Tropical fruits on my recent trip to Ghana as part of my African food tour. (L-R) Papaya which we call (paw paw), watermelon & pineapple. I am still trying to figure out what this stubbly one which is jackfruit.
Welcome to Cook With Lerato, a newsletter with recipes & stories for sunshine on your plate.
This shopping list open thread is a new section on our newsletter, one I hope we will all enjoy as we peek into each other’s shopping bags, pantries and fridges for inspiration to cook wonderful meals.
Wild garlic was high on my shopping list in the last month and since then I have used it in everything from Wild Garlic Butter, Tender-stem with Steak & Tahini, in a frittata, on crackers, potatoes and more.
Take a peek at a snippet of my shopping list for the week.
Greek Yoghurt
Carrots, Sweet Potatoes
Chillies, Red Peppers,
Strawberries, Kiwis, Mangoes, Lemons
Cauliflower, Spinach, Asparagus*
Pumpkin & Sesame Seeds
Ground nuts/Peanuts
Ripe Plantains, Bananas
Some of these will give you a hint at what’s to come in this week’s recipe. I’m looking forward to making ice cream with the most amazing strawberries just arrived in my organic veg box. The fruity perfume is rather enchanting! Perhaps a scotch bonnet and chilli dip with some over-ripe and fragrant mangoes, and some warming stews as it’s raining buckets here in England. And how about a tropical salad for a burst of sunshine?
What’s on your shopping list, what have you stocked up on and what’s cooking this week? Share yours and let’s have a peek!
Halona that sounds really exciting. I haven’t heard of Santa Claus melon. I’ll do some research. How are you planning on using it or how have you used it? I bet it’s so juicy and delicious as it is. Can’t wait to find out more. Xx
An update on my shopping, I got 5 sticks of ripe plantains (just turned yellow yet firm-ish) Fried 2 due to impatience as I typically bake/roast them. I will love to devour slow cooked black eyed beans with some of the remaining plantains for a meat-free Monday. I also have samphire and planning something special to share with you. There is just something about beans that makes me feel cocooned and cared for. Must be because my mother weened me on it. I'll talk more about comfort eating in the next newsletter. Wishing you all a weekend filled with happiness laughter and the most delicious delights.
I'm just off to the shops to buy ingredients for: Spaghetti Bolognese for Friday; Pork Ghoulash with Herby Dumplings for Saturday and; Roast Chicken for Sunday. I'm not a very good cook and I always cook the "easy" versions of recipes, but I do try hard to improve.
Last night, I got some smoked chicken, red & green peppers, Waterleaf (Ceylon spinach), Okro (Lady's fingers), crushed pumpkin seeds, garlic & ginger 😍; thinking I was going to make different pots of stew and soup. I just remembered I totally forgot to buy carrot and onions. What I was I thinking? 😑😅
What a combination for an explosion of flavours? I love it all. Onion is really a base flavour we can almost not do without, even though we can. By crushed pumpkin seeds, are you referring to egusi? You ingredients can cook Egusi, Okra soup/stew and a spinach sauce. So much to salivate for. So what have you been able to cook?
Hearty stews for the weather, and I'm most especially interested in the over-ripe mangoes with the scotch bonnet and chilli dip!!! You are so inspiring, I love how you pair sweet with savory soo surreal
Yes it’s been rather chilly in the UK and all I want is a spicy bowl of something! Have you got anything on your shopping list or food you will be cooking this week?
So far this week I made a soup of plantains,corn, chiles and tomatoes. A huge salad of mixed greens, spinach,cucumbers, tomatoes , frizzled onions, and blue cheese with my honey cornbread as a side for the salad. Today its tacos made of grilled veggies (and shrimp for the non vegetarian) that I am serving with the mango guacamole I whipped up and some store bought tortillas .
I think tomorrow might be a summer squash , tomato and spinach saute with rice .
Most of my shopping list this week was veggies along with eggs,yogurt pita bread and coconut milk. And catfood lol
Wow what a salad Courtney! How did you cook the plantains? I love sautéed spinach, I could eat it everyday. Mango guac sounds amazing! Cat food! Very important for the fur baby! Can we come over to yours for dinner? Haha
My plantains were ripe, so I sliced them up straight into my soup. They lent a nice slightly sweet note to the savoury soup that had a bit of heat from the chile , soooo good! Oh
I hear ya about the spinach! Lately theres ive been obsessed with my lighter version of creamed spinach with garlic,onions, a little bit of light cream cheese,a hit of veggie bouillion and nutmeg, and ive been making it 2 or 3 times a week lol
Yes, catfood is a must, my fur baby is picky and spoiled lol
You're absolutely welcome to come for dinner! Open invitation!
Thanks for the invitation Courtney.Plantains can do no wrong, well..unless they are over-ripe and fried which is my least favourite way to eat them. Your Soup sounds so soothing and delicious.
I just bought something called a Santa Claus melon. Supposed to be related to honeydew. Exciting to try new fruits.
Halona that sounds really exciting. I haven’t heard of Santa Claus melon. I’ll do some research. How are you planning on using it or how have you used it? I bet it’s so juicy and delicious as it is. Can’t wait to find out more. Xx
An update on my shopping, I got 5 sticks of ripe plantains (just turned yellow yet firm-ish) Fried 2 due to impatience as I typically bake/roast them. I will love to devour slow cooked black eyed beans with some of the remaining plantains for a meat-free Monday. I also have samphire and planning something special to share with you. There is just something about beans that makes me feel cocooned and cared for. Must be because my mother weened me on it. I'll talk more about comfort eating in the next newsletter. Wishing you all a weekend filled with happiness laughter and the most delicious delights.
I'm just off to the shops to buy ingredients for: Spaghetti Bolognese for Friday; Pork Ghoulash with Herby Dumplings for Saturday and; Roast Chicken for Sunday. I'm not a very good cook and I always cook the "easy" versions of recipes, but I do try hard to improve.
How did the weekend feast go Tim? Hope you had time to enjoy it all amidst the spectacle of the Chelsea flower show.
It went OK thanks, but we were both very tired after attending the show and travelling back home. It's always great to go away, but good to be home.
A list for a hearty feast this weekend. Bon appétit Tim & Mrs H!
Last night, I got some smoked chicken, red & green peppers, Waterleaf (Ceylon spinach), Okro (Lady's fingers), crushed pumpkin seeds, garlic & ginger 😍; thinking I was going to make different pots of stew and soup. I just remembered I totally forgot to buy carrot and onions. What I was I thinking? 😑😅
What a combination for an explosion of flavours? I love it all. Onion is really a base flavour we can almost not do without, even though we can. By crushed pumpkin seeds, are you referring to egusi? You ingredients can cook Egusi, Okra soup/stew and a spinach sauce. So much to salivate for. So what have you been able to cook?
Hearty stews for the weather, and I'm most especially interested in the over-ripe mangoes with the scotch bonnet and chilli dip!!! You are so inspiring, I love how you pair sweet with savory soo surreal
Yes it’s been rather chilly in the UK and all I want is a spicy bowl of something! Have you got anything on your shopping list or food you will be cooking this week?
So far this week I made a soup of plantains,corn, chiles and tomatoes. A huge salad of mixed greens, spinach,cucumbers, tomatoes , frizzled onions, and blue cheese with my honey cornbread as a side for the salad. Today its tacos made of grilled veggies (and shrimp for the non vegetarian) that I am serving with the mango guacamole I whipped up and some store bought tortillas .
I think tomorrow might be a summer squash , tomato and spinach saute with rice .
Most of my shopping list this week was veggies along with eggs,yogurt pita bread and coconut milk. And catfood lol
Wow what a salad Courtney! How did you cook the plantains? I love sautéed spinach, I could eat it everyday. Mango guac sounds amazing! Cat food! Very important for the fur baby! Can we come over to yours for dinner? Haha
My plantains were ripe, so I sliced them up straight into my soup. They lent a nice slightly sweet note to the savoury soup that had a bit of heat from the chile , soooo good! Oh
I hear ya about the spinach! Lately theres ive been obsessed with my lighter version of creamed spinach with garlic,onions, a little bit of light cream cheese,a hit of veggie bouillion and nutmeg, and ive been making it 2 or 3 times a week lol
Yes, catfood is a must, my fur baby is picky and spoiled lol
You're absolutely welcome to come for dinner! Open invitation!
Thanks for the invitation Courtney.Plantains can do no wrong, well..unless they are over-ripe and fried which is my least favourite way to eat them. Your Soup sounds so soothing and delicious.