Tuesday 7 July 2020

A Question.

I really think that in many ways I have eaten better during lockdown than I usually do.   Yes, I know I haven't eaten out but I have certainly eaten a more varied diet of vegetables and with more time on my hands I have fiddled about with recipes to make life interesting.   I have bought the very best ready meals and added my own variety of vegetables.   On my last Tesco order I bought some gnocchi.   I have been thinking about it for a while.   I have had it in the past in Italy (as a change from pasta usually).    I must say if I am honest that whatever pasta dish I make (and I have several Italian cook books) the results are never as good as in Italy.   Something to do with the ambience I think.   So how did today's dish turn out?   Well I found a few recipes on the internet but after reading them decided to adapt two or three and add more veg.   Here it is - sorry if the photograph is the wrong way round but have forgotten how to turn it.
I must say it was good but I couldn't help thinking it would have been better with crispy fried potatoes rather than gnocchi!

Speaking to my son about the recipe he asked whether I still made Potato Cakes - I had completely forgotten them!   Mashed potatoes, lardons, parmesan, parsley and good seasoning all bound together with a beaten egg and made into 'cakes' are absolutely delicious and it is years since I made them.   So that's another thing on my lockdown list!!

Night, night.   See you in the morning

27 comments:

justjill said...

Wish you were nearer I would be round for a socially distant lunch. Often.

Granny Sue said...

That looks delicious. I don't think I've ever had gnocchi--maybe I should put it on my list to try! We have eaten better too. I am cooking a lot more and I thought I cooked a lot before--but now since we're home almost all the time we don't have those quick, grab-and-go meals. I am making our bread too, so there are fewer sandwiches. We didn't eat many sandwiches before, even less now. I think it's having time to plan and prepare with no rush that makes the difference.

Bonnie said...

Oh my, that really looks good! Those Potato Cakes sound delicious too. You are making good use of your time!

jinxxxygirl said...

Pat my mother made potato pancakes but i have never mastered it... Posting your recipe would surely help... Sounds so yummy... Hugs! deb

Tom Stephenson said...

That looks better than gnocchi to me Weave - I always find gnocchi too starchy anyway. What was the question again?

Margaret Butterworth said...

Supermarket gnocchi are a bit dry and boring. Home-made ones are lovely, but quite time-consuming. we've had the best gnocchi in vegetarian restaurants that specialise in them.

Margie from Toronto said...

I love gnocchi - my favourite way is with a mushroom sauce - but yes, I never seem to do it as well as one of my favourite restaurants. I believe their patio is now open but with it feeling like 40C here at the moment that sort of meal will need to wait for cooler weather.

Joanne Noragon said...

Potato cakes have always been to go to for left over taties. The Irish in me, I think.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

My that looks nice!

Marjorie said...

We would add a can of drained salmon with some chives to this. Very yummy.

Cro Magnon said...

It may be the wrong way round, but it looks really delicious. What wonderful colour too!

Rachel Phillips said...

I have no idea what gnocchi is but the picture looks ok. Question? Eating at home perhaps. Yes eating and preparing food at home is best, you know what's in it and only your hands touched it, but eating out is good for other reasons sometimes.

Christina said...

I love gnocchi, comfort food for a second generation Italian. Yours look delicious. We sometimes pan fry gnocchi in butter/fat (straight from the bag). This tastes really nice as a starchy side to any dish.

Librarian said...

I love gnocchi and like them best in sage butter. So far, I have never made them at home although they are actually not difficult - I just can't be bothered (usually).
Your potato cakes sound delicious! Cooking with potatoes is something I like very much, and when I make mash, it usually turns out really nice. Maybe I should give the cakes a try next time we are spending the weekend at my place.

Sue said...

I've never been happy with homecooked gnocchi, although making them from scratch could possibly be the answer. With the addition of a little bit more seasoning and maybe some spices they could be lovely.

Potato cakes sound so much more appealing and adding bits and bobs from the fridge to them takes them to a whole new level, and of course you can make up a batch and freeze some for a lazy day ahead.

My Mum spent the first few weeks of lockdown blanching vegetables and freezing portions of all the meals she made, now she has a freezer full but no desire to eat them. The making and cooking of everything was more than enough for her.

Bovey Belle said...

I'd never eaten gnocchi until my daughter bought some and cooked them up. They were OK if a little unremarkable the first time, texture=-wise, then she did a veggie tray bake with them and they were great! Your meal looks really tasty and should do a couple of meals.

I may do potato cakes for my husband tonight - he had a toof crack in half and it had to be extracted so is on soft food right now.

JayCee said...

I have never had much success with gnocchi. Too bland, but that was probably my lack of skill!

the veg artist said...

I suppose gnocchi is a bit like pasta, with no real taste of itself, just a texture to carry the sauce or whatever is served with it.

thelma said...

All looks mouthwatering, never put cheese in my potato cakes before must try it.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Jill - I think there are enough versions of Potato Cakes here - couldn't post a recipe because they are always made when there are left-over mashed potatoes and what you add depends on what you ave handy. I rather like the suggestion above about for serving them with golden syrup.


Thanks to you all - I shall freeze the remaining nocchi from yesterday - today I am having chicken wrapped in bacon in a white wine sauce - have to make room on my ready meals shelf for more coming on Friday.

Heather said...

Your gnocchi dish looks very appetising, and I love potato cakes. However, I am constantly trying not to overdo my consumption of carbohydrates so rarely have them. I have a belated birthday celebration lunch coming up shortly and hope to break all the rules then!

Ruth said...

That looks delicious!! You've made me hungry - although it's too hot here today to even think of preparing a meal. I'll just enjoy looking at yours.

The Feminine Energy said...

Yes! Being home-bound with this virus has brought about a lot of delightful discoveries for a lot of people. Now we know why our ancestors were such good cooks, as food was the highlight of their home-bound (due to transportation limitations, financial limitations, etc. etc.) days. Love, Andrea xoxo

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I think that many of us have reactivated our creative side during confinement imposed by Covid-19. I know that we have eaten well and explored some new dishes. We have also prepared meals that require extra preparation, having time on our hands to do such things.

Bea said...

That looks like a tasty meal. I, too, think I'm eating better in lock-down than before. I'm also saving a bit of cash on not eating out. :)

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