Sushi, Sushi, Sushi

Sushi isn't just available in a restaurant or takeaway....

Its just as easy to make it yourself and also twice as fun! 

I first made sushi nearly two years ago, after returning from China and inevitably exploring London's China town and the chinese supermarkets. 


I think the best thing about making sushi is picking the things you like best to go inside. If you really hate avocado, take it out. If you are in love with cucumber, stuff it in, its all your choice.
The same goes for the meat element, there is a huge variety of meat and fish you can choose from, such as beef, duck and chicken to salmon, tuna, crab, prawn and eel. You can even stick to a simple, good old vegetarian options, such as omelette, tofu or one of the best being philadelphia (or cream cheese to be correct).  


Now, forget thinking you need a million and one things to make it. 
The key elements to sushi are:
1) Sushi Rice (japanese rice)
2) Nori Sheets (Dry Seaweed)
3) Mirin - (rice wine vinegar)
4) Makisu - Bamboo rolling mat
5) Vegetables (eg cucumber, carrot, avocado)
6) Neta - raw fish/meat


Tip: My best advice is go to a chinese supermarket for these products. They are better quality and half the price of those in western supermarkets, plus its all part of the experience. 

Coffee and Chocolate Marble Cake with Marzipan Surprise

Marble Cake..... what a beauty!


You get both chocolate and vanilla sponge = perfect, no compromise.


I decided to adapt the recipe to add a hint of coffee into the chocolate sponge and add marzipan into both layers to make it that bit more exciting. 


This cake is perfect for a lazy sunday afternoon with a cup of tea or coffee! 


Ingredients:
                                                   Serves: 10

250g- Plain flour

2 teaspoons- Baking powder

1/2 teaspoon- Salt

200g- Caster sugar

125g- Butter, softened

2- eggs

1 teaspoon- Vanilla extract

250ml- Milk

2 tablespoons- Cocoa powder

2 tablespoons- Intense Coffee

50g- Marzipan (cut into chunks) 

Egg Fried Rice

Wondering what to cook for dinner?


Need something fast but tasty?


Why not try egg fried rice.... no not the takeaway variety, the home-made quick, simple and healthy kind. 


Its using all your best store cupboard and basic ingredients so no need to venture out to the shops.


You can put whatever veg you like in it. 
I chose mushrooms, mangetout, peas and sweetcorn.




Ingredients: 

                             Serves 4

240g- White rice (i.e. basmati)

1- Onion

2- Garlic cloves

2- Small chillies

5- Mushrooms

10- Mangetout

1 cup- Frozen peas 

1 cup- Frozen sweetcorn

5- Eggs 

Brunch Bagels

(pumpkin seed/cinnamon and raisin)

These are perfect for breakfast, brunch even lunch. Whether your going for savoury or sweet or both. 


I used one recipe and spilt the dough into two. Creating plain pumpkin seed topped bagels and cinnamon and raisin. 


Now, I don't know whether it was my yeast or what it was but at the first stage when the yeast, sugar and warm water are put together to froth up.... mine decided to be lazy and not really do much. I think this was why my dough didn't rise much and subsequently they weren't the lightest of bagels. 


 However, in my defence they still tasted good and were soft enough for the first day. 

Dough Restaurant Review

Overall:  4/5

Dough Restaurant in the Northern Quarter of Manchester City Centre. 

It is exactly what the name suggests; an Italian themed restaurant, featuring a large variety of pizzas,from Moroccan to Wasabi Prawns to Ham and Eggs. 

There is definitely a pizza here for every taste. 

Whats more, theres a large variety for both vegetarians and meat eaters, which is nice to see. 

The interior is modern,clean and features an open plan kitchen area, however this is out of view to some tables which is unfortunate. 

Veggie Fish-Less Pie

If like me you have people in your family or friends who are vegetarian, you need a good alternative to serve at the same time as your meat/fish dish.                                                                                                                       This Veggie Fish-Less pie is perfect, as you can use exactly the same sauce and obviously mashed potato as the Fish Pie - Just omit the fish an top with a boiled egg instead.         

Making meals with veggies and meat eaters easy peasy!!

Gooey Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

aka "Boyfriend Birthday Cake"

Call me old school, but I just love baking someone a birthday cake and isn't the way to a mans heart through their stomach? or is that just an old wife's tale??

Either way, when my friend suggested baking her boyfriend a cake (Happy Birthday Will) I jumped at the chance.

Now, in my experience theres not many people who can resist a good chocolate cake; men and women alike. However, I have noticed a huge difference between the sexes and this sweet ingredient. 

Men eat chocolate like its no big deal; a chocolate bar in two bites, a box of chocolates in one sitting. Whereas us women, well the evidence is currently sitting in my bedroom; a selection box still intact from christmas.  We like to saver it, eat it slowly and have it there for "just" that moment when we need it. 

Either way, a chocolate birthday cake is always a safe bet. 

I wanted the cake to be dark brown in colour with a contrasting filling, so I went for a cream cheese frosting and for the top,  piped royal icing with dark chocolate drops. 

It went down a treat with both boyfriend and girlfriend and we had a laugh making it too.

Read more for the recipe and try it next time your man... or woman turns that bit older (sorry Will) or just when you need a good chocolate fix.

Smokey Fish Pie

Everyone loves a good comforting fish pie.... and I don't know about you, but I personally can't stand any pre-made white sauce meal of any kind. They just seem very artificial and you can never tell whats in them. I can assure you its not your simple home-made butter flour and milk sauce though. 
When its so easy to make your own.... why go out and buy one??
Give this recipe a go and see how simple it is. Any comments or even pictures would be very welcome.


There are lots of varieties you can do and many types of fish you can use. From salmon, cod and haddock to shellfish like prawns, muscles,clams and many more. Just about any type will work well.
I choose a smoked haddock of the frozen variety - yes thats right, frozen or fresh whichever you happen to have. 


Tip - the smoked paprika gave it a nice intense flavour, but use sparingly. 


Try the recipe below- and for a vegetarian option with the same sauce omit the fish and add hard boiled eggs look at Veggie Fish-less Pie. 

Ralph Lauren Restaurant Review

                  

                                                                                          Overall:  4/5

http://www.rlrestaurant.com/about.asp

I have to admit I was a bit taken a back finding out Ralph Lauren had a restaurant. I couldn't quite picture it.  However, upon entering, I felt I had inflitrated a very British Club House, gaining assess to an exclusive display of wealth and luxury. Comfort seemed key to this design, with a large fire place at the entrance and large soft leather chairs and booths to relax in. 

The menu was based around American classics such as Caesar and Waldorf Salads, Steak, Crab Cakes and Club sandwiches as well as the all American Burger. 

I went for the Lobster Bisque -$8.50 to try something I never had before and I have to say I would choose it again and again. It was smooth, creamy and full of flavour. My only criticism maybe that I had about one chunk of lobster in it, a couple more would have been ideal. 

I also sampled the Tuna Nicoise Salad- $22, which again was on top form with Tuna was cooked to perfection.

For dessert I shared the Creme Brûlée (Bourbon-Madagascar Vanilla with Seasonal Fruit)- $8, which lived up to my high creme brûlée standards with a nice hard caramel top. 

However, unfortunately I do have to report some negative aspects. Firstly, when ordering we were notified that the restaurant was out of Oysters,which was a disappointment, along with bananas of all things. This seemed strange to us as they could easily have gone down the road to get some (no banana splits for us). 

Secondly, we were served the wrong glass of wine and after disputing that it had to be right, as the waitress saw it poured, she then brought the right glass of wine. I therefore had to mark the restaurant down for these two points. 

Overall I would recommend visiting Ralph Lauren Restaurant for the high quality food and ambience.

"Рыбный Базар"- seafood restaurant review

Overall: 4/5

Рыбный Базар- or simply "Fish Market" I was introduced to just a couple weeks ago when taken by some Russian friends. 

It is seafood at its finest. There are around 45 species of fish to choose from and a further variety of ways you want it cooked. The restaurant believes in quality and letting the natural flavours come through, so doesn't over power the fish courses with sauces so mask the fish. 

It was here that I tried my first Oyster. A large decorate plate came full of large exquisite Oysters, with an explanation of the origin of each one. We had a range from Ireland, Portugal, Canada to Spain, Holland and France. They had a great fresh taste and served simply with a squeeze of lemon; perfect. 

I choose to go for something a bit different for my main - Cuttlefish "Da Vinci" - 850 rubles

Tender meat of cuttlefish in a sauce of three kinds of Italian cheese combined with black truffles. 

The dish was listed under pasta on the English menu, but I was quite surprised/bewildered when it came out. It was served in a deep round silver bowl on a stand with a candle underneath to keep it warm and accompanied by polenta slices. 

The sauce was rich creamy and full of flavour and the polenta cakes were a great lighter option to go with this. 

The unconventional serving of this dish was an unexpected delight, I would recommend this dish to visitors, but be warned it is very filling. 

Herby Cheese Scones

Scones scones scones….. first they were baked then they were scone.

These went down a treat with great flavour and a nice soft texture.

Perfect with the heat from the Spicy Red Lentil and Carrot soup

Spicy Red Lentil Soup with Herby Cheese Scones

Easy peasy soup squeezy ....

As I am finding out lately, soup could not be easier to make. All you do is sweat down some vegetables and add your stock... then voila, a lovely home-made lunch or dinner. 

Red lentils and carrots go brilliantly together and I added a nice kick with some dried chillies (fresh would be just as good if not better) and cumin seeds. 

These home-baked, herby cheese scones are a great accompaniment and a nice change from your normal soup and bread marriage. 

Tip: adding mustard to the milk or mustard powder to the flour adds a little extra to these soft tasty scones. 

Look in the recipe section for Spicy, Red Lentil and Carrot Soup and Herby Cheese Scones. 

Tavern on the Rush

Overall: 4.5/5 

http://www.tavernonrush.com/tavern-on-rush.html

This is a fantastic American Steakhouse.

I have to say, it was the best steak I have ever eaten. I definitely felt I had got the Chicago Steak experience. 

Firstly, before ordering, we were given a masterclass in steaks.

A plate containing the different cuts and an explanation of its whereabouts on the cow, how it is cooked and its texture. 

I went for the Petite Filet Mignon $29.95 - medium rare. It was cooked to perfection- cut through like butter. 

Others sampled the Chateaubriand $38.95 per person (minimum two people)

Carved Tableside – Marinated center-cut beef tenderloin served with grilled vegetables 

and béarnaise sauce and also a 20 ounce steak - I think that may have been a bit much.

The verdict was that the Chateaubriand was the Winner and I would recommend it and Tavern on the Rush to anyone wanting a great steak in Chicago.

After all that meat .... we had a tray worth of desserts brought out. 

I had never tried Key Lime Pie before (middle dessert on the picture) and I have to say it was delicious. 

The Restaurant is seperated on two floors - The Lower Floor contains a horseshoe shaped bar and the upper floor an open kitchen. Both are enclosed with large glass windows allowing great views over the streets of Chicago. 

This is a high quality, great service restaurant and therefore high priced but you definitely get what you pay for.

When on a trip to Chicago, its well worth a visit.