A look back in time: thebigfatnoodle spring clean
Nothing beats a good spring cleaning It was long overdue but it really needed to be done, and what better way to make sure I stayed off my broken foot then to finally finish the blog clean up I started a few weeks ago. It’s taken me almost a month to do so, not just … Read more
Friday is for fish: Steamed fish (hake) Chinese-style
A fish dish fit for a king I haven’t done a Friday Is For Fish recipe in a really long time, so it’s really disappointing for me when the photos I take don’t come out as nice as I’d like them to. This week, I made some steamed fish, Chinese-style, which I was really looking … Read more
Every day should be pancake day
Be careful what you wish for… When I was growing up, I always wanted to break a limb, ideally my arm. It had nothing to do with wanting broken bones and everything to do with wearing a cast. Kids in the neighbourhood who did break bones and wear casts lorded it over every other able-bodied … Read more
Easy 15 minute lunch for one: crispy sage and pine nut pasta
I am alone at home today. My husband has gone to visit his family, providing me with the rare treat of having the house to myself to veg out in as I see fit. I am using this time to clean up this blog and am creating new tabs so it’s easier for people to … Read more
A 30-minute summery take on pork and beans – grilled lemon and thyme pork chops with a cider bean casserole
Cooking by weather Unfortunately, the ever-changing climate we are experiencing in Europe has turned summer topsy-turvy. I know people already associate the UK with rain and bad weather but what we are going through this summer really is bordering on the ridiculous. Parts of the country are flooded again while in the South-east where I … Read more
Time for a change – my big 4-0
Hi everyone I have been offline for some weeks now and I’m sorry if I haven’t responded to your comments or been to visit your blogs. It’s been a turbulent April/May which has sadly included a family funeral. My husband’s Nanny passed away after a few tough months of poor health. She is in a … Read more
A four cheese cauliflower cheese
Sticking to the tried and tested Heston Blumenthal made a TV programme all about cheese recently and one of the dishes he ‘re’-made was the humble but utterly delicious cauliflower cheese. I went online to look at his recipe but in all honesty, I don’t have 5 hours spare to make all the component parts … Read more
My oriental brunch: chicken and egg congee (my way)
It’ll be lonely meals for one for the next 10 days for me! As I post this on Sunday morning, my husband will be in France, driving off to the mountains for a week of skiing with friends. I will miss him and also miss seeing my friends but I opted not to go because … Read more
Meals for many: Lemongrass and curry-flavoured chicken on roasted fennel, onions, shallots and garlic
Friend-friendly suppers If there’s one thing I love more than spending my weekends cooking, it’s spending my weekends cooking for friends. I get an obscene, almost indecent, amount of pleasure from it, and nothing pleases me more than having my closest friends around the table laughing, talking, drinking and eating together. Naturally, I use them … Read more
A Spanish-influenced Three Pork Casserole with Chorizo and Puy Lentils
Cooking with chorizo I’m still in a Spanish frame of mind after my recent trips to Spain. I was there two weeks ago but what some of you might not know is that I actually had to go back again last week for a couple of days. This last trip was for a different work … Read more
