Three Good Things

I have told you before the I love Hugh and the whole of River Cottage. (I have a soft spot for Gil too!)

My whole family know of my infatuation with Hugh and Co that every time time a new book is realised it finds its way into my hot little hands.

I have already started adding things to our menu plan.

And I can't wait to try them out.

So what about you? Do you love Hugh? Or do you find him a little blah?

 

 

Chicken and mushroom casserole with cider

I am really loving the River Cottage Everyday cookbook that I got last week. I only got it on Thursday and we have already had two main meals from it and have planned many more.

On Saturday night we had the Chicken and mushroom casserole with cider. It was great, it is not a meal I would make during the week, but definitely on a weekend.

Here is what my version ended up looking like

And the cookbook version

Different, but the same. Kinda.


The recipe can be found here.

Are you a fan of River Cottage? You already know I am!


I am linking up here.

Chorizo Carbonara

I have been feeling all uninspired in the kitchen of late. My love of cooking has disappeared and our dinners have become a boring meat and three (or four) vege with the occasional stir fry thrown in to mix it up a little.

I decided to order some new cook books try and inspire me a little. Well of course I decided to get some of Hugh's and I can't say that I am disappointed.

The River Cottage Everyday book arrived on my doorstep yesterday morning and I flicked through it during afternoon nap time to figure out what I could make for dinner. I had all the ingredients for the Chorizo Carbonara and it was a simple enough dinner for me to cook while I am still feeling sorry for myself in this sick state that I am in at the moment. (Yes I know, I am ALWAYS sick!)

Anyway, the recipe just required the following:

150g of spaghetti
1 tablespoon of rapeseed or olive oil
175g chorizo- chopped
2 large egg yolks
100ml double cream
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (I omitted these as the find the spices in the Chorizo strong enough)

The above ingredients is to serve 2 people so I doubled the recipe to feed our family of 5. 

Simply add the pasta to a pot of salted boiling water (I did mine in my thermomix). Meanwhile heat oil in frying pan and add the chorizo. Fry it for about 10 minutes until crisp and cooked through.
Beat egg yolks and cream together, season lightly if desired.

When pasta is done, drain thoroughly and return it back to the hot pan. Tip in the chorizo and the egg mixture and mix well to coat it all in the egg mixture. The egg mixture will cook with the heat of the pasta and chorizo.

Serve straight away.

It was a hit with everyone here and will be made again, but maybe not until late next month as it is not the healthiest dinner choice about.

I am linking up here.

I Love Hugh...

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall that is. River Cottage is a one of those TV Shows that I schedule and record every week with out fail. I don't miss an episode, ever!

The kids even enjoy watching it and ask questions frequently. I like that they are starting to learning where their meat comes from and with the current Veg Everyday series they are starting to learn about more veg and showing an interest in trying a lot of other vegetables that they have previously dismissed. Caden even planted his own peas last week.

Me, I dream of day living on a few acres of land and living in as self sustainably as possible. B on the other hand, isn't so keen. But he no longer leaves the room when River Cottage comes on, I have actually started noticing him coming from other areas of the house and sitting down to watch it with me. Maybe my dreams are rubbing off on him?! I can only hope.

At the moment I will have to make do with growing crops in pots on our modest suburban block of land with our 4 fruit trees and our family pets. I will continue dreaming of one day owning chickens and other animals and digging in our own vegetable gardens and living a simple sustainable life.

What do you dream of? Is living a self sufficient sustainable way something that appeals to you, or does it make you want to run for the hills?