Gullrock's Blog

Atrium quartet

gullrock — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:02:23 +0000

Magnificently Russian on the first night of their British tour.

Shostakovich Quartet No.7 in F sharp minor, Op. 108
Falik Quartet No.8 (2001)
Arensky Quartet No.2 in A minor, Op. 35a
Schubert Quartet No.15 in G major, D 887

Live concert BBC Radio 3 7.30pm Monday night.

A bigger picture

gullrock — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:53:03 +0000

David Hockney exhibiting at the Royal Academy 21 January – 9 April.

REM

gullrock — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:11:00 +0000

First Sony Walkman, A-level sciences, avoiding A-level sciences, knowing every single word of Murmur, Reckoning, Fables, Document, Green, purple artexed bedroom, orange curtains, halls, Out of Time, Automatic, friday night academy, camper van, losing my religion, Engineering exams, avoiding Engineering exams, Monster, Cambridge, mine before they became stadium whores, escaping Somerset, New Adventures, Australia, Up, Reveal, Bath, greasy pole, Around the Sun, Accelerate, lost a bit here, travels, Collapse into Now, breathe.

I love you guys. Good luck with future projects.

iPlayer gem for a happy hour.

Tomato tarte tatin

gullrock — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:29:52 +0000

Adapted from bbc food website. Photo from barbaricgulp.

Ingredients

500g/1lb 2oz ready-madepuff pastry
40 vine-ripened cherry tomatoes (any really – cut up if too big)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
pinch sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp honey
goat’s cheese or feta for topping
plain flour, for dusting
small bunch fresh basil
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation method

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
Place the tomatoes into a 20cm/8in ovenproof frying pan with the vegetable oil, salt and pepper and honey. Arrange together as tightly as possible.
On a well-floured work surface, roll out a circle of puff pastry the same size as the top of the frying pan. Place the puff pastry over the tomatoes, tucking it around them so the tomatoes are encased.
Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes, or until the puff pastry is well puffed and golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave to sit for a few minutes, then tip away the excess liquid (if any) and put a large plate upside down on top of the frying pan. Using oven gloves, press the plate down hard and then quickly flip the whole thing so the frying pan is upside down and the plate is on the bottom. (I do this over the sink because there is usually some leakage!)
Remove the frying pan. Once the tart is cold, sprinkle the goat’s cheese, rip up some mint or basil leaves and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
To serve, arrange the tarte on a plate or large platter with cold meats, cheeses, olives or salads.

This is lovely warm as well – puff pastry can go a bit soggy if left too long.

Blue skies over devonport

gullrock — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:17:19 +0000

Watching

gullrock — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:07:53 +0000

Some decent telly for a long January.

Crowdy reservoir

gullrock — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:02:55 +0000

Crushed roast carrots with cumin and goat’s cheese

gullrock — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:48:28 +0000

From Riverford Cookbook. Picture from Eat the Earth. Great looking mushroom burger recipe.

Serves 4 as a side, 2 as a main

Takes 5 mins to prep, 50 mins to cook

750g carrots

4 tbspns olive oil

2 tspns cumin seeds (dry-fried and then ground)

2 tbspns pine nuts (dry-fried)

100g goat’s cheese (I’ve also used Feta)

1 tbspn chopped mint (oregano or marjoram)

good extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

Scrub and trim the carrots, then cut in half lengthways. Roast them with the olive oil for 50 minutes at 180c. They should be tender, lightly browned and slightly caramelised.
Mash them with a fork and mix in the ground cumin. Put on a serving dish with the pinenuts, cheese and herbs. Drizzle with the oil and serve with pitta bread.

Hello starling

gullrock — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:43:25 +0000

Bit thin on the ground out at Crowdy reservoir but a glorious cold evening.

Crumbs

gullrock — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:41:22 +0000

Good recipes when imagination and ingredients are flagging.