Author: jamesclay

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Slow Roasted Pork

Went out for lunch yesterday at my local pub. This is a typical chain type pub with menu to match. Really nothing special, but some interesting stuff on the menu. It use to be so much better, but in the last few years has gone downhill.

On the specials board though this time was Slow Roasted Pork, so I ordered that.

It arrived and I was quite impressed.

Slow Roasted Pork

I had swapped the mashed potatoes for chips, but I think boiled new potatoes would have been a better option.

The pork was tasty, the crackling was crispy and the veg was crunchy.

I really enjoyed it.

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BLT Salad

A salad variation on the classic BLT sandwich.

Take some mixed leaves, I like the peppery flavour of rocket in my salads. Place them on a plate.

Add some sun dried tomatoes, I use SunBlush as they are not as chewy as “proper” sun dried tomatoes.

Dress with some extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar and black pepper.

Top the salad off with some pan fried (until crispy) pancetta bacon.

BLT Salad

Serve with fresh bread.

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Crushed Potatoes

This is a nice accompaniment to many different dishes.

Crushed Potatoes

Take some new potatoes and boil for about fifteen to twenty minutes, drain (and importantly allow to dry).

In a large frying pan, fry off some pancetta and rosemary before adding the potatoes. Cook the potatoes and if required crush and then serve.

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Lemon Chicken

Lemon Chicken

Take four organic chicken thighs (now you could use chicken breast, but personally I feel that the thighs have more flavour). Remove the bone, but leave the skin on.

In a bowl add the boned chicken thighs, the zest and juice of two lemons (before adding the juice of the lemons, cut some slices as a garnish). Add some parsley, rosemary and black pepper. I also added onion and olive oil. You could use some garlic if you like.

Marinade the chicken for about an hour, longer if you like your chicken really lemony.

Heat a griddle pan (or you could use the barbecue) and cook the chicken, skin side down (this should lower the amount of fat as well as getting nice and crispy skin).

Once the skin side is golden brown, turn over and cook the flesh side until cooked.

Serve with salad or vegetables.

Lemon Chicken

I served mine with crushed new potatoes and coleslaw.

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Pork with apple and basil wrapped in pancetta

This is a nice dish for a dinner party and can be prepared quickly and easily.

Take some pork medallions (thick slices of pork tenderloin) and place them on slices of apple – I peeled and cored the apple. Place a basil leaf and then wrap round a slice of pancetta bacon.

Place in a roasting dish and splash with olive oil and season with ground black pepper.

Pork with apple and basil wrapped in pancetta

Roast in the oven for twenty to thirty minutes until cooked. I made one mistake which was to roast them in a pan, when they really needed a grill pan.

Pork with apple and basil wrapped in pancetta

Serve.

Pork with apple and basil wrapped in pancetta

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A different cup of Illy

This morning I had a different cup of Illy. I have been buying the strength 4 tins (red) however yesterday I bought the strength 5 tin (black).

I was well impressed with the coffee I made, delicious.

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Jamie Oliver to go back to school dinners

BBC reports on an interview with Jamie Oliver.

Jamie Oliver says he plans to revisit his school dinners campaign because he is not satisfied with the government’s action on the issue.

The celebrity chef challenged the junk food culture and pressed for healthier school meals during his campaign.

Makes for interesting reading.

One think about healthier school dinners is that it is not just about changing the food, it’s also about educating the children and importantly the parents too.

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Merguez sausages

One of my favourite sausages is the merguez sausage.

This is a North African spicy lamb and beef sausage that is really nice and meaty with a hot and spicy taste.

Merguez sausages

Merguez is made with lamb or beef, and flavoured with a wide range of spices, such as sumac for tartness, and paprika, cayenne, or harissa, a hot chilli paste that gives it a red colour.

I have had Merguez sausages in Cafe Rouge and have had trouble finding them for sale in my local suppliers.

However was pleased to find them in Taste.

Just grilled they were delicious.


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Goat’s Cheese and Bury Black Pudding

Went out for dinner tonight, a spur of the moment kind of thing at a local pub.

For starters I went for what sounded like an interesting dish.

Goat’s Cheese and Bury Black Pudding

It consisted of slices of Bury black pudding topped with goat’s cheese and cranberry sauce.

Overall it was interesting but not really anything special. It lacked flavour and there was way too much salad on the plate.