Cookery Book Club April - LEON and The Jewelled Kitchen

[Pantah630]

Hi folks, can't believe it's April already, sun is shining on the South Coast, let's hope it stays that way so we can explore The Jewelled Kitchen with Bethany Kehdy and any LEON book you can lay your hands on.

Turkish delight from jk, by the way!

Made the chicken and preserved lemon tagine and was underwhelmed. No chilli or black pepper to be seen, and it was bland. Even with a good grind of black pepper (couldn't find the Harissa), I wasn't that bothered. I will go back to the chicken and chick pea tagine I have done for years from Nigella's how to eat.

Really pleased science I may have to have a go, pistachio and rosewater are a favourite of mine. Not so good news on the tagine though, I was going to make that next, maybe I can pimp it a bit. I did a variation of a tagine and the chicken and Jerusalem artichokes from Jerusalem the other night. Substituting herbs, adding home preserved lemons instead of fresh and some courgette and peppers too, was very tasty.

Oh wow science I might have to try the Turkish delight, yum!

I've just made the whipped hummus from JK (minus lamb), definitely the nicest I've done though not earth shattering. Might also try cous cous with artichoke as would use up lots of bits in the fridge...

Oh, i love Turkish delight, but I can't justify buying rose water of the internet (and the resulting ridiculous price what with posting) to make it myself, when I can buy it cheap locally.
I made the sumac scented chicken parcels this evening. I used tortillas. ( lidls own) and leftover chicken. It was really nice. Very simple, midweek family food. The pine nuts made it.
Dh described it as filling, lovely and exotic- that's pushing it, but he thinks anything that's not cawl as exotic.

I'm making jk mandean duck today. Smells lovely, but any suggestions as to what I should eave with it veg wise?

Sounds very nice pregnant, think I'd just accompany with a Greek salad and maybe some tzatziki and flat bread if there's not a lot there. Interested to know how it tastes.

Finally picked up Leon, fun book. Made the muesli bars to use up random odds and ends of dried fruit and they are super delicious! Don't think they're as healthy as they'd like you to think though Sumac chicken casserole tonight from JK with white cabbage salad . Will report back.

I served the duck with a plain salad for dh and I and roast carrots for fussier dc.
It was delicious. The rice stuffing especially. The ginger and mix of nuts mingled with the duck fat that's passed through it when roasting really does make it special. The dick itself was lovely- but it's just roast duck which is in itself lovely , the spice rub didn't really taste on the end product.
My compote was awful, but that's to be expected as I misread the ingredients and went out of my way to buy and use sweetened apple juice I'm sre a good compote would have complimented it, but tbh I didn't think it was lacking when I ate it.
The months almost over and I've loads left I want to cook. The jewelled kitchen has really inspired me.

Another to add to the list then. I've never roasted a whole duck, one to try. Think my Mum has brought me some partridges down from Scotland, don't ask :) I wonder if I could substituted them, probably not as they're not fatty at all.

glorious can you post muesli bar recipe please! I've got book 2 but loads of nuts and dried fruit to use up. I'm finding Leon very like Nigel Slater, more ideas to use what's in, than you must use this. I like it but it's not as inspired as JK or Jerusalem. My spiritual foodie home is obviously the Medittaranean.

Do we have any ideas of books for May?

pantah they're in book 2 so you should be able to find them but let me know if not and I'll type it up.

Sumac chicken was tasty but we felt it didn't really hang together as a dish. Cabbage salad a good accompaniment to something rich and spicy, though partly because it's very simple so not exciting in itself iyswim.

There was talk about covering a French book? I have the frenchbrasserie that I fancy giving a whirl.
Delia was suggested too, along with Jamie's. 15 min, and the Tom Kerrigde(sp) book.
I'd like to do a rick stein at some point but last time he was suggested it went down like a lead balloon

I have Tom Kerridge, lots of Delia, Jamie's 15 and could hopefully borrow a Rick Stein. Who is French Brasserie by? Will have a search on kindle?

Shouldn't have done that £4.12 for kindle edition. That's French Brasserie for May then how about Delia Summer Collection?

I've gone and bought Delia summer too. But £2.81 is practically free and I feel that a Cook book collection with no Delia is no cook book collection at all. So French brassiere and Delia summer sounds good to me.

Sounds good DH won't need to know about new kindle books

Sorted will put up thread now

new thread here