Christmas cookery bookclub

[glorious]

Normally we pick a couple of specific books or blogs, each cook whatever we like the sound of and compare notes.

For November and December we're going free range and sharing any festive cooking we do, whether from new books, old favourites, or even family recipes (we'll have to promise to be nice about those!)

Everyone is welcome so do join in and share your favourites or warn us all off the ones you wished you hadn't tried.

Yes I got some nice boxes in the baking aisle in asda.

I now have nigella's banana bread (domestic goddess) in the oven. We have 4 black bananas but not enough walnuts but i am sure it will be fine.

glorious that's impressive glazing for a 2yo. My 3yo specialises in licking spoons.

Cute miniglorious! How was the cake?

Haha, I don't think eating it occurred to her for some reason! We haven't eaten (or even finished icing) the cake yet as it's for our second Christmas on new year's day. In-laws did the cake for the original Christmas.

Banana bread sounds good. We have an emerging banana crisis. I might make the banana pancakes from the MN cookbook though.

Glad you got the boxes, two.

I have finally finished the cake!

Also forgot to update on the yule log. It was delicious: very chocolatey and a good texture. Dark chocolate in the icing meant it wasn't as sweet as I had feared. I'll upload a picture if I get a chance (it's on my camera rather than .my phone which I mn on). I would advise you to roll while warm as it works much better. I definitely didn't have to make two

We thought we'd reprise old favourites for January. Shall we focus on a couple of specific books or just go for anything we've done?

If we're doing old favourites can I suggest a veg book? I'm doing vegetarian / vegan January and would love to still be able to join on- plenty perhaps ( with plenty more included for those who have it ? Or hfw veg ? I think thomosina was quite veg friendly?

Happy new year, hope you all had a fab Christmas.
Is there a new thread I've missed?

Not yet that I know of. Veg books sounds good to me, what do you think ELR?

Hi , I'm happy to do veg books are we doing any veg books?
I bought Prashad which is an Indian vegetarian cook book last year and been meaning to cook from that for ages, will that do? Happy to revisit all the veggie books we did last year too as have to admit didn't do them justice really!

I think the idea was to repeat the ones we've done, so I think River Cottage veg and Ottolenghi Plenty (were there any more?) But yes of course add whatever veg cookbook you like to that.

I'll set up a thread in a bit if everyone is happy.

Happy New Year :). Hope everyone had good Christmases?

Always happy to revisit Plenty :)
(have bookmarked loads of things to make in Plenty More too, Christmas present :))

Pregnant - EGOR had some good veggie stuff.
Have you looked at the 101cookbooks blog? She is veggie, loads of it vegan.... I can't stop eating the coconut, kale and quinoa bowl (so much nicer than it sounds!!), also the kale rice bowl (ditto! But not vegan)

Also Smitten Kitchen is worth a search. Often lots of veggie stuff, though maybe not vegan. These butternut squash and vinegary onions on toast are divine, you could miss out the cheese and be vegan.

Hmm, hungry now....

Oh and Jerusalem was surprisingly good for veggie stuff - the roasted cauliflower and hazelnut salad, mejadra, chermoula aubergine (you would need to omit the yoghurt to make it vegan, but it would still be good)
Also, it may be an acquired taste, but I really liked the pomegranate molasses, wheat and Swiss chard dish in Jerusalem, very comforting :) though the Greek yoghurt did really add to it, not sure what a good vegan equivalent would be.....

And if you don't already have a veggie burger recipe, the one on A Girl Called Jack's blog is really tasty and dead easy, just kidney beans, some spices and grated carrot iirc, I add a leek too.

I would join in on any of the veg book suggestions. (Actually have them all as I'm a sucker for veggie booked). I also got Anna Jones a modern way to eat and love it a lot. Not sure how many have this on their bookshelf though.

I have to try the coconut, kale and quinoa bowl now. Intrigued!

TwoLittleTerrors it is so lovely :)
The coconut and almonds are dry fried together with garlic until all golden, so their flavour is amazing. And great texture too
And the lemon kale is refreshing, the avocado creamy
And the salty olive oil yogurt.... Mmm

And all combined together it is just a perfect blend of flavours and textures.

Think I know what I'm doing for lunch!

Oh and if you have any Brussels sprouts left languishing in the fridge, 101's Caramelised Tofu is lovely, with stir fried shredded sprouts and pecans - yum :)

New thread here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/food_and_recipes/2273981-January-cookery-bookclub-were-going-veggie

I'm going to pin those, thanks HuevosRancheros. They sounded so lovely.

That quinoa bowl sounds lush, I have all the ingredients accept kale do you think watercress would work?

huevos that coconut, almond and quinoa bowl is amazing!
Your description sold it to me, I'm already planning when I can make it again!
Few slight adjustments but it was sublime. I used watercress instead of kale and lime instead of lemon. I think the almond, coconut and garlic would make a great topping for soups and also mixed with rice for a curry.

Mmm I need to do this. Kale is my favourite veg -along with all my other favourites--

Yay, glad you liked it is much as I did, you know sometimes I wonder if everyone has the same tastes as me

Interesting about the watercress, I can imagine it would work similarly to kale in that it has a peppery bitterness to it.

Kale is the only thing left growing in my garden atm and it is so lovely to be able to pick it fresh and cook it straight away - I did indeed have it yesterday!