tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:17:58 +0000Unleashing my inner domestic demigoddesshttp://lulabites.blogspot.com/englishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)Blogger341125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-2920073203061902740Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:20:00 +00002009-10-17T05:42:24.194+02:00axel bauer1980sBack in 1984, when I was still fresh and lovely and rather a "fille niaise" as the French would say, I remember being fascinated by this song by Axel Bauer. This was obviously before I had ever seen the Fassbinder film, "Querelle" and before my French was good enough for a second, more attentive reading of the lyrics. The girl's boobs (NSFW), as far as I'm concerned, are just there to convince http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/10/we-interrupt-this-blog-for-80s-musical.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-7347980667168777657Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:52:00 +00002009-10-14T11:19:10.538+02:00bakingorzottoautumnYes, dears! It's autumn and I have the Bake-o-glide ready and I'm rearing to go.Yesterday evening marked the real debut of autumn food, although in all fairness our meals in the last four days have had orange ingredients in them, the most healthy option being the hamburger with shredded carrots in the mince mix earlier this week, which was a hit all around.But yesterday came the first of many http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/10/normal-cooking-will-resume-today.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-9080718266001186204Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:37:00 +00002009-10-09T09:42:39.125+02:00father12 years already since my father died. 12. Yesterday and yet still today. Autumn is in the air, the colours are ripe oranges, and blushing reds, and the screaming bright ochres of certain trees, which stand out in gardens and parks. I cried for the first time yesterday as I was scouring the sink after breakfast. A friend's father has been given weeks to live and I try to understand my own http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/10/introspection.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-7115484079427318407Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:33:00 +00002009-09-22T14:33:00.606+02:00tomatoesshrimpbouchée à la reinepoussinavocadoOh goodness, where do I start? I'm a firm believer in those Sunday stalwarts, in traditional cooking, the cooking of my mother and my grandmothers... You could transport me to the 1950s and I'd be perfectly happy puffing away on a cigarette, in some waist-cinching dress in my loungy interior as I swirl my cocktail. It's like Mad Men redux, really, but I digress.In recent weeks, I've been http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/09/brand-new-im-so-retro.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-8115720148499822465Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +00002009-09-21T15:12:02.520+02:00tomatoeshome-grownbasilOf course, that's not to say that I didn't eat in the past few months. Those of you who have seen me/know me in real life would confirm that this statement is true. For, dear reader, the past months have been a bounty for me.I have spent hours, nay days in the warm sun of a Belgian summer, forsaking the lure of London (and its swine flu) for greener pastures and sandy beaches. I have eaten http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/09/its-been-while.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-1621331098391300046Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:48:00 +00002009-07-18T21:48:00.900+02:00wine openeralessiIn other news, our ancient wine opener caved in the other day. Well, to be honest, it was an accident waiting to happen given our excessive consumption of white and red ambrosia (and that's not including the prosecco we imbibe). There's no better wake-up call than a trip to the bottle dump... It's a true walk of shame in this household.So the munchkin and I took ourselves over to one of the http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/07/le-perroquet-bleu.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-6924113399672188542Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:06:00 +00002009-07-17T20:06:00.176+02:00beerbrewerybollekede konickAntwerpOnly in Antwerp will you see a tram like this - straight from the past, but more importantly, with a sign for Antwerp's own brewery, De Koninck, the brewery of the hand. I could tell you a lot about it, but all you need to know for now is that it is established in Antwerp since 1833, and that they make the 'bolleke'.How should I describe this amber-coloured ambrosia, its velvety flavour and the http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/07/ah-antwerp-how-i-love-thee-and-your.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-3350965651355200903Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:05:00 +00002009-07-16T21:05:00.184+02:00lobsteror have enough lobstah!Especially when you're hitched to a New Englander.http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/07/you-can-never-be-too-rich.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-2882550212126261693Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:03:00 +00002009-07-15T21:03:00.068+02:00apronWhen I don't look like an Italian housewife from the 1940s, I simply wear an apron to cover up my daily garb.My SO found me this little gem - matches the blue of our kitchen, and as far as I am concerned was made for me.http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-new-kitchen-wear.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-2715888541174059483Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:44:00 +00002009-07-14T20:44:00.453+02:00expressla motticellapizzala tomaterieIn the same Italian vein as my previous post, one evening I decided that I needed pizza. Rather than venture out on a balmy evening to our local Italian charmer and his tiny, but hot pizzeria, I decided I would try to put together something similar myself.But, I am the natural sloth. And a fan of the express way. So rather than slave over a ball of dough in order to create the right type of pizzahttp://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/07/pizza-lazy-way.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-904788679551838030Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:55:00 +00002009-07-13T17:55:00.131+02:00hopperorganizeandstyle.comSome of you will remember my monster purse from last year... I still find it amazing that I lugged all that around, and that did not even include the curtain!Well, the purse was entered in a competition and won a prize for messiest purse around: a purse organiser or a Hopper as it is known.One year later, I would just like to share my purse with you:What a vast improvement, wouldn't you say?If http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/07/purse-not-purslane.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-6262198767080335523Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:31:00 +00002009-07-12T22:44:36.396+02:00Dario CecchiniporchettaWhere do I start?The porchetta post took shape somewhere last year, when I realised that my local deli stocked porchetta. I hadn't eaten it in aeons and once I introduced my SO to this delicacy, she was of course convinced that I had been hiding this delectable pork dish from here on purpose.Then we travelled to Italy and on my first day, I entered a little family restaurant, where they just http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/07/finally-porchetta-post.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-910731713365790014Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:05:00 +00002009-07-01T11:08:46.059+02:00Once again I've been awfully remiss about updating this blog. For once, it is not due to my natural slothness. Instead, I've been trying to juggle work, a four-year old, and incredible summer weather over the last month, meaning we have literally lived on the street.Did we eat? Yes, of course. Was the food delicious? Yes.Coming up - a post on porchetta, another one making rose ice-cream, and one http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/07/apologies.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-6333691349642919685Sun, 24 May 2009 21:40:00 +00002009-05-24T23:50:48.879+02:00simplicityOccam's razor: the simplest thing is most likely to be true.A salad of steamed broccoli, red onion, cucumber and vinaigrette is delicious.A.N. Onymus surprised me with some strudel from the Jewish bakery.A Mega Mindy balloon can make a four-year old's day.Yes, it is true that I've always been a proponent of the simple things in life. QED.PS -- the salad served as a side for Nigella's steak slice http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/05/simplicity.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-6776291626265634341Mon, 18 May 2009 19:57:00 +00002009-05-18T22:00:38.604+02:00salad daysWhen one is just returned from a holiday and single parenting, one has no choice but to inject souvenirs and health in one's food. Yesterday's offering:Mini San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, young salad and beet leaves, arugula, and home-grown basil. Drizzle with some real Italian oil (not that Bertolli Spanish crap).Eat.http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/05/salad-days.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-1823048475596287603Mon, 18 May 2009 19:42:00 +00002009-05-18T21:56:58.439+02:00Antwerpfood culturesLast Friday was the highlight of this shopping district's calendar: customer day. The shopkeepers set up a little stage in the little square off the main drag, arrange booths along the pavements, and generally stay open later. The local politicians stroll around (half the socialist party was there) in view of the upcoming regional elections.In my case, it involved watching a botched attempt at http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/05/when-food-cultures-meet.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-9158185934798706494Sun, 10 May 2009 22:45:00 +00002009-05-11T01:40:21.522+02:00I've put off writing this post, because I knew that once I wrote it, I would acknowledge that the holiday is over, that the souvenirs of Florence are there to be committed to paper, photo albums and the web, and that life will never be as good as those six golden days in glorious Tuscany. Such is life, I presume, and we can only attempt to cherish the enchantment for that beautiful instant.So on http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/05/firenze-firenze.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-4205839682812705475Sun, 10 May 2009 19:31:00 +00002009-05-10T21:52:18.985+02:00memefoodConsider yourself tagged, as I was by Milo. 1. Can you cook?Probably. If cooking means, putting a meal on the table, then the answer is indeed, yes.2. Do you like to cook?Yes, except when any of my relatives are lurking in or around the kitchen.3. What do you eat for breakfast?Lots of fruit of late, toast with lemon curd, little scarlet, fig or damson jam, soft-boiled eggs with soldiers, oeufs à http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/05/know-me-through-food.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-8053937248358549687Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:32:00 +00002009-04-24T20:59:40.290+02:00AntwerpphotosDoelA quick photo post from my lair because I have spent most of this week in the sun, on the streets, on the squares of Antwerp, smelling lilacs, admiring the leaves of linden trees, hearing children play in squares and rediscovering my city.So I leave you with some impressions, as I settle down for a relaxing evening.The Facade Building around my corner: a Flemish author leaves here, hence the http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/04/sun-oh-god-sun.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-3051105564308312756Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:27:00 +00002009-04-20T20:46:27.931+02:00Forgive my inebriated ramblings (thank, Blogger, for installing a spellchecker so I won't be making too big of an arse of myself) but tonight's post is on taste.It was prompted as I stood over my kitchen sink, feeling like an ordinary scullery maid scouring the pots and pans that I used for tonight's dinner. As I dried off the pots, I realized that this evening, I had taken out my dad's pasta http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/04/tradition-and-taste.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-976260570758753795Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:43:00 +00002009-04-16T07:44:57.787+02:00personaland smell the flowers.My munchkin did yesterday... Photo courtesy of my SO, who was there to witness this. I... was working. Sigh.http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/04/stop.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-4236071076179444849Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:18:00 +00002009-04-15T10:24:27.893+02:00dear abbyoooh! I got my first 'Dear Abby' letter!No, seriously, I thought the Reluctant Blogger asked a very good question!"I'm no domestic goddess, but when it comes to entertaining, the food creation falls to me - I like doing meals, if not baking. BUT, when I do the cooking, then I'm always worried, and distracted. Then I can't enjoy having our guests. When it's all over, I'm tired and grumpy and I http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/04/readers-letter-reluctant-blogger-asketh.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-3945163971329126301Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:43:00 +00002009-04-12T21:55:18.843+02:00heston blumenthaleasterlunchhamburgerLargely photos, as I am simply knackered.But, just wanted to mention that on my foray to the butcher yesterday, I picked up some of Heston Blumenthal's beef burgers. I don't think I want to ever eat another burger again. Sinfully good. Taste and structure remastered. Yum!http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/04/happy-easter.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-199640869651058238Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:44:00 +00002009-04-07T20:22:57.288+02:00caulifloweralice watersspicerecipeNo, do not expect a post on Scary Spice et al, although I will readily admit that I too zigga' zig' aahed through part of the nineties. And of course there was this song:But that's not the point of this post. Spring is in the air, people. It's time for a major overhaul. Time to do weird and wacky things. Paint your kitchen walls the colour of moondust. Buy purple shoes, for example. I did the http://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/04/spice-up-your-life.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774883518916611207.post-4372049596165203538Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:25:00 +00002009-04-05T11:36:22.582+02:00steak tartarerecipeJust a quick post on a long-standing favourite of mine. I have been eating this since I was 7 in the old Parisian-style brasseries of Antwerp. (American readers, don't bother, as I know you have a fetish about the words 'raw', 'egg' and 'meat' when combined).The meal is of course steak tartare. Ingredients as seen below:250 g of raw ground beef. 1 onion. Some Hellman's mayonaise (cheating, I knowhttp://lulabites.blogspot.com/2009/04/steak-tartare.htmlenglishmuffin2007@gmail.com (Lula)6