Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Recipe - Wild mushroom and mozzarella risotto cake

I went out for food last night in a lovely local pub and had the most delicious meal - it was a mozzarella and sundried tomato risotto cake, with a salad and jacket potato.

I've been researching recipes this morning in order to try and replicate this....I haven't had any luck yet but I did stumble upon a similar recipe on the Channel 4 website, called wild mushroom and mozzarella risotto cake


Ingredients

  • 30g butter
  • 200g assorted wild or chestnut mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 300g arborio rice
  • 75ml white wine
  • 800ml vegetable stock, hot
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 125g buffalo mozzarella ball, cut into 12 pieces
  • 4 tbsp plain flour, seasoned
  • 3 tbsp sunflower oil

How to make wild mushroom and mozzarella risotto cakes

1. Heat 20g of the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat, until foaming. Add the mushrooms and fry for 3-4 minutes. Drain off any excess liquid and set the mushrooms aside.

2. Return the pan to the heat, add the onion, garlic and remaining butter and cook for 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir for 1 minute. Add the wine and simmer until reduced to almost nothing. Add a ladleful of stock and simmer until nearly absorbed. Keep adding the stock in this way, until the rice is al dente - about 20 minutes. Fold in the thyme and mushrooms. Season, cool slightly, then chill until cold.

3. Shape the risotto into 12 cakes. Make a hole in the centre of each and press in a piece of cheese. Cover by squeezing the sides together.

4. Roll the risotto cakes in the flour. Heat the sunflower oil in a large frying pan and fry the cakes, in batches, for 3-4 minutes each side or until golden and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Keep warm in a low oven while you fry the rest.

5. I would serve this with a little side salad, with some new potatoes or a baked sweet potato!

This would make a perfect summer meal!

xx

Monday, 9 April 2012

Haul - H&M and Urban Outfitters

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter weekend!

Even though the weather is raining and dull today, I managed to sneak into town this morning before the crowds arrived and purchased a few little gems!

* Starting off with my H&M purchase - I've been looking for a classic Navy blazer and found the perfect one
This retails at £24.99 and is a slightly cropped cut, but I would say it's very flattering for a variety of body shapes with the bottom of the blazer flaring out - a feminine touch!


* Next up is a few purchases from Urban Outfitters.  This is the first time I've ventured in the Cardiff branch and I instantly fell in love!  It's a massive shop, and you could spend a good hour in there easily just browsing around.

These shoes were on sale, down to £10.00 - again I was looking for a good pair of canvas pump shoes and am so glad that I found these!
I think I am going to wear these constantly to be honest!  With jeans or with shorts in the warmer days to come.


* Another purchase from Urban Outfitters, this time a necklace.  I love gold jewellery, and this long necklace is something I can see myself not wanting to take off!  The chain is very dainty and long, with a heart shape pendant at the end.
This was £16.00, and the thing that attracted me most to this necklace was the letter 'A' engraved in the heart. They had a variety of initials in the shop, but here's a link in case anyone wanted to purchase this for themselves!


I'm now on my way to finish all the easter chocolate I received, yum!

xx

Friday, 6 April 2012

five things friday - fred perry and easter

Happy Easter everyone!

I'm currently enjoying a lazy Friday at home, and going out for some food with friends tonight, it's a very good way to start the weekend!

I am also very excited after reading this article from Cardiff Style because there is a new Fred Perry shop opening in Cardiff!  I have been looking on the website all morning and am already planning my purchases.

Here are a few of my favourites to kick off this five things Friday post

* The first one is a lovely denim blue canvas costing £40, with the embroidery at the back of the shoe.  This would look great with shorts or even a skinny pair of jeans. 



 *  This next shoe has a more nautical inspired feel, which makes me want to go sailing around Greece in the lovely sunshine!  Also costing £40, I love the lace tie up in the front which makes it a little different to other canvas shoes I have seen.

 * This woven shirt also stands out for me, as I think it would be smart enough to wear to work in the summer.  As I'm updating my wardrobe ready for the warmer days this would make a nice new addition! It's a little more expensive at £65, but is a classic shape and would last a good few years

* I had to include a little easter treat for today, and this recipe from Martha Stewart is such a good idea!  They look delicious too
* Last but not least, a mouthwatering half brownie, half cupcake and half muffin recipe from Good Food!





Have a lovely weekend everyone!

xx 

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

Wedding Wednesday

As some of you may know, I'm getting married in November but I have yet to make a lot of decisions about what I want! 

One thing that I have decided on though is a colour scheme

I'm really drawn to the colour blue, mixed with yellows and greys.  There are so many great photos and inspiration boards on Pinterest that I thought I'd share this with you

* this first photo is definitely more of a vibrant royal blue, but the creams and white flowers tone it down and make a good match
                                                                       via pinterest

* this colour scheme is a more muted blue, but the mixture of the yellow really makes it pop!
                                                                        here
* I also love this photo, I just think the combination of yellow and grey is so elegant!
                                                                             here

* a more nautical inspired look here, with a navy and white colour combination - this would be lovely for a winter wedding I think
                                                                           here

* last but not least, a strong navy colour with yellow flowers - so pretty!
                                                                     here

Has anyone got any colour scheme ideas that you love?

Monday, 2 April 2012

Just a minute...April

Reading... The Hunger Games - actually this is more of a re-read, as I first read this last year.  With all the hype of the film recently I just fancied delving into the books again before watching the film!

Watching... so many good things on TV at the moment! Currently loving Alcatraz, Homeland and the new series of Big Bang Theory

Buying... anything with stripes!  I recently bought a nautical inspired navy and white top...and a grey and white tank top....and I've still got my eye on a few more stripy tops for my spring wardrobe!

Loving... chunky gold watches on girls

Wanting... a puppy! I've always wanted a dog, and after seeing this article on the smallest dog in world, a little female dachshund mix, I fell in love!

These 'Just a minute' posts are inspired by Daydream Lily's blog, it's a beautiful blog if anyone wanted to go and take a peep

xx

Friday, 30 March 2012

Monthly favourites

Can you believe it's the last day of March already?  This year is just flying by...and I still have so much I need to do before my wedding in November!

As it's the last day of March, I thought I would do a little round up of my favourite things...

* Food:
Almond milk - now I know this might not be classed as a 'food' item but I really have been loving this on my cereals so thought it made sense to include it!  It really is nutritious and has so many health benefits.  I cut out cow's milk from my diet a few year's ago and made the switch to soy milk, but now that I found this delicious milk I'll definitely be buying it more often.  I even made my own almond milk after seeing the recipe on Linda Wagner's blog, where she definitely inspired me to branch out and be more adventurous with milk!
                                                                          image via here
* Skincare:
Johnson's Daily Essential Hydrating Day Cream.  First off, I really like the packaging of this product - simple and cute, with the bonus of having SPF 15 already in the moisturiser also. It doesn't appear to have a scent (I'm not really a fan of cream's with scents!).  It really feels refreshing on the skin and does not feel heavy at all. It also lasts quite a while, bonus!

                                                                    Johnson's 

Fashion:
Coloured denim was huge this month!  I really like this trend though, and think it's perfect for spring.  I've got my eye on these coral skinny ones from Dorothy Perkins, now only £20.00



If anyone is doing a monthly favourites let me know, I'd love to read them.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

xx


Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Tuesday treat - Jaffa Cake cheesecake!

Now this is an extremely naughty Tuesday treat!

I was watching a new show on Channel 4 on the weekend called Sunday Brunch and they were making this amazing dessert, combining two of my current favourite treats - Jaffa Cakes and cheesecake!

Yum

I was so excited when I saw this recipe, and sat with my mouth watering, even looking at the picture of the cake is making me hungry...



So I thought I'd share this recipe in case anyone missed it

Here goes..

Serves 10

For the base
  • 2 eggs
  • 50g sugar
  • 50g plain flour
For the filling
  • 150g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
  • 350g full fat soft cheese
  • 350g ricotta
  • 100g golden caster sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 50g cocoa powder
For the Jaffa layer
  • 1 tbsp orange marmalade
  • 275ml boiling water
  • 135g packet orange jelly
For the chocolate top
  • 200ml double cream
  • 25g caster sugar
  • 200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), melted
  • 20g butter, unsalted

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas mark 4. For the base, place the eggs and sugar in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Beat with an electric whisk for 5 minutes.
  2. Remove from the heat, sieve in the flour and beat well. Spoon into a 24cm greased and lined baking tin and bake for about 12-15 minutes. Turn the oven down to 150°C/fan 120°C/gas mark 1½.
  3. For the filling, place the chocolate in a bowl and place over a saucepan of barely simmering water, making sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl. Allow to melt, stirring occasionally.
  4. Meanwhile, in a food processor, pulse the cheeses and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, then the cocoa and the melted chocolate.
  5. Spoon onto the cooked base and cook for about 1 hour until springy to the touch. Leave the cheesecake in the oven, but turn off the heat and allow to cool for about 30 minutes - 1 hour.
  6. To make the Jaffa layer, in a bowl mix the marmalade, boiling water and jelly until dissolved. Pour into a 20cm cake tin lined with clingfilm, to about 1cm deep. Allow to set, then lift out and sit on top of the cheesecake.
  7. For the chocolate topping, in a saucepan, bring the cream and sugar to the boil then pour over the melted chocolate and butter and stir until dissolved. Allow to cool, then pour over the cheesecake and refrigerate to chill and set.
  8. Carefully remove the cheesecake from the tin then slice and serve.

It seems like a lot of ingredients but hopefully it'll be worth it, I can't wait to give it a go!

xx