A few of my favourite recipes!

Though I have always loved food and loved to cook I have gotten into it much more in the past few years. I speak about a lot of wonderful recipes we make, and people consistently ask  me to share them. So, I have decided to put a few onto here. I have separated them by Chef and attached the links.

Please try them, love them, and let me know what you think! :) Enjoy! 

Gweneth Paltrow's: American style pancakes: these are absolutely amazing! You don't have to make it the night before. If you make it then eat straight away do not add the plain milk, only buttermilk (for my uk friends... buttermilk is a bit difficult to find, though larger waitrose do carry it, like the ones at the westfields.) You want the temperature quite low. Also, you should poor some into the pan, that has a bit of butter melted in it (not much just a fingernail size) and poor in about a fist size portion. once little bubbles begin to appear on the top flip it over. I end up flipping them back and forth a few times and might suggest cutting into the middle of your first one to ensure it is fully cooked in the middle, nothing is worse than a doughy pancake. 

http://www.self.com/fooddiet/recipes/2011/05/bruce-paltrows-world-famous-pancakes 

Wonderful bean soup! 

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/french-onion-style-white-bean-soup

Tortilla soup: http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2011/08/24/gwyneth-paltrow-cooking-series-21-tortilla-soup/

We actually just had this for dinner last night, and tonight we took left over soup and made grilled cheese sandwiches (cut into soldiers) and dipped! 

Bill Granger's Tomato soup: This is amazing! It gives a deep roasted twist. 

http://ironchefshellie.com/2010/09/29/tomato-soup-with-cashew-coconut-sambal/ 

Nigel Slater: 

Pumpkin and tomato laksa: 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2005/feb/13/foodanddrink.shopping5

Bolognese: I also make a great vegetarian version of this by substituting the beef and bacon with extra veggies, especially mushrooms. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/spaghettibolognese_89200

Dal and pumpkin soup: (you can also substitute a number of different squash... I had never heard of the one we ended up using, but the guy at whole foods told me it was close to butternut, just a different colour.) 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2005/jan/16/foodanddrink.shopping

Pizza crust: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/31/nigel-slater-pizza-recipe 

We like to make half of this, it makes to large thin pizzas. There are several toppings we love, though blue cheese with caramelized onions top the list as well as sliced tomatoes, basil and mozzarella. No tomato sauce. 

Puttanesca:  This calls for black olives, though we often use green... a true classic and it is all stuff you can whip up having in your cupboard, I think the only recipe we use like this

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/20/nigel-slater-classic-recipe-spaghetti-alla-puttanesca

Nigella Lawson:  Mellow meatballs. We also make an amazing version of this by taking away the meatballs and adding in extra chickpeas. 

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/mellow-meatballs-101

Yotam Ottolenghi: 

Amazing quesadilla: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/may/24/recipe.foodanddrink

sweet potato cakes: 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/feb/10/foodanddrink.recipes

Jamie Oliver: 

Sea bass, sweet potato mash and asian greens. This is wonderful, and you don't need the bacon to have the great flavour! 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1312675/Jamie-Olivers-30-minute-meals-Sea-bass-pancetta-sweet-potato-mash-Asian-greens-berry-ice-cream-sparkling-lemon-ginger-drink.html

bits...

The prescription given to me for my skin allergy and eczema states on it several times to keep  out of reach and sight of children... I find this a bit terrifying.

I don't know why I am surprised when Channel nail polish disappoints me... it's not what they are known for, it's not what you should expect them to be good at.

I think I might be addicted to chocolate milk.

I absolutely hate rolling shopping buggies, I know they have a more specific name for the one I am thinking of, but cannot figure it out. But unless you are an 80 year old woman... carry a few bags! And.... never under any circumstance take them on the underground, so annoying!

I LOVE sparkling water... made even better with a slice of lemon.

I am not sure what it is, but I often times get really home sick for places I have never lived. I guess it isn't really home sick, this feeling would be maybe feeling sick, and longing so deeply for feelings I have had at different places.

I loved our time in Australia far more than I think anyone realises... I had forgotten what it felt like to be around friends, ones that cared about your genuine interests and knows your past (ok, more so Alex since we were in Aus, but I felt so cared about!) and family! Ah!

It is a weird feeling when you realise your comfort foods have changed... and your tastes all together for that matter.

For anyone who doesn't know and cares... I no longer eat any meat other than seafood, long story, really long time coming... but it has been so easy (for me at least, maybe not my husband.)

That is all for now, more to come some other time! x