Meat Free Mondays #4.
There hasn't been one of these blog entries in a while and the simple explanation is purely because I'm no longer vegetarian. Yes I do feel guilty for not sticking with it (I really did try) and lecturing won't make me feel any better either (I despise Veggie lecturers / PETA morons - I always have). I will probably go back to vegetarianism at some point as it seems to be the dietary trend that I've subconsciously followed since I was 12 or 13 (where I'll be veggie for anything between 4-6 years then I'll start eating meat again for a year or so and then switch back for another 4-6 years). It still works out that I've been veggie for over a third of my life (I'm 31) and that still, in my opinion has to count for something.
Anyway moving on. My boyfriend and I made this relatively simple and delicious pasta dish recently. Super easy, super tasty and relatively cheap as chips to make. I was tempted to say that this would be a nice summer dish but our British summer seems to have ended, as usual, prematurely (booooo).
Fusilli Mediterranean Style
Ingredients for 4 persons:
* 320 grams of fusilli pasta.
* 200 grams of buffalo mozzarella (we just used normal mozzarella).
* 30 pachino tomatoes (we substituted these with cherry tomatoes).
* 2 cloves of garlic.
* 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
* A handful of minced fresh parsley.
* A handful of capers.
* Some red pepper (we think the chef used crushed chilli flakes in the video so this is what we used).
* The juice of 2 lemons.
* A pinch of salt.
Hope you enjoy.
Meat Free Mondays #3.
In an attempt in frugality I've been trying to use up items in my cupboards/freezer that I've had for ages in the hope that it will a) save me money and b) force me to try different things. I seem to be one of these people who always seem to have a lot of food in their cupboards yet continue to buy more "just in case". In case of what who knows? For the sake of argument my excuse is that I'm stock piling in case of a zombie apocalypse.
This week I noticed I had a tub of breadcrumbs and a pack of firm tofu that were nearing their best before date so these have obviously been the foundation of this week's MFM. After a quick internet search I decided on this only I used a lot more olive oil, 3/4 of a tin of chopped tomatoes (instead of the tomato sauce) and grated mild cheddar (I had no mozzarella). Those of you who are on a diet I apologise as this is definitley not for you (I didn't even try to point it). Same goes to the vegans (due to the cheese). In my opinion this has been the best meal I've ever had with tofu in it as the base ingredient, it was utterly delicious and I will definitley be making this again in the future.
Seriously it was that good I had seconds.
Meat Free Mondays #2.
Red Borscht
Ingredients
- 1 celeriac
- 2 carrots
- A handful of fresh parsley
- 1 leek
- 1 onion
- 1 large parsnip
- 4 red beetroots
- 10 black peppercorns
- 2 grains of pimento (or allspice)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 glass and a half of red wine
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- juice of 2 lemons
- salt and pepper
Instructions
Put a pan with 3 pints of water on the boil. Peel and chop the celeriac, carrots, leek, onion and parsnip, wash them and add to the pan. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Peel and thinly slice the beetroot and place in a separate pan with the peppercorns, pimento (I had none but found this as a good substitute) and bay leaves. Simmer, uncovered, in 1 pint of water for 30 minutes.
Sieve the vegetable and beetroot stocks and combine the clear liquids, discarding the vegetables. Return the borscht to the heat. Add the red wine, lemon juice, salt and pepper, sugar and garlic. Simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with Sour Cream.
Preparation time: Around 60 minutes.
Serves: 6
Hookers & Needles…
Last week I finally got my finger out and applied for an invite for Ravelry, which arrived yesterday and so far I'm loving it. I'm hoping it'll help inspire me enough to get the yarn and needles out again, which looking through the free pattens I doubt it'll fail. Hopefully it will give me the kick up the backside I need to finally organise the Stitch & Bitch I've wanted to establish for a while as well. I've also celebrated my 30th birthday and have had an amazing time. Lots of excellent presents received and lots of alcohol consumed.
Today is going to be spent doing some odd jobs and I am planning on doing some baking this afternoon. I did some on-line shopping recently with ASDA and I must have done something wrong as I ended up with far too many bananas as I have a ton of them which are slowly going black so I think some Banana Bread, Banana Muffins and some Banana Biscuits are in order. Today is going to be a good day.
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