Easy Pan Fried Potatoes

The classic starch... the potato. Which offers a variety of vitamins and minerals, the two highest vitamins are C and vitamin B6. When we do Sunday Roast most often one of the sides are some form of potatoes. Everyone has their favourites and everyone raves about my oven roasted potatoes. This time, I decided to do pan fried potatoes instead. They are very similar to their oven roasted counterparts. I call these easy pan fried potatoes because they are just that... easy and utilizing the stove top range is a fast way to create a tasty dish. 

Easy Pan Fried Potatoes

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1 x bag of mini potatoes

some oil, to spray the pan with

some herbs and seasonings

salt and pepper to taste

First, wash and cut the mini potatoes in half. Place the cut potatoes into a large pot and cover them with cool water. Place on a burner according to size of pot. Boil on high until the potatoes are semi soft. A fork should be able to pierce into the potato but not go all the way through. You still want a bit of firmness. 

Once they are done, drain and set aside. Take a large frying pan and spray the inside bottom of the pan with the oil. You can use whatever oil you like, I used an Extra Light Olive Oil, if you do not have a spray oil then pour some oil into the pan and spread with your fingers, wiping your hands clean afterwards. Place the fry pan on the according size burner and turn the heat to medium high. Add the potatoes to the frying pan and then add the herbs or seasonings and salt and pepper. Toss to coat; stirring occasionally to make sure the potatoes are not sticking. Fry for about 10 minutes or until the potatoes are slightly golden and the light side of the potato starts to crisp up.  

Friday is here... the weekend is hours away. Plenty of football and baking to keep me going. - JD

Leftovers #24 ~ Meatloaf with Spinach

I do enjoy eating my spinach raw however I also keep some of those frozen blocks of  chopped spinach on hand. They are ready to use and save time. It depends on what I am making and how much spinach I need; this time I had some leftovers so I decided to add the remainder to the meatloaf I made for dinner on Sunday, as part of our Sunday roast meal. It was a very welcoming change that added a bit of colour to this ordinary classic dish while adding some vitamins and minerals. You can tell from the photo that the food was straight out of the oven, off the stove and on to the plate as there appears to be a foggy steamy haze lurking about. Perhaps it is the steam of meatloaf's past.

Nice golden brown top, moist and an excellent way to add more veggies and nutrients to a meal. 

It is Wednesday and the holiday baking continues... - JD 

Thumbprint Cookies

As delicate and fussy as these cookies look they are simple to create. If you want an easy  delicious cookie to whip up and share over the holiday season than this is the biscuit to make. I remember helping my mum make these cookies during the holidays. This recipe does not require an assembly line and more than 2 people could over complicate a rather straightforward recipe. The ones picture here are a nut free version I made. Same recipe, I just omitted rolling them around in the walnuts. I have seen another version that replaces the nuts with flaked coconut, you may do that if you wish, however I decided not to. Another great thing about this recipe is that no two cookies are alike, they may look similar, therefore they are not meant to be perfectly formed... like manufactured cookies. That is part of the charm about these lovely morsels.   

Thumbprint Cookies

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1/2 cup soft butter

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon British mixed spice

1 egg white, slightly beaten

3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts 

Pre heat oven to 350º

In a medium bowl blend the flour, salt and British mixed spice together. Set aside.

In another bowl, preferably a large bowl, blend the butter, brown sugar, egg yolk and vanilla thoroughly. Stir in the flour mixture, blending everything and creating a nice dough.

Roll about 1 teaspoon of the dough into balls. Dip into the slightly beaten egg white. Then roll into the crushed walnuts. Place about 1 inch apart on a baking tray press thumb gently into the centres. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool. Fill the indents with preferred jam or a minced meat filling.

Notes: You may omit the British mixed spice form the recipe. Another way to create the "thumbprint" impression is by using a finger or the tip of a wooden spoon handle. I filled half the cookies with raspberry jam and the other half were filled with a vegetarian minced meat filling. Since I made a nut free version I did a fine dusting of icing sugar over the top, once the cookies were completely cooled; to give a more decorative appeal. Cracks will appear. Form them as best you can however no need to fret and fuss over their shape.

  

This is what they looked like before I dusted icing sugar over the top. A bit plain and in need of a little something. 

Hope everyone had a good weekend. - JD 

Fortnum and Mason ~ 2015

Christmas has come early because our annual Fortnum & Mason order has arrived. This year we were being particularly good and ordered a nice selection of Christmas themed jams, marmalade, coffee, tea, chutney, and mustard. Other delightful goodies included our usual tea, biscuits, crackers, fruitcake... disappointingly not the King George cake. It seems, Fortnum's did not offer it this year. Instead offering many Christmas puddings. I hope it's absence is not a permanent one. The King George fruitcake with be highly missed by all this year however I am sure the FitzGeorge fruitcake will do. Perhaps I should try and make a fruitcake myself. 

It is a lovely day... sun shining and an acceptable coolness to the air. I will be doing more baking and creating over the next few days. Have a good weekend everyone! - JD 

Leftovers #23 ~ Oven Roasted Chickpeas

Having leftover chickpeas is great because they can be roasted and are fantastic to snack on and perfect to add to any salad. They offer protein and fibre and are simply delicious.  

To make these oven roasted chickpeas you will need the following:

1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed then gently pat dry or air dry

some oil, something with a high smoking point would be good

seasonings, which ever you prefer or have on hand

1 baking sheet, lined with parchment paper

Pre heat the oven to 400ºF.

In a medium large bowl toss the chickpeas in some oil. Then add which ever herbs or seasoning you have on hand or like. I did a chili and herb spice blend. You may add salt and pepper to taste however I did not. I would rather give way to the spicy herb flavour than taste it is either too salty or peppery. Again, toss to coat the chickpeas. Place the seasoned chickpeas on the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until nicely browned. Checking them half way through the baking time and using oven mitts and holding the pan on either side carefully shake the baking sheet once to roll the chickpeas around; then place them back in the oven for the remainder of the baking time.  Once browned remove from the oven and allow to cool. Once cooled enjoy them as they are or on a salad. 

This was my lovely salad topped with the chickpeas and some warmed halloumi cheese.

Hope everyone is having a good week so far. The snow has arrived and the feeling of Christmas is in the air. - JD 

Iced Chai Shortbread

Making shortbread is one of my holiday musts. I always enjoy coming up with different flavours to this basic buttery biscuit. That is not to say that this classic recipe can not stand on it's own, rather by adding different ingredients unleashes this biscuit from it's festive roots and may be enjoyed... devoured anytime for any occasion. You may already have a favourite shortbread recipe, and if you do, then add two teaspoons of chai spice baking blend, and finish by fully icing or drizzling the top with an Empire icing.  

Iced Chai Shortbread

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1/2 cup corn starch

1/2 icing sugar

1 cup flour 

2 to 3 teaspoons Chai Spice baking blend

3/4 cup of butter, softened

Pre heat over to 300ºF.

In a large bowl combine the corn starch, icing sugar, flour, and Chai Spice blend.

Blend in the softened butter and blend until soft and smooth. Once the dough has formed, you can chill the dough for an 1 hour if too soft, shape into balls, no larger than a walnut and place on an ungreased, unprepared cookie sheet. Press each ball of dough gently with a lightly floured fork or like I did with a bottom of a smooth glass that has been lightly floured. 

Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges. Transfer to wire racks to cool. When cool drizzle or ice with an Empire icing, Royal icing, or a simple drizzle icing.

Notes: I found that by 15 minutes the shortbread was nicely golden around the edges.     

If you are pressed for time or do not want to be bothered with make icing, you can always by a pre-made decorating icing tube. 

Have a good weekend everyone! - JD 

Food Photo of the Day ~ Ploughman's Sandwich

This is one of my favourite sandwiches as it is fairly simple and so satisfying. I enjoy many ploughmans while in England and when I am feeling the need here, I create this for an afternoon lunch. Multigrain bread with a nice spread of Ploughmans pickle, a hefty bed of spinach and arugula, a good strong English or old cheddar, juicy tomato slices and a nip of Colman's English mustard. I serve it with a sprightly pickled onion and crisp apple slices. So delicious and it keeps me going until dinner. 

Hope everyone is good. I have packed quite a bit into this week so far and it is only Wednesday. - JD