Naming appliances...

I need to name my Kitchen-aid. 

I've wanted it for oer half my life. I love it and it's very important to me and my kitchen so I feel like it deserves a name.

It’s purple, and sort of fabulous in all the ways I always thought it would be. 

Image source

I think I want to name it something different, not ‘Martha’ or ‘Duff’ or ‘Adriano’ although if the things I make as a result of using it taste or look like any of the things these people create I will be ecstatic.

Its kind of sexy in a weird kitchen appliance way. And the colour is rich, but fun, and sort of like Grimace, but also grown up, expensive and special.

There’s lots of chrome, and some black. And the attachments are like fabulous accessories…

And it’s AMAZING. It has changed the way I bake (and cook) – its saved me a ton of frustration over un-whipped cream , egg whites that just wont stand at a stiff peak and somehow always gives me perfect Swiss buttercream.

Some people say that the tools don’t make the chef, but this beautiful piece of machinery has definitely helped me create some dishes I would not have had the guts to attempt otherwise.

So it needs a name fitting of all of this.

And I am at a loss.

How do people name their children?!?!

Awkward and Awesome Thursday...a taste of...

There has been a whole lot of awkward and awesome things going on this week...here's a sample of a few kitchen/food related things...

Awkward:

Having to take a breath when placing your order at Starbucks because your drink is that complicated

Getting really excited about baby vegetables…in public.

Making theme cupcakes for the 6 Nations game…and England losing…badly.

Trying to feed an 18 month old food that you think is amazing for him…and he literally spits it out. All over you.

Awesome:

Inspiring a friend to get in to the kitchen and start baking (and awkward…then plying her with cookbooks, piping kits and the lot)

Having a salad that looks like a rainbow for dinner

It almost being nice enough for picnic’s outside

It being nice enough to sit on a patio and have a bevy…or 2

The meal I am having on Sunday. Blog post dedicated to it to follow…but I am EXCITED.

What sort of awkward and awesome things are you getting up to in the food world this week?

ax

A taste of…home

People always ask me what I miss from home…and of course the first thing I say is the people…my friends and family are the most missed…but number 2? Food. For sure! 100% no ifs ands or buts about it.

Vancouver has many great things but for me the #1 best thing about it is the food.

I had a wave of hunger for Vancouver food today…here’s my top 5 most missed things (at this moment…ask me again in 5 minutes it will be different I’m sure).

1.)    Proper Sushi. I’ve been making my own after discovering the most amazing Japanese grocery store close to home, but nothing compares to the sushi in Vancouver (well maybe it does in Japan…but as far as I’ve tasted, Vancouver is the best). Huge slices of tuna and salmon, amazing rolls and the freshest fish. So.Good.

2.)    Dim Sum – my fav’ dim sum place burnt down last time I was home (mega sad face) but there are a few more on my list of great places to go for the Chinese delicacies…and right now I could devour carts full of the stuff. As a side note on this – I would have to say I really miss Vancouver Chinese food in general…

3.)    Wing Wednesday…now this isn’t really ‘proper food’ but I’ve been unable to find a place that does really good chicken wings (and especially really good chicken wings at 10cents a wing). Buffalo, teriyaki, salt and pepper, yummmmmm…all with a Granville Island beer. Yes please.

4.)    Nanaimo Bars…there will be an upcoming post regarding these fabulous sweet treats and their general amazingness. So I’ll leave it at that for now. But oh my goodness are they delicious.

5.)    Greasy massive breakfasts on the weekend that all include pancakes (or stuffed French toast), Canadian bacon, eggs and proper hashbrowns. With Maple Syrup, of course.

There is endless amazing food here in London, and I never want for a good meal, but sometimes when you want a taste of…home.

ax

Pancake Day!

Or Shrove Tuesday...depending on who you talk to.

It was always a treat when my mom would let us have breakfast for dinner…and there was one night a year when this was guaranteed. And one better than that? It was pretty much having desert for dinner.

Oh the joys of Pancake Day!

When I got engaged my Mom’s best friend gifted me (and the Hubs) a cookbook…Bride & Groom, First and Forever Cookbook, by Mary Corpening Barber & Sara Corpening Whiteford with Rebecca Chastenet De Gery…authors website here…and you can get the cookbook here.  In it are countless amazing recipes, including really fun ‘cook together’ meals where there are ‘he does’ and ‘she does’ lists etc.

The Hubs (being British) grew up with the crepe like pancakes that are common over here.  I however (being Canadian) grew up with big fluffy cake like pancakes…usually laden with blueberries, huckleberries, or other fruit, sometimes with lots of wintery spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla etc…and always ALWAYS laden with maple syrup. He is a massive fan of the ‘American version’ and such has been the only type of pancakes I have ever made for him.

Now I’ll share one of my favourite (slightly more effort) recipes – from the cookbook above…my notes (additions) are in italics.

Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt (I use Maldon)- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk (or, one cup milk with added splash of white vinegar (I use lemon juice…let it sit so it coagulates, about 2 minutes))
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions:

Stir together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and kosher salt in a small bowl. Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl, and then add the buttermilk, sour cream, and baking soda. Add the flour mixture and whisk until well incorporated (don’t over mix…whisk gently and only until JUST combined). If you are adding fruit or flavours do that now…and if its blueberries (or dark berries) make sure you coat them in a little flour first so you don’t have purple pancakes – not that there is anything wrong with purple pancakes! Stir in the 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
Spray a large non-stick skillet with vegetable oil cooking spray (I put a knob of butter and a little veg oil) and set over medium heat, or cook a dollop of butter over medium heat until the butter begins to bubble but not to brown. Spoon ¼ cup batter into the skillet for each pancake, and cook until small bubbles begin to form on top, 2 to 3 minutes. You may need to reduce the heat slightly at this point. Using a spatula, flip the pancakes and cook until golden brown and puffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and stack the pancakes, drizzling melted butter between each pancake.

I keep them in the oven on a low heat so they stay warm and don’t dry out….and I always have to chuck the first one…and the last pancake I make? Its always the best.

To serve you can go as big or as little as you want (and obviously depending on the season and what you put in your pancake mix).  From butter and maple syrup, to whipped cream and fresh fruit…your options are endless.

Hope you enjoy having pancakes for dinner tonight…and maybe don’t wait another 365 to indulge again!

ax

Valentines treats for your food lover

Is your lover a food lover?

Here are a few treats to bestow upon them this Valentines Day:

How cute is this salt gift set.  It contains Hawaiian Black Lava, Hawaiian Pink Sea, Himalayan Pink , and Fleur de Sel…and two are pink in colour as well – the perfect thing to add some flavour to your Valentines Day.

http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_570xN.210091885.jpg

The Heart Collection from Le Creuset is the perfect way to serve your Valentine their special meal.

This is an adorable way to make a heart shaped omelette or pancakes for a romantic breakfast with your lover…

http://www.giftmonger.com/acatalog/Heart_Shaped_Frying_Pan.html

Wishing you and your Valentine a delicious day!

ax

Awkward and Awesome Thursday - a taste of...

One of my favorite bloggers is the adorable hilarious and fantabulous Sydney from The Daybook  
She does this awesome feature on Thursdays – Awkward and Awesome…which is basically a list of things that are sort of ‘whoopsie’ moments, and a list of things which are highlights and more ‘yay’ moments.  After reading every week without fail I find myself laughing, and wanting to high five her, and thinking ‘oh my goodness that happened to me too.'  Then I thought, hey?! I have awkward and awesome moments, and LOTS of them are kitchen (or are at least food based).  So! Here you have it! My very first Sydney inspired Awkward and Awesome Thursday – a taste of…

Awkward:
Posting a million times this week after another hiatus…I need to get better at regular posting!
Trying to get fancy when cooking for my nephew. He’s 14 months…and doesn’t care.
Getting waaay to invested in MasterChef New Zealand – in the first episode.
Being kind of over excited about my new kitchen organization overload….I went to TOWN on my cupboards last week…and literally felt like a kid on Christmas morning

Awesome:
My totally kick butt beef roast from Sunday – almost perfect meat, and amazing gravy…the rest? Just a bonus as far as I was concerned.
Seeing a great friend for said roast – sharing food with long lost buddies is the best way to catch up!
Using my bamboo steamer a million times (well twice) this week and having delicious salmon and chicken come out of it…go steamed food!
Finally having an arrival date for my KichenAid mixer (a whole post dedicated to its beauty will come next week) – I have waited over half my life for this moment!

That’s the first of hopefully many editions.  Thanks to Sydney for her hilarious awkwardness, and always awesomeness!

ax

AdoRE!

I stumbled upon this website when I was looking for a glass cover for my cake stand…while I didn’t find that I found a ton more treasures for my kitchen…

Here are some of my fav’s



How cute are these for labelling different flours, sugars, candies and other treats? A fab way to spice up your house for Valentines day too!

http://www.re-foundobjects.com/product/view/237?cat=29

I love the abstract nature of these plates…a peek into what the full picture is on each plate.  A lobster puzzle!



http://www.re-foundobjects.com/product/view/1252591157?cat=1

This wire heart trivet is so adorable and functional, and is small enough that I can leave it on my counter all the time. Which is perfect for me, as its often I forget to get one out when my kitchen timer goes!

http://www.re-foundobjects.com/product/view/1252591167?cat=27

I also am in love with these vintage baking trays! Perfect for little cakes and madeleines – and such an easy way to have a little vintage in your kitchen



http://www.re-foundobjects.com/product/view/41?cat=27

This post could probably go on until I have all their gorgeous stuff listed here. So I’ll leave you with my current 'must have'

They have vintage American green milk glass cake plates, citrus press, pitcher and tumblers – and while I know its ages before the picnic table in our garden is used I cant wait to have mojitos and Pimms in the pitcher and fairy cakes on the cake plates. This has Easter written all over it!

http://www.re-foundobjects.com/category/view/28

The shop is owned by a couple of ex-fashion designers who decided to use their shopping skills, and eye for design to set up shop in Corbridge.  The website is for all of us who can’t make it there (although I’m trying to figure out a way to get my husband to take me).  There are new goodies online often and I find myself REvisiting often.

I hope you enjoy checking out the treasures they have as much as I do!

ax

My Big Adventure

Like any food obsessed person I spend more time than probably appropriate watching food related shows on telly and drooling over the creations, equipment and general fabulousness of the world of television food. I used to cook in my kitchen as a child speaking aloud to no one in particular, explaining step-by-step directions of my masterpieces. Yes, I used to pretend I was on telly as a child...and looking back it's a bit embarrassing - but at the time? I was the star of my own show.

Here’s a belated story about my food television debut:

When I came back to the UK after a hiatus last January and Market Kitchen had an announcement about needing audience members I sent an email with my 'food story' off and waited for my moment to shine.  Almost 12 months later (an admittedly forgetting I had sent that email all those months ago) I received an email asking me to be part of the Market Kitchen Christmas Adventure.  To say I was excited would be an understatement...starting A taste of...and being on a food show all in the span of 7 days? Amazing! So I convinced my darling husband to come along and crossed my fingers there would be some fabulous food created on the show (which was inevitable really).

We showed up in the morning (me bursting with excitement, the hubs? Starting to get hungry) and waited to go up to the sound stage.  Everyone there was so lovely – constantly checking in and offering hot drinks and snacks…such a hospitable bunch!

Then the moment came, and we were taken upstairs to the set of the show I had spent so many hours watching at home was in front of me in real life.  People bustling around, talking into headsets and the smell of food (more specifically pancetta) took over and I grabbed a seat and prepared to watch the magic!

Matt Trebett and Aldo Zilli were the Chefs of the day, with the location being Edinburgh.  Matt kicked things off with a delicious brussel sprout and pancetta side (cream, white wine and thinly shaved brussels) recipe here.  I do something quite similar to this with savoy cabbage, but being a lover of the brussel sprout I am excited about trying this version! Where Aldo decided to do a roast goose which was absolutely gorgeous and super helpful as in a short time I’d be cooking my very first one for my very first Christmas with my in-laws.

We got to sample a Clootie dumpling as well – a traditional steamed pudding from Edinburgh – which looks like it could sink a small ship, but in actual fact is really light and airy.

We drank lots of bubbles and ate fabulous food.  All in all? A great day.

Thanks you Market Kitchen Big Adventure for making my television dreams come true!

ax

Hinds Head (and one year of marriage!)

As much of a food fanatic I claim to be I have never eaten at a Michelin Star restaurant – I love fabulous food and adore great service but I’m no millionaire and so until I am rolling in dough (not the kind with yeast) I go for amazing meals without the star.

For our one year wedding anniversary the hubs told me to get dressed up and we piled into our chariot (read: old school Caravel) and off into the sunset he drove me.  We weren’t 2 minutes away from the house when I realized we were headed to Bray, and as much as I know he’d love to take me there, we weren’t hitting up The Fat Duck…which left The Hinds Head…the excitement started to build.

Now while the Hinds Head doesn’t have any Michelin stars, its owner Mr. Heston Blumenthal has a few under his wing…3 at the Fat Duck to be exact…as well as winning ‘Best Restaurant in the World’ in 2005, which is nothing to turn your nose up at.  We’ve been told (reliable sources etc. etc.) that the same prep kitchen is used for the Hinds Head as is used for the Fat Duck – so there were to be no concerns with the quality or general fabulousness of the food – and we were pretty certain that we weren’t in for typical pub fare.

The Hinds Head feels like your neighbourhood pub when you walk in ducking through doorways (even I had to at 5’4!), exposed beams and a cosy feel that on this cold night was very much welcomed.

We grabbed a drink at the bar (they were featuring Iceburg, a Canadian vodka, so I had one…on the rocks, there is a first time for everything).  After we got our drinks we were quickly seated in the back dining room that was bustling and buzzing and full of life.

The menu was full of seasonal, comforting and exciting dishes (as if we’d expect anything else) and I couldn’t have been happier with my choices.

Crab on toast to start, generous heap of crab, seasoned perfectly and warm nutty brown bread to serve as a vessel, delicious and my tummy and mouth were screaming for more.

Main was pork belly cooked for a million hours (well not really, it was cooked overnight and then again for 4 hours the next day).  I literally cut it with a spoon…it was melt in your mouth fabulousness. With a butternut squash puree, lightly steamed spinach and a sticky, sweet and salty sauce the dish was as close to perfection I had ever seen and tasted.

The best part of my main? The hub’s food envy, his eyes were green with it!

For pudding…there was an Etons Mess.  Now this is something I’ve always wanted to try but its hard to get me away from the Sticky Toffee Pudding on desert menu!  It was full of sweet crunchy meringue, gorgeous whipped cream and bananas…topped with some crumbles of nuts (I cannot remember what kind!) and lime zest.  Surprisingly refreshing and light – and so so so good I could have eaten about 40.

Choosing what to order was the only difficult and unpleasant thing about the evening…and leaving, that part wasn’t fun either.

The total cost of our evening (including some booze and soft drinks for the driver) was around £100 which really isn’t bad as the service was amazing, and the food was out of this world.

Wonder how he’s going to top that for our next one!

ax

So where have I been?

Forgive me blog world…it’s been 7 weeks since my last post.

After my first post I was so excited, I'd finally done it! Started the blog I've wanted to start for yonks – then I got a bit freaked out about what to write…then Christmas happened.

I think it goes without saying that starting a blog at the end of November without lots of content ready to be pinged up was not a good plan.

So here I am – new year – lots of posts and a backlog of great things to share.

Here we go!

ax