Doctor Who?

I am *so* pleased that it's looking like Paterson Joseph will be the 11th Doctor, whenever David Tenant leaves the role. I heard the gossip at an evening of mince pies and mulled wine last week and have since verified this online. Admittedly if you look it up on Google you then need to wade through all the forum posts declaring that the BBC are just jumping on the Barack bandwagon or ticking ethnicity boxes. Some people in disgust are declaring they will not watch a black Doctor. Their loss! I suspect the same posters would have issue with a female Doctor too...

Admittedly it's a bit different to a lot of his recent work, but cast your mind back 12 years to 1996 when Paterson Joseph was brilliant as the Marquis de Carabas in Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere". I wonder if he'll get the same outfit and hairdo? I really hope so :o)




(*as an aside, we also mooted who we thought would make a good female Doctor. A few were put forward but I'm with LH on this when he said Tamsin Grieg. Which is a coincidence as she was in Neverwhere too... I can really see her in Frock Coat).


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Sweet potato, halloumi and rocket salad

On request by my mother, Lisa and Alison, here is the recipe for a fail-proof starter or lunch. This is also for the beneift of Marios, being the only Cypriot I know. Knowing my luck he probably hates halloumi ;o)

I originally got it from my friend Jen on the night we ate (or tried to eat) the most epic cheesecake I have ever seen, which was made from about 6 kilogrammes of chocolate... Alas I don't have *that* particular recipe...

So:

Serves 4 as starter or 3 for lunch

Ingredients:
500g sweet potatoes, sliced to about a centimetre thickness
3 tbsp olive oil
250g halloumi cheese
75g rocket

For the dressing:
5 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp clear honey
2 tbsp lemon/lime juice
1 1/2 tbsp black onion seeds (kalonji)
1 red chilli deseeded and finely sliced (or I use chilli oil instead)
2 tbsp chopped lemon thyme
salt and pepper


To make:
1. Mix together the dressing ingredients. Sniff as required.



2. Par-boil the sweet potatoes in lightly salted water for 2 minutes, then drain and fry for 10 minutes


3. Slice the cheese and grill on a lightly-oiled foil-covered grill for about 3 minutes or until nicely browned

4. Put rocket on the plate and pile on the sweet potato, haloumi and dressing.




...and that's it. Warning though - the dressing is very sweet so you may like to cut down the honey content a bit. You absolutely can't do it without black onion seeds though, they are a-ma-zing!



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I am not a lazy blogger, it's just that...

... I can't post what I'm up to at the moment for fear that people who are likely to receive a Christmas present from me will see them here if I do.

Bloody Internet, who thought it was a good idea again?


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