Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

We have a house rule - we must always have the ingredients for spaghetti alla puttanesca in the flat, at all times. Due to the fact that the only fresh ingredients you really need for this recipe are cherry tomatoes and basil, it makes it a pretty easy feat (if I can keep my basil plant alive that is). 

Asian Salmon with Rice Noodle Stir Fry

Asian cuisine – you can’t escape it. And who would want to? Not only is London getting more and more up to speed on some of the most wonderful cuisines from across the world (E.g. Bao, Pho, Bibimbap to name a few in London) but home cooks are now attempting recipes a little further outside their comfort box – because we can! Not only do we now have access to the brains of millions of chefs and home cooks across our dear world wide web, but we have access to the right ingredients too (without having to tackle tourists for them in China Town), thanks to some wonderful Asian supermarkets popping up around town.

Fennel & Prawn salad with crispy Prosciutto

Imagine surf and turf but in its lightest and tangiest form. I'm not talking a mountain of steak and lobster here, I'm referring to a colourful, crispy, lemony collaboration between prosciutto and king prawns. In 15 minutes. I've mentioned this before, but it's my ongoing desire to make healthy food taste indulgent (and look jazzy). If you feel like you're eating a plate of rabbit food, it's not exactly going to fill you up and leave you satisfied is it?

Pasta with spicy cauliflower crumbs & purple sprouting broccoli

I've got into this habit of adding crispy sourdough crumbs to my pasta. Especially when mixed with spices such as chili and garlic, it adds a beautiful flavour as well as a magnificent crunch. I realise, however, that this is adding delicious carb to delicious carb and it would be in my waitsline's favour to look at other options once in a while. Hence the cauliflower. 

Thai Basil Chicken {Pad kra pao gai / ผัดกระเพราไก่}

Pad kra pao gai - ผัดกระเพราไก่

If you've had the pleasure of visiting Thailand, you'll know that one of the most wonderful things about it is the food. This particular dish, alongside pad see ew (to be continued...), is an absolute favourite. Alongside spaghetti oilo e aglio and this roasted salmon, thai basil chicken is a staple in our household and gets made at least once a fortnight.

Cottage style pea & bacon soup

I had the pleasure of staying in a gorgeous cottage in Lustleigh, Devon this weekend and spent the majority of the time warming my feet by a roaring fire. 

Gua bao with spicy fried chicken

Gua Bao, often known quite ambiguously as just 'Bao' - which would be like saying 'bread' or 'wrap' - is a Taiwanese street food made to melt hearts and stomachs alike. They are little cloud-like white buns in which you'll find a varity of magnificently cooked meat (crispy duck, braised pork belly, fried chicken...) accompanied by tangy, crispy, saucy and spicy flavours. My perfect Gua Bao comprises of magnificent meat, something pickled, something spicy and a (very important) crunch.

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Pasta with garlic and olive oil, a gorgeous traditional pasta dish from Napoli. Also the pasta dish that Jon Favreau uses to seduce Scarlett Johannson in 'Chef'. If you haven't seen the film, you must. It is happy, food-filled, music filled and just lovely in all ways.

Roasted salmon, proscuitto & vegetables with caper and basil mayonnaise

I'm going to be straightforward about this one. If you're looking for something delicious, healthy, easy, crispy, flavorful, darn even gluten free - then you have your winner here. 

This is a one tray dish. And you cook it for 10 minutes. 

Crispy Asian chicken thighs

This is my Mum's recipe, so you know it's going to be good. Alongside the lovely English classics such as cottage pies and Sunday roasts, my wonderful Ma has a magnificent repertoire of Asian recipes. 

Fattoush with feta

You've probably only had fattoush at Lebanese restaurants as part of an elaborate mezze spread (or perhaps that's just me who's been missing out) but I'd like to inform you that it makes a wonderful main. With some feta thrown in. And it's easy to make.

Crispy Aromatic Duck

If I hadn't named this blog Notes of Bacon, I would have definitely gone for 'Notes of Crispy Duck'. By that I mean that crispy aromatic duck, the westernised sister of the Peking duck, is, for me, up there with bacon. Alongside all other crispy meat.

Nasi Goreng

Brainstorming what lunch should be with a Dutch man and three Brits who have spent a large chunk of their lives in the Far East is going to land you somewhere delicious, inevitably. I should really have seen nasi goreng coming. 

BBQ Pork Bánh Mì

I have an obsession with bánh mì. But tasting the combination of overnight marinated pork, tangy pickles, pâté and a crusty, light baguette - who wouldn't develop an obsession?

Pasta with Sicilian pesto and sundried tomato & pine nut salad

I BOUGHT A MAGIMIX! There, it's out. I'm so excited. All the whizzing.... pureeing... chopping... grating.... An endless world I am yet to explore. It has pride of place and is now taking up the majority of my very small kitchen, so I think we're going to have to get to know each other fairly quickly. 

Summer Puff Pastry Tarts

Parma ham, roasted tomato and baby leaves tart with mascarpone and capers

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Watching the fantastic men's singles Wimbledon final I wanted to eat something that didn't require too much cooking to tear me away from the telly. Something light, Summery and delicious enough for the likes of Wimbledon folk. Having already gorged myself on strawberries and whipped cream the previous weekend (I got over-excited), I went for puff pastry tarts. Obviously.

Chargrilled asparagus, courgette & halloumi with roasted tomatoes and basil oil

You probably think I have an obsession by now (and you might be right) but here is another of Ottolenghi’s creations. I ate this salad recently at an event and have been dreaming about it ever since. After much googling I discovered that it was not a chef original (as I was deceptively told) but an Ottolenghi. Of course it was.

PIZZA: Two ways (featuring caramelised fennel, crispy prosciutto and roasted red peppers...)

Caramelised fennel, mozzarella, black olives & crispy prosciutto pizza

I had a bad experience with yeast. It scarred me. As touched upon briefly on my date with a bacon scone, I created a monster. Unfortunately it had been whilst using a recipe with a significant amount of chia seeds, meaning I had pretty much rolled up a wad of cash, dunked it in some fizzy yeast and baked it. Moral of the story - don't experiment with large quantities of expensive ingredients. Another moral - research a bit more about yeast and DO NOT WING IT.

Spicy Chorizo and Roasted Tomato Orecchiette

Having recently returned from Valencia, I am already having desparate withdrawal symptoms from the food. The jamón ibérico, the huge, juicy tomatoes, the crispy fried calamari.... We did, however, manage to bring some wonderful bits back with us, including some spicy chorizo, two huge Valencian tomatoes and that lovely ceramic bowl you see before you. 

Beetroot, Fennel, Mint & Feta Salad

This is the type of salad that yells "SPRING IS HERE!" right in your face. In a good way. Provided you don't get overexcited and mix it all too vigorously and get beetroot juice everywhere, it is a beautiful, tasty and healthy salad.