Postcards from Lindos, Rhodes

Well I'm a bit behind with everything recently - just where is the time going? I feel like this year has completely flown past and I haven't kept up my new year resolution to keep on top of this blog! But I thought I'd do a little postcards from Lindos post from my trip back in September.

Our picture editor at work was getting married in Lindos on the isle of Rhodes and invited the whole team over to Greece to celebrate. So in September we all trekked to Gatwick and made the trip over to Lindos to take H&P on tour for a few days! I hadn't been to Greece since I was a kid so was excited to experience one of the islands as an adult and tick Rhodes off my list. I was expecting white-washed houses, little coves you could get lost in and history on every corner. And it was exactly what I experienced. I don't really do 'relaxing' holidays, always so keen to cram so much in so I don't feel like I've missed out as soon as I get home.  So this trip was such a welcome change and made me think maybe I should try relaxing more often!

Well relaxing during the day anyway! I don't think I went to bed before 3am for the four nights I was there. I didn't think I still had that in me. I thought that had all passed away by the time I entered my mid-twenties! Part of me is a little proud I can still do it night after night. Just about! Who knew Lindos was such a great place to party the night away... I had so much fun and don't think I stopped laughing the whole time I was there. But by the time it rolled around to Monday I was ready to come back to normal life and my own bed. I don't think any of us truly recovered from the four nights until after the following weekend. Turns out dancing all night really does take its toll...

Lindos is a great place in Rhodes, especially if you go with a big group of friends. It has the rooftop buzzing bars for those who want to party with the best of them. It has the stunning acropolis for those who love a bit of history. It has the endless winding streets of shops for those who love to pick up a souvenir or two. It has beautiful beaches for those who love nothing more than laying in the sun. It has cute little tavernas for those who love to try local food. It's a good hour from the airport which can sometimes put people off but I'd say it was well worth the trek.  This little jolly to Rhodes has made me want to explore so much more of the Greek islands - especially those much more remote, less touristy gems I've heard so much about.

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What I've been cooking #10: The Green Roasting Tin by Rukmini Iyer

Rukmini's first book The Roasting Tin is one of my most used cookbooks. Cooking in a roasting tin is so simple yet such a genius way of cooking. I've mentioned before we're trying to eat more of a veggie diet during the week so The Green Roasting Tin is perfect for midweek cooking. Thanks to my friend Steph for treating me to it! I love this book and turn to it all the time. I don't think you can get a more perfect book for midweek cooking. It's been an absolute godsend. I haven't been too keen on the sweet potato Thai curry and I ruined the cannellini bean falafel by not reading the recipe correctly.

Carrot tarte tatin
I made these into mini tart tatins rather than one big one as there was only two of us together. I had some normal carrots to use up in my fridge rather than the more picturesque rainbow mini ones. These were so easy to make. The hardest thing was to peel the carrots! Definitely a tart I'm going to add to my make again list.

Store cupboard pasta bake: crispy red pepper and cannellini beans with blue cheese
This was great! I made it one Sunday afternoon to have as lunches throughout the week. I loved the addition of the sweat jarred red peppers with the tang of the gorgonzola cheese. Such a delicious combination. It makes four very generous portions and you could spread it out even more if you serve it with some salad. I'm going to make this a packed lunch staple for work - can't wait to make it again!

Crispy gnocchi with mushrooms, squash and sage
I can never get enough of gnocchi and this recipe was a winner. We had it for lunch and it was a bit boring cold but once it had been blitzed in the microwave it was delicious. I loved the mix of the sage with the squash.

The most indulgent quick cook quiche: broccoli, blue cheese, chilli and walnut
I completely forgot to put an egg wash on the pastry which is why it came out a bit anaemic looking. But I can't believe I've never had broccoli with blue cheese as a combination before. Gamechanger! We opted for gorgonzola but I'd love to try it again with stilton.

Chipotle roasted sweetcorn with squash, black beans, feta and lime
I think this is my favourite recipe from the book so far. It was just so addictive. It served four but Connor and I scoffed the lot between us! We didn't serve it with rice so are going to try that next time.  I used a spaghetti squash for the first time. I just cut it into rounds and I think I preferred it over butternut squash.

Quick cook leek Orzotto with asparagus and hazelnuts
This did exactly what it said on the tin and was very quick to make. It makes a great option for a packed lunch. Every Sunday I like to cook lunches for Monday and Tuesday so we don't have to worry about it. The start of the week is hard enough without meal prepping! It was delicious, both hot and cold.

Miso aubergines with tofu and spring greens
Miso aubergines are one of my favourite things to order in a restaurant but I never thought to make them at home. It all changed when I stumbled across a pot of miso in Sainsbury's. I loved this and it fast went up into my top three recipes from the book as soon as I took a bite. It was so deliciously moorish. I have decided I much prefer the texture of fried tofu rather than roasted in a dish. It was bit too slimy for me.

Cauliflower with chickpeas and spring greens and tahini dip
I am fast becoming addicted to tahini and love any recipes which feature it. Roasted cauliflower is my favourite way to each the vegetable. I just love how it gets all crunchy and crispy in the oven. This was a great option for a light meal in the evening.

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#52recipes: 22-26

Ottolenghi's Feta and oregano chips from Simple
For something so simple, these were absolutely delicious. They made a nice change from having my normal salt and pepper wedges. I loved the combination of the salt feta cheese on the crispy fries. They were down a treat at a lunch I hosted. You could eat a whole tray of these on their own- and some more!

Hoisin jackfruit tacos from @Todaywecooked
I am obsessed with this Instagram yet this is the first thing I've cooked. Despite having saved so among of her recipes. All vegetarian, the account specialises in easy-to-make, family-friendly recipes. Everything just looks so delicious! I picked up two cans of jackfruit from Aldi without having a clue what to make with them.

Alison Roman's vinegar roasted beetroot with spring onion and yogurt from Dining In
This was a bit of a faff and the beetroot didn't end up cooking in the time specified so I had to leave it in for two more hours. We ended up having it the day after because it wasn't ready by the time our roast chicken was. It was really tasty but I don't think I'll make it again due to how long it seemed to take. I have found some of the timings for Alison's vegetable side dishes to be a little off.

Alison Roman's chocolate chip cookies from Dining In
These cookies are internet famous and I know I had to try them for myself as soon as this book arrived. They remind me of more of a shortbread rather than a traditional American cookie. I loved the crunch from the sugar and the chunks of chocolate was absolutely delicious. I think these are the best cookies I've made and know I'll make these time and time again!

Diana Henry's roasted Harissa carrots with cannelloni beans and yogurt from Simple
Harissa is my new favourite paste and it was absolutely delicious on carrots. I'm really loving carrots at the minute. I was never a fan until I started getting my Abel & Cole box and now I'm obsessed. I usually just roast them in honey so this makes a nice change. Yogurt is a great shout to help cool them down if you get a bit too liberal with the Harissa.

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