Category: Baking


Aug
2024

Spice It Up – August 2004

categories: 20 Years Ago Today, Apples, Baking, Blue Cheese, Delicious, Indonesia, Lamb, Leeks, Magazines, Pie, Salad, Savoury Pies and Tarts

Hello friends! Welcome to Twenty Years Ago Today! For a spicy twist this month, I turned to the August 2004 issue of Delicious magazine for recipe ideas.  While the month wasn’t perfect, one dish stood out as a clear highlight and is easily one of my top ten of the year.  But, before we get there, let’s take a little look at what was making the charts pop culture-wise back in August 2004!

Apple and Blackberry pie (1)

 

Pop Culture – August 2004

So, for the first week of August 2004 and, also for the first time in what seems like eleventy billion years, The Da Vinci Code was NOT  the number one selling book.  That honour went to R for Ricochet by Sue Grafton.  Now, I have never read any of this series.  Is anyone out there a fan?  I love a good mystery / thriller.  Please let me know if you think this series might be good for me!  However, before we get too excited about the demise of The Da Vinci Code, it went back to number one for the rest of August. 

Collateral was the best-selling film of August 2004 but Garden State, which was a film we covered in my film club was #10.  Leave, (Get Out) by JoJo was the number 1 song.  I do not remember this song or the singer at all!!!  Does anyone? 

In the absence of any memory of JoJo, let’s pop the soundtrack for Garden State onto Spotify and get cooking!

 

The Spice It Up Menu – August 2004

Menu August 2004

Gado Gado

Spices used – garlic, ginger etc in the Satay sauce, chilli

I adore Gado Gado. It’s the perfect balance of health and indulgence, combining the virtue of steamed vegetables with the decadence of a spicy satay sauce. Unfortunately, despite searching through multiple supermarkets, I couldn’t find the tofu puffs I typically include. To compensate for the protein, I added some eggs.  I ate this as a main dish so wanted to make it a substantial meal.  

I also took some liberties with the vegetables, using ingredients I preferred or had readily available instead of strictly adhering to the recipe.”

Gado Gado

Gado-Gado Recipe

 

AA August - Easy Gado Gado (1)

 

Lamb Chops with Bay, Paprika and Chickpeas

Spice used: Paprika

The Jamie Oliver recipe was…alright. While it wasn’t a favorite, it was certainly edible. I’m not likely to make it again, but it was passable.

The biggest issue was the excessive amount of chili. As someone who enjoys spicy food, that’s a rare complaint for me. The chili completely overwhelmed the other flavors.

Another minor annoyance was the recipe’s use of the term “chops” while actually calling for “cutlets.” For those unfamiliar with lamb, cutlets are significantly more expensive than traditional chops. I used loin chops for my version because I had some in my freezer.

Lamb Chops with Bay, Paprika and Chickpeas

Lamb Chops with Bay, Paprika and Chickpeas Recipe

August 2004- Lamb Chops

Apple and Blackberry Pie

Spices used: Cinnamon and Cloves

This. Was .Divine.

Unfortunately, my photos were not.  Please don’t judge this on the photo or my really bad lattice work because the pie really truly was AMAZING!!!!  This is a top ten dish if ever there was one! There is a version with Rhubarb mentioned which I will also be trying ASAP!

Apple and Blackberry pie 3

Apple and Blackberry Pie 2

 

Apple and Blackberry Pie Recipe

AA August - Apple and Blackberry Pie2 (2)

Cinnamon Tea and Recipe

Spice Used:  Cinnamon

Delicious Magazine also contained a recipe for Cinnamon Tea.  I only ever really drink herbal tea, so this was not for me.  Howeever, as the name suggests, it does contain a spice so if you are a tea drinker and maybe wanted something to sip on  while eating your pie, here is the recipe. 

AA August - Cinnamon Tea

 

My Nigella Moment  – Leek and Gorgonzola Tarts

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 these Twenty Years Ago posts, it is something contained in the magazine that does not fit with the overall menu theme but I’m sneaking it in because it is too good not to share. 

I love leek and gorgonzola anything as it reminds me of a pizzeria I used to go to with my work mates a few years ago that did an amazing leek and gorgonzola pizza! I didn’t think these were as good as the pizza but that could also be nostalgia talking.  They were quite nice in their own right! 

Leek and Gorgonzola Tart

Leek and Gorgonzola Tarts Recipe

Leek and Gorgonzola Tarts

I hope you have enjoyed this trip back to August 2004.   Have a great week! 

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Aug
2024

Crooked House – Tarte Tatin

categories: Apples, Dining With The Dame, France, Puff Pastry, Stand Alone, Tarts

Hello, crime readers and food lovers! Today’s Dining With The Dame delves into “Crooked House,” which is an absolute belter of a read! Typically, I prefer the Poirot or Marple novels, and standalone novels often fall short for me. However, this one is a delightful exception! The storyline is captivating, and Christie truly outdoes herself in crafting the villain.

Speaking of captivating, let’s transition to our culinary companion for this episode: Tarte Tatin. I selected this classic French dessert for a few reasons. Firstly, apples, a prominent motif in “Crooked House,” provided a thematic link. And, dare I say, there is a bad apple in the crooked house!  Also, with the Paris Olympics in full swing, a touch of French flair seemed fitting. And finally, a well-executed Tarte Tatin is magnifique!

Tarte Tatin

Crooked House  – The Plot

“I think people more often kill those they love than those they hate . Possibly because only the people you love can really make life unendurable to you”

Agatha Christie – Crooked House

The plot of Crooked House is somewhat similar to Taken At The Flood which I covered last month.  This time, we meet the Leonides family, the patriarch of which, Aristide Leonides has just been murdered.  Someone, swapped his insulin for Eserine, a deadly poison contained in his eye medicine.   Aristide had built up considerable wealth and members of his family stand to  inherit a lot of money. 

The family, and list of suspects include:

  • Brenda, Aristides young second wife, who may or may not be romatically involved with the tutor of his grandchildren, Laurence Brown
  • Roger and Clementine Leonides, one of Aristides brothers and his wife
  • Phillip Leonides and his wife, Magda West a (tryhard but largely unsuccessful actress played by Gillian Anderson in the 2017 adaptation)
  • Edith de Haviland, the sister of Aristides first wife who has lived with them since her sister’s death in order to take care of the children (played to perfection by Glenn Close in the 2017 adaptation)  
  • Sophia Leonides, Aristides eldest grandchild and daughter of Phillip and Magda
  • Eustace Leonides the teenage son of Phillip and Magda
  • Josephine Leonides, the 12 year old daughter of Phillip and Magda
  • Laurence Brown, Eustace and Jospehine’s tutor

Charles Hayward, Sophia’s fiance is our amateur detective, working closely with Chief Inspecor Taverner and Detective Sergeant Lamb to find the killer.

Tarte Tatin2

Before we get there though, many things happen including

  • A missing will
  • Embezzlement
  • Josephine being attacked
  • Hidden love letters coming to light
  • The children’s nanny being poisoned by some deadly hot chocolate
  • The wrong people being arrested
  • A missing notebook that may hold the key to everything

It might not be a good thing that we have Charles trying to discover (as one of the covers below asks) who put the poison in the hypo.  He is not, as they say, the sharpest tool in the shed. Despite the abundance of clues scattered throughout the text, he repeatedly overlooks them.

In fact, I found myself uncovering an unusual number of clues while reading “Crooked House,” far exceeding the usual number in Christie’s works. This abundance of hints led me to speculate on whether it was a deliberate strategy on Christie’s part. Given that “Crooked House” was published in 1949, I imagine the revelation of the villain must have been a truly shocking experience for readers of the time. It’s possible that Christie meticulously planted these clues to soften the impact of the eventual reveal for contemporary audiences.    If you have read this, please let me know your thoughts on this!!!!

Crooked House – The Covers

Crooked House Collage1 (1)

I was very happy to be able to include a Greek cover here as the Leonides family are Greek in origin.  I was also very glad to see that one of the covers featured an apple.  This, vindicated my somewhat unusual choice of dish!  There are lots of crooked houses which are to be expected, including one growing out of a ladies head, which is not.  I don’t understand the rather scruffy looking chicken.  And as for the creepy hell clown? No.  Just no.  

The Recipe: Tarte Tatin

There was no one in sight as we drove up to the front door.  I paid the taxi and it drove away.  I felt uncertain whether to ring the bell or to walk in.  The front door was open.  As I stood there hesitatiing I heard a sound behind me.  I turned my head sharply.  Josephine, her face partially obscured by a very large apple was standing in the opening of the yew hedge looking at me” 

Agatha Christie – Crooked House

Tarte tatin recipe

 

I broke off.  Josephine had emerged from the door leading to the drawing room.  She was eating the inevitable apple, and over its round rosiness her eyes sparkled with a kind of ghoulish enjoyment.  

“Nannie’s been poisoned,” she said.  “Just like grandfather.  It’s awfully exciting, isn’t it?”

Agatha Christie – Crooked House

Tarte Tatin 3

Links To The Christieverse

None that I picked up on – but please let me know if you found something!

Other Food & Drinks Mentioned in  Taken At The Flood

In September, we’re going Marple-ing.  A Murder is Announced will be our next read.  

Have a great week!

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Aug
2024

July 2004 – No A’s

categories: 20 Years Ago Today, Cheese, Delicious, Fish, Magazines, Muffins, Soup

Hello friends and welcome to today’s Twenty Years Ago Today Post where I am creating a meal from the pages of Delicious magazine from July 2004. But, as usual,  the menu comes with a challenge – this month the challenge was to create a meal where none of the recipes contained the letter A. In the event that you ever have an Alphaphobic over to dinner, I have you covered with this one.

And, even if I do say so myself, July 2004 did not disappoint in the taste department. Last week I mentioned that the Grapefruit Oat Brulee was Top Ten in the things I have cooked this year. And this week we have another, not one but two contenders for that list! Life is good – at least in the eating department!

Minestrone2

Pop Culture – July 2004

We’ll get along to the deliciousness soon but here’s a little reminder of what was big in July 2004 to help set the scene. Looking first at films, Spiderman, I Robot and The Bourne Supremacy where respectively 1-3 at the box office. Personally, I would have been more interested in Anchorman, Fahrenheit 9/11 and The Notebook at 4, 5 and 7.

In books, the Da Vinci code was yep, you guessed it still number 1! Will the reign of this book never end? Angels and Demons also by Dan Brown was sitting at #7 this month so we might be looking at a Dan Brown double next month! And speaking of doubles, Usher had the number 1 and 2 songs on the Billboard charts with Burn and Confessions Part II.

And now we’ve set the scene, let’s take a look at our menu!

The No A Menu – July 2004

 

Menu July 2004

Minestrone

This was, without a doubt the best Minestrone I have ever eaten.  I made a huge pot of it and ate it everyday for my lunch for the entire week.  Now usually when this happens by Thursday I am starting to get a bit bored and by Friday I am dreading the meal,  Not so this time, I would have eaten this for another 5 days if I had more! 

This Bill Granger recipe is a little different from most other minestrones for two reasons.  First, it has meatballs made from Italian sausages and second it has no pasta.  It is also LOADED with veg so, outside of those little meatballs, it is also very healthy.  This minestrone was definitely worthy of being on my Top Ten for the Year!

Minestrone 1

Minestrone Recipe

Minestrone Recipe 1 (1)

 

Smoked Fish Pie

Smoked Fish Pie 1

The Smoked Fish Pie was also delicious! I used smoked trout in my pie and it was really yummy!  This one is definitely something I will make again!  We ate our pies on a frosty cold winter’s night and it was perfect comfort food!

Smoked Fish Pie Recipe

Smoked Fish Pie Recipe (1)

 

Lemon Meringue Muffins

Now…I could have sworn I took photos of these but no…not on my phone.  Not in the cloud….and not enough time to remake them!  Also, to be honest, these were probably the weakest part of the meal.  They were ok but a little dry.  This though, could have been my fault.  I cooked the muffins until they were nearly ready but then I had to go out.  I left them in the turned off oven to finish the cook and cool.  Maybe they were in there a bit too long.  I did  however love the little secret stash of lemon curd in the muffin and the meringue top was delightful.  

I thought for want of my own photo, I would include the photo from the magazine as inspiration.  However, there wasn’t one.  The recipe was included as a reader asked why there was a recipe for Lemon Meringue Muffins indexed in April 2004, however there was no such recipe in the magazine.  The editors explained that the recipe had been pulled for space at the last minute.  

There certainly seems oto be something slightly cursed about this recipe!  

Lemon Meringue Muffins Recipe

Lemon Meringue Muffins (1)

My Nigella Moment  – Baked Brie with  Braised Cabbage

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 these Twenty Years Ago posts, it is something contained in the magazine that does not fit with the overall menu theme but I’m sneaking it in because it is too good not to share. 

Oh wow…this was sooo good!  This was the other recipe that is Top Ten so far this year.  There is so much to love in this – warm oozy cheese, salty crispy pancetta, the sweetness of the apple in the cabbage….this was luscious!  Baked Brie with Braised Cabbage

 

Baked Brie with Braised Cabbage Recipe

Baked Brie Recipe1 (1)Baked Brie with Braised Cabbage2

Well, for me Delicious Magazine from June 2004 was great.  Shame about the muffins….but maybe they should have been left out of this issue too!  

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Dec
2023

Christmas Adelaide Pecan Pie

categories: 1960's recipes, Baking, Celebrity Cookbooks, Celebrity Recipes, Pie

Hello friends and greetings of the season!  Today’s Christmas Adelaide Pecan Pie comes from Singers and Swingers in the Kitchen.  I last visited that book in 2013!  The recipe comes from Eva Marie Saint, star of On The Waterfront, North by Northwest and many other films. The Christmas Adelaide Pecan Pie is so called because it was a pecan pie, made every Christmas by Eva Marie’s sister Adelaide.

Christmas Adelaide Pecan Pie

You’ll see from the above that a made little pies rather than one big pie.  I had some mini pie crusts in the freezer from another cooking project so I decided to use them up instead of buying a big pastry shell.  Cooking time on the small tarts was 30 minutes.   I also could not find dark corn syrup in my local supermarket. I subbed in a mix of 2/3  golden syrup and 1/3 maple syrup.  Christmas Adelaide Pecan Pie3

Is pecan pie served traditionally at Christmas?  I would love for one of my American readers to tell me?  It feels like it should be  – it certainly makes sense when Christmas falls in winter and fresh fruit is in shorter supply than in the summer months.  

Chrismas Adelaide Pecan Pie Recipe

Christmas Adelaide Pecan Pie

 

Christmas Adelaide Pecan Pie2

If you wanted to double down on recipes from this book, the Christmas Adelaide Pecan Pie would be divine with a scoop of Barbra Streisand’s Coffee Ice Cream.  This might also come in handy if you need a snack while reading Barbra’s nearly 1000-page memoir!  

Singers and Swingers in The Kitchen The Book

Singers and Swingers

This little book is so much fun!  As well as Eva and Barbra, it also includes recipes from The Rolling Stones, Jane Fonda, Don Adams and Barbara Feldman from Get Smart, The Mamas and The Papas, The Monkees and a host more “scene makers”and “groovy gourmets”.  My records…well Amazon’s records show I bought this back in 2012 for a measly $15.  It now regularly sells for over a hundred!!!  If you don’t want to be spending that kind of money, please feel free to browse the archives here for the recipes I’ve already shared.  I’m also sure this won’t be the last time I dip into this book. 

Have a great week!  

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Nov
2023

Nov 03 – Gimme Some Oven

categories: 20 Years Ago Today, Baking, Bread, Cake, Crab, Delicious, Fish, Sandwiches, Seafood

Hello retro food lovers and welcome (back) to November 2003!  This month I am using Delicious Magazine to prepare a menu where we use the oven for each component.  I know a heap of people who never use their oven so I was hoping this might inspire some people to do so.  Unfortunately, this didn’t quite turn out as I was a bit disappointed with a few items on the menu.  There were many items to choose from, so maybe I just chose badly.  But before we get there, let’s take a little look at what was happening in the world in November 2003.

The War on Terror, the occupation of Iraq, and Paris Hilton’s sex tape were big news in November 2003.   There were also some cracking movies out.  Matrix Revolutions was number 1 at the box office, followed by Elf at #2 and Love Actually at #7. 

 The DaVinci Code was still the best-selling book and Baby Boy by Beyonce was #1 on the charts.  Personally, Outkast’s Hey Ya (#3) is a much better song but each to their own!

The Menu – November 2003

November 2003 Menu

Crab and Gruyere Tart

I was very surprised to find that the Crab and Gruyere Tart (I made one large tart instead of a few small tartlets) was largely tasteless.  This was a Rick Stein recipe and I normally find him very reliable.    This is not what I expect from a Rick recipe.  I feel this needed a herb or something to liven it up a bit! Neither crab nor gruyere is a cheap item so this also did not rate on value for money. 

Interestingly, Nathan Outlaw who, apart from having an amazing name, has worked with Rick Stein and, like Stein has a restaurant in Cornwall, has a recipe for a Crab and Cheddar Tart.  His recipe also contains spring onions and leeks.  I wonder if this would provide the flavour boost I felt was lacking in the Rick one.  

Crab and Gruyere Tart

Crab and Gruyere Tart Recipe

Nov 2003 - Crab And Gruyere Tartlets

Fish in a Herb Crust with Lemon Oil

In total contrast to the above, this is a Jill Dupleix recipe which I loved.  Personally, I don’t rate Jill Dupleix.  She hosted a night in conversation with Nigella Lawson I went to once and she came across as a bit obnoxious.  I really liked this recipe though!  It was quick and easy to make and was packed with flavour!  It was a lovely weeknight dinner. 

Fish in A Herb Crust

Fish In a Herb Crust with Lemon Oil Recipe

Fish in A Herb Crust recipejpg

Madeleines

I love a Madeleine.   So, as soon as I saw that there was a recipe for them in Delicious for November 2003 I knew I would have them as part of my menu.  In retrospect, maybe I should have chosen something else as this was not a good Madeleine recipe.  I have read many recipes for Madeleines and all, except for this one, call for the cake batter to be refrigerated for about an hour before baking.  This one didn’t.  It also only said to grease the Madeleine pan, not grease and flour it, again something that is in all the other recipes I have seen.  

Madeleines

These were a nightmare to get out of the pan.  They also lacked the nice crust that you usually get on the outside.  I think that was mostly stuck to the pan.  So another disappointment from this magazine.  

Madeleines Recipe

Nov 2003 - Madeleines

My Nigella Moment  – Turkish Pizza

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 these Twenty Years Ago posts, it is something contained in the magazine that does not fit with the overall menu theme but I’m sneaking it in because it is too good not to share.  

My Nigella moment this month came in the shape of a Turkish Pizza, which is not a pizza in the traditional sense but a totally yummy combination of spinach, feta, and mozzarella in Turkish bread. I loved this!  So easy to make and so tasty!  I will defintely be cooking the Turkish Pizza again!

Turkish Pizza Recipe

 

So, it was very much a mixed bag from Delicious Magazine from November 2003.  The oven did not deliver the loving I was hoping for with two of the four recipes not worthy of keeping. The fish was quick and easy and I will make it again.  That Turkish pizza though?  Perfection!  I have already made it twice more and it continues to delight me!

Have a great week!

 

 

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