Girl Dinner

Hello Friends and welcome to Cooking The Books! Each year I try to think of something new to do here to keep both you and me interested! The pandemic brought the idea to cook my way through all the novels of Agatha Christie, my ever-expanding magazine collection brought us my 20 Years Ago Today Posts. My obsession with both old and new cookbooks has now spawned Cooking the Books.  This might be a review of something new and exciting in my collection. Or something old and exciting in my collection. Basically, it’s an opportunity for me to cook from some books that otherwise would be languishing on my bookshelves.  And that’s no way to treat a cookbook!  

Holey Art ThouGirl Dinner: The Book

Girl Dinner is a new addition to my collection and it is a super fun book! For those of you not familiar with the concept of Girl Dinner, author Jamison Diaz-Imlah explains the concept as follows:

“Girl dinner is a simple meal made by arranging ingredients that are readily available in the store or kitchen pantry. It started on TikTok when a user named Olivia Maher responded to a video mocking medieval peasants who had to eat bread and cheese for dinner. Olivia’s response was simple – “But that’s my dinner!”- and the girl dinner was born”

Friday night has long been my Girl Dinner night – it is ususally something snacky, nearly always includes cheese and is just fun quick food! 

Holey Art Thou2

Above all for me, this book was fun!  The recipes aren’t going to win any awards for ingenuity.  This is not Heston inspired food.  But it is simple food, beautifully presented and let’s face it, we’re probably far more likely to cook from this book rather than a modernist creation on a busy weeknight!   Recipes include a Smoked salmon bagel, a croque madame and a Boursin and potato omelette.  But, they are given fun and witty names – Holey Art Thou, Broke Madame and Sometimes You Get The Bear respectively. These really tickled by love of puns!  My favourite name was “All I care about is pasta and like three people”.  Swap out pasta for cheese and that is me in ten words! 

Greek Salad

Girl Dinner also contains some great ideas for eating for one.  I feel this is an area where people may tend to skimp on presentation or care for ingredients.  This book acts as a little form of self love in showing that food for one can look beautiful as well as being quick to prepare and mostly healthy!    

I would say, for me, the only drawback to Girl Dinner is that some people may not be able to access some of the exact things that the authors suggest you use as your hack ingredients.  For example, are Greek meatballs and caulilfower gnocchi available everywhere?  I don’t know, I’ve never bought a ready made meatball and I don’t like gnocchi.  Having sald that, I’m sure some type of meatball or gnocchi will be available if not specifically Greek and cauliflower.  Or you could make your own.  Or skip that recipe.  Theres a lot to choose from!  

Sometimes You Get The Bear

Girl Dinner: The Look

One word:  Gorgeous! 

But here’s a few more:  Beautiful Food, presented and photographed beautifully.  Here are a few examples:

Can you believe this spectacular salad takes only 10 minutes to make? 

Photo from Girl Dinner

Here is a Turkey and Brie Melt AKA Living for Leftovers 

Photo from Girl Dinner

These Greek Meatballs (Sunday Kind of Love in Girl Dinner language) are high on my list of things to make:

 

Greek Meatballs
Photo from Girl Dinner

Girl Dinner is fun and vibrant – the authors talk about combining simplicity with style and this is exactly what you get!

Girl Dinner – The Cook

I’ve made three things from Girl Dinner thus far.  Above you can see Holey Art Thou and Sometimes You Get The Bear.  The third thing I made was a Whipped Feta which is called Everyone’s Doing It. 

I made the most amazing girl dinner, using the Whipped Feta in two different ways.  The first was as a base for a Greek inspired salad (pictured above).  

I simply spread some of the whipped feta on a plate, and added chopped tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives and red onion.  I usually have dill on my Greek Salad but I didn’t have any so I added some mint from the garden instead.  This was delicious.  So fresh and so easy to do!  This with some bread would be a perfect lunch for me!  I could also eat Greek Salad everry day.  I absolultey love it and this was an interesting play on a classic. 

Prawn Saganaki 4

As I was having this for dinner, I wanted something a bit more substantial.  So I also added my take on Prawn Saganaki.  Again, I used the whipped feta as a base, swirled in some tomato paste, some roasted and roughtly ground fennel seeds, some prawns, chilli flakes and some chopped tomato and red onion.  Ten to fifteen minutes in the oven and voila!

 

This was so good.  I loved the little kick of pickle brine in there!  It was also great both hot and cold!  Here’s the recipe:

Whipped Feta Recipe

All in all, for me?  Girl Dinner = Girl Winner!!!!

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of Girl Dinner from the publishers (Thank you so much).  Regardless of this, the thoughts and opinions above are entirely my own. 

Have a great week!

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Mainland Teriyaki Pizza (Leftovers)

Hey Friends, here’s a surprise midweek quickie for you! I had a couple of skewers leftover from my Mainland Teriyaki and talking about how some of the ingredients were akin to those on a pizza got me thinking….this was the result!

Mainland Teriyaki Pizza

Ingredients for the Mainland Teriyaki Pizza

  • Flatbread
  • Tomato Paste
  • Mozzarella
  • Leftover Mainland Teriyaki Skewers
  • A sprinkle of chilli flakes
  • Some thinly sliced shallots

Layer it all up, pop it into a really hot oven and you have dinner in 10 minutes!  

These are just suggestions.  After all, this is a dish based on leftovers.  If you have some red or green peppers or mushrooms languishing at the bottom of your fridge, chop them up and add them in.  Maybe throw in some anchovies or cherry tomatoes or herbs.  Or some Togarashi instead of regular chill to ramp up the Japanese connection!

Heaven!

Mainland Teriyaki Pizza2

It’s probably a good thing I have no more Mainland Teryiyaki Skewers left.  We went from a Japanese inspired South Seas Dish to a Japanese influened Hawaiian inpsired Pizza.  Who knowa what might have come next!  A Japanese / Hawaiian / Italian Taco?  And after that, a Japanese / Hawaiian / Italian / Mexican Fattoush?  Maybe it’s s fitting end that the last chapter in Good Housekeeping’s World Cookery is inspiring a mix of all that has gone before it!

Hope your week is going well!!!!

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Mainland Teriyaki

Today, we’re continuing our virtual journey to the South Sea Islands which started with Fish in Lolo Sauce. Our culinary adventure takes us through the pages of Good Housekeeping’s World Cookery (1972), where today we are rediscovering a classic recipe: Mainland Teriyaki.

Mainland Teriyaki 5

Setting the Scene

Imagine yourself on a secluded beach. The warm sun gently warms your skin while ocean waves crash softly against the shore. Meanwhile, the air is filled with the sweet scent of tropical flowers. Then, someone fires up a grill. Soon, you smell roasting pineapple and grilling meat. That’s the essence of Mainland Teriyaki. It captures the spirit of the South Sea Islands, even though the recipe has Japanese origins.

Although Mainland Teriyaki may not be for everyone, those who love a blend of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors will be delighted. The combination of sweet pineapple, salty olives, and umami-rich, garlicky, ginger-infused marinated steak is delicious!

 
 

 

For me, Mainland Teriyaki brought back a wave of nostalgia. It reminded me of a time I’ve only ever experienced through the lens of film and television. Specifically, it evoked memories of Gidget, the iconic surfer girl. Additionally, it took me back to when a young, handsome Elvis Presley was playing his ukulele on the beach in Blue Hawaii.

sally-field-gidget-abc-1965-66-v0-1k35w6wypyt81

Mainland Teriyaki is a perfect dish to enjoy on a warm summer day. Or, if you’re feeling a bit blue, it can serve as a reminder that summer is coming, even if it feels like “it’s been a long cold and lonely winter.” The combination of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors will transport you to a tropical paradise, making you forget about the cold weather. 

lvis-Presley-Joan-Blackman-Blue-Hawaii

Whatever your mood, why not fire up the grill and get ready to savor a taste of the South Sea Islands, courtesy of Mainland Teriyaki? 

Mainland Teriyaki – The Recipe

Mainland Teriyaki 4

At first I thought the inclusion of olives in this recipe was a bit weird.  They really didnt seem to fit in with the Asian inspired flavours of the rest of the dish.  But they really work together well here, just like they do on pizza!  

Mainland Teriyaki Recipe2

Have a great week!  

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September 2004 – Feeling Fruity

Hello friends and welcome to September 2004. Today, we’ll be exploring a fun fruit-forward menu via Delicious Magazine. But as usual, before we dive into the menu, let’s take a look at what we were watching, reading, and listening to in September 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t rushing to the Cinema in September 2004. Resident Evil: Apocalypse was #1 at the box office, followed by Hero with Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow at number 3. However, all of these titles are drawing total blanks for me! On the other hand, I am very well aware of the number one book on the best seller lists – it was The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, which I think has been number one on the charts since I started doing these Twenty Years Ago posts!

While I may not have been greatly enamoured with the books and films of 2004, the music was another matter. 1985 by Bowling for Soup was #7, and American Idiot was #8. Finally, something for me!”

Raspberry and Strawberry Mousse Cake

Speaking of other things for me, let’s get it started in here (BTW, that was #2 in September 2004) with our feeling fruity menu!

The Menu  – September 2004

Feeling Fruity Menu:  September 2004

I designed my September 2004 menu using AI. It was a hard slog, and there were times when I was ready to throw my laptop against the wall. However, in the end, it was worth the effort. Even if I do say so myself!

Wicked Champagne Cocktail 

This Jamie Oliver recipe was very simple – pomegranate juice with sparkling wine. But it was also a great way to start our fruity theme for September 2004!

Wicked Champagne Cocktail

Wicked Champagne Cocktail Recipe

AACHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL

Prawn, Grapefruit and Avocado Salad

This was divine!!!  All my favourite flavours! 

Prawn, Grapefruit, Avocado Salad

Prawn, Grapefruit and Avocado Salad Recipe

Prawn, Avocado Grapefruit Salad Recipe

Duck Breast with Raspberry Vinaigrette

Another winner!  I had some pink pickled onions from something else I had made in the fridge and I added them to this recipe.  I think they worked well with the rest of the ingredients but, they could easily be left out.  

Duck Breast with Raspberry Vinaigrette

Duck Breast with Raspberry Vinaigrette Recipe

Duck Breast Recipe (1)

Raspberry and Strawberry Mousse Cake

Oh.  My.  Lord.  This was heaven!!!!  And for something that looks so gorgeous was very easy to make!  

Raspberry and Strawberry Mousse Cake2

Raspberry and Strawberry Mousse Cake Recipe

AA Raspberry and Strawberry Mousse Cake

 

Orange and Rosemary Tisane

Drinking this made me feel very Poirot!  The blend of orange and rosemary was very pleasant and refreshing.  

Rosemary and Orange Tisane

 

Tisane

My Nigella Moment – Asparagus Maltaise

For first-time readers, this refers to the moment at the end of Nigella Lawson’s cooking shows when she sneaks back to the fridge to have another bite of something delicious.  In the context of these Twenty Years Ago posts, it is something contained in the magazine that may not fit with the overall menu theme but I’m sneaking it in because it is too good not to share. 

This month’s Nigella dish actually fits the theme.  It is an Asparagus Maltaise.  Now I only learned recently that Hollandaise was the OG way of saying that the sauce came from / was isnpired by Holland!  It’s kind of in the name when you think about about it, but I had never put the two together before.  So…Maltaise is a Hollandaise with Orange.. inspired by…Malta?

Asparagus Maltaise

If you’re wondering why my sauce is pink…well the recipe called for Blood Orange and the Blood orange I bought (not on purpose, I literally grabbed the first blood orange I saw at the supermarket) were the darkest I have ever seen!   

Blood Orange

The juice looked like red wine!

Blood Orange Juice

It was that depth of colour that turned my sauce pink!  I thought this looked spectacular!   Pink and green are one of my favorite color combinations. And the flavour of that blood orange was spectacular!

Asparagus Maltaise2

This was delicious!!!!  One of the dishes that makes me so glad I am going back and exploring these magazines!

Asparagus Maltaise Recipe

AA asparagus maltaise (1)

What a month!!!!  I loved cooking these recipes!  They were all amazing!!!  And helped me to get my seven a day!   Have a great week! Signature2

 

 

Caliph of Baghdad

Hello friends! Today, I’m sharing a “twofer” post. First up, a cocktail called the Caliph of Baghdad. This recipe is from a 1933 book, Del Monte – Cocktail Recipes Mixed by Famous People for a Famous Hotel. I chose it because of its connection to this month’s Dining with The Dame book, They Came To Baghdad.  This book was originally published in 1933 for the Del Monte Hotel but has been brought back into circulation by my old pal, Jenny of Silver Screen Suppers and Dinner and A Movie.

Caliph of Baghdad

The Book

The book was inspired in  1933 around the same time as the the repeal of Prohibition. 

“John Caitlin, the eccentric Mayor of Carmel-By-The-Sea in California, established the Association for the Advancement of the Fine Art of Drinking and invited the great and good of the stage, screen and typewriter to submit their concoctions for consideration”

Submissions were evaluated at the Del Monte Hotel in Monterey in December 1933, leading to the creation of the book.

Ernest Hemingway, Marlene Dietrich, W.C. Fields, and the Marx Brothers were but a few of the great and the good to submit recipes.  I will definitely be featuring the Marlene Dietrich cocktail down the track, it sounds amazing!

Caliph of Baghdad2

The Hotel

The Hotel Del Monte still exists and it looks beautiful!!!!  And, the rates are not exorbitant.  I have never been to America, but my best friend lives in California so it is high on my list of places to go!  I wonder if we could have a night or two in the Del Monte when I am there so we can pay homage to the Association for the Advancement of the Fine Art of Drinking!

AA Hotel Del Monte1

The Caliph of Baghdad – The Drink

There is a warning that this drink packs a punch.  And it certainly does!  This is one that you want to sip slowly all night and / or add a lot of ice!  Having said that, savouring one of these over a evening is quite pleasant because the sweet  / sour of the brown sugar and the lime combined with the rum is delicious!

AA Caliph of Baghdad

 

I can absolutely recommend the Del Monte Cocktail book!  There are many delicious sounding cocktails from so many famous names! It is truly a little piece of history!

Have a great week! 

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