Cookbook club - April- Diana Henry and Italian

[whatareyoueatingNOW]

Hi all

Another month gone by and shiny new thread for April, though I'm sore march middle eastern will be continuing with all the lamb cooked over Easter

We're coming Diana Henry as our cookbook author- any of her recipes online or any of her written recipes can be made, just make any and review your recipes here.

As usual we're also covering a more general cuisine - this month Italian. So any Italian cookbooks you have can be used, share any classic Italian recipes that you have, and anything from any Italian themed blogs/ online sources that you find

I made Gino decamps polenta crusted mackerel with tomato and basil salad. It was beautiful- I'm surprised by how much I like this book. I was very sure that I didn't like Gino but what I've tried has been lovely

We were due to be having Diana Henry's chicken breast with Puy lentils and wild mushroom sauce tonight but two supermarket visits later and there appears to be a shortage of skin on chicken breasts! (the skin is important in this recipe) So we're having jerk chicken instead which is neither Italian or a Diana Henry recipe - but this is what dinner was supposed to look like!
a-littlebird.com/2015/03/11/win-a-copy-of-diana-henrys-a-bird-in-the-hand/

Diana Henry's Goan bakes fsh with chilli and coconut chutney from change of appetite.

This is simply wonderful. Fragrant and exotic , comforting and impressive. This will be my meal of choice for my next dinner party.

I have lots of leftover coconut coriander chutney- haven't decided what to do with it, but as it's so lovey I'm sure it'll be well used.

that looks amazing what - similar to a recipe I remember from years ago - I think it was a Nigel Slater one.

meant to add - if you want a homely rather than dinner party spin on that dish then her goan fish curry is worth a go - we love it!

Last night we did Goan Fish Curry from Diana Henry
www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/10389890/Simple-Goan-fish-curry-recipe.html
We've done it before several times and loved it - but something went wrong last night and really wasn't good - DH was cooking so am not sure what exactly - but he's proclaimed it is now my dish to cook for evermore

So tonight we've returned to Rachel Boddy and her braise-bake "chicken with potatoes, anchovies and rosemary" I could eat anchovies until the manatees come home (couldn't think of a better sea-cow analogy!) So am very happy!.

Chicken, potatoes and anchovy braise bake was delicious. The potatoes absorb the chicken-y juices so I kept the left overs and made a potato hash with a fried egg for lunch!.

This evening is Italian again for us - lamb neck pasta from Gastronomy of Italy - by Anna Del Conte. It is a family favourite (I'm not doing very well on testing new recipes this month!).

Latest Diana Henry dish combined the two themes of the month! Hot Italian Chicken with peppers and chilli. Very easy and very tasty - will definitely return to this one.
On Sunday we had rope's lemon grass and turmeric chicken with potato salad and date and tamarind chutney, I wasn't bowled over by this dish at all. The spice marinade was too bitter and the potatoes although sweet didn't deliver a rounded flavour. All in all it was a lot of bother and expense and didn't come anywhere need the Made in India version of Roast chicken with ferrari potatoes - maybe it failed by comparison.
Tonight we're having Vietnamese lemon grass and chilli chicken with rice and spring greens - really looking forward to it.

Myrtle - I love anchovies and that sounds delicious, unfortunately I'm the only anchovy fan in the house.

Has any one got any thoughts on what to cover next month?

Hopefully the weather will be nice and for the cuisine I was thinking perhaps Mexican?

Mexican sounds good - and I like the idea of picking a chef and a country - although I have failed to extend my Italian knowledge this month - it's a good nag.

Pleased to say the Vietnamese lemon grass and chilli chicken was very good - not too much chilli and well balanced. Japanese chicken with smashed cucumber tonight!

Oooh I'm in, I love Diana Henry's recipes. So simple and tasty.

I love making her pomegranate and honey slow roast lamb, but might give some others a go.

That pizza bianca looks great!

I made Diana Henry's tagliata this evening- like others joining Italian and Henry. It was nice, and of course very simple, but I felt that her dressing (rosemary and garlic infused oil) needed more punch.

Has anyone got any suggestions for the book/ chef for may?
Perhaps Nigel slater or hfw?

Sorry I've been out this month. Had a lot going on at home.
Mexican sounds good to me!

How about Thomasina Miers as the chef?

Nigel Slater or HFW alongside Mexican as the theme sound good to me - I think if we went with Thomasina there is less "spread" - I do not Thomasina is not just about Mexican food but perhaps NS or HFW gives greater opportunity for posters?

Morning! I’d love to join in with this for may if that’s ok? Am on an extended mat leave and finding my cooking creativity has been ignited with a bit more time to spend on the kitchen. Mexican would be amazing as it’s our fave cuisine but would also LOVE NS

KT- of course- all welcome! More the merrier. The idea is we cover a cuisine (Mexican this month then) and an author- this means there's a wider berth for anyone to join in and find recipes online even if they don't have any books.

I'll set up a may thread for Mexican and Nigel slater today

https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/foodandd_recipes/3238044-cooking-club-mexican-may-and-a-bit-of-nigel-slater

New thread for may here.