Cook book challenge | Pearl barley broth

I’ve got into a bit of a funk with the cook book challenge, I’ve definitely got some favourites. Today’s challenge is from Hugh’s Veg book, which I’ve already made a few things from. It’s a gud’un! I had a lot of the ingredients leftover from a recent juice, so it was relatively in expensive to make.

Ingredients: butter//onion//bay leaf//thyme//celery//carrot//parsnip//ground coriander//nutmeg//cayenne pepper//ground mace//pearl barley//vegetable stock//parsley

Taste: This was so creamy without any dairy (bar a smidge of butter), and rich and velvety, it kind of reminded me of a hearty, earthy wholesome dish, perfect for a cold winter’s night, or after you’ve got in from somewhere cold and need a bit of comfort.

Good: Despite a bit of faff chopping up the veggies so small, everything else was easy to put together and then just leave to simmer away. As I mentioned, I had everything in the cupboards and didn’t need to go out and buy anything, so it was perfect to just whip together, and creating a healthy meal from without any forward planning.

Time taken: Maybe 45 mins or so, so nothing terrible, and you can  leave it to simmer for 40 mins!

Likeness to the book: My best yet I think, bar my awful croutons!

Improvements: Hugh (we’re on first name terms now you see) suggests using some sautéed mushrooms instead of croutons, and I definitely want to make another batch with those on top. Other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing!

Cost: I’m not sure how much this cost as I had nearly everything in my cupboards, which made it a really cheap meal for me, but I’d imagine it wouldn’t cost much to buy the bits you needed if you had all the herbs and spices to hand.

Overall score: 5/5. Simple, easy, cheap, filling, and healthy. What more could you want>

Cook book challenge | Porotos granados

Another Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall recipe from his book Veg, which is quickly becoming a favourite of mine! I made this hearty stew after a long walk in the rain getting lost around box hill with Megan. This is another perfect store cupboard recipe, as you’re required to buy very little. I tend to batch by squash when they’re on offer, and chop them up to freeze in bags for a later time which is definitely handy!

Ingredients: olive oil//onion//garlic cloves//paprika//oregano//dried or tinned beans*//veg stock//butternut squash*//French beans*//sweet corn*//salt//pepper

Taste: Warm, like a hug in a bowl. Perfect for after a cold, rainy day out walking.

Good: Easy to follow, can be rustled up in a jiffy around other things. Easy to freeze and reheat.

Time taken: 35 mins cooking with tinned beans, more for prep, with time left in between to get on with other things.

Likeness to the book: I think mine was more watery, possibly because I added more beans and less squash than the recipe recommended?

Improvements: It wasn’t quite as spicy as I was hoping for a ‘Chilean stew’. I would definitely add a shake of chilli and some more paprika next time to give it a kick.

Cost*: £4.50 ish for the *ed items. I think I made about 6 portions of this, so a pretty cheap meal too at 75p a portion for the bought ingredients.

*I’ve only included ingredients you need to actively buy for this recipe, as the others I would consider store cupboard basics that I always have on hand.

Overall score: 4/5. Needs more spice!

You can find the original recipe here.

Cook book challenge | Raid the larder bean and spelt broth

This week’s recipe challenge comes from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Veg book (currently a steal at £5 on amazon!) that I got the year before last for Christmas. I loved the TV show that accompanied it, and I’ve made quite a few meals from it over the past year. The recipe appealed to me as I didn’t need to go out and buy loads of ingredients, I genuinely had everything in my cupboard already!

Ingredients: Vegetable stock//spelt or pearl barley//carrot//frozen peas//kale or spinach//tin of white beans//salt and pepper

Taste: Warm, comforting, and healthy.

Good: Very easy to follow, incredibly cheap, and perfect for nights when you don’t really know what to have without much effort, and so comforting for a winter night! I actually subbed out the carrot and frozen peas for a cup of mixed frozen veg which worked just as well, and made it perhaps even easier!

Time taken: As long as it takes the barley to simmer and soften, so maybe 20 mins. Super easy!

Likeness to the book: Pretty good I would say, what do you think?

Improvements: I think I overcooked mine as my beans went a little tough and crunchy. Perhaps I’d add them end nearer the end next time.

Cost: I’m not 100% sure on this one as I had all the ingredients in my cupboard, so don’t know how to calculate quite?!?!

Overall score: 5/5. Loved it and would definitely make it again without a doubt! Another successful cook!

WIAW–Beetroot Soup!

Happy Wednesday and thanks to Jen @ Peas and Crayons for hosting another great party!

(Source)

Recently I’ve been super busy, hence the lack of posts! I’ve still been enjoying my veg box and have a couple of great recipes to share with you! Keeping with the theme of WIAW I’m sharing what I’m having for lunch today – Beetroot soup! I’ve never cooked beetroot before, so this was very exciting. I’ve only ever had beetroot from a jar or in the shrink wrapped packets!

This beetroot soup is inspired by a book I got for Christmas, Veg! everyday by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

First up I scrubbed some beetroots then put them in a roasting tin whole with oil, whole garlic cloves, mixed italian seasoning and water. I wrapped in foil, and roasted for an hour.

 

 

I decided to boil up some potatoes to add to my beetroot because I didn’t have as many as the recipe required and I thought I’d bulk it up a bit. You all know how to boil potatoes….

 

 

Once the beetroots had been in the oven an hour, and they were tender enough to pierce with a fork I left them to cool. Once cooled I topped and tailed them, peeled off their skins (tough and messy!), and chopped them up. Then I put them in the pan with the potatoes and the roasted garlic.

 

 

I then blended it up with some stock and kept it really, really thick! You can add more stock if you prefer it to be more ‘soupy’ just add more stock, it’s that simple.

 

This soup tastes really good, although next time I think I’d up the beetroot : potato ratio, and give it some more flavour.

Have you ever cooked with beetroot? What other recipes would you recommend?

Tuesdays Travels – Christmas at Home

I know Christmas has been and gone, but I had such a lovely Christmas holidays away from work and at home with my family in Devon I’d like to share with you all!

I was fortunate to grow up just 20 minutes from the sea and 10 minutes from the moors. You seriously can’t ask for a better location to grown up with than that, although I definitely took it for granted.

Over my time at home I had lots of fun listening to old records on our jukebox!

Drinking some delicious cocktails! We made Kir Royals (creme di cassis and prosecco) and my favourite, a Venetian Spritz (aperol and prosecco)!

 

 

We also went on a couple of day trips in the local area over Christmas. One was to Salcombe with my Mum and Dad on boxing day. I love Salcombe, it’s so beautiful and is the ultimate place for me to go shopping. All my favourite shops are in the same street! I spent lots of money and I’ll share my purchases in a separate post. We also saw Cheska from Made in Chelsea in the same pub as us having dinner! She’s stunning in real life, so tall and Gisele like.

 

My favourite day trip was to Royal William Yard in Plymouth harbour. We went there because I’d heard Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall had just opened a restaurant there. Sadly we didn’t eat there as we were there around brunch but oh my I am definitely going back! And so reasonable in price too!

We ended up having brunch in the Royal William Bakery and it was fab. You can just help yourselves to what you want around the bakery and pay at the end.

As we arrived I saw them putting some pizzas into the oven, so whilst the rest scoffed cakes I waited patiently for the pizzas to cook. I am so glad I did!

It was great to watch them preparing the food and so good to sea places like this in Plymouth!

                  

You can also live in Royal William Yard. If I moved back to Plymouth I’d definitely look at living here!!!

Did you visit anywhere over Christmas?

Do you visit new areas in your home town?