artichokes

Well! Artichokes in the veg box!  Not a thing I do often - but delish when I have eaten it.  So, cut of stalk - boil to death (30 minutes +) - pull leaves off, dip into good olive oil and balsamic vinegar (approx 4 - 1).  Scrape "meat" from leaves in teeth ... lovingly, and while chatting, putting the world to rights etc - quite romantic in fact - so thanks veg box peeps (Abel & Cole)

Squid paella

Oh, what a week it's been!

recipe... ish

olive oil
chopped onion
chopped celery
chopped red pepper
garlic - crushed
paella mix - or paprika and saffron and a few herbs
risotto/paella rice
tinned tomatoes
white wine
squid - sliced into rings
snow peas, chopped into pieces
black olives
salt and black pepper
lemon to serve

OK - sautee chopped onion in oilve oil, and when a bit soft chuck in veg and garlic, stir around a bit - them chuck in rice and spices (or spice mix)- stir around.  When all rice grains are coated chuck in tomatoes, wine and squid, and some water.  Keep simmering for about 15 mins as it all cooks together.  Add in chopped snow peas (or, frankly, frozen peas) and black olives - add more water if it's looking dry.  Keep simmering for another 10ish  minutes - tuen off the heat and let it gently suck up the juices... serve, scoff!

Pop up restaurant

Yesterday, my friend and I, hosted our first popup restaurant.  It was fantastic - but we took very few pics as we were too busy.  This is the gluten free scone with smoked mackeral pate, beetroot jam and horseradish cream.  It was followed by vegan moussaka, coleslaw and green salad, and finished with strawberry and rhubarb, hazelnut crumble with ginger ice cream.

Gluten free scones

Rub olive oil spread into self raising gluten free flour with a teaspoon of baking powder (it really needs extra raising agent), salt.  When is resembles breadcrumbs form into a soft dough with an egg and a splash of soya milk.  Bake at 180 for about 12 minutes.

Mackeral pate

Zizz 3 packets of flaked mackeral fillets and 1 box of medium tofu until smooth.  Add black pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice.  Chill.

Beetroot jam

2 red onions, finely chopped and sauted off in olive oil.  Finely chopped beetroot - about 8.  A handful of sugar, a splash of red wine, a few chili falkes and a good splosh of sherry vingar - simmer to let flavours meld - add water if it gets too think.

Horseradish cream

Grate about 1 inch horseradish root finely.  Add 1/2 carton double cream, salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice.  Taste to adjust.

Vegan moussaka

Potatoes, peeled boiled and cut into thick slices.
Sauce 3 chopped onions sauteed in olive oil, add chopped celery, chopped red pepper, courgettes and mushrooms.  Add red lentils, a good few herbs, lots of garlic and a few chili flakes.  Add a splash of red wine, some vegan bouillon, 2 tins of chopped tomatoes and water.  Simmer, stir, simmer, season etc.  I added a teaspoon of cinnamon at the end to ring the changes.
Make a litre of white sauce with soya milk (I just thickenned with cornflour, but could have done a bechamel) flavoured with bay and nutmeg.
Put the moussaka together - lentils, sauce, then potatoes - drizzle with olive oil and bake for an hour until top is crisp and golden.

Aduki bean and sweet potato casserole with rice

It does what it says on the tin.  Aduki beanes were soaked overnight, and then boiled for 40 minutes.  A spiced casserole, including onions, garlic, spice mix ...  mushrooms, green beans and sweet potato was cooked (started in olive oil, then adding diced veg and stock) ... then a tin of tomatoes - and then the beans to heat through.

Serve with rice.

Recipe is vague, I know - but actually thsi is a veg box fix - the important message is soak your beans :)

Broccoli pasta with anchovy and corn on the cob

Sautee chopped onions in olive oil.  When soft add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, crushed garlic and a few anchovies - keep turning around in the pan.  Stick corn on the cob in a pan of boiling water.  Then chop broccoli into florets.  Bring a pan of water to the boil - simmer the pasta underneath and the broccoli steaming on top for about 9 minutes.

Drain pasta and toss with onion mixture and broccoli - dish up - scoff.  Gluten free, lactose free - but anchovies are fish, so really not vegetarian.

it's raining outside, but it's summer in the kitchen

I have had a lovely afternoon looking around open gardens in a community nearby - the weather was pants (again) but at least it wasn't raining all afternoon.  So, tonight we came home to some indoor sunshine.

Potato and broad bean salad with feta and olives, coleslaw and salad leaves.

Recipes:  ... well lettuce - cut, separate leaves wash and dry.

Potato salad:

potatoes - diced
red onion - very thinly sliced
broad beans (double peeled - thank you patient partner - this takes ages and you did a great job)
green beans
feta
black olives
olive oil
herbs

1.  Boil potatoes - chopped into even sized mouthfulls.
2. Steam green vegetables.
3.  Mix onions, warm potatoes and greens with cold olives, cheese and herbs and olive oil.

meanwhile

Grate carrots, shred white cabbage and finely slice spring onion - sprinkle in chili flakes, salt - splash in sherry (or other vinegar) and olive oil - mix.

SCOFF

Roast root vegetables, lentil casserole and cumin cabbage

End of veg box again - but this was really good.  Instructions are brief because I'm tired - but this was actually Sunday's dinner - tonight's was the leftovers made into a delicious shephard's pie thingamebob.

Roast root vegetables

Parboil prepped carrots, turnip and potatoes.  Put into oven proof dish, pour over vegetable stock with a teaspoon of grainy mustard.  Bake for 45+ minutes.

Lentil casserole

Sautee onions in olive oil, add chopped mushrooms and courgette.  Add crushed garlic and mixed herbs.  Add some lentils and some stock - simmer.  Then add some red wine, simmer.  Then add passata and lots of black pepper - simmer.

Cumin cabbage

When other stuff is about 20 minutes off simmer shredded cabbage and a teaspoon of cumin in a centimetre of water and a tablespoon of olive oil.