Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

My name is Tarnia and I am a comfort eater. If forced to pick a side, I would be flying the flag for the ‘live to eat’ camp whilst frowning at those who claim to do the opposite. Skulking along as the rain and wind batters what little morale you have, only to return to a dark cold house, is not fun.

Unsurprisingly then, food seriously comes into play in the autumn and winter months. Long gone is the summer’s eye-catching colourful salad, garnished with slithers of healthily grilled protein; when it’s damp and chilly we need a bit more substance. To be honest, I eat for comfort twelve months a year, and if I could I would probably eat 24 hours a day: food never fails to reassure me. A hug in a mug, a hug on a plate, in a bowl, a hug straight out of the saucepan, a hug barely out of the packet… you get my drift.

As summer bids farewell (did it ever say hello?) I find myself longing to sit in a darkened cinema watching stomach curdling romantic comedies whilst stuffing my face with popcorn. Alternatively, I like to spend evenings sipping hot chocolate topped with that really cheap, sugary, squirty cream. Most of all, I like to sit around a table with friends or family and eat meals made up of 50% carbohydrate, 20% cream and 30% alcohol (If you’re planning to cook for me, please abide by this percentage outline).

I am engaged in a lifelong love affair with cream to a point where it is actually dangerous for me to keep a carton in the fridge. I strongly believe that adding a few drops of this magic stuff to anything will make even the most reluctant of diners smile. Butter works in a similar way. In fact, I recently advised a friend who was in need of comfort to have a mug full of melted butter. I mean, think about your favourite winter meal – does it not have either butter or cream as its beautiful foundation? One family favourite is my mum’s pot roast lamb, cooked with a few glugs of port, fragrant sprigs of rosemary and a handful of cloves. It is so delicious, so warming; you can almost see your stomach smiling smugly. Together with hot and creamy mashed potatoes, life just seems better. 

Granted, savoury dishes tend to stand out in my mind when thinking of comfort, but there are some great desserts too. Allow me to introduce you to the richest and most indulgent pudding you ever did see. Nigella Lawson’s Caramel Croissant Pudding.

So, for this pud, you need stale croissants. If (unlike mine) your croissants last long enough to go stale, tear them up and place these shards of croissant into a dish. In a saucepan, put about 100ml of caster sugar and about half a tea cup of water. Allow the sugar and water to caramelise on a high heat before adding ¾ of a large carton of double cream. Then whisk, whisk, and whisk! Next, add an equal amount of FULL FAT milk to your golden gorgeousness. Take it off the heat and add two beaten eggs before whisking again. Pour the mixture over the croissants and put in the oven for about 20 minutes on a medium heat. Once cooked, ‘prepare to swoon’ as Nigella says. She also says you can add an alcohol of your choice to the mixture. Nigella also encourages (in her trademark seductive breathiness) to drown a bowl of the pudding in the remaining cream. If this calls to you – and your arteries do not object – then please oblige. Personally, I fear one may not last long enough to wash up… 

Though I initially painted a dark picture of autumn and winter, it is in fact a rather gorgeous time of year. I love the copper leaves, burning wood and crisp afternoons. But, most of all I love the way food becomes the ultimate balm for the soul. Whether you seek a mere pick me up in the form of a bowl of creamy mashed potatoes, or sit amongst hoards of loved ones to devour some medieval style feast, cold dark evenings encourage such behaviour. When I hear friends talk of slimming down for Christmas, I want to laugh in their deluded faces. If ever there was a time to put two fingers up at the diet, it is now. Some of the most popular annual celebrations and religious festivals take place over the next few months, each one bringing people together -usually around a table. So grab a deep bowl and get stuck in. Oh and for goodness sake, buy yourself a carton of cream and a good quilt.