Food on Friday ~ In the Bleak Midwinter
when water is like a stone, drink hot rum punch
Cool salads and iced tea might be fine during the heat of a Californian summer afternoon, or maybe a glass of chilled chardonnay is your tipple of choice? But in the bleak midwinter’s darkness you are going to want something more calorific, something that will warm the cockles of your heart and put a fire in your belly. Well these recipes may just fit the bill.
It’s a cold winter’s evening and you want something easy, warming, tasty, nutritious….. Tieghan Gerard from Half Baked Harvest has an idea for you; Smoky Potato and Kale Soup. Just look at the photograph.
Smoky Potato and Kale Soup
Next up I can do no better than quote from Holly at Spend with Pennies; ‘Colder weather calls for hearty and healthy soups and stews, just like this satisfying 15 Bean Soup…..
15 Bean Soup
This is still very easy, but we gone upscale a little with this Crab Topped Salmon, from Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats. Allegedly this is The Perfect Holiday Meal ~ who could disagree as a change from all that turkey.
Crab Topped Salmon
I like one pot recipes, and I like Chungah at Damn Delicious, add the two and some chicken and we get One Pot Chicken and Mushroom Orzo. Chungah avers that this is quite possibly the easiest dinner one can ask for…..
One Pot Chicken and Mushroom Orzo
Another chicken dish, this one from Tiffany at Creme de la Crumb; Chicken and Potatoes with Dijon Cream Sauce. This one pot recipe was posted in May this year, but what the hades, I like one pot dishes and I’d make this in the depths of even our North of England winters.
Chicken and Potatoes with Dijon Cream Sauce
After all that, something lighter for a snack to go with some hot cider perhaps. From Popsicle Society; Savoury Cheese and Veggies Muffins. Ribana says these would make a perfect appetiser for your Christmas table. Who could disagree?
Savoury Cheese and Veggies Muffins
Well, I said it at the top of this post, now is the time to enjoy a hot toddy or three, and what could be better than a hot rum punch. This powerful recipe, (rum, cognac, and sherry), is from Delicious magazine. Or you could go for a hot spiced buttered rum….. You can even buy your Woods Navy Rum from Amazon.
Hot Rum Punch
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
from Cookie + kate
Food on Friday ~ Weeknights
after a long day at work cooking is probably the last thing on your mind
Even though I am a gentleman of leisure there are times when I’m rushed for time and don’t feel like cooking anything complicated nor time-consuming for dinner. And for most people, I know there is much more pressure on your time. So this Friday I’m concentrating on easy recipes that are perfect for weeknights.
Even tough you might be tired and under time pressure after a hard day at work, please take the time to enjoy cooking and eating your meals. Be mindful of your food.
First up, from Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest we have these weeknight style Crockpot BBQ Beer Chicken Taquitos ~ with Street Corn Salas and Lime Crema.
Crockpot BBQ Beer Chicken Taquitos
From Holly at Spend with Pennies, how about this Easy Tuna Casserole?
Easy Tuna Casserole
This is really easy from Ali at Gimmie Some Oven; Brown Butter Lemon Pasta. And, I agree with Ali here, buy the very best ingredients you can afford, especially for simple dishes such as this.
Brown Butter Lemon Pasta
For a side dish, or just something healthy on its own, from Cookie + kate we have this Easy Tomato Salad ~ how wonderful if you have tomatoes growing in your own garden.
Easy Tomato Salad
This is not the first time I’ve blogged about weeknight dinners. Back in May 2018 there was another post entitled Weeknight Dinners. Among the recipes I covered there is this Prosciutto and Balsamic Greens Flatbread. From Averie Cooks. Looks delicious.
Prosciutto and Balsamic Greens Flatbread
Our collection this Friday is from Delish magazine; 80 Easiest Weeknight Meals Ever, and I’ve chosen to feature this fabulous looking Spinach Lasagna.
Spinach Lasagna
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
the simplest meal ever
just add cheese
Food on Friday ~ Corn
sex is good, but not as good as fresh sweet corn ~ Garrison Keillor
Corn is a quintessentially American staple. Just like the potato and the tomato, corn or maize, was brought back to Europe from Central America by the Conquistadores. In actuality corn is a Mexican grain, and can be found in many indigenous recipes. While here in England we really only roast, grill, or barbeque the whole cob and serve it with butter. Canned corn is a second choice to canned peas for us.
Maize / Corn is the most grown cereal grain in the world, and the most sprayed with glyphosate, so always buy organic corn if it’s available. Most corn isn’t eaten by humans anyway ~ it’s fed to animals, makes bio-diesel, and that wonderful stuff high-fructose corn syrup.
If you’re growing your own corn, plant it in a block not in rows, and grow it alongside kale, peas, or beans.
Our first corn recipe this week is from Andrea at Cooking with a Wallflower. Her Small Batch Shrimp Boil is tossed with half-cobs and served in a buttery garlic sauce.
Small Batch Shrimp Boil
From Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest we have these great looking Bacon Wrapped Cheddar Corn Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers, looks tasty.
Bacon Wrapped Cheddar Corn Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Cookie + kate bring us these Sweet Corn Salad Wraps; simple, healthy, vegetarian, and tasty. What a great lunch on a warm summer day.
Sweet Corn Salad Wraps
I was looking for a Mexican street recipe and I found Mexican Street Corn Bowls at Damn Delicious. Chungah is good at street food.
Mexican Street Corn Bowls
Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats can always be relied upon to produce something interestingly pretty. This Coffee Crusted Strip Steak with Herbed Corn Salasa ticks all the boxes.
Coffee Crusted Strip Steak with Herbed Corn Salsa
Our collection this week is from epicurious; 79 Corn Recipes to Enjoy All Summer Long. Featured is this utterly simple, no fuss, always welcome, Grilled Corn on the Cob with Salt-and-Pepper Butter. Nothing easier or better. Who says they can’t cook? Anyone can make this.
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Salt-and-Pepper Butter
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
growing corn is highly mechanised
including scary crop-dusters
Food on Friday ~ Arugula
arugula is an American made-up modern word
Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs is an absolute mine of information when it comes to the annual weed we call by a variety of names, including roquette, rocket and arugula. Mind you, anyone with an ambition to be an herbalist could do no better than to begin by following the brilliant website. This cruciferous Mediterranean salad green has a stack of health benefits, and for most men is a much preferred alternative to kale. (My straw poll tells me that Kale does seem to be much more liked by the distaff side of the table.)
Our first new recipe this week is from Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats and it’s especially for those who may have just stopped ‘working from home’ and gone back into the office. So, for breakfast or lunch how about a Gruyere, Fig Jam and Arugula Sandwich?
Gruyere, Fig Jam, and Arugula Sandwich
This looks tasty from Andrea at Cooking with a Wallflower, Sun-Dried Tomato Pistou Pasta with Arugula. This seems to be really easy, using only a few ingredients you may already have in your larder.
Sun-Dried Tomato Pistou Pasta with Arugula
You can’t get anything much easier and tastier than this Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan from Heidi at Foodie Crush. (Actually you get 3 recipes for the price of one here.)
Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan
Our first collection this week is from delish; 15 Ways to Add Arugula to Everything. I found this super looking recipe for Pork Chops with Arugula Pesto and Roasted Cauliflower. (OK some don’t like pork chops, but some love them. And there are another 14 recipes in this collection).
Pork Chops with Arugula Pesto and Roasted Cauliflower
The second collection this week is from Cookie + kate who offer us 29 Epic Salad Recipes. which includes an Arugula, Dried Cherry and Wild Rice Salad with a Zippy Lemon Dressing. How pretty!
Arugula, Dried Cherry, and Wild Rice with a Zippy Lemon Dressing
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
for a change, some kale
blackened shrimp kale caesar salad
Food on Friday ~ Strawberries
a time for healing and letting go of your burden
Tonight’s full moon is often known as the Strawberry Moon, not because it’s strawberry coloured, but because in England and North America this is likely to be when the first fruits of the year are ready to harvest. So this Friday I’ve decided to feature some recipes which include this sweet, red, heart-shaped fruit.
If you can find them, and if you can afford it, then buy organic strawberries, it’s well worth it. Organic strawberries will not only taste better, they will also not be full of chemical pesticide and fertiliser. The humble strawberry is the world’s best at absorbing whatever is in the soil and whatever it may have been sprayed with.
First up this week is this pretty looking dish of strawberry salsa from Cookie + kate. If strawberries seem strange in a salsa to you, then live dangerously……
Strawberry Salsa
This is a really fresh and tasty strawberry arugula salad with balsamic vinaigrette, this dish from Cookie + kate again. That girl must love her strawberries, unless it’s the dog cookie…..
Strawberry Arugula Salad
As we all know, strawberries are a great accompaniment when it comes to the traditional English scone, so from Heather Christo, what about this strawberry rhubarb scone. Looks delicious, and come on, scones are easy to bake.
Strawberry Rhubarb Scones
Another very traditional dish, from In Dianes Kitchen, why not try this rhubarb and strawberry pie. Perfect for a traditional English afternoon tea.
Rhubarb and Strawberry Pie
Our Collection this week is from Good Housekeeping Magazine and their 40+ delicious strawberry recipes. From there, and just to be non-traditional, I’ve chosen to feature this strawberry and almond galette. Now all you need is some champagne to go with it.
Strawberry and Almond Galette
As a drink to celebrate this full moon what about a rose and ginger paloma? This is from Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest. You know that ginger is extremely good for you ~ this paloma should boost your libido no end.
Rose and Ginger Paloma
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
tonight’s full moon is also known as the Rose Moon, because the dog rose is in bloom
Food on Good Friday ~ 2020
this Good Friday share all the bread, wine, and love you have
Back when I was a boy, Good Friday always meant eating fish ~ and for many in England it would mean going down to the local ‘chip shop’ for cod, chips, and mushy peas. And if you’ve no idea what I’m talking about then you’ve missed out on one of the great meals.
In reality, if you’re a Christian, then Good Friday means not eating meat. After all we are still in Lent. So, this week I’ll be concentrating on fish and vegetarian dishes.
If you are a Christian, you will not be able to go to church today, and whatever your religion you will most likely be banned from attending your place of worship. Personally, I will be going down to the sea to pray for all of us.
First up this week, from the Minimalist Baker, how about this 1-pot curried chickpea soup. You can’t get much easier than this, and if you’ve been feeling unwell the garlic and ginger in this dish should do you the world of good. This is both vegetarian and gluten-free. Gluten is bad for us.
One Pot Curried Chickpea Soup
To go along with that curried chickpea soup, what about the rosemary focaccia bread from Ali at Gimme Some Oven? I love the flavour of fresh rosemary.
Rosemary Focaccia Bread
From one of my favourite cooks; Chungah at Damn Delicious let me show you this sheet pan Easter dinner. Now you probably wouldn’t eat this today, but I know a lot of people will be having family over for Easter Sunday lunch / dinner. If you don’t like the pineapple ham, then try garlic butter chicken instead. I love sheet pan cooking, it’s so damn easy.
Sheet Pan Easter Dinner
If you are having people over for lunch or Easter drinks, then what about these Easter deviled eggs as an appetiser. This very easy and colourful recipe is from In Dianes Kitchen.
Easter Deviled Eggs
Heather Christo has a fabulous little collection called Easter brunch decadence. I really like the look of her strawberry rhubarb scones.
Strawberry Rhubarb Scones
Our final collection today is from Cookie + kate; 50+ spring brunch recipes. All of these are vegetarian. I have chosen to feature the roasted cauliflower and faro salad with feta and avocado from this great collection of easy Easter recipes.
Roasted Cauliflower and Faro Salad with Feta and Avocado
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
unlike most of us Marmaduke can get away for the Easter holiday break
Food on Friday ~ Sweet Potato
sweet potatoes are ideal for lazy days
I have a confession in that I’ve never really come to terms with the sweet potato. It’s not something we ever had in England when I was in my formative years. Also, I have no idea if what I’m looking at is a sweet potato, or a yam. What’s the difference anyway? I do know that a yam is not a sweet potato, the two root vegetables are completely different.
At least I can help with the difference between sweet potatoes and yams, courtesy of Holly at Spend with Pennies who has a post called sweet potato vs yam: what is the difference?
Holly also has some cool sweet potato recipes, including this very easy sweet potato casserole. Seems it’s delicious and nutritious. I’m guessing that Holly is very American as she has added pecan nuts to the dish.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Next, from Erin Clarke at Well Plated by Erin we have this old fashioned sweet potato pie. Actually, this looks delicious. Erin says this is much better than a pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving ~ personally I can think of no good reason to eat pumpkin at all.
Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie
Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats has a very cool recipe for twice baked sweet potatoes with pumpkin and sage. I really want to try this ~ so perhaps there is a good reason to eat pumpkin after all.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Pumpkin and Sage
Heidi at Foodie Crush also has a recipe for twice baked sweet potatoes, this time with maple syrup, white cheddar, and brown sugar bacon. I think it would be very cool to serve both of these twice baked sweet potatoes at a party.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup, White Cheddar, and Bacon
This utterly brilliant vegan / vegetarian recipe collection is from Cookie + kate; what to cook this November. The sweet potato recipe is sweet potato & black bean tacos with avocado-pepita dip. These do look good.
Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tacos with Avocado- Pepita Dip
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Food on Friday ~ Healthy Salads
success is the sum of small efforts ~ repeated every single day
To be fit and healthy in body, mind, and spirit, you must set good habits to live by day after day. Don’t fall for the weird diets nor the food fads, just make an effort to eat well and stay active ~ every single day for the rest of your life.
It might be tempting to believe the falsehoods that tell you that if you but buy this product you can lose 5 lbs in a week, or if you follow that diet you can drop two sizes in a month, but those goals are usually doomed to fail.
To be who you truly want to be includes eating a healthy, balanced diet. I hope that these recipes may help you to do just that.
This is interesting from Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest, Greek watermelon feta salad with basil vinaigrette.
Greek Watermelon Feta Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
From Andrea at Cooking with a Wallflower we have another cool salad dish, this is a garlic shrimp avocado salad. Avocado is another of those great superfoods.
Garlic Shrimp Avocado Salad
Amanda at Chez le Rêve Français has an interesting carrot and celeriac remoulade, which in my ignorance I would have called a salad. The remoulade part is actually an easy sauce. You can make this dish in just about 15 minutes, and it would make a great lunch, maybe with some chicken or tuna.
Carrot and Celeriac Remoulade
This best easy Italian green salad comes from Tiffany at Creme de la Crumb. One could also add some chicken, or mozzarella, or chickpeas to this dish to make it more of an entree.
Best Easy Italian Green Salad
This Tartiflette is an utterly fabulous French dish from Petra at Food Eat Love. I believe that the picture speaks for itself.
Tartiflette
Our recipe collection this week is from Cookie + kate who have 45 vegetarian recipes that pack well for lunch. Or you should really check out their total library of pack for lunch recipes. I think that is awesome! I have chosen to feature their roasted cauliflower and farro salad with feta and avocado.
Roasted Cauliflower and Farro Salad with Feta and Avocado
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Food on Friday ~ Spicy
food for the body is not enough ~ there should also be food for the soul
Everyone’s definition of what constitutes spicy food is different. Some people think a dash of black pepper is sufficient, whereas others like the red hot chili peppers, (and that’s a very overrated band).
Personally I prefer a little subtlety in my spice palette.
First up this week we have a dish with good old-fashioned mustard from Diane’s Kitchen. I think you should be able to make this Honey Mustard Chicken in about a half-hour, maybe serve it with a baked potato.
Honey Mustard Chicken
Next we have a vegan recipe from Cookie + kate, and this Spicy Black Bean Soup with a Cuban twist should be in your bowl in about 45 minutes. Obviously this would be great to take to work the following day, and Kate says it freezes well in Mason jars ~ hmmmm, I’d never freeze a glass jar.
Spicy Black Bean Soup
Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats has this brilliant recipe for Ginger Scallion Noodle Bowls ~ ginger is the Queen of Spices, it’s good for just about whatever ails you, as well as providing a great pick-me-up.
Ginger Scallion Noodle Bowls
Half Baked Harvest is a site for some really pretty dishes, and this 30 Minute Vietnamese Beef and Crispy Rice Bowl is no exception. I really like the look of this recipe and it’s on my list to try in the very near future ~ I like 30 minute recipes.
30 Minute Vietnamese Beef and Crispy Rice Bowl
Next to last for this week, from Amanda at Chez le Rêve Français, there’s this Chilli and Ginger Glazed Salmon ~ what’s not to like about this dish?
Chilli and Ginger Glazed Salmon
This week’s collection is from Olive Magazine, with their 25 Best Ever Hot and Spicy Recipes. I’ve chosen to feature this Sri Lankan Veggie Curry partly because it’s vegetarian, but mostly because I love Sri Lankan food ~ it’s far, far better than Thai.
Sri Lankan Veggie Curry
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jack collier
jackcollier@talktalk.net
Chinese 5 Spice Beef and Ginger Stir Fry
from Vacation Food
Food on Friday ~ Mother’s Day
All that I am I owe to my mother…….
This Sunday is Mother’s Day in the USA, so I guess today’s recipes have a slightly ‘Mothering Sunday feel’ about them ~ maybe.
Mother’s Day in America goes back to the 19th Century, and it’s always had a commercial angle to it ~ the early Mother’s Days n the USA were backed by Wannemaker’s Retail stores. And here I thought Mother’s Day was the invention of Hallmark.
Bur remember, these recipes and recipe collections aren’t just for Mother’s Day, they’re great for any day of the year.
I can cook, but for some reason I can’t bake, (I blame my single-guy oven). But it might be nice to bake a cake for Mother’s Day, and Averie Sunshine has this recipe for the best pineapple upside down cake. OK, it may take you an hour and a half to make, but doesn’t it look worth it!
The Best Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Most mothers like to use up leftovers, so here’s a Korean based recipe from Andrea at Cooking with a Wallflower to use up leftover rice; mushroom kimchi fried rice. This great dish should take you only about 30 minutes to make.
Mushroom Kimchi Fried Rice
Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest has a very special, very easy, and mess free recipe for parchment baked lemon salmon and potatoes with dill yogurt, that would be great for a busy mother, or a busy anyone if it comes right down to it. This great looking dish will be ready in just 30 minutes.
Parchment Baked Lemon Salmon and Potatoes with Dill Yogurt
From Elise Bauer at Simply Recipes we have 10 best recipes for Mother’s Day brunch. From this collection I especially like the look of this smoked salmon potato leek torta. Fabulous!
Smoked Salmon Potato Leek Torta
Chungah Rhee at Damn Delicious has 10 quick and easy baked chicken recipes for us ~ whatever you’re doing this Mother’s Day, you don’t want to be spending all of it in the kitchen. From this collection I particularly like the look of this oven fried chicken with honey mustard glaze.
Oven Fried Chicken with Honey Mustard Glaze
And now, celebrating whole foods, Cookie + kate have a bumper collection of 25 cheerful Mother’s Day recipes (plus last minute gifts), Nifty! There are so many fabulous dishes in this collection, but I especially like the spinach pasta with roasted broccoli & bell pepper. This is vegetarian, and very easily vegan and gluten free. Cool!
Spinach Pasta with Roasted Broccoli & Bell Pepper
And finally for this week’s food on Friday, and with Mother’s Day coming up, let’s look at this collection of cocktails made from ‘Mother’s Ruin’ ~ gin. (If you don’t call gin mother’s ruin in your country ~ well maybe it’s a very English expression). So from Olive Magazine we have the best gin cocktail recipes. I have a friend who doesn’t necessarily like gin, but she may like this very pretty gentian white lady cocktail ~ the pansies look so cool.
Gentian White Lady Cocktail
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
this picture is specially chosen by my teddy bear, Marmaduke, for his mommy this Mother’s Day
JackCollier7 
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