8 minute read
Create a Perfectly Organized Pantry
from Good to Be Home
by Kelli Grant
Fast Food
done right
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recipes and images by: EMILY JONZEN
Copyright © National Trust Books, 2022 Text © Emily Jonzen The moral rights of the author have been asserted. written by: ALEXA BRICKER Fast food is synonymous with the words unhealthy, deep-fried, and convenient. And, while there are benefits to getting your food quickly, you don’t have to sacrifice nutrition or flavor to do it. These recipes from the Good Food Fast cookbook are packed with delicious and wholesome ingredients, and they come together in no time—giving whole new meaning to the idea of fast food.
Noodle Salad
with Garlic Peanut Dressing
This bright and crunchy noodle salad is perfect for a hot summer’s day. It requires minimal effort but delivers on flavor and texture. Peanut butters tend to vary in consistency, so you may need to water the dressing down a little, until pourable.
Ingredients:
4 ounces fine rice noodles
2 medium carrots
2 medium courgettes 4 spring onions 1 garlic clove A small bunch of coriander
4 sprigs of mint 2 tablespoons peanuts 1 lime
2 tablespoons soy sauce 3 tablespoons peanut butter 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
Instructions:
1. Soak the noodles in a bowl of boiling hot water for 5-6 minutes, until just tender. Drain into a sieve, rinse with cold water and set aside.
2. Peel the carrots and coarsely grate, along with the courgettes. Trim and finely slice the spring onions. Peel and crush the garlic. Roughly chop the coriander and finely shred the mint leaves. Roughly chop the peanuts.
3. To make the dressing, juice the lime and mix with the garlic, soy sauce, peanut butter and sweet chili sauce. Toss with the noodles, vegetables and herbs. Top with the peanuts and serve.
Roasted Togarashi Salmon
with Citrus Sesame Dressing
Japanese shichimi togarashi is a mix of seven spices comprising chilies, aromatics, nori and seeds. It lends heat and umami to a variety of dishes and is a great way of adding flavor in a dash. You’ll find it in most supermarkets; it varies in heat so adjust the amount used according to your spice preference.
Ingredients:
9 ounces brown rice (I like basmati) 7 ounces frozen edamame beans
1 head of broccoli
1 tablespoon sunflower oil ¾-inch piece of ginger 4 spring onions 4 salmon fillets
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil 3 tablespoons light soy or tamari 2 teaspoons shichimi togarashi 4 tablespoons tahini Juice of 1 lime
1½ teaspoons mirin A pinch of sugar
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 395°F.
2. Rinse the rice in a sieve and add to a pan with 17 fluid ounces of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 25 minutes, adding the edamame beans for the final 5 minutes. Cover and leave to stand.
3. Cut the broccoli into small florets and the stalk into slices 3/8-inch
thick. Tip into a large roasting tin, toss with the sunflower oil and roast for 5 minutes.
4. Peel and finely grate the ginger. Finely slice the spring onions. Fold the ginger and half of the spring onions through the broccoli and make four spaces for the salmon fillets. Sprinkle over the sesame oil, 2 tablespoons of the soy and the togarashi and return to the oven for 10-12 minutes, until the salmon is just cooked through (it will flake easily to the touch when ready).
5. To make the dressing, combine the tahini, lime juice, mirin and sugar.
6. Drain the rice, if necessary, and top with the salmon and vegetables.
Drizzle over the dressing and sprinkle over the remaining spring onions before serving.
Leek and Butter Bean Stew
with Butter and Thyme Crumbs
A simple yet indulgent stew that can be adapted to suit any season. Cavolo nero is used in this wintry version but can be swapped for any seasonal green. Instead of being baked, the stew is topped with breadcrumbs and grilled until crisp and golden. Keep an eye on the breadcrumbs to avoid them catching.
Ingredients:
1½ ounces butter
1¼ ounces fresh breadcrumbs
4 sprigs of thyme, leaves stripped 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 shallot, peeled and finely sliced 1 rib of celery, trimmed and finely chopped 2 cloves of garlic 1 pound 2 ounces leeks 2 (14 ounce) cans of butter beans 19 fluid ounces vegetable stock 7 ounces cavolo nero
1½ tablespoons wholegrain mustard 4 tablespoons double cream
Instructions:
1. Melt the butter in a large sauté pan with a lid. Spoon off half and stir through the breadcrumbs and thyme.
Season and set aside.
2. Add the oil to the pan and cook the shallots and celery for 4-5 minutes, until just softened. Peel and crush the garlic. Trim and cut the leeks into 3/8-inch thick rounds.
Drain and rinse the beans in a sieve. Add the garlic and leeks to the pan, cook for 1 minute, then pour in the stock, cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, strip the tough stalks from the cavolo nero and finely shred the leaves. Add to the stew with the mustard and cream and simmer for 2-3 minutes, until just wilted.
4. Heat the grill to medium. Transfer the stew to an ovenproof dish and sprinkle over the breadcrumbs. Grill for 2-3 minutes, until crisp and golden.
better bathroom lighting
written by:
RACHEL STEVENS
Bathroom lighting is not often at the top of interior design priorities, but it is one of the most important design elements in your home. These are the lights that greet you peacefully in the morning and help you wind down at night. Great bathroom lighting can make your bathroom feel larger, help you complete important tasks, and highlight your bathroom’s best features.
Pick the right light temperature
To have great bathroom lighting, you should understand and adjust to the right color temperature. Every light has a color temperature measured in kelvin (K). The lower the temperature rating, the warmer, or redder, the light appears. The higher the temperature, the cooler, or bluer, the light appears. For example, a candle flame has a temperature of 1,800 K, and daylight during a snowfall is around 6,500 K. Most people find lighting between 2,700 K and 3,000 K comfortable and familiar.
SKIN TONE
When colors look unnatural, bathroom tasks like applying makeup can be difficult. It’s important to choose light temperatures that complement your skin tone. Some people have warmer, pink undertones in their skin while others have cooler, olive undertones, for example. Buying an LED light with changeable color for your vanity can help you balance the light and create the perfect setting for you.
COLOR COMPLEMENTING
In addition to balancing your skin tone, it’s beneficial to choose a light temperature that complements your bathroom's color scheme. When in doubt, consider warmer light to make your space feel cozy instead of cold.
Diffuse and dim
If you've ever woken up in the middle of the night or early in the morning to go to the bathroom, you know the feeling of disorientation that can happen from abruptly turning on the light. The trick to creating a better environment for your mornings and evenings is to utilize diffusers and dimmers.
DIFFUSERS
No one likes feeling as if there’s a spotlight on them in the bathroom; spotlights can look and feel uncomfortable in this space. Harsh and direct lighting can cast shadows on your face that distort how you really look. To solve this, invest in semiopaque diffusers that can evenly distribute the light. If you have recessed lighting, you can purchase special covers to achieve the same effect. Vanity and ceiling lights are the most important ones to diffuse.
DIMMERS
Programmable lights have grown in popularity, but you also can go the traditional route of purchasing a light switch with a dimmer. Both options offer the ability for you to adjust the bathroom light depending on how bright you want it. You can set mood lighting for a bubble bath, a dim night light for quick bathroom trips, or a bright light for tasks like shaving.
Place them strategically
Even if you have the right lighting color, diffusers, and dimmers, you still need to install your bathroom lights in the best locations to reap their full benefits.
PRO TIP: start from the ceiling, and work your way down.
CENTRAL LIGHT
A flush-mount ceiling light can transform the darkest bathroom into a bright oasis. Place an overhead light in the center of the bathroom for general illumination, and make sure it’s equipped with a diffuser.
SHOWER/TUB
Adding recessed lighting above a shower or tub can provide safety and a spa-like ambience. Plus, you’ll have a much easier time cleaning your shower. Just be sure to use wet-location lighting that can withstand direct moisture.
VANITY/TASK LIGHTS
Resist the urge to overlight your vanity. To avoid overlighting, make sure the lights are balanced. For example, mount one light on each side of the mirror or three lights spaced evenly above the mirror. Placing lights both next to and above the mirror can create glare and uneven lighting and waste energy.
