Housewife in a Hurry: Pan con Tomate/ Spanish Toast

Its been a while now since I went to Barcelona. And starting next week I'm going to be telling you all about my trip to Paris. Before I do though, I am going to show you how to make the most ubiquitous of all Spanish tapas: Pan con Tomate (literally meaning bread with tomato, aka Spanish toast). It might surprise you that something so easy could be so flavourful and delicious. You've got to try this one.

After coming back from Barcelona, Hubby and I would keep reminiscing about the awesome food we ate at Taller de Tapas. We loved it so much that we would go back to Barcelona for that alone!!! Though every tapas bar has Pan con Tomate on the menu, theirs was definitely the best. While my version doesn't exactly look like theirs (if you want it to look like the Taller de Tapas version, use a French baguette), I feel that it is comparable. It is now one of our staples at Chez Housewife. We have eaten it both as a breakfast and as snack (beware the garlic if you are having this for breakfast though, it will definitely give you stinky breath).

Because you will be using so few ingredients, the key to making this dish truly great is by choosing the best quality ingredients: great bread, very ripe and flavourful tomatoes, and the best quality olive oil.

Here is what you will need (serves 2):

1 or 2 (depending on size) ripe and flavourful red tomatoes

2 teaspoons of olive oil

1 clove of garlic (optional)

sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

4 slices of sourdough bread

Directions:

Toast or grill the bread. I like to grill it, because I like to get those nice grill lines on the bread :), it just looks good. If you are using garlic, cut the garlic clove in half and rub it into the bread. Do the same with the tomato. The tomato flavour needs to really get into the bread. This is done by practically "grating" the tomato into the surface. The bread should turn a pinkish-red colour. Now sprinkle on your olive oil, salt and pepper. Easy and fabulous!

P.S. For those of you wanting an update on the whole hamster drama, I have some news. Reeni from Cinnamon & Spice may have spotted Heavenly Hamster. If this is true, there could be an issue as my hamster eats the finest food and must look quite tasty to Moon the Kitchen Cat, who is quite familiar with all things culinary. I am going to send a flying monkey over there to investigate and perhaps plan a rescue mission. This may be my beloved hamster, or this may be Laurel's hamster, from Happy Simple Life as she is missing hers too. There is also rumour that my hamster may be sipping tea and munching on macaroons at the Champs Elysee Laduree. As this sounds quite likely, I'm going to investigate that one myself ;).

Reward if Found

Have you seen me? My name is Heavenly Hamster, and I have gone missing. If you read this blog regularly, you may recollect that I am the inner being that lives inside Heavenly Housewife. The "mini me" if you will. I make sure that Mrs Housewife does not become one of those weird 900 pound anomalies that occasionally wind up on the Oprah show, crying for help. How do I do that? Well, I run on the treadmill of course. If it weren't for me, the housewife would just be gorging on confections all day long. Unfortunately, that is exactly what has been happening. It was only recently that the housewife realised I was missing. You see, she was trying on a fabulous Dior house frock when she when she had a gander at her expanding backside in the mirror. In a state of terror, a delicious Lauduree macaroon fell to the floor and broke into a million pieces. Tisk tisk, it was simply tragic. The housewife is inconsolable! There is now an All Points Bulletin out for my return. I was last seen about a month ago on the treadmill. Please find me. There is a reward for my safe return.

Cardamom and Ginger Chicken with Cashews

Here is another Hubby favorite. I have to admit that I haven't made this one in a while. I really love this dish too, but the overnight marinading sometimes puts me off. Plus, as per Mr P, this dish really should be served a day after making it because it tastes much more flavorful once its been sitting a while. When I do make it, I like to make a big batch because it freezes really well, and if I do go through all the trouble of making it, its just as easy to make double. On a day I am doing nothing I could serve this to Hubby (after defrosting) and he will think a big fuss is being made over him. All I have to do is cook the rice. If you haven't figured it out yet my dears, there's nothing Hubby loves more than to be fussed over. It gives him a little glow to his complexion. There's nothing wrong with making your significant other think you worked really hard, even if you didn't, especially if there is something lovely in the shops at the moment.

Serves 4 (2 chicken thighs per serving)

Ingredients:

8 skinless chicken thighs, on the bone

2 tablespoons of garam masala

7 cardamom pods, bruised with a pestle and mortar

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon of chilli flakes

2 teaspoons of chopped fresh ginger

2 teaspoons of salt

5oz full fat plain yogurt (Greek yogurt is even better though)

1 teaspoon turmeric

2 finely chopped onions

3 cloves of garlic, chopped

2 oz cashews

2 tablespoons of tomato paste

3 tablespoons of olive oil

First, combine the garam masala, cardamom pods, cinnamon, cilli flakes, ginger, salt, turmeric and yogurt. Mix into a paste. Cover the chicken thighs in the paste and let it sit overnight, covered and refrigerated.

Once marinated, fry onions and garlic in olive oil until softened. Add chicken with any extra marinade, plus add just enough water to cover the chicken. Add tomato paste. Once the chicken is cooked, reduce the liquid to a desired consistency (I like the sauce to be nice and thick, personally). Finally, add cashews.

Baby Fruit

Check out these perfectly ripe baby pears I bought last time I was in Marks & Spencer. This variety of pair is called Bambinella, and it originates from Malta.

Today I thought I would talk about the strange pheonomenon of nicknames related to food, especially when it comes to nicknames for girls. Hubby and I have had hundreds of nicknames for eachother over the years. One of the things he used to call me (though I really don't hear this one anymore... is it because I'm getting a bit fluffy?) was "baby fruit"-- hence the picture of the baby pear from M&S. Cute, aren't they? I just had to buy them. Even though they are about the size of a 50 pence piece (a bit bigger than a quarter), they are totally ripe.

Anyways, back to my original thought... oh, I do get side tracked way to easily! I remember back when I was in university I did several courses in women's studies (or feminism) and this topic of female pet names came up. Of course, in a class like that, the conclusion was obvious: men see women as objects to be devoured, and also a bit insignificant. Well, my dears I don't want to go that route. I don't think we need to make it into something so sinister. But it's just an interesting thing to think about. Think of how many girly nicknames revolve around food.

Cupcake

Cutie pie

Honey

Sugar

Muffin

Pumpkin

Cookie

Twinkie (in America)

Crumpet (in England)

Oh, so you want to know what a baby fruit is?

Well, with the help of photoshop,

this is along the lines of what I have always imagined...

Which other food related girly nicknames can you think of? Do you have any silly nicknames you want to share with the class? Come one daaaahlings, don't be shy ;)!

Love,

Heavenly Housewife/ formerly known as "Baby Fruit", currently known as "Piggy" or sometimes "Dumb Bunny Bilkins"-- no, I kid you not.

Bewitching Cardamom Shortbread with Pistachio Crust

This week, I purchased Ottolenghi, The Cookbook. This book has been out for some time, and I have been browsing though it whenever I've seen it in the bookstores. I didn't buy it sooner because I've started to amass quite a few cookbooks, some of which I've never cooked a thing from. Still, I broke down and bought it. I'm so glad I did!

Basically, the cookbook follows the success of several London restaurants of the same name. I have never actually eaten there yet, but I plan to visit in the near future. In the meantime, I am just salivating over the mouthwatering pictures. The book focuses on colourful salads, Mediterranean style mains, and exotic baked goods.

This is the first recipe I have tried from the book, and I have to say, I am loving these cookies. They smell absolutely divine. When you are baking them, the house fills with the most amazing scent of cardamons. Even after they've cooled for several hours, they still smell awesome. Someone needs to make cardamom cookie perfume. I would so buy it! Yes, I've already created a tag line:

"Cardamom cookie perfume: it's positively bewitching!"

Tres sexy no?

And of course, Moi would be the muse!

*Check out the name of the magazine Endora is reading, :).

Makes upto 20 cookies

8 cardamom pods

200g unsalted butter

25g ground rice (I used rice flour)

240g plain flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

35g icing sugar

60 shelled pistachio nuts

1 lightly beaten egg

2 tbsp vanilla sugar

Crush the cardamom pods, then remove the seeds from inside and crush them into a fine powder.

Mix together the butter, ground rice, flour, salt, ground cardamom and icing sugar. Once it comes together, stop mixing.

Turn the dough out the counter and form it into a log. Wrap the log in cling film and then let it sit in the refrigerator for an hour.

Chop pistachios (I used a food processor) into small but chunky pieces, and scatter them on a flat tray. Once dough has been chilled, cover it in beaten egg, and then roll into the pistachios. Wrap the dough back up in the cling film, and put it back into the fridge for another half an hour.

Pre-heat the oven to 150C.

Slice the log into cookies. Lay them out onto baking parchment and dust with vanilla sugar. Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Do not over bake, the cookies should be pale in colour (as they are shortbreads). Can be kept in a sealed container for up to one week.

Keith Floyd

I raise my diet coke to you daaaaaaaaaahling!

Those of you who do not live in the UK, may not be familiar with Keith Floyd. With a spatula in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other (on which he would become ever so slightly inebriated during his show), Floyd was a truly fun and flamboyant, no-holds-barred celebrity chef at a time when Gordon Ramsay was probably still in diapers. Sadly, this week marks his passing. I thought I would write a post in his memory, and to introduce those of you who did not know of him to a fantastic individual.

I remember how Mr P and I would sit and laugh as we watched old episodes of Floyd as he cooked all over the world and in very exotic locations. In fact, he was one of the first chefs to take his show on the road. He was very much a pioneer. He was also notorious for telling it like it is (but not in a nasty Gordon Ramsay kind of way-- there were no F words, just lots of good natured wit). We also used to find it highly amusing the way that Floyd would always bark at Clive, his cameraman, while filming. I mean, who does that kind of thing? :D

I would like to share an exerpt with you of my favourite Keith Floyd episode. Here, he is in France. He is "trying" to make an omelette, but there is, as he says, a "bit of a tart" over his shoulder, scrutinising his every move. You gotta think, if that was Gordon Ramsay, he probably would have beaten that woman to a bloody pulp. Floyd handles the situation marvellously.

In the second video, another French woman is giving him a hard time (or a "bullocking" as we like to say here in the UK). Its just so funny :D.

He will be missed!

Laduree/ Louboutin Exclusive

Daaaaahlings, I would feel totally remiss if I was not the first of your blogpals to reaveal the progeny of the Laduree/ Louboutin collaboration. These special edition macaroons became available on September 11th, but I wasn't able to get to London and get my greedy little hands on them until today. Its only been out for a couple of days and already they were out of the cute little black box (which holds 6), so I went for the next size, the blue box of 8. I thought, since this as a rare and special moment, I too would do something rare and special: I am going to share them! Okay, I'll also let you in on a secret: it's way easier for me to share via the virtual method LOL. But hey, go get some tea and let's see what awaits...

First we have the special Laduree box looking all lovely and beribboned with its trompe l'oeil design (which literally means "trick of the eye"-- its supposed to look like you can actually see the macaroons sitting insidethe box... but we can tell the difference between real macaroons and fake, can we not my daaaaahlings?). It looks like a gift justwaiting to be opened. Let's open it then, shall we...?

Mmmmm... pretty macaroons. Note the red under shell, reminiscent of the famous Louboutin shoe. Are we amused? I think so :D.

According to the promotional literature offered by Laduree, they have "something of an oriental taste about them" because of their fig and date flavouring, which "delicately melts before driving the senses into a wild frenzy." Hmmm... that sounds a bit naughty to me! Maybe you shouldn't try it...

Oh, how rude of you! You just grabbed it out of my hands without a simple "thank you." ... Well, now that you oh-so delicately gobbled one of these delicate creations in the matter of a single gulp, I must ask you, what did you think? Did you like it? For next time, you might want to check out this link in order learn how to eat your macaroon in a manner which befits elegant creatures such as ourselves. Proper ettiquite dictates that you must delicately bite your macaroon and luxuriate in its goodness. Let me show you...

I am not sure if you can make it out in the picture above, but unlike Laduree's traditional macaroons, which normally have a creamy filling, this one is filled with something more akin to a jam. In this case it was a darkly coloured fig jam (which matches maybe too well with the black colour of the bottom shell, so its kind of hard to see. If you looked really closely at the filling, you may be able to see the teeny weeny fig seeds.

Well, rather than putting my senses into a state of "wild frenzy," I will simply say that the taste was pleasant. I enjoyed it, but it's not nearly as spectacular as the pistachio or coconut flavour. The taste was much like a Fig Newton, but with a light macaroon texture. I'm not going to rush back for another box, but I am so glad I got the opportunity to try them. The housewife can not be deprived of special edition macaroons, don't you know!?

I hope you enjoyed "sharing" with me. Perhaps by doing this virtual share, I will learn to share in real life too. No, that's just silly. I don't think so.

Mini Maple Pancake Muffins

I love to check out what Bakerella is up to. She really is an artist with teeny weeny foodstuffs. Bakerella is most famous for her cake pops. I have bought all the stuff I need to make them, but the ingredients have been sitting inside my cabinets for many a month. Her newest creations were pancake mini muffins. So of course, Moi had to go out and buy a mini muffin tin. However, the cool thing is that I actually made the muffins within a few days of buying the pan. *Pat on the back to me*

There were a couple of things I can recommend to you so that you make your muffins better than mine:

1) Before adding the chocolate chips, coat them with flour, otherwise they can very well sink to the bottom, like mine did. I don't know why it didn't occur to me when I was making them. I think it was really early in the morning, and I didn't really have my wits about me yet.

2) I didn't read the directions thoroughly (yeah, no surprise there), so I also forgot to leave some chocolate chips separate to decorate the top with. Too bad, that would have been so cute.

Bad housewife, bad!

I made these a special treat for Mr P this morning (though they would also make for an adorable little snack any time of the day). He said the best part about eating them was biting into the warm chocolate chips. If you have a naughty little creature that you would like to make these for, here is the recipe copied and pasted from Bakerella's website.

Mini Maple Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffins

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 egg
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a medium bowl. Sift together with a wire whisk.
• In another bowl, stir buttermilk, egg, maple syrup and melted butter until just combined.
• Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir with a spoon until combined.
• Stir in chocolate chips. Reserve a few chips to sprinkle on the tops.
• Bake for 8-9 minutes.

Makes 24 mini pancake muffins.

Let cool slightly and remove from the pan. You may need to use a toothpick around the edges to separate the pancake muffins from the pan.

Serve immediately with warmed butter if you like or even just with maple syrup.

My Diet Coke Addiction

My name is Heavenly Housewife, and I am addicted to Diet Coke... I think. Yeah, probably. I don't have that many health vices. I never smoke, or drink, and I exercise regularly (...sometimes). The thing is, I just can't seem to go a day without my beloved Diet Coke. I drink about 3 half litre bottles a day. I know its weird, but it helps my day go by. Is Diet Coke such a bad thing? There is so much conflicting information on the Internet, you really don't know what's true.

To some extent you can say that I've used diet soda as a weight loss tool. You see, I'm not terribly into juices, and I am not that partial to the idea of drinking my calories (occasional fatty milkshakes are excluded). But sometimes its great have something with a bit of flavor and sparkle while you are trying not to think about cake. Diet Coke does that for me. Still, it has not given me total immunity to glimpses the cake fairy who pops her head around the door every five minutes letting me know, "its tea time daaaaaaahling!" Ha, you didn't know my cake fairy speaks just like I do, did you? I just have a drink of my soda. "I cant really see you you wicked fairy with your piggy tail," I reply, (but of course I actually do). Also, Diet Coke is something to sip and make me look busy while the people around me are eating the stuff I really want, like pizza, burgers, fries and the like. It allows me to pretend that I don't really want what they are eating... ah, the lies we tell ourselves!

Whenever I visit my grandmother, she always asks me, "You still aren't drinking that Diet Coke are you? You know it causes bone loss." Does it? It also ruins the enamel on your teeth- though I haven't found this to be the case for myself (and neither has my dentist for that matter). There are even claims that Diet Coke makes you GAIN weight! Oh, and lets not forget the biggest threat of them all: it gives you cancer!!! Does it, or is this just one of many media scare tactics? I theorise that on a slow news day, the media loves nothing better than to put the fear of God into us.

Frankly I am so sick and tired of some of the stuff that comes out in the media: don't eat this, don't eat that:

• Fish, which is is full of healthy fats and lean proteins, can give you mercury poisoning.
• Aside from soft drinks, citrus fruits, honey, and raisins, despite their health benefits, can also cause permanent damage to your teeth ... (so does that mean I shouldn't eat them?). Are we also not told that honey is a great and healthy sugar substitute?
• Any foods with aspartame are thought to cause Cancer. But is it better to eat sugar and maybe get diabetes?
• Oh and the one that gets me the most is stupid things people say about my best friend, the carb. For goodness sakes, people have been eating bread since way before Jesus was born, but obesity has only been an issue in the last 50 years. Any guesses as to why??? It's not rocket science, I'll tell you that much!

Have you or someone you know stopped drinking Diet Coke and noticed that it made you happier or healthier in some way? I really would like to know. Do you have any big health vices? Do share! Do you think drinking Diet Coke is a bad habit? Should I quit, or do you think its acceptable to have a little vice ... or two?

Patogh: Kebabs Fit for Royalty, or Fab Housewives

Patogh is one of those hole in the wall places that Anthony Bourdain would visit on his show, No Reservations. It is in central London, but really its kind of hidden on a little side street. The only reason Hubby and I found this place is through word of mouth. Otherwise, I know we never would have found it, and walking past, I would probably have no desire to try it. This is a place that makes McDonalds look fancy, but believe me when I tell you that they serve some of the best food in London. Their kebabs are without a doubt the best we have EVER tasted. It is absolute ambrosia to Hubby and I. Thats why we've been going here for about 10 years now.

I don't know, these kebabs are like magic or something. Kebabs made out of ground meat have a tendency to be a bit rubbery. Or, if they are not rubbery, they tend to get rubbery after sitting on your plate for a bit. Not so with these. They are the most succulent and tender kebabs in the whole world (LOL, looking at the size of my bum right now, I really feel like I could be the authority on the subject). We have eaten other foods here: chicken wings, chicken shish kebabs, lamb shish kebabs, and its all good. They also do a special Persian bread (which is like a naan) that is as big as a giant sized New York pizza. I am always reminded of the closing credits of the Flintstones when we get it, you know, when the waitress brings Fred a huge plate or ribs which makes his "car" tilt over.

But, I digress... back to the kebabs. We always end up with the kebab (ground lamb and spices flame grilled on a skewer) because it is like no other. You can not eat these and not leave smiling. Oh and did I mention it comes with the best and yummiest rice EVER? Persian rice is beyond fabulous. It is white rice with saffron and butter. It smells sooooooo good. You could get fries/chips instead, but this is the only time where I actually prefer rice to fries.

Patogh doesn't do deserts. They also do not have an extensive menu. They do a few things, and they do them to perfection. That's something I really appreciate. You can order anything from the menu and know its going to be amazing. Don't be expecting fancy plates or glasses though. You actually get your drinks in a plastic cup-- but actually the food is so amazing that you just end up finding it really charming. Really guys, this is just simple good food at its best, no flashy gimmicks, no smoke and mirrors. There's just no need. Oh and guess what? Its also very inexpensive. Each plate of two kebabs and rice (or other side) is only £6!!!!!!!!!! I'd like to see you eat at McDonalds for that. This is no cardboard on a bun, this is a dish worthy of royalty... or a housewife with delusions of grandeur.

If you are in London, or plan to go, you MUST visit Patogh! I promise you, you will thank me for this. The address is 8 Crawford Place, London W1H 5NE, tel 0207 262 4015.

Kebab making guy :).

He's been here ever since we started eating at Patogh. He is very nice, and how can you not find a guy who makes the world's best kebabs adorable?

Wonderous Watermelon

I love watermelons. They are one of my favorite fruits. They remind me a lot of my childhood. I will always remember the excitement we used to feel when my dad would bring home a huge watermelon during the summer. My dad used to throw them in the pool (did you know watermelons float?). We thought it was so funny, and it was quite a spectacle. On a hot day, it was not uncommon for us to have a fabulous pool party with barbecue and delicious slices of watermelon. My little friend next door would peak her head around the fence, already in her swimsuit waiting to be invited. Ah, those were the days! When you are that young, you don't seem to have a care in the world.

The following Moroccan style desert would be a really fun addition to any pool party. It is also happens to be a great way of dealing with a watermelon which isn't really as sweet as it should be, and we all end up with a dud once in a while.

To create this refreshing and figure-friendly treat, you will need:

2 pounds of watermelon cut into bite sized cubes
2 tablespoons of rose water
1 hand full of fresh mint

As you are cutting your watermelon into bite sized cubes, save the juices. Mix the watermelon juice with 2 tablespoons of rose water. Pour the juice on top of the watermelon and let it sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. During this time, the flavor and fragrance of the rosewater will infuse the melon. Before serving, chop up the mint and distribute thought the salad. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Miss Behaving

"Ladies, please, use proper cutlery. Forks and knives please."

To me, there is one thing that makes someone very beautiful into someone ugly and horrid: bad manners. Manners and courteous behavior is a curious thing. They are free, but being without them is like being without any class. Look at Britney Spears for example. She has fame, good looks (sometimes), and all the money a girl could wish for. She pretty much has the world at her disposal, but she is often categorized as being "trailer-park" despite her riches. I ask myself, "how come that girl has so much money but no panties?"

Have you ever looked at an old etiquette book? Sometimes you come across some really outdated and silly rules. Here are some good ones that I found:

The demeanour of females should be especially correct, quiet, and reserved in the streets. If they be caught in the rain, they should not raise their clothes above the ankle, even though they risk spoiling a new gown. It is better to get a silk gown covered with mud than to acquire a character for levity or immodesty. (The London Journal 1845)

As a matter of course, young ladies do not eat cheese at dinner parties.(Manners and Rules of Good Society 1902)

A lady may say “I must ask to be excused, as an engagement for the evening necessitates a change of toilette.” She does not speak of “washing her hands,” nor refer to medical treatment which she may be taking, save to her intimates. (Good Manners 1878)

Here are some of my own:

1. Panties are nice: wear them.

2. Don't talk down to people.

3. Don't show off by telling everyone how much something costs (gosh, I just hate it when people do that--then I feel like saying, too bad you couldn't buy some class with that money).

4. Wear shoes (Britney).

5. When sending emails and text messages, don't spell like you are some kind of gang member. It's just retarded. I hate having to decode delinquent spelling. I'm not a gangsta daaaaaling.

6. It's not cool to show your crack when you bend over. Please, I don't want to see the color of your thong (if you are even wearing one).

How about you, do you have any etiquette peeves?