What are you cooking now?

[Beef Oven!]

Bagna Cauda (although my friends and family call it Bagna Calda).

[Beef Oven!]

I may be getting obsessional, but practice makes perfect ... I had to stay in this morning waiting for a parcel to arrive and had nothing much to eat, didn't want to go out to shop, nor visit one of the abundant local eateries. But I am an adventurous and fearless cook: my mind turned to ye olde farinata once more - but it didn't seem very interesting as lunch on its own so I wilted a large helping of spinach, chopped it up and bunged it in the chickpea batter. The farinata tasted better than I'd expected - really spinachy (no! really?). Would make a good vegan pancake, though I thought a bit of grated parmesan might have made it even better.

I have not googled 'spinach farinata' for fear of discovering that it's a common dish, and not one that I invented myself this morning.

The parcel came after lunch :-|

Do you have spinach to hand? What spinach do you use?

I often use frozen spinach, and I find that it's alright.

My preference is for fresh, but it ends up going off if I end up eating out, or cooking something that spinach doesn't compliment.

[french frank]

Do you have spinach to hand? What spinach do you use?

I often use frozen spinach, and I find that it's alright.

My preference is for fresh, but it ends up going off if I end up eating out, or cooking something that spinach doesn't compliment.

I should think spinach would be, like peas, quite all right frozen (in fact, I suppose most vegetables are).

But I will go and inspect the (sealed) bag in which the spinach was bought ... one moment, please:

It's "G's Naturally Fresh" Family Farming since 1952 - G's, Barway, Ely, Cambridgeshire (that Ely) CB7 5TZ

Actually, oh, dear, how embarrassing . I don't think I wish to say any more about this "spinach"

Oh, yes, I do - I now have further information but this is getting slightly tedious

[Beef Oven!]

I should think spinach would be, like peas, quite all right frozen (in fact, I suppose most vegetables are).

But I will go and inspect the (sealed) bag in which the spinach was bought ... one moment, please:

It's "G's Naturally Fresh" Family Farming since 1952 - G's, Barway, Ely, Cambridgeshire (that Ely) CB7 5TZ

Actually, oh, dear, how embarrassing . I don't think I wish to say any more about this "spinach"

You can tell a lot about a person, from their spinach.

Nice one Cyril.

Edit: Maybe it was Clement?

[french frank]

No, what is was was (heh, heh) when I looked at the front of the bag it didn't say 'Baby spinach' which is what I thought I'd picked up but Baby leaves.Then it decribed them as 'salad leaves' and that they were good in salads and sandwiches. So I was thinking of those things called Lamb's Ears or something. Then, then ... I looked on the back of the bag and it said 'BABY SPINACH' and it was grown in Spain. Also, it was packed unwashed to preserve freshness and avoid bruising, so please wash before using (I think that meant wash the spinach).

I don't know if that helps at all? Please don't say, Too much information

[Beef Oven!]

No, what is was was (heh, heh) when I looked at the front of the bag it didn't say 'Baby spinach' which is what I thought I'd picked up but Baby leaves.Then it decribed them as 'salad leaves' and that they were good in salads and sandwiches. So I was thinking of those things called Lamb's Ears or something. Then, then ... I looked on the back of the bag and it said 'BABY SPINACH' and it was grown in Spain. Also, it was packed unwashed to preserve freshness and avoid bruising, so please wash before using (I think that meant wash the spinach).

I don't know if that helps at all? Please don't say, Too much information

Very helpful, and the detail is what gives it meaning.

[teamsaint]

Haddock and Chive Hash.

Drop of scotch to sooth my throat.

Oscar Peterson. Night Train.

[teamsaint]

must be all works Xmas lunches at present.

Currently:
Tortilla espagnosa(sp?) .

took me donkeys years to find a recipe or method that worked to my satisfaction.

Green salad , and some Villa- Lobos Bachianas Brasilairas to go with.
Yum.

These ARE a few of my favourite things...along with Friday night !!

[Anna]

It's probably too early to ask this as nobody will have eaten their Christmas meal yet but are you cooking/do you expect to be served something out of the ordinary this year?
I ask because, doing my usual round of telephone calls to family members, I was told by one of the Northern contingent that the turkey was in the oven and she'd just made the stuffing. What sort of stuffing I naturally asked. She replied, "Paxo sage & onion mixed with corned beef" It seems she improvised one year to make the trimmings go further and her Pa-in-Law said "By 'eck Lass, wor stuffing is reet gradely, best int'world" (or words to that effect) and she's made it ever since! I just can't imagine it, but that's probably because I cannot stand the stuff.

[Nick Armstrong]

It seems she improvised one year to make the trimmings go further and her Pa-in-Law said "By 'eck Lass, wor stuffing is reet gradely, best int'world" (or words to that effect) and she's made it ever since!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

"By 'eck Lass, wor stuffing is reet gradely, best int'world" (or words to that effect)

Yes - it took me some time to get used to the Cheltenham accent, too!

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes - it took me some time to get used to the Cheltenham accent, too!

[french frank]

Not cooking anything atm. But it was: spinach, chickpea and porcini soup, festive nutroast with chestnuts and cranberry sauce, sprouts and parsnips, bleu d'Auvergne with fresh pear and walnuts, mince pie, chocolate truffles.

[teamsaint]

Regular traditional xmas lunch for 8
Confirms my belief thay such meals were invented by those with the resources to employ staff.

nice though.

Might plough into some xmas booze and a couple of Xmas Cds if I can get an hour off later.....

[Flosshilde]

It's probably too early to ask this as nobody will have eaten their Christmas meal yet but are you cooking/do you expect to be served something out of the ordinary this year?

Not so much out of the ordinary as the wrong way round. Last night we had braised veal, sprouts & roast potatoes. Today, after going to Dundee to see the other half's mother in hospital we've not long arrived home & are having sea bream baked on a bed of sliced potato & onion, & covered with a parsley, breadcrumb & olive oil mix.