Announcing event ~ Lets cook with Coconut

The coconut palm (also, cocoanut), Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae (palm family). The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which, botanically, is a drupe, not a nut. Coconuts are found throughout the tropic and sub tropic area, it is known for its great versatility as seen in the many domestic, commercial, and industrial uses of its different parts. Coconuts are part of the daily diets of many people. Coconuts are different from any other fruits because they contain a large quantity of "water" and when immature they are known as tender-nuts or jelly-nuts and may be harvested for drinking. When mature, they still contain some water and can be used as seed nuts or processed to give oil from the kernel, charcoal from the hard shell and coir from the fibrous husk.
Source Wikipedia

Coconut can be used in many forms; fresh coconut, coconut milk, coconut water,coconut cream, dried coconut,coconut flakes and coconut flour. This event is about using coconut in your cooking and baking. Create any vegetarian dish using coconut; it must feature as an ingredient in your dish. (Eggs allowed)

I am inviting all foodies to create some dishes using coconut and send them to this event.

To Participate:

1.Prepare any  vegetarian recipe using Coconut as part of the Ingredient   (eggs allowed) please link your dish using the linky below by entering your Dish Name and Post URL
2.Please link this event announcement with your entry, this is mandatory.
3.Use of logo is  not mandatory but it helps to spread the word if you can use it.

4. Multiple entries are allowed, archived are only allowed if reposted and updated with this event link.

4. In the event of problem using linky you can email me the entry at simplysensationalfood@gmail.com

Please use this format:

Your Name: Recipe
Name Recipe URL
Image no larger than 300 pixels.

Link recipe name and URL

An introduction to a new arrival.

simply.food is 4 years and 10 months old and I have been pondering over the idea for some time and to create a blog that was complimentary to simply.food. I am really passionate about food and simply.food has given me a wonderful platform to share my vegetarian recipes over the years. I have been content with the ethos of simply food which concentrated on healthy, simple vegetarian home cooking and I didn't want to dilute the theme by writing about other topics so finally simply.food has a sister blog.

Citrus Spice and all things nice...

Today I am pleased to announce the birth of Citrus Spice, it is a blog where I shall bring my readers new posts about my travels, my experiments with food photography whilst I learn to master my new DSLR, I have yet to get off the auto mode!!!:)I shall write about arts and crafts and share some of my creations that I hope to produce together with posts about my sewing projects.I have cleaned and dusted and oiled the sewing machine and have already created a lovely little project on it which I shall share soon in blog post

Finally I hate to admit but I am obsessed with props, at every opportunity I try and scour for props I just can't help it. My cupboards are brimming full with plates, crockery, cutlery, napkins, boards and too many things to mention. I have many stories to tell about how I obtained some of these beauties and I hope to amuse my readers about my prop searching antics.

Over the years, I have made and met some wonderful blogger friends from all over the world through visiting their blogs, meeting up with them at events and workshops.Their support has been tremendous resulting in the success of simply.food. Rest assured simply.food is not retiring, in fact you will notice that its had a mini makeover and I have many new recipes lined up. I truly hope that my simply.food readers will shower the same love and support I have received  here to my new space Citrus Spice.
You are all invited to drop by Citrus Spice, your love, support, follow and  feedback will be most appreciated.

Chilli cheese toast

A delicious spicy twist to a toasted cheese sandwich.

Ingredients:

2 Warburtons thins or 4 slices white or brown bread
30g / 2 oz grated mild cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon finely chopped red / green capsicum
1 green chilli finely chopped
1 medium tomato de seeded and finely chopped
1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce

Method:

1. Split open the Warburton thins and place them side by side on a plate.
2. In a bowl mix together the tomato ketchup and the sweet chilli sauce and mix together.
3. Spread the mixture onto all four slices of the Warburtons thins.
4. Sprinkle the capsicums on top of 2 of the slices (keep other two slices for lids) followed by the tomato pieces.

5. Sprinkle the green chillies on top followed by the grated cheese.
6. Place the second slice of Warburton thin or bread on top of the filling to form a sandwich.
7. Place both the sandwiches in a sandwich toaster and toast for 3 minutes.
8. Remove from sandwich toaster and cut diagonally.
Serve hot.

You may like:
 Tortilla wrap with roasted vegetables

Submitting to:

Lets cook with cheese event by simply.food

Brita water jug Giveaway and a Kiwi Cooler refreshing drink

Kiwi Cooler is a refreshing chilled drink that is delicious to serve on a hot summers day to beat the heat.

Ingredients:

3 ripe kiwi
2 large oranges
1 lemon
1 heaped tablespoon icing sugar(less if kiwis are really sweet)
250 ml BRITA filtered water
Ice cubes 
1 kiwi  for garnishing

Kiwi Cooler is a refreshing chilled drink that is delicious to serve on a hot summer’s day to beat the heat.

Ingredients:

3 ripe kiwis

2 large oranges

1 lemon

1 heaped tablespoon icing sugar (less if kiwis are really sweet)

250 ml BRITA filtered water

Ice cubes 

1 kiwi for garnishing

Method:

1. Pour some BRITA filtered water into ice cubes tray and place in the freezer to set.

2. In a jug add the BRITA filtered water and icing sugar, mix thoroughly to dissolve the sugar and place the jug in the fridge to cool.

3. Cut the oranges in half and extract the juice and add it to a blender jug.

4. Cut the lemon in half and extract the juice and add it to the blender jug

5 Peel the three kiwis and cut them in half, remove the hard white inner core and dice them. Add them to the blender.

6. Add the chilled sugared water to the fruit in the blender and blend the fruit to a fine purée.

7. Peel the last kiwi and cut it into rings.

8. Add ice cubes to two serving glasses and pour the kiwi cooler in them.

9. Garnish the kiwi cooler with the kiwi slices.

Serve immediately.

NB- For best results use very ripe kiwis, the addition of icing sugar is optional, it can be replaced with honey instead.

You may like:

 Iced Orange and apple tea

I was inspired to make this kiwi cooler after I read all about Lisa Faulkner who has been launching the 'Better with BRITA' campaign highlighting how she uses BRITA filtered water as an ingredient in cooking for the best tasting food and drink. Lisa has created many recipes using the BRITA filtered water such as Potato and kale curry, Tropical punch, English elderflower drink and even children friendly recipes such as risotto and pizza.

Nutritional experts recommend drinking around 1.5 litres of water every day. However, it's not just the volume of water that is important; the quality of the water also has a significant effect on your health and well-being. Tap water differs from region to region, it can contain many impurities and unpleasant substances affecting the taste of it. The patented BRITA technology has produced the BRITA filter Jug that reduces unpleasant and unwanted substances, such as limescale, metals or chlorine to give you clean refreshing water be it for drinking or cooking with.

The Brita Marella jug has a clean look, it comes in 6 amazing colours to compliment any kitchen and it is perfect to store in the fridge and can be taken straight to table. The jug is simple to use and clean and it comes with a built in indicator in the lid that lets you know when the filter needs changing. The jug retails at 

£ 21.00 and is available to purchase on line and at most major retail stores. For details of BRITA products go to www.brita.co.uk

I would like to thank BRITA for sending me the beautiful mint jug featured in this post. It matches my kitchen colour scheme perfectly. The views and opinions expressed in this post are my own own. 

The lovely people at BRITA have been extremely generous and have agreed to send one simply.food reader a Jug so that they too can enjoy clean refreshing water.

Image supplied by Brita

How to participate:

This competition is open to UK residents over the age of 18 only.

How To Enter

·         Simply complete the Rafflecopter widget below to verify your entries

·         Entries can be via blog comment, Facebook, Twitter etc

·         Please read the rules they form the terms and conditions of this

·         Closing date - 20th  September 2013 6.00pm .

How Rafflecopter works:

 You will need to complete the mandatory entry first – usually making a blog comment. You can do this by clicking on leave a comment at the bottom of the post and leaving your reply in the comment box.
Login to Rafflecopter – click to see what the question is. Make a comment answering the question on the blog.
 Go back to Rafflecopter and click the green button to tell me you have made a comment, this will unlock all the other options. All entries are checked to see that the mandatory question is answered, if its not all bonus entries will become void. 
Rafflecopter will tweet, like and follow on your behalf. For information on how to find the URL of your tweet click here. 

For bonus entries you can return to this page and enter the daily bonus entries. 
If you are still unsure as to how Rafflecopter works please do check out this short video.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Smoky Grilled Corn-Secret Recipe Challenge 19th August 2013

This is my assignment with the Secret Recipe Club.The aim of the club is that you are allocated a blog from which you have to select a recipe and try  it and blog about it.
My assigned blog was mommy's menu written by Toni. The blog had lots of interesting recipes but when I came across this Smoky grilled corn recipe I immediately wanted to try it as we were having a barbecue that weekend.The only changes I made were that I replaced the butter with olive oil and added extra chilli powder.The recipe turned out really delicious.

Smoky barbecued corn with a love spicy tangy flavour.

Tangy and spicy barbecued corn with a delicious smoky flavour.

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon smoked Paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon  ground black pepper
1 teaspoon chilli powder
1 clove garlic minced
3 tablespoons lemon juice
480 g / 16 oz frozen corn on the cob
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

Method:

1.In a foil tray add the olive oil and place it directly on the barbecue grill.
2. Add the garlic and the corn and add the paprika, salt,chilli powder and black pepper.
3. Stir in all the spices and add the chopped parsley and mix well.
4. Allow the corn to heat up on the barbecue next to all your other food that is being barbecued for 15-20 minutes, stir it around intermittently.
5. After 20 minutes corn will have heated through and will be hot.Remove from barbecue and add the lemon juice stir it in.
 Serve immediately

You may like:

Barbecued corn salad

Innocent Inspires -An evening of good taste.

Yesterday  I attended the Innocent Inspire event which took place in the Crypt under St. James Church in London with a few of my foodie friends, Sylvia Filozof, Manjiri Chitnis and Fiona Mclean.

"Innocent Inspires series"s are a series of inspirational evenings that are tailor made by Innocent to give you a sensory night of good taste.The focus of the evening was to understand why does taste matter,how does it work,what's the perfect combination and how can good taste  transform your life and career?

The venue was transformed in to an inviting and cosy atmosphere with beautifully set table, cosy candlelights, flowers in jam jars, ample Innocent Juices and a lively buzz of excitement.We were greeted at the door with a delicious raspberry, lemon and rose water mocktail that smelled divine and even tasted sensual. This was just the beginning of the evening. The evening kicked off with an introduction by Innocent and followed by a wonderful talks from the guest speakers while we munched of foodie treats.

Florence Knight head chef at Polpetto Restaurant, Florence talked about seasonal foods and how she gets inspiration from them in her cooking. She served us an amazing ice-cream which had a combination of pepper, caramel and sliced peaches.

The second talk was Ms Marmite Lover - the undergound supper club queen. Ms Marmite lover is one amazing woman with a fantastic personality. she is really entertaining with an awesome sense of humour. I could have sat and listened to her antics all evening. From her talk I learn't the importance of carbs in our diet. Apparently carbs release serotine a happiness hormone so we should all be indulging in them when we need to be happy. During her talk it came as no surprise when we were served up marmite and toast and virgin bloody Mary's made with tomato juice and marmite!!! Needless to say I hate marmite and was not brave enough to try it although looking around our table there were many empty bottles so it must have been good!!!
As we listened to the speakers we were constantly supplied with crudités and dips by the Dip society.I got my first taste of a spicy Beet dip and houmous made with rapeseed oil. Both were delicious.

The next speaker Bombas and Parr - jellymongers extraordinaire continued to entertain us.I was so amazed to see how a person can be so passionate about jelly!!!It was interesting to learn how one can make a career from making giant jelly models and selling the idea to the world!!! Our taste buds were  tickled with a jelly tasting session, but before it was served  we had to chant for it to appear!!!Sadly being a vegetarian I did not try the jelly although it looked delicious and was very wobbly just like a jelly should be!!! I learn't that the upcoming trend is to have jelly at weddings and funerals too!!! Finally cup cakes have a rival!!!

The next talk was by Emilie Baltz a transatlantic food designer, her focus was on smells and taste and we were taken on a sensory journey by smelling vanilla pods and biting into figs with ear plugs in our ears!!!The sound of the bite into the fig and the smell of vanilla gave taste and smell another dimension.

Last but not least we had a wonderful talk by Ollie Dabbous chef- owner of the game changing Dabbous.What can I say about this young man?? He received his first Michelin star only after 1 year of opening his restaurant, he is the most sought after chef in the culinary world.

The evening ended with Q&A with all the speakers and a lovely goody bag of Graze box, Innocent Juice, a box of mints and some vouchers together with a very unique bill for the event.

I would like to Thank Innocent Inspire for inviting me to this event ,it has certainly awakened my senses and understanding of good taste.

Featured in Mommy page

Being a foodie I love interacting with other foodies, join foodie related forums and interact with bloggers of craft, leisure and travel blogs. One such place that I have book marked and where I regularly drop by is the Mommy Page, this site is dedicated to Mommy's, its full of crafts ,recipes, tips and tricks and really fun to visit. I was most surprised when I received an email from Kristin McNeil of Mommy Page inviting me to be featured as a Mommy page turner.What a lovely gesture, so I agreed and my interview on my vegetarian lifestyle with a selection of my favourite recipes was featured .
Thankyou to Mommy Page for featuring my story.Please do drop by Mommy Page and read my interview.

Quesadilla-Mexican

Delicious snack made with tortilla wraps, vegetables and cheese.

Ingredients

4 whole wheat tortilla wraps
1 red onion finely chopped
1 courgette finely diced
1 tomato de seeded and finely chopped
60 g cooked sweet corn
30 g diced mixed peppers
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
1/4 teaspoon chilli flakes
90 g grated cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil

Method:

1. In a frying pan add the oil and wait for it to heat, add the onions and sauté until translucent
2. Add the diced courgette and the sweet corn and peppers. Add the salt, chilli flakes, cumin powder and paprika and mix well. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until vegetables are cooked.
3. Remove vegetable mixture from heat and keep aside.
4. In a clean frying pan place one of the wraps.Sprinkle some of the grated cheese on it and on top of the cheese add half the vegetable mixture.Add the chopped tomatoes on the top and add a little more cheese.
5. Place the second tortilla wrap on top of the cheese and press down with a spatula.Cook the Quesadillla for 1 minute and then flip it over.

6.Press again with the spatula and cook the Quesadilla on the underside for another minute.
7.Remove the quesadilla on to a plate and cut it into quarters or sixths.
8. Repeat for second pair of tortilla wraps.
Serve with dip of choice.

Submitting to;
 Flavours of Mexico event by simply.food guest hosted by Jagruti of jcooking oddsey

Lets cook with cheese event by simply.food

Abra - ca - debora Panckes -review and giveaway

I was recently sent some yummy Dutch pancakes by Abra-ca -debora to try. There were two types of pancakes; mini round balls of sweet pancakes and the traditional round flat pancakes. Both tasted really delicious and I had lots of fun creating some recipes with them.The pancakes are perfect for rustling up a speedy dessert, or a delicious speedy breakfast.For the more adventurous you can even create birthday cakes and a no bake cheese cake with the amazing pancakes. To find some awesome ideas for creating some delicious recipes with the pancakes you can visit the Abra-ca debora website for inspiration.

Banana and chocolate Pancake Sundae

I created a banana, chocolate and Dutch pancake sundae with the pancake balls.

Ingredients:

12 mini Abra-ca -debora pancakes
1 banana
4 tablespoons chocolate sauce
Grated white chocolate swirls.

Method:

1. Slice the bananas and add a few slices to a serving glass.
2. Add three pancake balls and swirl some chocolate sauce over them.
3. Add more banana slices and add three more pancakes, swirl some more chocolate sauce over them.
4. Add some white chocolate swirls.
Eat immediately.

Raspberry yoghurt and mixed berry pancakes.

Ingredients:

125g / 4 oz fresh mixed berries raspberries,strawberries,blackberries, blueberries
1 tablespoon sugar
4 Abra -ca -debora pancakes
1 large tub raspberry yoghurt

Method:

1. Place the berries in a pan with the sugar and heat them up . Cook them for 5 minutes until they are soft but still retaining their shape.Remove from heat and cool.
2.Place the pancake on a serving dish and spoon some yoghurt in the centre of the pan cake, top the yoghurt with the cooked berry compote and roll the pancake up.
3.Repeat for remaining pancakes.
4. Serve pancakes with additional yoghurt and the berry compote
Serve immediately.

Thankyou to Abra-ca-debora for the delicious pancakes they sent me.I really enjoyed them.All the views and opinions in this post are my own.

Abra-ca -debora have been very generous and they have kindly agreed to send one simply.food reader an amazing Abra-ca debora pancake hamper.

How to participate:

This competition is open to UK residents over the age of 18 only.

How To Enter

·         Simply complete the Rafflecopter widget below to verify your entries

·         Entries can be via blog comment, Facebook, Twitter etc

·         Please read the rules they form the terms and conditions of this

·         Closing date - 4th September 2013 6.00pm .

How Rafflecopter works:

 You will need to complete the mandatory entry first – usually making a blog comment. You can do this by clicking on leave a comment at the bottom of the post and leaving your reply in the comment box.
Login to Rafflecopter – click to see what the question is. Make a comment answering the question on the blog.
 Go back to Rafflecopter and click the green button to tell me you have made a comment, this will unlock all the other options. All entries are checked to see that the mandatory question is answered, if its not all bonus entries will become void. 
Rafflecopter will tweet, like and follow on your behalf.For information on how to find the URL of your tweet click here. 

For bonus entries you can return to this page and enter the daily bonus entries. 
If you are still unsure as to how Rafflecopter works please do check out this short video.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway one pair of tickets to" Innocent Inspire series" Event

In December I was invited by Innocent Drinks to conjure up a Christmas mocktail for the 12 days of Christmas theme. I really enjoyed all their juices and they have now become a firm favourite of mine and are always topmost on my weekly shopping list.
This summer Innocent have come up up with another super idea; "Innocent Inspires series", these events are one off events  all about taste. The event promises to get you energised by laughing,smelling, listening ,tasting, jogging,drawing and thinking and being inspired by well known celebrities. For a sensory night out to discover everything you've ever wanted to know about good taste, Innocent kitchen have invited culinary stars, speakers and guests including Michelin star chef Ollie Dabbous, Florence Knight, Bompass & Parr, Ms Marmite Lover and Emmlie Bartz. The event will be a fun packed evening with lots of informative tips and tricks from starting restaurants to good taste and combination of ingredients to the new craze of supper clubs. Of course I am sure there will be  plenty to eat and drink after all it is a foodie related event.

The event is happening on Wednesday 14th August and I have one pair of tickets for one lucky simply.food winner.

Venue:
The Innocent kitchen 
The crypt on the green, 
Clerkenwell,
EC1R 0EA 
opens at 7pm with the evening beginning at 7.30 (finishing around 10pm)

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment in the comment box telling me why you want to win these tickets and who you will take with you if you win.

2. Follow simply.food. via anyone or more of these :
google plus,
google connect,
facebook
twitter
The widgets are in side bar of this blog.

3. Please leave a valid email so that I can contact you if you are a winner.(The tickets will be e tickets.)

• Competition ends sat 10th August 2013 6.00 pm
• UK residents only 
• Innocent reserve the right to cancel the event in special circumstances.

Mexican Rice- Arroz Mexicano and a Procook cast Iron pan review.

A delicious protein packed aromatic Mexican rice with fragrant cumin and coriander.

Ingredients:

250 g / 8 oz white basmati rice
500 ml boiling water
250 g /  8 oz precooked cannelloni beans
1 green capsicum  finely chopped
1 white onion finely chopped
1 large carrot peeled and grated
2 medium potatoes peeled and finely diced
125 g / 4 oz precooked sweetcorn kernels
60 g / 2 oz finely chopped fresh coriander
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander powder
1 teaspoon chilli powder

Method:

1. Wash the rice and soak it in cold water for 30 minutes.
2. In a large pan heat the oil when it is hot add the onions and sauté them on low heat until translucent.
3. Drain the rice and add it to the onions and sauté the rice until all the grains are coated in the oil.stir the rice gently so that the grains don't break.
4. Add the carrots, potatoes,cannelloni beans, pepper sand sweet corn. Mix the vegetables with the rice.
5. Add the salt, chilli powder,cumin powder and coriander powder and half the amount of fresh coriander.(reserve other half for garnish) Stir all the spices into the rice and vegetables.

6. Add 500 ml boiling water to the rice and bring the rice to a slow boil.
7. Once rice is boiling, reduce the heat to the lowest setting and cover the pan with the lid.
8.Cook the rice on lowest setting for 22 minutes.(During this time do not open the pan lid)
9.After 22 minutes open the lid, all the water will have been absorbed with the rice and grains should be soft and fluffy.
1. Garnish the rice with remaining fresh coriander.
Serve Hot.

You may like:
Singapore five spiced rice

The Aubergine shallow Cast Iron Casserole featured in this recipe was recently sent to me to review by ProCook Kitchenware. It it is hand cast from molten iron which makes it very strong and durable with an integral handle.It is topped with a smart, stainless steel handle and enamelled inside and out.The pan is 28 cm round with a capacity of 3.5l. The added feature is that it is suitable for all hobs and ovens including induction.The pan can be used for cooking and serving as it looks elegant even when taken straight from oven to table.The pans are available in cream, black red and aubergine in various sizes.
I used the pan for cooking on a gas stove and the oven, I found that it worked well on the stove and equally well in the oven.However I did find that cooking casseroles and rice worked best in this type of pan as trying to cook anything with less liquid in the pan caused the ingredients to stick to the bottom of the pan. The pan hand washed well although it is not suitable for dishwasher.I loved the look of my pan, the aubergine colour looked very elegant.Although it did not bother me for anyone who may be frail, be warned the pan is very heavy to lift and may prove difficulty in handling.I also found that the knob on the pan lid got very hot and required an oven glove to open the pan lid.The pan is available on the ProCook website for £ 42.00 almost half the price compared to high street shops.It is also guaranteed for 25 years.

Thankyou to ProCook for sending me the pan to review, all the views and opinions in this post are my own.

Submitting to:
Flavours of Mexico event by simply.food guest hosted by Jagruti of j cooking odyssey

Event Round Up ~ Lets Cook With Nuts

We had a wonderful collection of entries for this event Lets Cook with Nuts.
Thank you to all the participants.

Here is the Round Up.