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nigella express - tiramisu

After having lunch at Starwalk yesterday today and eating their very light Tiramisu I was inspired to try the recipe for Tiramisu in Nigella Express.

Irish Cream Tiramisu (page 135)

Ingredients:
- expresso coffee
- eggs
- lady fingers
- sugar
- mascarpone
- cocoa powder

I substituted more espresso coffee instead of Baileys cream liqueur (as the recipe called for) as I didn't have any around the house.

I think this will come out heavier than Starwalk's version. I really want to find out what they used as it didn't taste so much like mascarpone.

I had to wait 24 hours for it to settle in the fride, but it was worth the wait! It's a success & so delicious!!!!!!

nigella express - butternut squash with pecans and blue cheese

For dinner last night we had sliced pork sandwiches and for a side I tried another Nigella recipe....

Butternut Squash With Pecans and Blue Cheese (page 333)

Ingredients:
- butternut squash
- olive oil
- fresh thyme or dried thyme
- pecans
- blue cheese

I used dried thyme and substituted honey covered walnuts instead of pecans.

Yup - I'm totally addicted to this book, but the recipes are so convenient & quick & don't call for a long list of ingredients (making it affordable) which is always good.

It turned out alright...I’m not a huge fan of blue cheese as it is a bit too strong for me. Perhaps I should have substituted brie or something else. I find butternut a bit too rich for me most times I cook it myself though.

I think one day I will attempt to make butternut squash ravioli. That is the dream!

pork loin vs. rack of lamb

I stand corrected – I made a pork loin the other night….not a rack of lamb. Hahahahaha.

I didn’t realize that until I went to the supermarket to buy another one.

I should have known, but it had those bone things sticking out of it & I got confused. =P

nigella express recap

Nigella Express recap – I have tried the following recipes:

Breakfast Bars (page 94)
Chocolate Croissants (page 98)
No Churn Pomegranate Ice Cream (page 132)
Irish Cream Tiramisu (page 135)
Butternut Squash With Pecans and Blue Cheese (page 333)

pork loin

I made a pork loin for dinner tonight & it wasn't a total disaster! woohoo!

I followed the recipe that was on the package.

Ingredients:
- pork loin
- olive oil
- clove or garlic
- dijon mustard
- cracked pepper

Method:
1) Defrosted the frozen pork loin.
2) Preheat oven to 350degrees F.
3) Cut some slits in the rack of lamb & shove a half clove of garlic in each slit.
4) Mix olive oil & dijon mustard and cracked peppercorn together. Rub on the pork loin.
5) Put in the oven for about 1.5 hour. Tenting with aluminum about 15 minutes before taking out of oven.

It was so easy & so good! =)

nigella express - chocolate croissants

I am totally loving this book. Very simple and excellent dessert ideas! Right now I have in the oven...

Chocolate Croissants (page 98).

Ingredients:
- chocolate
- puff pastry (store bought)
- beaten egg

I made them a little too small & boy are they ugly & inconsistant! Live and learn!

creme egg mcflurry

While wandering around London I saw this advertisement and I just had to take a picture. Did we have these in North America? I have never seen them before.

I personally never liked Cadbury Creme Eggs, and the thought of having it in McFlurry form totally grosses me out. yuck!

What the heck? They sell these, but I can't even get my hands on a Shamrock Shake! Grrrr.

nigella express - ice cream

As I mentioned I borrowed Nigella Express & last night I prepared her

No Churn Pomegranate Ice Cream (page 132).

Ingredents:
- double cream
- icing sugar
- lime
- pomegranates

Tonight we taste tested it & it was so yummy! I am so happy I can make ice cream without an ice cream maker! (even though it's only simple ice cream).

I ended up substituting POM juice for real pomegranates as we couldn't find them at the local grocery store and since I'm lazy I also substituted lime juice for real limes.

So good and so natural tasting....but probably not much cheaper than just buying ice cream.

I can't wait to try this recipe out with green tea macha!

P.s. the breakfast bars never took a "bar" form & was just 1 congealed mess.....I have no idea why. On the bright side it's super yummy. =P I guess presentation isn't THAT important.

nigella express

It was such a nice day today that Dave suggested we walk to the public library close by to browse some books. It was a great idea since I have been in a food rut and wanted to try some new recipes, but am too cheap to buy cookbooks. =P

There were oodles of good books, but I decided to only borrow Nigella Lawson's book "Nigella Express" because after initial browse the recipes seemed simple, didn't require too many ingredients and looked yummy.

First on the list - Breakfast Bars (page 94).

Ingredents:
- condensed milk
- rolled oats
- shredded coconut
- dried cranberries
- mized seeds
- peanuts

So after a quick stop at the Bulk Barn nearby, we're off to the races!

I'm also going to try - Irish Cream Tiramisu (page 135) and No Churn Pomegranate Ice Cream (page 132).