Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting......

We saw Karate Kid today, a pretty great remake in my opinion.   Jaden Smith, Will Smith's son rocked the part and Jackie Chan was just brilliant in the role of Mr Miyagi although the name changed to Mr Han.   There was no 'wax on, wax off' or 'paint a fence' but something similar was portrayed in true Karate Kid style.   The kids enjoyed it, we adults enjoyed it and I'd recommend a viewing during the long and for us wet summer holidays.

Last night I made an almond cake; I'd gotten all the ingredients out to find my scales were broken so I guessed them.   Now, guessing is ok for a stirfry or even a pie but not so much for baked goods.   I wanted some cake though; it seemed easier to just make it than put the ingredients away and really, that's as good as any a reason for pouring and dodding flour, butter and eggs into a bowl, willy-nilly.  

With fingers crossed, I baked the cake on a low heat for 1 hour; it looked good and smelled ok but the jury was still out.   By the time it had cooled, husband had arrived home and we had a slice with a mug of tea....pretty darn tasty, luckily, even if a little sweet.   I think I overdid the sugar somewhat but the ground almond and almond essence made it almost like a bakewell tart...something I'll be cooking soon...and has inspired me for a few more variations...with scales this time.

Almond Cake with Crunchy Topping!

 

Absolutely brilliant for breakfast

There is always curry in my freezer so when all else fails, leftover curry with freshly made flatbread is the order of any day:

 Leftover Curry for dinner yesterday.....

Cumin flatbread brushed with butter and salt

Thick, sweet, cumin flatbread with crushed almonds

Tomorrow is a new shopping week although we have friends coming over on Saturday so we'll split the shopping into two, that for the week ahead and a separate shop for entertaining.   The budget will remain £50 for 7 days worth of meals with an extra day added at the end for excluding Saturday.   Menu to follow.

101 Ways to Cook Vegetables

I sit here typing, unable to move out of this space as a structure has been built up behind me, ceiling high, made up of cushions, tripods, brushes and blankets; it is precarious, to say the least.   To the left of me is four children, eagerly watching Corpse Bride, heads held in hands, stuck out of said structure.  To the right of me is my husband, drilling a hole in something and cutting wires for reasons unknown to me although I'm sure he explained it less than twenty minutes before.  I feel rather trapped.  

This makes me consider the need for emergency supplies; a secret squirrelling of sweet and salty snacks to keep me going for an undetermined level of time, hidden beneath my computer desk.   I'd start with a kettle that plugs into a hard drive surely such a thing has been invented? for that ever needed cup of tea or coffee.   A supply of Reese's Cups would be nice or my own version, tucked into an airtight container.   Some crunchy Kettle crisps would be a must and maybe a bottle of fizzy or two coke, Irn Bru, champagne...... A packet of midget gems or Sports gums could keep me alive here for years 20 minutes and some sweet tomatoes with a little packet of salt to dip them into.

Or I could just crawl over the couch.

Take a blagged bucket of veg, fresh from a farm and ponder their fate:

Way no. 13:

Vegetable Curry

Chop, peel and wash fresh veg and sliced garlic and fry in a little oil with cumin seeds, ground ginger, ground cumin, kalonji seeds, cinnamon stick and curry powder.   Add a little turmeric.   Add tomatoes.   Stir gently and add a little vegetable stock and cook until soft.  Add a little coconut paste and yoghurt and serve with homemade cumin bread......

Cumin Bread with Kalonji Seeds

Mix together equal quantities of wholemeal and white flour with a pinch of salt and a sprinkling of kalonji seeds and toasted cumin seeds.   Add a little oil and mix.   Add some cold water, enough to form a nice ball of dough and knead for five minutes.   Wrap in clingfilm and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.  

Remove from fridge and roll out on some sprinkled flour until roughly the size of the pan you are cooking it in.   Heat a little oil in said pan and when really hot, dump in the dough.   It will brown and start to rise immediately.   Press down all over and after a minute, turn over.   Press down once more.   Brush with a little melted butter and sprinkle with salt.   Eat with curry and a spoonful of yoghurt on the side.   Mmmm.

Way no. 42:

Spinach & Rocket Pesto Pasta with grilled and toasted vegetables

Place quartered onions and tomatoes in a hot oven, drizzled with olive oil, salt and a sprinkling of oregano.   Thinly slice the courgette and griddle or grill after brushing with yet more olive oil.   Sprinkle with salt and pepper when cooked.   Cook pasta and toss with a little pesto...basil pesto works just as well.   Top with veg and chopped, fresh basil and some more black pepper....enjoy.