For my first attempt at Weekend Herb Blogging, I suppose I ought to have followed my self-proclaimed theme and chosen something Finnish or Jewish. However, given that Finland still hasn't thawed out, and all the Jews are busy preparing for Passover (there's a proper post on bitter herbs coming up in due course), I decided to go for something entirely different.
Rosemary is quite an underrated herb, in my opinion. Most people agree that it smells good, but find that it is too overpowering to cook with. If it's used, it's usually in small quantities that only leaves you with the merest hint of its woody, pine-scented notes. This is a shame, as a more generous amount can create a very memorable meal indeed - especially if combined with garlic.
Continue reading "Weekend Herb Blogging: Rosemary and Garlic Chicken" »
Sometimes there isn't the time, or the energy, to explore your culinary heritage. Sometimes it's a rainy Sunday afternoon after a very wet dog walk on the moors, and all you want to do is curl up on the couch with a bowl of steaming pasta. Sometimes you realise that you have absolutely nothing in the fridge but your stomach is crying out for something satisfying and savoury. Sometimes you reach into your cupboard and decide that is it time, once again, for your favourite emergency pasta dish. Twenty minutes later, the first forkful of sweet red onion, softened sun-dried tomato and parmesan-speckled pasta enters your mouth. Bliss. Once again, you thank Jamie Oliver for the recipe that has seen you through so many empty-fridge-afternoons. Plus, there's something about red food on rainy days. It just works.
Continue reading "Rain and red onions" »
