How to Satisfy Your Chocolate Cravings in London
Posted on 07/11 22:38
If I am going to have a bit of chocolate, I insist on only the best. Find out out my favorite places for delicious chocolate in London here.
It's Not that I am a Good Cook, I just use Really Good Recipes
Posted on 09/09 17:25
I didn't really become interested in food, I mean really interested in food until I moved to New York. I didn't even start out cooking. In the beginning, I mostly just ate. Living in Tribeca meant dozens and dozens of restaurants to choose from like Chanterelle on Harrison, Nobu on Hudson or Dylan Prime on Laight Street just to name a few. That was just in my own neighborhood, imagine what happend when I began to venture out into other parts of the city. I began to think more and more about the ingredients that went into the recipes and I started to think about how I could recreate them in my own kitchen.
After my wedding, my kitchen was stocked with half of Crate & Barrel and Williams-Sonoma and I figured I need to try to make the best use of what I had. In London, I started taking cooking classes from fabulous places like Divertimenti and Books for Cooks and eventually felt ready to learn where the pros do at places like Leiths. It has really been a fabulous foodie adventure and I get asked for the recipes that I use on a fairly regular basis. I don't actually think I am a good cook. At least, not a naturally good cook, I just practice a lot and use really good recipes. I wanted to share some of my favorite cookbooks to encourage you to have some fun adventures in your own kitchen.
1. American Classics - I should say I love just about everything that is put out by the editors of Cook's Illustrated and this book is no exception. The explanations and diagrams that come with the recipes are always excellent. For me, this is excellent comfort food.
2. 500 Best Healthy Recipes by Lynn Roblin. This is probably the most used cookbook in my kitchen. Since I eat out so much, it is nice to eat healthy when I am at home. I've tried many, many recipes from this book and they've all turned out really well. I don't believe in healthy desserts so I skipped that chapter entirely. I have so many favorites so it's hard to choose but I really love the Tomato, Zucchini and Tortellini Soup, Broccoli, Snow Pea and Baby Corn Salad with Orange Dressing and Linguine with Caramelized Onions, Tomatoes and Basil.
3. The Professional Chef is the ultimate reference book for people who are serious about cooking. Whether you want to know how to make the best stock or gravy or need to know how to butterfly a chicken, this book has everything you need to know. Techniques are diagrammed with pictures which is a bonus for a visual person like me. I don't find the recipes overly complicated but the one challenge and reason why this book may not be right for you because the recipes are based on serving a large number of people. Of course, you can do the math to work out how to scale down the volume.
4. All Recipes - Ok, I am cheating here because this is a website and not a book but listen before you get all upset I must tell you that this is a really good reasource that I use this at least once a week. It is perfect when I come home mid-week and look in my fridge and think crap all I have is chicken and broccoli. I can go to All Recipes and type in chicken and broccoli into the search field and will get an impressive list of delicious recipes. The recipes are rated by other home cooks and many offer helpful suggestions on how to make improvements or additions.
5. Mastering the Art of French Cooking- I love Julia Child and this cookbook is excellent. I admit I was intimidated when I first bought this book. I thought everything would be really complex and difficult. It's true there are challenging recipes but there are really simple ones too. I love the substitutions which is great if you are out of one of the ingredients because in many cases you can just substitute it for something else. I reference this book a lot for eggs, soups, sauces, and of course, crepes and desserts.
6. World Vegetarian Classics - I am a big fan of Celia Brooks Brown who teaches food classes in London and does gastro tours in Borough Market and Marylebone. Her recipes work and are always inventive. I love her relaxed style and use of fresh, seasonal produce.
7. Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook - My husband hates when I bake because he says it always looks like a bomb went off in the kitchen. Some things are just worth the mess and Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook is just one of them. You may get flour in your hair or eggs on your shoes but it will all be worth it. Some of the recipes involve lots of time and patience and other are delightfully quick and easy.
After my wedding, my kitchen was stocked with half of Crate & Barrel and Williams-Sonoma and I figured I need to try to make the best use of what I had. In London, I started taking cooking classes from fabulous places like Divertimenti and Books for Cooks and eventually felt ready to learn where the pros do at places like Leiths. It has really been a fabulous foodie adventure and I get asked for the recipes that I use on a fairly regular basis. I don't actually think I am a good cook. At least, not a naturally good cook, I just practice a lot and use really good recipes. I wanted to share some of my favorite cookbooks to encourage you to have some fun adventures in your own kitchen.
1. American Classics - I should say I love just about everything that is put out by the editors of Cook's Illustrated and this book is no exception. The explanations and diagrams that come with the recipes are always excellent. For me, this is excellent comfort food.
2. 500 Best Healthy Recipes by Lynn Roblin. This is probably the most used cookbook in my kitchen. Since I eat out so much, it is nice to eat healthy when I am at home. I've tried many, many recipes from this book and they've all turned out really well. I don't believe in healthy desserts so I skipped that chapter entirely. I have so many favorites so it's hard to choose but I really love the Tomato, Zucchini and Tortellini Soup, Broccoli, Snow Pea and Baby Corn Salad with Orange Dressing and Linguine with Caramelized Onions, Tomatoes and Basil.
3. The Professional Chef is the ultimate reference book for people who are serious about cooking. Whether you want to know how to make the best stock or gravy or need to know how to butterfly a chicken, this book has everything you need to know. Techniques are diagrammed with pictures which is a bonus for a visual person like me. I don't find the recipes overly complicated but the one challenge and reason why this book may not be right for you because the recipes are based on serving a large number of people. Of course, you can do the math to work out how to scale down the volume.
4. All Recipes - Ok, I am cheating here because this is a website and not a book but listen before you get all upset I must tell you that this is a really good reasource that I use this at least once a week. It is perfect when I come home mid-week and look in my fridge and think crap all I have is chicken and broccoli. I can go to All Recipes and type in chicken and broccoli into the search field and will get an impressive list of delicious recipes. The recipes are rated by other home cooks and many offer helpful suggestions on how to make improvements or additions.
5. Mastering the Art of French Cooking- I love Julia Child and this cookbook is excellent. I admit I was intimidated when I first bought this book. I thought everything would be really complex and difficult. It's true there are challenging recipes but there are really simple ones too. I love the substitutions which is great if you are out of one of the ingredients because in many cases you can just substitute it for something else. I reference this book a lot for eggs, soups, sauces, and of course, crepes and desserts.
6. World Vegetarian Classics - I am a big fan of Celia Brooks Brown who teaches food classes in London and does gastro tours in Borough Market and Marylebone. Her recipes work and are always inventive. I love her relaxed style and use of fresh, seasonal produce.
7. Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook - My husband hates when I bake because he says it always looks like a bomb went off in the kitchen. Some things are just worth the mess and Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook is just one of them. You may get flour in your hair or eggs on your shoes but it will all be worth it. Some of the recipes involve lots of time and patience and other are delightfully quick and easy.
Food Doctor Ready Meals
Posted on 02/09 18:17
Since I currently only have a "temporary" kitchen in my dining room that basically consists of a refrigerator and a microwave, we've had to make some fairly dramatic eating adjustments.
I now think about what I buy in terms of how much of mess it is to prepare and whether or not it is ready to eat. I found these Food Doctor Meals in Waitrose a few weeks ago and for someone who doesn't like ready meals, they are actually pretty good.
So far, I've tried the Aromatic Cous Cous with Roasted Butternut Squash, Flame Grilled Chicken and Quinoa Pilau and Atlantic Salmon with Wild Rice. All pretty tasty although the grilled chicken with quinoa pilau was definitely my favorite.
Toberlone Pavlova
Posted on 24/07 23:36
Nigella's Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova recipe has been a favorite since I started making her recipes. Rather than making one large pavlova as I typically would, I made individual servings and substituted dark chocolate for chopped up Toberlone pieces.
Not a bad result, but I think the dark chocolate actually tastes better than the Toberlone.
Lemonade Summer
Posted on 01/07 22:15
I might be too old for a lemonade stand but I can still make lemonade. Here is my favorite summer recipe. Perfect for hot summer days. Now all I need is a front porch and a rocking chair.
Best Lemonade (& Easiest Recipe Ever)
3/4 cups white sugar
8 cups water
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
How to:
Combine the sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
Juice the lemons until you have 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice. Throw away the seeds but keep the pulp. In a pitcher, stir together the chilled sugar mixture, lemon juice and the remaining 7 cups of water. Add ice. Serve. Garnish your glass with fresh lemonade.
I promise this is better than anything you can buy from a store. Enjoy!
Belazu Balsamic Vinegar
Posted on 12/05 22:53
I first discovered Belazu Balsamic Vinegar at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant. Fifteen has a wonderful side salad made with this balsamic vinegar and I loved it so much that I asked our waiter what it was and brought two bottles home from the restaurant the same night.
When I was close to running out, I thought I was going to have to stop by Fifteen on my way home from work to stock up but with a little research I also learned that Waitrose sells it as well.
For the past couple of weeks, I have been eating a simple salad with rocket, spinach, romaine or whatever kind of lettuce leaves I have in the house, a drizzingly of a good olive oil, Belazu Balsamic vinegar and a little bit of fresh parmesan. It is absolutely my favorite salad and takes about a minute to make.
I am not normally a balsamic vinegar person but this one is much thicker and sweeter than balsamic vinegars I've had in the past. It's great for dunking bread and drizzingly over oven roasted summer vegetables like courgettes, auberine, peppers, onions, etc.
New Spring/Summer Classes from Divertimenti
Posted on 04/04 09:00
Divertimenti has just come out with their list of new spring/summer cooking classes. There are so many look so interesting that I am having a hard time making any decisions.
I love these cooking classes because they really reinvigorate my own style and I seem to spawn recipes of my own from the ones I come home with. Or I mix and match ingredients or take parts of one and combine them with another.
Here's what I have so far. I am trying to get my list of 8, down to about three.
1. California Cooking with Jennifer Joyce - I love Jennifer's cooking and the Asian influence in her style...artichokes, asparagus and passionfruit tart
2. Springtime in Provence with Alex Mackay- Red Souffle and Tiger Prawn Soup
3. Springtime in Paris with Flavia Rose
4. Picnic on the Run with Marcia Barrington - Crab and saffron tartlets sound delicious
5. Berries and Cherries - I think this one is in my top three. I am definitely in a berries and cherries mood.
6. Seasonal Summer Salads
7. Mexican Hands on with Jennifer Joyce - I love Mexican and since it's a challenge to find good Mexican in the UK perhaps I should learn to make my own.
8. Grow it, Cook it, Eat it with Celia Brooks Brown. I remember taking another class with Celia and she mentioned that she had just gotten an allotment and was going to be growing her vegetables. I would love to see what has inspired her in her garden.
Duggan's Delights - Bring Home the Baking!
Posted on 04/03 16:51
Who can resist homemade baked goodies? At Duggan's Delights, sisters Clare and Cat specialize in making home-made baked treats for busy people. Using nothing but the best ingredients, these busy sisters will happily whip you up a batch of their famous chunky chocolate brownies, bake you a moist carrot cake or their best banoffee pie. They've even managed to put a few modern twists on some classic favorites. I have only two words to say: Toblerone Pavlova. Does it really get any better than that?
I am very fortunate that Clare is work colleague of mine who is extremely well liked and always exudes an energy that is both contagious and fun. Whether you are planning a birthday bash or an intimate gathering with family and friends, the Duggan sisters would be delighted to have you bring home their baking!
Photo Credit: Duggan's Delights
I am in the Mood for Sugar Cookies
Posted on 04/02 21:54
With Valentines Day just around the corner, I have decided that it is time to break in my new beautiful Kitchenaid Mixer and make some Valentine's Day cookies.
Looking through my cookie cutter collection, I realized I have nothing suitable for Valentines Day, which is why I was so happy to stumble upon the Cakes, Cookies and Crafts shops website because they literally have a cookie cutter for every occassion. Not only that, but so many of the cookie cutters are so unique and cute.
It takes about 5 working days for your order to arrive so if you order soon, it should still arrive in time for Valentines Day.
Happy Baking!
Luxury Chocolate for X-Mas
Posted on 20/12 20:23
I love chocolate and Melt is absolutely one of my favorite chocolate shops in Notting Hill. With a minimal interior and chic style, the shop is the perfect fusion of art, style and chocolate.
I fell in love with this beautiful chocolate croquembouche. If you are not familiar, a croqeumbouche is a french desert typically made with profiteroles and often served at weddings.
Made with about 150 bons bons, this little chocolate number is an absolute stunner and as you might imagine it is incredibly expensive--this little baby rings in at an incredible £350 but you are getting a ton of chocolate. For more intimate gatherings, there is a smaller version with 80 bon bons for £150.
I love it and I may even try to recreate my own version using truffles or snowball cookies.
Photo Credit: Melt Chocolates
