Belleau Kitchen Random Recipes #21 Store Cupboard Finds

I daren't look at the back of my cupboards.  I have no idea what might be lurking there.  Once in a while I will build up the courage to get the step stool out, clamber up and peer into the deepest darkest corners of the cupboards.  I usually find something like mincemeat or condensed milk or something else bought with the best of intentions (like the tube of chestnut paste recently purchased in Paris), this time I found...Sardines.  I remember purchasing them for lunch a month or so ago and then changing my mind and having an egg or something else instead.  So there the lonely tin of Portuguese BONELESS Sardines have sat...waiting.  

Thank goodness Dom from Belleau Kitchen challenged his readers to randomly select an ingredient from the cupboard for this month's Random Recipe.   Who knows how long the poor tin would have sat there, unloved, unopened, unused. 

I didn't use a cookbook recipe this month.  I used a trusty old quick school night supper standby instead, so forgive me Dom.  

I like to think of this as my version of Pasta Puttanesca...the whole dish takes the time it takes to boil the water and cook the spaghetti.  The recipe (for 2) goes a little something like this: 

Rush in the door and before you have taken off your coat put a large pan of water onto boil.  Take off coat (hang up coat) and get down to business.  While the water is boiling heat a generous glug of oil in your largest sautee pan and add to that 1/2 red onion finely chopped, 1 clove garlic pressed, and a sprinkle of chilli flakes.  Once the onion is soft toss in 200g cherry tomatoes, quartered and softly cook until the tomatoes break up.  By now the water should be boiled.  Salt the water and add enough spaghetti for 2 greedy people.  Add a couple of Tbsp of the pasta water to the tomato sauce when it looks like it is getting a bit dry.  When the pasta is almost cooked add 1 Tbsp (minimum) capers, rinsed if too salty and the sardines (minus the oil) from one tin.  Use a spatula to break the sardines up a bit.  Before draining the pasta I reserve about 1/3 of a cup of the pasta water.  Drain the pasta, add it into the sautee pan with the sauce and toss to coat.  Add a little bit of the cooking water if you feel it is needed.  I'd normally toss in a handful of chopped parsley or basil and lots of black pepper.  

Pile high in bowls and devour.  

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Belleau Kitchen Random Recipe #18...Something a Little Different

I've been away from the Random Recipe Scene for the last couple of months.  I have no excuse, I have just plum forgot...twice! I vowed to get back into the game for July when Dom tweeted the June round up...and so here it is: 

This month we have been challenged with something a little different...to show each other our cookbooks. Despite having a gorgeously huge kitchen (please don't hate me) there are no shelves for my cookbooks...grrrrrrrrrr (we rent so this is not easily remedied). Because of this my cookbooks are split between trolly sideboard thing...and a space I have claimed on the countertop.  

There is no strict cataloguing system...things just go where they go.  If I pull a bunch of books out there is a good chance they won't go back to the stack they came from...but because I don't have all that many books I can usually find what I am looking for.  I have way too many Jamie Oliver books, not enough Nigella and (sadly) no Hugh.  Ottolenghi has to go on the wooden unit cause he is too big to sit on the countertop, and the newest requisitions are always near the top of the counter pile.  

I love cookbooks but have to stop myself from buying them (or taking them to bed to read...I was crushed by 365 Good Reasons to Sit Down and Eat last year) unless I really really NEED it.  I've been taking out loads from the library recently and copying out the recipes I want to try...and I've actually found that there is really only a handful of recipes in most books that I want to try. Of course there are some exceptions, like Short and Sweet and my recent gift Nordic Bakery Cookbook, but for the most part I'm beginning to question to cost of some books.  I'm also bookmarking a lot of recipes from the internet (many from books I think I'd like to buy) and slowly working my way through. 

Saying all that I do have a cookbook wish list...I can't help it. 

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Random Recipes: Belleau Kitchen is 2!

Happy 2nd Birthday to Belleau Kitchen!! It was only a couple of months ago that we were celebrating the 1st anniversary of the Random Recipe Challenge and now...Belleau Kitchen is 2! For this month's random recipe challenge Dom asked us to bake him something...to celebrate the big birthday. I've only got one book entirely dedicated to baking (S&S) and, while I'm loving making my way through Dan's tome I felt that it was time to kick it old skool. 

I hauled out my own recipe book...full of handwritten notes and copies of things my mum used to make me.  I took out all the baking/dessert pages messed them up a bit, closed my eyes and hoped for the best.  

The result? Peppermint Buttercream...

Luckily the other side of the page had a recipe for my Nonna's Banana Bread...a family favourite.  Maybe not as OTT as some birthday cakes...but special in its own way (plus rammed full of chocolate chunks and walnuts...luxury). 

So...Happy Birthday Belleau Kitchen...and welcome to the terrible twos xx

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Random Recipes: Lucky Number 17

When Dom over at Belleau Kitchen announced that this month's theme was Lucky Number 17 (the 17th cookbook on the shelf) I immediately thought that there was no way I had 17 cookbooks...turns out I have 22.  Scanning and counting the two piles of books I discovered that number 17 was the Williams Sonoma Bride & Groom Cookbook.  This cookbook claims to cover everything a young couple needs to know about setting up a kitchen and embarking on a life cooking together....it is sweet and was given to us as an Engagement gift by a friend in Canada....and is totally fitting for this month since it is our anniversary month! 

Anyway, the recipe was for Gougeres, or as I like to call them...cheese puffs (not to be confused with cheesies or whotsits).  Two immediate worries about the recipe...I had never made choux pastry before and I didn't really have an appropriate occasion to make them for.  Worry number 2 was solved when David invited some pals over for dinner...worry number 1 never really went away.  

In some bazaar twist the hosts at the supper club I visited last week served them as canapes...and as I was stuffing them in my mouth I thought there is no way I can do this.  Gougeres are such a lovely treat, and once you know what you are actually doing they are a really easy nibble to make (and even easier to eat). 

Batch 1 was a disaster...well not entirely...but it wasn't salvageable....I blame Willams Sonoma.  The recipe wasn't written very well.  I made the roux bit no problems...then it said remove from heat and add eggs one at a time...so in with the first egg and SCRAMBLE! Blooming recipe should have said let cool slightly.  Thankfully all that was wasted was an egg and some flour and butter...luckily I had more butter and eggs and hadn't ruined the cheese! 
Batch 2 mixed up nicely (after slightly cooling) but I had to divide the batter between two trays and then didn't know if it the second tray would be ok to wait...so in they both went and when they came out the ones on the bottom tray didn't really puff up properly.  But they tasted great so...who cares! 
A true challenge Dom! 

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Random Recipes: 1st Birthday

I can't believe that the Random Recipes challenge, hosted by the fantastic Dom over at Belleau Kitchen, is 1 this month! The theme this month? To return the first book used...and as I scanned the past year's posts in my archive I was surprised to see that it took me a whole 3 months to actually jump on the RR bandwagon.   How horrible is that?! 

My shame at being so awful was quickly tossed aside when I discovered that the first cookbook I used way back all those months ago was the totally adorable Peter Rabbit's Cookbook.  This is one of the sweetest cookbooks ever...hands down.  There is something so pure about it.  Every time I pick it up I feel healthy, I feel cleansed...I feel like a little bunny.  

Who could resist recipes for Squirrel Nutkin's Banana-Nut Loaf (a family favourite), Tabitha Twitchit's Spicy Raisin Dessert, Cat and Rat Tomato Soup or Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle's Tomatoes stuffed with cottage cheese? 

The writing is aimed at little bunnies, reminding us that knives, electric blenders and mixers can be dangerous.  And there is even a chapter entitled "How to like Onions", giving advice on the best onions for little bunny palates. 

My recipe this time? Mr. Pricklepin's Cream or Cottage Cheese Sandwiches

While it appears like mush, I can promise you this is a fantastic little sandwich.  Mr. Pricklepin's recipe has 3 variations.  The one I chose was cottage cheese, finely chopped celery, finely chopped green onion and a sprinkle of sunflower seeds all mashed together and then spread over bread.  I'll admit I added some salt and pepper to the mix (I am an adult bunny after all) and toasted my bread.  Other variations suggest cream or cottage cheese mixed with raisins and seeds, or finely diced cucumber and chopped dill.

The crisps might not be in keeping with the healthy natural foods theme of this cookbook...but it is a birthday party after all! Happy 1st Birthday Random Recipes!


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Random Recipe: New Year...New Book!

New Year...New Books and back to the regular schedule, finally! I've been horrible about blogging and reading and commenting and it is purely down to being so busy that I barely had a chance to sit down to the computer over the last month.  But...now that all our guests have departed and the house is almost back to normal I plan on re-discovering all my favourite blogs and challenges....starting with the always fabulous Dom over at Belleau Kitchen. 

This month's challenge...New Year...New Book.  It was easy to choose the book, seeing as Dan Lepard's Short & Sweet was the only cookbook I received this year.  The recipe...Bourbon and Pecan Brownies. 

This was a perfect Random Recipe for me...I rarely bake brownies...in fact I would never choose a brownie over cake or pastry...they are often dry or too claggy.  Saying that, when flipping through the book on Christmas morning the word Bourbon had definitely caught my eye! 

These brownies come together so easily (although I did have to use 3 bowls and a pot!) and take less than an hour from beginning to end. My budget doesn't stretch to buying a bottle of bourbon so I used some Canadian Rye Whisky and substituted walnuts for the pecans (had them left over from Christmas). The addition of the alcohol makes these brownies a real treat, they are boozy, chocolatey and gooey without being claggy in the centre.  

If you have Short & Sweet makes these for your next dinner party!   

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Random Recipes does No Croutons Required!!

What a totally fantastic challenge this month! Kudos to both Dom and Jac for being brave enough to host this joint challenge! The theme this month...soup! Perfect for the weather, perfect for the time of year and perfect for me! I try really hard to make at least one big batch of soup a week...something to serve for a meal and then to stretch out over 2 or 3 lunches at work.

Keeping that in mind, my choice wasn't entirely random...it was planned...but it was one of those last minute selections that required a trip out to the grocery store.

The link for this month's recipe comes from one of my favourite time wasting websites, Tastespotting.  I spied it last weekend when I had a spare hour or so to surf and came across this recipe on Elana's Pantry for Butternut Squash and Apple Soup.

This soup is easy to prepare, you just chuck it all in and sauté for a bit until adding the stock.  I made it with veggie stock, making it veggie...but use chicken stock if you like.  The cinnamon was a really nice, seasonal addition...but I think next time I would use less...and maybe less apple.


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Belleau Kitchen Random Recipe Challenge...I'll show you mine...

That Dom has done it again! This month he totally upped his game...getting us all to pair up and choose for each other! No cheating here...not that I would of course...well...ahem...

I got teamed up with the totally inspiring Michael over at Me, My Food and I and after a few emails and random numbers assigned I was faced with the continually avoided recipe for Minted Peas from Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food.  

I say continually avoided...because...well...while I totally love Ministry of Food and would recommend it to anyone starting out in the kitchen...or just as a good go-to for homily meals...the veggie sides have never really inspired or enticed me.  Well! Isn't this what Random Recipes is all about? trying something new...

Now I have tried it, I can't say that I will try it again.  The peas are cooked with shredded lettuce and spring onions and chicken stock and finished with mint...they weren't great...they looked great...but I didn't like them.