Out with the old, in with (more) new!

2011 starts off with a new cookbook - The Best of Chef at Home! It's a lovely book, with a soft blue cover (really, I don't think I own any books with a such a lovely colour on the cover) and full page photographs for every single recipe. My favourite feature is the "freestyle variations" box next to every recipe, with suggestions and tips for being creative. It really helps me see what is essential and what is open for change. I am a long way from being able to create delicious food completely from scratch, but all the new recipes I tried for the blog have been teaching me some simple pairing ideas as I go - ginger and garlic, beef and raisins, lentils and balsamic vinegar, squash and sage... I hope this book will teach me even more about food combinations and bring some delicious new recipes to our table!