If you heat up the oil in a pan and pour it on the spring onions, chilli, minced garlic etc, it does the work for you for any kind of noodles or dumplings etc. Love this list though, might print it out for my 15 year old who seems stuck on the pitta and homous snack selection!
Thanks so much for these ideas. As others have said there is something special about the cheese/tomato soup combo - years ago a friend introduced me to the little trick of grating some cheese in to the soup bowl before you pour in the hot soup, then stick your spoon in stir around and pull up delicious cheesy tomatoey stringy bits!
Just finished Ripley. Thanks for the cooking/snack recommendations....although I must confess, I sat and absent-mindedly ate the remains of the last easter egg in the house, during the final minutes of the above. Ripley was exquisite - the egg....not so much!
Perfect timing. Just out of hospital where I’ve been for 4 days with my small daughter (who is on the mend thank god). I think it’s aglio e olio and Ripley on the sofa. Thank you!
Fantastically useful, thank you and I'll be printing these recipes off. SO true that occasionally it is Just Not On to get complicated in the kitchen. I was absolutely wiped out yesterday, after a frantically busy and emotionally charged week. And whilst I considered Heinz tomato soup with toast - my go-too comfort food (I add grated Gruyere) I was acutely aware that protein and greens were what my body was craving, so made risotto with shredded cold roast chicken, spinach and leeks, using the gravy left over from the chicken This seemed to speed up the softening of the arborio rice. And I feel tons better today.
Risotto sounds delicious, sorry for your week. So true about protein. Whenever I give full rein to my passion for carbs and basically ignore protein, I start feeling weird and slightly unwell.
My quick gnocci is with frozen spinach. Bung in a frying pan with a knob if butter and some garlic if you have it - I use the frozen stuff which is brilliant.
By the time the gnocci has cooked, the spinach with be done. Add some mascarpone/cream if you have it before adding the cooked gnocci. Stir then grate some cheese - gruyere is best and pop under the grill for a minute.
Just wonderful - was shattered last night and the recipes would have been just perfect. Thank you - makes me feel human to know others need these recipes sometimes too!!!!
We decided we want to live in Narbonne, never having been there (but saw it on the telly). This new information does not help at all.
And absolutely agree re allspice. I love it. Many years ago, an early indicator that a significant friendship was on the way out was when they said ‘There was too much cinnamon in the allspice’, leading to off-the-chart buttock clenching. (This person also said ‘communal garden’ instead of ‘common or garden’ and ‘objectionably’ instead of ‘objectively’. The writing should have been on the wall but, well, you know.)
I’ve read the New Yorker piece and changed my mind.
It’s truly extraordinary, but grotesque. I like to go somewhere and focus on *something* - a dish, a speciality. I don’t mind if they serve just one thing.l, in fact, I like it better. Here, a higgledy-piggledy of ‘luxe’ is slightly revolting. It isn’t ‘luxe’ any more, it’s a little bit obscene - and I’m the greediest person you’re likely to meet.
I agree. My first instinct was 'how revolting' and although I am curious, it's still my gut reaction. Completely agree with one thing. I think luxury things are fine in isolation but gorging dozens on them quickly becomes obscene and sort of incontinent. And if you were just going for steak-frites and a cheese plate you'd presumably go somewhere else.
Precisely. If it’s lobster you want, have lobster. Have lots. Caviar, blini and a wedge of foie aren’t going to improve the experience.
I think it was the pudding talk that did it for me. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth and the thought of a sugar-saturated binge made me feel a bit barfy.
Better by far to go to the spectacular market, Les Halles de Narbonne (it was the market wot made us go ‘cor!’), and buy some gorgeous raw ingredients. Or eat in one of the restaurants in the market.
“Heinz Cream of Tomato with cheese on toast on the side”, but possibly even better is HCoT with a blob of hot mashed potato in the bowl. Not an effort if you have cook-chill mash on hand.
Eggs, the ultimate fast food! I can’t quite work out why Boursin hasn’t featured in my omelettes, but it will now. The Good Egg book looks delicious, and the cover is so cheery 😀
If you heat up the oil in a pan and pour it on the spring onions, chilli, minced garlic etc, it does the work for you for any kind of noodles or dumplings etc. Love this list though, might print it out for my 15 year old who seems stuck on the pitta and homous snack selection!
Thanks so much for these ideas. As others have said there is something special about the cheese/tomato soup combo - years ago a friend introduced me to the little trick of grating some cheese in to the soup bowl before you pour in the hot soup, then stick your spoon in stir around and pull up delicious cheesy tomatoey stringy bits!
Just finished Ripley. Thanks for the cooking/snack recommendations....although I must confess, I sat and absent-mindedly ate the remains of the last easter egg in the house, during the final minutes of the above. Ripley was exquisite - the egg....not so much!
Perfect timing. Just out of hospital where I’ve been for 4 days with my small daughter (who is on the mend thank god). I think it’s aglio e olio and Ripley on the sofa. Thank you!
Oh God, so sorry, am very familiar with that particular situation. So happy she's on the mend!
Great ideas. I’d add the cacio and pepe beans recipe from Bold Bean company website. Superfast and fabulous. Jarred beans are so yummy.
YES. Their recipes are so good. Will edit it to add a link - thank you!
OMG Heinz cream of tomato with cheese on toast. I love you! ❤️
Hahaha (so delicious)
Fantastically useful, thank you and I'll be printing these recipes off. SO true that occasionally it is Just Not On to get complicated in the kitchen. I was absolutely wiped out yesterday, after a frantically busy and emotionally charged week. And whilst I considered Heinz tomato soup with toast - my go-too comfort food (I add grated Gruyere) I was acutely aware that protein and greens were what my body was craving, so made risotto with shredded cold roast chicken, spinach and leeks, using the gravy left over from the chicken This seemed to speed up the softening of the arborio rice. And I feel tons better today.
Risotto sounds delicious, sorry for your week. So true about protein. Whenever I give full rein to my passion for carbs and basically ignore protein, I start feeling weird and slightly unwell.
Brilliant, thanks for the recipies.
My quick gnocci is with frozen spinach. Bung in a frying pan with a knob if butter and some garlic if you have it - I use the frozen stuff which is brilliant.
By the time the gnocci has cooked, the spinach with be done. Add some mascarpone/cream if you have it before adding the cooked gnocci. Stir then grate some cheese - gruyere is best and pop under the grill for a minute.
Ready in 5 minutes - honest !
Yum, delicious, thank you for sharing!
I think I’m erring on the side of nauseated…
Me too - see exchange with Tracie below.
Just wonderful - was shattered last night and the recipes would have been just perfect. Thank you - makes me feel human to know others need these recipes sometimes too!!!!
V welcome. The idea that everybody is up for 'proper' cooking every night of the week is for the birds, I think.
It did make me laugh that I was so tired this morning that I read barely as barley! And then got very confused on the initial read of the post!
We decided we want to live in Narbonne, never having been there (but saw it on the telly). This new information does not help at all.
And absolutely agree re allspice. I love it. Many years ago, an early indicator that a significant friendship was on the way out was when they said ‘There was too much cinnamon in the allspice’, leading to off-the-chart buttock clenching. (This person also said ‘communal garden’ instead of ‘common or garden’ and ‘objectionably’ instead of ‘objectively’. The writing should have been on the wall but, well, you know.)
Happy Sunday!
I think you should go and recce Narbonne and this restaurant and report back asap.
I’ve read the New Yorker piece and changed my mind.
It’s truly extraordinary, but grotesque. I like to go somewhere and focus on *something* - a dish, a speciality. I don’t mind if they serve just one thing.l, in fact, I like it better. Here, a higgledy-piggledy of ‘luxe’ is slightly revolting. It isn’t ‘luxe’ any more, it’s a little bit obscene - and I’m the greediest person you’re likely to meet.
I think we’ll give it a miss!
I agree. My first instinct was 'how revolting' and although I am curious, it's still my gut reaction. Completely agree with one thing. I think luxury things are fine in isolation but gorging dozens on them quickly becomes obscene and sort of incontinent. And if you were just going for steak-frites and a cheese plate you'd presumably go somewhere else.
Precisely. If it’s lobster you want, have lobster. Have lots. Caviar, blini and a wedge of foie aren’t going to improve the experience.
I think it was the pudding talk that did it for me. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth and the thought of a sugar-saturated binge made me feel a bit barfy.
Better by far to go to the spectacular market, Les Halles de Narbonne (it was the market wot made us go ‘cor!’), and buy some gorgeous raw ingredients. Or eat in one of the restaurants in the market.
Next time we have to visit a producer, consider it a dead cert.
“Heinz Cream of Tomato with cheese on toast on the side”, but possibly even better is HCoT with a blob of hot mashed potato in the bowl. Not an effort if you have cook-chill mash on hand.
Woah, now there's an idea. Thank you!
OMG BUFFETS! I went to one earlier this week. Are they becoming a thing again?
Yes I really think they are. Doesn't this place sound NUTS?
Great snack ideas - Heinz tomato soup and cheesy toast is my go to. Particularly enjoyed the captions on the portrait. Enjoy your Sunday 😊
Do you cut the toast into little squares? I do.
But of course!
Excellent. All is as it should be.
India, this is perfect and timely on so many personal levels. Thank you! Xx
Oh good, I'm glad!
Eggs, the ultimate fast food! I can’t quite work out why Boursin hasn’t featured in my omelettes, but it will now. The Good Egg book looks delicious, and the cover is so cheery 😀