Fryday Round Up – 4th July 2014

I’m so excited it’s Fryday! Sophie, Dave, Jason and I are off to our wine tasting day tomorrow, which for some strange reason starts at 10.30am. Not sure how it will go down that early in the morning but I’ll give it my best!

Today’s recipe is a meatloaf which I thought would be apt considering it’s the 4^th July although I didn’t go completely American with the sides, instead opting for cous cous and a big salad. This was a definite winner with Jason!

Tonight I’m going to make us a mezze tea so we can sit, eat and chat about the weekend. I love putting loads of dishes down in the middle of the table and making different flavour combinations from all the smaller dishes.

We might be feeling tender on Sunday, depending on how much wine we get through at the tasting, so I’m planning a mezze breakfast too! Who says a cooked breakfast needs to be full English!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Fryday Round Up – 27th June 2014

How is Fryday already!? I’ve had such a busy week at work that it really doesn’t feel like it should be the weekend but I’m not complaining!

This weekend Jason and I are hosting our friends Sam and Mark who we met on our Jamaica honeymoon a couple of years ago. Last time we hooked up with them, I was hung over for three days, had a sore throat from singing in to a wooden spoon (microphone), and vowed never to drink rum or Red Stripe again – they will be relieved to hear these feelings have since faded. If the weather is ok (meaning anything less than torrential rain), we’re planning on taking them in to the city to ‘Up In Your Grill’ (www.upinyourgrill.co.uk/) which is taking place in the Northern Quarter over the next nine weekends. I’m going to be totally paparazzi so I should have some good photos to make you all jealous.

Sophie returns from Menorca tomorrow which I am EXTREMELY happy and excited about. I’ve really missed her while she’s been on holiday and it’s genuinely made me feel a bit out of sorts, although a lovely early morning phone call from them today on my way to work cheered me up, as did the news that Annie has made a friend called Annie and has been dancing at the disco every night – love that kid. They’ve had a really well earned break and I am looking forwards to having a very long food and drink conversation with Sophie when we’re driving to work on Monday.

Food wise, this week hasn’t been as tasty as last week as I’ve been working a lot, but tonight I’m planning on making up for it by making my Rome favourite, Bucatini all’Amatriciana. I bought some back from Italy but I know you can buy the bucatini from the Tesco Finest range and other supermarkets probably do it too. I’m going to serve it with a courgette and feta salad which I’ll post with the #7daysofsalad recipes.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend – let us know what you’re making, eating and drinking!

Fryday Round Up – 20th June 2014

---

 

This week is #7daysofsalad!

Sophie and I love to BBQ, so as the evenings are now longer and (slightly) warmer, we’re dusting off the coals and starting to eat and drink like it’s summer time. We’ve eaten many a bland salad at BBQs but it really isn’t difficult to make them so much more interesting with a dressing or by adding an extra texture or flavour.

We hope our salad recipes will help you try something different to go with your BBQ food or at any time of year– they aren’t all low in calories but where we can we will give you alternatives for making them lighter.

There are two recipes up so far with these delicious combinations coming up this week:

• Beetroot with danish blue and praline
• Green chopped salad with capers
• Courgette with mint and feta
• Panzanella with crispy salami

Sophie flew off to Menorca with Dave and Annie yesterday afternoon, so I am anticipating receiving some food and wine photos any time now, and hoping they are having a very well earned break in the sun.

Tonight I’m cooking my special potato salad with baked salmon and baby gem salad. Look out for the full recipe coming later on.

Have a great Fryday everyone!

xxx

---

Fryday Round Up – 6th June 2014

Happy Fryday everyone! It’s a gorgeous day today in Birkenhead (where my offices are based), and I’m really hoping it stays warm until this evening so I can sit outside somewhere with a glass of cold wine. It’s not a normal day for me as I’m off to Leeds after work for a Saturday conference starting in the morning (@NRocks2014), but at least I’m staying somewhere decent and going with my one of my favourite colleagues. I’m hoping we’re going to find somewhere great to eat, so I can tell you guys all about it!

This weekend I’m going to make a leg of lamb (as they’re half price in Tesco) so I’ll report back on how that goes. I’m thinking of using middle eastern flavours like harissa, garlic, lemon and parsley but we’ll see what I end up with. I have been wanting to make my own houmous too, so that fits in nicely with my plans for the lamb.

Something exciting! Sophie I have splashed out this week and booked ourselves and the lads on to a full day wine tasting course with champagne and lunch. The day costs £79 per person which includes tasting at least 13 wines from all over the world and is limited to 12 places meaning we’ll get a really personal experience. You read about the course here and more about Manchester Wine School here.

We’ve also been busy cooking and writing up recipes this week, and we’d really love to hear your feedback (good or bad). Have a lovely, sunny weekend!

Fryday Round Up – 30th May 2014

It’s been a busy first week for M33 Foodies! Thank you so much for all the encouragement and sharing on Facebook and Twitter, which is really helping to spread the word and as inviting readers from all over the world.

I’ve called this round up the ‘fryday’ round up, not because I’m going to fry something, but because for me, Friday is the day I can indulge in whatever I fancy. Both Sophie and I try and be good and healthy in the week so we can go a bit mad at the weekend, usually on a takeaway or wine or both.

Tomorrow we are heading out in to Manchester with the girls but as we’re having a few drinks before we head out, we thought it would be a good opportunity to try out some bruschetta recipes on the girls.

I’ll be doing a classic tomato and basil, a modified version of the aubergine and mint topping I found in my Jamie’s Italy book, and if I have time I’ll add a white bean crostini too (also inspired by Jamie’s Italy). Soph’s going to recreate the goat’s cheese bruschetta she loved at Bella Vista this week, and she’s also making her own red pepper and cream cheese dip which is amazing with breadsticks or pretty much anything crunchy. We might throw in a few olives and even some banderillas if they’re lucky!

It’s only Friday, and already I’m thinking about what I’m going to eat for my hangover cure on Sunday. I think I need to get a life!