Feast – Recipes That Bring Joy is the new cookbook by Sarah Rankin, and I’m a big fan.
This gorgeous collection brings together almost 100 recipes and more than 15 different menus to cater to any occasion – holidays and high days, celebrations, family gatherings, or intimate evenings with friends.
While I understand that most people aren’t like me (or indeed Sarah), who relish the thought of entertaining, she’s cleverly created recipes that take the planning and guesswork out of what to serve when you want to bring people together, whatever the reason.
The recipe collection includes ideas for drinks, nibbles, mains, sharing plates, sides, condiments and desserts – allowing you to pick and mix your menu planning. Genius.
I particularly like her seasonality calendar that focuses on ingredients specifically grown in the UK. Prices will be cheaper when in season, and your ingredients will likely be grown closer to where you are, helping the planet and supporting local growers.
So, for my next feast with fellow food and drink enthusiasts, Isaac and Derek – who are known as The Social Bitches – I had a go at one of the recipes. The perfect lazy Sunday afternoon: cooking while listening to podcasts, putting the world to rights over good food, and finally binge-watching the last six episodes of And Just Like That.
I may not be quite the style fashionista that Sarah Jessica Parker is, but I thought I looked rather fetching in my NZ apron. As a confident cook, I mixed things up a bit, substituting some ingredients and suggestions.
I cooked the smoked roasted courgette dip with homemade herby flatbreads, followed by lamb chops with yoghurt and saffron (substituting individual chops rather than cooking a rack of lamb). I used organic carrots (without the tops) and made my own pesto with chestnuts, cashews and basil as I had these needing using up, served alongside mixed grains and roasted chickpeas. I also added an extra side of cinnamon-roasted butternut squash.
For dessert, I was intrigued by her Whisky-Masu – essentially a Scottish twist on tiramisu. I considered using some Glayva that’s been sitting on my shelf, practically screaming to be used, or experimenting with Magnum Cream Liqueur – an award-winning fusion of Speyside single malt and cream that’s crafted right here in Edinburgh – which has also been giving me the side-eye from my drinks’ cabinet for far too long. However, I finally settled on the Florentines, as I had lots of seeds and nuts needing to be used.
While mine might not look exactly like the pictures in the book, thanks to Isaac’s photographic skills, it’s not far off and still tasted great. The result? An utter feast!
Check out Sarah’s website for upcoming supper clubs at her home in Kinross.
Feast by Sarah Rankin, £25 hardback (ISBN 9781780279558)
www.sarahrankincooks.com/events
Soundbites
Talking of podcasts, anyone who enjoys good food and wine needs to add Eating and Waiting To Eat to your list.
Brought to you by two ex-pat Americans – Kevin Rivers, originally from Los Angeles but moved to Edinburgh a year and a half ago, and Carlos Miranda, from New York who has lived in the UK for over 20 years – they met over their shared love of food while in that annoyingly long queue at Lannan Bakery (so long, I’ve never been bothered to queue!) just over 18 months ago.
Eating and Waiting To Eat is a podcast celebrating Edinburgh’s dynamic food scene. A feast for the senses, this professionally produced show chronicles the chats of co-hosts Kevin and Carlos with the people behind the restaurants, bars and coffee shops that make their adoptive home a special place for food and drink.
Their first series – five episodes – features Elizabeth Ellio and Sharif Gergis from Ardfern, Colin Hynds of Tipsy Midgie, Roberta Hall-McCarron of The Little Chartroom, Eleanore and Ardfern, Andy Mitchell and Chris Thompson of Mootz General Store and James Snowdon and Lloyd Morse of the Palmerston.
Like my TV habits, I’ve already binge-listened to all five episodes and am waiting in eager anticipation for what’s next. I can guarantee it will have you clamouring to make bookings and revisiting these establishments. I’ve already made a booking for the Palmerston next week when I have a friend in town, as I haven’t been since it opened and visited Mootz on the back of hearing about it on the podcast. It hadn’t been on my radar until then – but my small Mootz (a sandwich in case you don’t know!) was as delicious as described, although the small option was big enough to last me two lunches.
Happy Feasting!
