Are you a fiddler? Because I definitely am. No, I’m not coming clean about my ADD or professing some kind of musical gift, rather I’m talking about recipe fiddling. That insatiable urge to tamper, alter or tweak a new recipe into submission, before you’ve even got a chance to know each other. I hear that there are people out there who don’t do this. Have read that some cooks like to make a dish as written, particularly on a first attempt. Are you one of these people? If so, please speak up, because I’m longing to know how on earth you do it. Read more…
Posted in Curry on March 10th, 2010 by Ele | 3 comments
Tags: brussels sprouts, cannellini beans, coconut milk, cumin, Curry, lemon
Nope, the assortment of produce above wasn’t purchased by me. This is the second week in a row that I haven’t been able to get to the market, and I’m starting to feel the pangs of withdrawal. This time, it was work; I don’t generally do Sundays but was called upon this week. Luckily Andrew went to the market in my stead, following my shopping list (lower left) to the letter. Read more…
Posted in Farmer's Market on March 8th, 2010 by Ele | 3 comments
Tags: links, shopping, vegetables
In my experience, there are two kinds of people: the shedders and the hoarders. Shedders like to live simply and modestly. Too many possessions weigh them down, and spring cleaning is like Christmas come early to them. Hoarders, on the other hand like to be prepared, and can often be heard uttering the phrase “But I might need this some day”. Read more…
Posted in Sweet on March 6th, 2010 by Ele | 3 comments
Tags: chocolate, cookies, cut-out, economy, sea salt, toffee
Let’s face it: there are not that many ways to make a veggie side interesting. One of the reasons I tend to be a one-dish-meal kind of girl (you know, besides being lazy) is the tricky matter of making a great side dish. Not only does it have to be interesting on its own, but it must also complement whatever the main dish is: a tall order for some humble veggies, no? Read more…
Posted in Side on March 3rd, 2010 by Ele | 7 comments
Tags: breadcrumbs, cashews, nuts, pangrattato, roast, vegetables
February was month which brought both good and bad for the Kitchenist Network. I’ve been taking a blogging course (don’t laugh, it’s been awesome) which has provided me with ideas and inspiration for my blogs. Ironically, it’s also been taking my time away from blogging. Throw a new job into the equation, and posting overall has been light. Still, there was some posting going on, so here’s what I got up to in February. Read more…
Posted in Other on March 1st, 2010 by Ele | Comments Off
Tags: round-up
I didn’t make it to the market yesterday, but luckily I’m not veg-less today. My village has a fantastic farm shop that, while I don’t exactly frequent, I definitely make use of when in a pinch. Though I have to be careful about some origins (those oranges along the wall, for instance- I’m not sure they’re exactly local), the produce is fresh and plentiful and delicious. Read more…
Posted in Farmer's Market on March 1st, 2010 by Ele | 2 comments
Tags: farm shop, links, recipes, shopping, vegetables
Several years ago, I went on holiday with my family to the furthest reaches of Cornwall. We stayed in a 200-year-old farmhouse just steps from the sea, rode around on open-topped buses, trekked the coastal path for hours on end, and discovered cultural and archaeological gems at every turn. What else? Oh yeah- we ate. Read more…
Posted in Snacks on February 25th, 2010 by Ele | 6 comments
Tags: Cornwall, curried, Curry, parsnips, pasties, pastry, pasty, potatoes
Perhaps working with food is putting me off actually buying it. Or writing about it. (So far, it’s not put me off eating it.) Or perhaps yesterday was just one of “those days”, when the market’s wares were less than inspiring, and I was less than thrilled with the prospect of my usual shopping/posting/cooking schedule. Read more…
Posted in Farmer's Market on February 22nd, 2010 by Ele | 2 comments
Tags: links, vegetables
Some flavours just seem to go together, to the point where they’ve become almost married in our minds, and it seems odd to have one without the other. Beetroot and goat’s cheese, butternut squash and sage, basil and tomato, salt and pepper. Ok, that last example might be taking things a bit too far, but you get the picture- sometimes, ingredients just seem made for one another. Read more…
Posted in Soup on February 21st, 2010 by Ele | 5 comments
Tags: apple, celeriac, combination, flavour, purée, Soup
Two weekends ago, I was overcome by the sudden and previously foreign urge to make ketchup. I’m not sure exactly where it came from; it can’t have been the thought of barbecues and picnics, it being February. Or maybe it was- an effort to recapture a bit of summer amidst the cold and damp of winter? Whatever the reason, I had my weekend project, and set out on my first-ever preserving adventure. Read more…
Posted in Sauce on February 17th, 2010 by Ele | 8 comments
Tags: canning, condiment, ketchup, preserves, preserving
