Cooking With Richard

My boss is coming down tomorrow. He’s a good cook, even though he’s a vegetarian. (Hey, joke!) Each time I go to his house - quite frequently - I get a good meal, and that means I’ve got to make something decent for him. So N– & I thought about what I could make in advance which would be simple but impressive. Of course we had to actually eat as well.

We settled on making Jamie Oliver’s prawn pasta for us, and preparing Manju Malhi’s 10 minute curry for my boss. Manju’s curry recipe is originally for chicken, but I’ve substituted okra before, and that’s what I’m doing again this time.

Both of these recipes are great because each takes about 30 minutes to make, including preparation. Also great because they’re quite “configurable” — and you can make them from the limited ingredients available in supermarkets.

The prawn pasta was good, not great. I had to make a few compromises - no sun-dried tomatoes to hand. The okra curry tasted good, but it won’t be until tomorrow before I find out how well it really worked.

After making leg of lamb yesterday, what more could I do than make the obligatory shepherd’s pie today?

Kowaiiiiiiindesuneee?

Edit: She’s really lovely!

recipesource.com

Originally it was called SOAR and run out of Berkeley University. It’s full of great recipes, but they need some way to add comments or feedback. Check out their tempura recipe which always works for me.

cooks.com

Don’t be put off by the front page. This website is very comprehensive, with lots of useful recipes and tips. I made their custard tarts which came out great, until I discovered that I really didn’t like custard tart very much.

BBC food

The Beeb’s food website is a great resource. Check out the simple recipe for penne arrabiata on that page.

food-india.com

That’s a good recipe for mango chutney.

And finally, a very simple pasta recipe which worked really well (you need a pasta machine of course!)

Neat little discovery on my way to Bedford a couple of days ago: a nice farm butchers, Browns of Stagsden. It’s hidden within the village of Stagsden, off the A428.

I bought a a leg of lamb and 6 sausages. The lamb is from a farm in Turvey (you can see it on the map above). Sausages were great, although I managed to overcook them in my crappy grill.

It’s “spring lamb” (ie. from sheep born in Autumn), which according to The Book is generally to be avoided in April, but should be OK now (end of May). I prepared it according to Hugh’s recipe: 12-15 deep cuts are made into the lamb, and into each one is inserted a piece of anchovy, a slice of garlic and a tuft of rosemary. For this 5.5lb piece of meat, I first sizzled it for 30 mins at a very high temperature, then turned down the temperature and cooked for another 1hr - 1hr 20 mins so it’s pink in the middle.

This was the result - first picture after the sizzle, second picture was me enjoying the lamb with a glass of decent red wine.

The meat was fabulous. We had a lot left over, but that’ll make a nice shepherd’s pie tomorrow evening. I’ll have to try some of their home reared beef next.

This turned up in the in-box today. I feel so ashamed because I never even voted for Margaret …

Bequest of Sir Dennis Thatcher

SS Peter & Paul Catholic Parish

7 Tetlow Lane,

Wimbome DORSET BH21 ILF

London, UK.

Dearest In The Lord,

On behalf of the trustees and executor of the estate of Late Sir. Dennis
Thatcher, I wish to notify you that late Sir. Dennis Thatcher, made you a
beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Pounds Sterling (£950,000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament to his
WILL. This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.

Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past
or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad that
wished you good. Sir. Dennis Thatcher passed away peacefully in the Lister
Hospital London, after a short illness at the age of 88 years. He was
businessman and husband to Margaret Thatcher, the former

British Prime Minister. He was Born May 10th 1915; died June 26th 2003, and his
WILL is now ready for execution.

Sir. Dennis Thatcher, until his death was a very dedicated Christian who loved
to give out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his
lifetime. In a tribute to him at a News Conference with Russian President
Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Mr. Tony Blair said:

…”Sir Dennis was a kind and generous-hearted man, a real gentleman

who had many friends here and abroad”.

According to him, this money is to support your activities and to help the poor
and the needy in your country. Please If I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor
to get back to me as soon as possible.

Yours In His Service,

Rev. Fr. Luke Allan

- rev luke

This scam seems to have started off late last year but there’s another round of them going out now. Is there really anyone left in the world who would fall for a 419?

Rich.

This blog is about my terrible attempts to learn to cook, and my work life. Check back for more soon.