Veggie Christmas dinner with Poodles

I had looooong weekend around Christmas and New Years. First, I went to Marcus's on sat arvo after my training (it's called essence of martial art) on 22nd. We spend a few days there at his just chilling out. THEN, we went to poodle family's house on Monday. To be honest, I was really looking forward to spend a few days there. Because they got a lovely kitchen and dining room & conservatory room. When we got there, it was as chaotic as usual, Jane(poodle's mum) was looking for her i phone, dad David was really chilled out, grand dad was asking about what time the afternoon tea at the hotel (in southwolds) was, JJ(daughter, about 10yrs old?) wanted to play with me. I believe she thinks I'm as old as her or little older than her. Yes, I'm as tall as her, JJ thinks she's taller than me. Always make me wonder, in west, if you are little/short/petite people think you are very young. It doesn't matter how old you are, or tell them how old you are, they still think you are very young. O.K, this is good example. When I was 18, I was smoking a fag in the neighbourhood in west London(Boston Manor). I was told off by a guy (he wasn't very old), that time I was quite often refused being served in pubs till I was 24-5. AND couldn't buy a packet of fags! I had to show them my ID almost every time. More recently, last 5 years especially, I've noticed kids always stare at me. Later figured out they couldn't work out how old I was. I got stared at when we were in Italy too. I'm not sure if it's good thing or bad thing. I stopped working out long time ago. 

Anyway, I played with JJ for about half hour till the family went to Southwold for Christmas. Then calm... but not last. Tara(youngest one) was excited to go out for a walk. so we took all dogs to the field next to the house. remember, they BOUGHT a massive field for these poodles. Arrr, what a happy poodles, but they don't seem to know  and are they really appreciate for it??? I told them they have massive garden & field to run round, under floor heating, plenty foods and love, why don't they wanna go outside without humans???? 

On the Christmas day, Marcus's mum Marilyn and uncle Steven came round. I was excited. It was my turn to cook dinner. Marcus made nut roast, I made gluten free sugar free vegan chocolate and hazelnut "raw cake" previous day. So, cooking on the day was fairly easy. Just one thing. I should've done my m.e.p for vegetables....... Baked roasted spiced mixed vegetable (kabocha, Asian yums, sweet potatoes, carrots, plantain), brussle sprouts(they were still little hard!), roasted new potatoes. Also roasted uncle Steven's chicken. the oven looked full that day. 

I also made fennel and pomegranate salad. 

 

Here's Marcus's chestnut roast. It was delicious! Naughty Tess is looking at it!!!

I made chocolate raw cake( it's bit like chocolate crunch), I'm sure I took photo of it, but it's lost. Neva mind, I'll upload when I make next. It was yummy. and not sweet. Marilyn said: grow-up's chocolate dessert. So as hot chocolate we've been drinking. Taste very grow-up, just whisk sugar-free cocoa and oat milk, add sugar-free chocolate(willy's cooking chocolate) in the end. Very chocolaty...and sexy...☺

Oh by the way, somehow I fancied marrow that week. So, I cooked marrow and some risotto on the Christmas eve. 

 Cashew nut and kabocha risotto, tofu and pan fried marrow with chili herb relish. We do have BIG appetite❀❀❀

My team leader at work said to me at the work Christmas dinner (night out): "You have a big appetite for small person" She wasn't the first one to tell me that. So I knew and I accepted that, so I don't get hurt. ☺

Everyone enjoyed that night, our Christmas day. We don't cerebrate as such, we just spend time together and chill out. For us, everyday is like Christmas and precious, I know it sounds corny, but true. I'd like to have more time like this.

Oh, we also visited Marcus's dad (sorry! almost forgot to mention!) in the Colchester hospital. He looked pleased to see us and especially to uncle Steven. They hadn't seen each other for yonks. It must've been Christmas!!! ☺☺☺

And then, I went home for a few days, I was back to Marcus's on sat for another 4 days rest. It's been fab chilling out, not doing very much.... Can't wait to retire...☺

Gluten free pan forte di siena

My friend Russel and his wife Vikki asked me to make some yummy gluten free goodies for his friends as X'mas gifts. He is intolerant to wheat, apparently so as some of his friends. When I was asked to bake/make some little things for them, I was a bit excited. I think I always do when I cook/bake food(s) I like. This time I came up with some Christmassy things. 

Pistachio and cranberry biscotti

Panforte di Siena

Mixed berry Lokum (Turkish Delight)

This is the recipe for Biscotti

200g gluten free flour

100g ground almonds

100g mixture of polenta and tapioca

225g sugar

20g potato flour

100g pistachio & cranberry

pinch of spices (cinnamon & aniseed)

1teasp gluten free baking powder

4 egg

vanilla 

2 lemon zest

mix all flours, spices, sugar and zest, bine it with eggs. make into a log, put onto baking tray and bake for 20mins or so, let it cool, slice them. put them back on tray bake till dry. 

bake at 180°, then lower to 150°.

I hadn't made Panforte for ages. Last time I made was when I was working in the restaurant in South Kensington. That was loooong time ago. The executive chef apparently said to my head chef that was the best panforte he ever had. That was very nice to hear, where was my pay rise chef???

I wanted to re-create the Panforte, but I couldn't find the bloody recipe! I was gutted. Biscotti recipe is adaption of my restaurant recipe. I've stopped buying/finding special cooking books (gluten-free/vegan/vegetarian) for a while. Still, vegan cup cake recipe book is the funnest one so far, must bake some more cakes this year!

Anyway, here's the recipe for the panforte di siena:

75g hazelnuts(pre-roasted, and chopped)

75g blanched almonds(Pre-roasted and chopped)

175g candied peel/ mixed fruits(apricot etc)

20g Carob powder

50g Gluten free flour/ rice & tapioca flour mix

half teaspoon of ground cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon ground mixed spice

100g Runny honey

100g Golden caster sugar

Little orange extract/ orange flour water

Pre-heat the oven to 150℃, gas mark 2. Line a 20cm flan tin with baking *parchment paper. Not grease proof paper(it sticks and doesn't come off)

Put the all dry ingredients in a bowl, mix well.

Put the sugar and honey in a saucepan and heat gently until a sugar thermometer reaches to 115℃. Then remove from the heat mix quickly with all other ingredients.

Put the mixture in the tin, dip your spoon in hot water to smooth the surface, about 1cm-1.5cm thick.

Bake it for about 30mins or so. When it comes out, it should be slightly soft in the middle, it'll cook as it cools down. While it's still warm, peel the paper, onto cooling rack. Cut into wedges.

Dust with icing sugar when it cools down.

* Or use rice paper. No need to peel off. But sometimes, rice paper has wheat flour in it. so, please read ingredients before purchase.

Dinner at Emma's

I'm writing very late blog, this small dinner party happened November 2nd last year. Why every end of year months, Nov and Dec go past really quick? It's now already 2013. Oh, by the way this time last year I convinced myself the world was going to end, just like some "new age" people, and I was watching too much videos on YouTube. anyway, Soon I realized the world was NOT going to end, and the polar shift was NOT going to occur for loooooooong time. To be honest, I was quite excited inside, how the world was going to end. I convinced that the world we knew it was going to end, and we would be able to vibrate higher energy and communicate telepathically, then going into 5th dimension. Sounds cool eh? Although I was not an believer of "the world was going to end" last month 21st on Friday, I was a bit curious. Thing was, the day ended exactly as the same as previous Friday. I cashed up the till, shut the shop, and went home. Some customers were annoying as usual, some were lovely, and I was busy going up and down in the shop(work). HOW DISAPPOINTING WAS THAT? 

And, I've got a question.  why do we believe "wow, the world is going to end"?  It happened back in 80's. Many times. And 90's. Do we really want the world to end? Or are we just romanticising on the world catastrophe? Or some of us(humans) just simply need to get a life?

Anyway, while I was sorting through some photos on my laptop, found those. taken at Emma's on beginning on Nov. We had dinner party, each of us contributed to bring/cook some foods at Emma's(she's got a big house with dining area...). Unfortunately, Sylvia couldn't make it as her dad wasn't feeling well and in the hospital. So, me, Emma, Pauline and Maggie. Marggie did starters, I did mains, Pauline provided puds, and Emma provided her house ☺ and drinks. We enjoyed very much. To be honest, it was much better than going out for dinner in Bury St Edmunds. Lovely company, yummy foods and peaceful environment we could chat. 

Menu

butternut squash soup and falafles

Chestnut and lentil roast, roasted vegetables with spiced hummus dressing

Red berry Pavlova with creme Chantilly

 This is our Pauline having dinner. We laughed lots that evening, she was very funny. Bless her! ☺☺☺

Later Sylvia suggested we should have another dinner party so that this time she can make it. In that case, what shall we cook for all of us? Sylvia's been on funny diet and she's very fussy on food. Well, we'll think something when the time comes.....

 YUM YUM......