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Roasted garlic and marrow soup

30/12/2011

Tis' the time for giving thanks, as we look back over the past 12 months, and forward to the next, wondering what the year will bring. But let's not fret, there are a whole two days before the New Year truly begins, and I bet you are as bored of gluttony as I.

There will be one last over indulgence to see the year out, or in, depending on how you look at it. And then we will commence that ritual cleanse upon ourselves and our homes, a premature spring-clean of the soul and body.

Bill Granger, in one of his books, a favourite of mine, has a chapter entitled Pure Days.

Glorious Nigella does something similar in another favourite book, she has a Templefood chapter.

Both, and many others before and since, are merely allowing for those times when we want to cook, but do so in a totally nurturing, comforting, yet healthful manner.

I think marrows get a really hard time, they are one of my favourite vegetables; the older, bigger, clumsier brother of the courgette. But they make for an utterly delicious soup, giving a velvetine texture you would not believe. This, combined with the subtle hint of roasted garlic, results in a soothing soup that tastes so good it's hard to warrant that it's not terribly bad for you.

Read on for the recipe, and enjoy your last moments of 2011.

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Cheesecake

15/12/2011

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It's snowing here, there's no denying 'tis the season any more, try as I might.

I don't know about you, but I could do with another 6 weeks, just to, you know, prepare myself. The holiday season has totally snuck up on me, I feel overwhelmingly under prepared.

Thank heavens for baked cheesecake.

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Roasted Mushroom Risotto

12/12/2011

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During the winter months risotto becomes a staple midweek dish, and an oft-used dinner party go-to.

It is incredibly soothing to stand over the fragrant mixture gently stirring and adding stock, a large glass of something crisp and white in hand.

The things that make risotto great are, in my opinion, excellent stock, good rice, and keeping the flavours few, and simple.

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Capital Idea

09/12/2011

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It's so cold here. I think I live in the coldest, wettest part of England. Coming back from London recently it became evident that this is the case, as I observed my fellow commuters donning their earmuffs as we got North of Stoke.

London was fun. There were busy bits and quiet bits. Soft parts and hard parts. There was eating.

Then there was some more eating.

There was day time food, like this place here, where the food was, well, ok, but the atmosphere and gardens were far more than ok. There was here, where the food was terrific and totally unexpected. There was here for afternoon tea after a walk in the park. And here for fast but wholesome evening snacking.

There were other places too!

That's how much eating there was.

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