Food!

This Easter things were a little non-traditional.

Tobie and I were getting over our colds and were a little sad at how our holiday didn't pan out as we'd hoped. To cheer myself up I went to the Farmers Market on Saturday and decided to make a fun non-traditional Easter feast.  The market here makes me happy and definitely feeds my soul in a landscape which mostly consists of the uninspiring confines of my study bunker.  If you are not a foodie this post is bound to be boring drivel. My apologies!

I call this one: 

Yummy market and Tesco Bounty

or Life is Better When You Have a Car

First is the pizza dough thanks to Jaime Oliver's Recipe.

If I can make it, anyone can. This is my fun fig pizza which I haven't made since Nature Nerd's wedding! You have to start by making the dough and letting it rise. While the dough is rising...

Slice several onions into slim rings and throw into a heavy pot with a slab of butter and a drizzle of olive oil.

Then add a few heaping tablespoons of brown sugar and several gluggs of balsamic vinegar. Stir and let the onions reduce into a pulpy mess of deliciousness. The longer they cook the better. I usually set aside at least an hour. Tweak the balsamic and sugar to taste.

While the onions are cooking...Trim the heads off a few bulbs of garlic, drizzle with olive oil and pop in the oven. They usually take about 25-30 mins at approximately 300-350 degrees F.

After the garlic is roasted (yes I did *slightly* overdo mine above) then mix into the onion jam of goodness and stir about. Roll out your pizza and spread the mix onto the dough.

I then cut up a few handfuls of figs and put them on top. Tear a few large strips of prosciutto and add to the mix. Finally put some nice big slices of Cambozola cheese (hey, I never said it was a *healthy* pizza) and a dusting of Parmesan. Bake until it looks golden and delicious.

I like to throw a handful of arugula on top at the end.

Then I made a nice salad with fresh greens and beautiful cherry tomatoes, arugula, walnuts, and a tangy balsamic reduction sauce. Balsamic reduction is cheap to buy and tastes exactly the same as what you will slave over for ages to produce. I am no purist when it comes to some store bought condiments which make my life easier.

Voila!

For dessert there was a rhubarb, walnut, prune and apple crumble. I wish there was some way to bottle up all the lovely aromas in the kitchen. And it worked! All that cooking made me forget that we were far away from our friends and families for the holidays.

Yum!

Happy Easter everyone!