Can Raw Chorizo Kill You?

Because I might have consumed some tonight.  Why is eating chorizo such a minefield? They should really make it clearer on the packaging...Or perhaps I should be less barbaric and not eat the ingredients before they reach the pan.

On Tuesday evening I ate:

Ikea Style Meatballs

A really lazy and unhealthy dinner consisting of pre-made Swedish meatballs, oven chips and a home-made cream sauce in the style of Ikea.  I did a lot of research to find this recipe; I probably should just buy the packet sauce from Ikea.

On Wednesday:

Toast (3 Marmite, 1 Jam)

My first breakfast at home for ages! I had Ham, Cheese and Tomato Rolls for lunch.

Egyptian Moussaka

Thursday:

A bit of a contradiction as moussaka is traditionally Greek.  The Egyptians have their own version which is basically the same, minus the cinnamon and bechamel.  I prefer the Egyptian version probably because I grew up with it and I'm close to making it taste like my mum's.  Not quite there yet!

Starbucks Strawberry Yoghurt with Seeds

I prefer savoury food for breakfast and fought extremely hard against the urge for a croissant or bacon sandwich.  I shouldn't have bothered as this was just boring old yoghurt with some soggy seeds. 

Ham Roll for lunch. 

Peri-Peri Biltong

I love biltong.  I hear it's better than Beef Jerky but then I'm never allowed to buy Jerky so I wouldn't know...

Beef Goulash

Third time unlucky.  The worst example of this dish by far.  The recipe calls for beef sausages and we actually found some this week.  Wish we hadn't.  They have a really weird texture; soft and smooth like a Richmond Sausage.  I prefer coarse sausages with a meaty texture, implying there might be meat in them.  We also used cubed chorizo (the aforementioned potential death inducer) which had less flavour and again lacked meatiness.  Back to the original amended recipe methinks (I hate people that say methinks).

I just had my second batch of strawberries.  The third batch are waiting in the fridge.  

Dinner with Friends (and Lunch with Annoying Strangers)

After my posh but mouldy breakfast on Saturday:

Chicken Liver Pate

This was from the pub round the corner; a fairly new and welcome addition to the area. The only problem was the loudmouth idiots sitting next to us. I thought once their food came they would shut up but no, they spoke with their mouths full of food. Gross and annoying. They went and were replaced by some new loudmouths; lucky me! I hate people.

Dinner with friends consisted of:

Pea and Mint Soup

Lovely, thick and fresh. Yum.

Meatballs and Couscous

Not at all what I was expecting from my ex-uni housemates as I only remember them making cereal, chicken and eggs (mostly not together). Tasty, tender meatballs.

Pavlova

I don't like meringue due to the way it squeaks on my teeth! Eek! I really enjoyed this though. Crisp but not squeaky on the outside, and soft inside.

Bacon and Egg Sandwich

Breakfast in bed. What's C after?

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel

Rollmop

Ate the above in between naps...

Roast Duck Leg, Potato Dauphinoise and Cabbage

I made the potato from scratch but had to use low fat creme fraiche as that's all we had. Still yummy but not as rich and creamy. I felt less guilty too!

Profiteroles

I might as well have had cream in the Dauphinoise! I really want to try the Piece Montee that Raymond Blanc made the other day but this is more accessible.

This morning:

M&S Egg Sandwich

No time to make anything.

Jerk Salad (no photo)

Fish Stick

Super Noodles

Afternoon snacks.

M&S Dine In Chicken and Potato

First Strawberries of the Year!

Intermittent Blogging

Unfortunately I haven't updated my blog regularly this week which is mainly due to not being able to take pictures whilst at work.  I'll do my best with what I've got from the past few days.

Wednesday evening I had a snack of:

Whole Foods Hummus and Crostini

This hummus is lovely and creamy but I think it needs a lot more garlic.  I am a bit of a garlic fiend and put it in everything but hummus just isn't right without a big garlic hit.  The crostini were very nice though.

Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto with Pancetta

Despite my dislike for rice and my last disappointing attempt at risotto I decided to give it another go.  This was much more successful and with the added pancetta (I'm not good with completely vegetarian meals) it was perfect.  One to make again I think.

Thursday consisted of a hot cross bun for breakfast, another prawn roll for lunch and for dinner:

Leek, Asparagus and Parma Ham Tart with Potato Salad

It's getting slightly warmer so the tarts and salads can show their faces again.  This was all home-made except for the puff pastry but even the top telly chefs tell you not to bother. Life's too short to make puff pastry.

Friday's breakfast was a hot cross bun (original) and lunch was leftover tart.  I had trouble deciding how to eat this in public as normally I'd use a knife and fork but it didn't seem appropriate yesterday.  I ended up using my fingers and looked decidedly like some kind of animal.  Someone described my lunch as posh though, for which I felt slightly embarrassed...

I had a bit of a snack-fest before dinner:

Slice of Parma Ham

Rye Bread with Cheddar Cheese

Still not sure about the Rye Bread.  The above cheese was shared with C.  I'm a beast but I'm not THAT bad!

Homemade Chicken Fajitas

I use lots of cumin in this recipe.  It's my favourite spice.

Fru Passionfruit Cheesecake

Just ok.  Why do we keep getting these?

This morning's breakfast:

Pancetta and Cherry Tomato Roll

Quite a posh breakfast except it was only to use up the pancetta from the other day and the roll was mouldy.  I picked off the mould and ate it anyway.

Off to the pub for lunch and to some friends for dinner.  Hope they don't mind me taking photos!

A Fortnight of Packed Lunches

As I'm working at an outdoor event this fortnight my lunches have to be packed.  The only facility in the area is a very expensive cafe (£8.50 for fish and chips!) so I'm having to make time to get my lunch sorted the night before.  I don't mind doing this every now and then but I hate being forced to do it; I often have boring sandwiches which require minimum effort.  I also can't take leftovers that require heating up so this fortnight is miserable as lunch is the only thing that gets me through the working day.  Packed lunch inspiration for next week will be greatly received.

I'm also having trouble taking photos discreetly at this event so I've missed a few things, but yesterday's lunch was:

Pret Crayfish and Avocado Salad

I ran out of bread on Monday night.

Today's lunch was:

Prawn Cocktail Roll

Awful photo due to the covert operation needed to take the picture.  I also had a packet of Squares and a banana.  I'll try harder tomorrow although I need to finish the pot of prawn cocktail so don't get your hopes up for something exciting.

I've also eaten the following since yesterday:

Cinnamon Grahams

(you've seen them before)

Dairylea Dunker

I'm always starving when I get home from work and snacking is my achilles heel.  I really like the oniony sticks that accompany this.

Broccoli Pasta

I got this recipe from Daily Cook's Challenge.  It was quite simple to make but the recipe required too many anchovies; we put less in than the recipe said and it was still way too fishy.  I thought it was OK but C hated it due to the fishiness (despite eating two of the anchovies straight from the tin beforehand).  I think the lesson learned here is never to cook a recipe from Daily Cook's Challenge; it's got to be the worst food show around (worse than the Hairy Bikers) and I have no clue why I watch it (it's on right now in the background so clearly I never learn).

Be Good To Yourself Chocolate Mousse

I also had a low fat Hot Cross Bun for breakfast today but didn't have an opportunity to photograph it.  There are five left so I'm sure I'll get a photo at a future breakfast.

Saturday to Monday

This blog covers all of the above and reflects my tardiness over the past couple of days.

Saturday lunchtime was spent at Borough Market so I had:

Falafel

The queue for this was massive and it's unlike me to queue for a vegetarian dish but I knew it would be a meatfest in the evening.  The queue was worth it except for the fact I was surrounded by idiots.  The only options on the menu were 1) falafel with salad, 2) falafel with pickles or 3) falafel with salad and pickles.  Not that difficult and yet people were having trouble choosing and felt the need to name the stall when they ordered.  Annoying.  You wouldn't order a 'McDonald's Big Mac, please' would you!

We also bought a piece of goose and garlic pie (nice but very salty) and:

Turkish Olives

Kabanos 

I had a snack of:

Cold Pizza

Dinner was another visit to #Meateasy, this time with two newbies.  I had:

Cheese Burger, Onion Rings (and Buffalo Wings that aren't in the picture)

I love #Meateasy and this was great except the burger bun was cold which massively put off one of our fellow diners.  It hasn't put me off though and we've got our next visit in the diary.  Please don't close in April...

A late night sweet snack of:

Choc Dip

Sunday breakfast was:

Pasturma

Lunch was surrounded in secrecy.  As I mentioned before, Heston Blumenthal has put me off of popcorn at the cinema due to it being ridiculously overpriced.  This time we sneaked in a sandwich and popcorn from Tesco except we got caught by a member of staff in the foyer.  I pointed out there were no signs that said we couldn't take food in and he explained that it is a UK-wide policy for ALL cinemas.  The reason for the rule is because of the mess.  THE MESS?!?! Why would shop bought popcorn make any more mess than their popcorn.  He made us promise not to eat our food in the cinema before he would let us in. We ate our food.  Rebels.

Beef Stew, Mash and Beans

This was meant to be a pie but C didn't fancy it in pie form.

I had a croissant for breakfast.

Tuna Sandwich

The bread was stale.  I left most of the crusts.

Campbell's Cream of Chicken Cup Soup

This was absolutely disgusting. Bland, tasteless and it looks like some kind of sample.

I went to Zumba for the first time tonight so had to have something quick and healthy on my return:

Japanese Noodle Soup

M&S Spring Rolls and Potato Nest Things

Hopefully I'll be good tomorrow and update promptly.

Uninspired

I've been pretty poor at updating over the past couple of days but I've also been pretty poor at eating.  Starting with Thursday's intake:

Curiously Cinnamon Cereal

Erm...Isn't this Cinnamon Grahams?  Did someone rebrand this without telling us or did I miss it?  Normally they make a right song and dance if they change the name of something or give us a vote.  Anyway I don't like the name but they taste exactly like Cinnamon Grahams so I will continue to call them Cinnamon Grahams.  They taste nice.

Cottage Cheese and Smoked Salmon Jacket Potato

Using the leftovers from yesterdays lunch but with a work jacket potato.  Can you believe they struggle to cook these properly?!  Even in one of those jacket potato oven things... I wonder how these people got in to catering.

Snack Bar

Naughty afternoon treat but I NEEDED it.  I bought it with the intention of sharing it with others but I ate two thirds...

Cheese on Crackers with Homemade Chutney (not by me)

I couldn't wait 'til dinner.  I had a bad day.  Other excuses...

Jamie's Cypriot Chicken with Mash and Beans

Taken from his 30 Minute Meals but without all the faff of the salads and pud. This is a great way to do chicken and very quick.

I forgot to take a picture of my toast yesterday morning.

Lemon Chicken Sandwich 

Salt and Vinegar Pret Crisps

I really wanted a burrito yesterday but didn't get to have lunch until 4pm!  Way too late for my liking.  Settled for the above.

Post-Drinks Pizza Hut Pepperoni Pizza, Chicken Wings and Chicken Strips

The chicken was limp, wet and tasteless but the pizza was gorgeous.  Lovely, crispy pepperoni and I always have a stuffed crust-a hollow crust is soulless.  I usually restrict myself to three slices of pizza but as I didn't like the chicken and was starving I had four. Looking forward to the cold bits later.

This morning:

CINNAMON GRAHAMS

I'm going to be much more exciting with my food today as I'm going to Borough Market and #MEATEASY tonight.  This time I'm getting in on some cocktail action. Whoop!