January 2010 – Lauren Gemmell

100 posts

On 31st January 2010

I think when you hit 100 posts, it’s time to really admit to yourself “You are a food blogger”. You don’t get to one hundred without truly enjoying the whole process of making, photographing and writing.

Back in March when I started this blog, I didn’t know very much, it’s been a steep but enjoyable learning curve. Back then I had never baked a loaf of bread, I didn’t know what to do with a Kohlrabi and I didn’t even now there was any difference between a macaroon and a macaron, let alone about feet!

Chocolate Buns : Fresh from the Oven

By lauren

On 28th January 2010

In Bread, Cakes and Desserts

In true Coffee Muffins style I yet again forgot about the posting date for the Fresh from the Oven challenge. However at least this time I remembered to make it before deadline day! This months challenge was hosted by Chele.

Neeps and Tatties for Burns Night

By lauren

On 25th January 2010

In Scottish Food

Today is Burns Day (the 25th of January) and all over the world people will be going to Burn’s Suppers, eating traditional Scots food and toasting Scotland’s National Poet.

Burn’s Suppers are famous for The Haggis. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I have eaten Haggis – it may be traditional Scottish food, but I have fairly successfully have managed to avoid it for the past 25 years. To me it just doesn’t sound very appealing.

However there are other parts of the traditional Burn’s supper I want to partake of (and no not just the Whisky).

Cannellini beans, Tomato and Kale Soup

By lauren

On 23rd January 2010

In Recipes

I feel like being rather lazy this weekend, to hibernate away from the cold drizzle. On days where you need the main light on during the peak sunlight hours, I find it particularly difficult to remember that Spring does come. That soon I won’t come home from work in the dark, and that I’ll venture outside without a jacket on – but today that feels awfully far away.

Sweet Beet Soup

By lauren

On 21st January 2010

In Recipes

I make a lot of soups, they are perfect for me to take into work, reheat in the microwave and are healthier than whatever I would normally buy. Often I get questions from my work mates about the soups I bring in, “What’s in it?” and “Where did you buy it?”. But no soup has had quite the response that this one does.

My usual soup repertoire of basics like Bacon, Tomato and Kale Soup and Carrot and Coriander Soup smell and taste wonderful but in no way elicit the same eye popping response of this purple Sweet Beet Soup.

Chicken Satay : Daring Cooks

By lauren

On 14th January 2010

In Dinner

The January 2010 DC challenge was hosted by Cuppy of Cuppylicious and she chose a delicious Thai-inspired recipe for Pork Satay from the book 1000 Recipes by Martha Day.

Pistachio Macarons for MacTweets

By lauren

On 13th January 2010

In Cakes and Desserts

This month the challenge for MacTweets was “do something or add something you’ve never done but always wanted to try!”. As if making macarons wasn’t hard enough!

I decided that the next stage in my macaron learning was to move on from ground almonds and try a different type of nut. My favourite nut to snack on is pistachios, I don’t do it often as they are so often coated in salt, but when I do I am in heaven. So I made Pistachio Macarons with Chocolate ganache.

Slow Baked Steak

By lauren

On 10th January 2010

In Dinner

Everyone has their standard method of cooking a steak, usually I fry mine, some people grill them (or broil them), my mother-in-law* bakes them.

On New Year’s Day my she made steaks for 13 people by baking them! These are a definite crowd pleaser, and are much simpler than if you wanted to fry or grill that many steaks.

*(almost) mother-in-law, it might feel like it, but we aren’t married yet 🙂

Slow Cooked Pulled Pork

By lauren

On 3rd January 2010

In Dinner, Slow Cooking

If you are new to my blog you may want to subscribe to the CoffeeMuffins RSS Feed or follow me on twitter. Enjoy!

Slow Cookers are under-rated and I use mine less often than I should, however I have learnt that when it comes to cooking a meal for a large number of people nothing beats them.

On New Years Eve I got up at 9 o’clock in the morning, and put my lime sorbet in the freezer and started preparing my main. By 9.30 am the main meat part of my meal needed no further preparation from me (well not until half an hour before serving).

This gave me plenty of time to make all the delicious additions to my Mexican themed evening.

Lauren Gemmell

Food, Fitness, and Technology

Month: January 2010

100 posts

Chocolate Buns : Fresh from the Oven

Neeps and Tatties for Burns Night

Cannellini beans, Tomato and Kale Soup

Sweet Beet Soup

Chicken Satay : Daring Cooks

Pistachio Macarons for MacTweets

Slow Baked Steak

Slow Cooked Pulled Pork

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