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Newsletter #14 - July 2003

Welcome to the Recipes4us free monthly newsletter.  If you have any suggestions for additions to this newsletter, or if you wish to submit a culinary related article,  please write to me at Newsletter@Recipes4us.co.uk .    Happy Cooking !      Florence Sandeman, Editor   Food Funny Why couldn't the sesame seed leave the gambling casino?   Because he was on a roll

Reader's  questions   ?   Q.  I'm working from an Indian Cookbook published in the United Kingdom and have a question about one of the ingredients. The recipe calls for one tablespoon of tomato puree. Is tomato puree the same as tomato paste?   A. The main difference (that I can tell) is that puree adds just flavour and paste adds thickness and body. However, having said that, I've interchanged the two in the past (depending on which I had in my fridge at the time) and didn't notice any significant difference. Perhaps in certain, more refined recipes it may make a difference, but I would suggest that in a curry, it won't matter too much which you use. I would also mention that usually, when a recipe calls for a small amount of tomato puree e.g. 1 tablespoon, it is referring to the concentrate type that you can buy in tubes as opposed to fresh tomatoes which have been cooked down and pureed in a food processor.
Not Egg Sarnies Again?    Click the hamper for lots of exciting picnic recipes One of the nicest things about picnics is that it gives you a chance to eat several different dishes all at the same time....a bit like Chinese... without the formality of different courses or having to wait for everyone else to finish.. It's almost sensual being in the open on a warm summers day having a spread of fresh foods laid out in front of you,  each one in turn almost winking at you and begging you to eat it.   Every year hubby and I go to Hever Castle in Kent (Ann Boleyn's old haunt) with some friends to see a play and have a picnic and I have to say that they have proven to be among the most delicious and enjoyable meals we've shared together and not a sandwich in sight.   I tend to plan the picnic as I would a dinner party. I  never serve sarnies at dinner parties so I don't serve them at picnics. The nearest I get to that is smoked salmon with brown bread as something to nibble on  whilst I lay the rest of the food out.   So, if you want a great picnic, my advice  is to plan and prepare just as you would a dinner party....only using cold recipes such as quiche, cold meats/poultry or pies, leaf salads (washed and DRIED or they'll go manky) and/or pasta, rice or couscous salads plus salt, pepper and accompaniments such as dressings.    Most of the preparation can be done at least one day before, wrapped well and refrigerated, only transferring to cold bags (with ice blocks) just before you leave the house. Dressings are best in small jars with screw tops and only added to the salad once on  Site. Be a stickler about keeping cold food chilled by whatever means and try to choose foods which are capable of being well cooked.    The only exceptions to this are quiche and some salads, such as pasta or rice. These tend to taste better at "room" temperature. By all means make them in advance and refrigerate but if the journey's not too long, don't bother cluttering up your cool bags with them.   Oh, and don't forget the plates, cutlery, paper towels, glasses rubbish bags and CORK SCREW.   Happy Picnic-ing!
What's New This month
Cooking by Country Indonesia Click the picture to find out about Indonesia's culinary culture and history, present day cooking plus lots of recipe If you like HOT you'll love Indonesian cooking. The original Spice Islands encouraged Europeans, Indians and Chinese to trade and settle in the Islands and not unsurprisingly, they  have all had a great  influence on the cuisine. The abundance of fresh fish and seafood together with the exotic spices and produce grown in this wonderful climate make for a varied and exciting cuisine.   Also in this section, we give you comprehensive information  about a typical Indonesian dish and a widely used ingredient.    The Indonesian Speciality Dish SATE The Indonesian Speciality Ingredient TURMERIC
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Ingredient of the month Pine Nuts Click the picture to find out all about Pine Nuts plus lots of recipes Also known as pignolia or pinon and often referred to as kernels, pine nuts are the seeds from the cones of certain varieties of pine trees. They are often associated with the Mediterranean region, in particular Italy where it has been used as an ingredient for over 2,000 years.   Whilst their delicate flavour makes them delicious when eaten raw, it also goes remarkably well with meats, cheese, vegetables and fruit making them a welcome added flavour and texture to many recipes...including the famous Italian Pesto.
Recipe of the Month   Zucchini con Capperi If you're growing your own courgettes they'll be in full force in the coming weeks so here's an simple but unusual Italian recipe to liven them up. It's quick too!  Serves 4 15 mins   Ingredients 3 tbsp Olive Oil  450g/1lb Baby Courgettes  1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar  3 tbsp Capers, drained  2 tbsp. freshly chopped Parsley 1 Tbsp. fresh Lemon Juice Salt and Pepper     Instructions   1.  Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the courgettes and vinegar, cover and cook for 5 minutes until just tender.    2. Uncover and continue cooking, stirring, for  about 2 minutes or until liquid evaporate.    3. Transfer the courgettes to a serving dish, add the capers, parsley and lemon juice and toss to coat well.   4.  Season with  salt and pepper and serve warm or at room temperature.
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What's in season Artichokes, Asparagus, Basil, Carrots, Celery, Coriander, Courgettes, Cucumbers,  Endive, Lemon Grass, Lettuce, Melons,  Mint,  Peas, Plums, Radish,  Raspberries, Runner Beans, Rocket, Sea Kale, Spinach, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Tarragon
New and Featured Recipes V = Vegetarian
SOUPS AND STARTERS Pepper and Pine Nut Gallettes    V Spiced Pine Nut Soup   V Indonesian Oxtail Soup Courgette Soup Rhubarb and Spinach Salad     V Italian Stuffed Sardines Dolmathakia Me Rizi     V   ACCOMPANIMENTS/MISC Easy Peanut Sate Sauce    V Chili and Onion Sambal Basic Chili Sambal   V Mixed Vegetable Pickle      V Sweet Indonesian Soy Sauce       V Tomato Sambal       V Indonesian Fried Bananas      V Traditional Sate Sauce       V Creamy Spinach with Pine Nuts   V Habas Verdes con Salsa de Tomate   V Herbed Rice with Raisins   V Honey Glazed Squash Thyme Pesto     V Classic Pesto Sauce       V Sun Dried Tomato Pesto      V   DESSERTS, CAKES AND BAKES Indonesian Banana Pancakes     V Bananas w/Cinnamon Coconut Sauce      V Indonesian 2 Tone Biscuits      V Coconut Squares       V Indonesian Soda Bread     V Almond Pine Nut Tart    V Cherry Pine Nut Biscotti     V Pear and Pine Nut Bread       V Cardamom Scones        V Creamy Pine Nut Pie       V Halvas Tou Fournou   V	MAIN COURSE Fruity Tofu and Mushroom Salad   V Parsley Lemon and Pine Nut Linguine  V Cheese Apple and Mushroom Salad  V Sumatran Eggs   V Spaghetti with Sardines Mediterranean Swordfish Indonesian Fish Cakes Borneo Style Prawns Sumatran Fish Curry Chili Prawn Sate Balinese Squid Kotopoylo Yemisto  (Chicken) Hot Grilled Chicken Chicken in Coconut Sauce Indonesian Chicken Sate Stuffed Bacon Chops Grilled Pork Sate Beef with Pine Nuts and Raisins Spiced Beef Sate Crispy Chili Beef Indonesian Fried Rice Fried Noodles Indonesian Yellow Rice       ADVERTISEMENT     Whether you're looking for everyday,  exotic or unusual food and drink,  visit   UKFoodOnline.co.uk.  Food shopping has never been easier!
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