Norfolk based Mum of 3: J, D & PND trying to Keep Calm & Carry On

Tuesday, 26 February 2013

What's For Dinner - Guest Post

Today I have a recipe using my husband's culinary talents - enjoy!  He would welcome some feedback and you never know this could be the start of a new foodie blog!  

Daddy's Big Mushrooms

Serves 2

Ingredients:

Large Flat Mushrooms (1 per person)
Halloumi Cheese (chopped)
1 small clove of garlic
2 rashers bacon
1/2 Ciabatta
1 small onion (Finely sliced)
Tomato Puree
Tomato Ketchup
Thyme
Rosemary
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Black Pepper
1 cooked beetroot (cubed)
Salad leaves

1.) Peel & core the flat mushrooms, place on a baking tray face down & drizzle with olive oil.  Place in a preheated oven at 200 deg C.

2.)  Put 2 rashers of bacon under the grill.  Whilst they are cooking chop 1/4 of a 225g packet of Halloumi cheese into small cubes.

3.) Finely slice the onion & chop 1 small clove of garlic. Keep separate.

4.) When the bacon is cooked to your liking remove from the grill & roughly chop.  Mix 1 tsp tomato puree & 1 tsp of tomato ketchup. 

5.) After the mushrooms have been in the oven for 10 minutes turn over and spread the tomato mixture into the centre of each mushroom. 

6.) Scatter chopped Halloumi, bacon & garlic on top of the mushrooms & top with Rosemary (or Thyme) & black pepper to taste.  Return to oven for another 8-10 minutes until the Halloumi starts to caramelise or goes golden on the edges. 

7.) Wash salad leaves, add finely sliced onion and cubed beetroot. Combine & arrange on plates. 

8.) 5 minutes before taking out the mushrooms, slice ciabatta in half and place in the oven (directly on the shelf).

9.) Remove mushrooms & ciabatta from the oven. Place the mushrooms on top of the ciabatta & drizzle with Balsamic Vinegar.  Drizzle salad with Extra Virgin olive Oil. Season to taste.



Sunday, 24 February 2013

Return of the...

Apologies for the lack of posts since last Summer.  I've found myself in a rather peculiar situation, where for the first time in months I feel like blogging.  I've been much better depression-wise since the start of last Summer so I've been busy throwing myself into my college course.  The awful winter and lack of sunshine has however taken it's toll and I am now feeling depressed again yet wanting to blog. I feel almost cheated by this blip, but I knew it was coming, I felt it creeping up on me.  Writing, keeping a diary or journal has long been considered therapeutic but that is not why I am writing this post today, I just had a sudden compelling urge to write it down. 

So here goes...I shall try to post as much as possible in future.  I also need to get writing on my other blog but I'm finding wordpress harder to work with so I'm going to have a think over the next few days & possibly transfer it to Blogger.

For now I'll leave you with a picture of my new wellies - can't wait to try them out on the allotment!


Sainsbury's £18

I originally saw a pair on the Next website but I came across these in Sainsbury's & they had 25% off.  I do love a bargain!