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Mexican Food Made Simple

I’m a couple of weeks behind the launch date, but I wanted to feature Thomasina Miers’ Mexican Food. I have had two of the best evenings at Wahaca, which takes Mexican food, and tequila, to another level for me. The difference between Wahaca and somewhere like Chiquitos is like the difference between Burger King and Hawksmoor. So, if you think you don’t like Mexican, buy this and experiment.

And if you love Mexican, buy it and enjoy cooking from it!

I’ve added a few others that will give you a different spin on Mexican, to show it’s not all tacos and cheese.

1. Mexican Food Made Simple – What else can I write about this? I love the way Tommi writes, I love the food her kitchens turn out, and I am buying this for myself if it doesn’t arrive on Mother’s Day. And think Mexican doesn’t cover sweet stuff? Check out the pancakes with vanilla ice cream, caramelised pecans and salted caramel sauce.

2. Authentic Mexican: Regional Cooking from the Heart of Mexico – another great book for getting into the heart and soul of Mexican cooking. I like that reviews of this say the flavours of this are not Americanised, which is a positive in my view.

3. Essential Cuisines of Mexico – Diana Kennedy has been writing about Mexican cooking for over 40 years, and this is a fairly new updated and revised version of one of her earlier books. This will take you through the whole spectrum of Mexican cooking, from tamales to tortillas through to breads and desserts. It is said the Diana is to Mexican food what Julia Child is to French, so that’s not too bad a recommendation!

4. The Well-Filled Tortilla Cookbook – a little more amusing, and single minded in pursuit of the perfect filled tortilla. You can make it crispy or soft, bake it or fry it, and fill it with all sorts of stuff, savoury and sweet. I would think this was a great book if you have kids, as this is the sort of food I always find kids will try, as it has that level of interactivity to it. Not to mention it’s wonderfully messy to eat!

5. Tequila: A Guide to Cocktail, Types, Flights and Bites- well, couldn’t finish this without bringing out the tequila. Wahaca takes tequila as far from the Tequila Shots Girl as it’s possible to get, and this book is in that spirit (no pun intended). This will tell you all you need to know,what you should be tasting and what goes really well with it.

It may have felt like the endless winter, so spicing it up in the kitchen just may help it feel like the sunshine is back! A bit of spice can go a long way to cheering up cold, grey days! Enjoy!

One of my faves!

You may have picked up that today is Cakes for Haiti day, and hopefully you’ve been busy knocking up something delicious! I’ve done blondies and hummingbird muffins, which are new to me. Dr T suggested I could have done all cakes or biscuits beginning with h, but that would be taking it a tad too far for me!

So if you need some inspiration for a last minute cake sale, or for a more leisurely bake, then these are the ones I either work from regularly, or wish I had on the shelf.

1. Red Velvet & Chocolate Heartache – I know I’m boring, I’ve written about this book several times since I bought it, but I love it. I particularly love it for a) fabulous tasting cakes b) getting veg into things I know kids will eat and c) giving me some new ideas on what to do with the annual courgette glut. Courgette and coconut cake is the way to go, and I adore the Chocolate Beetroot Brownie.

2. Sky High – I am a big fan of the He Eats blog, and regularly have cake envy. Ed regularly bakes from the Sky High book, and they always look fantastic, which is down to his skill. But I so want to have a go. So this is one my wish list!

3. Cake Chic- these are very posh looking cakes from Peggy Porschen, that would be the sort of things I would want to make for a girls get-together. They are not the sort you would knock up in a quick afternoon baking session, but definitely worth it for a big occasion. One to work up to I think, but worth the effort.

4. How to Be a Domestic Goddess – I sort of hesitate to mention this one, as I am sure so many people have this, but it is a book I come back to again and again for baking inspiration. It’s particularly good for baking with kids, or for recipes that you remember from way back but have forgotten how to do.

5. Exceptional Cakes - if you spot a branch of Baker & Spice then worth stopping by for great cakes. If you want to recreate it at home, then this is the book for you. It covers everything you could wish to bake from cakes to muffins, biscuits to doughnuts and meringues. Which should keep everyone happy for at least one round of afternoon tea!

So, whether you bake for Haiti, or just for the joy of it, these would give you some ideas. No matter how depressing a day is, homemade cakes make everything seem just a little bit better!

I love this time of year, love the thrill of a great rugby game, love the air of gloom and despondency that descends on the household should Wales lose to England (and only if they lose to England). But enough about Dr T, I am making an exception to the Friday Five alliteration this week to make it six, for the sake of harmony in the kitchen celebrating the cuisines of 5 great rugby nations. And Italy.

First Catch Your Peacock

Only joking. Though some still believe they are only there for the Welsh to have someone to beat (oh yes, the atmosphere does get interesting here during the tournament!).

1. First Catch Your Peacock: The Classic Guide to Welsh Food - I would buy this one for the title alone, and have been tempted to do so on more than one occasion! If you thought Welsh cooking only went from Welsh cakes to Bara Brith, then this will make you think again. Goose blood tart, cinnamon potato cakes and violet pudding were just a few of the recipes to catch my eye. This is rooted in traditional Welsh cooking but if you wanted to see the contemporary stuff, get yourself to Cardiff (not on match day) and get a table at the Armless Dragon. Fabulous!

2. Fresh, Simple, Tasty by Matt Dawson – so here we have a former England rugby player, who turns out to not be half bad in the kitchen either. These recipes are just as the title describes, so probably not a great book for an advanced foodie, but for a book for turning to when you just want a quick supper or something different for a weekend breakfast. Is there anything he can’t turn his hand to? Lets face it, he could even pull off pink and sequins!

3. The Scottish Farmer’s Market Cookbook - I couldn’t find any of the Scottish team with a cookbook to their name, so I am going for this one as a showcase for some of the great food coming out of Scotland. Perfect for a bit of seasonal inspiration, regardless of where the farmer’s market is!

Rotis

4. The Irish Pub Cookbook – sadly, I couldn’t find anywhere selling Eating to Win, a cookbook by the Irish Rugby team from 2005, which would have topped Matt Dawson. So I’ve gone for this one, which no doubt will make a lot of use of Guinness. This is hearty, almost home cooking, the sort of thing that is what you might want before a match to sustain you, and put down a layer before all the Guinness starts!

5. Rôtis- I really thought that the French team would have at least one cookbook between them over the years, but I can’t find one. So I’ve gone for this fabulous book by Stéphane Reynaud, as surely there would be a few rugby players, French or otherwise, that would want to sit down to any of these  gorgeous roasts after a match. One for every day of the week, including a leftovers night!

6. The Silver Spoon - the mama of Italian cookbooks, this covers a bit of everything that you need to know about Italian cooking, and from every region. I imagine you could train rugby teams with this as well, as it is one hefty read! I got this for Christmas and haven’t cooked much from it yet, so this tournament might provide the push I need to get going.

So, whichever colours you’ll be wearing, or cheering on, eat well during the tournament, and save the rough stuff for the pitch!

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I’ve already written about my loathing of “special” Valentine’s Day menus, which generally are an affront to most food lovers. I think it makes a great excuse for a night in together, with something really special on the menu. If you think

The New Intercourses: an aphrodisiac cookbook

you might go down that route, then these books are chosen for adding something a little special to your repertoire for the evening.

1. The New InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook – this one is almost worth it for the stunningly beautiful photography, but there are also fabulous recipes. In addition you’ll get useful tit bits of info on each of the alleged aphrodisiacs. I can’t vouch for this 10 year anniversary version, as I have the original. Lets just say I am still cooking from it though!

2. Shaken: 250 Very Sexy Cocktails – yep, I would imagine most of these would get an evening off with a bang. Possibly best to eat food too, otherwise you’re not going to get through many of these! Sounds like a fun way to get things going.

3. Romantic Cakes – perhaps you want to create a memorable dessert to finish off the meal, and a beautiful cake would certainly tick the right boxes. Very hearts and flowers, pretty, beautiful and romantic, and also could be incredibly tasty. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t love cake, and this book has some truly beautiful cakes to recreate.

Seriously Naughty Cakes

4. Seriously Naughty Cakes- if you want cake, but not the slushy hearts and flowers stuff, then this is the book for you. From Saucy Stockings to the Roly Poly Strip O’Gram, this is not your average cake decorating book! A creation from this will certainly raise at least a smile.

5. The Cookbook of Everlasting Love: Sex On A Plate or Food As Foreplay – jeez, I’ve no idea if this is any good, but can you imagine nosy people’s faces when they’re browsing through your book shelves and come across this one? Go on, it’s worth it just for that alone.

So, you could create your own naff Valentine’s menu, or create something wonderful and romantic. Either way, it should be memorable, and hopefully very tasty! Enjoy!

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It’s January, it’s been colder than cold, and certainly warming, comfort food has been the order of the day.Except it’s that time of year when huge chunks of people are resolving to eat better. Eating better can mean a whole heap of things, and be for a whole host of reasons from general health through to weight loss.

So here’s 5 choices that are about healthy choices, without being dull, and without being all about lettuce leaves!

The Nordic Diet

1. How Not to Get Fat by Ian Marber - I’ve got a lot of time for Ian Marber, and he does talk quite a lot of sense on the food front. However, with a title like this, I can’t help but wonder if it’s a two page book, and just says eat less and do more. If it’s like his other books, then there’ll be some good recipes too.

2. The Nordic Diet by Trina Hahnemann - there seems to be general rise in interest in Scandinavian cookery, so it was inevitable it would spill over into the healthy eating sector. It has all the foodie buzzwords of locally sourced and seasonal, but also lots of variety. I would think you would find things to cook out of this regardless of whether you were looking for “healthy” food or not. I think this would bring some great new tastes to any table.

3. Anjum’s Eat Right for Your Body Type - bringing together the ancient wisdom Ayurveda with great food to deliver fabulous taste and healthy food. You can do the whole body type prescription thing, or just cook up a storm with some great recipes, combining the best of East and West.

4. The Healing Powers of Chocolate – you’ll have a few weeks to wait for this one, but show me a woman who doesn’t believe already that chocolate has healing powers! This is just the science to back up what we’ve always known. Not so big on recipes, but good to know you’ve got some justification for that next bar of Green & Blacks!

5. The Moosewood Restaurant Cooking for Health - I had one of the original Moosewood cookbooks from my godmother in the US years ago, and it was well thumbed during my vegetarian stage. This one has 200 new recipes, and if they are as good as I remember the old ones being, then it won’t be hard to get anyone to eat healthily. Although it probably won’t make me vegetarian again!

So if you want some healthy ideas, or just new flavours for a new year, then these may be worth a look.

Ah, remember the balmy days of early December? How warm we all were? How soft the ground was? There was I thinking how lovely to run Sarah Fay’s list the first week in January, when we’d all be ready for a good long walk in the countryside.

How wrong could I be? But in preparation for warmer times (i.e. when it returns to above freezing) then Sarah’s list gives you some great insight into her passion for foraging, wild food and truly eating seasonally. Here’s Sarah’s perspective:

What better way to assure yourself of the finest, freshest ingredients than to forage for your own?  You will be surprised what you can find in hedgerows, woodlands and even local parks.  What’s more, your palate will be treated to full flavoured produce for free.  My advice is to arm yourself with a spacious basket, a pair of wellies, definitely a hat of sorts to protect yourself from falling grub(s), and the essential guide books and recipes.  The rest is pure, indulgent, foodie enjoyment.

Here is a list of books, both old and new, that have become my friends, dare I say bibles…

The Wild Food Year Book

1. The Wild Food Yearbook by Country Kitchen - this is one of my favourite books; well, it is almost like a thick magazine in true year book style.  Each chapter is separated into Season, detailing what is available to forage at any given time, and providing straight-forward useful ideas for each; from everyday recipes for delicious meals, to brewing your own beers and wines, to jam, jelly & chutney making. This is a practical guide for any wild food enthusiast, or wannabe forager.

2. The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide by Prof David Peglar - There are so many books dedicated to wild mushroom foraging, although this guide ticks all of the boxes for me.  It is small enough to be stuffed into your backpack and used as a field guide; clear photography and a size guide help you to easily distinguish between tasty fungi and potential poisoners!  The guide also includes a month by month calendar, so you know what to look for and when.  Some good recipes at the end of the book provide inspiration on how to best prepare and cook your rich pickings.

3. First Steps In Winemaking by C J J Berry- When you get into making your own home brew, you will rarely turn back, it is a little addictive, and the results are surprisingly good.  This benchmark guide is invaluable; from the rundown of what you will need to start off, to step-by-step recipe instructions, and the essential ‘trouble-shooting’ chapter.  The book is set out in a ‘wine-making year’ style, so you can follow and experiment as the months and season’s unfold, utilising the produce available.  I would include a serious amount of alka-seltzer if buying this book as a present!

British Seasonal Food by Mark Hix

4. British Seasonal Food by Mark Hix- Mark Hix brings to us a serious seasonal foodie guide in this fabulous book.  Chapters are separated by month with a brief of what is good ‘right now.’  The recipes range from simple everyday cooking ideas to more challenging dinner party feasts.  Witty illustrations, beautiful photography and Mark’s down to earth enthusiastic writing style, make this book a real treasure.  From a cookery beginner, stuck for ideas for what to do with their veg box, to the passionate foodie looking for seasonal inspiration – this book in my opinion, is a must.

5. Game: A Cookery Book by Tom Norrington Davis & Trish Hilferty - The latest addition to my bookshelf, Game: A Cookery Book has fast become my latest love.  The book covers all aspects of sourcing, prepping and cooking wild game, and is arranged by animal type – two legs (game birds), four legs (the bigger beasts & furred game), no legs (mostly fish).  The two London chefs join forces to celebrate game hunting and cooking in all of its glory.  The recipes range from the classics to modern fusion styles; simplistic to challenging, and all ensure that your prized catch gains centre stage.

So, once we’ve all come out of this temporary hibernation, it’ll be a great time to get out there, look at the food that’s around us, not to mention finding great seasonal food in your locality. And if you’d overspent at Christmas, then finding some food for free has to be a good thing. Another thing to think about is that after a tough winter like this one, local food supporters are going to need us more than ever. And if you’re in the Essex area, then check out Sarah’s site, Essex Gourmet, for a great guide to everything that is great to eat in the area.

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Not on my go to list, and not on the shelf in 2010

Here we are, 1st January, new decade and all that. Everyone will be buzzing with resolutions, or perhaps their heads will just be buzzing. Everyone will be wanting to weigh less, do more, give things up etc.

Well, I am resolving to do more by reaching to the far flung corners of the bookshelves, to help them weigh less and give up the cookbooks that have really not earned their places up there. The very opposite of a “go to” list, these are my no go books, that have been purely decorative, are as pristine as the day they arrived.

1. Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food - no offence to Gordon, but this is top of the tree. Wasn’t my choice, I think I read through it, and then it’s sat on the shelf after that. Great TV moments, cooking not grabbing me really.

2. Seriously Good! Gluten Free Cooking by Phil Vickery – I should have known with this one when the recipe for Onion & Chestnut bread has you caramelising onions and then never mentions them again in the recipe, at all. It’s also the only dish I’ve ever served an adult that I’ve nearly seen them spit out across the table. They are still scarred by the experience. And I’ve not opened this book since.

3. An Invitation to Italian Cooking by Antonio Carluccio - no offence to Antonio, but I’ve not cooked from this, and now I have The Silver Spoon I think that will be my go to book.

4. The Hairy Bikers Ride Again - all the way back out of the kitchen. I love their programmes, find them charming and endearing, and vowed to cook a number of the recipes in here, particularly the Indian ones. Just other recipes have always seemed to get in the way.

5. Gifts from the Kitchen – this was a gift, it’s a Marks & Spencer book, and it’s still where I put it after Christmas last year. Sorry, but there have been no shortage of gifts from the kitchen, but they’ve been mainly sloe gin and jam, not petit fours.

So my cleansing has begun, the weight is falling off, and I’ve had a good stretch reaching the far flung corners of the shelving. What cookbooks will you lose this year?

Wogan As Cake, Cake As Wogan

Anyone who listens to Terry Wogan will know at least two things:

1. He loves his food, particularly the snorkers. And a curry at 8am

2. Today is his last day on Wake Up to Wogan

Like many of my age I guess, I went to primary school listening to Wogan, and now take MGG to school on the back of Wake Up to Wogan. I remember Wogan on the telly, being elbowed out by some naff soap opera. I remember Blankety Blank. I’ve cried with laughter at Janet and John stories. And, as much as I like Chris Evans, I shall miss him in a morning. So, whilst Terry has not written 5 cookbooks, here are 5 that suit the man and his tastes, in my view!

1. The TOGs Cookbook 2008 - where would Terry be without the TOGs? Well, possibly a little quieter, as they write so much of the great stuff that goes into each show. They are also an amazing group, raising huge sums of money for Children in Need each year. Terry would be proud if every home had a copy of this cookbook, and with £5 going to Children in Need, how could you not make room for it?

2. New Irish Cookery - now, if ever there was a man who was an advert for the Blarney Stone, it would be Sir Tel. And if there was ever an advert for contemporary Irish cooking, then Paul and Jeanne Rankin would be two of those up for the part. This is a great mix of traditional and contemporary cooking, perhaps reflecting Wogan’s music choices that can see you go from Glen Miller to Pixie Lott in about 5 minutes!

3. Finger Lickin’ Way to Fight the Fat - there are a few copies of Fight the Flab still in circulation, and at under £2 it could be an interesting stocking filler, though possibly not an investment. For a 21st century take, this might do the trick, with a focus on great taste and pictures of cake. I think Terry might approve of the cake bit.

4. Tarts With Tops On: or how to make the perfect pie - I was going to go with the appropriately named Pie, but then this title sounds like something out of a Janet & John story, or a reference possibly to Lynn. Pies seem to feature a lot, especially Clark’s Pies, and most seem to get left under angle-poise lamps for a top up on the heating front.

5. The Fat Duck Cookbook - it was difficult to choose one celeb chef, as Sir Terry seems to frequent many a fabulous eating establishment. I was very tempted to go for Richard Corrigan, being another genial, larger than life Irishman. However, Heston just pipped him to the post. My thinking was that Heston’s been known to drop in to do the Christmas cooking tips, Terry went to Heston’s spectacular Christmas thing on Channel 4, but then mainly because whenever Heston has a new series it tends to provoke most reaction on the show! And also he has nicknames on the show, Mr Corrigan doesn’t. Not original ones, but definitely a sign of affection and admiration!

So, we salute you Sir Terry, and send our thanks. We hope the saintly Lady Helen is ready for turning out curry early in the day until your bodyclock adjusts. And we hope Chris Evans can keep up the good food work!

Great shot of Terry in cake by katsommers on Flickr.

I love this time of year, but it does cause me some stress. I always make a proper birthday cake for MGG’s birthday, and have worked my way through a few cake decorating books. I’m no expert, whatsoever, but prepared to give it a go. So these five are a combination of ones I’ve used so far, and ones I always look at and think, maybe, one day!

1. No Time Party Cakes – I started with this one, loved the title, thought this would be the book for me. I worked through a few, but by the time I got to the fairy castle (and what little girl isn’t going to ask for this at some point) I was beginning to think I had misunderstood the title. I think I came to the conclusion on quite a few it meant no time to do anything else! That said, the designs are great for kids, and if you don’t get too ambitious a good source.

An alternative to the caterpillar cake

2. 50 Easy Party Cakes – this is the one I’m working from today, in an attempt to replicate the cover cake, and I did a cake for someone else from here too. There is a great variety of cakes, and actually these have not been too bad at all. I really love the kitten and ball of wool, just waiting for a request for this one!

3. Celebrate With A Cake: A Step by Step Guide to Creating 15 Memorable Cakes - Dr T bought me this one, he obviously has greater faith in my abilities than I have in my own! It’s the next level up and I aspire to some of these, they are truly beautiful. Thankfully, I’d already done the castle before I got this book, and before MGG had seen it, as the one in this book is truly spectacular.

4. Romantic Cakes by Peggy Porschen – it feels like Peggy is the pinnacle of fabulous, pretty, romantic cake decorating, and these are really the sorts of cakes I fantasise about turning out for an afternoon tea on a sunny lawn. This book moves you from every romantic occasion, from Valentine’s Day through to full on wedding cakes, which I think is beyond where I’ll end up, but I like looking at the pictures and dreaming. If you are more competent, then I would guess either this book is already in your possession, or most definitely on a wish list somewhere! Drop more hints!

5. Seriously Naughty Cakes by Debbie Brown - just to show cakes are not just for kids, or weddings, these are saucy additions to the cake decorator’s art! From mooning out of cars through to cleavages to make Jordan jealous and topless sunbathing, this really will give you some interesting ideas. To be honest, I would think having a roly-poly stripagram cake may be better than the real thing turning up! Not one to leave around for the kiddies to pick up though. Not till they turn 18 maybe!

I get a bit better each year, and as I only pretty much practice once a year then it’s no surprise I’m not making really quick progress on improving! I will keep you posted on how the stable comes along. But if I post pictures of a train cake, you have your answer!

Hugh Johnson's Wine Book

It’s coming up to that time of year when normal sensible drinks seem to go out the window, and everyone thinks it’s a good idea to break out the Cherry B and the advocaat. Or that may just be in our house. Anyway, in a break from the rounds of cookery books, this week I’m taking a look at the the most wished for books in drinks and beverages, that would help educate about drinking, rather than necessarily your palate!

1. Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2010 – from an immensely popular and knowledgeable writer, this is the latest version, as concise and wide ranging as usual. If you travel a lot, this is a great book to carry around with you on your trips, to make sure you get the most from your visits wine shops overseas.

2. Good Beer Guide 2010 – of course, it’s not all about wine, and this is another popular guide each year. This really is the definitive guide to get a pint of real ale, if that’s your thing, from town to countryside. This also goes beyond just pubs though to give you a full rundown of the breweries producing real ale in the UK, from micro through to national breweries, so giving sources for some home drinking options too.

3. The Classic 1000 Cocktails - this should add some interesting twists to your Christmas drink options! This covers everything from long and short drinks, champagne based cocktails, and even hot cocktails, and gives the lowdown on equipment as well as key ingredients to have on standby for an impromptu cocktail party. I have no idea what a Barnaby’s Buffalo Blizzard is, but it sounds like one of those that would be rather difficult to say after one too many!

4. The World Atlas of Wine - this is a great book for those wanting to learn more about wine, from two giants of the wine world, Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. This has been updated recently, and reflects the rapid growth of vineyards and producers in some parts of the world. This is a great book for the real enthusiast, and those planning trips to great wine producing parts of the world.

5. Brew Your Own British Real Ale - when I wrote about food trends at the start of the year, home made was definitely one of the big ones, and home brew within that. This is a classic guide that has been rewritten and updated, and has plenty of recipes for everything from old favourites no longer brewed commercially through to contemporary offerings. It could be the start of a lot of strange burping noises around the home, and that’s just in the brewing stage!

All of these should expand the drinker’s knowledge and possibly their repertoire for future drinking opportunities. Now, pass the advocaat please!