Welcome to the Cookery Calendar Challenge for February. If you would like to join the challenge this month, please take a quick look at the Cookery Calendar Challenge page, which will tell you everything you need to know.
My chosen book for January was 'The Oxo Cookbook'. All the recipes use Oxo stock cubes of course (though for the record I always use Knorr Stock Pots).
I have owned several similar recipe books before, based on single products (a certain well known cream cheese comes to mind), and have never been impressed by them. This book, however, is delightful. It is full of easy, tasty family recipes. It is written in a straightforward manner, and the recipes are very reliable and varied.
The first dish I cooked was Lamb Keema Curry. This curry uses minced lamb, and a variety of spices, including cumin, coriander, fresh ginger, fresh green chillies, and garlic. It is quick and easy to make, and is an attractive dish when finished, as frozen peas are added at the end for colour and sweetness. Served with basmati rice and flat breads, this was a success, and will undoubtedly become a regular dish on the repertoire of family meals.
The second dish was Pork and Apple Stew. Again, easy and quick to prepare, and then it simply bubbles on the stove, or in the oven, until it is ready. Diced pork shoulder is tossed in seasoned flour, and fried off until brown. Celery, apples and onions are chopped, fried off and then cider and stock are added. I thickened the sauce slightly, making a little roux, and adding it to the stock and cider. I served it with mashed potatoes and green beans, and again, it went down very well.
This book is a simple, straightforward and reliable. It punches well above its weight, scoring me two double green ticks from the family, and has found a permanent spot on my recipe book shelf (currently nestled alongside Gwyneth Paltrow's 'Notes From My Kitchen Table'; , who knew there could be so much innocent fun in arranging cookery books?).
My selected book for February is 'Scandinavian Comfort Food' by the inimitable Trine Hahnemann. Trinhe's book 'Scandinavian Baking', published in 2014 is one of my favourite baking books, and I have high hopes for 'Scandinavian Comfort Food'.
If you joined me last month, thank you. If you would like to join the challenge this month, this is what to do:
The challenge is simple: the first week of every month, select a cookery book from your shelf, and cook two new recipes from it. The recipes can be for any meal. Cakes and bakes are excluded, but puddings are included. Don't worry about photographs; if you haven't taken a photograph of the dish, post a photograph of the recipe book you used. Similarly, you are welcome to share a recipe if you wish, but there is no pressure to do so. This project is more about the process of reconnecting with your cookery book collection, than about recipe sharing or food photography.At the beginning of the following month, blog about the recipes you have used, and announce your chosen cookery book for the month ahead. This is an ongoing project, it's never too late to get involved, and everyone is very welcome.
I would appreciate a link back to this Cookery Calendar Challenge post in your post. Grab the Cookery Calendar Challenge badge to display on your blog too, if you like (just copy and paste the code on to your dashboard to display). You can also join via Instagram using hashtag #cookerycalendarchallenge (you will find me on Instagram @penny.homemadeheart ).
