What’s on your plate: April

Thistles and Kiwis,

As I gradually get used to the new kitchen, I’m gradually also getting my cooking mojo back again. Cooking for Easter Sunday helped to get me back in the mood, and as I mentioned last month, what I am presented in my vegetable delivery, also acts as inspiration.

This past week there were three lovely turnips of a decent size so I decided instead of roasting them to make a gratin, since I had cream left over from Easter Sunday’s cooking. I just sliced them up thinly, added some garlic, salt and pepper (and some left over Brussels sprouts!), poured over the cream, sprinkled on some parmesan and popped in the oven at 180C until they were done and brown on the top. Naturally, as is the way, I forgot to take a picture, but you can see some on my plate. We ate this with some good sausages and a big green salad.

There was also bok choy this week, and rather than just put it into a stir fry, I decided to roast it, covering it with a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, maple syrup, garlic, a squeeze of lemon juice and a dash of olive oil. This was absolutely delicious, adding flavour to a potentially otherwise pretty tasteless vegetable. They were in the oven for about 20 minutes at 180C, but do check from time to time according to your own oven (and whether it is fan forced or not too).

I served it with chicken stir fried with courgette and capsicum (hence the picture at the top of the post) and rice.

Verdicts: both dishes were excellent and I would do both again if this produce appears in the Wonky Box.

This well be entered in the What’s on Your Plate blog challenge hosted by bloggers Widow Badass and Retirement Reflections. This goes live on the first Wednesday of each month and you can join in too with a food related post, just by adding yours to their linkup.

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com or lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.co

Unknown's avatar

Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

33 Comments

  3. What good ideas! I never know what to do with those little white turnips, as we always get one of those big orange ones. The bok choy looks nice too. I never know how to cook it, so it is not so chewy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. I love bok choi (although here we call it pak choi). I stir fry, and season with garlic, soy sauce, chilli paste and sesame oil. But I love maple syrup so I might try adding some next time, and maybe a dash of lemon or lime juice. Thanks for the tip.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Roasted vegetables are my favourite, especially with a yummy cold sauce and a salad to go with that. Perhaps some homemade bread as a side. I could easily eat combinations of that every day. The fresh veggies and your dishes looks delicious!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. I love all of the ways you use the vegetables in your wonky box. I am not a fan of turnips. I guess they remind me of my mama cooking them at home when I was growing up, my daddy loved them, and I thought they smelled so bad. I may have to give them another try.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. Pingback: This week’s small pleasures #382 – Thistles and Kiwis

Leave a reply to Thistles and Kiwis Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.