29.4.08 but it came in a golden package

So I called Paul yesterday and asked him to bring home cookies on his way back from a meeting that I was missing. I've just had another one of them now - chocolate covered marshmallow biscuit things. Really crap. But the package was amazing, all gold foil and shiny red letters. I am such a sucker for that kind of kitch.

In other news, I don't remember a single vegetable crossing my lips today. Hm.

Oh, I had vitamin water with blueberries and pomegranate. That counts, right?

I had a cappuccino today, first one in a while. And some fair baklava. Muesli and milk. Coffee. Lemon water. Wood oven pizza...saved enough for tomorrow (pizza is the one and only absolutely okay leftover).

28.4.08 eating humble pie

Do you ever have one of those days...the ones that even food can't save.

Well, I almost had one today. It was only a near miss because I happened to make myself a delicious baked potato and fresh rocket and mixed greens salad for dinner. The baking potato warmed the house, the salad was a plateful of spring on a cold winter-can't-let-go day outside. Sometimes grace is a simple as butter melting down the side of a golden spud.

And there is chocolate in the fridge, so all is definitely not lost.

veggie count today: the salad counts for two, I bet. An orange. A juice drink. A banana. I made it. Whew.

25.4.08 Seven Stars of a Day at Play

Number One:
Cappuccino at Monmouth Coffee

Number Two:
Cheese tasting at Neal's Yard Dairy
ARDRAHAN
Made by Mary Burns near Kanturk, Co Cork, Ireland
TYPE OF CHEESE:
Washed Rind Cows Milk Cheese
RENNET:
Vegetable Rennet
MILK:
Pasteurised Cows Milk
DESCRIPTION:
Meaty, smoky, creamy, succulent milky-sweet cheeses. The interior has a freshness and moistness while the rind, which has been washed with salt water, is savoury and pungent.

Number Three:
Half a pint at the Seven Stars pub.

Number Four:
Free samples from an Italian Deli in the Leadenhall Markets.

Number Five:
Chocolate cake at "Paul" bakery.

Number Six:
Blueberries for a quid I didn't buy at the Borough Market (why not?!)



Number Seven:
Beautiful homemade tomato pasta sauce...at home.

22.4.08 food in the balance

First, I am wondering: if one puts some lime and fresh ginger in a delicate bone china cup with flowers painted on it and pours hot water from the (tea) kettle over it, is that tea?

That was my hot toddy of choice this evening, upon returning home to a pile of stale donuts after a fresh conversation with the Yorkshire poet Simon Armitage at the Royal Society for the Arts near the Embankment.

Today was another leftovers day! Can you believe it? I can't. I simply canNot. But, we bought some fresh, flat Turkish bread (a real neighborhood staple here in Hackney) and covered it in the black beans we made the other night, topped it with cheese and grilled it like a pizza. We served it to ourselves with fresh coriander on top and humous on the side, along with cauliflower and carrots and rocket as crudite and salad. I'm getting back on the 5-a-day bandwagon and toying around with raw foods. Some people swear by entire diets of raw food...I've always craved sushi in the morning.

I had an apple for breakfast and then later in the morning broke down and had some toast with peach jam (is that 1?) and honey and butter. Man, do I love butter.

Also today was another trip to Pret, our second in a week after not having gone there at all since we've been back. It's a bit tired, really. The sandwiches - a "slim pret" (1/2 a sandwich) of chicken and avocado for me tonight - feel fresh but lack flavor. Shame. Such a great concept.

So today for my Take Five:
apple
rocket
cauliflower
carrot

and
peach jam.

21.4.08 music good enough to eat

It's leftovers again. I know, I know. I said I didn't like them...but my budget does. Spent my money on a cappuccino today instead...

Meanwhile, here's some music to go with that Crystal Louisiana hot sauce:

20.4.08 still working off last week's joys

I'm still in a happy glow after a great evening at L'Epicerie last Thursday. And since there's only rice in the fridge, I will live in the past (but not in leftover land).

19.4.08 either too full or too empty

When other bloggers take a day or three off, I wonder where their commitment lies. I mean, honestly, how hard can it be to keep up a blog?
Um.

I have dropped the ball. Rather than gazing at my navel, a much-beloved sport of mine, about why I've fallen off the blogging track, I will stay focused on my belly and what goes in it.

It's been a fabulous few days in food for me. A couple of nights ago we were celebrating with some colleagues at L'Epicerie, my favorite deli on earth and just around the corner. Our staff and friends had the place to ourselves after hours. I didn't go outside to look, so happy was I with my shaved Italian and Spanish hams and smelly cheeses, but I know what it looked like anyway because I've seen these happy little occasions from the bus window and been jealous. Glowing shop windows, the place a warm beacon against not just the cold climate but the cold disconnection of the city; friends inside laughing and lifting their glasses to this shared joy or that fond memory. Sigh. And then it was me on the inside! Yippee! I'd do that every night of the week, if I could.

The next night I nearly did. We treated friends from Oz to home cooked bangers and mash; topped off with rhubarb from the garden in a crumble. Again the windows were aglow. Lovely.

And tonight, another meal cooked here for friends. A cuban theme since we found the Crystal sauce the other day. I think that was the last day I wrote. If I were to analyze my reasons for not posting, maybe I was just letting Crystal have the last word. Maybe.

Maybe I'm just dead tired from all the gorgeous food and friends. Yep, that's it. Good night and good food tomorrow!

16.4.08 number one leftovers rule

I've said here, there and everywhere that I don't like leftovers. I don't get them. I don't like them. Oddly, I have a tendency to save things anyway, as if one morning I will wake up a new and improved, leftover loving me.

Well, there is no eureka to report, but I did enjoy a dinner tonight of things that were in the fridge because I had already cooked them yesterday.

Number One rule of leftovers is reconstitution. If you make them into something else, it's just ingredients...

So I took the ingredients: cooked spagetti, cooked macaroni, roasted garlic, and beautiful Italian salami. I put brand new, fresh, never before cooked olive oil and tossed it all together in a nice clean pan.

Therefore, new dinner.
Delicious.

And a cappuccino in Victoria Park, earlier.

15 um 16.4.08 dinner party

It was so wonderful to be in the kitchen today, with time and space to create a dinner for friends. I got so excited I kind of overdid it. While Paul made a fantastic tomato sauce for pasta, with roasted peppers, lots of garlic and fresh basil, and some beautifully sauteed onions as the base, I made a salad. I think the combination was fun - mixed greens, rocket, toasted walnuts, bacon, and roquefort cheese with pomegranate seeds - but the dressing was a bit much with the flavors of the pasta sauce. I made a vinegar and olive oil base with lime juice, shallots, dried coriander and cumin. Great on its own, though, and colorful. I also attempted a pear tart. I made a crumble crust of flour, butter, and ground walnuts. I blind baked it, then sliced pears thin and poured a reduction of honey, lemon juice, brown sugar, vanilla essence and Grand Marnier over the top before the second bake. The crust was not all I had imagined - I think I was thinking of crushed biscuits but it was just floury. Should I have added an egg? Don't know. I just made it up. Thank God for cream over the top. And dark chocolate on the side.

We used every plate in the house, and they are in there now waiting for a wash. Not going to happen tonight. Er, this morning...

14.4.08 Crystal Clearly the Best

Shopping the local small supermarkets in this very multicultural neighborhood is usually a tour of the unknown - I'd say 90% of the things on the shelves I can't even pronounce let alone imagine what it goes with or tastes like. And I love that. It adds to life as an adventure.

It was fun to come across a little familiar territory today, though. At first I only saw the fake import version (how do they get away with mock branding?). But then, there it was, the familiar white and blue label on the distinctive bottle of bright red sauce. Crystal, all the way from down home, right there waiting for me. I've been waiting for it forever - last year living in Oz I couldn't find it and life was much less spicy.

Another day at home, recuperating. It was time to pay the tax man, too. Wow. I do know how to live.

If it wasn't for Crystal, life would be dull indeed.
Also, the same store sells Ben and Jerry's. Some New Yorker's swear by chicken soup to cure the common cold; I'd go for New York Superfudge Chunk any day.

13.4.08 No revenge with this Montezuma

Because I have been sick in bed with a cold, most of the day's food was thoroughly forgettable - things like chicken bouillon and tea.

There was a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast. Justification: I'm sick. Also, I followed it up with an orange, so it balances out healthy/not so healthy.
And half a brownie for afternoon tea. Justification: I'm sick. No counterbalance. I'm sick.

In addition to a nice salad and some pretty decent canned soup in a loving effort to make it all better, a friend also gave me some real powerful medicine: orange and geranium chocolate from Montezuma's.

I'm not well...but I'm happy.

12.4.08 would you like hail with your cheese?

The four food adventurers set off across Kensington Gardens armed to the teeth with treats from Whole Foods, making a beeline for one of the big brown benches installed under the disproportionately tiny shelters by the pond. Like seasoned explorers, they had sniffed out the hut and read the signs in the weather. Let others glibly rent a green and white striped deck chair...this group had a keen sixth sense for inclement danger. And also, the sun kept going behind giant black clouds and anyone could see the rain coming...

We were just opening the crinkly clear wrap on the silk white cone of goat's cheese when the hail started. It was difficult to restrain ourselves from sharing with the unwashed, but damp and pelted, masses who huddled up next to our bench, spread as it was with this cheese and other glories. But we managed. I might have been heard to tell some kids "don't even think about having a bite of this cookie." My warning was lost in translation, should have said "biscuit." My cookie remained mine to the last crumb. Nice chocolate chips, very buttery, but not quite enough salt to be perfect.

Lost track of my intention to keep note of food costs.
Maybe I will switch intentions to keep track of heavy, starchy foods. I could seriously stand to lighten up.
And today's cappuccino was oh so very ordinary.

11.4.08 cookies galore

Yes, it's as good as the James Bond reference that came to mind...

Nearly.
P indulged my cookie situation and then some today. I stayed home beavering away (one of the world's best sayings - ask a Canadian if you aren't familiar with the terminology) at our overdue writing project and he bought me several types of cookies, including the following, described on the packet as:

Born in the Tuscan countries Cantuccini are one of the most wellknown and appreciated Italian specialities. In Florence since 1929 we have been producing this exquisite cookies in the full respect of the old recipe. Excellent also with dessert wines, coffee, cappuccino, tea, ice-cream.

Do I need to say that a) I ate too many and b) all of the grammar and punctuation above is original to the packaging and unedited by me.

They were good cookies.

We just got home from dinner with friends - gorgeous homemade pizzas with a delicate hand-shaped wholemeal crust and a beautiful fresh salad.

I shouldn't have had so many cookies earlier...could have eaten more pizza, to be sure.

9.4.08 follow the brick lane

It doesn't have the same ring to it as "follow the yellow brick road," but I do like the feeling of slipping into another world that I get whenever we go to Brick Lane for Indian. Something about the guys in suits who try to lure you into their restaurant. Are you supposed to look at the ones you are rejecting, say thanks but no thanks or see you next time. What is the etiquette here?

Going to BL was a treat because we've been so busy with work deadlines that I haven't even had time to write. I'm sure there were cappuccino's involved over the last couple of days. Made myself one at home today...not my best effort. No pain au chocolat that I can recall. But tonight we came across a well-known and fab bagel place (why is it spelled beigel?) and bought some challah bread (why is it spelled chola?) Also, why was every other customer in the place, and there were many, a short, balding, scabby older man dressed in black? Cabbies?

Elseways today I did the fast food thing, but consoled myself that for morning tea I very self-righteously bought myself an apple from the corner shop. And ate it. And only one slice of toast for breakfast. So that's good. Coffee, hot water & lemon, the usual. No cookies today. None. Not a one. Hard to go on living, really.

7.4.08 was that cider or beer

We're making our way through the polish beers at the local corner store. The ones in cans, nothing fancy. The one for a quid each. Tonight we came across one with no English on the label at all. And we think it's cider but we can't tell. Unless we absolutely positively must get drunk, we won't be trying to get to the bottom of that one.

more meat from the sausage stands at the borough
oddly dense, crumbly whole meal bread
butter and raspberry jam on top (sweet!)
lettuce with porcini olive oil
fresh cherry tomatoes
green olive oil spotted with balsamic vinegar and sprinkled with black pepper
homemade cappuccino (now if I could just master pain au chocolat - none today - bad day!)
doner kebab from the local shop topped with lettuce, cabbage, onion, tomatoes and garlic sauce (Yippee!) and fries as a treat because we got the STUPID visa forms in the mail today a week before my ticket to ride expires
parmagiano reggiano

and I think some cabury's is in order. P bought so it's fruit and nut. sigh. so unimaginative and yet I do love him. he has other qualities, obviously.

6.4.08 and this and this and this, again

I am not a fan of leftovers. Even though I ate things today that I bought and started enjoying yesterday...that doesn't make them leftovers.

First of all, since it was snowing, I walked to the corner French deli and bought pain au chocolat for breakfast. What else?

but that wasn't really first...I am doing well at having hot water and lemon in the mornings as I wait for the coffee to brew
coffee with milk and homemade cappuccino with decaf a bit later...I rate my cafe pressed frothing milk pretty highly
a ginger nut or two because they were there
that spicy soup I am newly fond of making
gorgeous cherry tomatoes
crusty brown bread with sweet butter
apple slices
saffron tea
fried rice with onion and chorizo sausage
chocolate digestive

5.4.08 I ate this and this and this and this and this

this morning was dedicated to visiting the borough market and although it was a bit chilly, we arrived before the crowds and before the stall holders had sore feet. everyone was friendly and we could have made breakfast out of the samples on offer, but still opted to buy a few things. I traded my usual pain au chocolat for a chocolate eclair with proper white fluffy cream in the middle. Apparently, according to witnesses, my eyes rolled back in my head at first bite. yes, it was love.

we found
a parmagiano reggiano that was sweet and crumbly smooth at the beginning, with a bloom of saltiness for a finish
rye bread
olive oil infused with porcini mushrooms
comte cheese
several sausages
chocolate truffles
and a Monmouth coffee, a cappuccino, of course

so we had two picnics when we got home, a little of this, a little of that and more for tomorrow!

At Neal's Yard Dairy, where it was necessary to try not only the Colston Bassett stilton, but also a lovely strawberry jam, I came across an interesting looking little journal...but I can't find the link. Yet. A reason to return to Neal's Yard (like I need one).

Our best find of the day was a beautiful seasoning called Sumac, the color of maple leaves and described as "lemon of the gods." it is absolutely gorgeous and I will be cooking with it soon...

4.4.08 so busy I am hardly eating

Well, that's never true. I always make time to eat!
But it's 10:25 a.m. already and I haven't had a thing except coffee.
woe is me.

2.4.08 skip Tuesday

I dislike Mondays so much I skipped Tuesday...

I've just made the most amazing (I can say that because it was a group effort with my friend Catherine) Thai-style soup.

chicken stock
lemon grass cut in small circles
coriander rough chopped
garlic finely chopped and sliced
fresh ginger, grated
lime peel very finely chopped
small amount of oyster sauce
tiny bit of sesame oil
straw mushrooms (from a jar, marinated in sunflower oil, drained)
couple of sliced green chiles

We had it with rice - love the rice cooker! Finely chopped chorizo sausage pan fried in small amount of olive oil with sliced onions, garlic (very finely chopped), lime peel (as above) and lime juice on top of the rice. Salt, and fresh ground pepper.

The presentation included wedges of tomato and sun-ripened black olives, along with additional coriander to put in the soup to taste.

A good time was had by all! Made me forget all about the poor excuse for a cappuccino earlier in the day...