Planet Hollywood

Tried the white chocolate bread pudding... Mmmmm as my first bread pudding experience goes that was lush! White gooey pudding with rich vanilla icecream, whipped cream and bourbon sauce....YEAAAAH you know that alcoholic syrupy goodness was thee best part and took the dessert to a whole nother level. Would have snapped a pic but the gf and I polished it too quickly.

Always wary when..

my friend Rachel cooks. More then once Ive had issues (mainly feel like I'm dying) when shes cooked for me.
This is one of her creations and it was lovely :) who doesn't love a surprise cupcake, especially covered in silver balls.

Finally found..

something in Wetherspoons that isn't a burger that I absolutely love... And they change the menu.
Anyway, it was good while it lasted. Cheeses pasta with spinach and chorizo..I think there was meant to be some chicken in there somewhere served with garlic bread. As packety food goes was mouth watering (not sure my mouth is watering as I type because the food was THAT good or cause I'm yet to have breakfast)

Admittedly it's not a stunner but..

This dish was preeetty tasty. Bbq'y sweet chick strips with mash and a lil side salad/salsa of diced tomatoes, red onion, olive oil, goats cheese and red onion chutney. (I definitely preferred the salsa to the average rest of the plate.)

Heaven?

My girlfriend and I went to handmade burger for the first time together (only my second time ever) and we order the lamb mint burger which was pretty shite to be frank, and then I saw the dessert menu and had to order the brownie and waffle sundae. Normally you have to choose between the two best dessert options, but OH NO.... HMB's got this! Not only was the brownie gooey and rich and the waffle sweet and well..waffley- the whipped cream on top was just perfect. I've never tasted such delicious cream, as assembled desserts go, the cream wasn't just a topping, it held its own...the crowning glory on this goddess of a dessert.

(-note to self, order two even when the gf says she doesn't want one because you know, when that shit comes, shes having yours!)

Those Student Days

Something I made a while ago when I was running low..actually come to think of it, when am I ever not? Anyway, I went crazy with a homemade base, loads of red peppers and onions and all my remaining cheese. It was so moreish, however it's safe to say I had the breath of an ogre for a while after.

Went surprisingly well..

So this one was a complete newbee for me. I don't know where the inspiration came from but I love using ready roll pastries and just adding stuff. I've previously baked left over chicken curry into puff pastry and loved the results. This is a spinach bacon and feta kinda tart on shortcrust pastry. I put red pepper and raw bacon on the pastry, began to bake and half way through added loads of spinach and feta cheese. Was delish! Next time I'm going to try it with some kind of red onion and mix the cheese up.

My new favourite dish

So I made (ahem attempted) a toad in the hole, I think I was a bit generous with the batter and alas it headed for the bin but I saved those precious butcher sausages and put them in this experimental pasta thing.
I feel better about making my own pasta sauce these days so this one is tinned tomato, honey, soy sauce, basil, salt &pepper and Cajun spice. I made it before without the Cajun but was definitely an improvement adding that kick.

Hate wasting

As a poor student (like you get any other kind) I hate wasting and I can't afford to so this is an iceberg salad with frozen battered cod (not proud of the ready made aspect) left over "experimental pasta grill" and dressing. Surprisingly delicious.

Student stylee

Running a bit low on everything conventional so this is a kind of carbonara.
Cream cheese, chopped bacon rashers, spaghetti, black pepper and bacon bits.

COLOGNE INT. EVENING

Just got back to the hostel after a 9-5 at uni, my room mate has demanded I play Anastasia and he's singing along. The room stinks of boy, the only time I've ever shared with the male species and I am out numbered, 3 to 1. It's a tad overpowering but makes a change from sharing with girls and their hormones. 

Since I started the blog last night I've been so excited to have lunch..and then write about it. Schnitzel was on the menu and I felt more than obliged to try it. It is basically flattened chicken in fine bread crumbs. On this occasion was served with pasta twists, peas and a from what I could tell, a cheesy sauce with diced carrots and mushrooms. As much as I dislike mushrooms because of the texture and pointlessness, I thought I could at least try it and report back to my mushroom loving girlfriend. Safe to say my opinion has not changed in thee slightest.

Whilst at the table my German and Dutch team mates were enjoying sausage mash and some kind of soggy cabbage looking thing, it reminded me that I wanted to know what sour-kraut was and turns out thats what it is. It was indeed sour, I'm not too fussed about it but I'm devastated I can't have these meals everyday.

COLOGNE EXT. NIGHTTIME

It's our third night in Cologne and we're standing outside a McDonald's cafe. Some of the tour group have popped in to go to the loo and whilst in there have got food. I look in with disgust that no matter which country Brits go to they end up eating junk food. What is that about! All my experience with German food so far has been amazing. When I visited Deggendorf before, a small town in the south, a chef prepared a stunning meal fresh in a little one man run hotel in the mountains. It was pork medallions, alternately skewered with beetroot on a bed of some really tasty mash, topped with a duck breast and white wine jus, sprinkled with spring onions. The wine fumes nearly knocked me out when I got a whiff but this meal was immense! One worth writing home about, but I was too impatient for that so I rang my mum, purely to describe the party my tastebuds were having.

  So when I got the free trip to northern Germany, I got excited about the food. A little stand in Coventry town centre does German sausages, a branch of the Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham I think but this one doesn't seem to be going anywhere now Christmas is over and Danke Gott! because I am definitely going to have withdrawal symptoms after leaving. 

Up until now the food at Cologne's sport university has been the best place to eat. The first day I had that same mash with green bits and lumpy bits and smooth bits in with Bratwurst and gravy and that was flavourful, filling and less than £2. I couldn't finish it and you wouldn't believe how gutted I was about that!

Starting Out

22nd Jan '13 

I've just read my friends blog as she wrote her latest entry about our uni trip to Cologne, which we are half way through and I told her that I've always wanted to write one but I was a bit scared, I'm not sure what of..maybe opening your thoughts to ridicule or the fact any readers would get bored with the way I type ( a bit non-sensical to be honest) but I've thought I have two huge passions and I enjoy free writing so stop being a wimp and go for it. So here is my attempt at blogging, freeing the mind, creating discussion blah blah blah...