A simple supper for a girl with a cold…

A simple supper for a girl with a cold…

Nothing elaborate today, my Bubs have shared their cold with me, and to be honest I am struggling to taste anything and am looking forward to my bed.

A quick scout of the fridge and freezer unearthed some leftover chorizo, a few wilting spring onions, some lovely peppery rocket and a few tiny tender scallops.

It’s a long time since I last ate fried bread, but when done well it is a true joy. A splash of garlic oil and a slightly stale slice of white resulted in a tasty treat, a salad of rocket and parsley would not normally spring to mind, but was a success, and I could taste it. Topped with good oil and balsamic I felt like a good girl for getting some much needed vitamins.

A flash in a hot pan for some sliced chorizo, a tiny bit of chilli and the sliced spring onions, gave a punchy hit, topped with juicy scallops for texture…a squeeze of lemon and my tasty treat was complete…..it took all of 5 minutes, they 5 minutes well spent.

Sweet Dreams

Sky @ http://www.thesideplate.com

Give me some mussel…

Give me some mussel…

What a day, the sunshine brought hope. My beautiful, but fierce daughter brought force a storm; a torrent of lava and upset…. it has passed now but drained a lot of energy. My enigma boy was happy enough, especially when we almost produced real lava with bicarb, vinegar and a model volcano. Then something happened, he forgot to save a computer programme and his world of Aspergers collapsed beyond measure. A favourite pizza refused, not even a crème egg could tempt him…Chloe happily devoured a freddo and cheese and ham toasties…fine until the next saga. (She had grapes and carrot too; I’m not a totally terrible Mother lol)

I have dished out love and hugs, I have tried my best to explain the world, I have coloured pictures, I sadly ended up shouting…’My Bad’ as the kids say…but how far are we pushed as a parent before the Temper frays? I can honestly say I shall never understand how someone can physically harm a child no matter how wrong the day goes.

I bundled them into the car and we had a little quiet time, I stopped for Mussels, French bread, parsley…I have chorizo, garlic and wine in the fridge. It will be a quiet reward for my testing day. My easy, but soul restoring supper.

Nearly bath time and bed..YAY

Love from a very Knackered Sky @ http://www.thesideplate.com

Gather every chair you have..and then some…

The best meals involve gathering every chair you have and then some….

Life has been a little rocky, for lots of reasons. And surely the best antidote to this is a feast?

It wasn’t grand. Hard-boiled eggs, bowls of crisps, cheese, salad, a fresh baked loaf, hot sausages, cold roast chicken, olives and dips…. a little wine, some fizzy pop..Scones and jam and cream….and most importantly…5 people I love.

A meal is not just about the food, the company is just as important. It seems the surrounding don matter either.

Being squashed around a noisy table with friends and family..Surely that is the best recipe you are ever going to get?

The chairs might not match. The napkins were kitchen roll….there was a bit of competitive pickled onion eating with the boys’ lol. It was wonderful….

If you are ever passing, pull up a chair…there is always room for one more.

Kindest regards

Sky and family @ http://www.thesideplate.com

Valentines Day is fast approaching…What to cook?

Valentines Day is fast approaching…

Now I’m a bit of a grump on Valentines Day I will be honest. Not because I don’t have a boyfriend..I do. Honest. But I think its commercialism has kind of ruined it. When you walk into a supermarket overrun with heart shaped cushions and cheap roses, well I kind of think it loses it touch…but obviously millions disagree.

So for my love and I, we will honour the tradition with a good dinner…because any excuse to celebrate round my table is always welcome. (Note to my Love…please bring wine.)

The dilemma of what to cook..

Should I go twee with a pink shrimp cocktail, a champagne risotto, and heart shaped chocolate cakes?

I could go sinister with cured spicy sausages, casserole of heart and devils food cake, however I would quite like him to stay in my life not run screaming from the kitchen.

I think I will play it safe…. He is a keeper after all, and go for the most romantic style of eating I can think of. Sharing food, a plate of steaming mussels cooked in white wine and garlic, followed by tiny bowls of olives, chorizo, fresh baked bread, new potatoes and homemade mayonnaise. Will we want pudding after that? Well there’s always room for pudding isn’t there? Maybe just a little chocolate mousse laced with brandy. It is a celebration after all 😀

Happy eating and thanks for reading

Love Sky @ http://www.thesideplate.com

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A Famous Five tea…

A Famous Five Tea…

Friday afternoon, and after the first week back at school and work, I think I can safely save we are all feeling knackered (if that’s not too impolite :s). I truly cannot be bothered cooking, but obviously we need something to sustain us through our movie night.

What could be better than a “famous five tea”?

In our house this consists of triangle sandwiches, an assortment of beef, peanut butter and nutella..Not all one sandwich I hope you understand! Sausage rolls, hard boiled eggs, a token apple or two, and cakes made by my daughter…because she watched junior bake off last night and is now practising for “when she is bigger” bless her heart.

It will be eaten on a rug in the lounge…(possibly out of the old picnic hamper that has never been on an actual outdoor picnic as its too big and heavy to carry). Drinks shall be consumed through paper straws, although it may be apple juice for the children.
I shall be enjoying lashings of Fentimans ginger beer!

Happy Friday and thanks for reading..

Sky @ thesideplate.com

FAMOUS FIVE

I need your help with…banana cake

I have a lot of recipes…I have created a lot of recipes..yet still I do not have a good use for my over ripe bananas.

can any of you lovely people please send me your banana cake recipes??? Please…xx

love Sky .whose has six bananas that need help lol xx

 

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No more boring cheese on toast at www.thesideplate.com

It has been a delicious but heavy week at the side plate office. I have eaten well, very well. So I decided to have something quick and simple for lunch today.

Cheese on toast. Ah, but I couldn’t just make cheese on toast could I, it would have been a bit of an anticlimax after the foodie food I have eaten this week. And there happened to be a box of curry powder by the grill, a bit of mango chutney in the fridge, and it had been quiet a good week for the hens this week, so we had a bowl of fresh eggs too….

 

So my simple slice of white and two cheese slices were transformed into something magical.

And it took 5 minutes.

The recipe is below, try it out and let me know.

Thanks for reading, Sky x

www.thesideplate.com

1 Slice of soft white bread

2 slices of jarlesburg cheese…or whatever you have in

A splash of olive oil

A pinch of mild curry powder

Couple of drops of water, cider or beer

A big dollop of mango chutney

A free-range egg.

 

 

Heat the grill and toast one side of the bread.

Turn the bread over and top the untoasted side with the two slices of cheese so that the bread is covered. Grill until it just starts to bubble.

Remove from grill and add small dollops of your mango chutney. Place back under grill until cooked how you like it. Remove from grill.

 

Heat a small frying pan and place the oil and curry powder into it. Give it a good stir and leave for about 30 seconds, then add a splash of water. Stir and give it about another 30 seconds.

 

Crack your egg into the pan and cook.

I cook mine on one side until the bottom is set then flip it over and cook the other side…. but that’s just the way I do it.

 

Liberate the egg from the pan and introduce it to its new home on top of the toast.

Enjoy.

 

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christmas chutney sort of

I shall be honest I don’t know the technical definition of chutney. In my head it is something that can be eaten with fresh crusty bread, a piece of cheese or leftover roast, at my mothers it was only called pickle.

I have not made a keeper here I have simply used what was in my kitchen to spice up a bit of gammon. Its not exact but if you feel like a bit of alchemy in the fruit department…please let me know how it went.

A large onion, roughly chopped

A splash of olive oil

2 tsp vinegar

7 plums, stoned and chopped, each one into about eight pieces,

1 tsp coriander seeds

1 tsp ground allspice

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

45g of fresh cranberries

200ml red wine

100g sugar

couple of twists of black pepper.

 

Put in a pan and stir

Bring to a slow bubble, stirring every now and then,

Don’t be alarmed when the cranberries pop.

After an hour it should be ready…if you are going to eat in the next few days, put it in a dish in the fridge, if you want to keep it you are going to have start sterilising jars.

 

Enjoy…. and let me know 😀