality is that I don't write more simply because well...I'm living life. Now of course, there's a part of this basic "living" that's a bit tedious.  Last week's examples might be numerous stupidly early mornings in the office or perhaps a plumber finding what appears to be 6 years worth of lint tucked away in the washing machine filter.  Pretty it was not.  However, the reality is that there's a lot of good and a fair share of great happening as well.  Blessed with some of the most wonderful friends a girl could ever ask for and a great family - that even spread across the globe tries to connect as money, time, and space best allows.  Most recently there was a planned trip in December with time spent chatting (and of course eating) with the 5 Shinnicks, Mama Cupcakes and Papa (cupcakes) Bear.

Which brings me to the point of my non-food related ramblings...

The reason it's so important to live, play, enjoy your work? You never know when something is going to happen that will to knock you flat on your ass.

For me it was Papa Bear (aka Daddy) passing away on January 18th.  I'm not going to get started on the "what it feels like" crap. It's emotional and physical and hits you at both expected and unexpected moments. Breathing is hard and there's a numbness that sticks with you.  But that said and done, let me try, at least in this forum for a few minutes to move on to sweeter notes.

I thought that in small tribute  I might cook up some of his favourite foods. But in doing a little bit of research (double checking with mom) she reminded me that while he did have some distinct likes, he could also be a bit fickle (e.g. I do remember many an occasion growing up with mom making something for dinner and Dad all but licking his plate, only to have it served to him a few weeks later to an "eh, that's just ok" response.  Not clocking he'd loved it a few weeks before).

He loved traditional Jewish foods, chopped liver and brisket, knishes and kugel. Never said no to a thick soup ala split pea, and couldn't get enough chinese food - be it Marlborough's Royal Mandarin in the '80s or Framingham's Uncle Cheungs in the '90s.  The last time visiting with him I picked up some General Tsao's chicken.  A small debate over brown or white rice, and then agreement with me that the brown was as good when doused in duck sauce.

All of that said, you couldn't even mention "beet" near him, he hated them in every way shape and form. I can only equate it to my relationship with bell peppers and yellow mustard.  Essentially I'd rather poke my eyes out with raw onions than eat these items.  Dad felt the same way about beets. He never could get his head around some oatmeal chocolate beet cookies I made last year - "disgusting" he kept saying when I told him about it...which of course made both of us laugh.

Which reminds me of another little side story...

Growing up, mom did 99.23% of the cooking.  I have vague recollections of him sometimes whipping up breakfasts at the weekend and mom says he made a french onion soup, including the stock, by scratch.  But there's one food related memory that I'll never forget and that was a particularly special lunch he made for me.

It must have been the weekend and with Mom off somewhere Dad decided he could manage lunch for us kids. Placed in front of me moments later a good ol' early '80s bologna sandwich (who didn't love that Oscar Meyer song)? One bite and the next thing I knew I was barfing* my morning's breakfast up.

Dad had slathered yellow mustard onto the Wonder Bread.  Rookie mistake with 6 year-old Dana.  He learned the hard way...but next time there was mayo there instead.

Daddy wasn't ready to leave us.  Even with his personal struggles he was a fighter and none of us expected him to leave so soon.  One of the greatest gifts he gave me was the belief in living life and enjoying it as best you can.  Squeezing out as many good memories and experiences as possible.  So for him that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Just without a side of yellow mustard.

loved and never forgotten 

* I remember being in second grade and being asked by the teacher if anyone knew a "grown up word for throwing up" (aka vomiting)  Always the super nerd, I raised my hand only to shout out with full confidence "barfing".  Not exactly what she was after.  I blame the influence of older siblings.