Tray roast salad (GF, V option)

22-11-2017 Local Black Bookgluten-free, potato, recipe, roast, salad, sausage, tray roast, vegetarianLeave a comment

Sunday roasts are the most comforting meal in the world.

And, in this weather, they’re pretty much all I want to eat, all day, every day.

Unfortunately, this plan is not quite compatible with health recommendations, eating your 5-a-day and all that.

Unless of course, you take the best bits of a Sunday roast and mix them into a salad… which is exactly how that tray roast salad was born.

This recipe is a winner for a number of reasons:

1. It’s quick, easy and requires minimal input on your side.

2. You can make it for as many or as few as you like – great for solo dinners and hoard-feeding situations alike!

3. It’s gluten free (as long as your sausages are too!) and can easily be made vegetarian/vegan.

4. It includes all the best bits of a roast dinner (hellooooo there, roasties and sausages!), balanced out by a lot of green leaves, all tied together with the most delicious Dijon & balsamic dressing.

Comfort food made healthy, so you don’t have to choose…

Isn’t that what greedy foodie dreams are made of?

Tray roast salad ● Easy dinner recipe ● Cake + Whisky [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:45]

More easy dinner recipes

Italian-style sausage casserole (GF, V option)

Indian-spiced lentil soup (VE)

Spicy Xi’an style noodles (VE)

Tomato-coconut pasta (VE)

Spring Potato Salad (Vegan, GF)

14-03-2017 Local Black BookGF, gluten-free, healthy, peas, potato, potato salad, recipe, salad, side, side dish, Spring, vegan, vegetarian5 Comments

We all have different ways to tell Spring has sprung.

For some, it’s as simple as looking at tha calendar. Past the Spring equinox? Good. Here’s your answer.

For others, it’s the blooms and the cold-but sunny days.

Spring Potato Salad (Vegan, GF) | Cake + Whisky

For me though? There are three signs.

My irrepressible need to clear, clean and tidy everything within an inch of my life. I mean, I’m already borderline ‘less is more’ compulsive the rest of the year, but Spring definitely pushes me over the line.
My constant daydreaming of owning all things pastel. Home trinkets, candy, cushions, -and more than anything else- nailpolish… You name it, I want it.
The urge to cook/eat potato salad every chance I get.

Given that I’ve already spring-cleaned my flat, that my nails have been sporting a dusty baby blue shade for the last two weeks and that this Spring-inspired potato salad was my dinner yesterday, I’m positive that Spring has finally made its way to London!

Much like putting winter coats & boots away and filling the house with flowers, this Spring potato salad is the perfect way to celebrate springtime.

Packed with tender asparagus and baby peas as well as super sweet new potatoes and pea shoots, it’s the perfect dish to spring into the new season!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:5]

More Spring salad inspiration?

Rainbow Salad (this would be ah-mazing for a St Patrick’s Day get together!)

Kale & Rice Salad with Avocado & Salmon

Pink Fruit Salad

The Potato Project

04-05-2016 Local Black Bookbaked potato, jacket potato, London, lunch, potato, recommendation, Restaurant, review, Soho, The Potato Project, vegetarian6 Comments

Potato is a recurring topic of conversation in my house.

And not because we have a borderline-scary passion for everyone’s favourite tubercule. Even though, now that I think of it, it’d probably be less embarrassing that way.

But no, the truth is, we just happen to flung the word ‘potato’ around at random. A bit like normal people do with ‘thing’.

My boyfriend even has a song about potatoes. It goes something like that: ‘Potatoooooooes. Potatooooes…’ (sorry, I really can’t sing to save my life!).

So when I found out that there was arestaurant 100% dedicated to the humble spud, I knew we had to try it out.

Nestled in the heart of Soho (right next door to grilled-cheese-paradise Melt Room), The Potato Project is all about revising the great British classic that is the Jacket Potato.

And the menu clearly shows that there’s more to it than just something you have with beans.

From the ‘Classics with a Twist’ to more wonky creations, there truly is something for everyone!

And then there are the specials… (I heard great things about a ‘pizza’ jacket potato and I must get my hands on it ASAP!)

The place itself is just as comforting as the food, with a lovely homely atmosphere to it

The Potato Project, London | Cake + Whisky

And just the right amount of Pinterest-worthy bits to keep things interesting!

But not quite AS interesting as the spud feast the kitchen will send your way!

Smoked Ham Hock, Cheddar & Piccalilli Jacket

Rich and comforting, yet light and bright thanks to the perfectly balanced, tangy piccalili pickle.

A brilliant twist on the classic!

Sweet Potato, Mozzarella, Tomato & Pesto (V)

AKA the thing potato dreams are made of.

Because pesto. And cheese.

Just look at that melted mozza.

Food porn at its best.

Plus a side of Half Loaded Avocado (v).

And some of the best coleslaw I’ve had this side of the Atlantic.

An absolute must-order (especially if you go for the ham hock jacket!! Perfect pairing right there!)

But whatever you do, make sure you save some room for dessert.

There’s only one on the menu but it’s an absolute winner!

House Sweet Potato Cheese Cake with Manuka Honey & Crumble.

I know what you’re thinking. Sweet potato? Cheesecake? Really?

And well, this (potato-loving) guy wasn’t entirely sure either…

But then, the proof is in ~~the pudding~~ the empty glasses…

All in all a brilliant meal (and most certainly one of the cheapest and most filling I’ve ever had in Soho). So if you’re in the area around lunchtime, make sure you head to The Potato Project for one of their excellent jackets (& a little bit of potato-ey pudding).

I think you’ll find it spud-er!

The Potato Project, 27 Noel Street, Soho, London W1F 8GZ

Potato & bacon salad

11-08-201507-08-2015 Local Black Bookbacon, easy, food, healthy, lunch, potato, potato salad, recipe9 Comments

I don’t know about you but I always find cooking much more exausting in the summer. Maybe it’s because the idea of turning on an oven and standing in a hot kitchen for hours in the heat isn’t quite my idea of fun.

Or it could just be that ingredients are so much better in the summer that I don’t feel it’s worth doing much to them as they shine best in very simple recipes.

Baby new potatoes are one of my absolute favourite ingredients and they definitely fall into that category; they’re so much sweeter than their winter counterparts that it would be a shame to only use them as a side.

There are many ways to cook potatoes (my German friends usually brag than they know over 100), but I couldn’t think of a better way to highlight those beautiful potatoes than this deliciously light, summer-y potato and bacon salad.
Ingredients (serves 2): 500g baby new potatoes, 4 rashers streaky bacon, 3 spring onions, 1 red onion, 2 ripe tomatoes, 1 tbs whole grain mustard, 1 tbs cider vinegar, 1 tbs olive oil, 1 tbs vegetable oil, salt, black pepper.

1. Wash the potatoes and put in a pot of cold water with some salt. Boil until tender. Cut into manageable pieces.

2. Slice the spring onions, the red onion and the tomatoes.

3. Cook the bacon in a pan until nice and crispy. Take off the pan.

4. Add the sliced red onion into the pan with the bacon fat. Cook on a low temperature until soft, then turn the heat up and cook until golden.

5. Make your dressing: in a jar, combine the mustard, the olive and vegetable oil, the vinegar, some salt and black pepper. Close the lid and shake until thoughroughly mixed.

6. In a big bowl, put your sliced tomatoes. Pile on the potatoes, the bacon and red onions. Sprinkle the spring onions on top. Add a good sprinkle of salt and some cracked black pepper.

7. Pour the dressing on top and serve.

What’s your favourite way to cook potatoes? I’d love to discover new recipes I can impress my German friends with!

Cake and Whisky

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