Cafe Salvation : Pimp Up Your Pies

Posted: October 19, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Cook, Absolutely Nothing To Eat | Leave a comment

We’re very excited to have the deliciously clever Helen Creese from Cafe Salvation contributing to ANTW. She will be sharing some of her most popular recipes from their wonderful menu and to start we have everyone’s favourite Winter warmer…..PIES!

“I may well regret saying this but at last, it’s cold enough to get some winter warmers on the menu! The woodburners arrival in the café is imminent, so to keep us toastie in the run up to its installation, last week we cooked up our tasty Punjabi Pie.

This dish reminds me of my childhood. My Dad is a fantastic cook and I spent most evenings as a kid whiling away an evening in the kitchen, chatting to my Pops whilst subconsciously absorbing everything he was doing. Pops is a fan of spice and loves to experiment with food, adapting recipes to better suit his tastes, and this dish is a prime example of that.

Based on our British Classic, Cottage Pie, the secret to Punjabi Pie lies in the spice mix added to the onion and garlic during the first stages of cooking. For 500g of beef, start by frying one red onion and 2-3 cloves of garlic (depending on size of cloves and how much you enjoy the flavour). Add one stick of chopped celery and one diced carrot. When the onion and veg are soft, add a healthy palm-full (sorry, I don’t use measured devices, but if you cup your fingers to create a well in your palm, you’ll have the right amount) of ground cumin, coriander and half a palm-full of turmeric. Stir until aromatic, then add your beef to the onion and spice mix. Season well, add some tomato puree and fresh red chilli (quantity dependent on how hot you like it), and once the beef is browned, add a tin of chopped tomatoes. Half-fill your tin with water and add this to your mixture. Taste and alter your seasoning to suit. Wack in the oven for 30-40 minutes and crack on with your mash topping.

Pops would use a mixture of potatoes and swede; I opted for pots and sweet potato (mainly because I like the colour and I eat with my eyes). Boil both veg – about 3 good sized potatoes and one sweet potato for 500g beef – in salted water until soft, drain and mash with plenty of salt and pepper and a generous knob of butter. We like to throw in some grated cheddar (again, it gives the mash a glorious golden colour as well as tasting yummy). Take the beef mixture out of the oven and pop in to your serving dish, spread the mash over the top (make it nice and thick, there’s nothing worse than an anorexic pie topping), and sprinkle on a bit more grated cheddar. Pop the dish back in the oven for about 25-30 mins (depending on your oven: I use an Aga, so in a conventional oven I’d have it on 190 for 25-30 mins). Once your topping is golden and smelling amazing, your pie is ready!

Why not Pimp Up your Pies?! You can add a twist to most run-of-the-mill recipes, turning wet, weekday suppers in to dramatic delights, just with the addition of a few spices, fresh herbs, lemon or lime juice….it really can be that simple. I’m looking forward to taking the Punjabi Pie in to another realm: Sherpa’s Pie will involve lamb, fresh ginger, chilli, toasted cumin and coriander seeds, maybe some lentils and spinach…I’m undecided on my mash topping – any suggestions?   Our lovely customers enjoyed their slices of Punjabi with some Glorious Green Beans (Granny Smith’s runners always have been, and always will be, the sweetest runner beans I’ve ever tasted) and a delicious dollop of spicy red lentils. Hungry, anyone?”

Find Salvation here……
Our opening hours are:
Thursday: 0930 – 1500
Friday: 0930 – 1700
Saturday: 1000 – 1700
Lower Mitchell Barn, Nr Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 1EG
T: 01531 636380
cafesalvation@gmail.com

Absolutely Nothing To Buy : The Perfect Card

Posted: October 18, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Buy | Leave a comment

I must have appeared rather rude as a child. I hardly ever thanked people in writing for any of the gifts received at Christmas or on birthdays. I’m not sure if I just didn’t see the point, or was just a bit too lazy, or had thanked them in my head and so thought that I didn’t need to actually tell them. It’s no wonder relatives got cross. I’d be furious.

So now, be it as an act of guilt or a reaction to email over kill, I love nothing better than sending hand written cards. I have a drawer full of postcards and notecards which I can dip in to at any time when a “Thank You” or a “Welcome to the World” or a “Happy Birthday” is required. And I have a couple of favourite places I go to time and time again to find the perfect card.

The first is Archivist. A small and perfectly formed printing press based in Oxfordshire who do the most beautiful letterpress cards as well as a Natural History collection (created from exclusive access to the NH archives) and hand printed notelets. You can buy them online or in selected retailers including John Lewis and Paperchase.

Archivist - Strawberry

Archivist - Thank You Very Much

Archivist - Tomatoes

The second is Nineteen Seventy Three. An online emporium with some of the most fabulous postcards, greeting cards, wrapping paper, invitations, notebooks and all sorts. With collections from various illustrators and artists including The Good Life, Darling Clementine, Belle and Boo and Sukie, there really is something for everyone. You can buy them direct from their online store or from various retailers.

The Good Life - Stork

The Good Life - Countryside

Belle and Boo - I Like Your Hat

Darling Clementine - Fox

Sukie - Happy Birthday

I could go on and on and on and there will be probably be many updates to this post. For now though, thank you very much.

Absolutely Nothing To Wear : Stripes

Posted: October 16, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

I was never really in to stripes for myself until quite recently. I have always been in to stripes for my boys. They just seem to suit them from end to end. Stripes have always been notoriously unflattering, they widen everything – I’m talking horizontal here, vertical is a whole different story and needs to be approached with extra caution. My children were both tiny babies and giant toddlers but regardless I wrapped them both in as many straight lines as I could get my hands on. The stripe – for adult or child – has to be right though and it’s worth investing a bit of time and money in to finding the ones which really do work.

When it comes to the children I am a Polarn O Pyret addict. They do a stripe better than any other I know. From leggings – which I absolutely swear by for little boys – to long sleeved tees, all in ones, socks, hats and pants, they are the very very best. They have lasted me through two incredibly active boy babies and are still going strong.

Polarn O Pyret - the best stripes for kids

So, after years of telling me that stripes made his “eyes go funny”, my husband recently came back from New York with bundles of stripey offerings for both me and the children. I hadn’t asked for anything apart from a denim shirt from Levis – which he found and is perfect – but I did mention that J.Crew might be worth a visit if he did feel ~~guilty for leaving me for 10 days~~ that I might need anything else. That was as much direction as he was given and blimey did he do well. I am now the proud owner of 4 of the very best J.Crew stripey tops I never even knew existed. Each one a little bit different in colour or style and very well considered indeed. I would never have been this generous on myself. I’m in stripe heaven and I may be here for some time.

So to end this rather self satisfied post about stripes you might be pleased to know that J.Crew have a UK online store now which is very good news for wardrobes everywhere. And there seems to be a bit of a sale on at the moment so definitely worth a look.

Just found this one on J.Crew UK - in the sale. It's lovely.

I Hate My Collection : A fashion film by Oleg Mitrofanov

Posted: October 14, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

Central Saint Martins, the best 4 (college) years of my life. Wish I could go back and do it all over again.

Absolutely Nothing To Talk About with Alison Edmond

Posted: October 13, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Talk About | 2 Comments

Yorkshire born Alison Edmond now lives in LA with her husband and 3 children. She is the LA Editor for Harper’s Bazaar UK, Editor at Large for Marie Claire US, Los Angeles Ambassador for the British Fashion Council and stylist to the stars. Alison talked to ANTW about all kinds of Absolutely Nothing……

Alison Edmond with her two boys

Absolutely Nothing To Wear…..

Black, black, black … then I don’t have to think about it.

Absolutely Nothing To Listen To…..

Most of the music I listen to is dictated by my kids playing dj in my car. So at the moment it’s a mix of Lupe Fiasco, anything by Jay Z, and an amazing new guy called Luke Christopher who’s songs I now know intimately and I have to say he’s really great. He just turned 18 and was signed to Interscope on his birthday. Look out Kanye!

Absolutely Nothing To Read…..

I just finished Life, Keith Richards which I loved, although trying to remember that’s only his side of the story and he probably can’t recall the more sordid details. I also just re-read The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey, which was a book on my school curriculum which I remembered loving and wanted to revisit. I loved it yet again, and envisioned the whole novel as a film starring Jon Hamm and Cate Blanchett (Hollywood Producer yet I’ll be!). And also, just bought John Irving’s new book, Until I Find You, as A Prayer for Owen Meany is my favorite book ever.

Absolutely Nothing To Watch…..

Have seen a few amazing documentaries recently. Obviously Inside Job, which is an excellent but absolutely infuriating note on the financial world’s collapse and all the heinous bankers and insurers who made huge sums of money from the rest of us losing. When the Levees Broke, which is about Hurricane Katrina, and how the ensuing flooding nightmare in New Orleans was in fact caused by governmental contractor’s incompetence in not strengthening the city’s levees. Bill Cunningham New York is the wonderful piece about the familiar street fashion photographer, whose integrity and honesty is incredibly touching and inspiring. And the latest recommendation is Dear Zachary, which I have yet to see but I am told is one of the most moving pieces of film work to surface this year.

Absolutely Nothing To Eat…..

I only eat pomegranate seeds. (Well I wish I did). I crave them, love them and they are my candy. Alone, or in my favorite salad – proscuitto, rocket, roasted pine nuts, pomegranate seeds and a little balsamic.

Absolutely Nothing To Buy…..

My new favorite gadget is the YUBZ phone headset! It’s a retro hand held phone that attached to your cell and reduces 96% of the radiation. Genius, fun, healthier, and above all nostalgic.

YUBZ Handset in jet black

Absolutely Nothing To See…..

Two great exhibitions – Art in the Streets, at MOCA, LA – unbelievable collection of work by graffiti artists from the 60’s through to the present day – just amazing, inspiring, and fantastic for kids too. And also Tim Burton’s exhibition at LACMA – what an artist. And in theatre, I have never seen anything quite like Warhorse. I was just blown away by the techniques of the puppetry – quite the most beautiful performance art I have ever seen. The story even becomes secondary to the grace and architecture of the horses.

Tim Burton at LACMA

Absolutely Nothing To Do…..

Go hiking in the hills above Mulholland Drive, LA. It’s the most peaceful place even though sandwiched by Los Angeles on one side and the San Fernando Valley on the other.

Absolutely Nothing To Smile About…..

Never without a smile in my children’s company. My daughter especially is, as my mother calls her, a complete tonic. She radiates sunshine with her ever present happiness and crazy humour. See below, hamming it up as usual.

To see examples of Alison’s work check out her website.

Steve Jobs 1955 – 2011

Posted: October 6, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Wear | Leave a comment

Absolutely Nothing To Talk About – Jenny Dyson

Posted: October 5, 2011 | Author: Mel Moss | Filed under: Absolutely Nothing To Talk About | Leave a comment

Jenny Dyson is the Creative Director of marketing agency PENCIL. She also publishes a ridiculous and brilliant magazine called RUBBISH and is the founding publisher of The London Fashion Week Daily. Here she talks to ANTW about all sorts of Absolutely Nothing…..

Jenny Dyson and Dot