Bless My Mum!

When I spoke to my mother a week ago about my embarking on writing a Maltese cookbook, her immediate reaction was to tell a family friend she is staying with (my parent's are currently in Malta for a holiday). Last night when I got home from work I found a large heavy package waiting for me, in it was some very old Maltese cookbooks, a set I recognised as being one's that bride's in Malta received as part of their dowry box. I was astounded, but the hard work is to come, since all the recipes are in Maltese and needs to be translated. While I can read alot of it, some words I have trouble with and will need help with, I can understand spoken Maltese, but reading it is another matter.

So exciting!

Knife Skills

I'm sure like quite a few of you, while you can cook and make things taste great, something that should be a principle skill, like how to be fast and efficient with knives isn't your strongest point?

Well, if it is yours, it sure isn't mine. So I'm looking into Knife Skill courses. So far I can only find the one by Leith's that you have to book for umpteen months before hand. Does any one who reads this know of any other cookery schools, etc where I could learn?

Marinated Monkfish Wrapped in Parma Ham

Ugly customer, ain't he? Luckily monkfish tastes so damn good. As a treat to my newish fiancé, last night, I came up with a recipe for marinated monkfish wrapped in parma ham. I'm in the process of writing a draft out now, so I'll type it up and upload it later for you lovely folks who put up with my fickle posting. Afraid no pictures this time since I didn't have my camera with me. But Hopefully I'll make it again in a few weeks time to show the finished result.

Now my bathroom renovations have finally been completed I'll be back on here more often.

Kyoto Restaurant

The best sushi restaurant (my favourite place in London) has now re-opened! For those who haven't been yet - you're missing out! For those have gone, do go back! They are now next door to their old premises in a newer, bigger venue. Too bad the next door competition is Eat Tokyo, who infamously disregarded all health and safety rules last year when they cut up a tuna next to the bins outside:

Article link here.

Blergh! Disgusting! So let's hear it for Kyoto, I've even made an appreciation group on facebook.com, click here and join! But most importantly, go visit Kyoto!

It's NEXT DOOR to 27, Romilly Street, Soho, London - have to double check the number, it's either 25 or 29.

True Confessions of a Sushi Addict

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a bit of a sushi addiction (craving it right now in fact, despite having it for dinner last night). I can eat the stuff pretty much everyday. But how did I get into it? Well, it was a little-known short film made back in 1999 called True Confessions of a Sushi Addict. Needless to say, after a few hapless attempts at eating supermarket sushi (yech!), I was introduced to proper fresh sushi by a friend and never turned back. Unfortunately (I guess!), I have never wanted to attempt making it myself, since I believe it's an art, perfected over years of training by sushi chefs and shouldn't be tampered with. So here is the little film that started it all:

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

Sorry about the hiatus folks

Sorry about the lack of post the last several weeks. Alot has been happening and the blog has taken a bit of a back burner. Among other things: I went to New York for a week and a half, got engaged, organised bathroom renovations (to be happening in June), trying to make wedding plans (in my head for now) and getting over a cold.

I have bought a new cookbook, which I shall feature some recipes from (tried a few out on the other half and his mum on Sunday and they turned out great!). And I have also learned to bake bread properly, so that may be a feature soon - you should see the pleading looks I get when I take a new loaf out of the oven.

Hope to see a few more comments again!

Much love,


Mer x

Raisin and Walnut Beer Bread

Thanks again to Daemonfall on Livejournal for the suggestion of beer bread as my next recipe - it proved incredibly easy and one I will make again (It was scoffed in a hurry over the weekend!).

The basic recipe I followed was as follows:

Easy Beer Bread

(makes 1 medium loaf)

3 cups self-raising flour
3 tblsp sugar
1 300 ml can beer (any sort) I used Strong Suffolk Vintage Ale, I have no idea about beers, the label said it had a caramel character, so it was good enough for me.

Method:
Sift all dry ingredients together into a bowl and create a well in the centre, immediately pour in and mix in the beer, pour into a greased medium loaf tin. The mixture should roughly half-fill the tin. Place in medium hot oven (about 190C) for about 50 minutes until well-risen. Turn out on a cake rack to cool.


It got a little hairy for a little bit as I couldn't find my bottle opener anywhere, I kept wondering "what the heck am I going to do with a bowlful of flour?", when luckily I found an old opener and the back of the utensil drawer. As an after thought I mixed through a handful of chopped walnuts and raisins to make a nice sweet bread, sprinkling cinnamon and a little extra sugar on top of the loaf before sticking it in the oven.

Went fantastically well with a cup of tea and bitter orange marmalade. Definitely something I'll make again soon.