Watching: Artists

Stuart White

Adolfo Serra

Stacey Page

John Keddie

Sidsel Sorensen

Antony Zinonos

Julia Pott

Daniel Lachenmeier

Ashley Joseph Edwards

Butternut Squash and Bacon Risotto

Having recently returned from the farmers market with a box full of local produce I decided to make a butternut squash risotto. The recipe calls for a two step process as you must make a soup before you can begin the risotto.  The soup is delicious as it is but can also be frozen to be used to make another risotto in the not so distant future.  This is a truly scrumptious one! 

Step One: 

Butternut squash soup with crisps. (Serves 3-4)

Ingredients for the soup:

• 1 butternut squash
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• butter, to taste
• 600ml/20fl oz vegetable stock, plus additional to loosen soup if desired
• 1 heaped tsp hot smoked paprika
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients for the crisps:

• reserved butternut squash peelings
• drizzle olive oil
• few drops of sherry vinegar
• 2 tbsp finely chopped rosemary

Method:

1. Peel the butternut squash and reserve the long strips of skin. 
2. Discard the butternut squash pulp and chop the remaining butternut squash into chunks.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large casserole dish, add the onion and butternut squash and plenty of butter (to taste) and cook until brown and caramelised,
4. Pour over the stock.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Remove from the heat, leave to cool slightly then blend using a food processor or hand blender to the desired consistency.
5. Add hot paprika and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 
6. For the crisps, preheat the oven to 140c/275f/gas 1. 
7. Place the reserved butternut squash peelings in a roasting trap and top with olive oil, sherry vinegar, chopped rosemary and put in the oven to cook for 20 minutes on a low heat to crisp up.
8. Remove the crisps from the over and place on kitchen paper to absorb any excess oil.
9. Serve the soup with the skin crisps.

Step Two: 

Butternut squash and bacon risotto (Serves 2) 

Ingredients:

• 200ml left over butternut squash soup
• 200ml vegetable stock
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 100g/ 3.5 oz arborio rice
• 4 tbsp grated parmesan 
• 4-6 rashers of bacon
• a sprinkle of hot smoked paprika

Method:

1. Combine left over butternut squash soup and stock in a pan and warm through.
2. Heat the olive oil in a pan over a low heat and soften the onion. 
3. Dice bacon into small pieces and fry up with olive oil and onions until crispy.
4. Separate bacon from majority of onion and remove bacon and set aside.
5. Add the rice to the pan and cook through for 5 minutes.
6. Ladle the stock into the rice pan at regular intervals, allowing rice to absorb each time.  Stir well each time the stock is added to the pan.  Continue this process until the rice is cooked through and soft.
7. Add parmesan and mix through rice until you have a thick sticky consistency. 
8. Remove risotto from pan and press into a small serving bowl before turning over onto a plate and topping with crispy bacon and a sprinkling of parmesan and hot smoked paprika. 

Up, up, up and away

A beautiful work in progress! 

A sneak peek into the process 

(Once furniture had been removed from the ceiling and the intervention was well underway)

and rest!

A day in the life: Kirkwood, Missouri

I can confess that often when I think of St Louis, Missouri there is a picture that pops into my head.  It isn't the green leafy suburbs or a lively night in Soulard or the Central West End.  The overwhelming impression i've been left with is of broken down houses and shifty, half deserted neighbourhoods.  (See here)

In such a state of extremes there are people living in two very different worlds.  We spent some time in Kirkwood yesterday.  It is probably one of the sweetest places you can find! There is a lovely little farmers market selling local produce (Peaches the size of footballs by Eckerts.)  Everything seems taken care of, lush and green.    

The restaurants and bars are bustling and full of a busy, working type of clientele. Others there seem to have the time to stop and enjoy the simple things. Whilst waiting (for happy hour) we found a bench to sit on.  There aren't too many streets in St Louis that I would feel comfortable closing my eyes in never mind taking a nap but Kirkwood seems to be a happy, safe place to get some shut eye. 

We woke and indulged in a spot of public people watching.  A man had pulled up in front of us on a bike and was reading by the train tracks. 

Another guy came along and was sat playing with a dog. 

A hawk began to circle above us. 

An elderly man walked off the path to check that the guy sat on the floor was okay. 

The man and his wife stopped to watch a train come through.

They began to wave to the driver and watched the whole length of the cargo train pass.

All the while this guy was still sat causally reading.

Stalkerish tendencies aside, I thought this was all quite sweet and worth capturing.  

Home with a box full of fresh fruit and vegetables.  There is a butternut squash risotto on the cards.

Slow Cooker: Honey Sesame Chicken

Ingredients: ( Serves 4) 

·     6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 4 chicken breasts

·     Salt and pepper

·     1/2 cup diced onion

·     2 cloves garlic, minced

·     1/2 cup honey

·     1/4 cup ketchup

·     1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce

·     2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil

·     1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

·     4 teaspoons cornstarch

·     1/3 cup water

·     2 packets minute rice

·     1/2 tablespoon (or more) sesame seeds

·     3 scallions, chopped (optional)

Method: 

1. Combine onion, garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, water, oil and red pepper flakes and pour into slow cooker.

2. Place chicken in slow cooker and lightly season with salt and pepper and coat well with dressing.

3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

4. Remove chicken and shred into bite sized pieces; set aside.  

5. Prepare rice according to package instructions.

6. Pour dressing from crock-pot into a saucepan through a sieve.

7. Remove 1/3 of a cup of dressing and dissolve 4 teaspoons of cornstarch into it.  Add to remaining dressing and stir into combine.  Cover and cook sauce on high for ten minutes stirring every now and then until slightly thickened.

8. Place chicken into saucepan and coat with dressing.

9. Add cooked rice to four plates, and top with chicken. 

10.Sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds and chopped scallions (if desired.)  

Enjoy! 

Reasons to be Royalist.

I have absolutely no shame in admitting that I love the Royal Family.  On occasions such as a HRH Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, Royal weddings, and births the media is filled with celebratory comment.  Anti-royalists use these times as an opportunity to air republican views and general discontent.  Many believe that in this day and age there is no place for an inherited monarchy. 

One of my favourite things about the Englishman is the tolerance and respect that we are taught to have for others.  Sadly, this isn’t something that we always apply to our own.   During the celebrations of a newborn king this week I received a message asking if I could explain why anyone in the 21st century would still care about a monarchy. 

Here are some of the reasons why one could/should give two hoots about our monarchy if so disposed.

Tradition
William the Conqueror, Henry VIII, Bloody Mary, Queen Victoria… Our royal family are the descendants of a long and distinguished line of fascinating historical figures.  I find the tales of honour and betrayal captivating and I believe many others would too if they were actually taught about them. Kudos must go to Gove for finally placing an importance on British history in the 2014 New Primary Curriculum.  There is hope!

Tourist revenue
The monarchy is a huge draw for tourism into Great Britain, generating huge sums of revenue to our economy.  Buckingham Palace, St James’ Palace, St Pauls Cathedral, the Changing of the Guard, Windsor Castle, Sandringham and all the other stately homes, historical buildings and royal traditions.   I am sorry to break it to the anti-royalists but people aren’t coming into London for the weather!

Role models 
The Queen is 86 years old and still working with no sign of entering retirement.  Her highness is relied upon to make constant public engagements and charitable commitments.  She has dealt with challenges throughout her reign with grace and quiet determination, always maintaining her poise. I do not envy her role at all but respect her work ethic wholeheartedly.  This is something I believe many need to see publicly if they have no working role model at home to look up to. 
Princess Diana showed continual compassion towards those in need and helped to make the lives of those less fortunate better.  Prince Charles has achieved some fantastic things through his organisation, The Prince’s Trust.  Prince William and Harry (along with many other royals) have served their country as members of the armed services.  In today’s often anarchic society respectable role models are much needed.  Take away our well to do monarchy and you remove the option for vulnerable young people to follow typical British traditions if they so wish.  It would be a terribly sad day if the media were only to be filled with controversial, train crash celebrity pop culture lifestyles and inconsistent political leaders policies.  Would you rather your daughter dressed like Rihanna, Katy Perry or Kate Middleton?

They are human
Beneath the crowns and tiaras the royals are people.  They have a family like any other and they have their ups and downs, divorces and scandal.  Unlike us common folk, every move they make is under spotlight and scrutiny. The families best times and worst times are in full public view yet somehow they have managed to stay far more grounded than many would in similar circumstance. Few people can forget the sight of two young boys following their mother’s funeral procession.  How brave those boys appeared to be. 

They are open to change
The Royal family may represent old tradition and values however the youngest generation are setting the scene for the future of the monarchy.  William and Harry represent a monarchy that is much more in touch with its people, down to earth, hardworking and forward thinking.  William is currently working as a search and rescue pilot. He has taken one week off of his annual leave before his two weeks paternity for the birth of his son like any other new parent would.  Harry has been working on the front line in Afghanistan.  People may make remarks about the privileged upbringing members of this family have had but realistically this is something they are simply born into that comes at quite a cost.


Community spirit
My Grandparents taught me that during the Second World War there was a spirit of camaraderie in England.  Neighbours would support one another during difficult times.  It seems as though now people have little time for each other.  That our lives have become so busy that we infrequently make the time to enjoy the company of others.  People come together for a royal event.  Street parties, friends and family gatherings in celebration, community events, surely this isn’t something to squabble about.

[My Great Grandmother is photographed here cleaning the streets with her neighbours in preparation for the Queen's Coronation.  Streets are lined with bunting and flags.]

[The Queen's coronation 1953]

They represent England
At a time when schools in London are banning Christmas nativities and political correctness and health and safety are eating away at our traditions I think it is important to remember that this IS England.  If we don’t take care and preserve our traditions we loose an identity that has drawn so many here.  England will simply become a culmination of every other culture that has chosen to make this island its home.  If I were to travel to UAE today I would land during the month of Ramadan where it is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours.  No exception is made for non-fasters, as this is the law of the land. We travel and respect other cultures but seem not to always value our own. 


So these are some of the reasons I have sat in the rain on the edge of the Thames waiting to see the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee, have woken up in the middle of the night whilst in America to watch a royal wedding despite the time difference, and the reason I will continue to be excited by the birth of a future king!