shakshuka

Shakshuka is a North African dish consisting of eggs baked in a tomato sauce with peppers, onions and spices, to be served with a big chunk of bread and an empty stomach.

Perfecto brunch time fare at home, to leave you feeling fully sated. It's extremely well deserved when one has been able to wake up leisurely, perhaps partake in a little light exercise, and is ready at the kitchen table with the weekend papers...This was my scenario, as was having nothing left in the fridge except for these ingredients. I had been playing supermarket sweep at my local market that weekend so I had what seemed like hundreds of tomatoes, mushrooms and courgettes etc, so I actually had made a ratatouille the night before with added aubergine, onion and plenty of spices such as cumin, chilli and coriander. A really great way to use up ingredients. Just pop in an ovenproof dish or individual pan, crack an egg over the top and bake in a low heat until the egg is just set.

Ottolenghi does a great Shakshuka recipe that you can wip up fresh...

crosswords and april sunshine

How many Aprils in Old Blighty have we had the pleasure of a guffawing heatwave...AND on a bank holiday weekend? Well not many! So as you can expect I was damn excited. Therefore, a lazy Saturday wearing shorts and sitting in the garden was absolutely necessary, as was the Ottolenghi sauteed chickpea and Greek yogurt for lunch.

Details after jump...

home sweet (or savoury) home

Roasted butternut squash with sweet spices,
lime and green chilli

Finish work. A quick pick up on Drayton Gardens, then belting it down the A3. I'm happy to say I'm back in the bosom of my family for just one night and of course I have a delicious glorious supper to look forward to. Believe it or not, this is just an average Wednesday night. This is how my mother cooks every day of the year!