A Snack For Your Hair

A couple of weeks ago I started complaining about my hair.
It did not feel as healthy, as shiny and as thick as it used to be. I am sure a certain someone couldn't stand my nagging.
Tip was: eat one avocado a day.
One day I had three.
Aussie friend suggested I should try this:
Cut the avocado in two. Remove the stone. Ad two drops of balsamic vinegar and another two of olive oil in each hole. Add some sesame seeds. Attack with a spoon. Perfect!

MURDER SALADS part one

Spicy Red Rice with Coconut and Mango
This is an alteration of a rice salad recipe i found in the Observer a while ago.
Changed a few of the ingredients and served hot instead.
It was beautiful to have lunch in the yard with a good friend under the big tree. We put the mango chunks in the middle of the table and poured the mango juice on the hot rice.

You need: 250g white rice or jasmine rice, 200g camargue red rice, 1 big onion, a bit of garlic, dried basil, one red chilli finely chopped, one red pepper thinly sliced, spring onion, fresh coriander, zest of one lemon, juice of half a lemon, 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter, a tin of coconut milk, unsalted peanuts broken in small pieces(optional), one mango.

Cook the rice separately for 20-30 minutes and cover. At the same time cook the rest of the ingredients. Heat up a deep pan and put the butter with the onion and garlic, finely chopped both, add the basil and the coriander.
When they get that nice transparent color, add the zest, the red pepper, the chilli and the coconut milk. Season and simmer for 15 minutes and then finally add the lemon juice and the spring onions. Pour the rice on top and simmer again gently adding more fresh coriander and the peanuts. Taste and adjust seasoning. I used sesame seeds this time as i forgot to buy peanuts. It was well tasty. Do not forget to add the mango at the last minute. That will keep it fresh. Make sure you use the juice of the fruit, too. in the cold salad version the chef used fresh coconut. Will try next time.

Back To Banana Republic

It's been already 6 months since my trip to Costa Rica and Panama.
On Saturday I woke up with slight hangover and big craving for Gallo Pinto, Costa Rica's national dish.
It is a mixture of black beans and rice and it means 'spotted rooster' but vegetarians do not fret, there is no poultry in it.
I decided to make it just as i remembered eating it, as during our stay in Costa Rica i never really had the chance to cook it, simply because it was everywhere!
But it is so easy to prepare and tasty, it worked out alright in the end and everyone asked for a refill.

Here is what you need:
300g plain white rice
300g organic black beans (tinned is good -keep the juice!)
a couple of garlic cloves
a couple of green long peppers
2 medium onions
coriander
olive oil
sour cream or yogurt
Brown HP sauce (its hard to find Lizano Sauce in London)

Boil the rice in a saucepan and keep warm. This should take no more than 25 minutes.

At the same time in a different saucepan hit up the oil and add the chopped onions, garlic, peppers and coriander. Simmer till they look transparent.
Add the two tins of black beans and their water and gently simmer again. Season with salt and pepper.
Now add the rice and two tablespoons of the brown sauce and after about a minute remove from the heat. Add more fresh coriander on top to serve and put the crème fraîche or yogurt to the side.
In Costa Rica they serve it with scrambled eggs or fried plantain, which is a recommended option.

The moment I tried it I was magically overlooking the ocean on the pacific side of one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I m not kidding !

From Junky Nurse to Kitchen Bitch

I've been in a cooking frenzy the last couple of years. Also I noticed that I've spent more time in restaurants than in bars the last 15 months. But my memory is shit and the D.Y.I recipe book my boyfriend made for me is not very handy (sorry).
So I decided to use this space and write down good food, tried and tested or ready to be improved.
A little food diary.
Recipes from countries I have visited. Serious cravings hitting from time to time.
Those restaurants that replaced bars.
Film nights accompanied by specially made food.
A recent Quinoa- mania.