MN Cookbook Club - October (Simon Hopkinson and Jamie's Comfort Food)

[ScienceRocks]

This is a thread for all those wanting to share their experiences of cooking from any of the recipes written by Simon Hopkinson or from Jamie Oliver's latest tome, Jamie's Comfort Food.

For those not familiar with the MN cookbook club, the idea is to choose a couple of books (or blogs) each month and then cook a few of the recipes from one or both. The thread means successes can be celebrated, problems or mistakes highlighted, and tips or changes passed on that others may want to incorporate when they cook the same recipe.

In the past we have done books by well known cooks such as Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater, searched through blogs by the likes of Smitten Kitchen, been wowed by the flavours of Yotam Ottolenghi and Thomasina Miers and, of course, thoroughly tested MN's own cookbook Top Bananas. Some of us find it gives focus to our menu planning, others feel it is the encouragement needed to try something different, whereas for some people it is the push needed to dust down an ignored book from the kitchen shelf and leaf through its pages for inspiration.

Everyone is welcome!

I've finally cooked some Simon Hopkinson recipes, firstly Potato soup with porcini from Week in week out. I was quite disappointed with this, I had a feeling it might taste like watery mashed potato and it did, although the porcini sautéed in cream and parsley was nice.

I also did the Cold roast chicken salad with watercress from the same book and it was lovely, especially the salad dressing that used the reduced roasting liquid from the chicken. I'd definitely use his method for roasting chicken again, it was lovely and moist and the honey gave it a deep golden colour.

Lastly, Aubergine Parmigiana from the good cook, it was delicious if slightly greasy, but I'm not sure it was worth all the effort for the tomato sauce (deskinning 2kg of sauce took forever and it didn't make double the quantity as promised).

Not sure what to cook next, maybe the the in the hole from JO.

Ok, will do ELR!

Madame, a mixed bag for you, it sounds.

I made the beans on toast from Jamie's comfort food tonight. I used a chipotle chilli instead of the chilli oil and Tabasco, and put chorizo on top instead of grated cheese, but it was good. Even DH didn't complain, and he hates normal beans in toast! Easy too

Mmm the beans from Jamie's book sound good. One for next week!

I did the black cod from Jamie's Comfort Food last night. I had rather overlooked the fact that it is supposed to marinate overnight, so it only had a couple of hours, but it was very nice nonetheless. The pickle that went with it - as as the case with the nasi goring - really lifted it out of the ordinary. Very low cal too.

It's usually around this time of the month we start thinking about books for the next month, but there has been very little traffic on this and last month's threads so I wonder that energy levels for this are low at the moment and a break is needed. Views appreciated.

I've done black cod from one of Jamie's earlier books, which was lovely too - I would like to try this one too.

I wonder if a break might be a good idea - or maybe we could in November do a return to any of the books covered before - I've certainly made more from Thomasina, Nigella, etc, and would be happy to hear if others have.

Maybe a break and then start again in the new year with some old favourites? Thomasina and yotam, perhaps?

Black cod sounds good, I've been remiss again this month, have so much on I've been relying on favourites. Ottelenghi, Fuschia and Thomasina here, with a few of Jamies thrown in for good measure.

Agree we'd could probably do with a break, maybe leave a Christmas thread up for those making treats for the season?

That sounds sensible. I'm having a pretty rubbish time at the moment so hopefully that'll give things a chance to improve

Sorry to hear things are rubbish glorious. I think a lot of us are overwhelmed at the moment, so let's give it a break for a couple of months and start again in the new year.

glorious hope things are looking up soon.

Will keep popping back but will see you all in the New Year.

I'm one who's dropped for the last two months- ( haven't had the books and hate cooking from a computer )

Happy to join back in in the new year- I hope things improve for you glorious x

I'm happy to start again in the new year too, having quite a busy time and it's often easier to stick to family favourites, plus our chest freezer needs running down.

I hope things get better for you soon glorious

Thanks everyone.

Today we've pimped the JO bloody mary beef to go in the slow cooker. It smells absolutely lovely so I have high hopes.

I was wondering about a Christmas thread where we just share any favourite recipes we're making or new ones we're trying. Anyone interested?

Yep, I'm up for that :)

Good idea glorious

Excellent, I'll set it up later.

A bit late to write this up but the JO bloody mary beef was absolutely delicious and worked brilliantly in the slow cooker. We omitted the vodka and next time I'd use fresh tomatoes or homemade passata because the jar tasted quite tinny (strangely!).

SH Janssohn's temptation for tea tonight. Mmm, cream.

Hi all, been so rubbish this month just been sticking to tried and tested recipes from delia, nigella and jamie.
I'm up for the Christmas thread that would be useful for dipping in and out of and take away any pressure or guilt I'd feel not cooking from the chosen books!
I've recently been diagnosed with non celiac gluten sensitivity so I've been trying to adapt all my fave recipes to make them gluten free, so far so good, most of yotam and thomasina doesn't need adapting which is great.

Oh, ELR, sorry to hear that Indian food is pretty good for that kind of dietary restriction too, so dig out the hairy bikers or madhur Jaffrey!

Sorry to hear that ELR, what a pain. Are you feeling better now you're avoiding gluten or will it take longer to make a difference? Perhaps we need to do that new Hugh F W book in the new year some time?

Christmas thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/food_and_recipes/2225951-Christmas-cookery-bookclub

Is potato flour gluten free? I bought lots in chinese supermarket for EGoR and now use instead of cornflour for thickening stews, etc

Hi thanks all for your sympathy, going gluten free has made a small difference I'm 6 weeks in and it can take around 6 months for the full effects to be apparent but I have also been diagnosed with auto immune thyroid disease and vitamin deficiencies due to malabsorption so it's a long road to recovery but at least I'm on it now!
Potato flour is fine, to be honest I haven't really found it that hard it's just having to think differently.

That's a whole bundle of horrible, ELR . I'm glad the cooking isn't presenting too much of a challenge. I'd imagine eating out might be a pain. I'll check my cookbook shelf because I think one of the egg free baking books I got for DD is also gluten free and I haven't really used it as she can now eat baked egg. If it is gluten free then I can post it to you if you like. DH would be pleased to get rid of one!

ELR, horrible! Poor you. I recommend the Hemsley and Hemsley book which isn't I think totally gluten free but mostly is.

Jamie's Bloody Mary brisket is delicious and to be wholeheartedly recommended!

Thanks guys, and glorious that's very kind of you.
I've spent the last 5 years running my own cookery school so luckily have had quite a bit of practise adapting recipes to meet people's various allergies and intolerances.