Back in the kitchen where i belong.

When people told me to get all of my cooking out of the way before child entered world, I really thought they were talking crap, alas here i am two and a half weeks after popping her out and all I've managed thus far is a Kurnik Chicken Pie. It's a damn fine pie, but that's one dinner out of a possible 13 since leaving the hospital. Lame-o.

A quick lunch.

 

Camargue Red Rice and Quinoa with Orange and Pistachios (The Cookbook - Ottolenghi)

Brisket burgers in the background (Gourmet Traveller Annual 2008)

Smoked Salmon and Dill Roulades (Delicious Magazine Dec '10/Jan'11)
Chargrilled Cauliflower with Tomato, dill and Capers (The Cookbook - Ottolenghi)

 Jane Lawson Pretzels (Snowflakes and Schnapps)

 Ottolenghi Green Pancakes with Lime Butter (Delicious June '10)

With lime coriander butter

David Lebovitz's Banana Cake with Mocha Frosting and Salted Candied Peanuts
(Ready for Dessert)

Something dead in our kitchen sink?

Got home after work and was greeted by a stench in the kitchen. Was a combo of sick people's urine samples, dead possum and unwashed privates. When half a bottle of morning fresh, a squeeze of lemon juice and good splash of vinegar failed to kill the smell, I decided to give Jane Lawson's Fish Frikadeller with Curry Remoulade a crack. If you can't beat 'em, join em! I managed to get bits of fish all over the kitchen when trying to remove the skin from the fish and dripped onion juice accross the floor when squeezing the liquid out of the grated onion. You know how that shop Lush smells like a nauseating combo of cleaning products? Our kitchen smelt a bit like a big compost heap, but man did our fish frikadeller taste amazing!

I'm a bad social drinker, but some wheat beer with my chops goes down ok.

I am beyond unsophisticated when it comes to social drinks. 

I don't do coffee. An ex-boyfriend tried to make me like it many years back by forcing espressos loaded with sugar down my throat. He thought if he did this enough, I would learn to tolerate it. He also thought he'd stomp on my foot one time to prove that my toe wasn't broken - part of his 'Learn to Tolerate Domestic Violence' campaign, I suppose. Very innovative diagnostic skills for a med student...He was a dick.

And ever since the 1st time i got drunk on Stronbow's and $2 champagne at the after-party for Chess the musical in year 10, and woke up covered head-to-toe in vomit (of which i couldn't be sure was mine or a collaborative effort) I can't face beer, wine or champagne. They all taste the same. Although, dessert wine is different. I can inhale the stuff. It tastes more like Ribena than alcohol.

Last night, we got back into our Nordic cooking with Jane Lawson's 'Veal Cutlets with Wheat Beer Sauce and Vegetable Strudel'. The strudel was impeccable thanks to Don's superior puff pastry handling skills (under Jess's watchful eye) and although I did neglect to season the vegetables during the process (small oversight), we resolved the issue during post production. The combination of Hoegaarden, raisins and honey in the sauce was so phenomenal that I didn't even get one flashback of the spew chunks lodged between my way too shameless adolescent cleavage 15 years ago. 

If fancy juniper berries, beetroot and caraway seeds, you should really get your hands on this book.

 

Oink. Delicious.