Nigellisima: Book Review

I am loving Nigella's new aptly named series, Nigellisima, airing on BBC Two at the moment. Within just 10 minutes of watching the first episode, I was already logged onto Amazon and buying the accompanying book.

GBBO: The Best Banana Bread

I am hooked on the marvel that is 'The Great British Bake Off'. What with Paul Hollywood's piercing blue eyes and style icon Mary Berry (for wearing that Zara silk bomber), there really is nothing better to watch on Tuesday nights. Oh, and of course for the baking.

I was gutted to see the wonderful Cathryn leave last week as I was really gunning for her to win. You can't help but love her down-to-earth attitude and of course for bringing back phrases such as 'Oh my giddy aunt' and 'Heavens to Betsy'.

After much inspiration, I decided to bake Shetland's finest James Morton's banana bread with some extremely overipe (practically black) bananas I had leftover in the kitchen. I made little individual loaves using these cardboard moulds from Lakeland.

Ingredients:

125g soft butter

250g caster sugar

4 over-ripe bananas

2 large eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

250g plain flour

3 tsp baking powder

Method:

1) Preheat oven 160°

2) With an electric whisk, mix the butter and sugar together until combined

3) Mix in the bananas, eggs and vanilla until you’ve got a lumpy wet mix.

4) In another bowl, weigh the flour and mix in baking powder.

5) Very slowly and carefully, fold the flour into the wet mix until no flour is visible but the mix is still lumpy.

6) Add in a large handful of sultanas into to the mix and pour into your moulds.

7) Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.

Melanzane alla Parmigiana

We have been going to the same Italian restaurant - L'Antipasto in Battersea - for as long as I can remember, and my parents for years before that. With half price food four nights a week and a whole chalkboard of daily specials, this is definitely somewhere to go after a hard day at work or for a quiet Sunday lunch.

I am a quarter Italian, and despite never having been to Italy before (I know), I will never get bored of this cuisine. You really can not beat a proper, homemade Italian feast.

One of the best starters there is Melanzane alla Parmigiana (aubergines, mozzarella, tomatoes all baked together) with home made garlic bread. So, I decided to make my own version of this on a lazy Sunday afternoon. 

Ingredients:

4 medium sized aubergines

4 cloves of garlic

1 onion

4 balls of mozzarella

2 tins of good quality chopped tomatoes

1½ jars Lloyd Grossman Tomato and Chilli pasta sauce

Method:

1) Slice the aubergine into around 1cm thick slices and fry in a tiny bit of olive oil until softened

2) Chop the garlic and onion and sweat in olive oil 

3) Add the chopped tomatoes and pasta sauce into the garlic and onion mixture and heat for around 10 minutes

4) Slice the mozzarella into around 2cm thick slices

5) In a deep rectangular baking tray, spread a thin layer of tomato sauce to the bottom

6) Add slices of aubergine so they are tucked in tightly

7) Layer slice of mozzarella on top of the aubergine and spread another layer of tomato sauce on top of that

8) Repeat the layering until all ingredients are used up and you are left with a topping of tomato sauce and mozzarella. Sprinkle some freshly grated parmesan for an extra crispy finish

9) Whack in the oven at around 180°C for 40 minutes or until golden on top. Top with fresh basil if you have it (I didn't)

10) Enjoy! 

Burger & Lobster - Mayfair

For a belated birthday present, my lovely boyfriend treated me to dinner at the much talked about Burger & Lobster. We walked around Knightsbridge after picking up my other wonderful present - Michael Kors rose-gold watch - and headed to the Mayfair chain on Clarges Street.

We opted for an early dinner to avoid hour long queues and were sat straight away. The staff were great and personally read out the menu consisting of only three items; a whole lobster with garlic and lemon butter, a lobster roll, and a burger. 

After hearing so much about the lobster roll from a colleague at work, I went for this one and Tom went for the 10oz burger with bacon and cheese. All the dishes are served with chips and a side salad.

My lobster roll

The lobster meat has been steamed and hand picked to make the roll and, once coated in a light wasabi mayo, is placed in a toasted brioche slice to be eaten like a hotdog. No frills and airs about this apart from a tender and juicy crustacean-filled piece of heaven. 

Tom and his mammoth burger

At £20 for each meal, it is quite dear and a treat only warranted after payday but for a whole lobster in Mayfair, I would say was very reasonable.

Can't wait for my next visit!