Mustard-y Mushroom Pasta

 

I often forget it's lunchtime on the days I work from home. Today, however was an exception. After rooting around our cupboards, and  abiding by 'good fridge management', I concocted this little dish: 

 

Mustard-y Mushroom Pasta (for a lone home-worker): 
Chop a handful of mushrooms, chuck (or place delicately) into a frying pan along with 75ml of veg stock, 1-2 teaspoons of whole-grain mustard and a clove or two of finely chopped garlic. Stir, wait for the stock to start to boil a little then simmer on a low heat. Meanwhile, cook pasta accordingly - I went for some left over fresh wholewheat tagliatelle lurking in our fridge. Be sure to keep an eye on the mushrooms whilst the pasta is cooking, making sure they don't get too dry (if they do just pour in a little of the pasta water into the frying pan). Drain the pasta once its cooked and tip into the pan of mushrooms. Stir around, tossing in  a handful of chopped parsley (whilst imagining you are in fact Jamie Oliver making a time-bending 15 minute meal) and grating over lemon zest. Season and serve. Eat whilst watching an episode  of the office to feel smug, or listen to the Archers and pretend you are not in fact, home alone.

Crackers & Dips

On the days I work from home, I often hear a buzz around 11am followed by post hurtling down our hallway (I'm convinced our postie is an Olympian discus thrower in training ...). Normally, said mail comprises of bills, flyers and other, uninteresting paper goods. Last week however, I heard something land with a thud. I was very happy when it turned out to be  a cookbook by Portland-based Ivy Manning, Crackers & Dips: More Than 50 Handmade Snacks.  Even more so, considering the book came as a prize via Jen Altman's ace blog Nectar.  I have yet to delve in and try out some of the delicious recipes; (mainly because the books simple beauty has lent itself quite nicely to my coffee table, look how georgeous the photography and illustrations are!) not for long though - to the kitchen  I say ...

She Simmers

 All She Simmers

As a nod to the end of term we headed over to Pho last night for delicious Vietnamese fodder. Stir-fried Chinese water spinach more than stole the show, so I thought I'd share a recipe by She Simmers! (for a Thai version) It's deliciously salty, crunchy and garlicky and if you're botanically minded - the main ingredient goes by the name Ipomoea aquatica. According to Pho, it's quite hard to get hold of in the US as the seeds are considered hallucinogenic, how true this is I'm not sure ...  Anyway, I reckon the simple dressing would suit brassica's too - I'm thinking kale and tender stem broccoli, yum!