Monday 11 April 2011

Recent baking/cooking/creating...

So I've been enjoying a bit of baking/cooking recently...and have been pretty pleased with the results...
Firstly from the Wonderful World of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (I got his latest recipe book for Christmas - River Cottage Everyday) and I made 2 dishes....
   1- Focaccia Bread - Hugh's recipe is simple but has a few ideas to adapt it, the 1st time I made it i just did rosemary and salt, but the 2nd time I roasted some red pepper and then when making the holes in the top I poked a few bits of the red pepper, basil and some crumbled up feta cheese...and this is the result...(I also substituted plain bread flour for wholemeal bread flour, I sieved out some of the bran and then sprinkled that on the top too)

   2 - Also from Hugh's book I make a frittata for a quick and easy light dinner for me and my 2 housemates...I put in smoked bacon, spinich and feta cheese ( as I LOATH goats cheese), it's very quick and easy...might make a few more every now and then, it's great for using up bits and bobs in the fridge...


And then, not from Hugh's book, but based on something I saw on BBC 2's Baking made Easy with Lorraine Pascale, Sun-dried Tomato Palmiers. 
They are Seriously easy to make and completely DELICIOUS...
I made mine by making a mix of sun-dried tomatos, roasted peppers and fresh basil that I blended with a hand blender. Next I unrolled a sheet of pre-made puff pastry, and spread onto it the tomato-y mix, then rolled up the pastry from both of the long sides of the sheet, so that it meets in the middle.

Then I put it in the fridge for about half an hour, so it firms up. Then using a VERY sharp knife cut 1/2 cm thick slices and placed then flat side up with lots of space around them, onto a baking sheet.
I then used an egg wash on the tops of each one and then baked it in the oven for about 10 mins...



Ta Da!!!! 
What do you think? have you had any culinary success of late? let me know!!!