Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Berry and White Chocolate Risotto


I adore making risotto and have made quite a few on here for example pancetta, leek and pea, maitake and crab risotto  I got the Maitake once when my parents were visiting as I thought what a cool looking mushroom my Dad was game my Mum not so much. 

Another one I love is Heirloom tomato and squash this one had a great color. I made something similar to this with zucchini and eggplant from the garden the other day and since I would be standing at the stove for a while and I had hubby on kid watching duty :-) I thought I would have fun and make a sweet one. 
I used blueberries and strawberries and white chocolate with vanilla in it. This made a lovely dessert and no sugar was needed with the berries.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Salmon with a Chive, Ginger and Lemon butter glaze


This wonderfully simple recipe was inspired by the back of the salmon package. Have you ever looked at recipes on food packages? I even cooked tofu according to a recipe on the pack of tofu the other day. So next time you pick up a food item have a wee gander at the recipe and use it to inspire your recipe. 

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Sushi Making Fun




So our wee now 4 year old daughter loves sushi. We made some recently at home all in all it was a lot of fun to make and not really that hard, just need some sushi rice, nori and a bamboo mat to roll it in. We choose to fill it with shrimp and avocado. As it was for kids we used cooked fish although when we are out she eats raw from a good place made fresh. 

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Zucchini Fritters




I made my first zucchini fritters recently with the huge zucchini that grew in our garden. Growing up in the UK I had never had these before. I know they are popular here in the States and so happy to have joined the fritter club:-)

Friday, August 17, 2012

Rebecca's Spaghetti and Meatballs


I adore meatballs, such a comfort food as are all pasta dishes to me, I remember making you all laugh with the amount of times I made lasagna while pregnant! 
These are easy to make and great for leftovers as busy folks we all need a day of from cooking and enjoy leftovers:-)

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Chickpea, Eggplant and Bulgur Wheat Salad


I made Channa Masala recently and had chickpeas leftover after soaking and pressure cooking them. I thought they would pair perfectly with bulgur wheat and a healthy salad. I soaked the bulgur wheat for 30 minutes added tomato and roasted eggplant and voila a healthy lunch was born. Bulgur wheat has a texture like cous cous but is whole grain and higher in protein. 

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Summer Tomato and Basil Spaghetti


This is now my favorite way to serve spaghetti it shouts summer with the homegrown cherry tomatoes and fresh basil and its easy to make, what's not to like. This recipe was inspired by Barbara's blog Moveable Feasts CookBook.  I always enjoy visiting her and have been following for a few years she's a wonderful lady and great cook and takes awesome trips with her daughter one to French Polynesia. The only change I made was to add peas and this week I roasted eggplant and zucchini and added to it so good.


Ingredients:

serves 3-4
  • one cup of halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup of fresh basil chopped
  • 3 cloves of garlic chopped
  • one tablespoon of olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste 
  • 1/2 cup of frozen peas
  • 1/2 a pack of spaghetti
Method:

  1. simply mix the cherry tomatoes, with the garlic, salt and pepper, basil and olive oil and let it marinate for a few hours - magic happens :-)
  2. boil the spaghetti with peas, till al dente 
  3. heat a pan and toss the tomatoes and spaghetti together and serve 
  4. it makes great leftovers too ;-) 




Here's a wee garden update 


this one got really big when we were away and I made my first zucchini fritters with it yummy 


okra, must plant more plants next time, just getting a few and need to pluck when a little smaller :-) but its a fun learning experience gardening 


and who knew okra has such pretty blossoms 

Have a wonderful start to the week folks :-) 


Hugs 

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Saturday, August 11, 2012

Wednesday Night Market Santa Rosa CA



On our recent trip to Sonoma we stayed a couple of nights in Santa Rosa California. This is a great little town and close to great driving in Sonoma wine county. More of a town that everyday folks live in and less touristy than Napa to me, also hotels are much cheaper. Hence the reason we booked here in the first place one of the first things I do when visiting a place to look up local farmers markets and I was thrilled that we were in town over a wednesday. 

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Bratwurst with German Style Potatoes



We had some wonderful Bratwurst in Munich at a beer garden, unfortunately it was raining that day so we weren't in the garden. Der Hofbräukeller is one of Munich's biggest beer garden restaurants. It is known for traditional Bavarian food and even has a place for kids to play in a supervised area. 

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Osmiza - An Ancient Food and Cultural event


Pablo tweeted this link to me yesterday, I was curious so clicked it had never heard of the event before and was captivated by the clip, well made and told a wonderful story of ancient food and culture. After a few tweets back and forth I found out he is a talented documentary maker, designer and photographer from Argentina currently in Italy. He followed me on twitter from the twitter suggestion box! I immediately asked if I could add to Chow and Chatter and if he would share something about it. 



"Osmiza is a centennial tradition placed in the border between Italy and Slovenia, on the former austro hungaric empire. A rule from the emperor Franz Joseph II allowed the peasants to sell their wine and cold cuts without taxes for only eight days on their premises. There was only one condition: to put a wranch of Ivy on the door of each Osmiza. In 2012, the tradition adapts and endures, and on the steep and narrow paths of the carsian hills, the best cheeses, cold cuts and wines can be found on these places held for generations".

About me: Pablo Apiolazza is a designer and filmmaker born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He worked most of his life in post-production for TV and film and in the last days as a documentary producer, specially travel docs.
My website is http://www.pabloapiolazza.com.ar

Has anyone else heard of this?



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Sunday, August 5, 2012

Salmon and Vegetable En Papillote


I have always been intrigued by this dish, and thought it was hard like a lot of dishes with a French name, but recently tried it after seeing a recipe on Bon Appetit. It is also a fun dish to make with a child, as you can assemble all the fillings and let them fill them and make the little parcels. The cool thing is taking it out of the oven and opening to a delicious meal, complete with salmon and vegetables, just like opening a present. 

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Local Clemmons NC Honey




As I was driving home from my friends house today in Clemmons North Carolina I saw a sign for local honey, yep you know me well had to stop and get some.



Heres the lovely bee keeper he started his hives 3 years ago when someone from his church offered him bees! He figured why not he was retired. He states that he is getting more each year but that it's hard work and hot:-)


I was intrigued by the difference in the color he said the darker one is made from spring blooms on the poplar trees. The lighter local flowers, he has a beautiful yard full of them ;-)



His pretty yard the bees live behind the barn


Pretty country roads



Yummy honey and butter toast, our daughter loved it,

Local folks here is his details go get you some -

Local honey
John Hartman
336 766 5576
loop road
Clemmons NC


Remember you can find wonderful local food and beauty right on your doorstep :-)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Join me for a Drive in Sonoma CA


Join me for a wee drive in Sonoma county California, such a beautiful place :-)

Have a great weekend

Hugs


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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Watermelon Smoothie



This is a delightfully simple smoothie to make, just watermelon with low fat natural yogurt. I know everyone is crazy on watermelon and my hubby loves drinking the juice but for me its too sweet. I love the combination with the yogurt and it adds in protein and calcium along with the lycopene and vitamins of the watermelon, got to love that.

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