Inspiration Chain - The Wagamama Cookbook.

The Inspiration Chain was started by Chris at Mince and Skirlie.  The idea is for you to pass on a copy of your most inspiring cook book to another blogger and they then pass on a copy of their favourite book and so on.  Chris started by passing on a copy of Ripailles by Stephanie Reynaud to Kate from Domestikated who then passed on a copy of The Wagamama Cookbook to me as a lovely early Christmas pressie.

I let Steve choose anything he wanted for tea and he asked for Chilli Beef Ramen.

Recipe - 

Serves 2.

Ingredients - 

150g beansprouts

250g ramen noodles

350g sirloin steak

a little vegetable oil

a little teriyaki sauce for brushing

1 L chicken or vegetable stock

2 tbsp chilli ramen sauce (see below)

4 spring onions, trimmed and sliced

1 red chilli, deseeded and sliced lengthways

1/2 red onion, peeled and sliced thinly

1 lime, quartered

6 sprigs of coriander

Method - 

1. Blanch the beansprouts in a large pan of boiling water for 10 seconds.  Drain reserving the water, and refresh in cold running water.

2. Cook the noodles in the reserved boiling water for 2-3 minutes until just tender.  Drain thoroughly and refresh under cold running water.

3. Heat a griddle or frying pan over a medium heat for 1-2 mins until hot and almost smoking.  Lightly rub the steak with oil, then cook for 2 mins each side until medium rare. Remove from the griddle, brush with teriyaki sauce and keep warm while it rests for 3-4 minutes.  Slice on the diagonal.

4. Divide the noodles between 2 bowls.  Heat the stock, stir in the chilli ramen sauce then ladle over the noodles.  Top with the beef, beansprouts, spring onions, chilli, red onion, 2 lime quarters and the coriander.

To make the chilli ramen sauce - 

Dissolve 2 scant teaspoons of sugar in 2 tbsp malt vinegar in a small pan over gentle heat.  Allow to coll then add 3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce and 5 tbsp nam pla (fish sauce).

Wow - this was such a quick meal to sling together and it was just what we needed - so filling, satisfying and tasty!  Yum.

I can't wait to explore this book some more.  Japanese is probably my favourite food at the moment so I'm really pleased to receive this especially as my first recipe attempt from it seemed to be so simple and easy.  However, when looking through the drawer for some chopsticks to eat this with, I realised we don't own a single pair! What an omission.  We have a beautiful set of handmade sushi plates and saki cups but no chopsticks.  I think I'll wait until a birthday and ask for a nice set.

So, those who have been following my blog will not be surprised at all by the book I am giving away.

Of course, it's Appetite by Nigel Slater.  Here's a link to my post explaining why it is my favourite cook book.  If you want to win a copy of this book all you have to do is leave a comment on this post and be willing to continue the chain by posting on a copy of the cookbook which has most inspired you.  Unfortunately, it will have to be the paperback version now but it's still a lovely book.
I will choose a winner at random from those who comment by folding pieces of paper and having one of my children draw one - no high tech stuff round here!  The deadline for entering is midnight at the end of 31st December 2010. 

Here is the link to The Inspiration Chain so you can follow its progress.  Thanks Chris - fantastic idea!

My First Ever Gingerbread House 2010.

I have never made a gingerbread house and it has never occurred to me to do so.  In fact, I don't think I know anyone who has ever made one.  This year, they started to catch my eye and I found myself looking at them on Google Images.  There are some truly amazing gingerbread house photographs on there - the creativity is so inspiring!  So, I decided I would give it a go.

I ordered a book from Amazon - Gingerbread Houses by Christa Currie as the reviews on Amazon suggested it was good for beginners with all the basics to get started.  It is a good book for all the boring details and a great template to make a basic house from which you can then start to add more intricate details as you get more confident.  The book has no photographs however so is not one for flicking through and dreaming or particularly inspiring.

Have to say, this is a time consuming hobby. I would like to maybe start doing one each year.  I did it all myself this year and surprised the kids with it this morning but next year, I think I'll construct the house and then let them decorate and maybe the year after they'll be able to help me at every stage.  Will make a nice family tradition, I think.  

Sorry for the abundance of photos but I just want to record it for myself.  My photography is not great, I'm afraid so it really does look better in real life.  The LED candles inside are the flickering type so you get a really cosy feel from the house.  I am a science person through and through and have never been arty or creative, so I am actually very proud of this house.

A few days ago, I got an early Christmas present in the post from a friend who had seen on facebook that I was struggling with my gingerbread house.  She sent me this book - Gingerbread Architect by Susan Matheson and Lauren Chattman.  Now this IS an inspiring, coffee-table book with amazing photographs.  Love it.  So, next year, I'm maybe going to go for something slightly less traditional.

Steve bought us a kit gingerbread house for the boys to build so we did that yesterday.  It was really easy and no-fuss and they enjoyed doing it.  However, it only kept them occupied for about 10 minutes and I'm not sure we're really going to want to eat that much of it.  It did let them have a wee practice at it before next year's big project - hee hee.

Breakfast Idea Number 4 - Daring Cooks - Poached Eggs.

I am loving doing my challenges.  The Daring Kitchen is one of the most popular challenges for either cooks or bakers.  And, in fact, Shelley of C Mom Cook has included a couple of pictures of my boys in her latest Food Talk article on getting wee ones to help in the kitchen.

Jenn and Jill have challenged The Daring Cooks to learn to perfect the technique of poaching an egg. They chose Eggs Benedict recipe from Alton Brown, Oeufs en Meurette from Cooking with Wine by Anne Willan, and Homemade Sundried Tomato & Pine Nut Seitan Sausages (poached) courtesy of Trudy of Veggie num num.

I chose to do a version of eggs florentine for this challenge and was really chuffed at how easy it actually is to make a Hollandaise sauce and to poach fairly good looking eggs.  Usually I leave this dish to Steve to make but I guess I have no excuse for doing it myself now.  I LOVE spinach and this makes one of my favourite breakfasts.

Two eggs each for Mummy and Daddy and one each for the kids.  I will definitely be poaching more eggs from now on.  And without using the microwave and the plastic poacher thingy!

Cake Pops 2 - Christmas Trees.

These are my second batch of cake pops from the book by the lovely Bakerella.

I made the pumpkin ones at Halloween and these are in this post.

The Christmas tree ones came out really well.  I was so pleased with them. 

Cheat's Sourdough.

One of my challenges this month has an option to use a mature sourdough starter.

Well, we tried a sourdough starter once before and ended up throwing it out as it was a bit TOO sour or otherwise known as rancid.  And I don't really have time this month to faff about trying something that I'm not terribly confident will work.

So, I went and ordered ready-made sourdough starter from the kitchen of THE Richard Bertinet.

And when you see the price, you'll think I've gone off my rocker.  Yes, I feel guilty about it.

But, today I made the first loaves of bread I have made in years!  And they are a success.  I made wholemeal but I'll maybe do a more traditional white one for my next loaf.  They are soft and chewy with a crispy crust and they have a distinctive sour tang.  Much more tasty than shop-bought with our soup at lunchtime.

Breakfast Idea Number 3 - French Toast, Bacon and Maple Syrup.

One of my favourite weekend breakfasts.

Breakfast Idea Number 2 - Porridge.

It has to be porridge when, to get to work, you have to carry all your stuff up the track wading through thigh deep snow then spend half an hour digging before you can get the car going.  Or, you are at home with the kids and you have to drag the two of them up the hill on their sledge several times.  They just don't understand that Mummy feels old!

Obviously you can do anything you like with porridge.  These are what I have had in the last few days.

Sprinkled with demerara sugar.  The sugar melds together in the moisture to give a lovely caramelised topping.

Chopped apple, sultanas and cinnamon. Mmmm.

Honey and almond.

Banana and chocolate.

Although, my favourite is just plain simple porridge made with honey and salt - the way my Granda used to make it.  Although I very rarely make it properly anymore - a quick blast in the microwave is much more convenient.

Here's another picture of the kids out on the sledge.  Yes the one that the above porridges have fuelled.  Can't wait til they are old enough to pull their poor old mother on the sledge!