5 | 52 Beef and Barley Buns

Beautiful pictures & great recipes. 

I've never been disappointed by any of Jamie Oliver's cook books.

The latest one, Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food is no exception.

The recipe I tried this week, Jamie's Beef and Barley Buns, turned out perfectly. 

These rolls sure are comforting and as versatile as you can imagine: serve them any time of the day, warm or cold, by yourself or with a gathering of friends, inside or outside - you name it.

So this week I'm gonna leave you with a link to the recipe (plus video!).

Beef and Barley Buns

I made them from Jamie Oliver's Wohlfühlküche

You can find the recipe (+ video) here.

from left to right: before filling, while filling, view of the bottom after filling

My modifications:

None.  But I left out the pickled walnuts because I didn't have any.

And I used up about 3/4 of the filling and got 12 rolls.

I added the rest of the filling to a brussel sprout stew I made and it was perfect in that, too.

The taste:

Pure comfort. 

The filling has such a great, intense flavor from the long cooking time.

The rolls themselves are very fluffy and moist.

The horseradish sauce is also good but I felt that it 'drowns' the taste of the filling so I used it very sparsely.

What is your favorite comfort food?

17*52 Mexican Quiche

Sometimes I just have to bake something savory. I hope you understand.

Have I already told you how much I miss Mexican and Tex-Mex food?
If you know a great Mexican/Tex-Mex restaurant in Europe, please let me know. The ones I've been to have been good but not entirely convincing.

(Sorry guys - if somebody else had said that I would have been offended and a bit pissed... But that's just the way it is and I don't mean to sound pretentious. Really.)

So for now, let's bake something Mexican-inspired at home. 

Mexican Quiche

Adapted from the foodnetwork

1 quiche/savory pie crust

500 g (1 lb) ground beef

3 eggs, beaten

200 g (1 cup) salsa

170 g (2 cups) shredded cheese

1 onion, finely diced

1 bell pepper, diced

jalapeños

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

salt

fresh cilantro

tomatoes

sour cream

avocado

black olives

• Prepare crust. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
• Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Add onions and bell pepper and cook until they are softening. Drain off liquid, if necessary, and add jalapeños and spices. Cook for another 2 minutes. 
• Take off heat, add salsa, eggs, and cheese, and pour into crust. 
• Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
• Serve with cilantro, diced tomatoes, sour cream, avocado slices (or guacamole), and/or olives. And a little side salad (like iceberg with just a vinegar-no oil dressing).

My modifications:

I added the bell pepper and I think it would have been a bit too meaty if I hadn't.

I also added the jalapeños because I love them and I could eat them with anything. If you like it a bit spicy, don't leave them out.

The original recipe calls for a ready-made pie/pastry crust but I think you might as well make your own. It's quick and easy and good.

The taste:

Very good. A solid and yummy dinner. Maybe not tooooo Mexican but hey...

I think I would add a bit more spices next time. But that's about it.

Is there a specific food you miss where you live? What is it?