Seasonal recipe suggestions

[RosieH]

Yeah, and when I say seasonal, I'm thinking specifically of next Tuesday.

I'm going to be busy all day, so trying to think of things that can be made (or part-made) ahead of time, but my imagination seems to have all but deserted me. Obviously I don't want to be spending hours in the kitchen once the evening's underway...

Any ideas?

[Gidget]

If you have a slow cooker then do a stew? Prep everything the night before and then put in cooker. Or if you don't have one then cook normally beforehand and then freeze. Serve with roasted brussels sprouts, baked potatoes, roasted cauliflower.

[maxxi]

Go Spanish. Make a tortilla the day before to be eaten cold and do a couple of dishes like albondigas (meatballs) or maybe a chorizo and broad bean fabadas at the same time which can be zapped in the microwave next day. Add a fresh green salad and some melon etc for afters with a couple of botts of cold fizz and Jose's your uncle.

[david_carnell]

Steak and salad. Wine. Bed. You can be all done in under an hour! ;-)

[maxxi]

david_carnell Wrote:

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> You can be all done in under an hour! ;-)

Nice work 'Flash'.

[Bellenden Belle]

david_carnell Wrote:

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> Steak and salad. Wine. Bed. You can be all done in

> under an hour! ;-)

Yeah I'm a lucky girl....we had this delivered at 5am to our door this morning:

http://www.eastlondonsteak.co.uk/ourboxes/the-valentines-box.html

[RosieH]

Wowsers, that looks tremendous - and I am seriously envious. Although to be honest, I could see myself enjoying that lot toute seule!

Red meat naturellement, and I have some nice fizz and an excellent bottle of burgundy - but what for pud?

[Huguenot]

Really RosieH, it's Valentine's Day and you need to ask what's for pud? ;-)

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Can't beat a classic coq au vin or beouf bourgingnon (sic). Both could be made on the Sunday and reheated on the Tuesday - serve with a good crusty bread.

Make or buy a choc. sauce and dip grapes and chopped bananas. No effort and can be seriously sexy.

[Huguenot]

Boeuf Bourguignon yeaaaahhhh...

I'm not sure choc sauce and so on have quite the same cachet with men as women.

Most men that I know, metrosexual or otherwise, don't seem to go oooh and aaah over the dessert menu. They don't make jokes about trying to have 2 or 3 desserts, and don't make fake guilty noises about sweet stuff.

If it was a gentleman entertaining a lady then it would seem sensible to pursue a dessert based strategy, but if it's a lady entertaining a man then it may be that you're only indulging yourself ;-)

When I'm dating (infrequently of course) girls always want to crap on about the desserts and it leaves me cold. I can fake it of course, and my limitless generosity means I do, but it's really boring.

I'd prefer a good cognac or armagnac and some fine stinky cheeses it you wanted to make me purr (which I accept you don't), and that might also be a bit soporific. Which may be counterproductive.

[MissDumpling]

Poule au pot with turnips, swede, carrots and shallots. Served with mash and a sauce gribiche - heaven!

Or - to knock out on the night - butternut squash and blue cheese risotto. Quick and yummy.

[david_carnell]

I'm with my man H on the whole chocolate dessert. Pass.

But then cheese and port/brandy/booze would put me to sleep so that's no good either.

Perhaps exchange dessert for breakfast?

[katie1997]

This is bad. I think I've just fallen for Huguenot.

[katie1997]

What about faggots, mash and mushy peas, followed by Viennetta? (I've been (un)reliably informed..)

[Applespider]

Eeesh - I've been single too long. I started reading this assuming you were talking about Shrove Tuesday for interesting pancake recipes which made the first few posts sound very odd...

[david_carnell]

katie1997 Wrote:

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> What about faggots, mash and mushy peas, followed

> by Viennetta? (I've been (un)reliably

> informed..)

Marry me?

[RosieH]

Haha, David, we're starting with breakfast, which is why I think come dinner time there may be call for pudding!

[PeckhamRose]

I might be able to find time to make you some home made chocolate truffles. Ohhhhhhhh yes.

[red devil]

Got to be posh choccy dessert Rosie.

Here's one I made earlier...

[Annette Curtain]

A game bird ?

Pot roasted Pheasant with celery & sage. ( Nigel Slater-The kitchen Diaries )

It's very simple but absolutely delicious. It's lean, rich and not over filling, so you'll be able to get something else inside you later on :-$.

I've tweaked this by adding fresh Chorizo, white carrots, some stock & a good hit of cayenne pepper.

From prep to the table i've got it down to an hour on a good day. Pre prep the veg and chorizo sausage.

It is also quite sexy to eat. Lots of slurping, lip licking and "Oooo that's lovely"

Pheasant in stock at W.Rose ?3.75 & 2-3 chorizo sausages about a ?1

Top tip.

When browning said whole bird, just gently do the breast, then give the legs a good blast in the butter/oil. Finally, lay the bird breast down in the stock-veg-Vermouth. Cover with a cartouche.

It's a one pot meal of seasonal deliciousness.

Dessert.

Take some berries that you preserved before winter ( you know the ones )and make blackberry/raspberry Creme' brulee.

Easy & not too fussy.

NETTE(tu)

[randombloke]

Try this for starters: Starters

And this for afters: Afters

[david_carnell]

M&S - you clearly don't know our Rosie!

Annette's nailed it there btw. Let us know how well it goes, Miss H.

[RosieH]

Annette, that does sound fricking delicious - thanks doll.

And David, I plan on being far too busy to come on here and tell you how it went!

[MrBen]

Annette Curtain Wrote:

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> Pot roasted Pheasant with celery & sage. ( Nigel

> Slater-The kitchen Diaries )

He doesn't come across great on telly but he is my (non-celeb) chef of choice. Understated, cares about it all, no gimmicks and just does great simple recipes. The Kitchen Diaries is a classic and my favourite comfort food out of its hallowed pages is the sausuage, lentil and salami casserole.

[Annette Curtain]

Yeah

We love "Nige"

Lentils are lovely with sausage, but a bit gassy.

I mean imagine some time after supper & you're in your favourite 'hot-yoga' position

"Pffft-ttt-tttahhhh" :-$

No very romantic, eh Mr Ben.

Give the poor gal a chance.