Cheap Eats #5

It's been a bit quiet on the Cheap Eats front - mostly because we've been eating out of the freezer (that Thai beef curry is lovely with some tomatoes chucked in) or I've been repeating meals (fish, chips and mushy peas has become a real favourite!). I also ate out a fair bit over the food festival and last weekend so there have been fewer meals to prepare.

So, I don't have much in the way of excitement to share with you at the moment, as the most exciting (and new) thing that I cooked over the last fortnight was this vegetable and lentil stew (which we have been eating as a soup). It was easy peasy as it was cooked in the slow cooker and it produced around nine decent servings which went into the freezer for lunches at work.

And how was it? Well, it was ok. It's a wholesome and good winter soup, but it's nothing exciting. If you're gonna make it, make sure you add a few chillies, and some spices. Maybe cumin and coriander seeds. Apologies for the lack of photo, but I'm having it for lunch tomorrow so maybe I'll rectify the situation then!

I promise that I'll be a bit more exciting this week as I have cauliflower risotto and a sweet potato and egg curry on the cards.

Top 5 - Richard Brownhill

The latest Top 5 comes from Richard Brownhill who is both a beer and food lover; check out his beer blog here. In the meantime, his top 5 places to eat in Sheffield are below: 

Gusto, Norfolk Row - A drop of real elegance in the Steel City, unbelievable food and slick service. The wine list is untouchable too. Whether its the lunchtime buzz or evening intimacy, this place really sets the bar. Easily my favourite. 

Chichainn, Broomhill - A new addition, but so much more than your typical Chinese restaurant. Locally sourced meats and fish together with traditional cooking methods. Brilliant post-dinner tea selection too. 

Marmadukes Cafe, Norfolk Row - Amazing breakfasts and free refills on tea. Do I need to say more? Constantly changing sandwich selection and lovely fresh breads top it off. Not a fan of the enamel plates though. 

The Rutland Arms, Brown Street - The best pub food in the city by a country mile. With an awesome beer selection too. The bhaji butty is a revelation, and try a cheeky blob of homemade vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of chilli porter. Wow. 

Fitzwilliam and West, West One - Sheffield had been crying out for a good steakhouse, and now it's got one. But this place is more than just that - a really versatile menu that includes brunch, sandwiches and seafood is complemented by a lovely wine selection. But despite all the choice, look no further than the 28oz Sirloin known as "The Brendan". 

What do you think then? Do you agree or disagree with Richard's choices? If you would like to have your favourites posted in this section, email a list of your top five destinations for eating and drinking, including a short sentence about each, to me at live-to-eat@hotmail.co.uk.

Sheffield Food Festival 2013 - An Exposed Blog Post

It’s that time of year again. Time to celebrate Sheffield’s culinary offerings; the restaurants, the gastro pubs and the humble cafes, not to mention all of the food producers and community groups that work at helping our residents cook for themselves. That’s right, the Sheffield Food Festival has returned to town and this year promises to be as exciting as the last.

As ever there’s a lot to take in and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be worried about missing out. So, I’ve headed down into town this morning to check out what’s going on as well as sussing out the ‘must-do’ events for the weekend ahead.

Read more here...

Top 5 - Josh Murray

Josh Murray provides his top five places to eat in Sheffield. Check them out below; 

Marco at Milano - Great tasting, posh Italian food with great service. An out of town location means a taxi ride from the centre, but it's worth the effort. 

Silversmiths - Now a firm favourite of ours. Intimate restaurant that has found its feet and does great British food using local ingredients. Disclosure - I know Justin. 

Artisan - Where we go if we want to get dressed up and have a special night out in Sheffield. Really good food, the service has always been great and they have a nice selection of wine. 

Tamper at the Sellers Wheel - My wife took me here for lunch this week and the food was full of flavour and the coffee was absolutely superb (even the decaf!). 

Wig & Pen - My go-to place for business lunches and after-work drinks. Their yummy burgers and fish & chips are my favourites! 

If you would like to have your favourites posted in this section, email a list of your top five destinations for eating and drinking, including a short sentence about each, to me at live-to-eat@hotmail.co.uk.

Peppercorn Restaurant - an Exposed Blog Post

Chef Charlie Curran and his partner, and front of house manager, Kelly Ware have worked together for many years at restaurants including the Samuel Fox in Bradwell and The Beauchief in Milhouses. But now they are stepping out on their own with new venture Peppercorn Restaurant which occupies the old Moran’s premises.

It’s always sad to see a good Sheffield restaurant go and I’m sure that our city will mourn the recent loss of Moran’s restaurant. But with Charlie and Kelly in situ, I think that the 289 Abbeydale Road South address will remain a real favourite on the Sheffield food scene.

On approaching Peppercorn on a dreary Friday night (it was the Friday that Mother Nature remembered which season she was in and quickly flicked the switch from stonking summer to abysmal autumn) I was a little bit taken aback by the exterior. I had forgotten about the Porta Cabin feel to the place, the car park and the fact that you felt as though you were walking through a bike shop as you entered. Once inside, however, I soon forgot about the location as we returned to the more familiar.

The former Moran’s restaurant has been spruced up a bit; the previously beige walls are now white, as is the snug seating area next to the bar. A pale blue floral wallpaper adorns some of the supporting posts and a couple of the walls and although Kelly was a little worried that it may have been too garish, I think it adds a good splash of colour to the place. The restaurant is fuss free, but smart with classic tableware and I was quite glad to see Kelly’s personality dotted around the place as I recognised a few of the paintings from the Samuel Fox (there’s something about those oil painted, rainbow coloured, cows).

Read more here.....

Cheap Eats #4

Well this is a relatively quick one as it seems that I managed to live off leftovers for the majority of the week, which is great for the bank balance, if a little dull for the blog. A couple of donations of home-grown veg (no marrows this time) helped even further!

Ham Hock

The week kicked off with ham hock, mash, greens and carrots. I cooked the hock in the slow cooker, of course. I used this recipe as a guide and after soaking the hock overnight I placed it in the slow cooker with enough water to cover, a chopped up onion, a couple of chopped up celery stalks, 4/5 peppercorns, a couple of bay leaves and about 450g of split peas. I then cooked everything on low whilst I went out to work, so say for 8/9 hours or so.

Once I returned home I got the accompaniments going; mash (made from baked potatoes), greens (cooked with garlic, a little water, a little butter and salt & pepper) and some carrots (home-grown by a friend who I used to work with and simply boiled). To prepare the hock for serving, I removed it from the cooker and scraped off the skin and fat and portioned it up; enough for us to eat that evening, some for us to eat later in the week and some for the pea and ham soup that I was going to make with the cooking liquid (which I left to cool a little whilst we ate dinner).

Pea and Ham Soup

After dinner I removed the bay leaves and the peppercorns from the cooking liquid and then spooned all the fat off (these ham hocks are fatty). I then blitzed it until it was a little smoother (but not totally smooth as I like a little texture in my soup) and portioned it into a few freezer bags before distributing some of the ham hock into each. So, out of a £1.89 ham hock I got 5 decent portions of soup and 4 portions of dinner. Split peas are 68p for 500g and the rest of the ingredients cost around 40p, tops. That's 33p a serving (extra for the veg accompaniments when served as dinner) and each one was delicious. In fact this pea and ham soup is one of the best I've had!

Courgette and Leek Gratin

Although I didn't get a marrow this week, I did get some rather nice looking courgettes and leeks from my parents. Wanting a recipe that would really showcase the veg, rather than just cook them up as sides, I decided to go with a gratin. I kinda used this recipe as a base as I had a small tub of soured cream about to go out of date, but I did make some changes to the recipe.

I prepared the soured cream mix using a small tub (150g) of soured cream, 100g of cheddar (grated), 2 garlic cloves (sliced), a handful of chopped parsley and some pepper. I then mixed this in with 4 very small leeks (say, 1 large) and 3 courgettes which I had sliced. I then spread the veg and soured cream mix into a oven-proof dish before topping with a breadcrumb mix made from 2 slices of bread and 25g of grated cheese. This then went into the oven for 20 mins at 200C.

This was also delicious! The only problem was that we wanted to eat it all, as I had only served it with some bread! It really would have been better if I'd served it with some fish, or some lamb. It's a bit difficult to cost this one up as I'd received the main ingredients for free and I think I'll just leave it that this is a good way to use up any surplus veg as you could use any kind of cream, herbs and cheese that you've got knocking around.

Top 5 - Leigh Richmond

First up in the Your Sheffield Favourites section is Leigh Richmond (@leighcrichmond). Check out his favourites below. 

Gusto Authentic Italian food in a quaint atmosphere. Desserts to die for! 

Rafters Plate wise, as close to London fine dining as you will get in Sheffield, but with a homely feel. 

Losehill House  Not entirely Sheffield, but had to squeeze in purely down to the taste, presentation and views while eating. No idea how this place isn't Michelin starred. 

Devonshire Arms, Middle Handley  Gastro pub at its best. Ever changing menu on the chalk board that always impresses me. Plus they have strawberry beer on tap! 

Milestone  The driver of good food in Sheffield. Gastro feel, with fine dining food. Even a simple brunch is an amazing experience. 

If you would like to have your favourites posted in this section, email a list of your top five destinations for eating and drinking, including a short sentence about each, to me at live-to-eat@hotmail.co.uk.

NOSH - Sheffield - September 19 2013 - Kelham Island Museum

Nosh, the Sheffield street food night market, returns on 19 September 2013. Taking place in Kelham Island Museum, this is a real must do for anyone who loves their food, especially if they love street food! The event runs from 5.30-10pm with an entrance fee of £2 (or £1 NUS - before 6pm). 

My advice? Go with a group of mates, or the family and aim to spend a couple of hours there. That'll give you plenty of time to suss out the stalls and fill up on a starter, main and dessert along with a few pints whilst perusing the market and enjoying the music. Beware - you really need to ensure that you're hungry on arrival as you will want to STUFF yourself silly.

Food and Drink Traders 

- The Hop Box: @TheHopBox 
Who will be serving a stout from Ilkley Brewery and an Adnams American Pale Ale.

- Hungry Buddha: @hungrybuddha1 

These guys will be bringing Nepalese food to Sheffield. Expect Dal Bhat (rice, lentil, chicken or veg curry with homemade chutney and the special appearance of chatamari (riceflour pancake).

- Cowboy Burgers: @CowBoysBurgers

Flipping burgers all night long!

- Noisette Bakehouse: @NoisetteBakes

Who will be providing the sweet stuff from Madeleine Express.

- Little Mesters: @LittleMesters1

Little Mesters have just taken over the School Rooms in Bradfield and it'll be interesting to see what they have up their sleeves...

- Fish&: @NoFishyBusiness 

One word... CALAMARI.

- Lexis Larder: @LexisLarder

Will be providing 'proper grub'; pies and scotch eggs.

- Sheffield Whisky Society: @WhiskySheffield 

For whisky and wine tasting sessions for just £5 email jeffersonboss@hotmail.com to book.

Market Stalls

- Mad Mck's: @MadMcks2013
Will be there with his chilli products - expect jams sauces and chocolate

- The Old Sweet Shop: @TOSSsheffield
The purveyors of independent local arts will there.

Music (curated by The Audacious Art Experiment)

- Toucans: https://soundcloud.com/toucans

- Jim Ghedi: https://www.facebook.com/JimGhedimusic - Nick Potter (Blood Sport) DJ Set

The Good Food Guide - Sheffield Restaurants

The Good Food Guide has been out since Monday. But do you think my pre-ordered copy has arrived yet? Has it heckers, like. 

All is not lost however, thanks to a kind fellow foodie on Twitter (@ThomHetheringto - go on - give him a follow) I have recently been notified of the state of play for Sheffield's restaurants. Thanks also to @IntakeBlade for reminding me that Old Vicarage got 7. 

Artisan 3, 
Milestone 2, 
Moran's 4,
Old Vicarage 7, 
Wig and Pen 2, 
Lokanta and Rafters also recommended.

I'm sure you've got lots to say... so go for it. You know where the comment section is.

Exposed Post - Milestone Cookery School, Sheffield

When I was growing up, home-made curry involved raisins, apple and lots of turmeric. To be fair, my home town of Pontefract was hardly the culinary capital of anywhere and it was only when I moved to Sheffield for university that I had my first real curry. Slowly, but surely, I have trained my taste buds to like spices and heat (and coriander) and curry is now one of my favourite meals.

As a number of South Indian restaurants have been popping up across the city, curry has become more interesting - I'm really starting to learn about the Indian cuisine. I now know what a vada is, what a dosa is and that I will never see a garlic and coriander nann in my favourite Indian restaurant ever again. This is all well and good, but knowing what to order in a restaurant is only half the story. To have any chance of getting to grips with a cuisine, we need to take it into the kitchen and have a crack at it ourselves.

Easier said than done sometimes though, eh? Precisely. Which is why I was intrigued when The Milestone Cookery School started advertising South Indian cookery courses. Admittedly, I was a little sceptical at first as The Milestone is a very British restaurant, but a friend of the family, Manisha Patel, actually runs the classes and, as she grew up in India, her recipes and techniques are very traditional. So when The Milestone kindly offered me a place on the next course I excitedly took them up on the offer!

Read more here....

Cheap Eats #3

I feel as though I've barely cooked this week. Monday was leftover pulled pork for lunch and pasta with tomato sauce for tea (onion sweated down with a couple of garlic cloves, two tins of tomatoes thrown in with a good squirt of tomato purée and a bit of paprika) and Tuesday was more pork with a lazy tea of kebabs from the butchers, a cheat's stir-fry and some rice.

I guess it wasn't until Wednesday evening that I actually cooked and that was just a pissing marrow that had been forced upon me. Someone from work had given Gav one as he thought I would like to do something with it. Needless to say I did not want to do something with it, but I felt obliged and after checking out a few recipes I decided to give it a good stuffing.

Lentil Bolognese is a favourite quick, cheap and healthy meal here and I decided to use it to stuff the marrow. I used A Girl Called Jack's recipe as a base, but I used 240g of lentils, added 2 sticks of celery, skipped the wine (and the stock) and just used parsley as I didn't have any thyme. As that was simmering away I prepared the marrow by slicing two big portions off it, scooping the seeds out and then parboiling until the flesh was giving. I then stuffed each with the Bolognese and topped off with cheese. The slices were baked in a hot oven for about 20 minutes, and well, they were alright. I wouldn't bother again, but I managed to clear my plate. The Bolognese was good mind, and one that I will continue to do.

With lunches covered thanks to leftovers and a few nights/meals out planned over the weekend, the only thing left to cook this week was the slow cooker Thai beef curry. The recipe was given to me as a challenge by @TheFoodNut. It wasn't something I would have thought of trying, but I was pretty pleased with his choice. The recipe was simple to follow and although I didn't like the idea of sticking coconut milk in right at the start of the recipe (surely it would curdle?), I knew there was no point in doing this challenge unless I followed the recipe properly. Having said that, I only put about 30 mls of fish sauce in and I used 1 kg of stewing beef rather than 2 kg.

Given that this was an easy slow cooker recipe, I did think there was a lot of faff to get through at the start of the cooking process. I had to brown the meat, make up the curry paste and then cook the curry paste in the slow cooker on high for a bit before adding the rest of the ingredients. Then I had to wait for it to cook! Half way through the cooking process I was asking myself whether there was actually any worth in using the slow cooker for this type of dish, especially as the contents of my cooker started to look a bit dry 5 hours into cooking. After all, it only takes about 40 minutes to knock up a Thai green curry.

Anyhoo, the proof is in the tasting and, well, it was good. Really flavoursome and rich, but not as fresh tasting as you would normally expect Thai food to be. And although the meat was tender and fell apart at the touch of a fork, it was quite dry (and remember that I'd used half the meat and all the sauce ingredients). There was me worrying about the coconut milk curdling! By the end of its cooking time, the coconut milk was nowhere to be seen. Sure, it had been soaked up by the meat, but we could have done with some sauce and I wonder whether the addition of another tin of coconut milk, say 20 minutes before serving, would be a good addition.

So what's the overall verdict? Yeah it's good, as in it tasted good, but the recipe needs tweaking. Would I do it again? Yeah, just with the addition of some stock whilst cooking and another tin of coconut milk in the last 20 minutes.

Have you got any tips on slow cooker Thai curries?!

Cheap Eats #2

This past week has been a funny one; I've been off work, but I've been really busy. We were also without a fridge freezer for two whole days and the in laws visited (which was great - especially as they took us out for tea!).

Anyhoo... my cheap eats for this week kicked off with another recipe from A Girl Called Jack's blog. Creamy Salmon Pasta With a Chilli Lemon Kick was good, but I made it with potted mackerel (not salmon) and soured cream (not yoghurt). To be honest I did put a bit too much lemon in (and the potted mackerel I bought came with lemon in it, so I didn't really need to add much, if any), but it was good and I was stunned at how I could create a meal out of a 34p jar of potted fish. All in all I think the meal came out at about 65p a portion and I'd do it again, but with a lot less lemon!

Chicken Livers with Mushrooms and Soured Cream was one I'd been wanting to try for a couple of weeks. I'm a real fan of offal; especially as it's so cheap and this recipe really did do the liver proud. Although cooked through, the meat was soft and tender and the nutmeg in the soured cream topping worked very well. I just did half the recipe as I don't think it's one I'd either want to eat cold or reheat. I think it came out at just over a quid a portion and served up with some cabbage, it was a really wholesome tea.

I've started making a lot of lentil 'salads' recently. I just cook up some green lentils with a chopped up carrot and a bay leaf in the water. Then once drained, but whilst still hot, I stir the lentils and the carrot in to a bowl of chopped up herbs, a garlic clove, spring onion, chilli, celery, tomatoes and capers with some lemon juice. The heat of the lentils softens the rest of the veg a little and this week I served it cold with some Stilton for lunch.

I use a lot of fresh herbs (I am only trying to cut back; thankfully I am not in a position where I have to watch every penny I spend) and I always buy them from Castle Market. The bunches of flat leaf parsley from All Seasons are simply huge and enough to keep me going for a couple of weeks. They're about a quid a pop too which makes them so much better value than the stuff at the supermarket. And as I get the whole shebang (from the delicate leaf to the thick, dark stem) I wanted to find a way of making the most of the whole bunch. Sure some of the stem is ok to chop up and use with the leaf in salads etc, but some of it is too thick and actually unpleasant to eat. So, I chopped the thick stems off and blitzed them with a couple of garlic cloves, a chilli, some pumpkin seeds (it was the only nut/seed item I had to hand), seasoning and some oil. Hey presto... Parsley pesto! Stirred into cooked pasta with cheese, this is pretty delicious and I'm quite chuffed with it as I managed to get a decent tub's worth and I've covered it in a layer of oil so that it will keep me going for a while yet.

However, the meal of the week has to go to my Slow Cooker Pulled Pork. Unsurprisingly, this wasn't a particularly cheap one, but the end results were stunning.and it probably works out at around £1.50 a lunch sized portion (and that's taking into account that I used high quality pork from Moss Valley), which isn't too bad given that it was f**king gorgeous. I served mine with some bread rolls, cheese, mustard and some homemade coleslaw (1/4 finely sliced cabbage, 2 grated carrots, 1 finely sliced onion mixed in with a dollop of mayo, some lemon juice, a minced up garlic clove and a bit of wholegrain mustard). I'm glad to report that it's also good cold and I'll be serving it for lunch with more of the coleslaw and a rice salad (rice, chopped coriander, parsley, tomatoes, spring onions, carrot and celery).