So, a few weeks ago I did a review of the River Cottage cookbook by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall (see it here) and I mentioned that one of the reasons I like him is because he likes experimenting in the kitchen - just like me. You never know what new combination of flavours might tickle your taste buds and surprise your guests.
I have learned a lot just by trying and sometimes failing, for example - making an orange and lemon smoothie with milk, disgusting; The time that noone can actually remember what I was trying to make, we think a stirfry, but somehow the end result was tastefully compared to 'vomit'; the disastrous time when I was about 12 and ran out of fresh chillies and used the equivalent weight in dried chillies also springs to mind, especially after promising my mum I wouldn't make the dinner too spicy, or make a large quantity. Being made to eat almost 10 portions of very pungeant Thai curry (not all at the same time, mercifully) is not an experience I wished to repeat. Ever.
One example of it going right, however, was this summer. My mum has recently finished a Masters degree in the History of Medicine, and I was at home over the last month of her dissertation - great timing on my part, so I decided to help out wherever I could to ease the pressure. My offers of helping in the kitchen were always met with the same reaction - keep it simple, don't go too crazy. We almost fell out because I was getting too carried away with a crumble recipe, all my parents wanted was a nice 'traditional' crumble topping. I was eyeing up the dried fruits and the Danish honey I had bought on holiday. All hell almost broke loose, but luckily, I proved them wrong and it was delicious, it was tense for a while though! Proving, even tweaking a loved recipe can add a whole new flavour and enjoyment to it.
Going on this basis, one idea that had seemed plausible when I was leafing through the book was the Beetroot and Walnut Hummus. I love hummus, I love beetroot (thanks to Mr F-W and a chocolate and beetroot brownie recipe experiment I did) So when I was looking for a dip to take to a party and who doesn't love odd coloured food at a party, I revisited this idea. However, not being a fan of Walnuts, I actually combined the 'Very Lemony Hummus' with beetroot and mint. Sometimes, when I get an idea I just have to roll with it so I decided that if it went wrong, I'd eat it and I'd never mention it again!
The result was actually quite tasty, even if it does look a bit odd in my photo. The smooth sweetness of the beetroot added something and the mint just lifted it. Also, because I used the beetroot I didn't use so many chickpeas which probably lowers the calorie count so its a slightly healthier version of classic hummus.
I think with some dressing up and some professional photography skills it would look more appetizing. Even in real life I practically had to force my sister's housemate to try it. Once she did however, it was vacuumed up by her and other guests, even the die hard hummus purists.
I have made it a few times since and it always goes down the same way. Looks of pure revulsion, tentatively agreeing to try it, then pure surprise, relief and a reaction of 'hhhmmmm, tastes a lot better than it looks' I'll take that as a hit in my book. Its like when children don't want to eat vegetables, they don't know why they don't like them, they haven't tried them. Once they do, its great, its delicious and its another thing they can play with. I like to take this attitude to cooking, another ingredient to add to the table (literally) and create fun things with. Like an artist discovering a new colour combination.
If anyone has an odd flavour combination that they think I should know, I am always happy to hear them!
The result was actually quite tasty, even if it does look a bit odd in my photo. The smooth sweetness of the beetroot added something and the mint just lifted it. Also, because I used the beetroot I didn't use so many chickpeas which probably lowers the calorie count so its a slightly healthier version of classic hummus.
I think with some dressing up and some professional photography skills it would look more appetizing. Even in real life I practically had to force my sister's housemate to try it. Once she did however, it was vacuumed up by her and other guests, even the die hard hummus purists.
I have made it a few times since and it always goes down the same way. Looks of pure revulsion, tentatively agreeing to try it, then pure surprise, relief and a reaction of 'hhhmmmm, tastes a lot better than it looks' I'll take that as a hit in my book. Its like when children don't want to eat vegetables, they don't know why they don't like them, they haven't tried them. Once they do, its great, its delicious and its another thing they can play with. I like to take this attitude to cooking, another ingredient to add to the table (literally) and create fun things with. Like an artist discovering a new colour combination.
If anyone has an odd flavour combination that they think I should know, I am always happy to hear them!
