Risotto - leek and bacon

 I've been desperate to try out a new recipe for weeks, so when I came across a bacon and leek risotto recipe in a stray cookbook ('Sorted - A Recipe for Student Survival'*) it felt like the right time to test my hand at the seemingly unconquerable risotto. After comparing the recipe to others online and in my cookbooks, I opted for this recipe, containing the following -

*Serves 4*

4 trimmed leeks - cut in half to wash out any dirt

1pk smoked back bacon (8 rashers - could use less)

Several mushrooms

350-400g risotto rice

1.4l chicken stock (made up with 2 chicken stock cubes) - would be 1.5l or so but the mushrooms give off plenty of liquid too

1 large glass white wine

1-2 crushed/chopped cloves garlic

Finely chopped rosemary & thyme

30g butter & a little oil

Plenty of ground black pepper - no salt is needed (bacon & stock really are salty enough)

Lemon wedges, to serve

Optional, chopped fresh herbs to serve

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1. Wash/trim leeks (peeling off outer layer) before chopping roughly. Once leeks are prepped, heat your butter & a little oil (1tbsp) in a large nonstick pan before adding the leek and leaving to soften, stirring occasionally. At this point I added my washed & chopped rosemary/thyme so that they could infuse the butter mixture a little. Whilst the leek is cooking, wash & chop your mushrooms (I prefer larger pieces as they add more texture to the end product) before setting aside.

2. Heat your grill on its highest setting, place the bacon under the heat & leave until one side appears almost cooked, before turning the rashers over & leaving to grill until crispy. At this point turn off the heat & place on kitchen roll (which will soak up excess oozy fat I don't want).

3. At this point I'd add the mushrooms to your softened leeks, alongside your garlic. Once softened, add your rice and stir around to coat in the lovely leek/mushroom/butter mix, before adding the white wine and leaving to evaporate.

(Conveniently this picture seems to show the risotto at the stage between 3. and 4.)

4. Having let the wine evaporate a little - leaving a lovely winey aroma - make up your stock (2 chicken stock cubes to 1.4l boiling water) and add one ladle at a time, stirring pretty much constantly until each ladleful has entirely soaked into the rice. Continue to do this, ladle by ladle, for about 20-25mins until the stock is entirely used up, soaked in, and the rice is cooked (taste a bit and try). Do stir as much as poss - you really don't want burnt bits stuck to the bottom of the pan...

5. Finally, now the risotto mixture is cooked with your veg, chop your already-cooked bacon and add to the mix, stirring thoroughly to warm it up, before squeezing through some lemon juice, seasoning with salt & pepper and serving up in individual bowls. Yum.

Testing out another risotto recipe tonight, so another - hopefully equally nice - recipe is to follow soon. Cheers for reading.

Maddie

* 'Sorted - A Recipe for Student Survival', Ben Ebbrell, Co-incidence Ventures Ltd, 2nd revised edition: 2009.

Rest in peace

 This post I've created to explain the blog post delay this week, and to celebrate the life of my gorgeous cat Tipsy boy, who was sadly involved in a car accident earlier this week and didn't make it. He was two, and such a cuddly and affectionate cat with so much character... we'll all miss you.

Some of the first photos of him - one with Mum & Dad and another, exploring a plastic bin bag...

Another early photo of him - this time climbing on the roof, trying to get in through a window!

   Having a well deserved cat-nap.   >

< Not sure if you can tell, but under his chin there is his little toy mousey, his best friend since we first got him. He even used to play fetch with him... true love.

< The above three are generally just him distracting me and my sister from our work... always wanting to be the centre of attention. Anything for a cuddle!

More napping in his favourite spots...

We had you mid December 2010 to 7th September 2012, and you made us all so happy, from cuddling on the sofa with us to playing fetch, constantly miaowing for biscuits, baring your tummy for a tickle and attempting to fight the neighbours' cats...

Love Maddie, Abi, Mum and Dad - missing you xxxxxx

Shuttleworth Swiss Garden

 Last week my family finally decided we'd spent enough time lazing about; after all, I've officially been on holiday since May 31st (ah the student life). So we traipsed to the car and decided to pay an impromptu visit to the Swiss Garden in Shuttleworth. Only a short drive away from most towns in Bedfordshire, we left the garden three hours later wondering why we'd never made the trip before. It was truly wonderful; even the steeliest nature-hater couldn't leave feeling it was a day wasted.

Full of quirky restored fixtures (including the 19th century spying-posts of original owner, Lord Ongley) and unusually brilliant landscaping, the gardens made for a bizarre but brilliant day out (with lots of photographing opportunities, as you'll see). Anyway, here's some photos I took on the day so that you can have a look too.

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Introducing the family - my dad Martin, myself, mum Kerrie & little sister Abigail - sitting in the Indian Kiosk in front of a lovely stained glass piece. There were lots of these lovely colourful windows throughout the garden.

Slate imitation Bible with scriptural passage upon it, within the tiny Chapel. The garden is full of clear references to the owners' faith - Christian crucifix shapes, Bibles, the Chapel and even a pet cemetery. Interestingly, this religious piety contrasts with the garden's other Romantic values - such as modernity, gossip, scandal and exalted appearances.

 For instance, the picture below shows the aerial walkway that Lord Ongley was rumoured to have hidden himself upon in order to discreetly listen in on guests' conversation. What a cheeky chap.

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The Swiss Cottage - used today for civil marriage ceremonies. Lots of beautiful roses and foliage as well as a charming natural (and hand-created) decorative ceiling in the outer dome - pictured below.

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Inside the surreal Grotto & Fernery (in which the lovely glass dome pictured in my first blog was photographed). A dazzling labyrinth of stained glass (pictured below), tropical plants and remarkable architecture that instils a tranquil mood in its explorer.

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Some vertical holly - I just couldn't resist adding this photo with the lovely hanging, variegated leaves...

The lake (not technically a part of the Swiss Garden but rather part of the woodland walk, mere minutes away in any case and lovely for a quick walk round).

The Dogs' Cemetery. A slightly later addition to the garden, the tradition was upheld by the children of the Shuttleworth family that took ownership of the land, house and gardens in 1872. An eerie but poignant little place.

 The beautiful Japanese maple tree - interestingly caught in the stage just between its summery and autumnal leaves, which you can see in the photo transforming from green to startling red.

Hope you've enjoyed the photos as much as we enjoyed the day.

Maddie