Claire's Cake Bake & Other Foodiness

But not the tooth rotting kind.

Today I bought Candie Payne’s first album I wish I could have loved you more – sister of Sean Payne (drummer in The Zutons) and Howie Payne (ex-The Stands frontman and up coming solo artist). Very sixties-esque but very fab & quite addictive.

Thats what we are. Absolutely bushed.

From the piccy I very quickly posted last night (from the Radio 1 website) you probably know we spent most of yesterday in Preston at the Big Weekend.

We were out at 9am as parking was on a first come, first served basis so via a petrol stop, a little breakfast break & a slight de-tour we got to Preston at about 11am. We parked in the college car park and took the park & ride service to Moor Park. We stood in the queue for about half an hour before gates were opened & we got in. The first band we saw were the Pigeon Detectives in the In New Music We Trust tent – they were very good, energetic & I would pay to go & see them again should they play near home sometime.

We then wandered around & waited to see The Fratellis who, as usual, played a great set. My only complaints at this stage in the day were that 1 – I have not been in such a ‘smoky’ atmosphere for years, everyone seemed to be blowing smoke our way, eugh. And, 2 – some people are soooooooo darn cheeky. We waited for 30+ mins in situ to see The Fratellis & we were by no means close to the stage yet for the full set people were forcing their way past, knocking me off my feet to get forward into the crowd that was jam packed full. Grrrrrr.

Anyway, annoyances aside, we went on to watch some of The Gossip, Hubby likes them but I have to say I am not that keen. A bit of LCD Soundsystem, again Hubby likes them but I dont see the fuss really. I mean they are not offensive, maybe its just not quite me.

We caught half of the Kasabian set which was enjoyable. Not a band I have listened to much but the songs were ones you just kind of know. We heard some of Razorlight too but am not really a fan of them either!

We decided to leave before the Scissor Sisters as they were playing the main tent and we would not have seen them and we weren’t prepared to be squashed alive again so we headed off home.

After getting back at about half nine we got a call for duty at the Zoes Place midnight walk – we had offered to be reserve stewards, so at 11pm we headed back out to Liverpool to marshall the near 400 walkers. I think we got home & went straight to bed at 4am.

So, yes. We are absolutely bushed.

We’ve been to Tesco today for our weekly shop – the first we have done for a while as we have been living on the contents of the cupboards & freezer with the odd shop here & there. This means that last week I only made a few proper dinners – a feta salad cous cous & another fiorentina pizza.

This week I intend on cooking every night and I am determined to take part in my first ‘bag weekly challenge – this weeks ingredient is asparagus. Especially since we got 2 bundles of asparagus in Tesco for 10p each.

Here is our vegetable haul for the week:

Most of that veg is now cooking in the oven as batch cooking commences with a large batch of ratatouille (2 peppers, 1 red onion, 2 courgettes, aubergine, tomatoes & one bunch of asparagus).

Tonight I will make a chilli as Hubbys sister is coming over for tea.

Monday we will probably have round one of the ratatouille with some cous cous.

Tuesday will be a lentil bake (must remember to wash the lentils).

Wednesday I aim to make a quiche with the other bunch of asparagus.

Thursday I will use some more ratatouille to make a pasta bake with some mozzarella & olives

Friday we will probably have the left over chilli.

On Saturday we will probably eat out as Hubby won us two tickets to the Radio One Big Weekend next Saturday in Preston – hmmmm I could make us a picnic…. will have to get my thinking cap on there!!

Anyway, I will try & report back mid week with some pics seeing as I have been a bit absent recently.

Apologises for my bad accent there! But yes, apparently yesterday was the National day of Mexico (thanks for the tip Toast!). However we were a bit short of time & preparation yesterday as we had to have a big clean for friends of my mum & dad popping around for the first time since we moved in two years ago and I went for a big chop, my locks are now short, a bit layered and more versatile.

So the poor excuses over, for tea we had some tortilla chips served with a layer of bean salsa, a layer of tomato salsa and cheese – served with spring onion as the chilli I *thought* we had was not as edible as it once was. Served with sour cream, guacamole & refried beans.

For the main course we had fajitas – the filling was quorn mince, peppers and red onion, chopped tomatoes and a mexican seasoning. Again, served with sour cream, guacamole & refried beans.

We forgot the Corona too but made up for it with a very nicely chilled white wine.

Our favourite pizza restaurant has to be Pizza Express & we own two copies of the Pizza Express cookbook. One Christmas I bought my Hubby one & yes, snap! that very same Christmas he bought me one.

I’ve used it quite often for its dough recipe & more often than not make my favourite Pizza Express pizza – the Fiorentina.

The dough is soooooo simple & reasonably quick to make so long as you have about an hour & a half to leave it to rise. I enjoy the bouncy texture of it:

To make the Fiorentina, the base is covered in the basic tomato sauce (1 onion chopped finely & softened in a pan with some garlic, throw in some tomato puree, then 400g chopped tomatoes and a pinch or two of oregano + seasoning – leave to simmer & reduce). On top of the tomato sauce you need to add some spinach, cubed mozzarella & some finely chopped garlic.
Throw it in the oven – ours takes about 16/18 minutes at 220° – 10 minutes before its ready add an egg… and hey presto one very tasty & satisfying Friday night in.

Serve with some black pepper & grated Parmesan and a large glass of white wine. Bellissimo!