May 4, 2011

Walthamstow Market

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Walthamstow Market is the longest daily outdoor market in Europe, however is not the largest. Running almost the entire length of the street, approx 1 kilometer long, it has around 500 stalls selling everything from fruit and veg, to fabric, to household appliances. The produce at the fruit and veg stalls is always a good price, and much better quality than some street markets. It has quite a traditional cockney feel to it, but also incorporating all the influences from cultures such as Polish, Turkish and Afro-Caribbean.

On a Sunday a farmers market occupies the Town square at the top of the market, as the usual market only runs Tuesday-Saturday, with Saturday being at its busiest- often it is hard to get up the street against the flow of shoppers and browsers.

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May 3, 2011

POD

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One spring afternoon on a wander around town with my camera I ended up near St Paul’s and looking for a lunch spot. I walked past POD, and had never seen or heard of this place before so had a quick glance in the window. There were several things about this place that caught my eye and made me want to go inside- the fact that it was healthy food, but also the fact that they were really big on composting their packaging and recycling as this is something that I’m really keen on.

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I walked inside and they had a chilled cabinet with sandwiches and other cold lunches, and then also a hot section where they do seasonal stews and varying types of curry. They also have two sizes of their hot meals- great for those who want a light snack, or for those who want it as their main meal. I opted for a small Thai green curry. It was really nice- with a surprise of brown rice at the bottom that worked really well.

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They have plenty of seating if you wish to eat in- which I did, and then have separate bins for their composting and recycling. I like this on a number of levels- not only is it saving the environment one tiny step at a time, it is hopefully making the customer a bit more aware of what can and cant be thrown away. Personally I think we should all try on compost more, as although recycling is great- it’s still expensive and you need energy to fund this whole process.

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Even their furniture is ethically sourced from recycled materials.
“We build every pod from sustainable or recycled materials. We use recycled glass, sustainably forested oak timber, recycled flooring materials and furniture, organic paint and lots more.”

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Their Website has a very detailed section on what actually goes into their food, and the nutritional value of each dish.
Pod on Urbanspoon

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April 26, 2011

Hot Chocolate Pear Cups

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Serves 4

Ingredients
3 ripe pears, peeled and cored
2 tbls fresh lemon juice
1 tbls caster sugar
1 tbls amaretto liqueur
50g icing sugar
1 tbls cocoa powder
25g ground almonds
1 egg white

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1. Preheat the oven to 160C/ 325F/ Gas 3
2. Cut pears in 1cm cubes. Place in saucepan with lemon juice and caster sugar and cook over a medium heat for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. When they are cooked pour the amaretto over the pears, then spoons the pears with the juices into 4 x 150ml ramekins.

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4. To prepare the topping sift the icing sugar and the cocoa powder into a bowl. Stir in the ground almonds.
5. In a separate bowl which the egg white until stiff. Gently fold the egg white into the dry ingredients.
6. Spoon the chocolate meringue mix over the pears and shake the ramekins to level it. Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 mins until the topping is firm to the touch. Serve warm and enjoy.

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This was my first attempt at this recipe (taken from BBC Good Food Website). I think it went pretty well for a first time. Tasted really nice, though I think I would prefer to have more chocolate on top, about 1 1/2 times the amount as it didn’t quite cover the pears as much as I would have liked. I would also like to try soaking the pears in the amaretto overnight so that more of the flavour was captured by them. Overall though very yummy, a good mix of fruit and chocolate. And quite quick to make.

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April 18, 2011

Cinnamon and Raisin Scones

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This recipe was adapted from my Pooh’s Cook Book. The original recipe was honey and raisin, but I didn’t have any honey in the house.

Makes 9-12 Scones

8oz self-raising flour
1/2 level teaspoon salt
1oz butter
1 level tablespoon castor sugar
2 tablespoons seedless raisins
1 egg
4 tablespoons milk
cinnamon

Pre heat the oven to 400F/ Gas 6

1. Sift flour and salt and then rub in the butter.
2. Add the sugar, raisins, cinnamon, mix well and make a hollow in the centre.
3. In a measuring jug break the egg and add enough milk to make the liquid up to 1/4 pint. Mix well with a fork.
4. Pour the liquid into the centre of the four, and with a fork mix to a rough dough.
5. Turn out onto a floured working surface and knead lightly.
6. Roll out to about 1/2″ in thickness, cut out using a round cutter and place onto a lightly floured baking tray.
7. Dust lightly with flour and place in the over for 12 minutes.

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April 12, 2011

Cafe Smaglos

Aarhus

Another great cafe in Aarhus. I love that these places are cafe come pub come restaurant. You can go for a coffe, then have some food, then move onto a pint later if you fancy.
It has a lovely atmosphere, quiet background music, odd chairs and armchairs, dining chairs and tables out back, but more of a cafe style towards the front.

Aarhus

I had a burger, was very nice, with cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomatoe between a crispy bread roll. Had a spicy mayo dip on the side, and gerkins- which seem quite popular here but I’m really not a fan of them! Accomanyed with roast potatoe balls with nice crispy skins.
The people were all blonde hairded blue eyed beauties and I wished I had my blonde hair again.

Aarhus

Aarhus

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April 9, 2011

Love’s Bog- og Vincafe

Aarhus

Last month I took a holiday to Aarhus in Denmark. It was very cold, with snow on the ground and like a true English girl I had not brought enough clothes with me. So I had to go from cafe to cafe- which was no bad thing!
I came across this cafe while looking for some lunch, walking along the street I spotted books in the window, peered in to see comfy looking armchairs and immediately knew that this was a place I would like.
It is what my perfect cafe would be like- book shelves lining the walls, a mismatch of nice classic wooden furniture and a couple of comfy armchairs in the corners. The lighting is just right- light enough to do you work (lots of students on their laptops while I was there) but not too bright to feel like you are in a library.
It has a really nice relaxed feel to it with friendly staff who spoke very good English. I liked it so much I went back again, even though I only had 4 days in Aarhus.
I sampled their food- a platter of olives, artichokes, pate, bread, olive paste, prochuto and gerhkins. Really nice and actually quite filling.

Aarhus

Aarhus

Noerregade 32, Arhus 8000 , Denmark
Website

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April 8, 2011

Home Made Burgers

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It has started to feel like summer this week, people have been getting out their BBQ’s in true English style- making the most of any kind of sunshine. So along this theme I decieded to make my own beef burgers. You can add almost anything to these burgers, once of my favourites is adding blue cheese to the burger mix- but this is not to everyones tastes. It is so easy and tastes so much better than even the highest quality shop bought burgers.

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Ingredients
Minced Beef
1 egg
breadcrumbs
1 red onion
Salad

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1. Chop the onion and mix together with the egg and the breadcrumbs.
2. Add in the minced beef until all the meat is covered in egg. Season to your tastes.
3. Roll the mix into balls and flatten and place in a pan of olive oil.
4. Fry until brown on both sides.
5. Serve with salad.

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April 2, 2011

Otto Pizza

Otto Pizza

Pizza you say, whats so special about pizza? Well… this pizza is not like the others. Made from cornmeal these pizzas are a lot more filling that your regular pizza and a lot less greasy.
This is the only cornmeal crust pizza restaurant in the UK. The pizzas have a lot more toppings on them, and have a different selection to your usual, the special when we went was fig and pancetta absolutely gorgeous.

Otto Pizza

Introduced to us by Jackie who has met these guys before and interviewed them, she explained to us that we wouldn’t need more than two slices. We all looked at each other and thought she was crazy- she had previously that day been telling us she had forgotten to eat meals. In the end 3 of us went for the taster- 6 slices all different flavours, and Jackie chose her two favourite slices. You can order individual slices or a whole pizza and anything in-between.

Otto Pizza

So we tucked into our slices, enjoyed the atmosphere and each others company. By the time we were on our last slices we were quite glad we had listened to the advice- 2 slices really was enough.
However we did manage to find a little bit of space for dessert- cookie sandwich; two home made cookies sandwiching ice-cream.

Otto Pizza

6 Chepstow Road
Notting Hill
London
W2 5BH

Website
Otto Pizza on Urbanspoon

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March 31, 2011

Chocolate Fudge Cake

Chocolate Fudge Cake

The presentation of this cake may need a lot of work…. however the taste does not! I cannot even begin to describe how amazing this tastes. It’s like chocolate goo heaven! Not recommended for those who don’t like chocolate, or who are on a diet. The sponge is so moist and lovely, and then the combination of ganache and buttercream icing is to die for!

I did however use dark muscovado sugar in my recipe instead of light as it says below and I think this makes it taste much richer.

Preparation Time 30mins, Cooking time 1 to 2 hours

For the cake
200g/ 7oz plain chocolate
200g/ 7oz butter, cubed
100ml/ 3 1/2 fl oz water
125g/ 4 1/2 oz self raising flour
125g/ 4 1/2 oz plain flour
25g/ 1oz cocoa powder
200g/ 7oz light muscovado sugar
200g/ 7oz golden caster sugar
3 free-range eggs
75ml/ 2 1/2 fl oz creme fraiche

For the chocolate buttercream icing
50g/ 1 3/4oz plain chocolate
100g/ 3 1/2oz unsalted butter
200g/ 7oz icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the chocolate ganache
150ml/ 5 1/4oz double cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp unsalted butter
150g/ 5 1/4oz plain chocolate

1. Preheat the oven to 170C/ 335F/ Gas 3. Grease and line two 20cm/8in sandwich tins.
2. Melt the chocolate, butter and water together in a saucepan over a low heat, stirring occasionally until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. Sift the flours and cocoa powder into a bowl and mix in the muscovado and caster sugar.
4. Beat the eggs and creme fraiche together in a separate bowl, then beat in the chocolate mixture. Fold in the flour mixture until smooth.
5. Divide the cake mix between the tins and bak for 35- 40 mins, or until the top is firm to the touch.
6. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
7. Meanwhile, for the chocolate buttercream icing, melt the chocolate in a bowl.
8. Beat the butter in a bowl until soft, then gradually beat in the icing sugar. Add the vanilla extract and fold in the melted chocolate until smooth.
9. For the chocolate ganache, heat the cream, vanilla extract, butter and chocolate, then remove from heat and whisk the mixture until smooth and thickened.
10. Remove cakes carefully from the tines.
11. Spread the chocolate buttercream over the top of one of the cakes, then carefully top with the other cake.
12. Transfer the cake to a serving plate and spoon the chocolate ganache over the top of the cake, allowing it to drizzle over the edge.

This recipe is not my own- I got it from the BBC food website.

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March 22, 2011

Blue Cheese Scones

I really enjoy making scones- they are very easy, but also very quick to cook. These cheese ones are great as it satisfies the savoury palette as well as being a baked good. Great served with butter.

Scones, Naomi Winters

Ingredients

225g/ 8oz self-raising flour
pinch of salt
55g/ 2oz butter
1 egg
50g/ 1 3/4oz blue Stilton
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
5 tbsp milk

1. Preheat the oven to 220C/ 425F/ Gas 7
2. Lightly grease a baking sheet with butter
3. Rub together the flour, salt and butter until it resembles breadcrumbs
4. Add the chopped Stilton, parsley and eggs
5. Gradually add the milk to form a thick dough
6. Roll on a floured surface, and then cut into squares using pastry cutter
7. Bake in the over for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown

Dough, Naomi Winters

In the oven, Naomi Winters

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