Interesting exciting buffet practice

Hello food.....

In July I am creating a Jess's Messes buffet for my mum's 60th birthday party.

So this week I have been practising some of the dishes I am making.

Here's just a few images:

Tomato and Pesto Fritatta

Lemon and Basil Panacotta

With Raspberry Coulis

Spinach and Cheddar Ravioli with Salsa Verde

Musroom Risotto in Parmesan Cone

Mini Cheesecakes

More mini cheesecakes

Mini Meringues

Beautiful Bechamel Sauce

Hello food.....

Maybe beautiful is an odd word to describe this..... it is what it is... there's not much more to say. Very useful for various dishes, but not exciting in itself at all. :)


What do I need?

• 40g Butter
• 20g Plain Flour
• 400ml Milk
• 1/2tsp Nutmeg
• 1 Bay Leaf
• Sprig of Thyme
• Salt and White Pepper

What do I do?

1. Place the butter in a small saucepan and melt slowly, careful to not burn. 
2. Add the flour and stir in.
3. Meanwhile, in a separate pan place the milke, nutmeg, bay leaf and thyme - bring to the boil slowly.
4. Strain the milk into the butter and flour mix and whisk to ensure you have no lumps. 
5. Season to taste.
6. Use where you need it.

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Saving Money on Food

Hello food.....

Day to day Jess's Messes.

There is no doubt that when you want to eat relatively healthily and freshly that it becomes very expensive, so the housemate and I decided to create 5 pretty cheap meals, 1 each day of the week and make 6 portions of each. That way we could eat 2 portions on the day and freeze the 4 remaining ones, covering us for 30 meals!

The meal ideas had to still be tasty, as we want to enjoy food, but we just want to be able to spend a little less on it (and have more to spend on fun!).

Sarah and her amazing Lasanges!

So the meals we made were as follows:

1. Veggie Bean Chilli - Guest Recipe
2. Tasty, Tangy, Lovely Lasagne
3. Terrific Thai Green Curry
4. Chorizo and Roast Pepper Pasta
5. Sausage Casserole

I unfortunately only have the recipe for the curry on here currently, but I will be adding the other recipes from now on, 1 a week! So for money saving, but incredibly tasty recipes - follow this blog! :)

A Romantic Evening

Hello food.....

I went to my lovely friend Hannah's house for tea and was served one of the most romantic of meals of my life! Bread with dips in a wonderful heart shaped ramekin... pure love!

We had a wonderful of selection of  random radio 2 music playing the background, notably 'Hopelessly Devoted to You.'

It was a spectacular evening of wine and tasty good food and I look forward to repeating it in the future.

THANKS HANNNNNNNNNNAAHHHHHH!

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Jess's Messes Perfect Picnic Pack

Hello food.....

Coming soon... The Jess's Messes Perfect Picnic Pack

Joe's amazing design!

I've got a few ideas for this pack: Eton Mess Kit, Mini Quiches, Crackers with a Dip, Ginger Biscuits, Lemonade.

If anyone has any other ideas what they would like to see in a perfect picnic pack, let me know: jess@jesssmesses.co.uk 

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Leftover Stale Bread Recipe

Hello food.....

Cheesey, Oniony, Bready Bake

Fondue!

Mmmmm cheesey!

Yesterday I was lucky enough to have a feast of Cheese Fondue - with bread, garlic bread, cherry tomatoes, jalapenos, grapes, pineapple and more... (with red wine of course)!




Today I had a lot of leftover stale bread. I could have used this for croutons on a soup or salad, but there was a hell of a lot, so that meant gallons of soup or tonnes of salad. Therefore this Jess's Messes invention was born. It's a really quick and easy thing to make, and genuinely uses leftovers/essentials that the majority of people have anyway! Not like my Jess's Poncey Leftovers! Give it a go!

Cheesey, Oniony, Bready Bake

What do I need?

1/2 a Stale Baguette broken into pieces
1 Red Onion (sliced)
1 White Onion (sliced)
20g Butter
Pinch of Thyme
200g Cheddar Cheese (grated)
50g Parmesan Cheese (grated)
2 Eggs
100ml Milk
Salt and Pepper

What do I do?

preparation

1. Place the butter in a frying pan and melt, then add both onions, with a pinch of salt and the thyme. Fry slowly until soft, then turn up heat to get some colour and crispyness on the onions.
2. Crack the eggs and add the milk, a pinch of salt and a good amount of pepper to a bowl and whisk.
3. Place each bit of bread in the egg mix and cover the bottom of your baking dish, add a layer of onions and small layer of cheese.
4. Continue to layer up your dish in this order - bread, onion, cheese.
5. When complete, pour the remaining egg mix over your bake and squash down with a spatula.
6. Optional - add more cracked black pepper on the top.

time to bake

7. Bake at Gas Mark 5 (190 degees C) for 20-25 minutes.
8. Serve.

So unbelievably quick and easy and cheap, and ensures there is no wastage of stale bread.

Enjoy!

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Fanciful Flavoured Meringues

Hello food.....

So, I may have been off the radar for a little while, I've still been Jess's Messes experimenting though - this time with flavoured meringues.

Normal meringues (Merry Meringues at Christmas time) were what really started me off with cooking, and within the teeny, tiny world of the Barrowclough family I am quite famous for them, therefore I decided to expand on this and see what weird and wonderful creations I could come up with.... Now I share them with you.

Banoffee Pie Meringue (Banana Meringue, Caramel, Cream and Chocolate Shavings)

After Eight Meringue (Mint Meringue, Chocolate Sauce)

Lemon Meringue Pie (Lemon Meringue, Lemon Curd, Popping Candy)










Chocolate Orange Meringue (Chocolate Shavings and Orange Meringue)

 
Salted Caramel Meringue (Plain Meringue, Salted Caramel Topping)

Apple and Cinnamon Meringue (Apple Meringue, Cinammon Cream)

A selection of fanciful flavoured meringues for Mother's day

Including Eton Mess (strawberry meringue, cream, strawberry pieces) and improved Chocolate Orange

So, hopefully now I have got your tastebuds tingling... I am just investigating ways of delivering and storing these, so I can begin to sell them. It's a great idea for a gift, as they are slightly unusual - however sticking with classic flavours that everyone knows work!

Let me know what you think, or suggest your own idea and I will create: jess@jesssmesses.co.uk