11.07.13 | PEACH SALSA

This is simply delicious. It's sweet, it's sour and it's fiery - it's everything you want from a salsa. Try it along some barbecued jerk chicken or put it in some sizzling chicken fajitas, either way it's a real treat and so summery. Peach Salsa couldn't be more perfect for this glorious weather if it tried!

12.06.13 | CHARRED CAULIFLOWER W/ TOMATOES & DILL

Remember me, the girl who doesn't really like cauliflower? 

Yoooou know, I'm that same girl who absolutely hates red kidney beans!!

Yeah that's me - Miss Fickle, but who cares when I'm ready to once again shout about cauliflower, because it turns out that actually it can be quite nice?

I've worked out the trick is to not cook it but instead just tease it a little bit with a some heat and then BAM hit it with shed loads of flavours.

CLEVER!

Buuut, who do you turn to when you want lots and lots of flavour?
Ottolenghi, right? Has to be.
I was actually looking through the window at his Notting Hill place a couple of months back at all the mountains of gorgeous salad creations and I'm still kicking myself for not getting a single morsel. I'll be brave next time, especially as i made this one at the weekend and it didn't kill me.
Winner right? A salad that won't kill you? Yeah, try telling that to my six year old.

Let's go!

13.05.13 | SPICY SWEET POTATO WEDGES

We eat loads & loads of everything sweet potatoes in this house which is (a lot) good but also a little bad/boring/samey.

It's obviously good because they are amazingly good for you aren't they, these giant golden nuggets? But what is bad/boring/samey is that I always get stuck in a foodie rut with them.
You see, if something works for me in the kitchen and I know how to do it so well that I could make it blind folded, then the temptation is there to keep on churning it out the same old way. That means that whenever we eat sweet pots it's either baked with lots of different toppings (my fave is soured cream & rose harissa!) or we have them this way.

Then a couple of months back i saw this recipe on my favourite fail-safe / go - to food blog Shutterbean and I started making them Tracy's way instead. They are pretty damn good and because they aren't quite as spicy as my other ones, the kids aren't scared to dive on in.

So here you go, here's how to make them (doh!) Well, it would be rude not to share...

18.03.13 | MANGO CHUTNEY

It had never crossed my mind to even attempt to make a mango chutney before. It seemed like a big faff for something that tastes quite nice out of a jar, right?

Well, no as it happens, i was very wrong to be such a lazy ass.

If you make this chutney, i reckon you probably will make the same promise to yourself as I did about never buying shop bought again.

This is seriously goooood stuff and it's pretty quick to whip up. The boring & longish part for me was prepping the mango, so if you went and got some already prepared then you're laughing! I made this whilst the kids were having their tea, and once it had simmered quietly on it's own for a bit, the spellings & reading books were done & it was already bath time. Now that's how little of a faff this mango chutney really is.

Go on go on go on, give it a whirl!

FOOD: PURPLE SKINNY SLAW

It happened. I found myself in a food rut. 

Yup, I'm in a big fat food rut & i hate it.

I just don't know what to make at the moment and all I seem to hear myself saying is "who fancies tacos tonight?!"

I blame the weather or the Winter more specifically. There is no love lost between me and this season and I get so tired of its cold and selfish demands for gravy based stodge. I don't want a plate of mash. I don't want a stew and I really don't want a roast dinner...

I need some sun.

I need some Spring! 

I need some inspiration.

I need to once again go crazy eating fresh, zingy salads or hot & spicy grilled foods. I want to stand around in other peoples gardens with a Corona in my hand and a big plate full of veggie burgers, salads and a good old slaw...

So, I went searching and I found me a brand spanking new slaw. Hurrah! It's similar to the one Sir J of O makes to go with his Happy Cow burgers, but I fancied a little green in mine so I added some coriander and a little seasoning into the mix. 

I really love this slaw as it's simple stuff, it's healthy and it was a big hit with the kiddos during half term. That's a lot of boxes it managed to tick and as an added bonus, it makes you feel like Spring is just around the corner and that is exactly how I want to be feeling right now...

Go on, get a spring in your step!

FOOD: BAKED SKINNY FRIES

Hands up who remembers Christmas? 

Meeeeeeee!

Do you know how I remember Christmas? I mean aside from the fact that it is only January 17th? 

Well, it's not because of the million new teeny weeny new Lego pieces i have to dig out of my bare feet constantly & it's not because my husbands bottle of Baileys is STILL sat in the sodding fridge. No, it's because Christmas is still happening here. Yup, Christmas is still sitting here big, loud and very proud ON MY THIGHS.

These jeans? Painful. My joggers? Bliss. My appetite? Enormous. 

Something had to give, so I made these. 

And they were delicious, so I'm happily sharing them with you safe in the knowledge that it is fine to eat chips in January. I made two batches, one with one less tsp of polenta and both worked well and were devoured within minutes!

Now, if i could only skinny up some hash browns....

FOOD: CARNIVAL SLAW

Here's a question: am i about to treat you to a 'new-to-me' recipe for a good old slaw? Oh yoooou betcha!

If you don't love marinated cabbage dressed up with flavours that will make your taste buds sing, then it may be your cue to leave (but do stay anyway because you're nice and I like you).

Now, where do i start with this one? Yes it is another slaw recipe in the middle of Autumn, but stay with me on this one because this slaw is very different to this one and this one.
Carnival Slaw is the perfect combination of sweet/sour/crunchy and because it is not at all spicy i think it's pretty much perfect with any dish that feels the need for a good old helping of slaw.

It is perfect as a side to grilled meats, it's perfect for veggie burgers, it's perfect for your kiddos and it is perfectly perfect for standing alone in the kitchen, in the dark, with the fridge door open scoffing crazy amounts straight out of the bowl. Ahem, moving on....

I first saw the recipe on Shutterbean ages & ages ago but me being me, i didn't bookmark it. So, when i came to look it up again i could not find it for love nor money. I simply could not remember the name of it, but what i could remember was that Tracy described it as 'the slaw all the parents went apeshit for' - so I googled 'Shutterbean Apeshit Slaw' - et viola I FOUND IT! Yay! I know I can't call this apeshit slaw forever, even though I really want to.....

You really should make it, because we all really did go apeshit for it...

FOOD: MEXICAN SLAW

How good is cabbage?! 

How especially good is red cabbage?!

How taste bud tinglingly good is red cabbage when it's mixed up with chilli's, lime juice, salt and transformed into a Mexican Slaw?

Too good, that's how good.

Remember when I confessed all about my Mexican food addiction? Well, it all started off with this salad. When I first made it I couldn't believe how fresh & zingy it was, and I majorly overdosed on the stuff!

For months, every single bbq, picnic or party simply had to include this dish & i'm not exaggerating when i say there was never any of it left. In fact, anyone i've ever made this for has practically inhaled it within seconds. That's fine though because this slaw is SUPER good for you, therfore it's totally acceptable go ahead and stuff your face!!

I think it goes particularly well with a homemade chicken burger & sweet potato fries as per our supper last night, but I also think it would be ace with Drea's vegan chickpea patties. 

Go Make!

FOOD: BLACK BEAN AND MANGO QUINOA

Sometimes in life you need to just get over stuff.

Sometimes, it doesn't matter if you gain 4lbs over the summer.

Sometimes, you need to accept that your worn out uggs are not doing their job as footwear anymore.
You especially need to realise this if you slip over and fall smack bang on your ass THREE times in one morning (it's ok, nobody saw you, but seriously, three times?!)

Other times in life you need to embrace stuff.

Stuff like cookie butter. NO! FOOL! Actually not like cookie butter - i gained 4 pounds sneaking spoonfuls of this stuff. I'm warning you, if you ever get the chance, do not embrace cookie butter. 

No, you need to embrace stuff like the leaves that are turning yellow & falling from the trees or the fact that the nights are drawing in & you can call up your chimney sweep to get ready for that first fire of the season. You need to embrace the fun planning of Halloween and then bonfire night and then Christmas! Sorry, way too early to mention that word i know...

Then there are times in life when you just need to man up & both get over it and embrace it. Just like I just did with some corn.
Yes, I am rambling on like a crazy person about corn.
You see I have a funny thing about corn being used in salsas or salads. Don't ask me why because I have no idea. It's just one of those things & i to be honest I hadn't felt like it's something i ever needed to address because it's just corn, right? Er -Wrong! As a Mexican food addict  i totally needed to get over it & embrace that funny little yellow bit of oddness.

So I got brave.

And after i congratulated myself for buying a fresh cob of corn, I made this recipe which blew my socks off! I had it today for lunch in a tortilla with lashings of hot sauce & then tonight, i had it again after the mister told me he was going out for steak (!) but i served it with some grilled chicken. It's a flavour bomb waiting to go off & you need to try it.
Especially if you have a weird unjustified aversion to corn.

Go Make!

SPICED SWEET POTATO FRIES

Fancy something that tastes sweet, spicy & is good for you?
Well, of course? Then these are for you!
Sweet Potatoes are not just good for you, they are SUPER good for you & have so many amazing properties. Their high levels of beta carotene are responsible for healthy skin, a healthy digestive system and strong lungs. They are also really high in Vitamin C (now is totally the season to be stocking right up on that fella) which is both an antioxidant and essential for a healthy immune system. I always make sure the kiddos have sweet pots a couple of times a week - especially Flo who suffers from mild asthma.
OK, OK, science lesson over!
The mister & I have pretty much ditched normal potatoes all together in favour of sweet pots and this recipe is one of my favourite ways to enjoy them.
Make them tomorrow & serve them with these veggie burgers and you'll go to bed happy :)
Or do what i'm going to do & make a huge batch of them next weekend & serve them with this ketchup.
Spiced sweet potato fries will not disappoint...