Cooking and not going out

 Still in the depths of lockdown, presumably for most of 2021, maybe able to go out to eat in late summer or autumn, but not really expecting it.

The weather had improved, so starting on a few salads, but freezing again, so back to stews and curries.

Below, after a lovely slow roast lamb shoulder, we made kebabs.  Some OK wild garlic fettuccine with prawns, but I rolled the pasta too thin, so it went a bit claggy.

Great pork chops from Pat Whelans, a little lunch of sourdough croutons, anchovies, artichokes and basil

A couple of victoria sponges, for a change.  Terrible for my enormous belly, but what can one do in a lockdown but (cook and) eat shite?

Had another lovely take away from Mint Cottage in Malahide, still making bread, hopefully will not live to see another New Year, it's all too tiring

Another little gap :)

 So just haven't got around to updating anything in ages, done tons of cooking although nothing new.  The permanent lockdown will probably never really lift, so I'm resigned to never going abroad again, nor even going to a restaurant, if any still exist.

Apart from borderline alcoholism and a huge weight gain, lockdown has helped me hone my cooking skills, although there's no-one to eat it but us....

Sourdough bread and pizzas good, not even taking photos anymore, made batch today (Irish bread I don't like, but was asked to make it)

Had a couple of "finish at home" takeaway meals from Bon Appetit and Unos Mas, both great and would try some more

Uno Mas

Bon Appetit

Will keep cooking, will try and drink less and try to update this when I make something  new or in the unlikely event I go anywhere further than Lidl or Dunnes

The (small) benefit of lockdown

While little good has come from COVID, apart from people being nicer and probably never going back to the office full time, I've found having the time at home and doing a lot of sourdough work, it has improved all of my cooking, in a few ways.

I'm naturally clumsy and heavy handed, having the time and taking it has really increased my attention to detail, I'm doing things slower, double checking things, making careful notes and re-reading things.

I made some yeast bread for someone a couple of weeks ago, I've not made any for a least a year and it was as good as I've ever done.  I made fresh pasta and then tortellini, usually I make raviolo and there's always one or two splits.

I'm also being more choosy with ingredients, it comes partly from being restricted in the first few weeks and having to shop at more expensive farm shops or online and really appreciating the quality.

A bit like shopping in the market in Malaga or Sevilla, I appreciate good tinned tomatoes, olive oil, eggs, meat and am willing and can afford to pay for them - I realise this isn't possible for everyone and you can make great food with the cheapest ingredients.  

After boiling some ham, I cut the boiled fat off, dried it and made lovely pork scratchings

I did a good mushroom risotto as well

 

Eating out again and sourdough

Went to Potiger in Skerries, trying and mostly succeeding at fine dining in North County Dublin.  Service was a little bit haphazard and although I liked it, a fair bit of offal, if you don't

Also went to Shouk in Drumcondra, absolutely lovely Middle  Eastern and it's BYOB (€8 corkage), will defo be back and recommended it to everyone, especially good for veggies, but meat dishes lovely.  Gorgeous coffee in a glass to finish and all reasonably priced.

I have started making sourdough to get me out of a funk, three loaves in, takes time and a bit hit and miss, still trying different recipes and feeding the starter every day.

Tomatoes, bread and pizza

Garden pots going very well, a few more gherkin and chillies, loads of tomatoes

A few different varieties, made some salads and a roasted tomato sauce for pizza and ragu.

I made my best every bread yesterday, a simple brown bread with fennel seeds and sliced up sun dried tomatoes (Lidl, not my own - not enough sun)

Does look anything special, but I really liked it

Made mini-pizzas last nigh, tuna & red onion, roast courgette, blue cheese & rocket, salami and rocket and jamon & a baked egg

Obvo, egg looked the winner, even San photo-ed it