How often do we ask ourselves the question, "What should I have for dinner tonight?" Twice a week, four times a week...every night?
This blog is designed to help all of those wondering what they should have for dinner tonight by offering a wide range of tasty and healthy suggestions as to what should form your dinner tonight or any night.
I very much hope that you will bookmark this page and return to it on a regular basis to try out some of the recipes.
It is the turn of Japan to be represented today in the Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010. In the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the Japanese team take on Denmark tonight with a place in the last sixteen awaiting the winners of that encounter. That could be quite a tasty match as both sides have provided some decent entertainment, with Denmark featuring in what for me has been the most entertaining match of the tournament thus far, against Cameroon last Saturday night.
Before then, however, it is time for a taste of Japanese food. Although most people will automatically think of sushi when Japanese food is mentioned, there is clearly much more to Japanese cuisine. I am delighted to introduce today Helium writer and trainee chef Erikson Arcilla, from the Philippines, who kindly accepted my invitation to feature as a guest representative of Japan.
Shrimp in Tempura Batter
What we have here is a tempura made from beer batter...
Batter:
1/2 can of beer ( your choice ) 3/4 cup of flour 1/2 tsp of allspice 1/2 tsp of salt
Directions: Pour the beer in bowl then sift the flour into it. Add in the allspice and the salt and mix it until frothy.
Shrimp:
De-vein the shrimp and put it on a separate plate. Season it with salt and pepper and add olive oil and melted butter (just enough to coat it.)
Add finely chopped rosemary or any herb of your choice. Mix and coat well.
Cooking the tempura:
In a separate bowl. Put in flour. Coat the shrimp before dredging it in the batter.
Heat the oil until it reaches tempura frying range. To test for the right temperature, place a drop of batter into the oil. The batter should rise after 1 or 2 seconds. That is the right time. Cook until golden brown.
Dip:
The dip here is real simple. You can make it by using 1 tbsp. Mayonnaise, 1/2 tsp of oyster sauce, 1/2 tsp of mustard and lime for acidity.
The group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2010 begins to conclude today and for the next four days, four teams each day will be eliminated from the tournament and make the journey home in disappointment. I am happy to say, however, that this does not apply to the Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010 and we are going to be here for what is nearly the three full weeks which remain of the tournament. Today on the Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010 it is the turn of Greece to feature and Helium.com's Internet Channel Manager, Rena Sandou, favours us with a traditional dish from her native land.
Mediterranean food as a whole is of course renowned for its fresh, healthy properties and attractive, colourful presentation. This Souvlaki with Pita Bread which Rena has devised for us is a perfect example of such fine cuisine.
As Greece prepares for what is a huge challenge tonight in that they are required to defeat the might of Argentina to progress in the FIFA World Cup, her players are likely to require every bit of nourishment and goodness their national cuisine can provide...
Souvlaki with Pita Bread
Greeks have a unique, Greek way, of celebrating big sporting events! And Mundial is definitely one of them! By combining tasty and colorful ingredients and good Greek mood, we know how to live the special moments of the national football team and enjoy traditional flavors!
Souvlaki with pitta is a famous, traditional dish, highly appreciated by millions of tourists that visit Greece during summer season each year. There is no doubt that Greek cuisine is ranked among the best in the world and souvlaki has become one of most famous words around the globe!
If you don’t have the chance to visit Greece and taste souvlaki in a traditional taverna on a beautiful Greek island, while enjoying the view of crystal clear waters and pure white scenery, you can always taste souvlaki at home.
Here are the simple steps on how to prepare souvlaki at home (wherever that is!):
Ingredients
* 2lb pork cut in 1 inch cubes * 2-3 potatoes * 2 tomatoes * 2 onions * 6 pita bread * Mustard, ketchup and/or tzatziki * Salt and pepper to taste * 1 teaspoon dried oregano * 1/4 cup olive oil * Lemon juice * 6 wooden skewers
Preparation
- In a large bowl, mix together pork, olive oil, oregano, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir until all ingredients, blend together. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
- Remove meat from the refrigerator at least 45 minutes before cooking. Put 5-6 pork cubes in a wooden skewer. Do the same with the rest skewers until there is no meat left.
- Cook over a barbeque, gas or oven grill. Turn souvlaki regularly for even cooking. Keep in mind that pork meat is tender and does not require too much cooking time; 10-15 minutes will be enough!
- While cooking meat, put pita breads on the grill rank and cook until they become crunchy. Pita breads need only a couple of minutes!
- In the meantime, cook french fries to add them later in your souvlaki.
- When all souvlaki are cooked, place them on a cutting board and sprinkle with salt, pepper, oregano and lemon juice. This is not a required step and it is all up to personal taste!
- Take a pita bread and put the skewer in the middle of it. Fold it, hold the pita tightly and remove the skewer from the meat. Add mustard and ketchup (if you wish), tzatziki, french fries, tomatoes cut in slices and onions.
Serve with a cold glass of beer and enjoy! Bon appetit!
It is the very early hours of Saturday, 19th June, 2010, here in Great Britain but I am aware that it is late morning in Australia and that this is the dawn of what is likely to be Australia's big make or break day in terms of the FIFA World Cup 2010 when they take on Ghana. Regardless of what happens on the pitch some hours from now, this is Australia's day in the Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010 and it is therefore my great pleasure to introduce you to Melbourne's Susanna Duffy.
Susanna told me that she rejected the kangaroo and crocodile options for her dish in order to make it more accessible to people the world over and I hope that you appreciate what she has come up with today.
Zucchini Pie
In Melbourne, football is not football without a pie. Now here's a pie with zing - using zucchini. Eaten hot or cold, as a side dish or as a main meal, it's deliciously different whichever way you choose.
Preparation - 20 minutes. : Cooking time - 40 minutes : Eating time - 3 minutes
Ingredients
500g - 1lb zucchini (courgette in UK) 4-5 bacon rashers 1 medium - large onion 110g - US 1/2 cup self-raising flour 4 good sized eggs 1 large cup of vintage or tasty cheddar 80mll - US 1/4 cup vegetable oil salt & pepper
Method
Firstly, remove the rind from the bacon and chop the meat into small pieces. Peel and chop the onion. Put the bacon and onion into a heavy-based nonstick pan and fry over a medium to high heat for approximately 5 minutes. The onion needs to be softened, not browned. Set aside to cool.
Wash the zucchini, slice off the ends and finely grate the rest. After you've grated them all, squeeze over the sink to get rid of excess liquid.
Mix the grated zucchini mixture, the cooled onion and bacon, the cheese and flour in a large bowl.
Break the eggs into a separate bowl, add the oil and stir to combine.
Pour the egg mixture into the large bowl of zucchini mix. Stir them thoroughly together. Add some salt and pepper to taste.
Pour this combined mixture into a slice pan, lamington pan or baking dish. Spread it out evenly.
Bake this combination in a moderate oven for about 40 to 45 minutes. Check with a skewer to make sure it's cooked through.
When it's cooked through, take it out of the oven and let it set for about 10 minutes.
The pie is thereafter ready to be sliced and served.
Please take some time to find out more about Susanna and her kitchen by visiting her food presence on Squidoo: What's Cooking in my Kitchen?
A Little Afterword...
Football (soccer) is not of course the sport of choice of many Australians and I am acutely aware that many will be far more concerned with the Rugby Union World Cup of 2011 than the FIFA World Cup of 2010. This will be a tournament of great expectations for The Wallabies (Australia's rugby side) and this song is far more likely to follow the team in their endeavours...
Australia will be one of the favourites for the Rugby World Cup 2011, along with their fellow Southern Hemisphere sides the All Blacks (New Zealand) and the present hosts of the FIFA World Cup 2010, the Springboks (South Africa) - provided that they can of course overcome a significant obstacle from the Northlands...
Tonight sees Mexico play their second match of the FIFA World Cup 2010. Following their opening day draw with the hosts, South Africa, they find themselves coming up against the beaten finalists of 2006, France. In the wake of Uruguay's convincing victory over South Africa yesterday, defeat for either side tonight could have very serious repercussions. Purely as a useless piece of trivia, this is a repeat of the first ever match to be played in a World Cup Finals, back in 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Mexicans everywhere will be hoping that a repeat of the 4-1 French victory on that occasion can most certainly be avoided...
On what is a very big day for Mexico, therefore, it is my great pleasure to introduce you to Colene Pefley, a friend of mine and fellow Helium writer, who is doing something which thus far only I myself have done in this project: guest featuring for a country other then her own. Colene is from Southern California, in the USA.
Enchiladas Verde
Green Enchilada Sauce
1 lb. tomatillos (green husk tomatoes) 1-2 serrano peppers (milder than jalapeños) 1/2 cup white onion, diced 1/4 cup chicken broth Salt to taste
Boil tomatillos and serrano peppers for 7-10 minutes until tomatillos darken in color and prick easily with a fork. Drain tomatillos and peppers and transfer to blender. Add chicken broth and blend. Mix in onion and salt.
Enchiladas Verde
Serves 4
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded 1/2 cup onions, diced 2 tsp. minced garlic 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for filling) Enchilada sauce 6 corn tortillas 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a small skillet over med-high heat, saute onions and garlic for approximately 3 minutes or until onions are translucent. Remove from heat. In another skillet heat corn tortillas, one at a time, over medium heat, until warm. In each tortilla spoon an even mixture of chicken, onions and garlic, shredded cheese, and a small amount of sauce. Roll shut and place closed side down into a 13 x 9 baking dish that has been lined with a thin layer of sauce. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over enchiladas, covering them completely. Bake for 20 minutes or until sauce bubbles. Sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese on top of enchiladas and bake for 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with rice and refried beans.
Mexican Cooking in Detail
Mexican cooking affords a great many opportunities for preparing delicious and exciting dishes. This book by Rick Bayless - available on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk - explores the world of Mexican cooking in detail and shows you how to make some fantastic and authentic Mexican dishes at home.
It has not been easy for me to establish any real ancestral connection with any of the countries involved in the FIFA World Cup 2010 to an extent which truly justifies my representing them in this event. Although I am of course aware that no such justification is necessary and I will maybe dabble as a guest here and there as the tournament progresses, I wanted to represent one country with which I can at least appear to establish some form of tentative bond.
In common with most of the other inhabitants of the UK, my heritage will of course be mixed with particularly the Normans and the Saxons of Mainland Western Europe at some stage in the distant past. The most obvious connection which I can claim to a country participating in the FIFA World Cup 2010, however, is that my maternal grandmother's family name was Haldane. There is much debate as to the origins of the name Haldane in Scotland, with some advancing the theory that it was of Norman introduction in the 12th Century, as opposed to earlier Danish introduction. At least for the purposes of this event, however, I am coming down firmly on the side of the more obvious Danish theory and taking the opportunity to guest today as a cook for the country of Denmark.
When most people in the English speaking world hear the words, "Danish," and, "Food," it is probably safe to say that a great many will immediately think of sweet pastries or bacon. There is naturally, however, a great deal more to Danish food than pastries or bacon, as I have found in researching this article. The climate and geography of Denmark means that hardy grains and vegetables form a large part of the Danish diet, as does fresh fish. I had several ideas pencilled in for this project but as soon as I came across Bagte Fiskefilet, I knew beyond doubt what I was cooking.
Bagte Fiskefilet translates at least loosely in to English as, "Baked Fillet of Sole." The fillets are baked in the oven with butter, before being served with a sauce made of butter, lemon juice and prawns/shrimp. I have taken the liberty of using an unfilleted lemon sole here - purely for greater substance in the presented dish - and adding a little parsley to the sauce for colour.
Ingredients (Per Person)
1 lemon sole (gutted - head and tail removed) 2oz butter 2 tsp of roughly chopped prawns/shrimp (pre-cooked) 1 tsp fresh lemon juice 1 tsp freshly chopped parsley Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
I have served this dish with some boiled new potatoes in butter. If you choose to do likewise, the first step will be to get your potatoes on to boil.
Preheat your oven to 400F/200C/Gas Mark 6. Spread a large sheet of aluminium foil on a baking tray and place the lemon sole on it, dark-skinned side uppermost. Make three diagonal cuts across the top of the fish. Use 1 oz of the butter to place a little in each slit and the remainder in the cavity of the fish. Season lightly with salt and pepper and carefully wrap up the fish to form a sealed but loose package. Place it in to the oven and cook for fifteen minutes.
As the sauce takes less than a minute to prepare, wait until the fish is ready and remove it from the oven. Put the butter and lemon juice in to a small saucepan and on to as low a heat as possible while you carefully unwrap the fish - due to escaping steam - and transfer it to the plate. When the butter is almost melted, add the parsley and shrimp/prawns and season with black pepper only. Stir with a wooden spoon to simply heat the shellfish through before carefully spooning the sauce over the fish and serving.
This dish was incredibly easy to make and being such a lover of fresh fish as I am, I was in no doubt that I would enjoy it but I can honestly say that it was even more delicious than I had anticipated and I very much hope you will try it out for yourself at home.
(Note that serving it with Denmark's most famous liquid export is wholly optional!)
Today sees the Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010 assume what will be its more usual format, featuring one country and one food writer per day. Tonight, Germany open their World Cup campaign in South Africa when they take on Australia and it is my great pleasure today to introduce you to Chef Keem, a native German now resident in the United States.
Germany of course received a huge blow in advance of the World Cup when their inspirational skipper, Michael Ballack, sustained an injury playing in the English FA Cup Final, which ruled him out of the tournament. How that will affect Germany's chances in South Africa, only time will tell but I am happy to confirm that no such issues have affected Chef Keem in the kitchen.
Cooking for Germany: Chef Keem
Consider this German Beef Rouladen recipe a consolation prize for all the poor teams that have lost against Germany in the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Since I'm writing this on May 18, I might end up falling on my face with this mouthful of braggadocio, eh? Well, in case things don't work out as I hope (and Germany doesn't win the title), at least I have something really good to fill my mouth with on July 11.
How To Make German Beef Rouladen Worthy of A Culinary World Cup
1. Tenderize an 8 to 10-ounces slice of beef (inside round or top round), but don't overdo it so the meat rips apart. Season well with salt and pepper.
2. Now spread the following ingredients over the meat: 1 Tblsp thinly-sliced smoked bacon, 1 Tblsp chopped onions, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 Tblsp mustard (any kind), and 1 pickle spear. (In the video, the first 4 ingredients are already mixed together.)
3. Make a tight roll and secure the end with 2 tooth picks.
4. Brown the rouladen from all sides in hot oil; remove from pot into a bowl.
5. Cook a handful of chopped onion and one or two teaspoons of minced garlic until translucent and lightly browned; add one bay leaf.
6. Pour 1-2 cups of red wine into the pot and loosen the brown bottom bits with a spatula while boiling the liquid for 3-4 minutes.
7. Put the rouladen back into the pot and barely cover them with good beef stock (broth).
8. Bring everything to a gentle simmer, cover the pot, and cook for about an hour.
9. Remove the beef rolls to a covered dish and keep warm.
10. Whisk a 1/2 cup of sour cream and some cold thickener (roux) into the liquid to add body and flavor to the sauce; cook on high until lightly thickened.
11. Don’t forget to remove the tooth picks before serving the rouladen covered with sauce.
12. Great side dishes include mashers, pasta, rice, potato dumplings, bread dumplings, carrots, green beans, red cabbage or sauerkraut.
This video shows all the steps of this recipe except for a plated serving. It's totally up to you how you want to eat this fabulous dish. Almost any side dish you like will work fine with beef rouladen.
OK, I'll try to be impartial and generous: May the best team win the 2010 Soccer World Cup! (Which is what's going to happen, anyway.)
Chef Keem on Squidoo
Although Chef Keem is of course aware that I will be linking to his creations around the Web in the content of this post, he does not know that I am about to showcase some of his other talents, aside from writing and cooking. The following video explains why Chef Keem writes so prolifically for the Web hosting platform, Squidoo...
Update!! - Sunday Evening (UK time)
I promised Chef Keem earlier this week that I would enjoy a Weissbier or two as I watched the game tonight. I did not forget, Chef! I poured this Erdinger beer only minutes ago and am savouring it as I watch the match, where Germany currently lead Australia 2-0 at half-time.
For those who are unfamiliar with Weissbier, it translates in to English as, "Wheat beer." The word weiss in German can mean either, "White," or, "Wheat." I drank quite a few of these while in Germany for the FIFA World Cup 2006! To be enjoyed at its best, Weissbier really has to be poured in to a proper Weissbier glass as this one is and which I was given as a gift in Munich a number of years ago.
After all the build up, all the talking, all the hype and all the bravado, the FIFA World Cup 2010 is now upon us. It is time for the players and the coaches who are in South Africa as you read this to put up, or shut up. On Sunday, 11th July, 2010, one of thirty-two national captains will lift the biggest prize in sport: the FIFA World Cup.
It is to food, pleasure and partying, however, that the Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010 is dedicated. Whatever takes place on the pitch is beyond our control. It is now my greatest pleasure to introduce you to those who represent their countries on the first contributary day of The Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010 and I hope very much that you will take the time to view the efforts of both ladies, from whichever side of the Atlantic divide you happen to originate. They have both put in considerable effort, for which I am eternally grateful. If you like what the ladies have shared with you, please take the time to let them know via the links provided to their own websites. If - for whichever unimaginable reason, you don't - you can contact me via the comments option at the bottom of this post. The fault will undoubtedly be a technical one on my part...
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to introduce to you, Marie Rayner and The Thrillbilly Gourmet, cooking for England and the United States of America, respectively. The order in which they are featured is simply that by which FIFA have billed the match.
Cooking for England: Marie Rayner
When Gordon asked me to participate in this fabulous cookery event , being held in association with the World Cup, I was quite chuffed to say the least!! The World Cup is one of the most popular set of football matches here in England, and with it being held in South Africa this time around, that makes it even more special. The whole neighbourhood where I live is one huge testimony to the loyalty of England football fans, with every house being festooned with England Flags and bric a brac! Although I am originally from Canada, I am just as up for this big match as anyone else. I absolutely love this adopted country of mine, and it’s people . . . and I especially love the food here. I put a lot of thought into this dish which I think represents some of the best of what England has to offer in both food and tradition. This is what I aim to achieve each day on my own page, The English Kitchen, where I am debunking the myths of English Cookery, one recipe at a time. This dish is a wonderful meat fest of gargantuan proportions . . . salt marsh lamb (if you can get it), meaty pork sausages, bacon chops and beautiful British rump steaks . . . all grilled to perfection and placed inside individual plate sized traditional Yorkshire puddings, with a tasty garnish of grilled tomatoes and mushrooms. With true English Roasties on the side as well as some tasty cabbage, leeks and peas, this is a dish fit for a king, or at least a group of hungry Footie fans! Go England!!
*Pundit Pudding* Serves 4
The best of England, served up in your very own Yorkshire pudding bowl! Do plan ahead as the batter for the puddings needs to sit out for an hour at room temperature before baking!
4 Lamb chops, trimmed 4 Small rump Steaks 4 small bacon chops 4 thick and meaty Butcher’s pork and leek sausages Butter, melted Salt and fresh ground black pepper 2 Large Tomatoes 4 Large Mushrooms For the Pudding: 2 large free range eggs, at room temperature 1 tsp salt 1/2 pint milk, at room temperature (1 1/3 cup) 140g plain flour (1 cup) a little oil or dripping
Make sure all your ingredients for the pudding are at room temperature before beginning. Beat your eggs together in a large measuring jug until very light. Whisk in the milk. Sift the flour into a bowl along with the salt. Make a well in the middle and add the wet ingredients all at once, pouring them into the well, and then whisk them in, slowly incorporating the dry mixture from the sides until you have a smooth batter. Now, this is the important bit . . . COVER IT AND LET IT SIT ON THE SIDEBOARD FOR ONE HOUR.
Preheat your oven to 230*C/450*F. Place a small amount of oil or dripping into each of four medium sized pie tins. (You will want ones with a six inch base) Place the tins on two baking trays and then put them into the hot oven to heat up until the fat is hot and sizzling. Remove from the oven and quickly divide the batter amongst each muffin cup, filling them about 2/3 full. (You may not use it all.) Return to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, until well risen, browned and crispy, reducing the oven temperature by 10 degrees every five minutes.
While your puddings are baking cook your meats. Preheat the grill to it’s hottest. Brush the steaks and chops with some melted butter and sprinkle with some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Place the sausages on a rack in a grill pan and grill for about 7 to 8 minutes, turning frequently. Add the lamb chops and the rump steaks. Continue to grill for another 5 to 7 minutes, allowing 3 to 5 minutes per side for medium rare. Remove to a heated plate and keep warm. Now grill the bacon chops, allowing 3 to 5 minutes per side. Remove to the heated plate and keep warm.
Slice the tomatoes in half and brush each half with some melted butter, along with the mushrooms. Place all beneath the grill and grill for about 5 minutes. Remove from the grill and season to taste. Remove the crisp and fluffy puddings from the oven and tip out of the pie tins. Place each one on a heated plate, right side up. (So that it looks like a bowl) Place inside each: one lamb chop, one sausage, one bacon chop and one piece of rump steak. Garnish each with half a grilled tomato and a grilled mushroom. Serve immediately with some crisp roasted potatoes and a green vegetable on the side. (I used lightly sautéed Savoy cabbage and leek mixed with some tender spring peas.)
Bisto Gravy and Brown Sauce are completely optional!
Cooking for the United States of America: The Thrillbilly Gourmet
The Thrillbilly Gourmet (aka Dixie Mockingbird) has presented her recipe in the form of a video, with the ingredients and instructions following in textual form.
For the brine - 1 qt of buttermilk, preferably whole milk buttermilk but any will do cut up chicken - I use packages of legs - 12 at a time, or breasts, or both, even a whole cut up chicken kosher salt
For the sauce: 1 cup mayonnaise - don't worry about homemade, by the time you've cooked with it, it won't matter 2/3 cups apple cider vinegar 1 Tbl lemon juice 1 tsp salt 4-5 cranks freshly cracked black pepper cayenne pepper to taste - the mayonnaise cuts the heat a lot, so I use 2 tsp, or even more
1. Mix all ingredients for the sauce well, and refrigerate. I try to do this several hours ahead so the sauce marries and mellows, but even twenty minutes is good. Before you use it, save some for dipping at the table. You'll only need about half for saucing on the grill. 2. Place the chicken in a large container, and cover with buttermilk. Make sure it's submerged, and refrigerate. Up to over night is good, but try for at least four hours. 3. A couple of hours before you barbecue, drain the chicken and place it on a baking sheet or over a rack and allow it to air dry for a while. You don't want to lose the buttermilk, but you do want the chicken skin as dry as possible so it will crisp. 4. Remove the chicken from the fridge while you preheat your grill. Crank it up - high as it will go. You want lots of heat in there. 5. Salt the chicken on all sides well with the kosher salt. Turn the grill to low, or if using charcoal, find the 'cool' spot. For breasts, the total cook time is 30 minutes. For legs and thighs, the time is 20 minutes - with that said the interior temp with the grill lid shut should stay at just over 400F. You also want to turn the chicken so the skin crisps well on all sides. 6. Once the chicken is nearly done - just a few minutes to go - apply the white sauce with a brush. Keep the lid closed as much as possible so that the sauce adheres well in the heat. I usually douse one side, close the lid for 3-4 minutes, flip it over, coat the second side and repeat. The sauce will burn easily, so be careful. 7. Allow the chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes - 10 if you can wait long enough, and you're good!
England v USA - The Football (Soccer) Match
England and the USA have met in the Group Stages of the World Cup before, back in 1950, in Brazil. At that time, England were the favourites to win the trophy and expected to not only beat the USA, but to do so extremely convincingly. Soccer then was probably even less popular in the USA than it is now and the USA were quoted at an incredible 500/1 to win the tournament. The result?
England 0, USA 1
I hope that these two magnificent recipes have inspired you to cook in advance of the match tonight and to enjoy it to the full. Whoever wins on the pitch tonight, there can be little doubt that both of the above recipes are winners and that the Unofficial World Cup of Food has certainly started in style...
The opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2010 is about to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa. It will be attended by dignitaries including the President of the United States, Barack Obama, and will be watched by a global TV audience of more than 500 millions.
Before I get myself comfortable to watch the festivities and the opening match of the World Cup between South Africa and Mexico which will follow, it is time to formally announce the beginning of the Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010. In so doing, I would simply like to spend a little time looking in general at what this blog is going to feature over the course of the next calendar month and how all who visit it can make the most of both World Cups and have as much fun from the procedures - on the pitch and in the kitchen - as possible.
The FIFA World Cup is often thought of simply as a sports' tournament. In truth, however, it is much, much more: it is mostly about the football, yes; but it is also about a coming together and celebration of different peoples and cultures. I was privileged to attend the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany and even although I very often did not understand the nature of the celebrations of the different peoples - never mind their language - it was wonderful to sample the friendly atmosphere generated by so many different nationalities coming together in one place for the purpose of enjoying themselves as much as possible.
Starting tomorrow, Saturday 12th June, it will be my great pleasure to introduce a number of cooks and food writers from around the world, who will during the course of the tournament share with all who visit this blog their culinary talents and creations. I will include this feature three or four times each week, for the duration of the tournament. I also have a number of other ideas which I hope to incorporate, all geared towards enjoying this magnificent global celebration period to the full.
So how can you get in to the spirit of the World Cup? How can you use the occasion to sample different cultures and cuisines, broaden your knowledge and have a great deal of fun at the same time?
As stated above, there will be a number of dishes shared here which you can have a go at making at home. Why not, however, host your own World Cup Party and come up with your own, innovative creations? You may well choose to host such an event when your own country is playing in a match and have the food and drink as you cheer your team on - that will no doubt be by far the most popular option. Why not, however, broaden your horizons and branch out in to the unknown...?
A few nights ago, I decided to cook a dish for one of the lesser known countries in a culinary sense which are participating in the FIFA World Cup. I picked a number of candidate countries and drew one at random - Ghana. I then simply searched Google for Ghanaian recipes for which I could obtain the principal ingredients and cooked a disk called Shoko, which is a beef and spinach stew. It was delicious!
Why not therefore look at the fixtures for the FIFA World Cup and select a match which is taking place on a night convenient for hosting your party, which features two countries with which you are unfamiliar with their national cuisine? Google is a wonderful tool in this respect and you may be surprised what tasty recipes you can find simply by searching the name of the country along with the words, "Food," or, "Recipes." There is no need to prepare anything complicated - you may simply wish to prepare a buffet style meal, which can be enjoyed by all as you watch the match.
What is a party, of course, without a drink? Even if you do not wish to incorporate alcoholic drinks, a lot of fun can be had preparing non-alcoholic fruit cocktails. I am one of those people who does enjoy a beer watching the match, however, so I spent some time last night browsing the beer aisle of my local supermarket, looking for unusual brews.
I found a great many candidates from around the world which I will sample as time goes on but for the opening night of the tournament, I could not resist the quaintly named English Ale, "Piddle in the Hole." The beer is produced by the Wyre Piddle Brewery and I will share with you at a later time what I thought of the brew.
Finally, today, I would wish you all a fun-filled time for the duration of the World Cup and although only one nation can be happy at the end of the FIFA event, I hope that people across the globe can get involved in and enjoy the Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010 to the full.
With Summer now officially upon us and the rain lashing my window as I type these words scheduled - in theory at least - to grow a little warmer, I decided to feature something reminiscent of more desirable climes and happier times spent languishing in the warmth of the Mediterranean sun. This incredibly simple way of roasting seasonal Mediterranean vegetables in the oven and cooking the lemon sole on top is described in quantities which should serve two people.
Ingredients
3/4lb skinless lemon sole fillets 1 aubergine (known as eggplant in the USA) 1 courgette (known as zucchini in the USA) 1 large red onion 12 small cherry tomatoes 2 cloves of garlic Salt and pepper Olive oil Chopped parsley for garnish
Method
The oven should be put on to preheat to 400F/200C/Gas Mark 6 while the vegetables are being prepared.
The courgette (zucchini) and aubergine (eggplant) should be chopped in to approximately 1" pieces. The red onion should be peeled and quartered down through the centre. The pieces will separate naturally during cooking but this can be done by hand beforehand if desired. The garlic should be finely chopped and a small cut made in the top of each tomato to stop them from bursting and potentially making a mess of the oven.
The vegetables should be mixed together in a deep baking tray and seasoned well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Olive oil should be drizzled fairly liberally over the top.
The vegetables should be placed in to the oven and roasted for half an hour. At which point, the fish strips should carefully be placed on top and the dish cooked for a further ten minutes only.
The delicious roasted Mediterranean vegetables and delicate lemon sole may then be carefully transferred to plates and served.
Mediterranean Cooking
The food cooked and served up in the area of the Mediterranean Sea is among the healthiest in the world. Incorporating fresh fish and vegetables, as well as healthy additions such as olive oil, it is little wonder that the people of the Mediterranean know some of the longest life expectancies in the world. The book featured below on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk examines Mediterranean cuisine and recipes and shows how you too can adopt a healthier and more beneficial culinary regime.
It is precisely one week today that the biggest sporting event of all, the FIFA World Cup, kicks off in its nominated destination for 2010, South Africa. This is the first time that the four-yearly tournament has ever been held on the African continent and it is likely to prove to be something special, for that fact alone.
As advised a couple of weeks back, I have decided to invite and engage the assistance of a number of food writers from around the world to showcase their talents on this blog during the month long tournament, preparing a dish representative of their respective countries, on a date upon which their country is actually playing a match. I have labelled this project, "The Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010." I hope that you will pay a return visit to see some of the dishes prepared in relation to this project and meet some of those people who will be creating them. With this in mind, below is a short guide to some of the writers who will be featured in the first week (approximately) of the tournament and the countries they will be representing... I have to keep some things back as a surprise!
Saturday, 12th June
This one day had to be a special one, for the reason that England and the USA open their campaigns against each other. As the majority of readers of this blog are in one of those two countries, I decided to feature both!
Representing Germany will be Chef Keem, sharing with us some Bavarian delights, which I personally love so much.
Thursday, 17th June
Colene Pefley from the USA has kindly agreed to, "Guest," feature on behalf of Mexico, a country of which she has substantial knowledge of the food and culture.
Saturday, 19th June
This day will see Susanna Duffy cook for Australia, as her country goes up against Ghana on the field of play.
The 2010 World Cup is likely to be a very different spectacle for me personally from the 2006 tournament in Germany. At this stage of the lead-up four years ago, I was counting down the hours until a couple of friends and I flew out to Munich to take in the first couple of weeks of the event. Unfortunately, only two of us actually made it out there but we set off with high hopes of actually getting match tickets, ideally for the Brazil v Australia game which was taking place in the city during the period of our stay. We were offered two tickets on the underground market - at a cost of US$2,000 each! Needless to say, we watched the match on TV in one of the city's biergartens...
It was my first taste of the true atmosphere of the World Cup and the multi-national, multi-cultural spirit which it incorporates. I will never forget until the day I die being one of two Scots sitting in the huge Michaelibad Biergarten in Eastern Munich on a beautiful, scorching hot day as Germany prepared to play a match. I think that we were the only two foreigners in the place and the roar as untold thousands of Germans rose for and sang, "Deutschland Uber Alles", certainly made the hairs stand up on the backs of our necks. It was a fantastic spectacle, however, and an incredible experience.
What will follow on this blog over the next few weeks is my humble attempt to bring some of that variety, entertainment and multi-culturalism to food. I hope that all who follow it are in some way at least educated and entertained.
The tournament itself? UK bookmakers Ladbrokes still make Spain the favourites to lift the trophy, followed by Brazil, Argentina, England and Holland, in that order. Time will of course tell...
It is the turn of Japan to be represented today in the Unofficial World Cup of Food 2010. In the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the Japanese team take on Denmark tonight with a place in the last sixteen awaiting the winners of that encounter. That could be quite a tasty match as both sides have provided some decent entertainment, with Denmark featuring in what for me has been the most entertaining match of the tournament thus far, against Cameroon last Saturday night.
