Tag: Cookbook Review

Bold: Nisha Katona

Hello friends and cookbook lovers! I’ve been exploring Nisha Katona’s latest work, Bold. As the visionary behind the Mowlgi chain of restaurants and the Mowgli Charity, Katona truly embodies the spirit of courage and innovation. The book begins with a poignant Shakespearean quote:

There is a tide in the affairs of men

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;

Omitted, all the voyage of their life

Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea are we now afloat;

And we must take the current when it serves,

Or lose our ventures

The quote simply means that that fortune favours the brave, the bold and those wise enough to seize life’s opportunities as they occur.  Now, I was interested in this quote because part of it forms the title for Agatha Christie’s Taken At The Flood.  which, coincidentally, I was reading around the same time as I picked up Bold.  I love that Katona has used it as a metaphor for her work and for this book!  

Bold

Bold – The Look

Bold is a beautifully styled book.  The cover is bright red with gold lettering and a pink plate.  It is both gorgeous and bold!  Certainly eye-catching!  The cover is also slightly padded which gives it a luxuriant feel when you hold it.  It’s so inviting, you can’t help wanting to open it and flick through the pages.  

And that flick will not disappoint, either.  The photography is beautiful!  Just look at these and tell me you don’t want to start cooking now!

Bold FLavours1
From Top Left: Crunchy Nut Chicken Burger, Liquorice and Almond Chicken Satay, Speckled Spiced Scotch Eggs, Beetroot Pannacotta

Bold – The Book

You will notice that some of the combinations within the book are, well…bold!  This is not a book for the unadventurous cook, and for that, I am grateful!  I feel that recently, there have been a plethora of books where the contents have been pretty much the same-same.  This is so creative, and for that, I 100% applaud Katona! But there is also enough that feels familiar – burgers, fish cakes, pasta, spanakopita, Welsh Rarebit, that it is not so different as to feel alienating.  These are meals for the home cook but have a little twist to keep things interesting. 

Would I have ever thought of a Cod and Popcorn Gratin? No.  Do I want to try it?  Hell yes!  As soon as I get my hands on some venison I will be making her Landed Gentry Potickers.  The recipes in Bold for  Simla Salmon Fishcakes, Cashew and Mushroom Stroganoff and Chilli Crab Mac and Cheese are right in my wheelhouse.  I also really want to try the Roasted Corn and Elderflower Iced Tea!  I have mentioned my dislike for beetroot many times on this blog, but the look of that beetroot panna cotta in the photo above has made me want to give it another try!  And how much fun does that Full English Cassoulet look in the photo below? 

Bold Flavours 2
Pink Peppercorn Pavlova, Cassoulet de Full English, Kashmiri Crusted Cote De Boeuf, Caper Puttanesca

Bold  – The Cook

I’ve made two things from Bold, the first was Thai Tequila Trout

Thai Tequila Trout 1

This was delicious, bright, and zingy with citrus, and some really nice punchy flavours coming through from the herbs!  

The second was the Singapore Sling Pineapple Upside Down Cake.  I adore Pineapple Upside Down Cake, it is probably my favourite tasting cake and it also has a kitschy retro appeal that delights my soul!  This one was exceptional.  So delicious!!!  

Singapore Sling Pineapple Upside Down Cake

To be honest, the recipes I made did not take me too much out of my comfort zone.  However, trying them, seeing and tasting the results has given me the confidence to try some of the more out there recipes – Miso Parmesan Doughnuts and Butterscotch Brussels Sprouts, i’m coming for you!  I think this is a book that will delight anyone who wants to try something a little bit different but does not want to be overwhelmed or daunted by recipes that are too “cheffy” or have a load of ingredients that you have to source from specialty shops!  

You can find more of Nisha’s recipes from Bold here

Have a wonderful week!

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Nourishing Soup

Recently, while enjoying a delicious bowl of German Lentil and Ham Hock Soup, I remembered a quote from Crooked House

” Josephine and Magda got out of the car. Josephine had a bandage around her head but otherwise looked remarkably well.  She said at once: “I want to see my goldfish,” and started towards us and the pond. “Darling, ” ciried Magda, “You’ better some in first and lie down a little, and perhaps have a little nourishing soup.”  “Don’t fuss mother, ” said Josephine. “I’m quite all right, and I hate nourishing soup”

Crooked House – Agatha Christie

***Please note, this post contains spoilers for Crooked House.  If you have not read it and intend to, you might want to set this post aside until you are done!***

Also, the Dining with The Dame Book for September will now be They Came to Baghdad.  A Murder is Announced will be October’s book.    

Now, back to the soup.

Nourishing Soup

Unlike Josephine, I love nourishing soup.  And I am perfectly happy to be unlike Josephine as she was a murderous little psychopath.  Possibly because she didn’t eat enough nourishing soup which is something I always find soul soothing.  We’re almost done with a long, cold winter. And I was feeling a little poorly. Having a big pot of German Lentil and Ham Hock Soup helped on days when I didn’t have the energy to cook.

The soup was very hearty so was really a meal itself.  It did not really need some grilled cheese on the side.  But, IMHO, grilled cheese makes everything better!

German Ham Hock and Lentil Soup

Kindred:  The Cokbook

The recipe comes from a cookbook called Kindred: Recipes, spices and rituals to nourish your kin by Maria and Eva Konecsny.  These ladies also founded a Melbourne institution called Gewürzhaus. This is a “spice house” that sells a huge range of spices, spice blends, tea, cookware.  It is a little foodie heaven and close enough to my work that I can pop in for a browse on the days when I am in the office!  

Kindred

I initially worried that the book was a vehicle to sell the spices and blends in the shop. However, these fears were misguided. For example, their recipe for Crunchy Chilli Oil, which is high on my agenda to make, lists all the ingredients if you want to make the oil from scratch.  There is also the option to use the Gewurzhaus Crunchy Chilli Oil Blend if you do not wish to buy the individual ingredients.

Some of the other recipes I am keen to try from within the book are:

Kindred is a lovely book with great photgraphy, thoughtful shortcuts and also a great success story for Maria and Eva Konecsny.  I am looking forward to cooking many more recipes from it!  

Nourishing Soup The Recipe

German Lentil and Ham Hock Soup from Kindred

Have a great week! I hope you are also being nourished body and soul!

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