Soft Noodles with Beansprouts

Sometimes I just cannot be bothered to cook. No energy, no desire, no inspiration, no enthusiasm. Problem is, this usually comes on without much warning, so I won't have even planned ahead and thought to take one of our frozen meals out to thaw. This is an issue.

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Fast Fix Fried Rice

Some days I'm just running on empty. Do you ever feel like that? Like you're getting things done, but your sparkle has gone and you're just plodding along? I hope it's not just me.

On those days I tend to want comfort food to cheer me up... but I want it to be exciting comfort food that might help me get some of my sparkle back... and I don't want it to take too long... and because I'm lacking in energy it needs to be easy as pie (oooh, pie! I love pie...)... and I don't want to have to go to the shop to buy anything for it. Not too much to ask, is it?

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Homemade Hummus

Confession time... It's date night, and I'm not meant to be blogging. I'm not actually meant to be within two feet of technology, but I just really wanted to tell you about this Hummus recipe so I'll make this as brief as I can (possibly not that brief, knowing me!).

One of our favourite meals is a Mediterranean feast... Eh, Greek feast.... Um... Well, it's really just a feast, but the name is tailored depending on what we have in the cupboards! No matter what though, this hummus usually plays a starring role. I love being able to tailor the flavour to exactly our tastes, and it's always nice to have a generous serving in the centre of the table to help yourself to with wedges of fresh flatbread, pitta or even just a crusty loaf. The kind of serving I like to present would be pretty expensive if you went with shop bought hummus!

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Puy Lentil, Pomegranate and Feta Salad

This is another one of my "salads". The kind of salad with a distinct lack of anything leafy... the kind of salad that I will eat out of choice rather than an attempt to be a 'grown up'. The kind of salad that Mr E will actually request!

I can't decide if my favourite thing about this salad is the jewel-like pomegranate seeds that burst in your mouth, the flavourful lentils, the crumbly, salty feta, the zingy dressing... or just the lack of leaves. Whatever it is, this is one of my favourite salads and I'm hoping that soon it will be one of yours too!

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Baked Tilapia with Pesto Crust and Prosciutto Green Bean Bundles

You know that big sister of mine that I am oh so crazy about? The one we are going on holiday with (her husband too) very very soon?! OK, you didn't need to know that part, but I am so excited I just had to mention it! Anyway, I'm pretty sure she's my most faithful reader, and so in honour of that fact I decided to post a recipe that she would just love.

Oh, and another small reason for posting this recipe for her today.... it's her birthday! Happy birthday, little big sis, I love you so very much!

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Poppy Seed Dinner Rolls

So were you impressed with Becky's baking skills in the last post? You were? Then be even more impressed that, on her very first attempt at making bread, not only did Becky turn out an amazing Pesto Bread Wreath, she also made these wonderful poppy seed dinner rolls! I have to confess, we were quite seriously proud of ourselves at turning out two very different recipes in one afternoon!

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Pesto Bread Wreath and a Special Guest

 

I love baking bread. I love the process, the smell... and especially the outcome. But you know what I love even more? Baking bread with friends! Last weekend, my precious friend Becky came over to hang out for a while, and although she is a seriously good baker (I mean seriously good) she had never made bread before so asked if we could give it a go. At this point I should probably mention that Becky is 14 (she's a member of our youth group) and the photo above is the outcome of her first ever attempt at making bread! I told you she was seriously good- talk about natural talent!

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Cheesy Pinwheels

I love cheese. I love pastry. I love soup. Sometimes I want something other than plain old bread to go with soup - mostly so that it looks like I've really made an effort with dinner, when really it was no effort at all! This recipe is my answer to all of these things in one neat, swirly little package - and, even though it means I'll need to come up with a new trick to make it look like I've slaved over dinner, I wanted to share it with you.

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Rosemary-Roasted Veg

I feel like I owe you an explanation, perhaps even an apology, for the recent radio silence. My last post was a whole 5 days ago! You see, Mr Ellwood and I spent last week camping with 7000 teenagers (thankfully only responsible for 7 of them) at the most amazing conference for youth groups. Knowing this was on the horizon, and knowing that blogging is not the easiest thing to do from a tent in a field, I wrote last week's posts in advance and scheduled them for specific times/ days. What I failed to predict, however, was just how unbelievably tired I would be when we returned from our 7 day adventure, and didn't think to schedule one for the beginning of this week!

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Mediterranean Couscous Salad

So I owe you a couscous salad. A recipe for one, that is, not an actual couscous salad (although you'd be very welcome, just give me a call so I know you're coming)! I love this salad. Not just because it's yummy, but because it is one of an elite group of salads that Mr E not only finds acceptable but actually requests! It's a keeper.

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Potato 'Salad'

Question: why is potato salad called a salad? Isn't that false advertising? I know not all salads are leafy and green (believe me, I'm familiar with non leafy salads... given my aversion to leafy things it's the only way I eat salad!), but really isn't that just stretching the truth a little too far? I know there are healthier versions and tweaks you can make to nudge it back in the direction of health food, but as far as I'm concerned the things you might tweak are what make potato salad so glorious in the first place- why mess with a good thing?

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Red Lobster Biscuits

I seem to have this character flaw trait that means that every once in a while I'll stumble across something, and for a short time it becomes close to an obsession. It can happen with a TV series (Prison Break, Gilmore Girls, West Wing ... actually, I don't think I'll ever get over the West Wing), a song (I daren't give you an insight into my questionable taste in music), a favourite place (Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, Wagamamas restaurants) or food (buffalo wings, beetroot coleslaw, turkey burgers). It happens all the time with recipes. I have a very understanding husband.

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Creamy Baked Leeks with Parmesan Crust

I love leeks. Really truly love them- their mild onion flavour, their versatility, their colour, everything about them really! But, for some reason, we just don't eat them all that often. Except in soups- they're my go to base vegetable for most soups (except the amaaaaazing Chickpea and Bacon Soup I'm going to tell you about very soon). Kind of like a backing singer that you can always rely on never to hit a bum note.

All that's about to change, I've decided it's the leek's time to shine! Starting with this truly scrummy dish:

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Lemony Snicket

My sister is one of my favourite people on this planet. Quite frankly, my husband pretty much only just pips her to the post... but even then there are some days... (kidding honey, promise!)

So why the odd title to this post? Well, she has been on my mind today (as she is most days), so I decided to go ahead and dedicate this post to her.

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