Retro Sweetcorn

We don't need sweetcorn dishes.  In fact, does anybody NEED sweetcorn dishes?! No, I thought not.  But I couldn't leave them on the charity shop shelf, I just couldn't.  I knew if I did, I would be kicking myself for not getting them and if I went back, they would be gone.  So I bought them - both boxes!  

I'm guessing they were probably a wedding present and have been tucked away in a sideboard since 1975, brought out just the once when the gift-giver came round for dinner.  They were made by the Devon glass manufacturer Dartington and designed by Frank Thrower.  We visited the factory a few years ago and I remember seeing, in a display of objects made by Dartington over the years, an avocado dish and remembering how exotic avocados were.  In the early '80s, back when I was a vegetarian, my family had a Christmas meal in a restaurant.  They all tucked in to the traditional roast and I was served half an avocado with some melted cheese in the hole left by the stone.  Glamorous!

Ahh, I'm looking forward to the summer when I can give these dishes a second lease of life.  We eat ours doused in butter and soy sauce so actually perhaps we DO need a purpose-built dish to contain all those tasty liquids!

 Vegetable Broth with Chestnuts

Winter Kale and Barley Soup

Sparking up Bishty Blog again! 

The weather has been ridiculously wet so far this year and our food has been liquidy too, or rather it's been soupy.  Of the virtuous and hearty variety.  Very January!

Both recipes are from the Waitrose Winter Harvest 2014 booklet which came with its latest magazine.  This one is a keeper, so many delicious recipes.  

They are a doddle to make and packed with taste.  The veg and chestnut broth called for just 500ml of vegetable stock but I doubled that as it seemed far too little.  I think next time I will add more carrot too, just for a bit more colour against the white of the potato, celeriac and parsnip. The kale soup has 25g of pearl barley in it.  I have never cooked with it before and thought it seemed far too little but it really swells up and is very visible in the finished product. 

Next up, Romano Peppers with Spicy Couscous............