WIAW #15: What I Ate in Prague

Czech this out:

I spent this weekend in Prague, Czech Republic and I still can’t believe it!!! It was so beautiful and despite minor setbacks including the Cathedral was closed for the weekend, and the gelato place I wanted to go to wasn’t open until next weekend. (It was voted the best in Prague too.)

There are many more pictures to come (I have over 300) but for now here are the highlights from this weekend:

• The time I ordered a coffee and pastry at a deli completely in Czech. (a.k.a. “Hello, may I have a coffee and that pastry. Please. Thank you.”)
• The time we walked outside it the 20 minute downpour and got soaking wet, because we decided to leave 30 minutes early.
• Seeing the Prague Castle, it’s huge.

• The Love Locks Bridge
• Beer is cheaper than water

• Seeing the Astronomical clock (I painted this in my AP Art Class)
• Having real “American style” filtered coffee at a bagel place

• Staying in an amazing apartment to ourselves with a kitchen and own bathroom for the same price as our hostel in Edinburgh.
• Everything is soooo cheap.
• Did I mention how cheap the beer was?
• Getting here.

This week I thought I’d share with you my eats from Prague for something new and different on Wednesday. Sadly I didn’t get many veggies in (if you don’t count bread and potatoes.) But either way we ate Czech every night, differing every time. Always with a beer. I don’t even like beer, but Czech lager (they invented you know,) was soooo good.

And since this is Friday to Sunday, here is it in kind of chronological order.

Grilled Chicken in herbed butter, shredded red beets (veggie!!) and bread dumplings.

Pilsner Lager

Our homemade breakfast of eggs mixed with potatoes, green ,yellow and red peppers, tomatoes, and onions. Yum! And Raspberry Muesli with vanilla soymilk. Earl Gray tea.

Tortellini in a light sauce (Fine, all the Italian food is made by Yugoslavs in Prague.)

Hazelnut gelato for 35 crowns (about 2 dollars, NOT pounds for once!)

Coffee and a traditional Czech pastry stuffed with plums and topped with almonds. (This is what I ordered in Czech.)

Crepes filled with sautéed apples (fruit!!) Norwegian salmon in a gruyere cheese sauce topped with apple chips. (They love their crepes)

Water

Caramel Ice Cream and espresso

Another round of our delicious group made breakfast of eggs mixed with potatoes, green ,yellow and red peppers, tomatoes, and onions. And Raspberry Muesli with vanilla soymilk. Earl Gray tea. And a homemade crepe with straw berry jam. (Veggies!!!!)

Rosehip Tea to warm-up from the rain storm soaking.

Bagel sandwich and a bottomless cup of “American” filtered coffee. Made my day!

Traditional Czech meal of bread dumplings filled with bacon (picked around that,) with sweet and delicious Sauer kraut and onions. Beer.

Bed, waking up 2:30 to get on a 6am flight attempting to catch a little bit of the Oscars on a German station.

We saw so much and did so much walking! But it was so worth it, I love this city. I have so much more to tell you with lots more photos to come. Will have to be later because my computer is dying!

Hope you enjoyed my eats. I have lots of writing to do so I have next week free for Aaron and my trip to Paris!!

Love,

The College Cuisiner

WIAW #14: Chicken Rogan Josh

Since Monday was spent in its entirety working on my Politics paper, it was nice to have a bit of a break on Tuesday. Of course I like to tell the story of my day via the food I ate. I am definitely have been consciously trying to consider the fruits and veggies I eat and be more conscious of adding them to my meals. Of course, I still eat too many sweets at teatime, but eh, when in London, right?

It’s What I ate Wednesday (Tuesday):

Breakfast

Cherry/every-type-of-fruit-and-nut-in-the-world muesli with fresh blueberries, fresh mint, raw honey, and skimmed milk

Cup of Earl Gray tea with splash of milk and honey

Cup of Pressed Apple Rhubarb juice (was about to go bad and wanted to get in my extra fruit and veggies!)

Midday

Bottle of still water

Early Afternoon Tea

Cream Tea: Two pots of loose leaf Earl Gray tea with milk and rock sugar

Two plain scones (I wanted fruit but I think the waitress forgot) with strawberry jam and clotted cream

When I came home to the tea party in my house meal

Two finger sandwiches-one cheese, one boiled egg and rocket (arugula)

Bite of guacamole on chip, and one milk chocolate digestive biscuit

Small glass of coke (my indulgence, because clotted cream isn’t enough!)

Dinner

Leftover Chicken Rogan Josh over quinoa (Even better as leftovers, recipe below!)

Glass of Ribena black currant

Bite-sized piece of Victorian sponge cake left from the tea party while waiting for my meal to heat up

I had a pretty good day of eats including a Cream Tea at Selfridge’s Department Store with my friend from home, Cooper. Since he is studying in London too we decided to meet up for afternoon tea. (He hasn’t been yet!!!) It was divine! He had a pot of Afternoon Blend and piece of chocolate cake and I had a lovely cream tea which doubled as my lunch.

Look how happy he looks for his first tea!

I’ve been trying to use up some of the ridiculously perishable things in my fridge before it goes bad. So my cereal had milk today, not yoghurt, (which was about to go bad.) Instead I used the last of my yoghurt in my dinner for the night before…chicken rogan josh.

I’ve never made curry before but after my amazing trip to the Bourgh Market this weekend I picked up a container of Rogan Josh mixed curry spices. Along with a huge bunch of fresh mint for only £1 and bread, I made a killing! I only wish I could have stayed longer! Luckily the curry spices and mint were all I needed to buy extra for this dish. Chicken curry can be eaten over rice, quinoa, or with naan bread. I chose quinoa…mmmm…

My version is a little different than some Chicken Rogan Josh recipes as I added extra vegetables (per my WIAW pledge.) I thought the addition of zucchini (courgettes) and mushrooms would make the dish a little richer since it is normally just chicken and onions in a tomato/curry sauce. The only negative part of making this curry is that whenever you walk in a room someone asks if you just made Indian food. As in you smell.

But no fear, it’s delicious anyways, and leftovers are even better. With quinoa this is also a gluten-free friendly meal, just make sure the curry powder you are using is okay. (It should be, but just in case.)

This recipe is enough for two people (or two meals in my case.) You can easily double this recipe to make for more. Even if you just want to make leftovers.

Chicken Rogan Josh Curry: 2 servings

(Adapted from the Cookery Club)

Ingredients:

1 cup of quinoa

1 ½ cups of water

1 chicken breast, diced

1 cup of plain yoghurt

1 clove of garlic, minced

1-½ tsp. of grated ginger

½-3/4 tbsp. Rogan Josh curry powder

2-3  tbsp. Olive Oil

1 zucchini, sliced and cut in half

Packet of mushrooms, sliced

1 small onion, grated with large cheese grater

Packet of plum tomatoes, cut in half (about 10)

1 tbsp. of tomato paste

1 tsp. sugar

Dash of cinnamon

Dash of garlic salt

1 tsp. vinegar

Salt to taste

Fresh mint

Lemon juice

Extra water

Directions:

Cook quinoa (Check out these instructions from Peas and Crayons)

Mix meat, yoghurt, spices, several torn up mint leaves together in a bowl. Marinate in sauce in fridge for 30 minutes.

In pan fry oil and sugar over medium heat. Add grated onions and cook until brown.

Add marinated meat and marinade, cook for 3 minutes.

Add all other ingredients and mix together. Cover and cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes.

Stir occasionally and after sauce begins to thicken, continue to cook over low heat only until meat is cooked. Add salt to taste. Add a little lemon to taste if too sweet.

Scoop curry over quinoa and enjoy!

Love,

The College Cuisiner

London: Tea Shops Tea Shots

As you might have guessed by now. I love my tea. From full service to Cream tea to just pot of tea for one and a piece of cake. From Edinburgh, to Harrod’s, to a little corner spot: I’ve been around!
(And some from the house...)

I don’t think I could even name all the places I’ve been for afternoon tea but here is at least some of the one’s I’ve photographed: (some new, some old.)

See you one Wednesday!

Love,

The College Cuisiner

WIAW #13: Valentine's Day Eats and Sick Day

Change of plans today unfortunately Readers,

I am currently experiencing a major sick day here in London. I have no idea if it is a bug or my horrendous lack of sleep the past few days. With said, my post today will be shorten but WIAW must go on.

Especially since I have to share my Valentine’s Day eats with you!

I finally did the WIAW button right!!!!! Thanks Jenn for the lesson!

Now as you know, I am over here in England until April and my darling Aaron is back at school in Philadelphia. But does that stop Aaron from totally winning at Valentine ’s Day? Of course not.

Yesterday morning at 10 am (England time) I received a giant customized bouquet of 12 long stem roses with a beautiful card. (Pictures to come, promise! I hurts too move right now.) And apparently more to come when he visits in March…hmmm….

And what did I send him two weeks ago via Royal Mail so it would get there by V-Day at a whopping cost of £25 shipping? (Not that matters…) I sent a box of customized Scottish goods complete with a Scottish Parliament Whisky snifner, book on his Scottish clan and his tartan on a lamb’s wool scarf, chocolate pralines, and St. Andrew’s golf ball set complete with the course’s dirt and grass rubbed on the golf balls. I did okay. Love you baby.

And for my eats of course:

Late Breakfast (Had the day off from class)

Bowl of Dorset super cranberry, cherry, & almond muesli with Rachel’s organic Rhubarb yoghurt (surprisingly delicious,) raw honey, fresh organic strawberries and blueberries.

Organic Earl Gray tea with raw honey and splash of semi-skimmed milk.

(are you getting the sense I enjoyed my Whole Foods trip on Sunday?)

Lunch

Laundry and library searching

Afternoon

Cup of delicious Fairtrade Filtered coffee. I found a place! But sadly for my own reasons idk if I’m going back. Bummer.

Crazy Marks & Spencer (Wegman’s equivalent) prepared Valentine’s Day Dinner with my roommate Beth (All this for two people for £ 20! Champagne and chocolates included!)

First Course

Baby Plum Tomato Ducey Camembert Tartlet

My own arugula (Rocket here) side salad with fresh blueberries and dried apricots in a honey Dijon orange vinaigrette

Main Course

Duck L’orange

Garlic Mushroom caps

Quinoa (my addition)

Dessert

Belgian Dark chocolate soufflé with single cream, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries

Rose Champagne and box of chocolates

Food coma to follow.

Notice how with even this over indulgent dinner I managed to sneak in some fruits and veggies? That’s my Veggie goal this month!

This was great day with my roomie since Aaron was so far away, I had a great time preparing this! It was easy too since all you had to do was pop the prepared food in the oven! Love fancy prepared meals here!

Okay now I’m going to bed again to sleep and wear off this stomach ache… I’m miserable.

Hope you had a good Valentine’s Day! What did you do or not do?

Love,

The College Cuisiner

London: Mediterranean Pizza on Naan Bread

Here in England, there are a LOT of options for prepared foods and meals for people who don’t feel like cooking. Now when I think of prepared foods back in the States the options are limited to little more than TV dinners, Stauffers, and Lean Cuisines. It is really hard to find something convenient and quality. But not here. Last week I had Risotto with Mushrooms and chestnuts, Asian crispy prawns with Sweet chili sauce and a delicious almond raspberry tart. (more tea-time appropriate, oops.)

This weekend when I was too tired/lazy to cook I walked over to Marks & Spencer (Think Wegman’s with an attached clothing store) and picked up Butternut Squash lasagna, brussel sprouts in a cheese sauce with chestnuts and bacon bits (Yes I nibbled at the bits, no judging. You cannot live in this city without nibbling on bacon every once in awhile.) And…chocolate Soufflés that you just pop in the oven and enjoy. These were seriously restaurant quality and they came in glass ramekins! Now I have two glass ramekins, double bonus!

Unfortunately this easy access to pre-made meals makes me lazy and want to not cook…as much.

After a major grocery shopping trip to the beautiful Whole Foods down the road on Kensington High Street I have made a pledge to cook. Except I did get suckered into the £20 for 2 Valentine’s meal (Starter, Main, Side, Dessert, Box of Chocolates, wine.) Hey, not bad. That will be tomorrow’s menu that you will see on Wednesday of course.

This Whole Foods is amazing. Three floors and practically its own block of beautifulness. Of course I kept it conservative in my buys but got some much needed items including Earl Gray tea, raw honey, raw peanut butter, and quinoa!

Yay quinoa!

And Apple Rhubarb Apple Juice.

And Pink Lady apples and Terra chips were on sale. And my veggies for the week. (noticed the raw honey and peanut butter along with my cherry almond tart.) yum yum.

I resisted the amazingly beautiful make-your-own-muesil bar, grind your own peanut butter, and roast your own coffee. Barely.

May I live here?

A couple things I’ve learned so far about foodie London:

·         They love chestnuts, rhubarb, curry, bacon, eggs, and toast.

·         Aubergines are eggplants

·         Courgettes are zucchini

·         Sultanas are raisins

·         And Sticky Toffee pudding is delicious.

And with that on Thursday after seeing Daniel Radcliffe at the Apple Store, I made this delicious Mediterranean Pizza on Naan bread. Yummm….

I made it all on one pan. First the Courgettes, onions, and mushrooms. Then on top of the naan bread put the rest and bake.

Along with my pledge to Jenn at Peas and Crayons to eat more veggies, this was a veggie-tastic pizza. And soooo good. I don’t have much to stay about this pizza other than it was hearty and delicious and soooo flavorful!! It is so simple you have no excuse not to make this.

Mediterranean Pizza on Naan bread: 2 pizzas

Ingredients:

Two pieces of plain naan bread

¼ cup of gruyere or Swiss cheese

¼ cup of parmesan cheese

1 zuchinni (courgettes), sliced and cut in half

½ onion chopped

1 garlic clove finely chopped

6 mushrooms, sliced

10-15 cherry tomatoes, cut in half

2 eggs (optional)

Vegetable oil

Olive oil

1 sprig of Rosemary (if you have it), chopped

Garlic salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl toss cut zucchini, mushrooms, onions, and 1/3 of chopped rosemary with drizzle of vegetable oil and garlic salt.

Spread vegetables evenly on a cookie sheet. Bake in oven until soft and hardly brown.

Meanwhile mix 1/8 cup of olive oil with garlic salt and 1/3 chopped rosemary in a small bowl.

Take out of oven and side vegetable aside in bowl.

Place naan bread on baking sheet and spread with oil mixture. Spread cooked vegetable mixture evenly on naan. Top evenly with halved tomatoes. Top with cheese and sprinkle with remaining rosemary.

Place pizzas in the oven for about 5 minutes. After five minutes, take out and carefully crack a raw egg on top of each pizza. Place back in oven for five-ten minutes or until bread is crispy, cheese is bubbly and egg appears cooked. (Yoke might cooked, that’s better!)

Transfer cooked pizzas to plates and cut into slices. Allow egg yolk to go over pizza. Very fancy.

Note: the egg makes the pizza great but this is optional if you don’t like eggs.

Enjoy!

Love,

The College Cuisiner