Getting the oomf back

Apologies, I really seemed to loose my oomf this last week. Feeling homesick, missing friends, behind on absolutely everything... if I'd not got the family to sort out I would probably have spent the last 7 days hiding under my duvet. Of course, been doing lots of cooking ('cause you have to, don't you), but there's not much in the way of photos to share with you I'm afraid. Made a spectacular (according to K, he even went as far as saying that this was one of the best meals he had tasted!) hotpot yesterday, chosen becuase I was cooking for a crowd (tripled the recipe) and I could get all of the ingredients here quite easily. My friend loaned me her Shuttle Chef (a thermal cooker, bit like a slow cooker but doesn't require any electricity), so it really was a hassle-free way to cater for so many. Here's the link for the recipe so that you don't miss out:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4679/asian-aubergine-and-pork-hotpot

By all accounts, you have to try this recipe out for yourselves!

Saturday's supper was not so exciting, but went down well with the family and I have a picture!

Rice with daikon (mooli) and minced chicken

2 cups uncooked rice, washed and prepared for steaming
100g minced chicken
3 inch length daikon
2 tablespoons cooking sake
2 tablespoons mirin
3 tablespoons soy sauce
shredded nori seaweed

Mix the sake, mirin and soy sauce in a bowl and add the chicken. Peel and cut the daikon into thin strips. Put the daikon on top of the rice, then pour the chicken mixture on top. Cook the rice, and let it steam for 10 minutes before giving it a mix. Serve in bowls, sprinkled with shredded nori.



This was far too healthy for K, so he pleaded for some takoyaki (batter balls containing octopus and cabbage) smothered with sauce and mayo. And actually I didn't make them - there was a bag of them in the freezer for me to zap in the microwave :)

Was all excited last night as was expecting friends for dinner this evening, so passed the evening planning an Indian feast! Woke up at 1.00am realising that I'd forgotten to make a start on the nan dough, but discovered that they're going to come on Thursday instead. Will be fab to have some English-speaking company, so sad that they are leaving the country at the end of this month (but praying that all will be well for their return).