Pappardelle with butternut and blue cheese

I took this to the table very sceptically, as initially it really looked bland - I must say here that mine was missing pine nuts and sage (I’ve been subbing out the shopping during lockdown to the boyf’s son, who I suspect does a ‘boy’s look’ for the less obvious ingredients) and it may have looked more promising with them.  I veered off Nigella’s recipe (Nigella’s Kitchen) to make my own pappardelle which was so silky and delicious that when this sauce hit the pasta it was a marriage made in heaven.  So good and very moreish.  I’d definitely make again.

Stewed fruit

Well, Jamie instantly redeemed himself with this beauty of a pudding, every mouthful a delight and one for the repertoire without a doubt.  I would have called it baked plums though - but that’s just me.  This is from Jamie’s 30 minute meals - there are a lot of lovely, simple things in there.

Cauliflower tikka masala

From Jamie’s Veg book.  This should be my night off cooking when the boyf’s son tries something new and he chose this, but then went away for a couple of days, thereby rescinding my day off.  As the cauliflower was not far off going past its best I decided to make this anyway.  It’s not often I say this but Jamie really let me down on the flavours and it was just alright. Not one to make again.

Ravioli two ways

Oh wow. Oh wow! This is a new world and there’s no going back.  Just as I don’t think I’d ever buy ice cream again, I can’t see why I’d need to buy ready made pasta when the real thing is this good!  I freestyled on the flavours - one was roasted butternut squash and one mushroom, they were both delicious.  I also watched a couple of you tube videos on how to actually make the ravioli which was extremely helpful.  A simple creamy tomato sauce to complement them just made this perfect.  A true winner!

Rhubarb crumble ice cream

Last week in the lovely weather an old friend on Facebook said she’d dug our her old copy of Delia’s Summer Collection and asked if anyone else had it and had any tips on something to make.  I pulled out my copy and realised it is yet another cookbook that I’ve bought and not discarded exactly, but just paid it no regard.  Looking at it, I realised that I probably bought it at the time for it’s interesting ice-cream section.  I’ve been given more rhubarb from my friend’s allotment so that has given me the opportunity to amend my error of ignoring this book.  As you’d expect from the title, this is pure deliciousness, the crumble elevating the experience  and also so easy to make.

Fettuccine

Another new lockdown skill learnt!  One of my friends and someone at work had both got themselves pasta machines and I had terrible cooking envy!  So I jumped in and bought the pasta attachments for my KitchenAid, the cost of which I am having to justify as ‘paying for itself if we have pasta twice a week for the next year’!  Anyway, we will be having pasta twice a week for the next year because this was so a deeply, smug inducing, satisfying process and end result that I couldn’t not keep doing it again and again.