Still Life Number 2

Still Life Number 1

Tomato and Prawn Risotto

I winged it tonight and made another easy Olivia recipe, it was delicious.

You will need (feeds 3/4):

1 red onion (finely chopped)
2 spring onions (chopped)
2 large tomatoes (chopped into 8)
1/3 bag of risotto rice
1 litre vegetable stock
1 cup white wine
2 handfuls peas
as many uncooked king prawns as you like (or can afford)
chilli flakes to taste
salt and pepper



Fry the onions in a little vegetable oil till soft, then add the rice and stir until it's coated with oil. Add the wine and cook on a medium heat until the wine has soaked in. Then start gradually adding the vegetable stock (don't over pour), and let the rice soak it up. After 5 minutes, add the tomatoes, they will add extra juice so be careful not to over do it with the stock. After about 10/12 minutes, when the rice is almost cooked, add the peas, king prawns, seasoning and chilli. The tomatoes keep the risotto very moist and make it taste so healthy. It would be good with chicken too. Enjoy!

Food Faces

                                  

Everybody has a different identity, different facial features and different characteristics. However, it is certain we are all alike in some way.

Sian Bonnell

I just came across Sian Bonnell while researching for my new project. I think her work is witty and pure genius. These images are from her 'Serving Suggestion' series and she extends the use of food to make a playful, innovative series of photographs. Look at her website to see more - http://www.sianbonnell.com/

Amazing Chicken Marinade

I found this recipe on the internet and made it twice this week because it was so yummy and easy.

For one chicken breast, all you need to do is mix 2 tsp paprika with 1 tsp of fresh rosemary and a pinch of salt. Dab the chicken with oil before sprinkling this paprika mix on, and then place 1/2 a sliced garlic on top of it. Place the chicken in a glass dish and surround it with good quality white wine (be careful not to smother it) and leave it in the fridge for about an hour to marinade.

In the oven, you will need to check the chicken and keep spooning the wine over it to keep it moist. Cook it at 200 degrees until it is completely cooked (around 20 minutes, depending on the size of the breast).

Fran's 'Houmousypeanutbutter' Dip

Courtesy of Francesca Henderson, this recipe is absolutely delicious and you must try it straight away.

You will need:

2 spring onions
2 garlic cloves
chilli flakes to taste
coriander powder
a bunch of fresh coriander
2 tins of chickpeas (must be soft ones)
3 heaped tbsp smooth peanut butter
100ml olive oil roughly
2 tsp garam masala
3 tbsp lemon or lime juice


Heat up one chopped spring onion, 2 chopped garlic cloves, 2 tsp coriander powder, chilli flakes to taste, and a few fresh coriander leaves in a pan with a little sunflower oil. Take off the heat after 2 or 3 minutes and set aside while you mix the other ingredients. Put the chickpeas, peanut butter, oil, lime juice, fresh coriander, garam masala and the chopped spring onion in a bowl and mix with a hand mixer (or in a blender). Add the heated spices and mix well. Garnish with a sprinkle of paprika and a coriander leaf. YUM! Thanks Fran!

Thyme

Garlic

 

     

Mum's Banana Bread

This is a quick and easy banana loaf.

Mix up:

2 ripe bananas (mushed)
4oz margarine or cooking butter
6oz caster sugar
2 large eggs
8oz self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp milk

Cook at:

170° c for 40-50 minutes, until it's cooked right through. Place some tin foil over the top if it's burning.


My housemates devoured it quickly!

Delicious Coconut and Fish Curry

This is a dish I make a lot, banging everything together and hoping it tastes good.

Firstly i cooked 2 onions and a few spring onions in a little sunflower and coconut oil, then added chopped peppers and courgettes. I cooked these for 5 minutes and then added a tin of coconut milk, 1 tbsp korma (patak) paste, a large piece of ginger (chopped) and 1 crushed garlic clove. Tonnes of spices too-turmeric, coriander, curry powder, cardamon pod, garam masala, 2/3 kaffir lime leaves (or bay leaves) and salt and pepper. Finally I added white fish when the vegetables were almost cooked. Sprinkled the dish with fresh coriander and ate it on a bed of couscous.

Prawn and Vegetable Easy Risotto

Easypeasy risotto to use up my chicken stock.

Like any risotto, fry some onions and garlic with a little oil and add the quantity of rice needed. Slowly add your stock (in my case-fresh chicken stock), stirring regularly for about 10/15 minutes. Then add the vegetables, I used courgettes first and later added peas and king prawns. I wacked in some chilli flakes, 'spice it up' grinder and soy sauce. You could also put coriander, mixed herbs or boursin cheese in it.

Yum and easy.

Instagram

My brother first suggested Instagram to me a few months ago, and since then, I've fallen in love with it. If you have an Iphone and you don't have Instagram...get it! It's so addictive, and a good form of inspiration.

My 2nd Blog

After a year of contently writing a blog, filled with all sorts of experiences and fun, I deleted my account (by accident I might add), which was devestating. Finally, after my busy summer ended, I decided to make a new one as a distraction from uni work. I hope it's worth reading.