20-02-12 Love Cookery Weekly Showcase

20 February

It’s been an odd week for the weather, hasn’t it? Swinging between snowy and bitterly cold through to so sunny it’s almost warm. Me, I don’t care much about the temperature just so long as the sun is shining. Bright, glistening views make my mood soar.

I feel the same about food. The prettier it looks, the more I enjoy it. Brightly coloured salads with light glistening off speckled dressing, swirls of chaotically curling spaghetti boasting the deep reds and browns of bolognese, and chocolate pudding – who doesn’t love the gentle, velvety textures of cocoa mousses, cakes and sauces?

They say the first bite is with the eye. With all the time I spend looking at food online, it’s a wonder I can fit through the door.

What are your picture perfect food favourites?

Emily, A Mummy Too.

My Rusty Halos – Extreme baking

Picture this, we are sat around Rapunzel’s pink table in the middle of the kitchen. Cake mixture and egg shells scattered around the mixing bowl. Rapunzel has started whisking it up with the hand whisk and all is calm. Then mummy remembers the electric blender that was given to me recently in return for some design work. (Baby head here happily accepts baby products in payment.)

I used it for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I had made a lovely traditional Greek supper which had…

The good life mum – Valentine Victoria hearts

Here are some cakes i made for my husband for Valentines as he had recently requested a Victoria sponge cake and i thought i would make this a little more special for him with these mini Victoria sponge Valentine hearts.
My hubby is a cake hater so i was bowled over when he said he wanted a Victoria sponge cake.

Romanian mum in London – Very Quick Blueberry muffins

We had this box of blueberries for a while in the kitchen but hubby and boogie didn’t really fancy eating them so I decided to bake some muffins instead.
If I wasn’t on a diet I would’ve probably eat them by now but blueberries are not allowed at this rage in my diet.
So as I was preparing the dinner, I thought about mixing the ingredients for these muffins as ŵell. Quickly I googled the recipe on my iPad and found this easy recipe on the Good to know website. You can get the ingredients from there.

Madhouse Family Reviews – Shake Up Your Wake Up recipe : Breakfast Energy Bars

You probably remember a couple of weeks ago, we were encouraged to take part in the Shake Up Your Wake Up National Breakfast Week campaign. One of the things we received in our lovely breakfast hamper were these Breakfast Energy Bars and they are absolutely delicious. They’re juicy and chewy and they last absolutely ages in an airtight box without going hard or stale. If you want to try out a batch, the recipe is below

A Mummy Too – Chocolate cheesecake

This week I got out my trusty blender and made a chocolate cheesecake which is, if I do say so myself, abso-flippin-lutely gorgeous! It’s also vegetarian – no gelatine needed.

Red Ted Art – Spicy Noodle & Mackerel (cooked by son)

Supper cooked by my 9 year old: Spicy Noodle & Mackerel. Delicious.

Cooking, Cakes and Children – Quick and easy chilli

This one of my ‘go to’ recipes when we’re in need of some speedy comfort food. It’s a bit cheaty as I use a tin of kidney beans in chilli sauce, but that does make it super easy and yummy too. We’re not hugely fond of spicy food so we don’t add much extra chilli, so you can adjust the amount you add to suit your taste.

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Pea Green Pantry – Happy Valentines Day!

As we all know, Valentine’s day is all about the love but it also seems to be increasingly about the food…
Chocolates, dining out, dining in, breakfast in bed, champagne…
In our house it was no exception. I got the conventional box of choccies from the Mr. (which are being guarded from my Eldest girly with my life!) as well as some potted roses (which I will kill, it can’t be avoided, but I’m hoping this isn’t any reflection on the longevity of our love!) & because the Mr. is working this evening I made him a yummy fry up…

Delicieux – Awesome, Authentic Curries

My brother in law makes a damn good curry. It’s a treat to be invited over to their place for a curry night and I always know I am in line for a truly delicious, perfectly spiced curry that melts in the mouth. Naturally I have quizzed him on the secrets of his curries and he told me that he started out following what he called ‘The Curry Bible’ and the rest is history as they say!

Sweet Mabel – A taste of Mexico!

Two amazing recipes for Guacamole and a tomato salsa, deliciously moreish!

These two dips could easily be my favourite nibble, perfect with a tequila sunrise, margaritas and friends! It’s a simple recipe, courtesy of Thomasina Miers and her book Mexican Food Made Simple.

Sweet Mabel – Slow cooker chilli con carne

Another Mexican favourite adapted from Mexican food made simple.

A slow cooker is vital in this recipe, so if you don’t own one then you must get one immediately. (It will change your life!) The idea is that you get this going on a morning, have a day out and come back to the most amazing chilli ready to eat. It may look like a long list of ingredients but let me assure you that it is worth it.

Not As Advertised – Forty minute meal – Chicken and bacon risotto

You know what it’s like – you get home after school and the kids are starving. You could easily shove some good old nursery food in the oven – burger and chips or chicken goujons.. but here’s something that takes only a few minutes longer and is much more delicious. And, as my boys have an Italian heritage, it’s something I’ve honed from watching Nonno in the kitchen..

Splodz Blogz – Colman’s Season and Shake (Review)

I’ve heard loads of good and loads of bad comments about these Colman’s Season and Shake packets. So the obvious thing to do was buy one and try it out for myself. I went for the 49p Cajun Chicken version.

let’s bake love – buckwheat waffles with apple, pear and vine fruit compote

This gluten-free recipe makes gorgeous waffles that are crisp on the outside and soft within. They are the perfect partner for this delicately spiced compote that can be made in minutes. This compote was made with British conference pears and British Jazz apples, but use whatever takes your fancy.

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Kids One Stop ShopBlog – Guest Post – Super Simple Puddings

Today’s Guest post if from Liz and she is sharing her Super Simple Puddings.

I’m sharing with you my ‘cheat’s recipes’ for super simple puddings that work really well after a family meal, or can be glammed up for a special dessert.

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Make It, Bake It – The In Season Challenge – February

Are you ready for your next In Season Challenge? I had a great response to first one using Savoy Cabbage.

If you are not sure what the In Season Challenge is, I explain all bellow.

Each month I choose an In Season ingredient and your challenge is come up with a recipe that includes it.

Here is what you need to do:

Nic’s Nutrition – Apple Crisps

HEALTHY CRISPS?! A crisp that contributes to one of your ’5 a day’ and is VERY low in calories and virtually fat free?! Yes please!

cambridgefoodfrivolity – Mojito Chicken

One of the happiest things to be served sitting at the bar for me, is a fresh ice cold mojito.
It got me thinking… roast chicken recipes tend to work best when the chicken is kept moist and with three key flavour elements: citrus, slight sweetness and something happily alcoholic and fresh to deglaze the pan and create scrumptious gravy.
So…
call me crazy but I’m about to attempt a truly mojito flavoured roast chicken!

(Works like a charm)

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Ramblings Of A Suburban Mummy – Morrisons M-Savers

Morrisons M-Savers range is a great entry level range of foods that have recently been developed to improve upon Morrisons existing value range. With improved packaging the Morrisons M-Savers range looks good and is the kind of products you wouldn’t be ashamed to put in your basket. Yes, the vegetables might not be as pretty as the more expensive ones but they will definitely taste as good! I was very impressed with the quality of all the ingredients.

Last night I went to a special masterclass and cooking event in the Morrisons M Kitchen, a fabulous development kitchen

Me He & Them – Moroccan Tagine

If you are looking for ideas of family recipes and in the mood to try something different, these dishes are very easy and most importantly, very tasty.

Moroccan Chicken Tagine

We had it for dinner last weekend and it was for a winner.

In a saucepan, put some butter and oil, 1 small teaspoon of turmeric, 1 teaspoon of ginger and 1 tablespoon of parsley. Place under medium heat, mix and then add the chicken (thighs and drumsticks).

Cook until the chicken is golden.

Chez Foti – Cheesy Biscuits!

Yesterday we had a spot of mummy and daughter cheesy biscuit baking. Great fun. This is a really REALLY simple recipe and great to make with kids. I make them quite often with my daughter who’s three as she hasn’t got a particularly sweet tooth (except for chocolate) and likes her cheese so these always go down a storm. Especially when she gets to cut them out herself with animal shaped cutters. Believe me she ate six before I had time to get the camera out and get a snap!

Dietitian UK – Courgette Lasagne with fresh Buckwheat pasta

Today was a cold day and when I say cold I mean COLD – not wanting to go outside, a prefer to stay under the duvet and drink tea type of day. Having a one year old generally means duvet days are not allowed, but it has been a day when I’ve not been quite running at top speed. A day when you want warm, tasty food.
Knowing we had 3 courgettes I took those as the theme and settled on Courgette Lasagne. After my recent fresh buckwheat pasta experiments