Polenta with Peas, Pancetta and Parmesan...

This is a tough time of year. Here in the UK we have a tiresome combination of cold, dark, blustery and wet. Despite a real passion for cooking the seasonal blues take hold and drain my motivation, especially when it comes to midweek meals.

This recipe from Rachel Ray via the Food Network provides the perfect solution. It’s easy to make, absolutely delicious and ticks all the comfort food boxes. As a one-pot meal it also saves on the washing up – BONUS!

Give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Polenta with Peas, Pancetta and Parmesan

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2-3 slices of pancetta cut as thick as bacon, chopped (I have successfully used the following: thin pancetta, thick smoked back bacon and leftover roast honey-glazed gammon)

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup quick cooking polenta

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 cup frozen peas (thawed)

a couple handfuls of grated Parmesan / Parmigiano-Reggiano (I used Grana Padano)

Directions

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat

Add pancetta and cook until crisp (about 5-minutes) then remove to a plate

Add the chicken stock and milk to the sauce pan and bring to a boil

Whisk polenta into the liquid and continue to whisk for 2-3 minutes to thicken

Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper

Stir through peas to heat through (about 1-2 minutes)

Remove from heat

Stir in cheese and adjust seasoning

Garnish with pancetta

Optional: garnish with a few slivers of the cheese as well (I have also started adding a knob of butter at the same time I add the cheese. For me it adds richness and makes it even creamier)

Enjoy!

Courgette Carbonara: Magical Meal In Minutes...

Usually I am not in a rush to escape the kitchen. For me it’s a peaceful and comforting place to be. There is something so deliciously wonderful about losing yourself in cooking. Whether you’re baking bread, tending to soups or stews, chopping, sautéing or creating an indulgent pudding, it’s a magical state of mind!

Now I have recently become quite a fan of Jamie Oliver’s 30 minute meals. This may seem strange considering I enjoy spending large amounts of time pottering around the kitchen – but his recipes are good and inspiring. Jamie has a great way of creating recipes that are simple but really pack a punch. I have started writing a list of all his recipes that I am eager to try.

As my fridge is still happily stocked with a ton of zucchini (courgette) I decided to try Jamie’s Beautiful Courgette Carbonara. This is a really lovely twist on a traditional spaghetti alla carbonara – one of my favourite pasta dishes of all time. For this I used beautiful smoked streaky bacon from our local butchers which made it a real treat. I also opted for Rigatoni instead of Penne or Spaghetti.

It was sooooo good. I went back for seconds (ok I confess, thirds!) While it didn’t take long to prepare OR cook, I am ok with not having spent ages in the kitchen today. It has given me more time to cuddle up with Nutmeg!

Go on and give this recipe a try. It is delicious!

Click here to see Jamie Oliver’s Beautiful Courgette Carbonara recipe.

Courgette Carbonara

Waiting for a cuddle

Maple Syrup Glazed New Potato Salad With Crispy Pa...

I love watching cooking shows and one of my favourites here in the UK, is Saturday Morning Kitchen hosted by James Martin. They always have a wonderful selection of chefs that demonstrate a broad range of delicious recipes you can easily try at home.

Just the other week I watched as chef Shaun Rankin prepared the most amazing salad of maple syrup glazed new potatoes with crispy pancetta and squid. This was a recipe I knew I had to try. On the show he actually used Jersey Royal New Potatoes. This lovely little potato has a firm texture and slightly nutty- sweet taste. What makes these potatoes so special is that to be a true Jersey Royal New Potato it has to come from the island of Jersey itself.

What really excited me about this recipe (aside from the fact that it involves one of my all time favourite food items: Maple Syrup!) is that it also uses squid; something I love to eat but have never tried to cook at home. I guess the idea of preparing and cooking squid always concerned me. Luckily our local fish monger did the deed as I didn’t think I was up to that particular task– I felt cooking it was enough of a challenge for one day! To my amazement I discovered squid is actually very easy to cook – the only real danger is in over cooking it. It really doesn’t take very long at all.

While the addition of maple syrup may seem odd, trust me when I say it really is the magic ingredient that brings all the beautiful flavours of this dish together. If you want a recipe that is perfect for an elegant Sunday brunch then this salad is for you! My husband and I were really impressed with the results and will absolutely be making this again. I’m glad I watched Saturday Morning Kitchen as it really inspired me to try something new!

Maple Syrup Glazed New Potato Salad with Crispy Pancetta and Squid