Sweet Saffron Bread with Cranberries | Book of Elsa

Sweet Saffron Bread with Cranberries

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.

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.

Book Review | The Ten (Food) Commandments - Jay Rayner

First things first: this is not a recipe book. It contains recipes sure and good ones at that, but they are not the raison d'être of this book. They are, like snacks to nibble on whilst you ingest the true message of the written word. That word is worship. At the altar of PIG and other foodstuff... 

If like me you love food, then this is definitely a read for you. Funny, smart and current Rayner does something with words I had only previously experienced with Nigella Lawson: he makes me want to eat. To eat very well indeed.

Thank you

Book of Elsa

PS: it's available here

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

The Mourning Bride - Zara

The Mourning Bride (excerpt) by William Congreve

by russellboyle.com

Zara from Act iii Scene viii

Ha!
Who waits there?
As you’ll answer it, take heed
This Slave commit no Violence upon
Himself. I’ve been deceiv’d. The Publick Safety
Requires he should be more confin’d; and none,
No not the Princes self, permitted to
Confer with him. I’ll quit you to the King.
Vile and ingrate! too late thou shalt repent
The base Injustice thou hast done my Love:
Yes, thou shalt know, spite of thy past Distress,
And all those Ills which thou so long hast mourn’d;
Heav’n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn’d,
Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn’d.

William Congreve
1670-1729

Love Scares Most Of All - Book Of Elsa

Love scares most of all

Thoughts of losing members of my family bring me out in hives and breathlessness

Thoughts of adding to my loves terrifies me

Exposing pockets of my soul to the world than is safe 

More to hurt, more to bleed, love cuts way too deep

But then, what would be the point in existing? 

If we had no one to share it with

There are billions of us in this world.

Maybe, just maybe the point of it all is to have witnesses of our existence

People to not only say she was here. 

She was loved and she lived.

Someone to acknowledge all that was done and did by the departed.

So in a way love scares most of all because in the end, it is all we have left.

It's our legacy.

BOE

Random Clip - Book Of Elsa