Just Cookin'

Veggie Chili with fried halloumi chunks

Chili
1 carton chopped tomatoes
1 red onion diced
1 can baked beans (I can't stand kidney beans)
1 clove garlic diced
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Tomato Puree
Chili powder (I don't like my chili too hot I like it to have a smokey depth of flavour)
Smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cocoa powder or a few squares of strong dark chocolate
Halloumi cut into rustic chunks
Veggie mince
Squirt of BBQ sauces
Worcestershire Sauce (I use the Heinz one as it doesn't have anchovy in it so is veg friendly)
Olive oil

Wedges
Sweet potato cut into thick wedges (don't peel skin is delicious!)
Olive oil
Salt and black pepper

Coat the wedges in oil and seasoning in a baking tray, bake in a preheated oven at 200 for 35-40 mins.

In a large frying pan or wok heat the oil with a little seasoning, add the onion fry for a few minutes, add the mince saute for a few minutes then add a few dashes of Worcester sauce saute for a few more minutes.

Add the carton of toms and stir, add the sugar and stir. turn down heat and simmer for 5 mins. Next add a good squirt of tomato puree, add a good squirt of BBQ Sauce, sprinkle with paprika and chili powder (according to taste) simmer for ten minutes.

Whilst simmering, fry the halloumi in a dry paint until crispy and brown flipping when necessary so it doesn't stick.

Add the baked beans to the chili and stir through, when the halloumi is golden and crispy stir that through the chili too.

Serve in bowls with wedges on the side and pittas for dunking.

"In My Eyes" I like a little mayo, american yellow mustard and some gherkins with mine, and maybe a desperado or corona.

"Don't forget your roots"
It may not be considered very punk rock, but remembering where you came from in terms of the music you loved and how it shaped the person you become in later life is really ringing true in my house at the moment. "Remember where you were yesterday" 

The Charlatans have always been one of my favourite bands their self-titled album was one of the first records I ever bought with my own money, from Diverse records Newport.

Their new album Modern Nature is incredible given what they have been through as a band, to come out with a brave, uplifting, catchy,bold reinvention of their sound. Having lost a second member in drummer John Brookes, to a brain tumour in 2013. I personally think that in itself is pretty punk rock. 

I haven't stopped listening to Modern Nature since it came out it's an absolute triumph and was a fiiting accompaniment to my chili feast.