Tuesday, 10 January 2012
My secret vice, Britannia Little Hearts Cookies
I am a huge fan of Melissa's blog Eyes Bigger Than My Stomach. She has this amazing knack of writing things that resonate with me almost immediately. Recently, she posted this really lovely post that she titled 'Confessions'. When I read it, I had to laugh out loud at many places, because that really is how I feel many times.So, as everyone knows, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? I loved her post so much, I asked her if she would mind if I wrote a similar post for my blog. Kind soul that she is, she didn't kick me to the kerb (she did tell me to knock myself out though, maybe that was the message) Hehe, I am being obtuse here.
So yes, this is a deliberately self-indulgent post. But hey, I didn't do any of those yearly round-up posts, so I think I am entitled to one indulgence a year, surely?
PS - For last year's self-indulgent post see here :-)
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Well, 2012 has started off with a bang!
To start off with, some of my recipes on how to cook winter vegetables with an Indian twist have been featured on the website Cooks United. If you haven't already, check out this interesting recipe sharing website. Not only does it have an impressive list of interesting recipes, but also a lively discussion forum where you can ask and answer questions about cooking and baking. Along with the forum and recipe collections, Cooks United also features a magazine section, with articles, features and tips on cooking for the season and techniques. You can sign up to interact with other like minded souls, or just browse through their collection of recipes, the dessert ones in particular are to die for. You can save, exchange and rate recipes as well. What more would a dedicated foodie want?
Its only been a week or so, but the post I wrote about kids and restaurants has had several comments and has incited a really lively debate. I seem to have struck a nerve, particularly with parents, about the way in which kids are treated in restaurants. I wanted to confess that that particular post has been sitting in my drafts folder for a long time. It took a tweet from a fellow mum on Twitter about her experience at Ikea, to get me to hit publish on that post. I am quite glad I did, in a way. Its been cathartic, but also at the same time, has brought about several reactions from people that I didn't expect. Thank you to all those who took the time to read and engage with the post. I have every intention of responding to all the comments, but that will probably be another blog post in itself.
To start off with, some of my recipes on how to cook winter vegetables with an Indian twist have been featured on the website Cooks United. If you haven't already, check out this interesting recipe sharing website. Not only does it have an impressive list of interesting recipes, but also a lively discussion forum where you can ask and answer questions about cooking and baking. Along with the forum and recipe collections, Cooks United also features a magazine section, with articles, features and tips on cooking for the season and techniques. You can sign up to interact with other like minded souls, or just browse through their collection of recipes, the dessert ones in particular are to die for. You can save, exchange and rate recipes as well. What more would a dedicated foodie want?
Its only been a week or so, but the post I wrote about kids and restaurants has had several comments and has incited a really lively debate. I seem to have struck a nerve, particularly with parents, about the way in which kids are treated in restaurants. I wanted to confess that that particular post has been sitting in my drafts folder for a long time. It took a tweet from a fellow mum on Twitter about her experience at Ikea, to get me to hit publish on that post. I am quite glad I did, in a way. Its been cathartic, but also at the same time, has brought about several reactions from people that I didn't expect. Thank you to all those who took the time to read and engage with the post. I have every intention of responding to all the comments, but that will probably be another blog post in itself.
Monday, 2 January 2012
Much as I love the holidays, all that sweet stuff and baking and endless parades of chocolate, cookies and cream gets to me after a while. So what better way to (not) detox, than by cooking up a spicy Indian storm?I am privileged this month to be hosting Lyndsey's Sweet Heat Chilli Challenge. For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about, the lovely Lyndsey blogs over at Vanilla Clouds and Lemon Drops and is a chilli-ophile :-) Every month a new theme is announced for the challenge, and the only requirement is that your recipe entry needs to have chilis/ chillis/ chilli peppers or peppers in it. Any kind of chili is accepted, mild or hot.
That said, this month's theme makes it really simple to have chilli in your recipe, as its that perennial spicy favourite, (East) Indian food. Indian food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world with reason. It can be hot and spicy, or with just a hint of heat and a myriad of spices. Hot, spicy and comforting, what more do we wish for? Any way you look at it, you cannot go wrong with it, especially after a month-long orgy of sweets, chocolates and decadent desserts.
So pull out those spices and grab those chillies and let's all be honorary (or real) Indians for this month :-)
The Rules:
More about how to enter. There aren't that many hard and fast rules, and most are really simple.
- You must mention Lyndsey's original post, Sweet Heat Chilli Challenge in your post and also a link back to my announcement (Sweet Heat Challenge # 4 - Let's Rock Indian!). Use of the logo would be nice, but is not mandatory.
- There are three ways to enter this challenge -
- The easiest way is to use the Linky List at the bottom of the blog post. Just click on the 'Click Here to Enter' line and follow the simple instructions.
- You can also email me your entry. Just send the link to your recipe post + a picture, if you wish, to michellepatriciapeters@gmail.com and please remember to CC in Lyndsey at vanillacloudsandlemondrops@hotmail.co.uk if you are using this way to enter. You don't have to email if you add your link below, as both Lyndsey and I will receive your entry.
- Leave a comment with a link to your entry in the comments section. Please note that I approve comments first, so it may take a while for your comment to appear.
- Tweet your recipe using the hashtag #sweetheat and I will retweet any that I see. You can also tag me or Lyndsey in your tweet (@michpetersjones or @LyndseyFleenor)
- Post on our blogs' Facebook pages if you feel up to it as well. Here's my Facebook page and Lyndsey's page.
- You can create your own recipe or make your favourite recipe but please credit the original source if using someone else's and you must write your own directions for the recipe.
- You can enter as many times as you like. The more the spicier.
- The round up will be on the 30th of January and you have until the 29th to enter. Entries will close at midnight on the 29th January (Canadian Mountain Time)
So, what are you all waiting for? LET'S ROCK INDIAN!!!
Thursday, 29 December 2011
I love my four year old child. I love eating out at fancy restaurants. As it turns out, recently, I have found that one is not compatible with the other. Its one of the reasons I decided to write this post. This post is not an attempt at sneak reviews of restaurants. I may link to a few, but only if our experience was positive. I am not out to be a vengeful parent here, rather I am trying to understand this wave of kid-unfriendliness that seems to be sweeping about.
Adz at Scog's in West Kirby
Before my daughter was born, my husband and I were like any other middle income professionals in England. We ate out a fair amount. It was mostly in pubs, and local eateries, and on special ocasions, we splashed out on fairly expensive restaurants and dinners. We ate lunch at restaurants, almost every day of the week, thanks to an abundance of lovely and low priced places close to our work. We loved the ease of heading out at short notice, and finding new places to eat. I wouldn't call us foodies in a broad sense that its used today, but we knew what we liked, and we enjoyed the experience.Sunday, 25 December 2011
Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings to my lovely readers and friends. Its been quite a year, and I hope that you have had a blessed Christmas with your own family and friends. Every day that I blog, I count my blessings to know you all, and you make such a difference to me. I thank you all for being in my life!
A quick post today. I've been a bit 'alasi' (lazy) over the Christmas period, and as is usual have been neglecting my blogging. I blame a combination of stress, followed by lassitude for this. Its not that I haven't been cooking, its just that I have been making food to take to potluck dinners, and this means that I am always making my signature dishes like the butter chicken, so there is no incentive to blog.
That said, I did break out a bit and made these delicious Jamie Oliver sprouts for the Christmas dinner we were attending with friends. They, along with maple glazed carrots and David Lebovitz's butterscotch pecan ice cream were my contribution to the evening. So I sit here, on Christmas day, and I am pleasantly stuffed full of Christmas dinner, roast turkey and the works, plus a totally divine sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
That said, I did break out a bit and made these delicious Jamie Oliver sprouts for the Christmas dinner we were attending with friends. They, along with maple glazed carrots and David Lebovitz's butterscotch pecan ice cream were my contribution to the evening. So I sit here, on Christmas day, and I am pleasantly stuffed full of Christmas dinner, roast turkey and the works, plus a totally divine sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
