Valentines Escapades

You may already be aware of my long-standing illicit love affair. Its written all over my face. The addiction, the deep running passion, is clear. Yes, chocolate has been in my life for a long time. The Boy knows this and chose my birthday present accordingly - a day out making the stuff! He knows me too well. In return, I bought him the same for his anniversaire (its only fair to share the love).

Life got in the way and the months have flown by. Its only now that I'm permanently housed that we can book our places. The Boy takes charge and our date is set. And what a date! Valentines Day chocolate making. And what's more, its in the village where I grew up.

I saw an advert in the Metro (my daily rail-time read) which merrily states "If you love her, you'll buy her roses. If you truly love her, you'll buy her M&S roses." The cheek of it! Friends, if you love her, you'll buy her chocolate. Trust.

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Daily Grind

I'm not a morning person. That's not to say I'm completely and utterly useless in the mornings (though don't ask the Boy; he's biased in these matters). Its simply not in my nature to throw back the covers and spring from the warmth of my bed until, oh, about 10am if I had the choice. I can't help my desire to lounge around, wrapped happily in a snug duvet and hope that someone will bring me a cup of tea. Saying that, since I started my new job, I've been up at 6am during the week and out of the house little after 7am.

Maybe its a good thing that I then step on to a train bound for the city. I use my hour long journey to read, listen to music and generally wake up a bit. My usual train starts the day somewhere in the depths of the West country and gradually winds its way East in the vague hope of hitting London at some point in the day. Because of the length of its epic journey, it has a buffet car (with an enthusiastic "Customer Host" who crys his wears over the tannoy system at regular intervals).

This morning, the carriage is cold. I hadn't noticed until the ever helpful conductor pointed out as she chirpily checked my ticket - morning people, who'd have 'em? - that it was beautifully warm in all but my near-arctic coach. Up until that point, I'd been happily knitting away none the wiser to the freezing temperatures that my extremities were being subjected to.

Not long after, someone entered with a steaming mug clutched in their finger tips. The smell of roasted coffee beans seeped into my sleep soaked, cold assaulted senses and filled the carriage. Now, despite my anti-Starbucks nature (actually maybe the two are linked), I love coffee. I adore the taste - softened with milk or cream, sweetly rich with demerara sugar, whipped into a cake or straight up as an espresso. Mmm. The smell does wicked things to me too. Even the colour appeals. I tend to adstain from a regular coffee habit for two reasons: a) the Boy hates it and b) it plays havoc with my skin. I am sorely tempted right now though.

The Metro told me yesterday that coffee prices have plummeted so if you're a regular par-taker in this glorious beverage, you can be happy that your habit will cost you less from now on. Don't get used to it though - droughts will push the price right up again soon so make the most of it.

As for me, I have two choices. Move carriages to remove myself from temptation or befriend my fellow passenger...

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Stroganoff!

You can imagine that, after a hard days work and a long commute (think, finish at 5pm, arrive home at 7pm), the last thing I want to do is to cook a delicious, healthy, nutritionally balanced meal. The trouble is, I don't want to resort to ready meals or anything near that elk either. Now, the Boy is very good, I must admit. He often cooks and has something ready for me when I get home - yes, he is somewhat perfect and no, you can't have him - but alas, my chef is working long hours of late. So my solution has been to prepare things in advance. It takes a little organisation but its well worth it. Tonights concoction was a simple Beef Stroganoff. It can bubble away happily while you get on with life and keeps for ages as well as freezing well.

Simple Strog

Ingredients: (enough for four)
350g stewing beef (as lean as possible)
1 large onion
a tab of butter
275ml red wine
200g mushrooms (sliced)
1tbsp wholegrain mustard
a little grated nutmeg
200ml half fat creme fraíche

Method:
- Melt the butter in a casserole dish or deep saucepan and gently fry the onions until golden
- Trim of any fat and cut the meat into 5mm strips (length, for once, is not important so go with your instincts)
- Remove onions from pan and brown the meat on a high heat
- Put the onions back in the pan with the beef, season and add the wine and mustard
- Allow to simmer gently for around one hour, stirring every so often
- Add the mushrooms and cook on a low heat for another thirty minutes
- Allow to cool slightly* then stir in creme fraíche and a touch of nutmeg

Serve with:
Rice or a jacket potato and fresh veg

Variations:
Delia does something very similar with white wine or, she suggests, dry cider.
*at this point, you can leave it to cool completely if you're going to store it. Simply stir in the creme fraíche before heating very gently then serve when you're ready.

Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook

I've been luck enough to receive lots of cookery books for Christmas and birthdays. Good cook books are obviously great, an asset to your culinary shelf, but it can be quite difficult to judge a book by its cover. So I'm going to start reviewing the volumes in my bookcase. A foodie book club, maybe.

This week, we turn the cover on The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook. Stars of the cake scene in London, hype about this cute little bakery has reached fever pitch. But do their recipes live up to their reputation?

The Book: a nice collection of baking recipes, both sweet and savoury interspersed with sumptuous glossy photos.

Positives: lots of delicious sweet things perfect for special occasions

Negatives: assumes you have a food mixer or electric whisk at your disposal.

Recipe tried: Chocolate Cup Cake and Chocolate "frosting"

These were made to celebrate a colleague's birthday and were absolutely raved about. Highly recommended indeed. One day, when I have time, I'll post the amended instructions for the other meer mortals out there that don't possess a food mixer.

Change a-foot

You walk in from the cold, wet street, breathing in the familiar smell as you flap your umbrella and step over the threshold. Immediately, you feel happier and calmer. Maybe its the warmth combined with the soft, gentle lighting or the friendly smile you receive as you enter. Either way, you feel your mood lift ever so slightly as you enter. Approaching the counter, you pause; weighing up the options, waiting to see what takes your fancy. You order and take your concoction from the wooden bar top to a round leather topped coffee table. Your seat is a comfy grass green velvet armchair that welcomes you into its plush cushions. You settle yourself, sigh contentedly and sip at your coffee through the mountain of whipped cream that comes as standard.

Up until recently, this could have been used to describe any of the hundreds of generic Starbucks stores across the UK. In fact, possibly the world! But things are set to change on a street near you. Now, I'm not the biggest Starbucks fan, I'm the first to admit. It's not like I've got a personal vendetta against them as a concept but more their approach. I hate the way they have infected towns and cities the length and breadth of the country. Nowhere is safe from their identi-kit coffee shops and ominous green logo. Even our out of town supermarkets have fallen to the Starbucks trend - out on the front line of family food, you can now buy Starbucks branded coffee beans with your weekly shop. My real bug bare is that they've been driving independent cafés out of business for years. Consumes lean towards the familiar so more often than not, they will go for the household name rather than the wildcard. Variety is the spice of life, my friends!

So why am I taking interest now, you might ask. Well, Starbucks are clever. Design-wise, their stores are fitted out to be appealing. Soft relaxing lighting, warm earthly colours and trendy downbeat music; it appeals to us on a base level while the slightly kooky but quality furniture makes us feel like its a cool place to be. You could walk into pretty much any Starbucks across its worldwide fleet and it will have the same furniture, same light-fittings, identical floor to ceiling wall 'painting' (actually a sticky-backed plastic transfer). This makes sense on all business levels; their corporate identity is controlled and strictly regimented while also allowing them to buy everything in bulk - very cost effective.

But the winds of change are starting to blow. Starbucks have weathered the economic storm and times haven't been quite so sunny in the land of the latte. The recession and closure of the Borders bookshop chain (where Starbucks had nearly 40 outlets) hit them hard leading to their decision to close approximately 900 stores worldwide. Only a few weeks ago, however, Starbucks announced earnings in the region of £149m. More interestingly (to me, anyway!) was the news of their new program for development in 2010. A visit to their new Conduit Street café in London tells of a different Starbucks to hit the cappuccino-supping streets. It's interior is distinctive, an individual café to fit in with the surrounding atmosphere and context. What's more, the chain plans to make-over a further 100 stores nationwide over the coming year. Schultz, the brands founder, says that the new look outlets will be "a reflection of realising that the relationship we want to have with our customers should harken back to a sense of community, [a] unique store environment." As I said, variety is the spice of life! Watch this space.

Afro Delights

"So," comes the inevitable question. "Where's good to eat around here?" I've started my new job in lovely Bristol and things have changed a little since the last time I was here. First things first, where can I get some good grub?

A short walk from our office is a well kept secret. Known as the "Jamacan" around the corner by my office collective, Afro Delight is well worth a try. My treat today (as I normally bring my own lunch to save money) was a small portion of jerk chicken, coleslaw and rice 'n' peas. All I can say is it was heaven and not too expensive to boot. Everything is seems freshly cooked and of good quality - given the regular customers that my colleagues provide, they're obviously doing something good.

Friendly, small and perfectly formed. Well worth a visit!

The First Supper

I've swapped kitchens! After a rather long stint of travelling around the UK, I have decided to settle in one place. This is conveniently coupled with a job change too, which I hope will be less stressful than the last. So! New year, new job and new home. The Boy has bought a lovely flat so we're trying the cohabitational life (also known as "living in sin"!). It means I have a whole new kitchen to play with complete with new appliances thanks to luck and Father Christmas.

Our first meal cooked under its roof was a chicken and sweet potato risotto. Apologies for the poor quality photo - we're still waiting for our connection to the World/web to be plumbed in.

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