Roasted Potato Wedges with Crushed Fennel Seeds and Peppercorns

Hello everybody. I was going to write a short update on why I’ve not blogged for so long. but I’ve changed my mind, at least for now. It would be so long-winded, I’ll bore you to death. I have posted a little on Instagram just in case you want to know.

So, to get us going again, I’m posting a throwback and a very simple thing I do when I put something on the grill, typically a piece of chicken or fish. Incidentally this is one of J’s favourite way of cooking potatoes. I wasn’t too keen on fennel seeds (almost a scandalous idea when you live in Malta). However J does these so well – I was converted.

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Gingernut and Mascarpone Mini Cheesecakes, and a few thoughts

Seven days until Christmas. Now that’s 2016 almost over. I just can’t believe it. Can you?! We have been having quite a rainy week and for the very first time yesterday I felt the cold and the humidity. Is it really time to wear our coats? Could be, but it should get a little warmer over the next few days so we’ll just have to see about that. My friends in MI have been some wicked snowstorms. I’ve been asking for some but none of them obliged yet! Oh well.

Halloumi, Plum tomato, Mixed Greens and Baby Spinach Salad, and a Mustard Dressing

I can’t believe that it’s September already, and I’ve not written anything on C&T since the start of August. There were quite a number of reasons for this – one of which is that frankly I haven’t been trying new recipes or doing any baking. (I feel an updated Coffee Date post is on the horizon…)

Although this blog is practically here to profess my love for the kitchen, our summer months here in the Med are too much, as in there’s way too much heat and humidity in the air already. My adding to it in the house is no help at all. So I’m taking a break.

However this won’t last long now – I know I have to get back into the swing of things very soon, so this simple salad is a good way to start.

Raw Carrot and Date Truffles (GF)

I usually work best during the afternoons. I’m a bit strange that way – I’m not a morning person nor an evening person. I’m somewhere in between. This applies during the colder months. When the weather starts getting warmer, plans like these go loopy and then it’s either late in the evening/well into the night, or insanely early in the morning. So the question I’m currently asking myself is what gave me the idea to start writing at 15.00 hrs? My upbeat playlist on Spotify isn’t even helping. I’m about to resort to slapping myself in the face to try to wake up. Please note: at this very minute it’s 18.26. Yep…p..p..

I find myself channelling Caitlin Moran‘s special power (one of my favourite people on this Earth) to put thoughts into words – eloquence and genius all in one. No success. Moran 1/ Briffa 0.

Roasted Aubergines, Courgettes and Portobello Mushrooms

I wanted to throw something extra before the weekend, since I realised that I missed a post last week. I’m on a roasting kinda-kick. You’re sharp and you’ve already noticed. Please have patience with me. OK, so I could try to guess what you might be thinking: Portobello mushrooms are nice and big so that we can fill them with all sorts of goodness. Now that, my friend, is my wish for a last meal. That and a good ol’ lemon and sage roast chicken. But I can assure you that it lends itself so well here precisely because it’s large and meaty. I’m sure you know mushrooms – they absorb any flavour you give them but Portobellos don’t need much apart from good seasoning. Then you’re pretty much good to go. The same goes for aubergines.