Wednesday 27 April 2011

Tonight's Menu - Watercress Custard

Starter
Watercress Custard with Roast Red Pepper Sauce

Main
Lamb in Satay Sauce

Side Dishes
Stir Fried Tahu
 Dessert
Cassata Gelato
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It doesn't sound very appetizing but this is a lovely light starter. The Watercress Custard is served with sauce made from roasted red peppers


Main dish was Lamb in Satay Sauce. This was made with coconut milk, chillies, cumin, coriander and of course, peanuts



The side dish is made from tofu. The tofu was cooked with spring onion, red peppers, caramelised onions, garlic, ginger. soy sauce and orange zest

 
 
Lamb and Satay Sauce with Stir Fried Tahu and boiled rice together
 


The dessert was a Sicilian recipe. Cassata Gelato is an ice cream dessert made with homemade raspberry puree, egg yolk, double cream.



Cutting into the gelato reveals a creamy inside that has apricots, pineapple, cherries and pistachios




A slice of the gelato shows the fruits and pistachio




Tonight's verdict from the panel:


Seven thumbs up! I'll need a bigger bowl to make a big Cassata Gelato...


Wednesday 20 April 2011

Tonight's Menu - Frolicking in the Fjords

Starter
Stjerneskud

Main
Kalakasvisvuoka

Side Dishes
Potatis Och Ansjovis Gryta

Dessert
Rompudding
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The Starter! This is a Danish open sandwich with fillet of plaice and homemade dressing, butter fried wholemeal bread, salad leaves, poached haddock in white wine with homemade Hollandaise sauce, asparagus, dill, cucumber, smoked salmon cones filled with caviar, prawns garnished with a fan tomato and a slice of lemon



Main dish from Finland. This is cod with vegetables (carrots, celery, onions), thyme, parsley, sage and paprika baked in the oven



Our side dish from Sweden is a potato and anchovy casserole with sliced baking potatoes, onions and anchovy layers covered in double cream and Jarlsburg cheese



Kalakasvisvuoka and Potatis Och Ansjovis Gryta together



A delicious Norwegian dessert. This is rum pudding with whipping cream, egg yolks, milk, sugar and rum. Served with home made raspberry couli


This weeks Scandinavian food adventure was fun to create. Did the family think it frolicked in the Fjords of failure?


Seven big thumbs up. Full house on the empty plates!

Wednesday 13 April 2011

Tonight's Menu - Spanish Tapas

Starter
Leek Pancakes with Watercress and Anchovy Sauce

Main
Paella

Side Dishes
Tapas
Chorizo and Cheese Tortilla
Tiny Meatballs with Tomato Salsa
Traditional Catalan Salt Cod Salad
Tuna Rolls
Feisty Potatoes with Chilli Oil and Aioli


Dessert
Creamy Chocolate and Lemon Grass Mousse
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A low calorie dish topped with Edam cheese. The filling included leeks, mushrooms and chives and a scattering of sunflower seeds




       Classic Spanish Paella with juicy prawns and garlic chicken, always a firm favourite

                                          
              
Lamb meatballs with red onion, mint, cumin, lemon juice and cayenne pepper and a spicy tomato and pepper dip to finish them off




Great combination of Chorizo and cheese with tomatoes, red peppers and potatoes



This salt cod salad tasted amazing and was marinated with spring onions, olive oil, sherry vinegar and lemon juice. Served on a bed of tomatoes




The feisty potatoes are small chunks of fried potatoes with a generous helping of aioli (a garlicky homemade mayonnaise)  and a fiery kick of chilli oil





Flaked tuna and capers  rolled up in a grilled slice of red pepper which were soaked in olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, paprika, sugar and dried chilli flakes, yum yum yum yum



Milk infused with lemongrass makes this a creamy chocolate mousse with a very refreshing after taste






Lots of empty plates once again


Wednesday 6 April 2011

Tonight's Menu - Old Persia, India & Carrot Cake

Starter
Persi Eggs

Main
Rasedaar Murghi Taangen
(Chicken curry in spicy onion sauce)

Side Dishes
Dum Aloo
(Bombay Potatoes)

Dessert
Carrot Cake
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Parsi Eggs is an ancient Persian recipe made with chilli and tomatoes. I've added little Chappati rolls to the dish



Damian made the main and side dishes this evening. The main dish, Rasedaar Murghi Taangen, is chicken curry from the north of India. The fried onion sauce was thickened slightly



Damian's Dum Aloo is Bombay potatoes, another dish from north Indian. The ingredients include onion, tomato, ginger, green peppers and chilli



Served with white rice and naan bread



The home made Carrot Cake was not heavy, quite light and tasted lovely. A rind of a whole orange, tablespoon of orange juice, walnuts as well as grated carrots were the main ingredients of the cake itself. The topping was made with cream cheese and icing sugar



A close up of the Carrot Cake




Everyone's thoughts on tonight's meal:




Seven clean plates out of seven!