That chickpea comment made me literally laugh out loud yesterday- top marks for honesty. I do wish the Guardian would include photos of all the products reviewed though, to aid finding them in shops later. There was a picture of some perello chickpeas but no review and no picture of the winning Brindisa ones. Small problem I know but since I discovered Bold Beans my legume love is ever growing!
Aha, thanks! Yes, this was odd - they sent me the Brindisia ones but had Perello on the list, I pointed out that wasn't what I was sent to review, am guessing they'd already photographed the Perello and then that went up? Agree Bold beans are always fantastic!
I made your crispy chicken with zhoug and jersey royals this week it was blooming lush! Also introduced us to zhoug which will be a lifelong friendship. Thank you, keep up the excellence 💚
Loved your piece on chickpeas. Discovered BoldBean last year and now buy direct from them in bulk on a subscription. Took a while but now accept the extra cost is worth it!
Yes the AI thing on WhatsApp is annoying. Enjoyed the chickpea article. Pea asparagus orzo thing looks nice. My garden (brand new plants this year after building work) has ceanothus and lilac blooming, nothing else. Buds on the lavender though. 🙄🌱
Wow, the garden transformation is so impressive!! I’m super proud of how we’ve transformed our (rented) garden since 2018 when we moved in. Although it will be sad to leave it when we eventually get evicted, there are lots of carefully tended pots we can take with us!! Our peonies are also just tantalisingly in bud. They just seem to take forever to bloom. My mum has one (peony) plant that has bloomed and is on its last legs and one still in bud. Different varieties maybe?
Food questions (if that’s ok!). Q1: I recently bought an air fryer. Is there a calculation you use for cooking with it? I read it takes 2/3rds of the time in an oven?
Q2: are there different qualities of orzo? (like chick peas!! I loved that article!) my husband won’t let me cook them because the ones I bought in the past would just go super soft and slimey! Is there a brand you recommend? Xx
Any luck with the peonies yet? Mine are also still in bud!
No worries on the questions, but I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure on the airfryer, as I don't have one! I believe the Poppy Cooks book is very good and would probably have some helpful timings, know as a friend of mine worked on it too!
Orzo - I agree, some seem to be better than others, the Sainsbury's taste the difference and garofalo seem to be quite consistently good? But also maybe reduce the cooking time a little, so it's al dente? xx
That sounds perfect re: air fryer cookbook, I hadn’t heard of that one - will take a look!
And thanks for the orzo recs, will check them out!
The Peonies have opened up!! So happy, this is the first time ever! Third year in the ground I think!! Those buds tease you for so long, don’t they! And they’re such an amazing colour! X
I never realised there was a difference in canned chickpeas! The jarred ones are so much more luxe, but v good to know about swerving the Waitrose ones. Have you tried those merchant gourmet packet ones?
I love your posts Mini! Absolutely hit the spot. Comforting that my gardening too is hit and miss but when it works YAY (top tip - avoid looking at what neighbours achieve it’s your space. And it’s glorious!).
And then 3 top recipes - AND an article to read about food!!
Ah thank you so much! Very glad you enjoyed it! Ha, yes def hit and miss, esp on an evening like tonight when I just couldn't drag myself out to water anything - here's hoping it keeps the plants robust and not spoilt!
Yea, the AI thing is creepy. I don't know how it is okay to do without user consent!
So weird!
I feel like the last person in the world to get on the AI train. I absolutely hate it in all of its shitty forms.
Completely agree.
Echo AI WhatsApp creepiness. It’s really insidious now - maybe it’s the camel-breaking straw that will eventually turn us analogue again??
One has to hope so!
That chickpea comment made me literally laugh out loud yesterday- top marks for honesty. I do wish the Guardian would include photos of all the products reviewed though, to aid finding them in shops later. There was a picture of some perello chickpeas but no review and no picture of the winning Brindisa ones. Small problem I know but since I discovered Bold Beans my legume love is ever growing!
Aha, thanks! Yes, this was odd - they sent me the Brindisia ones but had Perello on the list, I pointed out that wasn't what I was sent to review, am guessing they'd already photographed the Perello and then that went up? Agree Bold beans are always fantastic!
Excellent reading: recipes, books, gardening. My favourite things. Thank you.
Ah thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!
I made your crispy chicken with zhoug and jersey royals this week it was blooming lush! Also introduced us to zhoug which will be a lifelong friendship. Thank you, keep up the excellence 💚
Ah that’s so kind, thank you!
Loved your piece on chickpeas. Discovered BoldBean last year and now buy direct from them in bulk on a subscription. Took a while but now accept the extra cost is worth it!
Thank you so much! Ooh, I didn't know you could buy direct on a subscription - definitely looking that up!
Yes the AI thing on WhatsApp is annoying. Enjoyed the chickpea article. Pea asparagus orzo thing looks nice. My garden (brand new plants this year after building work) has ceanothus and lilac blooming, nothing else. Buds on the lavender though. 🙄🌱
Ah your lavender might be doing better than mine - think I overwatered after planting them out, and now all the buds are pointing - down. Agh!
I WANT YOUR GARDEN ❤️
Haha, thanks! Finally getting there!
Wow, the garden transformation is so impressive!! I’m super proud of how we’ve transformed our (rented) garden since 2018 when we moved in. Although it will be sad to leave it when we eventually get evicted, there are lots of carefully tended pots we can take with us!! Our peonies are also just tantalisingly in bud. They just seem to take forever to bloom. My mum has one (peony) plant that has bloomed and is on its last legs and one still in bud. Different varieties maybe?
Food questions (if that’s ok!). Q1: I recently bought an air fryer. Is there a calculation you use for cooking with it? I read it takes 2/3rds of the time in an oven?
Q2: are there different qualities of orzo? (like chick peas!! I loved that article!) my husband won’t let me cook them because the ones I bought in the past would just go super soft and slimey! Is there a brand you recommend? Xx
Any luck with the peonies yet? Mine are also still in bud!
No worries on the questions, but I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure on the airfryer, as I don't have one! I believe the Poppy Cooks book is very good and would probably have some helpful timings, know as a friend of mine worked on it too!
Orzo - I agree, some seem to be better than others, the Sainsbury's taste the difference and garofalo seem to be quite consistently good? But also maybe reduce the cooking time a little, so it's al dente? xx
Thanks the reply, Mini!
That sounds perfect re: air fryer cookbook, I hadn’t heard of that one - will take a look!
And thanks for the orzo recs, will check them out!
The Peonies have opened up!! So happy, this is the first time ever! Third year in the ground I think!! Those buds tease you for so long, don’t they! And they’re such an amazing colour! X
Breathlessly delightful reading!
Very glad you enjoyed it!
I never realised there was a difference in canned chickpeas! The jarred ones are so much more luxe, but v good to know about swerving the Waitrose ones. Have you tried those merchant gourmet packet ones?
I just saw the merchant gourmet ones and have ordered out of interest! Thanks for the heads up!
I think you have done a Delia with the Epicure chickpeas - they have sold out on Amazon!
Damn - an own goal right there!
I love your posts Mini! Absolutely hit the spot. Comforting that my gardening too is hit and miss but when it works YAY (top tip - avoid looking at what neighbours achieve it’s your space. And it’s glorious!).
And then 3 top recipes - AND an article to read about food!!
Perfect post.
PS AI on WhatsApp is hateful.
Ah thank you so much! Very glad you enjoyed it! Ha, yes def hit and miss, esp on an evening like tonight when I just couldn't drag myself out to water anything - here's hoping it keeps the plants robust and not spoilt!