Kate Bush and Delia Smith talk Vegetarianism in 1980!

I do love these little clips people send me especially when its in the 80's and with two of my favorite people, Delia and Kate... this is such a genuinely inocent jem from the past!  I am also struck on the similarities of both great woman... WOW WOW WOW! and what boring Veggie dishes Kate (ahhhh) comes up with..Watch and learn!  The video Quality adds to the beauty of it all.

Me on TV, Cookery speed dating & Pie judging!

MAY NEWS:

I really enjoyed filming the "Perfect Pie" episode of the GOOD FOOD Channels newest show called PERFECT.  I am one of 3 judges, tasting and gassing away over three rounds of delicious pies which two celebrity chefs have a cooked in a Pie cook-off. There are 3 rounds, classic, easy and ultimate. The Pies episode should be transmitted at 7pm on the Good Food Channel on 7th June 2011.  More details: PERFECT SHOW

Gossip!
Following the discovery that a couple of my cookery students became smitten with each other, getting their Moussaka's in a twist during my Mediterranean class, I've been inspired to organise a SPEED DATING COOKERY CLASS.  Details are still in the mixing bowl and will soon be emerging fully baked from my mental oven, but basically it looks like the class will involve 3 easy dishes, with each dish cooked by revolving partners, allowing students to socialise and eat what they have cooked! Ideally each class would need at least 10 people to work, I just have to find the right venue first! More details to follow...
Please do let me know if you are interested in this class, I will then add you to the list for a special discount for the first class only.

The British Pie Awards
Pies, Pies Pies.... whilst filming the Perfect Pie show I was asked by the Melton Mowbray (king of British Pork Pies) to be one of the Judges at the yearly British Pie awards in June, its quite an event the likes of Charles Champion, Rosemary Shrager, Clarissa Dickson Wright and Phil Vickery are also some of the named judges!  So will pop up for the day and mingle and munch away with all these delightlful people! BRITISH PIE AWARDS 2011

Marika's Kitchen FACEBOOK

The Pink Whisk: Sugar Crusted Fruit Scones

The Pink Whisk: Sugar Crusted Fruit Scones: "Scones - My Way! So many of you have requested my recipes from The Great British Bake Off - so here's the first - Sugar Crusted Fruit Scon..."

So, whats all the fuss about this new Millione Rose?

Lets face it ladies the bottle looks hot! It looks like it should be displayed next to some sexy Agent Provocateur lingerie... So yes it looks good, but does it taste good? OH YES! It's a delicious lightly sparkling Frizzante Rose from Italy, terribly moreish, and it gives you the giggles.

Well, not only is it all the above, Millione vino is very special. You see there is a country in West Africa called Sierra Leone, they desperately need funds to build schools and help with primary education. Jerry Lockspeiser, one of the founders of Millione, went on a trip with anti-poverty charity ActionAid.  He was so moved that on Jerry's return he vowed to help by creating a new wine brand with a plan.

For every bottle bought £1 goes towards building community-run primary schools.  So the aim is to sell 1 million bottles = 1 million pounds. 

Pre-sales have reached 100,000 bottles already, bought in by supermarket giants Salisbury's, Waitrose, Tesco and Morrisons.  So Millione and ActionAid look set to reach their 1 million pound target -with our help. Last night at the Launch party of Millione in Shoreditch House, Jerry said: "That figure alone has already helped build 2 schools". Wonderful news, and we can help by just buying the odd bottle.

At a retail price of only £7.99 why not grab a couple of bottles this weekend and share with your pals, make some wonderfully rich cup cakes to go with and celebrate each other and the fact that you are helping build happier lives with every sip. Great excuse for a drinkie!

For more details please visit: www.oneinamillione.com
You have to check out the Bottle-o-meter.  There is also a competition to win a crate of Millione by sending in a picture of your purchase of Millione!...Go.
    Celebrity supporters include Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Sean Lock, Jan Ravens, Alan Davis, Phil Jupitus, John Lloyd (QI producer), Jack Dee, Hugh Dennis, Mark West, Peter Shilton, Helen Chamberlain, Jason Manford, Paddy MacGuiness, Jack Whitehall, Jimmy Carr, Mark Watson, Janice Long and many more.

How to cook the best Greek roast Potatoes! A revelation!

Greek Cookery & Wines (Gastronomy) by Sofia Souli.

Most holiday makers that travel to Greece and love the authentic way of Greek cooking, will buy this 1975 cookery book whilst on their holidays. The much loved book has been translated into about 50 million languages, and re-published a trillion times, its quite simply a must have, it displays dishes from the mainland and the islands.  

 

Simple quality ingredients with not so much method, which I think at times is refreshing, if you have a little common sense you will do fine following these recipes. Greek cookery beginners can really get into this book and make it their own.

Not only are the recipes simple but so are the pictures, retro colourful 1970's photography making some of the dishes look like splodges of inedible meals, but that's its utter charm, its brilliant.

 

When I was in Corfu this summer, my mum bought me a copy, and oh is it a treasure! You can buy it in Greece for around 15 euro but if you can't be bothered to go to Greece to pick up a copy you can buy a second hand copy online for as cheap as 65p!! click here to buy 

 

Anyway, since being back in London I haven't roasted my spuds in any other way, other than the recipe from this book. Forget parboiling, its a waste of time, you can cook your spuds to crispy, lemony, fluffy perfection. Do try this at home!

 

GREEK OVEN ROASTED POTATOES

6 portions

1 1/2 Kilos of Medium sized potatoes (red ones are very nice)

1 cup (200ml) of Olive oil

2 Lemons (juice of)

Good handful of Oregano

Salt and pepper

3 cups of water (600mls)

Method

1. Wash and peal the potatoes and cut them lengthwise (Quartered).  Place them in a roasting tin.

2. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, oregano, and the juice from 2 Lemons and mix well.

3. Add the oil and 3 cups of water, roast in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees Celsius for approx 1 hour.

4. Turn the potatoes after 30 minutes.  

 

Whilst cooking the potatoes will absorb the water, lemon and olive oil and I cant describe to you in a blog how good they taste!! You have to try them x

 

Book a Greek Class with me!  We cook 2 main dishes and baklava dessert!! www.marikas-kitchen.com

MAIDEN: ALL EYES ARE ON THE PIES

MAIDEN: ALL EYES ARE ON THE PIES: "My friend Marika today became the first person I actually know to be on the front page of a newspaper. The Muswell Hill Journal covered her..."

Hairy Bikers - Family Cook off!

Ooh I would love to go on this show! but I can't cos I am a cook by profession!

Anyway it doesn't stop you from entering, get some family members together and apply to cook along with the gorgeous Hairy Bikers!  Contact me if you cant read this poster

xx