No I am not talking about affairs, but time spent at work NOT doing work! I confess there are some days where I spend way more time than is acceptable planning my next holiday, sorting my daughter's social life, booking babysitters, doing my internet shopping, booking a pedicure... Surely I shouldn't feel guilty about this? But I do. When will this mad rush of life get simpler, slower and easier? Who has time to clean out the front hall cupboard? I have enough children's clothing that mine have grown out of to start my own kid's charity shop! I guess the bottom line is that I do grab the time at work to do it all (except that cupboard). A happy working mother is a productive working mother, and there are only so many hours in a day...
Meat on a Stick
This may strike you as a bit obvious, but it always works in my house which is filled to the brim with fussy eaters. Putting meat on a stick turns a mundane meal into something that kids find fun to pick up and munch.
You will need 2 wooden skewers per child. Then I slice up a chicken breast, or a lamb steak, or a steak, and I skewer the little pieces (1/2 inch each) onto the sticks. I often drizzle on some chinese hoi sin sauce, or some barbecue sauce so they are well coated. If you have neither, then a little olive oil and a touch of salt flavours the meat just as well. Grill them on a very hot grill pan or frying pan in a bit of oil (or best on a BBQ outside) until they are browned and cooked. Serve with their favourite vegggies and some boiled potatoes.
Friday, 20 February 2009
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
How dirty are you?
I'd love to be more mukky, but somewhere along the line it became unacceptable to go out without having had a shower, so I was surprised when I visited a working mother friend of mine and she casually mentioned that she hadn't showered in three days. I had a secret respect for that. I love going on the school run wearing my pyjamas under my coat. Add some track suit trousers and running shoes and voila, it looks like I've been to the gym at 6am like all power moms do, right? Ya right. We're all exhausted and filthy...aren't we?
This dish is so very elegant, and easy of course:
Gratin Greens
Chop up and cook enough spinach or kale or savoy cabbage for your gang. Drain it well and lay it out in a roasting dish. Bring a cup or so of single cream to a simmer with 2 cloves of chopped garlic and a sprig of fresh thyme. Watch it doesn't boil over! Let it cool before adding it to 3 beaten eggs, and stir in some ground nutmeg, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture onto the cooked greens, top with some grated parmesan and bake in an oven (190) for about 25 mins until it has just set. This creamy gentle side dish goes perfectly with roast lamb.
This dish is so very elegant, and easy of course:
Gratin Greens
Chop up and cook enough spinach or kale or savoy cabbage for your gang. Drain it well and lay it out in a roasting dish. Bring a cup or so of single cream to a simmer with 2 cloves of chopped garlic and a sprig of fresh thyme. Watch it doesn't boil over! Let it cool before adding it to 3 beaten eggs, and stir in some ground nutmeg, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture onto the cooked greens, top with some grated parmesan and bake in an oven (190) for about 25 mins until it has just set. This creamy gentle side dish goes perfectly with roast lamb.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Danger: Husband in Grocery Store
Bless him - he loves to go shopping for groceries but despite returning home with 15 bags of stuff (never less, oh no. Bulk shopping is the ONLY shopping for him) I have nothing to cook - especially nothing child friendly.
I have done a small and informal survey and I am not the only unlucky one. My neighbour's husband comes home with foie gras and pheasant, and a friend's husband buys nothing but frozen cheap shite TV dinners and tins of inappropriate sauce. So mine went shopping yesterday. He came back with a dozen hot cross buns which will go off in three days - 16 apples (and we already had about 6 in the house) - the biggest block of butter I have ever seen (we have plenty already) - beers, of course - 5 tubs of yoghurt which only he eats - and a year's worth of oatmeal. No meat, no vegetables, in short, no dinner. But he was so excited...especially about the hot cross buns which were on a buy-one-get-one-free deal. Can someone please teach my husband how to food shop?
Retro Beef Stroganoff
I realise my recipes recently have been a little more time consuming than what I, the Happy Working Mother, promises above. I think the problem is I mostly cook well on weekends when I have a touch more time, and this recipe is no exception. BUT, it is very simple and quite delicious.
Slice up half a rump or sirloin steak per person into even finger sized strips. Put them in a plastic bag with some garlic salt, hot paprika and pepper. Shake around the bag until all the meat is well coated and set aside. I left mine for 1/2 a day. Cut a generous amount of mushrooms into halves or quarters so they are still a good size and slice up one or two onions. Fry the onions in olive oil until they are translucent, then add the mushrooms. Cook for 2-3 minutes then switch off the heat. In a wok, or big frying pan, melt a fair bit of butter and get it as hot as you dare before adding the beef, stir frying it until it is browned but still rare inside. 2-3 minutes max should do it. Now tip the beef into the onions and mushrooms, add one big tablespoon of smooth french mustard and mix together. Add a pot of sour cream which should result in enough sauce to coat some noodles. I served this on papardelle (wide flat noodles) with some broccoli on the side. Yum.
I have done a small and informal survey and I am not the only unlucky one. My neighbour's husband comes home with foie gras and pheasant, and a friend's husband buys nothing but frozen cheap shite TV dinners and tins of inappropriate sauce. So mine went shopping yesterday. He came back with a dozen hot cross buns which will go off in three days - 16 apples (and we already had about 6 in the house) - the biggest block of butter I have ever seen (we have plenty already) - beers, of course - 5 tubs of yoghurt which only he eats - and a year's worth of oatmeal. No meat, no vegetables, in short, no dinner. But he was so excited...especially about the hot cross buns which were on a buy-one-get-one-free deal. Can someone please teach my husband how to food shop?
Retro Beef Stroganoff
I realise my recipes recently have been a little more time consuming than what I, the Happy Working Mother, promises above. I think the problem is I mostly cook well on weekends when I have a touch more time, and this recipe is no exception. BUT, it is very simple and quite delicious.
Slice up half a rump or sirloin steak per person into even finger sized strips. Put them in a plastic bag with some garlic salt, hot paprika and pepper. Shake around the bag until all the meat is well coated and set aside. I left mine for 1/2 a day. Cut a generous amount of mushrooms into halves or quarters so they are still a good size and slice up one or two onions. Fry the onions in olive oil until they are translucent, then add the mushrooms. Cook for 2-3 minutes then switch off the heat. In a wok, or big frying pan, melt a fair bit of butter and get it as hot as you dare before adding the beef, stir frying it until it is browned but still rare inside. 2-3 minutes max should do it. Now tip the beef into the onions and mushrooms, add one big tablespoon of smooth french mustard and mix together. Add a pot of sour cream which should result in enough sauce to coat some noodles. I served this on papardelle (wide flat noodles) with some broccoli on the side. Yum.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Ahhhhh...January
Yesterday for the first time in weeks, I had the house to myself. It wasn't planned, but following Christmas with my Maw here for a month's visit, plus a guest from New York for 3 weeks not to mention my immediate family and the cleaning lady - an empty house is a rare treat. It only lasted 1.5 hours but that's all I needed to recharge, de-stress and then I got lonely.
I like the chaos of my home and although we have a constant stream of guests and dinner parties and unexpected coffee or wine worshippers showing up at all times, I like it that way. I may not read as much as I might like to, but entertaining friends and family is my great hobby. It creates good memories.
During the holidays I cooked a lot. For me the memorable meal was this stew which I tried making for the first time. Easy and perfect for cold weather.
Irish Lamb Stew
Chop up a couple of white onions and fry in a slosh of oil in a big casserole pot (which must have a lid). While that is frying, put half a coffee cup of plain flour, with a pinch of salt and lots of ground pepper into a resealable plastic bag. Add enough cubed lamb to feed your crowd, close the bag and shake to coat all the meat. Add the lamb and all the flour to the pot and stir until the meat is getting browned. Add a drizzle more oil if there is too much flour though you should have a sticky gloopy mess. Add enough stock (vegetable or chicken) to cover the meat and then some. Stir it all together, turn down the heat to simmer, and cover.
Peel and chop into nice chunky pieces some carrots and some turnip and add these to the pot. Remove a generous amount of fresh thyme from its stalks and add that too. Then add a small handful per person of pearl barley to the pot. Stir and cover and let it simmer gently for 2 hours. Keep checking it doesn't get too thick and stir it from time to time to prevent the barley from sticking to the bottom. If it is too thick just add a little warm water or half a glass of white wine. Also check the seasoning and add as necessary.
I served this with boiled new potatoes and everyone had seconds.
I like the chaos of my home and although we have a constant stream of guests and dinner parties and unexpected coffee or wine worshippers showing up at all times, I like it that way. I may not read as much as I might like to, but entertaining friends and family is my great hobby. It creates good memories.
During the holidays I cooked a lot. For me the memorable meal was this stew which I tried making for the first time. Easy and perfect for cold weather.
Irish Lamb Stew
Chop up a couple of white onions and fry in a slosh of oil in a big casserole pot (which must have a lid). While that is frying, put half a coffee cup of plain flour, with a pinch of salt and lots of ground pepper into a resealable plastic bag. Add enough cubed lamb to feed your crowd, close the bag and shake to coat all the meat. Add the lamb and all the flour to the pot and stir until the meat is getting browned. Add a drizzle more oil if there is too much flour though you should have a sticky gloopy mess. Add enough stock (vegetable or chicken) to cover the meat and then some. Stir it all together, turn down the heat to simmer, and cover.
Peel and chop into nice chunky pieces some carrots and some turnip and add these to the pot. Remove a generous amount of fresh thyme from its stalks and add that too. Then add a small handful per person of pearl barley to the pot. Stir and cover and let it simmer gently for 2 hours. Keep checking it doesn't get too thick and stir it from time to time to prevent the barley from sticking to the bottom. If it is too thick just add a little warm water or half a glass of white wine. Also check the seasoning and add as necessary.
I served this with boiled new potatoes and everyone had seconds.
Friday, 19 December 2008
A Control Freak's Guide to Christmas
I almost broke out in a rash when I heard that a friend of mine had done no Christmas shopping, no food plans, nothing, and today is the 19th December! Do you know I ordered my Christmas turkey in October. I booked my grocery delivery in November. I finished my Christmas shopping by 11th November. I am almost finished wrapping my gifts. My tree went up on the 4th.
The thing about Christmas is it's terribly busy, and my approach is the sooner you can get things done, the easier these stressful times can be.
It is a personality thing though, I appreciate that. I am my mother's daughter (almost, as she used to Christmas shop in July).
I don't want to scare you with my Christmas lunch cooking plan - 2 pages of what to do in 5 minute increments. My solution to the Christmas question: "How can I drink lots all day and not burn the turkey?"
Good luck, and Merry Christmas!
As this blog is sadly lacking in good starters, I will share with you my best and favourite starter recipe. It's the best because it's easy, and my favourite because it's quite tasty and quick.
Italian Antipasto Salad
This is not really a recipe - it's more of a combining guide. Per person, put half a buffalo mozzarella cheese on a plate. Tear it in half, don't cut it! Finely slice a red chilli and sprinkle a few on top of each cheese. Now drape 2 slices of prosciutto across the top. Drizzle them with some olive oil - use the good stuff. In a bowl, dress some rocket leaves and torn fresh basil leaves with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and mix well. Scatter that on top of the cheese and prosciutto mounds. You can sprinkle with toasted pinenuts if you like, for another texture. I find this salad will happily sit waiting for you and your guests, so it's great for entertaining.
The thing about Christmas is it's terribly busy, and my approach is the sooner you can get things done, the easier these stressful times can be.
It is a personality thing though, I appreciate that. I am my mother's daughter (almost, as she used to Christmas shop in July).
I don't want to scare you with my Christmas lunch cooking plan - 2 pages of what to do in 5 minute increments. My solution to the Christmas question: "How can I drink lots all day and not burn the turkey?"
Good luck, and Merry Christmas!
As this blog is sadly lacking in good starters, I will share with you my best and favourite starter recipe. It's the best because it's easy, and my favourite because it's quite tasty and quick.
Italian Antipasto Salad
This is not really a recipe - it's more of a combining guide. Per person, put half a buffalo mozzarella cheese on a plate. Tear it in half, don't cut it! Finely slice a red chilli and sprinkle a few on top of each cheese. Now drape 2 slices of prosciutto across the top. Drizzle them with some olive oil - use the good stuff. In a bowl, dress some rocket leaves and torn fresh basil leaves with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and mix well. Scatter that on top of the cheese and prosciutto mounds. You can sprinkle with toasted pinenuts if you like, for another texture. I find this salad will happily sit waiting for you and your guests, so it's great for entertaining.
Friday, 12 December 2008
You Should Have Said...
I don't know about you, but any time I tell my husband a story about how I handled an explosive moment in my day to day life (usually dealing with a bank, or the builder, or a rude man at the bus stop), his reaction is often along these lines:
"well, you should have told them x"
or
"you should have given them y"
or
"I would have said z".
What I never hear is "wow honey, you handled that so well - you really told them off! I would never have thought of saying that!". But I bear this in mind. Years ago I read Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus. I received the book as a gift from a friend and initially I was insulted, but I tried it out and it was a pretty good read. A few things stayed with me and one of them was that when men listen to a story about confrontation or a problem, they offer help and solutions whereas women listen, nod and then often praise. So if your husband is like mine and piles in there verbally abusing the "esprit des escaliers" (literally "the spirit of the stairs", which so well explains that moment of genius you have after leaving the scene where you just blurted out something inappropriate, stupid and angry) then rest assured he is doing that not to annoy you, but because he is a male.
To thoroughly annoy you, I am going to break with tradition and suggest a recipe for something that is perfectly good, store bought - Hoummus. It's just so simple to make and very popular. If you're asked to bring a dip to a party, then this is the fast and easy route, trust me. And it does taste better!
Hoummus
The hardest thing about this recipe is finding the tahini, which is literally peanut butter made out of sesame seeds instead of peanuts. It's pale and splits into paste and oil, so stir it up before using. I use about 1 cup tahini to 2 tins of (drained) chick peas. Place both in a food processor with 1/2 cup of olive oil - and don't measure it all out! This is a real "hurl it in and taste as you go" recipe. Add one large clove of crushed garlic, a big pinch of sea salt, a tsp of cumin powder and juice from half a lemon. Puree it down to a paste, and check the texture. If it's very thick, add some more olive oil until it's like stiff icing, then instead of adding yet more (expensive and fattening) olive oil, add water until it's at a typical hoummus slightly sloppy consistency. Now taste. Chances are it's bland. Add more salt and more lemon juice, and if you're brave, another clove of crushed garlic. It will eventually come to life and taste wonderful. As you add flavour, stir and taste, think to yourself "you're cooking good looking!".
OK I know that was dumb.
"well, you should have told them x"
or
"you should have given them y"
or
"I would have said z".
What I never hear is "wow honey, you handled that so well - you really told them off! I would never have thought of saying that!". But I bear this in mind. Years ago I read Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus. I received the book as a gift from a friend and initially I was insulted, but I tried it out and it was a pretty good read. A few things stayed with me and one of them was that when men listen to a story about confrontation or a problem, they offer help and solutions whereas women listen, nod and then often praise. So if your husband is like mine and piles in there verbally abusing the "esprit des escaliers" (literally "the spirit of the stairs", which so well explains that moment of genius you have after leaving the scene where you just blurted out something inappropriate, stupid and angry) then rest assured he is doing that not to annoy you, but because he is a male.
To thoroughly annoy you, I am going to break with tradition and suggest a recipe for something that is perfectly good, store bought - Hoummus. It's just so simple to make and very popular. If you're asked to bring a dip to a party, then this is the fast and easy route, trust me. And it does taste better!
Hoummus
The hardest thing about this recipe is finding the tahini, which is literally peanut butter made out of sesame seeds instead of peanuts. It's pale and splits into paste and oil, so stir it up before using. I use about 1 cup tahini to 2 tins of (drained) chick peas. Place both in a food processor with 1/2 cup of olive oil - and don't measure it all out! This is a real "hurl it in and taste as you go" recipe. Add one large clove of crushed garlic, a big pinch of sea salt, a tsp of cumin powder and juice from half a lemon. Puree it down to a paste, and check the texture. If it's very thick, add some more olive oil until it's like stiff icing, then instead of adding yet more (expensive and fattening) olive oil, add water until it's at a typical hoummus slightly sloppy consistency. Now taste. Chances are it's bland. Add more salt and more lemon juice, and if you're brave, another clove of crushed garlic. It will eventually come to life and taste wonderful. As you add flavour, stir and taste, think to yourself "you're cooking good looking!".
OK I know that was dumb.
Monday, 8 December 2008
What Knickers are you Wearing...?
I recently read an article about the woman who started Spanx, which, for those of you who don't know, is THE brand of what I call "Grannypants". We're talking about those big, beige, hold-yer-flaws-in pants. And if you don't need or own a pair, then GO AWAY - this blog is not for you (just yet).
So, I share with you my secret - I wore some on my wedding day and my husband doesn't know to this day. I had bought a pair of divine lacy wedding knickers, sure to inspire him even after all that partying, booze and smiling, but with my style of wedding gown, the desired effect was only to be achieved with the big pants. Before we got back to the hotel room I did the quick switch, and hey presto, none-of-your-business...
The thing is, my husband knows about these pants. Not in any great detail, but he knows I own a pair (it's more like 5 or 6 now). Last week I had lunch with a friend. She said she would never ever let her husband know that she wore grannypants. So, am I the odd one out?
Butternut Squash Soup
It's that soup time of year, and although this recipe is for butternut squash soup, you can apply the basics of this to pretty much any vegetable.
Peel, deseed and cut two butternut squashes and two apples into cubes. Chop two onions into small pieces. Get your hands on some vegetable or chicken stock. I use anything - cubes, storebought and occasionally I have some homemade.
Choose a large pot and fry the onion in some olive oil for a minute or two together with two tsps of curry powder. Add all the butternut squash and apple cubes. You'll have to keep stirring as you don't want anything to burn. Once the squash is getting a bit mulchy, add a bit of stock to continue the cooking process (hot or warm is best but don't worry) and cook until the squash is soft. Remove from the heat and use a handheld blender to puree it down to a smooth paste. Add one cup of freshly squeezed orange juice and keep stirring. Depending on whether you like a thick soup that sticks to the spoon, or a thinner one, add stock until it's the right consistency. Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. When I serve this I put a dollop of plain greek yoghurt in the bowl, and then add the hot soup.
So, I share with you my secret - I wore some on my wedding day and my husband doesn't know to this day. I had bought a pair of divine lacy wedding knickers, sure to inspire him even after all that partying, booze and smiling, but with my style of wedding gown, the desired effect was only to be achieved with the big pants. Before we got back to the hotel room I did the quick switch, and hey presto, none-of-your-business...
The thing is, my husband knows about these pants. Not in any great detail, but he knows I own a pair (it's more like 5 or 6 now). Last week I had lunch with a friend. She said she would never ever let her husband know that she wore grannypants. So, am I the odd one out?
Butternut Squash Soup
It's that soup time of year, and although this recipe is for butternut squash soup, you can apply the basics of this to pretty much any vegetable.
Peel, deseed and cut two butternut squashes and two apples into cubes. Chop two onions into small pieces. Get your hands on some vegetable or chicken stock. I use anything - cubes, storebought and occasionally I have some homemade.
Choose a large pot and fry the onion in some olive oil for a minute or two together with two tsps of curry powder. Add all the butternut squash and apple cubes. You'll have to keep stirring as you don't want anything to burn. Once the squash is getting a bit mulchy, add a bit of stock to continue the cooking process (hot or warm is best but don't worry) and cook until the squash is soft. Remove from the heat and use a handheld blender to puree it down to a smooth paste. Add one cup of freshly squeezed orange juice and keep stirring. Depending on whether you like a thick soup that sticks to the spoon, or a thinner one, add stock until it's the right consistency. Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. When I serve this I put a dollop of plain greek yoghurt in the bowl, and then add the hot soup.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)