Tag Archives: Eat

#BEDM | Shebeen Bar & Braai Edinburgh

As you are no doubt aware, just because you declare a random week in the year to be ‘National Whatever Week’, doesn’t mean you’re going to get the weather for it. Especially if you’re in the UK and you want to do an outdoor activity in May. So, since this National Barbecue Week looks set to be a washout, I have something for all you Edinburgers who just want your BBQ Burgers.

Shebeen Edinburgh

Look at that walloping great slab of meat! A short walk from miserable barbecues in The Meadows, Shebeen is an authentic South African Bar and Braai (the SA equivalent to a barbecue) located on Morrison Street with a second location soon to open in Dalry. If you like your meat, this place has you covered with everything from steaks in two size options (Cheetah sized portion or Lion if you’re of sturdier appetite) or a burger than can feed four to South African boerewors sausage or traditional slow cooked stew. I recommend the mixed grill for the indecisive – lamb chop and beef rump steak, a sausage, wedges, crispy onion rings and a grilled mushroom all topped off with a gloriously runny-yolked fried egg.

Now that is what you call Barbecue Bliss.

#BEDM | Easy Peasy Lynchburg Lemonade

:ynchburg Lemonade

Today’s topic is “the best thing about being an adult”. Does it make me sound like a total jakey to say alcohol? Well maybe it does, but who cares, let’s not take this too seriously. My favourite cocktails are currently ones that involve a slug (or two) of Jack Daniels. Unfortunately, the multitude of ingredients needed can make home-made cocktails kinda pricey and time-consuming. My solution – simplify the recipe, stick it in a fancy drink receptacle and no one will be any the wiser.

Here’s my super simple, barely-even-a-cocktail recipe for Easy Peasy Lynchburg Lemonade:

Per drink:
1 shot Jack Daniels
2 drops Angostura Bitters
Half teaspoon caster sugar
top up with cloudy lemonade.

Shake in a cocktail shaker, pour into ye olde fashioned lemonade bottles, serve with a paper straw and await the oohs over your fancy cocktail making skillz. Simple right? You can make this even better but switching out half of the lemonade with raspberry juice and squishing a couple of fresh raspberries in there. Now that is fancy!

 

#BEDM | British Sandwich Week

Huge Sandwich

Sometimes it seems like there is a national week for literally everything. British Sandwich Week? I remember seeing a programme where restaurant chefs were told that in a poll British people chose the humble sandwich as their favourite lunchtime meal. The chefs were appalled, but doesn’t that show us that every week is Sandwich Week, do we really need an official date to ‘celebrate’?

Anyhoo, sorry for the negative start. Look at that sandwich! My boyfriend is the king of sandwiches. He doesn’t see sandwiches as a quick bite to eat, something you slap together in two minutes. No, this is a proper meal. It deserves time and respect.

Snadwich

He started by hollowing out a white bloomer loaf and putting some streaky bacon under the grill. He then creates the ‘cheese barrier’ – a layer of cheese to stop the bread getting soggy from the lettuce. Shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes are next. Then it’s meat time. British Pastrami, Brunswick Smoked Ham and British Turkey slices are joined by the crispy bacon in an unholy quadrilogy. And the final step – condiments. David went for salsa for his but I’ve recently discovered coleslaw on sandwiches instead of as a side dish – OMG crunchy, creamy goodness!

Sandwich

This mighty beast defeated both of us and the remains are waiting patiently in the fridge for round two.

What’s on your ultimate sandwich?

Eats | Burger Edinburgh

Burger EdinburghWhen I heard that there was a new burger joint opening in Edinburgh, said to be the city’s answer to Byron (London’s answer to Five Guys – we’re in a burger matrix people), I couldn’t wait to try it. Named simply as Burger, does it set a new standard of burger in Edinburgh?

Burger EdinburghLocated in my end of town in Fountainbridge, Burger certainly has potential to become my new go to. The interior is a simple, industrial style and reflects the ethos that the focus is doing something simple well. We visited at around 2pm on a Saturday and it was busy but we had no problem finding seats. Much like rival Wannaburger, you order at the counter, get handed a buzzer and collect your food when it’s ready.  The food is served on Vegware compostable packaging which is a fab move from Burger.

Burger Edinburgh ReviewThe most important part – the food! The menu is straightforward – pick from a regular burger, cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, chicken or veggie burgers. There is also a specials menu which changes weekly and includes hotdogs on the weekends. I went for the bacon cheeseburger – best to test the basics! Once I got rid of the pickles it was perfect. Juicy burger, smoky bacon, and a burger sauce that adds a tiny bit of spice without overwhelming everything else. I enjoyed the brioche bun too which added a hint of sweetness and – importantly – didn’t get soggy and fall apart half way through the meal. My dining partner got one of the specials, a Juicy Bluecy with blue cheese cooked into the middle of a double patty. He was equally happy with his choice.

The fries were a thing of beauty. Medium thick, skin on, crisp, they were perfect. If I was being picky I would say that as they are salted by the staff they may be too salty for  some, although I thought they were tasty.

I also got a chocolate and peanut butter milkshake. It was the perfect accompaniment to the salty fries. David got a vanilla milkshake and disappointingly it seemed to be only three-quarters full. This was shame as I couldn’t finish mine (choc and peanut butter is always going to be incredibly rich and filling) and he was left wanting more. But they were both lovely, creamy, well-flavoured milkshakes.

The bill came to around £20 for both of us. I enjoyed my first experience at Burger. The food came quickly and was very tasty. There were lots of great touches, like jugs of water to help yourself to, the Vegware and of course the staff who were just lovely. Considering they’ve only been open a couple of weeks it seems to be going really well and I’m sure it’ll go from strength to strength. I’m looking forward to trying the hotdogs and some of the specials next.

I am such a burger fan, do any of you have burger recommendations for Edinburgh and Paris, where I’ll be next week? I’d love to hear them.

Ginger Jack Cocktail

Ginger Jaack CocktailIt’s Fridaaaayyy! What you drinking? This is the real Black Friday for guys and gals who work in bars across the country, it being the last Friday before Christmas. Can you say ‘office party’? For people who want to avoid the madness, here’s my current favourite tipple to have while lying on the couch. And on the coffee table when things escalate.

Ginger Jack Ingredients

  • Fill a tall glass with ice.
  • Add one shot of Jack Daniels. Or two if you are mental.
  • Top with Crabbie’s Ginger Beer. I like this one as you’re doubling up the alcohol but you can use non-alcoholic ginger ale of course. I love Bundaberg but it’s a little tricky to get in the UK. Old Jamaica is a good choice if you like it spicy.
  • Garnish with a lime wedge (give it a good squeeze before you chuck it in though).
  • Optional – if you find it a bit sharp, or just like things a bit sweeter stir in a teaspoon on castor sugar.

I think drinks with ginger in them are quite festive so this is a really easy cocktail to put on it you’re throwing a Christmas soiree. As a bonus, it’s not pink or fruity so won’t isolate your macho guy chums. Not that it should matter but apparently it does to some.

Cheers!

Marshmallow Fluff Christmas Cupcakes

Marshmallow fluff Christmas cupcakesI love a cheat’s way of baking. I’ll often crack out the Betty Crocker box mixes if I plan on doing some fancy decorations – you gotta save time one way or another! And it is still homemade, I baked it in my oven! I put in my own egg!  Plus, those Betty Crocker boxes taste damn delicious. This recipe is a super easy basic cupcake recipe (yes, proper from scratch) and a cheat’s ‘icing’.

Fluff cupcakesIngredients (for 12):

115g Stock or unsalted butter at room temperature (seriously though, just buy Stork)
115g caster sugar
2 eggs
115g self-raising flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk (if needed)
1 jar Marshmallow Fluff (try Americandy stores or Amazon)
Ready to roll coloured royal icing. Or make your own if you are a show-off!

You will need a muffin tray with cupcake liners and to preheat your oven to 180C/Gas mark 4.

  • Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
  • Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
  • Sift over the flour and mix. Try not to knock the air out with a folding method.
  • Stir in the vanilla extract. The mixture should be a medium consistency, enough to slowly run off the spoon. If it’s to thick or sticky, add the milk.
  • Divide into the lined muffin tray and pop in the oven for 13 – 18 minutes.
  • Check if cooked through by poking with a skewer – it should come out clean. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Boom! How easy was that? Then go to town with the decorations. I spooned Fluff over all of them first of all. This is tricky because it is extremely sticky but bear with it. It also ‘self-levels’ after a few minutes. If you want to make it thicker so that you can throw some peak in there, gradually add some icing sugar and it’ll start to hold it’s shape and will work for piping.

Fluff penguin cupcakePop on some novelty rings!

Santa snow drift cupcakeHow about a ‘Santa stuck in a snow drift’ design using the royal icing?

Smores fluff cupcakesOr, my favourite, pop them under the grill for a few minutes for a delicious toasted s’mores topping. Yum!

What are your favourite recipes using Marshmallow Fluff? I have half a jar left so need some suggestions!

Halloween Candy Bark

Halloween Candy Bark

The best thing about Halloween is the sweeties, right? Spooky themed chews, the brief return of Creme Eggs under the guise of Screme Eggs (LOL), orange French Fancies! So feeling inspired by MilkBubbleTea, I thought I’d combine these into some ‘candy bark’. Although not the French Fancies, I just ate them. Candy bark is basically just slabs (usually chocolate although can be toffee etc) chopped or snapped into rough shards. It’s popular in the States, especially around Christmas time when everyone makes peppermint bark, hence the ‘candy’ and not just ‘chocolate’. Anyway, let’s get on with it…

Halloween Candy Bark ingredients

Ingredients:
1 large bar milk chocolate.
2 large Milkybars (only 1 pictured) other white chocolate is fine if you can find a large, plain bar – this was all they had in my local shop.
Selection of Halloween themed sweets. I used Fizzy Jelly Tadpoles, Spooky Treats from the Natural Confectionery Company and mini Cabury Screme Eggs.

You also need a flat baking tray lined with tin foil, cling film or grease-proof paper, a sharp knife and some space in the fridge.

  • Melt the milk chocolate. I always recommend using the bain-marie method (glass bowl over a pan of boiling water), the time saved with the microwave is not worth the risk of burning chocolate to me.
  • Pour into the lined baking tray and pop into the fridge to set.

Halloween Bark

  • Melt the white chocolate. Pour over the set milk chocolate.
  • While still warm, pop on your decorations.

Halloween Candy Bark

  • Pop into the fridge to set.
  • Once set, take out of the tin and peel off the tinfoil/paper/whatever you used. Chop into shards and serve.

Halloween Candy Bark

What are your favourite Halloween treats?

Confetti Cookies

Who would like a cookie?

Confetti cookiesI wanted to try something else with my neon sugar sprinkles that wasn’t a cupcake so I went for these Confetti Cookies. They are adapted from a recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I just swapped the chips for sprinkles, believe me though, if I had both they would be going in.

Ingredients:
250g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
200g soft light brown sugar
100g castor sugar
150g unsalted butter (melted)
1 egg and 1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Mixed neon sprinkles

Preheat the oven to 170c or 150C for a fan oven. Makes 12 approx.

  • Sift the flour, salt and baking soda together
  • In a separate bowl, mix the sugars and the butter together
  • Mix the eggs and vanilla extract and add to the sugar and butter. Beat until light and fluffy.
  • Add to bowl with flour. Mix until just blended.
  • Stir in the sprinkles
  • Blob tablespoons of mixture onto a greased baking tray. Do not flatten, they’ll do it themselves in the oven. MAke sure you leave space between them, I used two baking trays with six on each but they still joined up. Four per tray would be better.
  • Bake for 12 – 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

When you put your tray(s) in the oven, make sure your oven shelf is straight or you’ll end up with a cookie corner like I did!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis recipe makes lovely chewy, soft cookies. Use the same recipe for your chocolate chip cookies too, it’s the best one I’ve found so far.

Neon Cake Pops

Neon Cake Pops

While mooching about Tesco the other day I spotted the ultimate summer cake accessory – Neon Sugar!

Neon Sugar

Look how pretty it is! I didn’t think a cupcake would do justice to these sprinkles so I decided to bite the bullet and finally attempt cake pops.

Cake pop ingredientsIngredients:
Betty Crocker Red Velvet Cake Mix
3 eggs
205ml water
4 and a half tablespoons vegetable oil
Betty Crocker Vanilla Icing
Vanilla flavoured Candy Melts
Neon Sugar

Preheat the oven to 180C or 160C for a fan oven.

  • Make the cake mix as instructed. Leave the cake to cool thoroughly .
  • Crumble the cake into a large bowl until it looks like breadcrumbs
  • Mix three tablespoons of the icing into the cake mixture. It’s best to do this with your hands so that you can ensure that it is not getting too sticky or is not too dry.
  • Form the mixture into balls (smaller is better) and pop into the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.
  • You can either use lollipop sticks to make cake pops or you can stick to cake balls.
  • Melt the Candy Melts over a pan of water. They melt fast so keep an eye on them!
  • Dip the cake balls into the melted chocolate and sprinkle with the Neon Sugar. Leave to set.

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Don’t be afraid of cake fails! Make the balls too big and they wont stay on the stick. Too dry; same problem. But it’s ok, the crumbs are still tasty and you can munch them while lovingly decorating the rest to share.

Cake pop fail

Oh but look at them when they work out!

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Yeah! Matching your treats to S/S ’13 trends! Still got half a tub of the Neon Sugar left…hmm…whats next?

Graze Boxes

graze boxGraze boxes are my new favourite thing and since this blog is really all about my favourite stuff, I thought they deserved their own little post. I am, by nature or habit, a grazer; I could eat all day. So in order to try and be slightly healthier I decided to sign up and become a Graze-r. I started getting these just a few weeks ago (one a week) and every one has been a winner so far. graze box open In each box you get four punnets, which are the perfect size for “elevensies,” mid-afternoon snacking or supper time. When you sign up you can browse all the food available and ‘bin’ the snacks that you know you won’t like (for me, the olives) so you know that you’ll only get stuff you want to try. I’ve had 4 boxes so far and there has only been one I didn’t like (dried pear is not my fave) but I just clicked ‘bin’ on the website so I know I won’t get it again. I’ve also had a mixture of sweet and savoury in each box so far which has been perfect. graze toffee appleToffee Apple has been one of my favourites so far. So sweet but only 68 calories!

I highly recommend Graze boxes. They have been a lifesaver during busy periods at work where I can’t tear myself away from the desk! I also love the fact that the box is compact enough to fit through a standard letter box so you don’t have to worry about being in when it is delivered. I pay £3.89 per week for one box a week. You can check it out on their website here and if you would like to give it a try I have a code for a free box which you are welcome to use: Z7QF7DCD (UK only).

Do you get Graze boxes? What has been your favourite snack?