Day 215: Nasi goreng with lime and sugar-coated chicken

I love cooking with ingredients I've never used before and today it was Shrimp paste. Once you get over the honking aroma it's pretty marvelous. The chicken was marinaded overnight in lime, garlic, palm sugar and fish sauce. I've never made nasi goreng before and although it was a bit of a faff to prepare - crisping the shallots, frying and rolling the omlettes, cooking the rice and leaving to go cold, making up the nasi goreng spice mix - it's quite a good one to serve for guests because the final cooking is about 6 minutes (including cooking the chicken).

And it was totally delicious. Think I could live on this every day. If I could employ a cook to all the prep.

Whilst buying the shrimp paste I also bought an ingredient I'd never even heard of before - 'togarashi seasoning' (a mix of chilli, orange peel, black and white sesame seeds, szechuan pepper, ginger and seaweed). Can't wait to use this, but have no idea how. All suggestions welcome.

Day 214: Prawns - Nyonya style

I've been very bad at blogging this week. I could blame a conference but that only accounts for a couple of days, the rest, I can only say is down to general lethargy. But it's the weekend and I spent this one doing my most favourite thing in the whole world.

Cooking.

And eating.

And drinking (as an integral part of eating).

Starting on Saturday, with shopping, chopping, marinading and prepping. Finishing on Sunday with glorious feasting - a bonanza of colour and flavour.

This weekend was a splendid Malaysian feast (thanks to the Sainsbury's magazine!).

Nyonya-style prawns with a ginger and garlic dipping sauce for starters.

Day 213: Andrew

Day 212: Neon fingers

Day 211: Wilkommen

One too many amarettos, the show tunes are queued, the hat goes on and the fabulous Jo does a magnificent turn to Cabaret.

Day 210: Dinner

Every dinner should be this good. Allotment BBQ this evening with courgettes freshly cut from the plant and sliced, broad beans freshly picked and shelled, onions straight from the ground, thyme straight from the herb garden, garlic straight from Sainsbury's. Chicken slightly chargrilled. Red wine in polystyrene cups.

Well it can't all be perfect, can it.

Day 209: Boo