160 - Aubergine Fritters [Buñuelos de Berenjena]

Using up some leftover Aubergine (or Oberge) as my sister used to pronounce them.

The Verdict 

These were so good! Not as good as some tempura Aubergine I've had at a few Japanese restaurants but as homemade insanity goes... Not bad!

Taste:  3/5 Crunchy Moosh
Time:   3/5 15 Mins
Visual: 3/5 Stange Slices
Magic: 3/5 Battery Fun

159 - Gilled Aubergine [Berenjena con Aletas]

There's a great little fruit and veg shop not far from my new house which sells fresh local and oversized produce so went for a gander there. I got some aubergines which I've recently started to appreciated and decided to splash out and make some grilled stuffed Aubergine things.

The Verdict 

Worked really well, could've and should've grilled them for a bit longer but regardless the flavours were very fresh, the Aubergine was tender and as healthy, filling things go this was good.n

Taste:  3/5 Decent
Time:   2/5 20 mins
Visual: 4/5 Mm
Magic: 3/5 Works

158 - Arranciatta

So it's not Spanish but then many things I've eaten tapas wise are not strictly Spanish, and being Sicilian at least it's closer than Peru! Decided to go to one of my favourite cafés for coffee and to cheer myself up which I was in dire need of. I had Andrew down too visit and decided it was definitely time for a pleasant lunch. I'd wanted to try these for a while as they looked strange and sounded super-yum and today I decided was the day!

The Verdict 

These are just awesome. There was a mushroom or a bolognase and I settled on the bolognase. SO so so good. So strange as well, incredibly filling, crunchy on the outside gooey on the inside. The sauce was gorgeous and they are easily my favourite comfort thing I think I've ever eaten. They're like a rice based hug. Definitely going to be back for more. 

Taste:  4/5 Ricey
Cost:   3/5 So Reasonable
Visual: 3/5 Rice Ball! 
Magic: 5/5 So Good! 

157 - Cheese and Date Pinchos [Queso y Fecha Pinchos]

The less said about today the better. It passed and that was all.

The Verdict 

I needed something simple and this was that. It was actually surprisingly tasty, but then I'm rather fond of dates. There not as good as figs or sultanas but they are far from bad!

Taste:  3/5 Works
Time:   4/5 7 mins
Visual: 2/5 Weird
Magic: 3/5 Why Not

156 - Tomato Pinchos [Tomate Pinchos]

Still having a bad week and what's more it was looking like a bad month all round. Still recieved some good news that I had been invited to interview for an artist residency position so today was looking for a hearty breakfast before a short trip to the interview. This was a breakfast dish I first had in South Africa curtesy of Andrews mum so it brought back good memories and is super refreshing and healthy and good start to a day.

The Verdict 

I've never been an enthusiast of raw tomatoes however with a slight grilling and chilli paprika seasoning and crushed onto slices of bread it's delicious. Have to say it worked better in the South African sun but location aside it worked! 

Taste:  4/5 Basic Yum
Time:   3/5 15 mins
Visual: 2/5 Savoury Jam
Magic: 3.5/5 Yum

155 - Egg Custard [Flan de Huevo]

Today I wasn't having a good day. Too many jobs coupled with the joy of emotional drama and lack of sleep resulted in a pretty fed up me. So I turned to one of my comfort foods; custard. Love custard when I'm feeling rubbish. I'd never made an egg custard before so was excited at how this would go...

The Verdict 

Definitely need a bit more practice but this was not a bad first attempt. Warm and comforting it cheered me up for a wee while. 

Taste:  3/5 Needs Work
Time:   2/5 20 mins
Visual: 2/5 Creamy
Magic: 3/5 Getting There

154 - Bacon, Morcilla and Manchego [Jamón, Morcilla y Manchego]

Dishes now are on a leftover roulette due to time!

The Verdict 

Again what's not not love. Did initially wonder if the Manchego worked with the Morcilla however the ban pulls the flavours together and the result is a salty gooey crumbly nibble which is more texture than anything. Still I enjoyed it a lot! 

Taste:  3.5/5 Textural Adventure
Time:   3.5/5 10 mins
Visual: 2.5/5 Gooey
Magic: 3/5 Strange but Good

152 - Dates Almonds Bacon [Fechas Almendras Tocino]

Sounded fun and time/patience was limited!

The Verdict

I fancied something sweet and this did not disappoint. The saltiness of the bacon cut through the dates making it slightly like a meatier slated caramel. This is definitely getting made again!

Taste:  3/5 Definite Yum
Time:   3/5 7 mins
Visual: 3/5 Bit Ugly
Magic: 4/5 Salty Sweet

151 - Spiced Chicken Balls [Spiced Pollo Pelotas]

Turns out this recipe is fairly simple with the hardest thing being keeping the balls together and in a regular shape. Ahem..

The Verdict 

Tasted really good, bit messy to create but simple. Blender once again saved the day. I could of added more spice but all in all not a bad efforts went well with the salsa and yoghurt I dipped them in. 

Taste:  3/5 Needs Spice
Time:   2/5 20 mins
Visual: 2/5 Flat
Magic: 4/5 I'd Say So

153 - Fried Tortilla Wraps [Bocadillos Frito Tortilla]

I fancied something warming and tasty today as felt unusually hungry. I've been a fan of a fried or baked tortilla wrap ever since watching the episode of Jamie Oliver where he does it for (I think) one of his 15 minute meal (may have been 30). I had chicken leftover so was time to use it up!

The Verdict 

As usual I may have slightly burnt the outsides but predictably this didn't bother me much. These were yummy, I think the edition of more cheese would of held them together more successfully and I fail to see the difference between these and quesadillas but they were crunchy and warm and will definitely be getting made again. Great comfort food!

Taste:  3/5 Slightly Burnt
Time:   3/5 12 mins
Visual: 2.5/5 Crunchy Burnt
Magic: 3.5/5 Crispy