Tuesday, 30 April 2013

RED ONION & APPLE

Red onion & apple loaf (adapted from Dan Lepard, Short & sweet)

* 1 small dessert apple

* 1 small red onion, finely chopped

* 75ml ale

* 175ml warm water

* 2tsp dried yeast

* 100g sunflower seeds

* 250g malted grain bread flour

* 175g strong wholemeal bread flour

* 1 tsp fine sea salt


Grate the apple into a bowl, peel and all, but without stalk or pips, then add the onion. Stir in the ale, water and yeast, add the seeds, flours and salt, mix and leave for 10 minutes. Lightly oil a worksurface, knead the dough for 10 seconds, then return it to the bowl and leave for 45 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball, then place on a tray lined with nonstick paper. Cover with a cloth and leave to rise for an hour. Preheat the oven to 220C, cut a cross in the top of the loaf, bake for 20 minutes, then lower the heat to 180C and bake for another 20 minutes.


Many fundamental questions of craftsmanship versus mass production, the relationship of usefulness and beauty, the practical purpose of formal beauty in a commonplace object, and whether or not a single proper form could exist, were argued out among its 1,870 members (by 1914).

Sunday, 28 April 2013

ALE & HONEY

Alehouse rolls 

Recipe by Dan Lepard


Those lunches always made feel rather drunk and stupid for an hour or two afterwards
Nancy Mitford; Don't tell Alfred

YELLOW BEETROOT & PORCINI

Yellow beetroot, porcini & dill soup (Serves 4-6)


* 1kg yellow beetroots
* 1 large onion, sliced
* 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
* 2 sticks of celery, chopped
* 8g dried porcini mushrooms
* 170ml stock
* Splash cider vinegar
* Large handful dill
* Salt & pepper

Roast the beetroot with a splash of water covered in foil 180ºC until tender
Slowly fry the onion, garlic & celery in oil in a covered sauce pan for 45 mins
Meanwhile soak the porcini in 150ml hot water for 30 mins, save the liquid and add them to the onions for 10 mins
Peel & chop the beetroot, add with the remaining ingredients except the dill
Simmer for 30 mins then blitz
Add the chopped dill



Their first attempt to talk to one another only resulted in an intense & ludicrous situation about the solar system 

Friday, 26 April 2013

PRUNE & PARMESAN

Prune & Parmesan muffins (Makes 9)

* 200ml milk
* 25g olive oil
* 100g baby leaf spinach
* 2 medium carrots, grated
* 250g wholemeal spelt flour
* 1tbsp baking powder
* 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
* 50g Parmesan, grated
* 80g prunes, chopped
* 75g sunflower seeds
* 1 egg, beaten

Grease 9 holes of a muffin tray or use muffin cases
Boil the milk, butter & spinach. When cool blitz until finely chopped
Sift the dry ingredients together & add the carrots, prunes and most of the parmesan & seeds
Beat the egg into the spinach and fold all together
Spoon into the tin & sprinkle the remaining parmesan & seeds
Bake 190ºC for 20-25mins



She wore a straw hat that she had bought on their first weekend away to together.


Monday, 22 April 2013

BROCCOLI & BLOOD ORANGE

Blood orange mayonnaise sauce for sprouting broccoli (Serves 2)

* Handful of yellow or purple sprouting broccoli
* Zest of 1 blood orange
* 2tbsp homemade or good quality mayonaise
* Plenty of black pepper

Steam the broccoli for 5 mins till tender
Spoon over a dollop of mayonaise, the zest & black pepper


He may thus be the last romantic

Friday, 19 April 2013

GREEN OLIVE & CUMIN

Egg, potato & green olive pitta

Steve Parle & Emma Grazette's Spice Trip recipe



A change of scenery was just what was needed to put things in perspective and make some plans. 

GRAPEFRUIT & STAR ANISE

Grilled grapefruit with star anise

* ½ grapefruit
* Large pinch star anise seeds
* Demerara sugar

Sprinkle the anise & sugar over the grapefruit & grill until browned

It was the second time that week that the paper had arrived with the crossword already done.

Sunday, 14 April 2013

CARROT TOPS & MINT

Carrot top greens & mint pesto

* Bunch of carrot top greens
* Bunch of mint leaves
* ¼ cup olive oil
* ¼ cup almonds
* 2 cloves garlic
* Salt & sugar to taste
* Handful parmesan, grated

Blitz all the ingredients together & then add the parmesan


He conversed with an overwhelming conspicuous clarity.

Saturday, 13 April 2013

BEETROOT & POPPY SEED

Beetroot & poppy seed tagliatelle

* 75g cooked red beetroot, pureed
* 1 free-range egg
* 200g "00" pasta flour
* 2 tbsp poppy seeds
* Extra flour and fine polenta, for dusting

Bring the ingredients together & kneed for 5 minutes.
Wrap in cling film & chill for half an hour
Divide the dough into 4 and feed through the pasta machine
Dust with the fine polenta


`Hang spring-cleaning!' and bolted out of the house without even waiting to put on his coat. Something up above was calling him imperiously,
Kenneth Grahame; Wind & the willows

GOLDEN BEETROOT & CARAWAY

Golden beetroot & caraway tagliatelle

* 75g cooked golden beetroot, pureed
* 1 free-range egg
* 200g "00" pasta flour
* 1tsp caraway seeds
* Extra flour and fine polenta, for dusting

Bring the ingredients together & kneed for 5 minutes.
Wrap in cling film & chill for half an hour
Divide the dough into 4 and feed through the pasta machine

     

It was a mild & motionless spring day, exactly right for washing carpets
Tove Jansson; Tales from Moominvalley