Friday, 20 March 2009

Lunch Box Decisions

Now the weather is getting a bit warmer I am wondering what to have for lunch.

If you follow the blog regularly then you will know that I am a little obsessed with soup, and bringing a hot flask of soup with me to work to have at lunchtime. However, I feel that it will soon be time to put the flask back in the cupboard and I am now wondering what to have for my packed lunch.

Please email me your ideas or recipes at info@chichestercookshop.co.uk and I can share them with everyone on the blog and look forward to some yummy lunches.

Thanks,

Sarah

Wednesday, 18 March 2009

Grown-up Ice Cream

Who said ice cream was for kids? www.Icecream-Recipes.Com has a great list of ice cream flavours for you to try including Rose Petal Ice Cream.

This flavour caught my eye as I imagine it to be beautifully delicate and is a little unusual.

See what you think:

Rose Petal Ice Cream (4-6 servings) – IceCream-Recipes.com

Ingredients

2 oz (50g) candied rose petals

4 oz (120ml) icing sugar

3/4 pint (420ml) double cream

rosewater to taste

Preparation Method for Rose Petal Ice Cream

Crush the candied rose petals almost to a powder.

Combine the icing sugar with the cream and whisk until the mixture holds soft peaks.

Fold in the candied rose petals and add rosewater a little at a time, bearing in mind that freezing will dull flavouring.

Turn the mixture into a shallow freezer tray or individual serving dishes, and still freeze tray without stirring until firm.

Sarah

Monday, 16 March 2009

Jambalaya


It has been a while since my last post and I am sorry for neglecting my blogging duties. To make up for it I am posting a lovely comforting Jambalaya recipe as an antidote for the cupcake binge.


In my absence from the blog I have eaten some yummy food, cooked with some new equipment and had some exciting adventures, so hopefully I will have lots to share with you.


Recently I went to a restaurant and ordered a Jambalaya. It might seem an odd choice to order, but I love jambalaya. However, as much as I love it I somehow have a mental block against cooking it. For some reason it always seems to take a long time or seems a bit faffy, which is why I eat it when I don’t have to cook it.


But wait. This morning I undertook a quest to find an easy and quick Jambalaya recipe (as I am in the need for comfort food but don’t have much time when I get home) and succeeded in finding this one on the BBC Good Food website. I am not too sure how authentic it is, but it sounds yummy and above all, it doesn’t take hours.

Chicken and Shrimp Smokey Jambalaya – BBC GoodFood

Ingredients
1 red chilli

1 tbls of olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
2 bay leaves
Sprig of chopped parsley
1 tsp of cayenne pepper
1tsp of paprika
1 red pepper
1 large onion
2/4 sticks of celery
2 chicken breasts
1 can of chopped tomatoes
3 tbsp of tomato puree
3oz of Chorizo or smoked sausage cut into thin slices
1 cup of Long grain rice
12 shrimp or prawns
1/2 to 1 pint of chicken stock

Method
Dice chilli and prepare the veg and the chicken, slice the sausage into tin slices


Heat oil up in a large none stick pot & add chilli & cook for 1 min

Add the chicken & stir fir in pot for 2 mins

Add the stock & tin of tomatoes and puree
and bring to the boil

Add smoked sausage bay leaf, parsley, garlic, cayenne pepper, and paprika (adjust this 2 your liking) then add the veg & cook for 5 mins


When its boiling add the long grained rice and cook until most of the liquid has reduced & the rice is cooked then add the shrimp cook for 3 mins and serve

Tip: Adjust the liquid with stock or water until the rice is cooked and reduced.


Enjoy!

Sarah


P.S. I think this Nigella Flameware pot is ideal for jambalaya. The shape just exudes comfort and I love the idea of cooking in a ceramic casserole.



Friday, 27 February 2009

Cupcake Fact Five – 99 Cupcakes

A little random fact for your Friday afternoon…


There are 99 cupcake books listed under the study section in Books on Amazon.co.uk.


No more, no less. Just 99 Cupcake Books.


Sarah