Lemon Sole with Chive Butter

If yesterday's fish dish of Fish Finger Bagel was workmanlike in it's subtlety, today's had the elegance and delicate nature of a ballerina. The flakes of Lemon Sole with Chive Butter baked in the oven were eased apart with the light push of a couple of tines. A squeeze of lemon, new potatoes and a leafy salad is a fitting accompaniment.

Lemon sole with chive butter

Fish Finger Bagel

A lazy option? Yes, I suppose, but tasty? Yes it is! I love the shapes here today in my Toasted Fish Finger Bagel with tartare sauce:

Fish finger bagel shapes

Bagel = circular

Cucumber = circular

Fish Fingers = rectangular.

Ready to eat!

Bacon and Leek Quiche

Back to something more simple today with Leek and Bacon Quiche. It's quite a change from yesterday as I eat and watch the dark clouds come over to bring big big drops of rain. Justification for making BBQ hay over the last couple of days while the sun shone.

Bacon & leek quiche

BBQ #2 of the weekend

Advantages when they occur should always be rammed home and with BBQ weather in this particular summer being at a premium, I take advantage today with another BBQ, this time at my parents house.
Even though the temperature had chilled off by the time we eat it does not stop me enjoying burgers, sausages, Mum's marinaded chicken and differently marinaded belly pork. There was some salad too! Potato salad, green leaves and pineapple, chilli and cucumber salad all served on red plates on a red table cloth outside. Beautiful!

BBQ

Pre-Folk Festival BBQ

I've been to the Cambridge Folk Festival today, but as a prelude to that I persuade my friend who lives a short walk from the festival site at Cherry Hinton Hall to have a lunchtime BBQ. The deal I made was that I'd provide the food if he provided the fire, a good deal in my opinion to get in my first BBQ of the year. In spite of resisting the temptation to buy a multi buy meat deal, I still eat alot.

Burgers and lamb & pepper kebabs

Burgers, sausages, lamb and pepper kebabs, couscous salad and coleslaw. So much so that I can't have an evening meal and it's a while at the Folk Festival before I can move around easily again; though it was it's usual chilled out excellent experience, except for the last couple of acts on the second stage, especially The Destroyers, who really sent the evening off with a (for me anyway, a cider fuelled) bang.

The Destroyers on stage 2

3 Horseshoes, Madingley

Her and I eat out tonight and with it being a balmy evening, I select somewhere where we are able to eat al fresco, in this case at The 3 Horseshoes in the village of Madingley to the west of Cambridge. This pub is a picturesque thatch cottage with a large grassy garden, where we have dinner despite having a reservation in the conservatory restaurant. After perusing the menu I choose an appetiser starter of Portland Crab and she chooses Roast Quail.

Portland crab

Roast quail

The crab with brown shrimps and pickled vegetables is okay, but is a bit of a mess of flavours, not sure what the cubes of paste were either. The quail with foie gras is the better, meatier option. The mains are a step up as I have canon of Roast Lamb with Poached Chicken for my Good Lady.

Roast canon of lamb

Poached chicken

Before our mains come, our waiter eccentrically informs us that he'd given us a break between courses (Er... thanks?). A bit of a strange moment but we are happy when the food reaches our outside table. The lamb on a bed of tzatziki was good, however the kleftico was disappointingly watery and though overall I enjoyed the Greek flavour here it could have been executed better. Likewise the chicken with leaves, shoots, mushrooms and flowers was a good idea though again could have been executed better, which turns out to be a theme of the evening. Our favourite course of the evening was dessert as the twilight took over; I have Momufuku's Crack Pie and she has Lemon Curd.

Crack pie & sour cherry yoghurt

Lemon curd & raspberries

The pie is very good with the sour cherry yoghurt complimenting nicely the sweet, sticky, sugary pie. The lemon curd and raspberries '3 ways' also have certain complementary taste affinities too.
Overall, this is a beautiful venue for a spot of al fresco dining, but for the price (around £50 a head, including wine) the food needs to be executed a better, though there are some nice ideas here.

Crustless Garden Vegetable Quiche

A curious supermarket invention is the Crustless Garden Vegetable Quiche, that I bought yesterday in Tesco, I didn't think the crust was that much of a problem but heyho. It makes it look like a fritatta, which I guess is what a crustless quiche is, so why don't they call it a fritatta? I don't know, but it tastes fine. I'm too tired today for heavy judgements so I wolf it down after a late evening's work with a salad and a glass of Rose.

Vegetable quiche

Chorizo, Potatoes and Green Beans with a Poached Egg

A bit more time, a bit more heat, a bit more Spanish flavouring: Chorizo, Potatoes and Green Beans with a Poached Egg is today's dinner. I parboil new potatoes until tender before draining and cutting in half and for the final few minutes while they cooking I steam the green beans above them. Meanwhile, I cook the sliced chorizo until it gives up it's fat before adding the halved potatoes and stirring it together. I plate up the potatoes, pile the green beans on top and put a poached egg at the peak of the food mountain and break the yolk so it spills through the beans, potatoes and chorizo down to the black plate. I really like the creaminess of the egg with the nutiness of the potatoes and crunchy spice of the chorizo in this dish. The addition of the beans gives it a welcome freshness.

Chorizo, potatoes & green beans with a poached egg

 

French Bean and Mozarella

Sweltering out there huh? I'm a big fan of The Observer's Food Monthly magazine and this month featured Nigel Slater, as usual, but featuring recipes with minimal or nil cooking. Coming home late today after work I thought I'd try his French Bean and Mozarella.
I have no food processor, so I can't blitz my basil as finely as he does and this is my first time having sun dried tomatoes (I am usually an avid tomato avoider), so I don't have as many of these, so my dressing is altogether more... rustic. But then again I'm actually eating this rather than having a food artist make this look pretty. Still the taste bases are there: cool mozarella, fresh beans and tangy dressing.

French bean and mozarella

Giraffe Stop, King's Cross, London

Today I've been at the cricket and it's been a historic day. I've seen live a triple century being made and a team take what will probably be their only 2 wickets in the entire match. As an England fan this hurts, but is strangely relaxing watching a master batsman at work; Hasim Amla is class.
We leave a couple of overs before the close, having seen England make a hash of playing for a draw and head to King's Cross Railway Station for a train home. When we get there, there is a bit of time to wait before the next fast train, so we have dinner in the station. Now eating in railway stations and airports and the like are notoriously poor value (at least in the UK) where being a captive market vendors can jack up their prices without a traveller being able to do much about it, so it was with some trepidation that we entered Giraffe Stop on the first floor of the King's Cross concourse. I have to admit I was presently surprised. I had a Giraffe Burger (a cheese and bacon burger), chips and a can of Red Stripe lager for £10.50, which is not bad pricing considering the location. The food, though it came suspiciously quickly, was quite edible too and I'd definitely consider eating here again over a bog standard fast food option.

Giraffe burger and chips

Sausage and Onion Pasta

Is there anything that does not become more tasty when a sausage is added to it? I can't think of any. Here, after cooking the sausages for my Sausage and Onion Pasta in a frying pan, I cook the sliced onion in it, pushing it around the pan as it carmelises slowly. After returning the sausages to the pan (now sliced), I add the cooked wholewheat pasta and toss together the resultant mixture with grated Parmesan cheese.

Sausage and onion pasta

 

Pizza Hut, Cambridge

I was in London today as my sis and I took our Old Dear for a belated birthday day out. My sis being the family's Metropolis dweller and fashionista (of blog writing variety) who wouldn't, no couldn't allow herself to take us out somewhere less than excellent, picked perfectly again and took us to Charlotte's Bistro in Chiswick.
It is a unassuming place on Turnham Green Terrace with a split level, bar at the front and raised dining area at the rear which has a large skylight. 3 courses of beautiful dishes for lunch at near Michaelin starred quality for under £20, friendly and informed staff too. Well worth a visit if you're in the area, even for dinner which is under £30 for 3 courses.
However, my actual dinner wasn't until later at Pizza Hut on Newmarket Road in Cambridge, which was the only place still serving food that was not (just) a takeaway on our way home. Much later, in fact after 10pm, after I had seen a preview evening as part of Her art exhibition with other artists which is part of Cambridge Open Studios. Worth a look on July weekends. The food was actually okay, we had a large, thin crust, Chicken Supreme, but the situation must've looked terrible. A man dragging his dressed up girlfriend into Pizza Hut late at night seemingly for a date of pizza and endless salad refills. Classy.

Griddled Lamb Chops

It's the nineteenth of July and I am yet to have barbecue so far this year. So the weather has been unusually wet and I live in a first floor flat, but even so I'm not so unpopular that I get refused invitations to other peoples' barbecues. I don't think.
I'm especially missing barbecued meat so I get my griddle pan hot and smoking so the flat fills with a fug of pan smoke and quickly sear a couple of lamb chops, that I've marinaded since morning in a rosemary infused oil, for not more than a minute on each side after which I finish them in a hot oven for a few minutes.
I serve my Griddled Lamb Chops with a mushroom risotto suited to a rainy day and green beans.

Griddled lamb chops

Omelette Disaster!

You know when you're in the middle of cooking and the phone rings and you let it ring a while, but then it gets to the stage where you HAVE to find out who is rude enough to be calling at this time, so go and find out and the bastard rings off before you have a chance to pick it up, upon which you return to the kitchen to find your dinner ruined? Well that's what happened to me today! My ham and green beans omelette actually tastes fine despite it looking like a dog's dinner. Omelette Disaster!

Omelette disaster!

Seared Tuna Steaks

Seared Tuna Steaks for dinner. Let's keep this quick and simple.
Heat a griddle pan on the stove until it starts to smoke.
Apply the tuna steaks rubbed with a little oil to pan for a minute and a half on each side, seasoning after the first turn.
Serve with a bright salad,
a squeeze of lime juice,
and a sprinkle of chilli flakes.
(Super Vivid mode on the camera - optional).

Seared tuna steaks

Mushroom and Spinach Tart

I find that the sheets of puff pastry you can buy are really versatile, especially for things like tarts, savoury tarts making excellent dinners.
For today's Mushroom and Spinach Tart, I soften about half a packet (150g) of mushrooms cut into quarters with a couple of sliced onions in a frying pan with oil and butter. Meanwhile, I wilt a packet of spinach (around 200g), drain and set aside. Once the mushrooms and onions have soften I add some chopped parsley, tarragon and seasoning, as well as the spinach, then turn up the heat while stirring to lose the excess liquid. Placing the pastry on greaseproof paper on a baking tray, I lightly score a border the width of a finger and dot inside it with soft cheese before piling the mushroom mixture on top. After 20 minutes in the oven I get a vegetarian midweek dinner that even a carnivore would devour hungrily...

£10 Pizza

A really exciting day today as Her and I went to watch Paul Simon play his Graceland album at Hard Rock Calling Festival in London's Hyde Park. After the watching the documentary made for the 25th anniversary of the release of the record, which stoked the fires of anticipation that little bit more, the little man did not disappoint. In dry conditions (a rare moment of mercy in this wet summer) he started out playing a greatest hits set then introduced various guests before the show morphed into a full-on celebration of Graceland after the sun went down.
Stunning. Unlike the festival food we had! We opted to forgo the usual festival fayre of burgers and such like and went for a £10 Pizza. It was Hawaiian. We waited around 20 minutes for it. And we laughed our heads off when we opened the box. Inside contained a sad 7 inch pizza with a bit of tomato sauce spread on the base topped with cheese and a meagre sprinkle of ham and pineapple. I guess you don't go to festivals for the food!

The Kingston Arms, Cambridge

My misfortune again to be working on a Saturday, but I didn't really mind as this was in one of my favourite parts of Cambridge - Mill Road. It's quite a bohemian part of town with many restaurants and an excellent array of pubs, one of which I go to for dinner - The Kingston Arms.
This is probably my favourite pub in Cambridge, as it's a Freehouse with an excellent selection of beers, decent food, a nice little garden, interesting decor free internet, a limited recession menu and friendly staff - a winning combo in any city I think you'll agree. It has 5 or 6 excellent ales consistently on tap (JHB, Summer Lightning, Landlord, Brewers Gold and Wherry from what I remember) and the same amount again of changing guest beers.
The place is busy, but we manage to find a table in the garden under shelter from the summer showers. For dinner, I have the braised chicken leg with mushroom gravy, mash and green beans off their Specials board, which is good and reasonably priced at £10 with a couple of pints of the Summer Lightning. I have no dessert but look on slightly enviously as a couple of my friends tuck into the homemade chocolate brownie with ice cream. It is pretty much closing time when I finally exit - a good night.

Piri Piri Chicken

I actually bought eggs on my way home tonight forgetting I had some chicken pieces in the fridge - bonus! That omelette can wait! I have some packet seasoning for Piri Piri Chicken, which I toss the pieces in and cook in the oven. I serve this with a salad and couscous, the latter of which I baste with the juices from the cooked chicken which it greedily soaks up. I think stiff-ish couscous may well be my favourite medium for soaking up juices, though fresh bread runs it a close second.

Piri piri chicken

Pork Stroganoff

Now, I'm more familiar with Beef Stroganoff, but having seen recipes for Pork Stroganoff, I try to consider why this is anything but just as good. I use chopped fresh tarragon and fresh parsley in this as well as a teaspoon of paprika while cooking the meat; all very inauthentic but tasty enough for her and I to enjoy.
So I slice and soften mushrooms and an onion in a saucepan before setting aside and turning up the heat. I then quickly cook strips of pork escalope with the paprika until they are brown and return the veg to the pan. I add a dash of Vermouth which I bubble off before adding the soured cream and herbs, which I stir into the pork and veg for a couple of minutes. I serve on stark black plates with white rice and a garnish of chopped herbs.

Pork stroganoff

Chorizo and Greens Spaghetti

There is something about the sturdier greens of the cabbage family that loves the salty cured meats of bacon lardons and the like, perhaps it's the iron qualities of that veg that ties with the saltiness; I don't really know, I just know they make a great, if unsubtle pairing. I have Chorizo and Greens Spaghetti today, the greens sautéed in the chorizo fat with garlic and some celery added late on for crunch.

Chorizo and greens spaghetti

Cheese and Onion Tart

I really like doing these simple tart dishes, which seem suited to the summer season, just piling whatever ingredients are desired into the middle of a sheet of puff pastry  skirted with a glaze of milk and stuck in the oven. I make a Cheese and Onion Tart today, slowly sautéing sliced onion with rosemary before sprinkling on the pastry with chunks of cheese with herbs. I have dinner 20 minutes later.

Cheese and onion tart

Chorizo and Greens with Crushed Potatoes

A celebration of no more pasta and stiff legs today. Also more interesting flavours than of late, spicy chorizo, fresh greens and nutty new potatoes - perfect. After boiling the potatoes to a crushable stage, I dice the porky pieces and release their fat with several minutes in the frying pan. After setting aside the meat, I add sliced baby leaf greens and spring onions until they soften and brighten in colour. I add the now crushed potatoes to the pan with the chorizo, toss it all together, season and serve Chorizo and Greens with Crushed Potatoes.

Chorizo and greens with crushed potatoes

Haddock Fishcakes

I come home after my 201.2km cycle ride, indeed The Big Bike Ride, absolutely shattered and could well have eaten anything, but luckily it's some Haddock Fishcakes that I bought in my local Tesco; Tesco Finest they are too. What were they like? I have no idea. But are very edible as they disappeared shortly after this photo was taken.

Haddock fishcakes

Cheese and Tuna Pasta Bake

The pasta-fest continues... With my long cycle ride tomorrow, I take this last chance to load up on pasta with a Cheese and Tuna Pasta Bake; I remember that from student days!

Cheese and tuna pasta bake

 

Pasta Bake

And so the pasta-fest continues as She makes me a Pasta Bake with chicken and vegetables using a tomato and pepper bottled sauce, but it's not from a brand or a nationwide supermarket it's made by a local delicatessen called Balzano's. Personally, I'm always happy to buy local, as long as the quality is there of course! It's not the deli I usually go to, but the sauce was tasty enough. When I'm feeling a bit flush I visit Limoncello's on Mill Road, which is excellent but expensive. On one visit I asked the man behind the counter, who turned out to be the owner, what is Limoncello and he was good enough to give me a sample!

Warm Smoked Mackerel with Broad Beans and Tarragon

I'm cooking dinner for Her and I today, which shakes me from a little run of home cooking laziness to do something a little different, in this case Nigel Slater's Warm Smoked Mackerel with Broad Beans and Tarragon.
I curse myself when just starting to double pod the broad beans as I remember what a time consuming process it is! Nevermind though, as my first forkful of the finished dish remind me why it's worth it; I especially like how you can taste every component of the dish. The smoked fish and pancetta are the big flavours here, but there's also the freshness of the beans combined with the savoury base from the spring onions and a creamy finish. Stabs of subtle aniseed from the Tarragon compliment the creamy sauce.

Warm smoked mackerel with broad beans and tarragon

Chicken Sandwich

I'm on airport taxi duties today as I meet my fatigued charges in the arrivals hall of Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4. Despite being close to the evening peak the traffic is relatively kind, which allows us to arrive home with due haste, but not before a stop at Sainsbury's on the A1 at Biggleswade to pick up some salad, a roasted chicken, milk and some fresh bread. Upon delivering them home I join them in a Chicken Sandwich dinner while admiring a garden with 5 weeks unchecked growth.

Spicy Tomato Sausage Pasta

This is how you make wholewheat pasta palatable - cook it with chopped sausages, an onion, a tin of chopped tomatoes and then top with grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of chilli flakes. I.e. Bury it to disguise the flavour! I don't actually like tomatoes so I make sure I reduce and flavour the sauce of my Spicy Tomato Sausage Pasta, so it only provides a base and not the main part of the flavour of the dish. A late night visit to the fridge indicates a certain moreishness...

Spicy tomato pasta

Chicken Fajitas 2

Chicken Fajitas again today... Look inside, it is colourful!

Chicken fajita insides

It strikes me today that there is under a week until I do the Big Bike Ride, a cycle of 201.2 (see what they did there?) kilometres or about 130 miles around Cambridgeshire and I should do some preparatory eating. Casting around for opinions the consensus seems to be to load up with pasta in the week before. Preferably wholemeal. Dinners will be getting exciting this week!

Chicken Fajitas

It seems that all the dinners I have had over the last week have been mostly beige in pictorial colour, so I promise I'll try and have something more visually appealing after today (and probably tomorrow's) Chicken Fajitas. These may have the exterior features of John Major, but their interior is definitely more exciting...

Chicken fajitas