The Special People Club

I am moving next week, and though you wouldn't know it looking at my house, at least my fridge and pantry are getting down to nothing. I'm especially trying to get things out of the freezer because those things are just a hassle to move. With a little planning ahead, I've actually eaten quite well for the last week or so. Tonight, I did this (FYI, the plate is a side plate size...these are not mushrooms the size of a human head): Grilled portobellos with chorizo stuffing Find: 4 decent size portobello mushrooms Sundried tomatoes, which you rehydrate a yellow pepper two slices of bread some spring onions a clove of garlic olive oil a bit of chorizo , preferably the Spanish kind that is like a hard salami bologna ring, or thin slices of the salami kind will do in a pinch Boursin light cheese Preheat broiler Chop the garlic, spring onions, part of the yellow pepper, the chorizo (maybe a thumbs worth if you have a ring chorizo ) and the tomatoes into tinyish pieces. H...

I had to work late tonight, so I came home and took a gander at my kitchen to see what I could scratch up for dinner. Here's what I did: Roasted butternut squash with pecans and blue cheese Find: a whole butternut squash half an onion some bacon some mushrooms some thyme olive oil salt pepper paprika balsamic vinegar some blue cheese Deseeded and cut up a butternut squash. I was too lazy to peel it, but I suppose you could. Toss it in olive oil, some thyme, salt, pepper and a shake or two of paprika. Put it in the oven and roast it at around 400F for half an hour - 45 minutes. NOW. Fry the bacon until crisp, and blot on paper towel. Get rid of most of the grease from the pan, and then put in a half an onion, and some mushrooms, all chopped to bitesize. When they start to soften toss in a handfull or two of pecans halves. (I'm assuming you know to get them out of the shell first.) Cook until all toasty and carmelized, sprinkle with some pepper and then put a couple of dashes ...

This weekend is all about the writing. I had let the fridge dwindle to nothingness and I knew I needed a decent breakfast to fuel my brain, so I set my alarm for 8AM and hit the rode before coffee to get to Sainsbury's before the Saturday crowds. Perfectly timed, and I got out right as people were starting to come to brawls over parking in the lot. I have many delicious groceries waiting to be transformed into delicious meals. This is one of my favourite things, actually...the knowledge that my kitchen contains the ingredients for any number of delicious treats, just waiting for me to decide what to do! I'd gotten a Nigella Express cookbook through the Book People at work (they give us great deals on select items, kind of like Costco except in the lunchroom,) and when I saw that Nigella was beckoning I could not resist. She is my idol. And I've read (yes, read) most of the cookbook while getting ready to sleep, so I have made sure my shopping list contains items require...

It's warm. I wanted to grill. I wanted something delicious. I didn't want to go shopping for extras. So I made: Chicken Tikka Kebabs Cut up some chicken breasts/thighs. Mix a cup of plain yogurt, squeeze in some lemon (one squeeze is fine) and stir in some curry powder. Toss the chicken in it, put it in the fridge, and then let it sit there. I started this at 4 and cooked it at 7, but if I'd been planning ahead I'm sure I could have let it sit longer and it would have been even tastier. Take a few bamboo skewers and put them to soak in some warm water. Heat the broiler or grill. Skewer the chicken. As you do it, it helps to take some of the yogurt off with your hands because too much will get all weird under the grill. Weird like burny . Put it under the broiler or on the grill. Cook until done and nicely browned, turning frequently to make it even. I use the broiler in the oven, so I was able to do the salad while that cooked...I cut a cucumber, a couple of tomatoes,...

I wanted a curry, but takeaways are notoriously bad for you and, though I am actually pretty good at Indian food, it can take a bit of time if you haven't planned ahead and I didn't much want to cook. So I decided to try to make a stew... healthier, but with all the flavours and no real prep time. My Mulligatawny I cut up a couple of chicken breasts and set them to marinate in some yogurt and lemon juice mixed with garam masala , cayenne and some medium curry powder. It sat for about 15 minutes while I did other stuff Toasted some cumin seeds and some black mustard seeds. Ground them with some salt and chili flakes with a mortar and pestle. There were two or three tablespoons by the time I was done. Grated some ginger (like a thumb's worth), minced two cloves of garlic and a fresh red chili, and then cut up an onion. Cut up two potatoes and one carrot. Had some cauliflower cut up, too. And added a yellow pepper for good measure. Heated some oil. Added the garlic/chili/gi...

I came home thinking I'd thawed some chicken for dinner, but I must have dreamt that. SO I was left to scrounge the cupboards and fridge for something for dinner. Boy, was I happy with the result. Salmon Cakes Grab that can of salmon that you bought awhile ago with the best intentions. It's just sitting in there getting closer to its sell by date. Then find: An egg Dijon mustard Worcestershire sauce Lemon juice Old Bay Tabasco Salt and Pepper A yellow/red/green pepper A green onion Some saltines or bread crumbs (scrounge up 3/4 cup or so) Preheat your oven to 180C/400F ish . Spray a baking tray with non-stick stuff. Beat the egg, add 2 tsps of Dijon , a tsp of WS , juice from half the lemon, about 1/2 tsp of the Old Bay plus a little, and a couple of healthy dashes of tabasco . Dance that mess around. Pulverdice half a pepper and the green onion. Mix it into the slop. Open the salmon and add it (with or without the bones and skin...most people have strong feelings on these...

Take out a pint of Tetley's . Pour it in a pint glass, and dump in a shot of Bulleit . Savour the flavour. Who needs dinner? Every beer's a sandwich. (note...I just typed "savor the flavor" and it looked wrong to me. I've officially crossed over.)

Cut up half an onion and some garlic. Put it in a pan with some hot olive oil and some Penzey's chicken taco seasoning. Added a little cayenne. Sauteed. Put about three cups of stock in there, added a frozen chicken breast and let it poach. Shredded up the chicken, added a jar of salsa. It makes a passable soup. Who knew?

I have had a freakishly long week (it's Tuesday,) and I was able to come home by 7pm tonight. Unheard of for the days I've had lately. I don't really have much in the fridge, and I did not want to order takeaway or go to the grocer. Here is what I cobbled together. Pasta Carbonara I put some pasta to boil. It was either spelt or whole wheat, but I'd emptied it into a jar and I don't remember which I bought most recently. Cup up part of an onion and two cloves of garlic, heated up a pan, added olive oil and the O/G and sauteed. Added two pieces of turkey bacon and one slice of parma ham. Seasoned with Aleppo pepper from Penzey's and some black pepper. Beat one egg, added a teaspoon of milk and some salt and pepper, then some grated parmigianno reggiano. When the pasta was done, I dumped it in the pan with the onions and bacon and tossed it around, added a little of the pasta water, and after about thirty seconds tossed it with the egg mixture until it all thi...