Spinach and Ricotta Baked Pasta | Book of Elsa

Prawn Balls | Book of Elsa

I’m not going to pretend this is work of mere moments, however with some planning and music playing it really isn’t hard. 

Ingredients

800 g raw peeled king prawns

4 garlic cloves, peeled

4 cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled

4 spring onions, trimmed and roughly chopped

4 tsp. soy sauce

2 large eggs

150 g fresh white breadcrumbs

50 g plain flour

100 g sesame seeds

Vegetable oil, to fry

Gateaux Bananes | Book of Elsa

Believe me when I say this is the easiest snack I know. I'm not even sure it can be classified as 'recipe' per se as there are only three ingredients: bananas, flour and salt.

The bananas have to be very very ripe, mashing them with a fork. Add a pinch of salt and enough flour to bind into a something resembling a thick pancake batter. Then fry in batches using teaspoons. Eat whilst still a little warm so not to burn your mouth.

Book of Elsa

Steamed Fish, Courgette Salad & Bagna Cauda | Book of Elsa

A simple weeknight supper: go on, you know you want to...

Spread some butter on aluminium foil.

Put fish on top of butter 'base'

Add more butter, salt and pepper on  top of the fish; I'm using basa fillet but obviously you can use any fish you desire. 

Wrap a tightly sealed package, then bake in a very hot oven for 15 minutes.

Courgette salad ingredients: salt, lemon juice and finely sliced courgettes

Bagna Cauda ingredients: anchovies, butter, garlic and rapeseed oil (or you can use olive oil)

Grate the garlic and finely mince the anchovies and put into the cold oil

On medium heat whisk in the butter one cube at a time

serve the sauce with some steamed potatoes, salad and the steamed fish. 

Yoghurt Drop Scone | Book of Elsa

Yoghurt Drop Scone... The title says it all: a quintessential Sunday family breakfast favourite that are easy to knock-up and utterly delicious. This particular recipe is adapted from the cookbook Mamushka from OIia Hercules a review of which is available here 

Rice Crispy Treats | Book of Elsa

Aubergine Dip | Book of Elsa

This recipe came my way in the middle of the night courtesy of Nigella Lawson, Feast (2004) I've fiddled with it a little. By which I mean, taken out stuff I didn't like or have in the cupboards at the time of cooking. 

The dip itself is fantastic with bread, carrot sticks and any other crudités you might like. I don't judge. Enjoy 

xo

Food for Thought - Book of Elsa

Food is much more than just fuel; we use it to celebrate all major life events. Sharing a table laden with delicious things is our way of showing how much we care about the people in our lives. Be it by baking cupcakes for a boyfriend or making your sisters' engagement party cake. Not only that but we also use food as a way of caring for those less able than ourselves such as the elderly and infants.

Therefore, with this in mind when I'm told to stop talking/writing about food all the time I know that I can never stop. It is much too important to all of us. Indeed much depends on dinner; in my opinion food and the preparation of food either alone or in a group is the most basic way of showing we care.

Happy Eating :)

Book Of Elsa

xo

Prawn Fritters | Book of Elsa

I feel kind of silly typing this up because it's not really a recipe. No really, it isn't. Most of the ingredients you probably have in your kitchen (bar the prawns) plus the whole process from raw to mouth should take twenty minutes max.

However, these are addictive; If you ever make just one of my recipes: This is THE ONE. 

Promise.

Elsa

xo

Basically Good BBQ Marinade | Book of Elsa

The mush:

1 Red onion

1White onion

1inch piece of Ginger

4 cloves of garlic (or to taste)

Fish sauce

Olive oil

Rice wine vinegar

Dry Rub:

Jerk Seasoning

Chillie flakes

Ground Cumin

salt and Pepper

Red Prawn & Mango Curry - Book of Elsa

Red Prawn & Mango Curry

As I write, it occurs to me just how simple this recipe is but also how delicious it tastes. This serves 4 depending on appetites and which carbohydrate you are serving it with. I prefer rice but noodles of any kind would work too or even served soupily out of bowls with naan or other types of bread. There are no limits!! Also bear in mind the vegetables I used were ones I had in fridge at the time of cooking so please feel free to add (or leave out) ones you want. 

happy cooking!

Elsa