Cooking club, Mexican may and a bit of Nigel slater

[whatareyoueatingNOW]

Hi all,

Another month gone, so I've set up a new thread

For anyone new (and the more the merrier) the idea is that each month we choose a cuisine to focus on and a cookery writer/ author as well. This keeps the options quite broad so that more can join on and share what they're cooking and any recommendations (though if your anything like me this will cost you in buying cookbooks that others have raved about)

This month the chosen cuisine to cook is Mexican- so any Mexican cookbooks/ websites/ recipes that you can make, add a review / recommendation on here - Thomasina Myers is always a good shout for Mexican so I'll be using her books largely.

Our chosen food writer is Nigel slater - covering any of his books and or his recipes online.

So any recipes that you use regularly or you'd recommend, and anything new that you try , share it here

[myrtleWilson]

Just joining the merry month of May thread!
I cook and enjoy Thomasina's pork pibil, her chile con carne, Mexican rice salad, quest fundido, her spinach and sweet corn tacos are delicious too!
I have various Nigel slater books but probably the two recipes I use most of his are mushroom and spinach lasagne and his fragrant chicken curry.
Looking forward to seeing/hearing about everyone's creations!

[KoalasAteMyHomework]

Just checking in! Hopefully I can join in this month!

[mittensofsteel]

I love Nigel Slater so I’m joining too if that’s okay?

[KTD27]

Checking in and have my first Nigel recipe of the month in the oven. The infamous chocolate brownies. Have lost my flipping baking tray to put them in which I only realised last minute but have sort of made do with another. Not sure if they’re now to thick / thin but shall check them in 20 mins and see how they’re faring. My DS is getting very excited about the smell of chocolate wafting through the house!

[KTD27]

Here they are! Well some of them anyway. I made so many I couldn’t put them in the same box.
Taster (he says to leave a day so we aren’t eating yet) suggests they are ACE
Recipe here www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2004/jun/13/foodanddrink.shopping2

[TryingToGetHome]

I love Thomasina's Huevos Rancheros and the dcs are coming around more to spicy food, so this could be a good one for us, I'm making steak fajitas on Saturday night - no recipe though...it's pretty easy. Ordered a stack load of soft 100% corn tortillas from Sainsbury's online - only place I could find them and I intend to get heavily involved with taco making and eating!
Nigel slater I haven't got a favourite - nothing stands out, I did like his marmalade ice cream though. Looking forward to hearing what recipes people love from Nigel particularly the dairy and wheat free recipes.

[puddleduckmummy]

How have I missed these threads before!! Might not be adding much but will be watching avidly.

Have made Nigel's Lancashire HotPot before which is lush but maybe not the thing for spring? (Although depends on the weather I guess!)

[myrtleWilson]

They look amazing KTD27 - but are you really not eating any of them until tomorrow? I don't really have a sweet tooth but even I would be tempted to nibble one!

Neither Mexican nor NS for us tonight - we have defrosted left over portions of pork in almond sauce (from Moro) to eat whilst I fret over the football!

[whatareyoueatingNOW]

I made Thomasina miers churros this evening. From Mexican made simple. They were a nightmare to pipe with my makeshift sandwich bag piper but absolutely lovely. They are very easy, and genuinely taste exactly as they do in wahaca restaurants. They won't be regular because of the fat and faff of deep fry but making them has made me see how simple they are.

I also made a bastardised version of her autumn squash and chorizo tacos from the same book. I didn't have squash so used swede instead it worked wonderfully and I'll make it again. With her pink pickled onions and coriander the whole family enjoyed them.

Thankfully my dc like spice so will be trying loads this month

[myrtleWilson]

They look lovely What - I do like TM's tacos but not done the autumn ones before - my DD is not a big fan of squash or swede - I have considered using sweet potatoes but not sure. I do love the pink pickled onions -they work so well don't they?

[KTD27]

Oh amazing churros!! I always thought they’d be a total faff to make.

myrtle the husband is away and back tomorrow so I’m trying hard to hang on or else it’s all on me to stop myself but I admit I may have gone back for another massive small taste

[formerbabe]

My late father bought me a Nigel Slater recipe book when I went to uni many years ago. I love it. It's so well written and the recipes are just what I love...very easy going, adaptable and real food that you cook at home. Plus it has massive sentimental value for me because my dad got it for me!

[whatareyoueatingNOW]

Mittens- Of course! Come one come all I say!

Myrtle- I would, as far as I'm concerned squash and sweet potatoes are interchangeable anyway, but if swede worked, sweet potatoes definitely will!

Former- that's so lovely, to have a layered sentimental value to a cookbook. I hope my dc will feel the same when they inherit my books -though they will probably have to bin 90% of my 300+ collection


In kitchen diaries 1 I recommend the pumpkin dal soup, pumpkin laksa, the pork ribs with anise, the pork polpetine, and the spaghetti bolognese. Loads more as well but those I frequent

It's good for me to be looking at Nigels spring offerings, because I've realised that all my favourite things are autumn /winter time.

[TryingToGetHome]

I have Kitchen diaries II on kindle and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it on holiday but I have never cooked from it - partly I think because it's kindle, I like paper splattered with sauce and oily prints and scribbled notes on the most popular recipes.

[whatareyoueatingNOW]

Nigel slaters hemp, mozzarella and egg pizza

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/21/pizza-recipes-nigel-slater

I enjoyed this for lunch. It was very nice, though in future I'd only be making it if I had leftover / dough ready made. The pizza dough isn't brilliant, it's the topping idea that makes it. As I find so often with Nigel, it's his ideas and inspiration more than actual recipes that I love (he still stands as my no1 food writer) and this proved to be a very welcome lunch idea

[whatareyoueatingNOW]

Thomasina Miers black bean stew from wahaca: Mexican at home this evening. It was very well received- I'm not a fan of loads of spice so next time I'd go easier on the chipotle- adding , tasting, adding , tasting rather than trusting the recipe- she has a much higher spice threshold than me the toppings (avocado/sour cream/ coriander and cheese) made the meal though. They were absolutely essential and delicious- I think the sauces/sides/ accompaniments often make a Mexican meal.

We also baked Nigel slaters double ginger cake - served warm with cream it was beautiful, rich and spicy but also quite light and airy- basically everything I want in a cake. Can't wait to try it tomorrow after it's matured.
goodfood.uktv.co.uk/recipe/double-ginger-cake/

[myrtleWilson]

Nigel Slater's "fragrant chicken curry" here tonight. An old favourite so haven't broken new ground but as Nigel says it is very unauthentic but gloriously so. From Real Cooking

[Pantah630]

Ive ordered some chipotle chillies so I can make ™ chipotles en adobe for lots of her other recipes. I also have a list of recipes I didn't try last time and some masa harina coming to make my own tortillas. Have a couple of days off next week and fancy a cookathon

[KTD27]

I’m trawling the internet for suitable salad recipes. Like the look of Ns’ halloumi watermelon and chilli salad so far. About to go through my Mexican cookbooks and find some more ideas

[FurryDogMother]

Oo, a Mexican food thread :) I developed a craving for Mexican stuff a couple of months ago, and have been experimenting. So far I've made Chili Colorado - highly recommended, the pork ends up melt-in-the mouth. The required chillies I found at Chillies On The Web, via Amazon. Then I tried Beef Barbacoa from Wahaca, but using ox cheek - another resounding success. Yesterday I made Beans a la Charra - to be eaten tonight, but they taste great already. We'll be having them with chicken fajitas using this spice mix - and then I'm going to attempt my first churros using this recipe

Also serving tonight's food with sour cream, home made guac, pico de gallo and some bought mango salsa. I'll be using the rather unauthentic boat-shaped tortillas from Old El Paso (unfortunately called 'Stand 'n Stuff, but they're handy and easier to deal with than the usual flat tortillas).

So happy to have found a thread talking about what is rapidly becoming my favourite cuisine!

[KTD27]

furrydog that chili Colorado looks good!! I need to source some chilles...

[whatareyoueatingNOW]

Ooo pantah- the chipotle en adobo is amazing. You won't regret it.

Someone recommended thomasinas queso fundido- I tried it for movie night and Thank you!! It was delicious. A very nice change from nachos and jarred salsa

[myrtleWilson]

ah I love TM's queso fundido - it is good with mushrooms too! With the nice weather we are having a bank holiday bbq weekend (we've bought a new smoker) so I'll be failing on Mexican and NS recipes until at least Tuesday but will keep popping in!

[whatareyoueatingNOW]

Tried thomasinas meatballs de mehico today. I found they needed longer than stated for the rice inside to cook, and feel that her suggested side of rice is odd considering how much rice is in the balls. That all said, they were fantastic. Subtly flavoured aromatic, and filling. The smoky tomato sauce is an absolute blinder and I will be making it for many uses. I served the meatballs with some tortillas.

[Pantah630]

Chipotles en adobo made this afternoon plus a pot of chipotle mayo. My fingers are still tingling from rinsing the chilli seeds out. It tastes very good, looking forward to using it all now, think I may have made a bit much but assuming it will keep well.