For my birthday back in November I got Uyen Luu’s My Vietnamese Kitchen and I was so excited. I dove into it and buried myself in the vibrant colors and beautiful photography, wanting to cook and eat everything all at once. Then I started looking through the lists of ingredients. It is fair to say that Vietnamese cooking requires a lot of what we would term ‘specialist’ ingredients − but, of course, they wouldn’t be considered specialist ingredients in Vietnam, would they?
January can be a trying month. The weather inevitably hits the seriously wintery, germs abound and diets and detoxes reign. So for those days when the blues hit, there’s loaded potato skins. Plenty of cheese, crispy bacon and comforting mashed potato means a happy belly and a happy you.
This is a roundup of recipes I’ve tried – or have been meaning to try – from some of my favorite blogs (and one from my own!). These recipes will be sure to keep your kitchen busy after the holidays, so you can steer clear of the January blues!
I had a cold last week. And I don’t get sick. Like ever. So although you might expect the infrequency of illness to rouse some sympathy from the hungry belly party of this get-up (aka Rhys), it doesn’t. I still had to cook dinner. All week. Even though he had the week off and I had to work. And I was sick. Did I mention that I was sick?
Autumn has finally arrived here in the UK, although the temperatures remain mild – a bit too mild, worryingly mild actually – and I can feel my stomach favoring the stodgy, warm and comforting. This recipe is a bit of a compromise though – it contains fresh greens, uncooked and unadulterated. But the hefty wedges of roasted sweet potatoes and crispy chorizo topped with salty feta still offer up that comfort we all seek this time of year.
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There is nothing than can cure what ails you like a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup. This is pretty much made to my grandma’s recipe, at least how I remember her making it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – right?
Sometimes you just need cheese, cream and butter. That was the general consensus at my house Friday night, so we cooked up a bubbling, cheesy, creamy dish of macaroni and cheese.
What is a store cupboard standby that can be dressed up in any way with any ingredient you happen to have and can be as homely or as luxurious as you want? Risotto, of course.
The two main ingredients in this soup may not be obvious bed fellows, but their union was inspired by a single person. One of my closest friends is from Poland and she has opened my husband’s and my eyes to the delights of Polish food. Cabbage soup is one dish which has become a staple in our house, especially at the time of year when we need to shake a few pounds loose.