Good :)

Today has been an amazing day so far. I've been up and out of bed since 7.30am and I've done so many things already. I've planted seeds for cabbage, carrots, spring onions and spinach since we eat a lot of veg and I just happen to have a miniature gardening set that I won in a competition. It was to celebrate the release of Gnomeo and Juliet in cinema's and I was a runner up and received the set. It's awesome :) So I bought tubs and a propagation thing and planted my little seeds in the company of my little babies (the lambs kept in the shed). I also came in and sorted out washing, with 2 loads washed and dried, a third waiting to dry while my jeans are in, and just one more load to go. I've also made fairy cakes for taking up to my aunts and tied down the basket in the boot of the car. All I need to do now is take out the rubbish and extra stuff that we don't need. I'm just going to have a wee break though because I've not sat down all day! I also need to have a shower, but that can wait for a wee while. What I really want to do right now is trawl through some food blogs and find a good recipe for fish cakes. It's been a challenge I've wanted to undertake for some time now, and today's the day for getting a recipe or two. Wish me luck :)

21st March 2011

Because I can't think of another title. Because I can't be bothered thinking of another title. Because I can't be bothered with anything, including food. This is bad. I have felt completely useless all day, as if I'm in the way, as if I'm normally holding people up and today is the day they decide to show me. Today I've learnt that I'm the one that stops others from doing their work, and that really depresses me. If people really think this about me, then why don't they tell me before? Because they're scared I might go mental? No fear of that. I'm all talk, no walk, as it were. I don't like confrontation and if it does happen, then I'm silent. I go into defensive mode, and defensive mode = cry. Or maybe that's why people don't tell me things. They're scared I might cry. God, I sound like a sissy. Purely because I am. Really.

For example, if I have to change job, I'll have to cancel my membership to a 24hr gym. Yes, you read that right. I won't have time for the bloomin' thing. What I mean is, I don't want to go on my own. I'm nervous entering a tiny room on my own and a huge gym full of strangers is my idea of hell, especially since there will no doubt be a lot of skinny women there who are trying to achieve size zero. I'm maybe being over-reactive, but I do not want to go on my own. Although, it seems that my partner has been thinking too and doesn't actually want me to go. Booking things behind my back, then telling me when they are, knowing full well that a) I can't make it and b) I'll never go on my own, thus stopping me going at all. Then again, it could be my brain that's telling me to believe all this, but none the less, I've not been told otherwise, so I'll trust my mushy brain. For now.

All in all, today has been completely crap and I feel totally deflated. To make things worse, I really can't be bothered doing anything so I won't even get up to cook myself happy. Maybe this is a good thing since I'd only end up making something sinfully fattening and gluttonous! So in the end, it's probably better I don't move off my fat arse. (Which is only growing fatter by the day, may I add! Stress isn't really good for me!)

So if you can think of a way I can re-inflate myself (get your mind out of the gutter!) then do get in touch. And maybe also if you have a recipe guaranteed to make me happy but won't pile on the pounds, since I don't need any help with that, apparently.

New Blog

Yes, I'm afraid you read that right. But. Do not worry, people. I'll still be using this one for all my memories, thoughts and other random stuff. Like this:

I went to a cookery demonstration last night. Well, that's what it was called but it was anything BUT a cookery demonstration. Firstly, they had a group of kids who were going to sing songs, without a piano, and without starting notes. Brave. Then they proceeded to perform the most random songs, finishing off with "Don't Stop Believin'" by Glee Journey. I'm sorry for all you "Gleeks" out there, but I REALLY can't stand the people or the sounds they pump out of their arses. They really annoy me, they ruin perfectly good songs, and they think they're the coolest people in the world. I think I'm actually going to have to make a post detailing the people I dislike/hate/want to kill if I could get away with it. I'm pretty sure Glee and Justin Bieber would have a pretty hefty fight trying to fight for the top spot on my list. Honestly, I really don't want to hear of Glee ever again in my life. But anyway. I digress.

These kids sang Glee, and I knew my evening was ruined. It only got worse. This "cookery" demonstration was nothing more than posh English idiots* throwing the most random things in a bowl, trying to look like they're trying to be serious but really trying to make the audience - more posh English idiots - laugh. They succeeded, which was no surprise. I was offended by how stupid they were being and it the evening was so far from what I expected that it would be easier for me to walk to Australia. And I can't walk on water. I'm not that good.

*The people who move to "Bonnie Scotland" for the scenery, to live in a little country village, run their 4x4's as if they were lorries and think they're better than REAL Scots. Can you tell I'm not a fan of the English? Sorry, that doesn't sound like I wanted it to. I like SOME of the English, because some are quite nice and really down to earth. But the ones who act as though I'm just a sore on their arse don't deserve any respect. I've done nothing wrong, I don't give you any hassle because of your stupid accent. You don't change the way you speak when you come up here, but you expect us to do that when we come down to your country.


Ohhh dear. Maybe I should just stop there? Yes, perhaps it's better. England, I'm sorry, but you just have to accept that we're just as good as you lot.

Cinnamon French Toast with Creamy Topping and Fruit Compot

Thick bread - I used medium in the recipe but that's all we had in the house
1 egg
Milk
Cinnamon powder
3tbsp frozen berries
Cream cheese
A little water
Icing sugar


Now, this is one of those recipes where you just have to judge the quantities by eye. There are no real measurements and that's what makes this breakfast divine!

Start by placing your berries in a small saucepan over a low-medium heat with 2 tbsp water and 1 tbsp icing sugar. Allow to come to a medium simmer and cook away while you do everything else. 

Beat some cream cheese with a tiny tiny tiny splash of milk and some icing sugar. Taste until it's your desired sweetness. It should be fairly thick but it doesn't have to be. The consistency of softly whipped cream is what I went for and it was so good!

Beat the egg, some milk and 2 tsp cinnamon together in a jug. Pour a third of the mixture onto a large flat plate and dip the bread on both sides until it's totally drenched. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the bread until it's golden on both sides. Set aside and keep warm. Repeat the process until you have as much bread as you like.

To serve, layer as follows: bread, creamy stuff, berries, bread, creamy stuff and finally some berry mix on top. Trust me, it's yummy!

Onion and White Stilton Sauce

This recipe is a weird one. No, that didn't sound as I meant it to sound. It's one with mixed reviews in this house. As in, my partner liked it, and I wasn't so keen. It was a bit bitter for me, but I have an incredibly sweet tooth and a neverending love of garlic in steak sauces containing onions. I think I'm going to stop cooking the onions until fully caramelised as suggested by the original recipe. They turn bitter after a while and it sort of spoils the sauce for me. I'm going to give you the recipe though as I'm sure others will enjoy it, and I'll also let you know how I prefer my steak... I expect you to be shocked, really...

This recipe serves two hungry hippo's (the man and me) but multiply as required or reduce the quantities you need if you want to have some self indulgence!

2 thick rump steaks
1 large onion, sliced fairly thinly (cut in half then slice)
1/2 pt double (heavy) cream
As much white stilton as you like - keep tasting as you add a small bit at a time
1/2 pt beef stock in case the sauce becomes too thick and you want it a bit thinner
Seasoning
Olive oil or any other that can stand a high heat


First, heat a griddle pan. Full whack from the word go. You want this to be smoking hot before you put the steak on, so open the windows and doors and be ready to fan the smoke alarm with a towel. I use the helicopter method but whatever works for you.


Place a wide bottomed frying pan over a low-medium heat, add a couple of tablespoons of oil and allow to heat a little. Add the onion and stir until coated with the oil. Allow to caramelise. This could take up to 20 minutes depending on the thickness of the slices. I'd also suggest not letting them get as dark as the picture. When you think they need another few minutes and the thinnest ones are pretty brown, stop.

Once you're ready, add pretty much all the cream and a little stock, stir well and allow to simmer away until the sauce is reduced by roughly half. You can keep adding a little stock now and then if it's looking too thick.


Now that the sauce is a perfect consistency, taste it. If it needs some seasoning, add it. Take a knob of cheese and allow it to melt in the sauce. Taste again. If you're happy with the flavour, stop there. If not, keep going until you're happy. You can ideally use any kind of cheese, including cream cheese or blue cheese. Anything you fancy. Just be sure you're happy with the taste. Add a little more stock than you should and turn the heat right down. This will make sure your sauce isn't too think by the time your steak is done.


For the steak, rub with oil on the "up" side, then season liberally with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place oil side down in the griddle pan and stand back. DO NOT TOUCH THAT STEAK AGAIN UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO TURN IT! I give mine roughly 2 minutes on each side as my partner likes his somewhere between blue and rare. It's the same for me but mine are more on the blue side of life. This means 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Also, I don't rest my steak as they always get cold. It works for me though because once they're on our hot plates, covered with sauce and accompanied by stir-fried veg and chips, they rest a bit. We leave the best bit of the meal for last, which just happens to be the steaks.


To plate up, have your steak on first after you've heated up the plate. Then add whatever accompaniments you wish to add. Be it new potatoes, chips, veg or anything else. Finally, add your sauce and dig in. Yummy :)

Ohhhh dear...

Well this week has, so far, been a complete disaster. If it wasn't for my wonderful partner, I'd have gone totally crazy. Seriously. It's been hell since Sunday night! After working overtime on the checkouts, I didn't get any sleep. Then on Monday, nothing was done by my manager to try and help me get back to work. By Tuesday, I asked again about checkouts and was told that if I didn't fit in with their vacancies, I'd be looking for a job outside of Tesco. It took me talking to my manager after hours to get him to sort something out. Which he never did. I got so angry that when I saw my partner, I was in tears. The manager also hid as soon as he saw him. Wimp. On Wednesday, my back was gradually getting worse and I was pushing myself too hard. When I told my manager about it, he told me again - for the THIRD time - that I might have to look for a job outside of Tesco. But, after me asking a lot of good questions about whether there was any communication between members of staff and him trying to lie his way out of everything, he then accused ME of lying about the changeover being temporary and went to check my notes. By this time, I was fuming and in tears. Other members of staff in my department were very helpful and supportive and I really want to thank them for that. I was then called up to the interview room where my manager was waiting. He never apologised, or said anything else for that matter, but expected me to follow into the room and we both sat down. I was then informed that I was to be put on checkouts as of today. All in all, it takes a lot of work for them to start to help you. And also a lot of clever wording and research beforehand.

Let's just hope that my week gets better from now on. Oh well, I'll just have to cheer myself up by cooking, looking up recipes and thinking about what to make next for dinner. It always cheers me up, so it's worth a shot. Enough ranting. Time for a new post to clear the air.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Ok so I'm going to post my first proper recipe, and what better than chocolate chip pancakes? Well, I'll tell you how I ended up making them... My partner and I were a little peckish after we had lunch, so we decided to make dessert. I fancied pancakes and he wanted something with chocolate, and that's when I suggested chocolate chip pancakes. And I must say, they were bloomin' good! In fact, I'll issue a warning with them: When you make them, eat them straight out of the pan. I know, it sounds silly, but do it. You can thank me later :)

10 tbsp self raising flour
5 tbsp caster sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp golden syrup
1 very large egg (or two small ones)
Milk - enough to keep the batter thick
1 bag chocolate chips - around 200g


In a large bowl, sift in the dry ingredients and gently stir together. Gradually whisk in the milk, then crack the egg into a seperate bowl and add to the large bowl. Whisk until fully blended with the flour mix and no lumps remain in the mix. Finally, add the choc chips and give the batter a quick stir.

Heat a non-stick frying pan on a medium heat - on my cooker, it was setting 8 since mine goes up to 12! Put a tiny bit of oil in the pan and wipe it round with a bit of kitchen roll so just a thin coating remains. Once your pan is up to heat, use a ladel and spoon two small pancakes into the pan. Now, I say small but really, they're going to stretch out quite a lot, so half a ladelful per pancake is more than enough. Trust me. 

Leave your pancakes until bubbles appear on the surface. Don't be tempted to keep checking up on the underside because it won't be ready and you just get stressed out and don't want to wait any longer. So, just leave them, put the kettle on, then go back and look for bubbles - this could take up to 3 minutes. I suggest you only do one pancake for a start to check for temperature and timings according to your own cooker, then carry on making more.

Once the bubbles start to appear (there won't be many) then you can turn them over. DON'T FLIP THEM!!! You only end up with a massive mess on the floor if you're anything like me. Turn them with a spatula/fish slice thing and leave them for a couple of minutes.


Once they're done, either store them on a plate wrapped in a clean dish towel or you can just eat them right away. Try one right away and try not to smile as the chocolate seeps out of the sweet batter... I'm drooling again!

This mix makes between 8 and 12 pancakes, depending on the size they turn out to be. Enjoy :)