Thrown together meal

Tonight I wanted something quick, easy but yummy! So I raided my fridge and decided to make a nice quick mushroom tart :) 

There are no measurements as it really was super thrown together however the ingredients are listed below.

Ready roll puff pastry square

Asparagus

Mushrooms

Mushroom soup (canned)

Porcini mushroom paste (mine is from sainsburys)

Brie Cheese (optional)

I spread the porcini mushroom paste in the centre of the pastry leaving space round the edge for the pastry to rise. I then spooned on a little mushroom soup not to much that it soaks the pastry just enough to help give it a little sauce. I baked this in the over at roughly gas mark 6 until the edges started to rise. 

I then took it out and layered on sliced mushrooms and sliced asparagus I then layer Brie cheese on top of that.

I baked further till the cheese had melted and bingo, quick yummy dinner with a few salad leaves on the side :) yum 

The Shoebury Hotel

Last weekend me and my partner had 'date night' it doesn't happen very often but it's lovely when we do! 

We decided to go to the Shoebury hotel a. For convenience (we literally live 2 minutes away!) and b. We have eaten there before and really enjoyed it. They had a new menu and I for one was looking forward to trying it! 

When we have been before I have always found them accommodating even among me something that wasn't on the menu! 

Anyway this time I had to start, the special which was mini aubergine frittatas. I had never thought of doing this as a starter but it's a really good idea! I will say the actual frittatas were a tiny bit dry but the tomato sauce with it made up for that. Taste wise they were lovely and a nice light way to start the meal! 

For main I had goats cheese and spinach filo parcels. These were amazing! The cheese wasn't over powering and the pastry was perfect and crisp! I choose not to have any sides as I was saving room for the champagne the other half bought me ;) 

My partner had the parfait (I believe it was chicken!) which he really enjoyed and for mains the chorizo risotto. Both he really enjoyed and trust me he is a fuss pot! 

The service as always was perfect. The manager Andy is attentive and always happy to help in anyway. They have also opened a cellar bar that is open till 1am and available for private hire which is a lovely idea! We have yet to have a nose as there was a private hire in at the time.

The service is so lovely in there we are going back again for drinks and snack next week for my bday with a bunch of family and friends! Ooooo I nearly forgot they do a mean cocktail! And if Andy is in and it's not in the menu they are happy to make others as well! Lovely :) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Esplanade Southend seafront

I am sad to say that when this place closes the seafront will be loosing a good traditional pub! 

I went today for lunch with my mum and dad and little one. We have been before and ordered from the menu but this is the first time I have had their Sunday carvery and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it! 

The food was well cooked and lots of veg to choose from which is always a must from me! Crispy potatoes and crunchy Yorkers! Yum! They even went out the back to sort out veggie gravy for me and my mum as the ones out the front were meat.

Service was great as always and the place is super family friendly. Lots of high chairs about! 

We were also lucky enough to catch a live singer! We didn't know this was on so was a really nice surprise! My little boy loved it! He does love a good boogie! 

All in all really lovely meal and great service and atmosphere will just be such a shame when it closes :( 

Let's Veg Out: Greens, pea and butterbean burgers

MSo I am once again having a cook up! I'm determined to be a bit inventive for my lb!

 

So I am cheating slightly here and here's a pic of the ingredients! 

Ok so, you need to steam the greens for a few minutes until wilted then rinse well and squeeze out all excess water.

Add together beans peas egg onion mint salt and pepper and bind together (I don't like lint so left this out and if I was making these just for me would prob add a little chilli instead) add the breadcrumbs last and mix well. This should now be left at room temp for 20mins.

I am making mine into a proper burger as there is nothing I love more! So with mine I am having a grilled garlic mushroom and hot salsa in a bun. To accompany I have made home made chips only twice cooked (I'm a busy mum I do not have time for faffing around with frying them 3 times!!! Boiled and fried job done!) and also some spicy sweet potato fries, nice as simple, salt pepper and cayenne with a sprinkling of flour to help crisp. These can be done in the oven or as I'm feeling naughty today fried ;) 

So the final result was this. 

Overall the party was a little dry but the taste was good :) a little extra salsa sorted the dryness out though :) 

 

Let's Veg Out: Breakfast Pastry

So I have finally found time to go through my new cookbooks and I am soooo excited to get cooking again! The first one I have tried is from the Lets Veg Out cookbook.

So as you can see from the above pic I chose to do the breakfast pastry but I did mine as a dinner with sauté potatoes and rocket. 

Ingredients: 

pre rolled pastry (I found pre done squares for this exact sort of thing!)

Asparagus

Eggs

Pasta sauce 

The recipe couldn't be easier! Spread some pasta sauce on the pastry sheets leaving a ridge round the edge. Bake til the sides start to rise. At the same time blanch the asparagus, drain and set aside. Once pastry ready layer in the asparagus and break an egg on top. Bake again until egg has set. Done!

Super easy although watch the pastry! As you can see from mine it's easy to over cook it! 

Overall easy to do even if your in a rush and it safe to say little ones approve! 

Away too long

I have been snowed under with uni work the last few weeks and now finally the summer is here and I can indulge my not so secret passion for food! Look out for lots of recipes tryouts and reviews :) 

Veggie Itame

I am a massive fan of Wagamamas! My only problem is that I don't have one anywhere near me :( it's probably a good job as I would be in there all the time! So as a substitute I have made my version of the Veggie Itame, noodle soup! In Wagamammas they use tofu but I decided to substitute that for a veggie money bag instead! I made the soup from scratch but will admit that the money bag is from the Chinese range at marks and Spencer's. 

My recipe is this........

For the soup base

1 can of low fat coconut milk

A litre of veggie stock

3 teaspoons red curry paste (make sure no fish elements) 

Noodles (I used flat rice noodles) 

And veg you fancy (I used mushrooms, been shoots, water chestnuts and spring onions)

Literally all I do is fry off the paste in some oil for a few seconds then in with the milk and stock. At the same time cook some noodles as instructed on the packet and leave to one side. 

I then bring the soup to the boil and and the veg (leaving out the spring onions) I don't cook the veg for very long as I like a good crunch. Add the noodles to your serving bowl and add the soup and veggies then finish by topping off with the spring onion and if you like a good kick some fresh sliced chilli as well :) also if you have it some coriander add that as well :) 

That's literally it super simple and easy and bags of flavour! It's my favourite comfort food and a fabulous substitute for the restaurant! Yum yum