I cook when I am happy…

Hello,

I’ve missed you…I’ve missed me too.

Life as been a bit crazy with too many stupid things. I now know I cook when I am happy…and struggle when I am not. We have been content with the humdrum..fishfingers..chicken…sausages…pizza…but no pushing of boundries…no getting my Bubs to taste spaghetti carbonara…chicken pie and minestone soup.

 

Food is a funny thing..If we can find the time and energy to create..sit at a table, eat and chat …then I think to world is a better place.

I am going to put the breadmaker on (not literally lol )…make cannelloni…and venture back into a wonderful world of delights…

 

keep smiling and thank you for reading

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

 

 

 

An accidental hummus….

I shall be honest, I have never been a great lover of hummus. I find it grainy and bland, and am never sure what to eat it with.
However last night and a failed, improvised recipe, I feel in love with it.

I had slow cooked some belly pork for a late supper, But as it is school holidays and I am avoiding shopping, I was at a bit of a loss at what to serve it with…we didn’t even have any salad in. (the young ones were already fed and I didn’t want anything heavy at 9pm :S ).

One of my favourite cookbooks is Leon book 2, Naturally fast food. I decided to try the Tuscan beans with sage.
It didn’t start well…mainly because I only had chickpeas, and I probably rushed it too.
The anchovies I had used were out of a jar and I was getting cross because they didn’t melt, just added bony spines to my dish. So in a tantrum, I stuck the lot in the blender and warmed up some pitta bread.

Well what can I say….an absolute triumph. If you are going to eat hummus I think you might as well make it.
It was tasty and cheap, and I believe healthy..Wow what more could we want.

Next time I shall prepare more and make the dish properly….but last night I was glad I failed..

amazon link for fab Leon cookbooks…I earn a few pennies if you choose to buy 🙂

http://leonrestaurants.co.uk/

Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
― Winston Churchill

Everything in moderation…including moderation…

I really must cut down…

Don’t panic I am not talking about eating…everything in moderation..including moderation is my motto.
I am referring to the amount of food I buy, and I am ashamed to say there is usually some waste each week. This has to stop.

I am in the process of producing a book on great food, no waste. However, I find because I am cooking and writing for other projects I tend to over buy. And spend a small fortune 😦
So next week I am going to cook only from my freezer. I am ditching the supermarket. I do not have a supermarket nearby so tend to bulk buy…but the cupboards, fridge and freezer are full. So it must stop.

I am lucky enough to have hens…and at the moment a crazy amount of eggs…so for breakfast, gone are the cereals and pain au chocolate….here is the new pancake, omelette, egg and soldiers breakfast menu. ( I am gonna have to drag my ass out of bed earlier lol).
We will be eating less bread..more rice,pasta and potatoes.

We will have puddings instead of suppertime biscuits…or homemade cookies like last night ..yum.

I will visit the farm shop for a little veg, fruit and milk. Obviously a wine shop for my treats :). there is a cheese shop not far that I have never been to.

I promise next week I shall be less lazy, and quite possibly healthier, and definitely richer.
Tonight I shall start by making my own Beef Cantonese with rice….no takeaway menu required 🙂

Happy Friday…and thank you so much for reading

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