Best Pasta Ever | Book of Elsa

 Put a large pan of water to boil.  

A little olive oil in a pan large enough to take everything later with a lid, add the chopped onion, garlic a little salt and cook on lowish heat with lid on for 10 minutes or until soft.  

Turn up heat add balls of sausage meat and season, go easy on the salt though supermarket sausages tend to be salty, you’re trying to get colour on all sides do not cook through.  

Once the sausages are all golden add a glass of wine, let it bubble until syrupy then around 200ml of stock. Turn heat down, cover and cook for 5 minutes.  

Now cook the pasta according to packet instructions adding 250g of frozen peas for the final 5 minutes. 

Taste sausage and sauce for seasoning, adjust if necessary. Pour in the cream, sprinkle the dried parsley drain the pasta and peas and toss into the sauce. Eat. 

so good, i ate it too fast to take a picture

Fish Tacos | Book of Elsa

Look, I'm not going to pretend I am mexican <or even that I have been to mexico> but these taste delish. Just what you want in a warm soft tortilla, spiky sauce and crunchy salad.

If you happen to be flush with cash, replace the fish with raw prawns and proceed as per.

Don't be daunted by the list of ingredients: it really is a chop <get him to do it> and assemble job.

Barbecued Chicken & Aubergine Salad | Book of Elsa

This chicken taste best if left to marinade overnight but at least 30 minutes is just fine. 

aubergine salad

don't mind the throw away bbq

smells so good

marinaded chicken ready to go!

Happy New Year 2019 | Pandoro Cake | Book of Elsa

This started life as a Galette des Rois that flopped quite literally because I cannot make very thick custard (no matter the recipe I always end up with a puddle of loose yellow cream). I wanted to try again making the puddle work for me so to speak. So here is a part cake, part trifle but wholly delicious dessert.

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

Pot Stickers | Book of Elsa

This recipe takes time, effort and dedication: I won't apologise for it! Whenever I make these pots stickers it is because I WANT to spend time in the kitchen losing myself and relaxing; also these make for a fantastic group exercise. 

Ingredients for the dough: 

300g Plain Flour

200ml hot water

pinch of salt

Method for the dough:

I use a stand alone mixer but a bowl and wooden spoon works well too. 

Put the flour and hot water in a mixer fitted with a dough hook, add the salt and knead for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and bouncy. Cover with cling and rest for 20 minutes. 

If your using a bowl and wooden spoon: bring the flour, salt and hot water together until it almost gathers into a clump then turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for 10 minutes. Don't be tempted to add more flour. The dough will come good I promise.  

Spruced-up Couscous | Book of Elsa

I'm not one to impose my will unto others. The way I see it its a live and let live kind of situation. However, I am goint to tell you this: Couscous is not BORING and this recipe is proof. Just season with salt and pepper, add some drained canned chickpeas, dried fruits and nuts of your choice. Pour over some hot vegetable stock and cover with cling for 20 minutes. Fluff it up with a fork and eat alongside whatever protein you have or as a lunch in and of it self.

Meatballs in Spiced Tomato Sauce | Book of Elsa

There's a terrible misconception about curries: they need to be hot; or even very spicy. This is not the case, a curry can be gentle and spiced without blowing mouths. Here we have just the thing for a week night meal served with plain rice and maybe some naan. 
Also the recipe below specifies a lot wich is the whole point: Leftovers taste even better. You can thank me later.

Meatballs:
500g mince beef
100g breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 onion minced
3 garlic cloves minced
pepper to taste

For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground tumeric
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 can coconut milk
1 teaspoon of sugar

Method:
Mix all the meatball ingredients and form into golf sized balls < I get around 16 > put in the fridge to rest whilst you get on with the sauce.

In a wide pan with a lid heat the oil over low heat and add the chopped onion and salt. 
Soften for about 10 minutes then add the ground cumin, coriander and turmeric. 
Fry the spices for a couple of minutes then add the tomatoes, coconut milk and sugar bring the heat to medium and the sauce to the boil and drop in the meatballs.
Once the sauce is simmering, lower the heat and partly cover. 
Cook for 20 minutes, check the sauce for seasoning and serve.

Fish Cakes | Book of Elsa

Like most people, I work very long hours and there is no way I get home after a 12 hour day and begin peeling anything except my clothes. But, we still need to eat and eat well at that, so here is what I do: At the weekend preferably a saturday afternoon after all other chores I've been ignoring are done I prepare part of meals that can either keep in the fridge or freezer.

1. Such as couscous salad that can be eaten cold or at room temperature.
2.  Fish cakes that are frozen ready to fry/oven bake at a moments notice.

If all else fails it is ok to put some pasta on to boil <again> and open a jar of pesto; 

Life is way too short to worry about it, just take off your coat, eat, relax and move on sister.

Book of Elsa 

About 1kg of potatoes mashed with some butter and a little milk. 

Butternut Squash and Pesto Soup | Book of Elsa

This recipe was born out of necessity, barely anything in the cupboards but dinner still needs to be had and it needs to be delicious. I've been making different version of this soup for years but this variant is by far the quickest. You can come home from work on a cold as hell winters' night and be eating this soup within the hour.
You're welcome.
Ps: You can add some cooked chicken, fish, tofu, whatever but let me tell you this soup is great without any addition.
I've eaten this over the years with all kinds of breads. Naan is my favourite, pitta comes a close second, if you have one of those part baked bread rolls. Use that. Also regular sliced bread and <un>salted butter will do too. Anyways, I digress...

Spaghetti with crab and chillies - Book of Elsa

It has been a while since i've posted in here uh?!
Life you guys has been busy and I'm sorry to say blogging has taken a step back. work, family, other obligations have taken much of my time lately, and it has been awhile since I've even truly cooked.
I have missed this outlet. so here I am with a recipe that screams 'summer' like no other and not only is it delicious but so easy to make too, now I know I say that about every recipe but listen:
If you cannot be bothered to cook tonight: boil some pasta (any shape will do) and had this sauce which doesn't required cooking and eat. I swear you will thank me.
On another note I specify using all white crab meat but please feel free to use 50 percent dark meat if you wish and the sauce isn't just for pasta it goes great on top of some crostini or torn baguette dipped in, with a cold glass of wine... But I digress, here is the recipe.

Feeds 4. Remember leftovers are a good thing here.

Orange Scented French Toast | Book of Elsa

To anyone familiar with my Instagram these are no surprise: I adore french toast. Most of the time I can only make them on saturdays when I have time to let the custard soak into the bread  and cook in butter low and slow, like. I'm salivating just thinking about it. This orange scented version is extra special and I hope you try it. However, the orange flavoured syrup showed on the picture above is not very good and I would not even think of giving you the recipe until it's perfect so I'd suggest you have greek yoghurt with.

Butternut Squash Soup | Book of Elsa

Soup is one dinner that doesn't require much effort but taste like it should. Maybe that's why some people find it easier to buy the ready made kind in tubs from the chilled section of the supermarket. Make it once though and you will understand why even in the middle of the horrible work week I can come home and make this. 

Cucumber and Yoghurt Salad | Book of Elsa

Technically speaking this is not a salad but more of a dip/side dish. Try it just once with some plain roast chicken and warm pitta. I dare you. The proof of this 'salad' really is in the eating. I suppose it is twist on the tzatziki sauce from Greece if I were to think about it but honestly, I just love the taste of the cool cucumber and yoghurt against the heat of the onion and chilli.

Book Review | Mamushka - Olia Hercules

Marinated Pork Belly | Book of Elsa

Rapid Ragu | Book of Elsa

What's for dinner, is the never ending question we all face. Everyday. Even for someone like me who adores cooking. 

This ragu is my savior on those days when the thought alone of what to eat the end of a hellish work day can make me screech, the original recipe comes courtesy of Nigella Lawson and can be found here. I however, have tweaked it a bit with ingredients from my own store cupboard and preferences.

Anyway I digress, enjoy.

Book of Elsa

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

Christmas 2015 | Book of Elsa

Merry Christmas,

I wish you all peace and happiness this festive season.

Elsa 

xo

Gabriellas' Pavlova Book of Elsa

I've had a love affair with pavlova on/off for the last 10 years. Adjusting recipes in order to achieve crispy sides and bottom with marshmallowy insides has not been easy. My first attempt can only be described as a crispy egg white and sugar biscuit with over whipped cream and limp defrosted berries. 

Now please don't let the description above stop you from trying this. I mention it only so that YOU dear reader know that if for whatever reason the following recipe doesn't work the first time. PLEASE try again. 

The recipe below comes from How To Eat by Nigella Lawson (1998) p. 373 

Some words of wisdom before we begin:

1. Do wipe your mixing bowl and whisk with a segmented lemon or lime before you begin. The eggs just won't grow in volume if there's any grease.
2.  Any fruit/berries on top will do. I'm using strawberries here as they are my sister Gabriella favourite. Indeed this is her favourite dessert. But please no frozen defrosted ones. You'll just end up disappointed. Take it from me: it's not worth it.