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Posts Tagged ‘walnuts’

  1. spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino

    May 16, 2012 by potatoface

    spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino

    spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino

    As it happens, sometimes one goes to Brighton to support Boyfriend and his band, comes back knackered and needs something to eat pronto.

    Well, as usual, Italians come to the rescue (forgeet abowt eet)…Have you ever heard of spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino? It’s the easiest thing you can make in 7 minutes and tastes freaking delicious. Especially after you spend over an hour on the train with sad looking people in suits.

    Anyway, Brighton…I like it. I know it feels like a poor version of San Francisco with their own weirdos, retired hippies, colourful youngsters and music scene booming, but hey. Everyone gets the San Francisco they deserve and I like the one I can afford.

    So I was having a romantic afternoon with Boyfriend walking the streets and the Pier, holding hands, having dinner and wine, etc. Then I had the pleasure of going to Boyfriend’s band’s gig. If you’ve never heard of them, you should check them out this instant or die instantly! They are amazing. I remember the first time listening to them and being shocked that they were actually so good. And I wasn’t even going out with their drummer…yet. The band is called The October Game.

    Anyway, I got distracted here thinking of Boyfriend looking sexy drumming, when there is a pasta dish to be discussed.

    So, you come home, you are hungry, you want something warm and comforting.

     Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino (or basically in plain words easy spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and other cheap bits)

     Ingredients

     spaghetti

    3 table spoons of virgin olive oil

    2-3 cloves of garlic

    few red chilli flakes

    handful of chopped parsley

    handful of chopped walnuts

    grated parmesan

     1. Boil lightly salted water for pasta.

    2. When the water is boiling turn the heat down a bit and start cooking spaghetti.

    3. Warm olive oil in a pan. Add crushed garlic and chilli flakes. Take off the heat when it’s done. Add chopped parsley.

    4. In the meantime chop walnuts and roast them in a dry pan over medium heat. Add them to the olive oil and garlic pan.

    5. Drain pasta, add to olive oil. Sprinkle with nuts and grated parmesan.

    6. Serve with a sigh and red wine. You deserve it.

    Category dinner | Tags: ,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  2. Muffins

    April 3, 2012 by potatoface

    muffins

    muffins

    Do you know what I like about muffins? That they always come right. You don’t need to measure the ingredients (as long as you know what consistency you are looking for), throw anything in it and voila! Muffins are done. I wish life was more like muffins…

    I recently started taking driving lessons. I had never driven in my life before. I couldn’t afford driving lessons before as well. But now I’ve got this job most of the time I really like (is it weird to like your job if it’s not creative?) and in the job I really need to drive.

    I even found my driving instructor through work. He’s really nice and patient. He even gives me discount on my lessons. And because I really appreciate it, I try to bake something for him every time. And as I have to consider his health, most of the time I’m making him healthy muffins.

    His name is Kevin. Sometimes when Boyfriend is seeing me baking muffins again, he’s saying: ‘we need to talk about Kevin’. Not that Kevin is anything like the one in the book, hahaha….I hope.

    If you don’t know what I’m talking about there is a tip – the book was made into a film. Watch it.

    Anyway, I really enjoy driving around (or trying) in a mini. Yes, in a mini….I look so pretty in it.

    banana muffins

    banana muffins

     Muffins

    basic ingredients:

    240 grams of wholemeal flour

    100 grams of oats

    1 teaspoon of baking powder

    pinch of salt

    half a glass of agave syrup (or half a glass of demerara sugar, nut agave syrup is so much better)

    3 eggs

    half a glass of milk

    half a glass of sunflower or grape seed oil (or 60 grams of melted butter if you are decadent and don’t have to worry about your cholesterol)

    1 spoon of cinnamon

    1 spoon of vanilla extract

     These are your basic ingredients. Now, it depends where the mood (or season) is taking you. You can add any fruit you desire:

    1. one banana and 200 grams of raspberries

    2. three ripe bananas and handful of chopped walnuts

    3. 200 grams of blueberries, zest and juice of one lemon

    4. three chopped apples

    5. zest and juice of 2 oranges and handful of chopped pecans

    6. two pears and 7 plums chopped

    Etc, etc, you get the picture.

    raspberry muffins

    raspberry muffins

     1. So basically what you do is mix in a bowl flour, oats, salt and baking powder. Whisk eggs, and add it to the mixture.

    2. Add oil, milk, agave syrup, cinnamon and vanilla extract and mix it, not to vigorously.

    3. In the meantime heat the oven (170 C)

    4. Chop your choice of fruit or nuts. Add them to the mixture and fold it gently especially if you are adding raspberries.

    5. Line a muffin tray with paper muffin cases. Fill each case with the mixture to just below the top.

    6. Bake in the preheated oven till they’re nice and golden on top. Use the skewer to check if they’re baked inside (has to come out clean).

     See, why is everything in life not this easy?

    Category dessert, muffins | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments