Monday, November 18, 2013

Cauliflower Cheese - Simple suppers

Crucifers - Cauliflower Cheese I get very excited at this time of year for the wonderous group known as Crucifers: Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Greens, Brussels Sprouts. I have always eaten them all, Raw and cooked. The one I fell out of love with for a while was Broccoli, I am not sure why this happened.
One of my favorite dinners is a plate of Cauliflower, good potato - a waxy golden one like the French fingerlings and a carrot, all covered with a leek sauce. When we were children we would often have cauliflower cheese with a thick slice of granary bread alongside it. Again, a perfect dinner. I am not a milky person, never drink it, quite repulses me. So, I often think this was one of Mum’s ways to get some dairy into me. My trick now, is to make a spicy cheese sauce, so that the milk taste is really hidden
1 cauliflower, cut into pieces. I like to cut the large florets down Place florets in rolling boiling water. Bring back to the boil, quickly, high heat. Strain the cauliflower in a collander, I like it to sit and really drain. Then lay the cauliflower out in an oblong baker.
Stick of butter, melted. 1/2 an onion, finely chopped and gently sauteed in the butter with salt and pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of dry mustard powder and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne powder. When the onions are clear, add 3/4 cup or so of flour. Stir into the butter cooking and mixing for a minute then gently start to pour in about 4 cups of milk. When you have the thickness you desire. Add a cup each of grated sharp Cheddar and Gruyere. Cook for a couple of minutes longer. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower.
Mix a little more grated, cheddar, gruyere, parmesan and panko bread crumbs, scatter over the sauce. Bake in 375 oven for approximately 45 minutes or until golden.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Scottish Ball NYC 2013

We all look forward to catering the Scottish Ball. Beautiful women in frocks, Handsome men in kilts and lots of energetic dancing... And they love the Haggis Lasagne!!!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Golden Syrup Steamed pudding

Golden Syrup pudding This has always been one of my favorite puddings. My mum would make it occasionally when I went home. I confess I have undercooked it and thrown the bowls contents away, but seem to have finally worked it all out. I always feel that these steamed desserts are very old and go back to when we cooked over a fire, rather than an oven. Although I am sure we did not use golden syrup until sugar plantations happened! You will need a pudding basin for this. And a steamer, but I use a tall pan with an inch or so of water simmering in the bottom. I like to add the syrup to the bottom of the basin, and sit on the stove, warming while I make the cake part. 6 oz butter - 1 1/2 sticks 6 oz sugar - 3/4 cup - I like organic granulated 3 eggs - beaten grated lemon zest 6 oz flour, self raising or add a teaspoon of baking powder pinch of salt Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs a little at a time, then fold in the flour. You can add a little milk if the mix seems too dense - I don’t. Add grated lemon zest. mix well. Gently add the cake mixture to the basin on top of the golden syrup. Put a piece of parchment paper over the top, I use the butter wrapper. Take a clean napkin or tea towel, lay it over the top of the basil, tie it around the rim with string, then tie corners on the top. Place basin ins teamer or tall pan and let it gently simmer for an hour and a half. Apologies for final photo, we had eaten it, before I remembered I needed a photo!!!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

NYC marathon - my block!

Each year I go to the Fifth Avenue end of my block to watch and encourage the marathoners. It's always a party atmosphere. I have to admit my favorite year was 2007. I went down, Kiwesa was there, and then Karen came along. After about 10 minutes Karen went home and came back with a life size cutout of then Presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Many runners stopped and took pictures of themselves and us with Mr. Obama. Everyone was so hopeful and excited... No one imagined the Republicans would block all the ideas we voted for.. Nonetheless Marathon Day is a great NY day. It was cold today..

Yellows of Fall

Climbing rose climbing nasturtium, we had these at the Clarendon, and I thought I'd give them a try. Flowered for 4 months. Love that it covers the fence. Moon flower seed pods. Last years self seeded, the flower was as big as my pinkie finger nail..