Cooking the Books

I have a huge amount of cookery books that sit on the shelves year after year.  This year I have set myself the challenge of using them more, otherwise there really is no point in having them take up shelf space.  If they are to survive the big de-clutter (yes yet another challenge I have set myself) then they have to show that they are worth keeping and will be used.  I have started with HFW Veg book which is sort of cheating as it is one of my favourites and wouldn't be sacrificed to the clutter cull anyway.  Next week I will try harder and choose one that hasn't been used for years.  Do you have cookery books that haven't been opened for ages? I know some other bloggers have set themselves this challenge.  How are you getting on?

The recipe I chose was a curried bubble and squeak which sounded perfect for an after work simple warming supper.  I prepared the veg before I went to work so when I got home all I had to do was stick them in a frying pan.  It was delicious and reminded me a bit of sag aloo, it was also a good way to use up the spring greens I had in the veg box.  So here is the recipe:

CURRIED BUBBLE AND SQUEAK

2 - 4 tablespoons rapeseed or sunflower oil
1 onion chopped
1 garlic clove
1 heaped tsp curry powder or paste
About 400g cold, cooked potatoes in rough chunks
About 200g of cold, cooked cabbage, greens, kale or brussels sprouts shredded or chopped ( I used more than this to use it all up)
Salt and pepper

Heat 2 tbls oil in a large, non stick frying pan over a medium heat.  Add the onion and fry for 6 - 7 mins, until soft and just starting to colour.  Add the garlic and curry powder or paste and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add the potato chunks and cook for a few minutes, stirring often, until they start to colour.  You may want to ad a little more oil at this stage and you'll probably need to use the edge of a spatula to scrape up some of the lovely crusty bits from the bottom of the pan.  Add the greens and cook, stirring for a further 2 - 3 mins.

Season with salt and pepper and serve straight away, topping each portion with a poached egg if you like.

I hope you are all surviving the storms, we haven't had any snow here but its been blowing a hooley.  I am feeling better but don't have much energy and the bearded one has come down with it now.  I'll leave you with a little sign of spring which I spotted in the garden, it really cheered me up knowing that spring is on it's way.

Stay warm and safe,

Chickpea xx