Georgina Hayden

Feeding since 1982

It’s the most wonderful time of the year (Autumn)

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I love autumn, it truly is my most favourite time of the year. Cold enough to snuggle up, wear layers and stay indoors, but still mild enough to invite people over for dinner (and wine) and guarantee they’ll come (by January you have to promise me an insane feast to get me to leave the house). Also I think food is at its peak. Spring and Summer are strong contenders, I know, but I love nothing more than the flavours, colours and textures of autumn. Pumpkins, squashes, mushrooms, orchard fruits, cabbage, kale, game… It combines a lot of my favourite things, including a natural desire to slow cook everything and fill the house with warm and spiced smells.

cinnamon-braised-lamb-shanks

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Thai spiced mackerel pâté

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Hello Monday. What a joy to start the week with some good food and a blog post and a spot of crochet on the bus!

There are some really exciting things in the pipeline which are keeping me busy right now, one of which is a supper club, my first! We’re holding it the week before Archie’s birthday in May to raise money for Sands and Tommy’s, two amazing charities. I’ve wanted to do some fundraising for a long time and I’m so excited about hosting a proper supper club and cooking for so many people, it feels like a great personal challenge whilst also doing something positive in memory of our baby. I’m just working on finalising the menu at the moment and placing orders – watch this space.

I also recently did an interview with fashion and lifestyle website Secret Sales, and got to talk about my job as a Food Stylist and why I love it. I’m really chuffed as I love what I do and where I work, so it was a lovely opportunity to talk about it. You can read the interview here.

Thai spiced mackerel pate

And even though all these things are exciting and fun, today has been a really lovely calm day, I got a chance to thoughtfully cook myself lunch (and shoot it) before leaving the house and Skype my best mate in Spain – I miss her bad. It feels so good to actually take the time to think about what I need, and want.  I’ve been trying hard to make sure we regularly eat fish for some time now as it is such a quick and nutritious source of energy and omega 3’s – proper brain food. However being a Monday fresh fish isn’t really an option, so I went for the smoked kind instead, which is a brilliant fridge staple. Read more…

Wild garlic pudla

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The Hayden household is slowly on the mend. But if I am honest I’m still not feeling tip top and more than ever I need some healing meals. I’ve got a few more days resting up at home and I’m making a conscious effort to up my game on the cooking front. Up until now, I’ve been all about comfort, which is fine for a while but I definitely need some more nutrients in my life. There has been a lot of soup, cheese on toast, and if I am really honest there has been a lot of chocolate (I know, I know, I blame all the Easter eggs in the shops. Tis the season). I’ve been feeling a bit sorry for myself but no amount of chocolate mini eggs are going to make me feel better (they actually make me feel worse! My jeans are definitely feeling a little snug), so it’s all about the fruit bowl and proper cooking from now on; I’ve given myself a good ol’ kick up the backside.

 

Wild garlic pudla
Wild garlic pudla

Today my aim was to get as much iron and as many nutrients into my lunch as possible, so I made pudla – an Indian chickpea pancake.  Read more…