So I have been doing a bit of lemon \ lime cooking.
Last week I made this simple cucumber lime relish thing. Just diced cucumber, chopped mint, some salt and pepper, a tiny bit of chopped red chilli, and a good slashing of lime juice. It went beautifully with a Northern Indian chicken curry I made. ('Making' at the moment also includes buying pre-cooked from Tartine up the road. Much as I love to cook there are limits to what I can do when everything smells slightly gross.)
Then I made this polenta lemon cake from Nigella Lawson's Kitchen. It took a while for me to get into this cookbook. I think it was something to do with the font and layout - picky, I know but it just didn't grab me. But revisiting it has paid off. Nigella describes this as a cross between one of those polenta-ey Italian cakes and an English lemon drizzle cake. A truly jolie laide cake.
Even my daughter loved it:
And the cake would not have been possible without my favourite new implement. I can barely believe I have survived without one for so long. A Microblade, invented by a clever American and the only thing for zesting. I confess, I am in love with this thing. I clean it carefully and put it lovingly back into its plastic case. You can also use it for parmesan and coconut.
It seems a bit odd to be writing of lemony recipes when there is so much devastation in Christchurch. I have been there a few times, for conferences, and once on holidays where we stayed here. I am not sure if it is even still standing.
(The Northern Club, Christchurch)
My heart is very heavy for all New Zealanders today and for all those who have lost loved ones and may be waiting for terrible confirmation of more deaths. It is almost too much for one country to bear.
30 comments:
Have you tried Moroccan salted lemons? They are wonderful!
Tricia Rose - no!! How do you make them?
Maggie Beer would be a lovely grandma.
She's always laughing, which is endearing. And she has beautiful jewellery.
Hmmmm... although I definitely think my palate is sweet... is there any chance you could share that lemon polenta cake recipe? Sounds divine! x
Mmm. Lovely. Nice to see you're cooking and enjoying it. I have a lemony/chocolatey palate I think - I suppose Maggie would say I am a freak of nature.
NZ is having a terrible time.... the whole country is in shock. A x
Love your post Jane...I'm a lemon lover too...I add it to just about everything from chicken pot pie to the sweet potato/apple soup I made night before last, can't cook with out it (cayenne and tarragon are the other musts). I'll be trying that cake for sure, sounds and looks fantastic. Hope you get your pallet & appetite back soon...you're doing so good for it being a bit sketchy!
My thoughts and prayers are with those in Christchurch also, so devestating!
Hugs...
xo J~
Maggie Beer does look like she would be a good grandmother. Do you watch her cooking show? I think I am a sweet tooth - you know, past the lips onto the hips! ;-)
OMGoodness I 'need' to find on of those blades! Have been trying to finely grate my zest much to my dissatisfaction. Your cake looks sooo good!
My second son has a lemony sour palate too - it is funny to see someone young enjoy sucking on a lemon or lime with such enthusiasm. I love the simple relish recipe. Anything with lime and mint wins me over. xx
Oh YUM! I found a lemon polenta cake recipe recently & I'd love to give it a try, it looks delicious. Given there's not a whole lot of love put in when I cook, I feel I really need to give it a whirl while inspiration strikes..
I want the salted lemon recipe too! Anything with lemon is a winner with me, and I must have a look for the polenta cake recipe. No one else in the household would like it, which would leave the perfect quantity for myself. Good to hear you sounding active and well, Jane!
Mmmmm, the lemon polenta cake looks delicious! Love the Brambly Hedge plate, I collected them as a child!
Ooh, Jane, I think I need a microblade. Now. And like Bron, I'd love that recipe. It sounds delish.
As for Christchurch, honestly, how much more are those poor souls expected to bear? It's just too much. J x
Adore Maggie, my husband saves all her snacks on the plane for me, oh, delicious!! I wish she was my grandmother too!! I have one savory loving child, she can suck lemons, amazing. All 4 of mine will go for sweet or sour, they're like me. Love Posie
I am with you Jane...I love lemon lime tasting food, so much so, that I feel the urge to buy a lemon tart every time I see one. I have a few of Maggie's cookbooks and had the good fortune to meet her years ago at a retreat at the Golden Door. She would make the perfect grandmother!
I bought the microblade a few years ago and can't live without it. All this talk about lemons is making me think of lemon tarts and when I think of lemon tarts....
I have been thinking of you Jane. I have friends who have been in similar positions with the same thoughts on scarves and wigs. They always seemed happiest in a scarf and missed them when their hair grew back. I hope you will make good use of those scarves as they are all gorgeous and I imagine you will look wonderful in them. I hope your daughter agrees :)
Best wishes Jane...
Jeanne xxx
Hi Jane...
A little Tuscan lemon love coming your way....a post for you ;)
http://b-wellreport.blogspot.com/2011/02/little-tuscan-love-with-my-two.html
Jeanne xxx
Along with my speed peeler, my microblade is one of my favourite kitchen gadgets. I also feel quite "chef-y" and therefore imbued with a feeling of competence when I use it (always helpful)! I'm with you on the lemon/lime scenario too. In fact, my favourite dessert is citrus tart. I have a dream of preserving my own lemons, having seen Maggie, Jamie et al doing it so effortlessly. Thinking of you, lovely Jane. Got a little parcel currently winging its way down to you as we speak (sorry it took soooo long!). Meredy xo
So with you on wishing I was related to Maggie Beer, the delight of a new microplane and the layout of Nigella's book. Will have to have a second look at it as read it on Boxing day and shut it and haven't opened it again...
Oh yum!..Give me a strong tasting lemon meringue pie and I'm in bliss land..xx
Everything looks mouthwateringly (Is that a word?) delicious! I wish I could pop in and share some of that cake with you, Jane.I LOVE polenta cake!
Best wishes and happy weekend,
Natasha.
xo
Hi Jane,
Well, I love ALL food, so it all looks delicious to me !! I don't know what book the Lemon Polenta Cake recipe is in but, the first cookery book of Nigella's that I bought was 'How To Eat' and, I hardly ever look at it as I don't like the layout....it isn't very inspiring.
It's lovely to see you cooking up a storm.....I know how much you love to cook.
We are all thinking of the people of Christchurch, here in the UK. I cannot imagine what they are going through. All I can hope is that the earthquakes have finished and that they can start to rebuild their lives ( very easy to say but, so much harder to do physically and mentally )
Take care Jane and keep using that microblade!! XXXX
Hi Jane
Your creations look delicious. I made my mouth water thinking about what lemony stuff i love. My favourite is homemade lemon butter. Our local bakery does lemon butter tarts that taste homemade. i think i'll be going there later today. Heavy hearts for our Kiwi neighbours, the closer to home, the more it seems to hurt hey. Sending you strength and love for the chemo. Best wishes, Jane x
Looks like your kitchen frenzy is producing outstanding results Jane! MOTH's a tutie-fruitie kinda guy, so I'm always doing lemon-y things. My fave is a twist on the old Lemon Delicious pudding thing. I substitute Lime for Lemon, serve them in small Pillivuyt bowls with a huge dollop of lemon gelato. I'm sure your wonderful palate will return better than ever after you give that chemo. the old flicko.
Millie x
Hi Jane, I honoured you with a lemon butter tart yesterday afternoon. take a look at my blog for the mouth watering photo!
Well it seems like a very delightful dish.
Oh Yum!!!!!
Jane you are an inspiration! The Nigella cake looks and sounds delicious - I shall have to hunt out a recipe. Likewise I will be hunting out one of those microblade whats-its. My life has not been the same since I received a mandolin - I have a feeling the microblade will be just as transformative :) Hoping you're doing OK Annie x
I love your Bramley Hedge plate!
Enjoyed your musings it is amazing what the palate takes on when going through a illness there is always something to eat in the sour group and I ask why.
Stay well.
x Lesley
Hi Jane, it's lovely to have found you, love your blog am following...and love this post...anything with food, lemon and Maggie Beer is a winner for me.
I too feel the same way about NZ...I have been lucky enough to have met some great new zealanders in my life... That building is just too beautiful...really hope it's still there.
Have a great Monday :))
Thanks for following my blog xo
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