Weekend in the caravan

Saturday 19 th October and we are away for the weekend along with ingredients for 3 Nigel Slater recipes ( although I confess to having made one earlier to bring with us.)

Last night we had Orzo with courgettes and Gran Padano which came under the chapter headed " A favourite pasta"

Here Mr S tells us that it has taken 40 years of cooking before he realised his preference for pasta without tomato and cheese. When you think about it an awful lot of pasta dishes do have tomato and cheese in them. 

Yesterday I was introduced to a new pasta "Orzo", looks a bit like rice grains but bigger. The recipe has few ingredients but was so so flavoursome, no herbs just a light seasoning of salt and pepper. As a pasta dish quite a change but delicious.

Today the chapter was headed " Making a pizza dough"

I am advised that the length of time I spend kneading will make no difference but "....the dough will tell you when it is ready by the way it feels in your hands". 

I have never used a pizza stone before so looking forward to trying it out - apparently it will give the pizza a crispier base - lovely. 

An unusual pizza recipe - no tomatoes in sight - but a winner, Mushroom with creme fraiche and mozzarella pizza. I sprinkled my second one with crispy bacon bits which was good. Next time I think I will try to roll my pizza base a little thinner. 

Tomorrow the chapter is headed " A tin for a sweet tart" and the recipe is A simple pear tart. Mr Slater tells us about his tart tin , a favourite in the kitchen - no frills, more homely. I don't have a tart tin but do have a rimmed pie plate which is as near as I can get. 

This I made earlier, it has travelled well, a very simple tart - a sweetened pear filling in a butter rich pastry . Not a favourite with me ( if I'm eating extra calories they have to be worth it!) but Jim liked it ( well it's a dessert after all) We both thought it needed to be served with cream.