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26 Feb 2014

Jamie Love - and when 15 minutes is really 35...



Having run out of steam with 'Project Breakfast', I decided a couple of weeks ago that I needed a new food fad. I have no staying power with any sort of project - hence such sporadic blogging - so attempting to cook from the same book for a sustained period of time was always going to be a challenge!

Frankly, just cooking every evening would be a challenge; I'm more your 'heat and eat' kind of girl. Having enjoyed an amazing pasta feast with our lovely friends, Family Knight, shortly after Christmas, I was inspired by Chef Dan's recipe from Jamie Oliver's '30 Minute Meals'. A cynic by nature and a general domestic incompetent, I remained unconvinced that the meals really do take so little time to prepare and cook, so was delighted to discover Jamie's '15 Minute Meals'. For exactly two weeks, every evening meal we ate, came from this book.

The verdict?

Pros
  • Every meal I made genuinely tasted good! Obviously, we had favourites, but there wasn't a dud amongst them.
  • They seem to be healthy and balanced - which was one of Jamie's objectives. I have never felt like I have eaten such a varied and interesting diet before.
  • All recipes are for four people, and generous portions at that.
  • They look pretty! Especially if you mimic Jamie's philosophy of platters of food to encourage a 'dig-in and share' approach.
  • I really am a terrible cook but nothing was beyond my distinctly limited culinary capabilities.
Cons
  • I defy anyone (including Jamie himself) to actually make the meals in 15 minutes! Cheekily, he doesn't count getting your ingredients and equipment out in the time frame and the dishes rely on a significant number of ingredients. I found that if I prepped separately, whilst plonking the toddler in front of 'Peppa Pig', for some of the dishes, the cooking took around 15-20 minutes.
  • It was expensive - as I said in my previous comment, you need a lot of ingredients. However, I do think if you used the book regularly, you'd build your store cupboard up and the cost would go down. Also, I stupidly wasn't halving the ingredients when I was only cooking for two people.
  • You really need a food processor with a variety of blades. Don't bother with the book if you don't have one or aren't prepared to buy one.
  • Be prepared for mess! The kitchen generally looked like a bomb had hit it most evenings. Thank goodness for a dishwasher and a husband who dislikes chaos!
  • If you're not a natural cook and you rely on a number of prepared meals throughout the week alongside some actual cooking, cooking only from this book started to feel like a stamina test!

Overall, I will definitely cook from '15 Minute Meals' again. In fact, the dishes are impressive enough that they would make really impressive and satisfying dinner party food. I feel like my little experiment was an enjoyable success that has definitely given me more confidence in the kitchen.

Now that particular fad has finished, I am rather drawn to the lovely Alice Judge-Talbot's brand new website: More Than Paleo. In fact, the chicken for the delicious-looking Sticky Honey Chicken Salad with Sweet Potato and Cashew Nuts, is marinating in the fridge as I type!

Below are the meals I made from Jamie's book: two from each main section of the book. Jamie's are on the left, in case you were wondering! And this is not a sponsored post, in case you were wondering that too, although I may send Jamie the link...














24 Feb 2014

Hearts and Bottles



There's a beautiful book by the awesome Oliver Jeffers, called 'The Heart and the Bottle', the essence of which is the idea that we have to be connected to our feelings through our emotional 'heart' and, if we try to detach that heart from our very being, we simply cannot feel - at least that's how I interpret it anyway. It reminds me of a story I used to teach called 'The Warlock's Hairy Heart' by J.K. Rowling, although that's a bit more bloody and gruesome: probably not one for the smalls.

Anyway, the reason I am rambling on about these stories (and at risk of slipping into 'teacher-mode') is because at the weekend, I had a really lovely day. My intention is not to be Mrs Smug of Smugsville - if that is how I am coming across, please take comfort from the fact that there were at least three epic toddler tantrums and a not-so-near miss with some dog poo - but more to try and capture a moment. I'm a firm believer in the mantra that 'nothing is permanent', be it good or bad and sometimes, I wish I could take those lovely moments, and a bit like the heart in Jeffers' book, just bottle them.

Instead, I capture them in photographs, albeit, on my trusty iPhone and with no skill whatsoever. However, I'm also making a conscious effort not to stage and fixate on photos, for fear of missing that moment and separating it from my heart.  Saturday afternoon in a gloriously sunny Brighton was the perfect back-drop to some spontaneous snapping, but I also made sure that my heart and soul actually felt and connected to the bright sunshine, the breezy beach, the madness of the pier and the sheer joy on Dexter's face. And my stomach definitely connected to the delicious dinner at Yum Yum Ninja. Now if only I could bottle the taste of their duck pancakes and beef skewers...

22 Feb 2014

A magical morning!


Dexter was three on 13th February. It was a school day, so we indulged in nothing more than some present opening and some caterpillar cake eating.

Before Christmas, I hadn't really planned for him to have a party, but then 'Marco the Magician' got the nursery Christmas party gig. My boy can accurately be described as 'contrary' and it is often hard to tell how he will take to such occasions; he loved it! So that was decided: book the village hall, get the date in Marco's diary and get inviting the guests!

Naturally, I dedicated a whole Pinterest board to some rather grandiose party plans, but when it came down to it, all we needed was: a cute and practical venue; the legend himself; a real bunny rabbit (Mr Marmite, if you please); super-helpful grandparents; copious amounts of beige food; brilliant guests and the birthday boy himself!

If you helped us celebrate, then THANK YOU for schlepping out to 'the sticks': we hope you had a magical time too!




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