Suddenly a combination of cost and health has meant Simon Hopkinson's Tomato Curry has become something of regular meal. Jude's coming over tonight to watch Strictly, so the plan today is get some more tomatoes on our usual trip to the Farmer's Market this morning.
It starts off to plan; babyccino - check, feeding the ducks - check, Farmer's market - check. Then the ana's throw a spanner into our carefully nurtured routine, she needs a new frock for her birthday this week. However, what could've been an absolute disaster with monkey creating hell because he's bored/tired/hungry, and the ana's tearfully breaking down in the changing room trying to get out of her Dallas style shoulder pads, goes like a dream! Ana finds three amazing dresses in which she looks amazing in, and the milos flirts outrageously with the owner. We even get him in bed in time for us to tidy up *and* make Nigel Slater's mushroom pappardelle.
A quick afternoon trip to the supermarket because I forgot the tomatoes (gahhh!), it's full-steam ahead for Strictly and curry.
Food of the Milos
Crumpets and half of my Shreddies for breakfast, b-ccino, and a pear at the farmer's market before a snoopy snooze. More apples and pears in the afternoon, and the remaining mushroom pasta for dinner. This was later supplemented by a large amount of Strictly crips and howmous. Hmmmm...
sources
mushroom pappardelle - Nigel Slater, Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries, p
tomato curry - Simon Hopkinson, Delicious, November 2007, p86
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
burgers and mulled wine
Well 'burger' singular. Last night was Christmas Party part deux, so it was a mixed bag of nutrition in the Barnes household; cereal for the lady half, and handfuls of mini-canapes and as much booze as I can bag before the free bar runs out. *However* unlike Wednesday, today I don't have a screaming hangover and we've got Barnes Christmas fair tonight.
Despite the rain (for the second year running), we head out to look at the Christmas trees, lights and eat fudge. The monkey loved it! On the way back we had some mulled wine and a [one] burger between the three of us, at the Coach and Horses. And that was it, dinner over. I'm not sure I like this diet...
Despite the rain (for the second year running), we head out to look at the Christmas trees, lights and eat fudge. The monkey loved it! On the way back we had some mulled wine and a [one] burger between the three of us, at the Coach and Horses. And that was it, dinner over. I'm not sure I like this diet...
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
beef stroganoff
Ooooh, I'm hungover today. Last night's leetle work drinkies have left me feeling a trifle brackish this evening, and not even a burger at lunchtime and a trip to the Turner exhibition at Tate Britain with Mr P Murphy ESQ help. No, only stodgy-stodge can help, quick sharp!
It does (thanks Billy G), and I even manage to struggle through with a glass of vino.
Incidentally, JMW Turner is one of my favourite painters. He was mad, hyper-competitive, a massive show-off and had a brilliant middle-name - Mallord! I might name our next baby 'Mallord', Mallord and Milo, Milo and Mallord. It has a ring ne c'est pas? Here's one of my favourite of his paintings:
Anyway, I digress...
Food of the Milos
It's a Julia day today so it's the usual opening course of cheerios/apricots/raisins/toast & philli, followed by ham omlette and apple for lunch and MORE spag bol for dinner.
sources
beef stroganoff with buttered noodles - Bill Granger, Simply Bill, p33
It does (thanks Billy G), and I even manage to struggle through with a glass of vino.
Incidentally, JMW Turner is one of my favourite painters. He was mad, hyper-competitive, a massive show-off and had a brilliant middle-name - Mallord! I might name our next baby 'Mallord', Mallord and Milo, Milo and Mallord. It has a ring ne c'est pas? Here's one of my favourite of his paintings:
Anyway, I digress...
Food of the Milos
It's a Julia day today so it's the usual opening course of cheerios/apricots/raisins/toast & philli, followed by ham omlette and apple for lunch and MORE spag bol for dinner.
sources
beef stroganoff with buttered noodles - Bill Granger, Simply Bill, p33
Monday, 30 November 2009
beef fillet with celeriac and yoghurt remoulade & rich beef ragu
Another night of healthy-style experimental eating in our pursuit of six packs via the power of loads of grub.
However before the health I've got some planning ahead to do as tomorrow night I'm out for part one of the two Christmas parties I've got this week. This means pre-cooking tomorrow night's dinner so I've got something to stuff into my drunken-maw when I stumble through the door (whilst not waking the anas up of course) - classic spag bol. Well, rich beef ragu anyway. Whilst it simmers away I can get on with this evening's fayre.
After last night's mini-triumph, tonight we only have a 50% success rate. The celeriac and yoghurt remoulade (made with creme fraiche rather than yoghurt), whilst messy to make is pretty darn good. A bit like a creamy, cross between coleslaw and horseradish. However, the steak is a disaster, the recipe called for the fillet to be seared for two minutes on either side and then 40 minutes in the oven. I gave it up at 30 minutes, and even then they were on the dry side of well done - cocks! Still there's almost twice the required amount of remoulade to make up for it.
Food of the Milos
It's a cold, wet, grizzly Monday and the milos have a full day of swimming and playing before Grandma and Grandad come up for an evening at the ballet. So we stock him up with crumpets and marmelade for breakfast, cheese on toast before AND after his snoopy snooze, risotto for dinner and a superfood double-whammy of blueberries and pomegranate for pudding.
sources
beef fillet with celeriac and yoghurt remoulade - Delicious, December 2009, p126
rich beef ragu - Delicious, March 2007, p51
no-stir tomato risotto - Simply Bill, Bill Granger
However before the health I've got some planning ahead to do as tomorrow night I'm out for part one of the two Christmas parties I've got this week. This means pre-cooking tomorrow night's dinner so I've got something to stuff into my drunken-maw when I stumble through the door (whilst not waking the anas up of course) - classic spag bol. Well, rich beef ragu anyway. Whilst it simmers away I can get on with this evening's fayre.
After last night's mini-triumph, tonight we only have a 50% success rate. The celeriac and yoghurt remoulade (made with creme fraiche rather than yoghurt), whilst messy to make is pretty darn good. A bit like a creamy, cross between coleslaw and horseradish. However, the steak is a disaster, the recipe called for the fillet to be seared for two minutes on either side and then 40 minutes in the oven. I gave it up at 30 minutes, and even then they were on the dry side of well done - cocks! Still there's almost twice the required amount of remoulade to make up for it.
Food of the Milos
It's a cold, wet, grizzly Monday and the milos have a full day of swimming and playing before Grandma and Grandad come up for an evening at the ballet. So we stock him up with crumpets and marmelade for breakfast, cheese on toast before AND after his snoopy snooze, risotto for dinner and a superfood double-whammy of blueberries and pomegranate for pudding.
sources
beef fillet with celeriac and yoghurt remoulade - Delicious, December 2009, p126
rich beef ragu - Delicious, March 2007, p51
no-stir tomato risotto - Simply Bill, Bill Granger
Sunday, 29 November 2009
chicken, beetroot and orange salad
We're back, albeit without pictures until I manage to sort out a new version of potatoshop, and we've a lovely new computer to play with - yay for insurance!
It's almost December, it's spent two days chucking it down and it's freezing so naturally we've got salad tonight. This is partly a preventative measure against the weight of stodgy casseroles, stews and roasts I'm planning, and the looming Christmas blow-out, but mainly because ana louise is being ridiculous and has decided she's fat. She's ridiculous.
It's pretty good, and the toasted cumin dressing is interesting, particularly with the beetroot and orange, although I think I'm still looking for decent wintry salad to carry us through.
Food of the Milos
It's a busy day for the monkey; despite the rain we go to the Natural History Museum to see the Dinosaurs, and then shopping in the afternoon. He also eats loads - Shreddies and two apples for breakfast, puffs and raisins at the museum and cauliflower cheese for dinner, with pomegranate for dinner. Secretly, we also had a pre-dinner of cauliflower cheese with him.
sources
cauliflower cheese - Annabel Karmel, The Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner, p54
chicken, beetroot and orange salad - Delicious, December 2009, p122
It's almost December, it's spent two days chucking it down and it's freezing so naturally we've got salad tonight. This is partly a preventative measure against the weight of stodgy casseroles, stews and roasts I'm planning, and the looming Christmas blow-out, but mainly because ana louise is being ridiculous and has decided she's fat. She's ridiculous.
It's pretty good, and the toasted cumin dressing is interesting, particularly with the beetroot and orange, although I think I'm still looking for decent wintry salad to carry us through.
Food of the Milos
It's a busy day for the monkey; despite the rain we go to the Natural History Museum to see the Dinosaurs, and then shopping in the afternoon. He also eats loads - Shreddies and two apples for breakfast, puffs and raisins at the museum and cauliflower cheese for dinner, with pomegranate for dinner. Secretly, we also had a pre-dinner of cauliflower cheese with him.
sources
cauliflower cheese - Annabel Karmel, The Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner, p54
chicken, beetroot and orange salad - Delicious, December 2009, p122
Monday, 9 November 2009
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
rigatoni with pork & fennel sausage
The fact we're experiencing a sudden warm spell has put the mockers on my planned week of experimental 'harvest' dinners. The potato & mushroom stew last night benefited from the chill in the air, but tonight's balmy evening means I don't fancy cooking duck and olive casserole. Well, that and the fact it takes almost two hours... maybe tomorrow?
Instead I opt for a second sausagey meal in a week, this time from the House of Billy G: rigatoni with pork and fennel sausage. Sadly I can't get pork & fennel, so I have to make do with leek & chive, but it's still a pretty gutsy dish. Definitely a keeper, and has it has an interesting twist with the addition of wilted rocket.
sources
rigatoni with pork & fennel sausage - Bill Granger, Holiday, p100
Instead I opt for a second sausagey meal in a week, this time from the House of Billy G: rigatoni with pork and fennel sausage. Sadly I can't get pork & fennel, so I have to make do with leek & chive, but it's still a pretty gutsy dish. Definitely a keeper, and has it has an interesting twist with the addition of wilted rocket.
sources
rigatoni with pork & fennel sausage - Bill Granger, Holiday, p100
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