Author: jamesclay

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Latte please, to go…

Imagine going to Starbucks having already ordered your drink from your iPhone?

Engadget reports on an application for the iPhone which allows you to place an order for a drink so it’s ready when you get there.

Quickorder, as you can probably imagine, would enable iPod touch users to swing by their local Starbucks, order up their favorite drink and avoid a good deal of that always questionable human interaction.

Just demonstrates how useful/useless an application for a mobile device can be.

Photo source.

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DVD Choice – Jamie At Home

I have been really enjoying the Jamie at Home television series on Channel 4 despite the occasional controversial product placement, for me Jamie has been showing real gardening and real home cooking.

I have already recommended the book, so was quite pleased to see that you can also get the DVD of the series as well.

DVD Choice - Jamie At Home

Jamie Oliver goes back to his roots for a mouth-watering new series filmed at his Essex home.

The chef has spent the last five years tackling school dinners and youth unemployment, so it’s a treat to have him back cooking great recipes using ingredients straight from his own garden. From perfect potatoes to superb strawberries, and from tasty tomatoes to fresh pizza toppings, the 12-part series is a straightforward guide to getting the best from mother nature.

With the help of gardener Brian, Jamie has transformed the garden of his Essex house, and discovered a passion for growing his own produce. Now he wants to show just how easy it is to cultivate amazing fruit and vegetables at home. Even if you only have a balcony or back yard, Jamie shows how to grow fantastic veg and fruit and turn it into simple, tasty and delicious food. Packed with dozens of new step-by-step recipes, Jamie at Home is enough to get any cook’s green fingers itching.

You can buy the DVD from Amazon

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Making coleslaw again and other salads.

Easy.

coleslaw

I use cabbage, usually organic pointed cabbage or white cabbage. I shred this, ensuring I cut the core out first.

I then skin an onion, cut it in half and then cut very fine slices, before adding them to the coleslaw mix.

I grate my carrots.

For the dressing, I add a small spoon of wholegrain mustard, a couple of spoons of creme frache, a couple spoons of mayonnaise and a few grinds from my pepper mill.

Using two spoons I mix the lot together.

More black pepper and a splash of olive oil.

Serve.

Done.

I have also made a rice salad, a pasta salad and a green bean salad. Going to serve the salads with some freshly grilled scallops, prawns and langoustine.

Should be nice.

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Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on Magic Dust

According to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall writing in today’s Guardian, he loves Magic Dust.

However before you get all worried and start writing the Daily Mail, Hugh is writing about cinnamon.

Something has to be done about February. This measly month creeps round every year without any sign of remorse for the misery it causes. The only known cure is an exotic holiday in a far-off, sun-kissed land…

But since we’re not allowed those any more, let’s try the next best thing: an exotic holiday in your own kitchen. In search of paradise, or at least a little domestic warmth, I’ll be spending the rest of the month cosying up to a few of our favourite spices. This week, it’s cinnamon.

Read more.

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McGreen

This is a really interesting article in the Guardian from a week back, I meant to blog then but I was away from a computer.

He could have chosen Rainforest Alliance certified freshly ground coffee, with British organic milk, or a free-range egg, delivered by a lorry powered by biodiesel from recycled cooking oil, and a bag of carrot sticks or fresh fruit.

No they’re not talking about Starbucks or Costas, they are talking about that fast food giant McDonalds.

They are reinventing themselves.

Now you won’t catch me there, but it’s tempting if there is better coffee and they have free wifi…

What!

Stop!

They’re getting to you…

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Chicken and Mushrooms with a Cream Sauce

Chicken and Mushrooms with a Cream Sauce

A very simple dish which is probably either best served with rice or gnocchi.

In a large frying pan, fry off some pancetta bacon and onions. Once these are cooked, remove from the pan, turn the heat up and fry off the mushrooms.

Now add a tub of  creme frache and some cooked chicken. Add the bacon and mushrooms. Freshly ground black pepper to season.

Serve.

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Huh!

Confusion

How to confuse people.

The European Commission has come out in favour of a system of food labelling opposed by the UK regulator. The commission is proposing it should be mandatory to have guideline daily amounts on the front of packs – a system backed by some UK supermarkets.

But the UK Food Standards Agency favours a traffic light system, where red means fat or sugar levels are high.

Confused you soon will be, read more.

Photo source.

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Waffling

This morning I decided against toast as we were running out of butter and decided to make some waffles.

Waffle Iron

I use an electric waffle iron as it is very convenient, quick, easy and simple to clean.

As for my batter recipe, well I don’t measure, I know I should, but I just put some flour with a little sugar in a bowl, add an egg and then add enough milk until the batter flows, but is thick enough to coat the back of the fork (or spoon).

Into the waffle iron for a five minutes and serve with maple syrup (the real stuff).

Simple and delicious.

Photo source.

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628 Calories

You know that Grande Mocha you bought from Starbucks this morning.

628 calories.

That’s right a huge chunk of your recommended daily intake of calories.

Oh you had a muffin as well, a skinny one?

Well that’s okay then isn’t it!

Thanks The Register.