Not for the squeamish !

I love my Japanese mandolin. It slices things in a way that a knife just can’t do, creating shreds, ribbons or slices so regular, that it magically transforms even the simplest of vegetables into something quite superb.

However just as Rick Stein is famously caught on film one minute warning us of the dangers of this tool and then the next clip shows a very angry disposal of said item while brandishing the tell tale blue plaster. I was also caught by the devilish sharpness while my attention and lack of respect wandered for just a moment!

Still love it but just had to be reminded how scary it is.

Old favourite

An old favourite revisited and adjusted and clearly it earnt the title of “favourite” deservedly. Published in 1985/ 87, (worth looking out for in car boots, charity shops, whatever, but keep looking)
Clearly in those days we didn’t nerd to be seduced by a title or a picture ( visually this one would be a challenge) but shut your eyes and let your nose and mouth do their job. It is delicious and as I found out open to so much interpretation of what is haunting you in the vegetable rack/ drawer!

Resolutions

Oh dear not doing terribly well, two new cookery books, it’s February and my resolution was no more this year! Ok one was a gift and one was a charity shop find, but even so must try harder!

New book

Great joy, although as anyone who knows me will vouch, I am not short of a cookery book, but a new one always brings new experience & introductions to combinations and possibilities.

Dan Lepard’s “Short & Sweet” is no exception.

With luck no shopping was needed for this one.

Orange macaroon cake

The dark chocolate curls were just my addition, tiny bit of 70% left over from a job.