Carmen's Empanadas

My friend Carmen makes the best empanadas. As in, incredible, authentic, South American golden fried pasties of juicy goodness. She serves them with napkins and bottles of tabasco. When I learn how to make them, I'll let you know.

Valentines Hidden Heart Cake!

It looks like a normal cake and then once you slice it, SURPRISE it's got a heart hidden in it! Magic. And here's the bit I explain the trick, but in pictures because I am tired and my eyes are sore!

Saw this idea on Iambaker

 

Kabocha pumpkin, ginger and chilli soup

I had friends round for a cuppa after work today and they bought wine, so I'm more interested in bed than blogging right now. So...to be brief...

Halve a pumpkin (or butternut squash)

Score the flesh deep and drizzle with olive oil, and add salt pepper, half a red chilli, 2 garlic cloves and a thumb of ginger. 

Roast for 40 minutes or until softened. 

Cling it for 10 minutes, then scoop out the flesh, add two pints of water with a tsp of dashi stock powder or 2 pints of chicken stock, chop up the roasted chilli and ginger, blend. 

Mickey Mouse Cake

This morning I made a Mickey mouse cake, I think it's nice little boys still like the old classics.

Marinated Feta

I don't want to poke my nose in to your personal business but.. do you marinate your feta? If you don't, you're missing out.

So, just stick whatever you like into a jar and pour over a good olive oil. I used lemon oil and olive but think about what you'll use it on. This would be perfect on toasted sourdough and if I had mint I would prob add that too. Or you can forget the lemon and use in omelettes or in pasta? How about kalamata olives and toasted fennel seeds, that's gonna be yummy. Endless possibilities.

Buta-Kakuni

I've been meaning to write up the Masterchef course I took at Reiko's http://www.hashicooking.co.uk/ and I will. In the meantime, I have been cooking Buta-Kakuni quite a bit. If you like slow cooked pork you have to try it. It's delicious served with green beans, fresh ginger and Japanese mustard. I have a lot of work to get through today, and at least 2 more blog posts to post.. so will write recipe up when I have a sec. Once you've tried this recipe you will want to buy the book!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1906650578/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_g14_i2?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=11AZVG8ENMF09EEZZM6A&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294

Blood oranges

So beautiful