April Cookery Book Club - Diana Henry

[Pantah630]

Welcome to Spring and Cookery Book Club. This month we are testing Diana Henry's recipes from her many books and online recipes.

I have her new chicken book, A Bird in the Hand, and have made one of the spiced thigh dishes, it was good but not memorable as I can't remember the name will go back through the book and let you all know later. For those without any books or access to them through your libraries there should be recipes online.

Some of us were so enthralled by Made in India that we will still be reccing those recipes too.

I'm one of the few who doesn't drink coffee, so don't have a coffee grinder, so have a perfect excuse to buy another kitchen gadget

I just use a huge pestle and mortar (Luddite)for grinding. hey mindgone I just joined recently too this is a lovely but financially ruinous thread

Oh dear!
Actually, I love our local library for recipe books, it's great to try before you buy!

I have an electric grinder but am coveting a replica Turkish hand coffee grinder on etsy. Welcome Mindgone, the more the merrier. honey and Co is in my amazon basket, so I press buy?

Thanks Pantah, I haven't actually made anything from it yet, it was a Christmas present. But it is a lovely book, and I love Middle Eastern food!

Please do mindgone. Don't blame us when you buy too many cookbooks though!

I made jerusalems mejadra yesterday evening. I've made it before and loved it, but always made alongside other mezze type food. I fancied it was bland alone. It needs an accompaniment to make it shine I think

Glorious, I already have too many! It might be a good time for a reorganise to create space!

You'll fit right in!

Mmmm- jerusalems spiced freekah soup with lamb meatballs is beautiful. Delicate soft spices, wonderful complimentary flavours. Real comfort food, I'll definitely make it again.

There's no picture in the book but this is how mine turned out -

Do we want a new May thread, or just stick with this one?

Welcome Mindgone :) Let me tell you how this works, so you've been warned. We decide on a book for the next month, or often two books. You decide that either a) you're probably not that interested in it or b) you borrow it from the library. If a), you get seduced by everyone's descriptions of the recipes and buy the book. If b), you fall in love with the book, sob when it has to go back to the library and buy it anyway.

Just so you know

Pregnant, I have done mejadra in the past with falafel and a tahini yoghurt sauce, which provided much-needed liquid.
Soup looks good :) my book is for stairs, I am upstairs - is this a soup that could be done without the meatballs to be veggie?

for stairs = downstairs
Stupid phone

I made another Diana Henry dish today. It's an old favourite form cook simple. Warm potatoes with beans and avocado. It's basically a potato salad with green beans and avocado. Dressed with olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and sugar. Picture here instagram.com/p/2OlyLqsH0a/

We haven't chosen a book for May yet. There are lots of suggestions but there isn't a consensus yet it seems.

I have done the mejedra in jerusalem and I remember it being lovely.

Has someone mentioned sesame and spice up thread btw? I'm eyeing it on amazon as it looks interesting. Jewish baking. That's middle eastern I'd reckon if we decide to do a middle eastern month

Since I'm such an enabler here is the link www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1472223608

In the mood for cooking and DH and I are childless tonight - both on sleepovers. We went out last night and are craving salads. So I am planning to make (all from Jerusalem):
Roasted cauliflower and Hazelnut salad (p.62)
Spicy Carrot Salad p.65
Tabbouleh (made this before, so lovely) p.85
and Zucchini cakes - a Nigel Slater recipe.

Lots of chopping coming up whilst listening to my audiobook - I love 3 day weekends.

lbnblbnb - have you done the cauliflower and hazelnut salad before? It is one of my favourites from the book :)

Two - I think we have decided to have a middle Eastern month, we just don't have a new thread yet :)

Oh! I didn't realise there was no consensus and had skipped gleefully into what I thought was middle eastern may.

The soup could definitely be done and would be almost as delicious without meat. The freekah and veg broth is gorgeous alone.

Middle eastern month sounds great to me. I love the food. Maybe I have an excuse for buying a Middle eastern baking book. I don't have one yet!

Thanks pregnant, when I go for stairs/downstairs in a bit I shall look at the soup :) And thank you for skipping us into May :)

I'll start a new thread, is that OK? Save confusion on what we're cooking :)

New thread would be good. I'm sure I'm not the only one with baby brain.

New thread here :)

Hmm, made Anna Jones Huevos rancheros tonight - liked but I added extra spices; might have been dull otherwise...

Off to check out May...